Comparison of beta-glucan structures in a cell wall mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the wild type

A mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae defective in the cell wall beta-glucan structure was obtained. The mutant cells are extremely sensitive to (beta 1-3)-glucanase digestion and mild alkali treatment. Structural analysis revealed that the alkali-insoluble, skeletal glucan from wild type cells contains two components, a (beta 1-3) linked glucan with a laminated structure, and a highly branched glucan containing predominantly (beta 1-6) linkages. The mutant cells lack the latter component.     

Restriction endonuclease EcoO109 from Escherichia coli H709c with heptanucleotide recognition site 5'-PuG/GNCCPy

A new restriction endonuclease, EcoO109, has been isolated from Escherichia coli H709c by polyethyleneimine (PEI) precipitation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography and heparin agarose chromatography. The yield was high, more than 3000 units/g of wet cells. The EcoO109 endonuclease recognizes and cleaves a nucleotide sequence of (formula: see text), in the presence of 10 mM Mg2+. The enzyme will be useful for structural analysis and molecular cloning of DNA because of the stability, high yield and easy handling of the producer strain.     

Inheritance of hydronephrosis in the inbred mouse strain DDD

The mode of inheritance of hydronephrosis was investigated by crossing inbred DDD mice having a high incidence of hydronephrosis and C57BL/6 mice having normal kidneys. In the males, incidences of hydronephrosis in F1 animals were intermediate between the two parental strains at a rate of 32.6% in (DDD x C57BL/6)F1 and 23.4% in reciprocal F1. The same tendency was observed in F2 male animals. In BCF1 males, the number of affected mice was higher in (C57BL/6 x DDD) F1 x DDD (72.4%) than in (DDD x C57BL/6)F1 x C57BL/6 (11.1%). A few affected mice were found among the females of hybrids F1, F2 and BCF1. These results suggested that hydronephrosis in the DDD strain of mice was controlled by polygenes, and that male hormones may have some effect on the occurrence of hydronephrosis.     

Selective accumulation of heavy metals by microorganisms

Summary An investigation of the removal and recovery of urnnium from aqueous systems using microbial biomass has been described previously (Nakajima et al. 1982). To establish which microorganisms accumulate the most uranium, we extended our investigation of uranium uptake to 83 species of microorganisms, 32 bacteria, 15 yeasts, 16 fungi and 20 actinomycetes. Of these 83 species of microorganisms tested, extremely high uranium-absorbing ability was found in Pseudomonas stutzeri, Neurospora sitophila, Streptomyces albus and Streptomyces viridochromogenes.The selective accumulation of heavy metal ions by various microorganisms has also been examined. Uranyl, mercury and lead ions were readily accumulated by almost all the species of microorganisms tested. Actinomycetes and fungi differ from many bacteria and most yeasts in their selective accumulation of uranium and mercury.In addition to this fundamental research, uranium recovery was investigated in immobilized Streptomyces albus, a microorganism with high uranium-uptake ability. These immobilized cells adsorbed uranium readily and selectively. The immobilized cells recovered uranium almost quantitatively and almost all uranium absorbed was desorbed with 0.1 M Na₂CO₃. The dry weight of the free cells decreased by 50% during 5 adsorption-desorption cycles. However, the dry weight of the immobilized cells decreased by only 2% during 5 cycles. These results showed that microbial cells are more stable after immobilization and can be used repeatedly for the process of uranium adsorption-desorption.     

Enhancement of adipose S-100 protein release by catecholamines

When rat epididymal fat-pad pieces were incubated in vitro with 10 microM epinephrine, S-100 protein in the tissue was markedly decreased by release into the medium. The release of adipose S-100 protein was also enhanced by norepinephrine (10 microM), isoproterenol (10 microM), and dibutyryl cyclic AMP (5 mM), but not by insulin (0.8 microM). The enhancement of S-100 protein release by 10 microM epinephrine was completely inhibited by 10 microM propranolol. These results suggest that the release of adipose S-100 protein is regulated by the beta-adrenergic effect of catecholamines.     

Changes in leukocyte count, blood glucose and coagulation system in calves injected with Escherichia coli endotoxin

Responses of leukocyte, blood glucose and coagulation system in calves were investigated to injection with Escherichia coli endotoxin. Severe leukopenia and hyperglycemia following transient hypoglycemia were noted within 24 hours after injection. In the coagulation system, a definite decrease in platelet count, prolongation of prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were observed. Fibrinogen, soluble fibrin monomer complex and clotting time, however, varied.     

Occurrence of beta-chain conformation in poly-gamma-methyl glutamate membranes

Molecular chain conformations of poly-γ-methyl-L -glutamate, poly-γ-methyl-D -glutamate, and poly-γ-methyl-D ,L -glutamate in membranes prepared by using mainly trifluoroacetic acid and formic acid as solvents were investigated by infrared, X-ray diffraction, and optical rotatory dispersion measurements. It was pointed that these polymers exist in the α-helix form in membranes cast from trifluoroacetic acid solutions, but in the β-chain form in membrances swollen in formic acid. The β-chain structure was also observed in crystals precipitated from dilute solutions including formic acid. The formation of the β-chain structure was discussed.