Protein binding and stability of norepinephrine in human blood plasma. Involvement of prealbumin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and albumin

The binding of norepinephrine (NE) to plasma proteins of fresh human blood obtained from healthy volunteers was studied by ultrafiltration at different NE concentrations and incubation times at 37 degrees C. At 1.7 nM L-[3H]-NE binding was approximately 25%. The binding was rapid and was not influenced by the incubation time. [3H]-NE could be dissociated from its binding sites by acid precipitation and, after HPLC, showed to be unchanged NE. No difference in NE binding was found between plasma collected in EGTA-GSH or heparin solution. There was no degradation of NE when incubated in plasma at 37 degrees C for 10 h, even without the addition of antioxidants. Therefore, in the present study, binding represented interaction of unchanged NE with plasma proteins. The whole plasma binding was saturable over the range of 0.66 nM to 0.59 mM of NE. Scatchard plot of specific binding revealed high-affinity sites with a Kd of 5.4 nM and a Bmax of 3.9 fmoles.mg-1 protein, and low-affinity sites with a Kd of 2.7 microM and a Bmax of 3.3 pmoles.mg-1 protein. Electrophoretic characterization of NE-binding proteins showed that about 60% of bound NE was associated to albumin, and 20% to prealbumin. NE binding to pure human plasma proteins was also studied using ultrafiltration. Scatchard analyses revealed a single class of very high-affinity binding sites for prealbumin (Kd 4.9 nM), a single class of binding sites for alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (Kd 54 microM) and two classes of binding sites for albumin with high (Kd 1.7 microM) and low (Kd 0.8 mM) affinities respectively. The main results obtained in this study - a) reversibility of NE binding, b) stability of free and bound NE in plasma, c) involvement of the prealbumin as a specific binding protein - point out to a specific transport for NE in human blood plasma.     

Reproductive biology of the male bent-winged bat, Miniopterus schreibersii (Vespertilionidae) in southeast South Australia

The seasonal chronology of the events of the reproductive cycle, and changes in the structure and function of the primary and accessory organs of the male bent-winged bat, Miniopterus schreibersii, were studied at latitude 37 degrees S in temperate southeastern Australia. The testicular cycle commenced in late spring (November), and sperm appeared in the seminiferous tubules and epididymides in early fall (March). The cycle of the accessory sex gland complex generally paralleled the testicular cycle, reaching maximum hypertrophy at the time of insemination in late fall (April/May). Thereafter, the primary and secondary sex glands (except the ampullary gland) involuted as the animals entered winter torpor. However, a cauda epididymal store of sperm persisted until late spring, and sperm were often observed, as well, in the ampullary gland duct and alveoli throughout winter. This study has confirmed that male Miniopterus differs from other vespertilionids in that accessory gland activity declines following the fall breeding in keeping with the fact that, unlike in other vespertilionids, insemination, ovulation and conception are concurrent events in the fall in this species. The reduced secretory status of the Leydig cells and exceptionally low levels of circulating androgens throughout the year, in combination with the presence of viable epididymidal sperm for most of gestation, are all interesting features of this reproductive cycle.     

Broomrape (Orobanche) seed germination inhibitors from plant roots

Two species (tomato and cucumber) which are not hosts to Orobanche crenata but which are hosts to other species of Orobanche not only failed to produce the compound required to trigger O. crenata to germinate but produced germination inhibitors which stopped germination even in the presence of a suitable stimulant. This suggested the possibility of using germination inhibitors to control at least some species of Orobanche. The question whether host species produce inhibitors as well as stimulants has not however been resolved.     

Purification of hepatitis B virus gene X product synthesized in Escherichia coli and its detection in a human hepatoblastoma cell line producing hepatitis B virus

A fused gene containing 94% of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) open reading frame X was expressed in Escherichia coli, and its 17-kDa product was purified by ion-exchange chromatography. Antibody elicited against the X-gene product reacted with materials proximal to the nuclear membrane of a human hepatoblastoma cell line producing HBV particles. No such reaction was observed with the same cell line that did not produce HBV particles.     

Accumulation of the labdane diterpene Marrubiin in glandular trichome cells along the ontogeny of Marrubium vulgare plants

The content of the diterpene Marrubiin was assessed by GC-FID in leaves of Marrubium vulgare plants along their ontogeny. Maximum accumulation occurred just before flowering time and in fully expanded leaves. After feeding the plants with radio labeled [³H]-geranyl geranyl diphosphate, up to 70% of the radioactivity was recovered in HPLC-Rt coincidental with authentic Marrubiin, which was also characterized by GC-EIMS, thus confirming that the biosynthesis of Marrubiin proceeds through the 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate pathway. The major accumulation of radioactivity occurred in glandular trichome cells, and the product remained stable throughout.