The influence of postnatal nutrition on lipoprotein lipase activity and hormone sensitive lipolysis in vitro of rat adipose tissue

In rats grown up in small and large nests the lipolytic activity of adipose tissue was studied in vitro in dependence on age. Independent of age and sex a significantly higher lipoprotein lipase activity as well as a lower basal or norepinephrine stimulated lipolysis and reesterification (absolute) occurred in rats from small nests compared with rats from large nests. The calculated degree of reesterification was independent of the nest size, but decreased from 80% to 30% from one month to one year of age. The marked differences in the lipolytic activities of adipose tissue emphasize the distinct influence of the post-natal nutrition on metabolic functions in the later life and lead to the conclusion that the metabolism of adipose tissue of animals from small nests is directed towards a long-term increased storage of lipids.     

Effect of temperature on the protein and nucleic acid content of thermotolerant yeasts

Summary The effect of growth at 30°, 35° and 40° on the biomass yield and on the nucleic acid and protein content of twelve isolates of yeast has been studied. Although yields of 41.6% and a true protein content of 34% were obtained, each of the strains exhibited a lower yield and protein content at 40° than at the lower temperatures. Nucleic acid levels were also reduced at 40°.     

Some blood genetic markers of selected tribes in Western Saudi Arabia

A total of 292 randomly selected subjects belonging to two indigenous Arab tribes (Harbi and Ghamid) and two immigrant tribes (Mograbi and Mowallad), residents in Western Saudi Arabia, have been tested for genetic variants of six blood groups, four serum proteins, and five red cell enzyme systems. The distribution of the polymorphic systems was different between indigenous and immigrant tribes, and the present Arab population shows a considerable degree of admixture from the surrounding countries, in particular Africa.     

Oxidation of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-d-glucose with alkaline hydrogen peroxide

Treatment of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-d-glucose with 10 molar equivalents ofn 30% aqueous hydrogen peroxide and 2 molar equivalents of potassium hydroxide afforded, after chromatographic separation, 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-d-gluconolactone. 1-O-formyl-2,3,5-tri-O-methyl-d-arabinose methyl hemiacetal (7), 2,3,5-tri-O-methyl-d-arabinonolactone, methyl 2,3,5-tri-O-methyl-d-arabinoside, O-(2,4-di-O-methyl-d-erythrose)-(1'→3)-2,4-di-O-methyl-d-erythronic acid, and O-(2,4-di-O-methyl-d-erythrose)-(1′→2)-3-O-methyl-d-glyceraldehyde. The proportions of the products depended on the reaction conditions, especially the time, temperature, and the presence or absence of magnesium hydroxide. Formation of the products is explained by a series of reactions beginning with the addition of hydrogen peroxide to the carbonyl form of the methylated sugar. The adduct, with the help of superoxide radical and a molecule of hydrogen peroxide, breaks up in two ways, giving 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-d-gluconic acid and 7. The formic ester, on hydrolysis, gives 2,3,5-tri-O-methyl-d-arabinose, which undergoes a similar series of reactions, affording 2,3,5-tri-O-methyl-d-arabinonic acid, and presumably, 1-O-formyl-2,4-di-O-methyl-d-erythrose methyl hemiacetal. Apparently, the latter compound, on hydrolysis, forms a dimer, which, with alkaline hydrogen peroxide, undergoes a similar series of reactions, ultimately affording O-(2,4-di-O-methyl-d-erythrose)-(1→3)-2,4-di-O-methyl-d-erythronic acid and O-(2,4-di-O-methyl-d-erythrose)-(1→2)-3-o-methyl-d-glyceraldehyde. With a larger amount of alkali, under more-severe conditions, oxidation of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-d-glucose proceeds further, with production of up to 3 moles of formic acid per mole of methylated sugar.     

Survival of Curvularia lunata var. aeria in soil

Spore suspensions from 7 day old cultures of Curvularia lunata (Wakker) Boedijn var. aeria (Batista, Lima and Vasconcelos) M.B. Ellis were added to soil samples originally devoid of Curvularia propagules. The test fungus disappeared after six weeks of inoculation irrespective of soil amendments, like the application of green manure, urea, superphosphate, or soil cropped to Sorghum (dura) or cotton seedlings.     

Biometric variations in Solea vulgaris acclimatized in Lake Quarun, Upper Egypt

A population of Solea vulgaris was transplanted in 1938 from the Mediterranean to a land locked brackish lake. In 1977, the morphology of these fishes was investigated and a number of measurements made and compared with those of fish caught in the Mediterranean. Among these variations was less vertebrae and fewer dorsal fin rays in the lake soles.     

Conjugative plasmids in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

A conjugation system initially discovered in beta-lactamase-producing gonococci mobilized small non-selftransmissible R plasmids encoding beta-lactamase (penicillinase) production into other gonococci, Neisseria, and Escherichia coli. This conjugation system was mediated by a separate selftransmissible plasmid of 23.9 X 10(6) daltons, pFA2. Conjugative plasmids capable of mobilizing R plasmids were also found in nearly 8% of the non-penicillinase-producing gonococci. These were similar to pFA2 in size, buoyant density, and restriction endonuclease digest patterns but were less efficient than pFA2 in mobilization of the penicillinase plasmid pFA3. The presence of conjugative plasmids in gonococci isolated before the appearance of penicillinase-producing strains indicates that a conjugation system for plasmid transfer predated the appearance of R plasmids in gonococci.     

Studies of growth and development of gametocytes in Haemoproteus columbae Kruse.

As determined by their ability to exflagellate and round up, it took the macrogametocyte and the microgametocyte of Haemoproteus columbae in pigeons 68 and 116 h, respectively, after patency to reach maturity. Pigment granules appeared in the undifferentiated gametocytes 8 h after invasion of blood. Vacuoles were observed in young gametocytes and persisted in the older forms. The growth curve of H. columbae is close to the sigmoidal curve for growth in protozoa. Multiple infection was noticed in pigeons with high levels of parasitemia, but no more than 2 gametocytes reached maturity; such multiple infections were rare in relapses. The sex ratio of the gametocytes was 1:1. Strong lateral displacement of the nuclei of infected erythrocytes was the rule; hypertrophy was negligible.     

Activities in vitro and in vivo of enzymes of benzodiazepine alkaloid biosynthesis during development of Penicillium cyclopium

In the hyphae of Penicillium cyclopium the in vitro measurable activities of 3 enzymes of alkaloid biosynthesis are induced endogenously during