Lipid/myelin basic protein multilayers. A model for the cytoplasmic space in central nervous system myelin

A multilayered complex forms when a solution of myelin basic protein is added to single-bilayer vesicles formed by sonicating myelin lipids. Vesicles and multilayers have been studied by electron microscopy, biochemical analysis, and X-ray diffraction. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy shows well-separated vesicles before myelin basic protein is added, but afterward there are aggregated, possibly multilayered, vesicles and extensive planar multilayers. The vesicles aggregate and fuse within seconds after the protein is added, and the multilayers form within minutes. No intra-bilayer particles are seen, with or without the protein. Some myelin basic protein, but no lipid, remains in the supernatant after the protein is added and the complex sedimented for X-ray diffraction. A rather variable proportion of the protein is bound. X-ray diffraction patterns show that the vesicles are stable in the absence of myelin basic protein, even under high g-forces. After the protein is added, however, lipid/myelin basic protein multilayers predominate over single-bilayer vesicles. The protein is in every space between lipid bilayers. Thus the vesicles are torn open by strong interaction with myelin basic protein. The inter-bilayer spaces in the multilayers are comparable to the cytoplasmic spaces in central nervous system myelins . The diffraction indicates the same lipid bilayer thickness in vesicles and multilayers, to within 1 A. By comparing electron-density profiles of vesicles and multilayers, most of the myelin basic protein is located in the inter-bilayer space while up to one-third may be inserted between lipid headgroups. When cytochrome c is added in place of myelin basic protein, multilayers also form. In this case the protein is located entirely outside the unchanged bilayer. Comparison of the various profiles emphasizes the close and extensive apposition of myelin basic protein to the lipid bilayer. Numerous bonds may form between myelin basic protein and lipids. Cholesterol may enhance binding by opening gaps between diacyl-lipid headgroups.     

The Electrical Conductivity of Bovine Milk in Mastitis Diagnosis

The electrical conductivity (EC) of milk is mainly a function of the electrolyte concentration in the milk and therefore raised in mastitis. The present investigation was aimed at elaborating, if possible, a diagnostic model for screening purposes based on EC determinations and consistent with the diagnostic procedures and interpretations commonly used in laboratory milk diagnosis in the Nordic countries (Klastrup 1975). According to this diagnosis (here called reference diagnosis) cell numbers above 300,000/ml (cell count or the corresponding CMT-score) in foremilk quarter samples during the main part of the lactation period and significantly above the lowest value on within-udder comparison during late lactation are considered indicative of mastitis and bacteriological examinations are made when called for.     

Formation of prostanoids in human umbilical vessels perfused in vitro

Four major prostanoids (6-keto-PGF1 alpha, PGE2, PGF2 alpha and TXB2) were measured by specific radioimmunoassays in the outputs from human umbilical vessels perfused in vitro. As evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) only few blood platelets were attached to the vessel wall. After an initial flush with decreasing concentrations of all four prostanoids, a stable stage was reached, lasting for 4-5 hours. During this stage the production could be inhibited by indomethacin and only slightly stimulated with arachidonic acid. The TXA2 synthetase inhibitor UK 38485 depressed the TXB2 production, while only slightly affecting the other three prostanoids at very high concentrations. The arteries produced relatively more 6-keto-PGF1 alpha than did the vein.     

Expression of L3T4 molecules on Lyt-2+, class II-restricted antigen-specific T suppressor lymphocytes

Three bovine serum albumin-specific Lyt-2⁺ T suppressor (Ts) cell clones from CBA/J mice have been analyzed with regard to expression of L3T4 molecules. All three Ts-cell clones can be stained with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to L3T4. Tested for the two clones restricted to recognition of E^k determinants, antigen-specific proliferation on antigen-presenting cells, but not the proliferation induced by conditioned medium can be inhibited by L314-specific mAb. In a similar way, Ts-cell cytolytic effector functions can be blocked by L3T4-specific mAb. Thus L3T4 structures seem to play a role in Ts-cell functions. Furthermore, the data support the view that L3T4 expression can be a property of class II-restricted T cells irrespective of their Lyt phenotype.     

Electron microscopic cytochemical localization ofα-hydroxyacid oxidase in rat liver

Summary The substrate specificity and the intraperoxisomal localization of -hydroxyacid oxidase in rat liver has been investigated cytochemically by the cerium technique and biochemically with a luminometric assay. Rat liver is fixed by perfusion with a low concentration (0.25%) of glutaraldehyde and vibratome sections are incubated for 60 min at 37°C in a medium containing 3 mM CeCl₃, 100 mM NaN₃ and 5 mM of an -hydroxyacid in 0.1M of one of the following buffers: Pipes, Mops, Na-cacodylate,Tris-maleate, all adjusted to pH 7.8. Ten different -hydroxyacids with a chain length between 2 and 8 carbon atoms were tested. The best results were obtained with glycolic, argininic andl--isocaproic acids. These cytochemical findings were confirmed also biochemically using purified peroxisomal fractions isolated by gradient centrifugation in metrizamide. The pattern of the intraperoxisomal localization of the enzyme was influenced markedly by the type of buffer used for the cytochemical incubation. Whereas in theTris-maleate medium both the cores and the matrix stained with the same intensity, with all other buffers the reaction in cores was more prominent. The staining of cores was abolished by pretreating sections inTris-maleate (pH 7.8) or alkaline pyrophosphate buffers. These observations establish the substrate specificity of -hydroxyacid oxidase in rat liver and demonstrate the delicate association of this enzyme with the crystalline cores and the matrix of peroxisomes in rat liver.Abbreviations -HAOX l-hydroxyacid oxidase - Argininic acid l--hydroxy--guanidinovaleric acid - Pipes piperazine-N,N-bis(2ethane sulfonic acid) - Mops 3(N-morpholino) propane sulfonic acid - Tris tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane - Luminol 5-amino-2,3 dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione - GA glutaraldehyde     

Low-potential cytochrome b as an essential electron-transport component of menaquinone reduction by formate in Vibrio succinogenes

Incorporation of the electron-transport enzymes of Vibrio succinogenes into liposomes was used to investigate the question of whether, in this organism, a cytochrome b is involved in electron transport from formate to fumarate on the formate side of menaquinone. (1) Formate dehydrogenase lacking cytochrome b was prepared by splitting the cytochrome from the formate dehydrogenase complex. The enzyme consisted of two different subunits (M_r 110 000 and 20 000), catalyzed the reduction of 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-naphthoquinone by formate, and could be incorporated into liposomes. (2) The modified enzyme did not restore electron transport from formate to fumarate when incorporated into liposomes together with vitamin K-1 (instead of menaquinone) and fumarate reductase complex. In contrast, restoration was observed in liposomes that contained formate dehydrogenase with cytochrome b (E_m = ?224 mV), in addition to the subunits mentioned above (formate dehydrogenase complex). (3) In the liposomes containing formate dehydrogenase complex and fumarate reductase complex, the response of the cytochrome b of the formate dehydrogenase complex was consistent with its interaction on the formate side of menaquinone in a linear sequence of the components. The low-potential cytochrome b associated with fumarate reductase complex was not reducible by formate under any condition. It is concluded that the low-potential cytochrome b of the formate dehydrogenase complex is an essential component in the electron transport from formate to menaquinone. The low-potential cytochrome b of the fumarate reductase complex could not replace the former cytochrome in restoring electron-transport activity.     

Dilution and acidification effects during the spring flood of four Swedish mountain brooks

The seasonal variation in water chemistry was followed during 1980 and 1981 in four mountain brooks in the southern part of Swedish Lapland. In the area investigated the soil is calcareous and the brook water is very well buffered during the major part of the year, with alkalinity varying between 0.4 and 1.0 milliequivalents per liter and with pH values about 7.5. These years the snow had a pH of approximately 5.2, which was considerably higher than has been reported from adjacent areas in the lower, coniferous region. During snowmelt the water discharge increased drastically, and although the net transport of bicarbonate increased, alkalinity showed low values due to dilution with meltwater. pH decreased, but not further than to 6.3–6.5, far from values reported in 1979 (pH less than 5), apparently due to the comparatively clean snow. A slight deficit in alkalinity, as compared to the nonmarine calcium and magnesium content, points to an acidification impact on the area. During maximum runoff some chemical variables, like aluminium, iron, nitrogen and phosphorus, behaved reversely to what might be expected during dilution and reached maxima in concentrations. It is concluded that the extreme runoff characteristics of high mountain areas make brook water more sensitive to acid precipitation than might be expected when regarding only the calcareous properties of soil and bedrock.     

Mechanism of iron uptake by peanut plants : I. Fe reduction, chelate splitting, and release of phenolics

Iron deficiency in peanuts (Arachis hypogeae L.) caused an increase in release of caffeic acid, a higher rate of Fe^III reduction, and increased rates of both Fe^III chelate splitting and iron uptake.

Experiments on Fe^III reduction by phenolics (in vitro experiments) and by roots of Fe-deficient peanuts exclude the direct involvement of released phenolics in Fe^III reduction by roots: Fe^III reduction by phenolics had a pH optimum higher than 8.0 and was strongly dependent on the concentration and the stability of the supplied Fe^III chelates. In contrast, Fe^III reduction by roots of Fe-deficient peanuts had a pH optimum of about 5.0 and was less dependent on the stability of the supplied Fe^III chelates. Furthermore, the observed release of phenolics into nutrient solution would have to be at least 200 times higher to attain the reduction rates of roots of Fe-deficient peanuts. The results of these experiments support the idea of an enzymic reduction of Fe^III on the plasmalemma of cortical cells of roots.

     

Changes in membrane potential and resistance caused by transient increase of potassium conductance in the unicellular green alga Eremosphaera viridis

The electrophysiological membrane parameters of the unicellular green alga Eremosphaera viridis were determined using an improved computer-supported single-microelectrode technique. These cells developed an average membrane potential of-150 mV in the light and a specific resistance of 1 Ω m² with an external potassium concentration of 1.1 mM and pH 5.5. In the dark, many cells showed a less polarized potential of 30–40 mV and a smaller membrane resistance. At potassium concentrations in the external medium higher than 1 mM, the membrane potential strongly depends on the external potassium content apart from a small electrogenic component. At concentrations lower than 1 mM K⁺, a dependence of the membrane potential upon external potassium concentrations could not be verified. Inserting the internal ion activities in the Goldmann equation shows that, in this range, the proton conductance seems to be predominant over the potassium conductance. Transient changes in the membrane potential and in the membrane resistance were observed after switching off the light, after addition of 3-(3′,4′-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea or N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, after a sudden decrease in temperature, and after current pulses. These changes resemble the action potentials (AP) found in other plant cells (Chara, Acetabularia). On average, the AP has a delay period of 5.1 s and a duration of 43.8 s showing a sudden decrease and a slower regeneration. The voltage peak during an AP followed exactly the Nernst potential of potassium over a range of external potassium concentrations from 5 μM to 0.2 M. This is true for depolarization or hyperpolarization, depending on the external K⁺-concentration. Tetraethylammonium-hydrogensulphate, a rather specific inhibitor of K⁺ channels in nervous cells, suppressed the AP. The correlation of the appearance of the AP with a short-term opening of potassium channels in the membrane of Eremosphaera is discussed.