Anomeric and other substrate specificity studies with myo-inositol-1-P synthase

L-myo-Inositol-1-phosphate synthase has been found to have at least a 5-fold preference for the beta-anomer of its natural substrate D-Glc-6-P. The alpha-anomer appears to be an inhibitor of the reaction and may be converted to product as well. As well as showing an enzymatic preference for the equatorial C-1 hydroxyl of D-Glc-6-P, our results suggest that it is the pyranose form of D-Glc-6-P that binds to the enzyme and that ring-opening is an enzymatic step. We have also found D-2-dGlc-6-P, D-2-F-2-dGlc-6-P, and D-Man-6-P each to be both competitive inhibitors and substrates that are converted to inositol phosphates by the synthase. D-Allose-6-P is a weak inhibitor of the enzyme, but not a substrate. D-Gal-6-P is neither substrate nor inhibitor. Thus the specificity of the synthase with respect to single position epimers of D-Glc-6-P increases in the order C1 less than C2 much less than C3 less than C4.     

Essential function of linoleic acid esterified in acylglucosylceramide and acylceramide in maintaining the epidermal water permeability barrier. Evidence from feeding studies with oleate, linoleate, arachidonate, columbinate and alpha-linolenate

Essential fatty acid-deficient rats were supplemented with 300 mg per day of pure fatty acid esters: oleate (O), linoleate (L), arachidonate (A), and columbinate (C) for 10 days. During this period, the rats in groups L, A, and C all showed a decrease in their initially high trans-epidermal water loss, a classical essential fatty acid-deficiency symptom, to a level seen in non-deficient rats (group N). The trans-epidermal water loss in rats of group O was unaffected by the supplementation. Fatty acid composition of two epidermal sphingolipids, acylglucosylceramide and acylceramide, from the skin were determined. The results indicate that re-establishment of a low trans-epidermal water loss was associated with incorporation of linolenate into the two epidermal sphingolipids. Supplementation with columbinate resulted in relatively high amounts of this fatty acid in the investigated epidermal sphingolipids. Analysis of pooled skin specimens from a previous study in which weanling rats were fed a fat-free diet and supplemented orally with pure alpha-linolenate for 13 weeks (Hansen, H.S. and Jensen, B. (1983) Lipids 18, 682-690) revealed very little polyunsaturated fatty acid in the two sphingolipids. These rats showed increased evaporation which was comparable to that of essential fatty acid-deficient rats. We interpret these results as strong evidence for a very specific and essential function of linoleic acid in maintaining the integrity of the epidermal water permeability barrier. This function of linoleate is independent of its role as precursor for arachidonate and icosanoids.     

Immunity in cryptococcosis: An overview

Cryptococcosis is an often fatal opportunistic fungal infection. Despite efforts to elucidate the role of immunity in host defense against the disease, much remains to be learned. The purpose of this brief review is to provide the reader with an overview of the history of research concerned with host immunity in cryptococcosis. Both humoral and cell-mediated studies are included. An effort has been made to present the reader with a comprehensive list of references in the hope of encouraging additional reading and research in this important area.     

Heterozygote advantage in Tay-Sachs carriers?

Chi-square analyses of new data as well as data previously reported by Myrianthopoulos have shown that grandparents of Tay-Sachs carriers die from proportionally the same causes as grandparents of noncarriers. It is unlikely that there is any advantage to being a Tay-Sachs carrier insofar as resistance to tuberculosis is concerned. Our results are further evidence to support Fraikor's claim that the high carrier frequency of the allele in Ashkenazi Jews is probably caused by a combination of founder effect, genetic drift, and differential immigration patterns.     

DIFFERENTIAL INCORPORATION OF [3H]LYSINE INTO VISUAL CORTEX PROTEIN FRACTIONS DURING FIRST EXPOSURE TO LIGHT

—A resolution of the enhancement of protein synthesis in the visual cortex of rats during first exposure to light (Richardson and Rose , 1972) was achieved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using a double-labelling technique. Differential incorporation of lysine was established between exposed and control animals in two fractions of the soluble proteins and seven fractions of the insoluble proteins. This suggests that exposure to a new experience of this type involves a specific effect on protein synthesis, rather than a general stimulation across all fractions.     

Halobates collected during the circumnavigational expedition 'Operation Drake'

Samples of marine pleuston were collected from the sea-surface along considerable sections of the track of Eye of the Wind during its 2-year circumnavigational expedition 'Operation Drake' from November 1978 to October 1980. One hundred and eleven of the tow samples contained insects of the genus Halobates . They were assigned to four oceanic species: H. micans, H. sericeus, H. germanus and H. splendens; two coastal species: H. maculatus, H. princeps, and one undescribed species. Various development stages of the oceanic species were found. The locations, time of collection and surface temperatures where sea-skaters were collected are tabulated. Distributional boundaries and population densities of the oceanic species collected are discussed.     

Functional changes in the structure of the SRP GTPase on binding GDP and Mg2+GDP.

Ffh is a component of a bacterial ribonucleoprotein complex homologous to the signal recognition particle (SRP) of eukaryotes. It comprises three domains that mediate both binding to the hydrophobic signal sequence of the nascent polypeptide and the GTP-dependent interaction of Ffh with a structurally homologous GTPase of the SRP receptor. The X-ray structures of the two-domain 'NG' GTPase of Ffh in complex with Mg2+GDP and GDP have been determined at 2.0 A resolution. The structures explain the low nucleotide affinity of Ffh and locate two regions of structural mobility at opposite sides of the nucleotide-binding site. One of these regions includes highly conserved sequence motifs that presumably contribute to the structural trigger signaling the GTP-bound state. The other includes the highly conserved interface between the N and G domains, and supports the hypothesis that the N domain regulates or signals the nucleotide occupancy of the G domain.