Changes of SOD-like substances in mouse organs after low-dose X-ray irradiation.

We demonstrated that low-dose irradiation with 50 cGy of X-ray induces in vivo production of superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like substances and accelerates antioxidant activity. To elucidate the defense mechanism against X-ray radiation, we examined which components among these SOD-like substances, such as SOD, vitamin C and celuroplasmin, are produced by low-dose irradiation. Our study revealed that SOD-like specific activity hardly involved SOD-like substances other than SOD. Moreover, it is suggested that low-dose irradiation induced synthesis and production of SOD itself, leading to elevation of SOD-specific activity.     

Proton magnetic resonance spectra of D-gluco-oligosaccharides and D-glucans

The p.m.r. spectra of some D-gluco-oligosaccharides and D-glucans in deuterium oxide were studied with respect to the anomeric proton. In (1→2)-linked glucobioses, the effect of change in configuration of the hydroxyl group at C-1 on the chemical shifts of the glycosidic proton is noted. Equilibrium mixtures of (1→2)-linked glucobioses contained more α-anomer than did the other examples, despite the cis configuration of substituents at C-1 and C-2. Some D-glucans were investigated with regard to the degree of branching, although solubility was a limitation.     

Effects of Low pH on the Induction of Root Hair Formation in Young Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Grand Rapids) Seedlings

Received 13 August 1999/ Accepted in revised form 22 December 1999     

Do eggs convey information on gamergate presence in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diacamma</Emphasis> sp. from Japan?

In eusocial Hymenoptera, information on the presence of a queen is considered to play an important role in regulating worker reproduction. We examined the mode of transmission of this putative queen information to workers. Previous studies have reported that, in Diacamma sp. from Japan, unmated helper workers perceive the presence of a gamergate (functional queen) only through direct physical contact with her. In contrary to this conclusion, we showed, by an experiment that exposed workers either to the gamergate or to the eggs laid by the gamergate, that the presence of eggs laid by the gamergate to some extent suppressed the workers’ dominance interaction, a behavior that is associated with self-reproduction by unmated workers. We discuss the relative importance of direct and indirect transmission of gamergate-presence information under natural conditions in this ant.     

Overexpression of a beta-galactoside binding protein causes transformation of BALB3T3 fibroblast cells

Overexpression of an animal lectin, rat beta-galactoside binding protein (GBP) in mouse BALB3T3 fibroblast cells by stable introduction of a GBP cDNA expression plasmid results in the acquisition of transformed phenotype which includes a loss of anchorage dependence, reduced contact inhibition, colony formation in soft agar, and tumor formation in nude mice. The transformation depends on the level of the expression of both GBP and TGF gamma 2 activities confirming that both activities are ascribable to a single bifunctional protein TGF gamma 2/GBP. The results indicate that GBP acts as a growth regulator and is directly involved in regulation of cell proliferation.