Localization of glycoprotein glycosyltransferases in the Golgi apparatus of rat and mouse testis

Golgi fractions prepared from rat testis have been shown to be enriched in the following glycoprotein glycosyltransferases: N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, 47-fold, galactosyltransferase, 33-fold, and N-acetylglucosaminide fucosyltransferase, 15-fold. Appreciably lower transferase levels were obtained in other subcellular fractions. In the mouse, Golgi fractions were prepared from testis homogenates, testis cell suspensions and partially purified testis germinal cells; these fractions were also enriched in the above glycoprotein glycosyltransferases. Electron microscopic analysis indicated that a major portion of the total transferase activity was located in the Golgi apparatus of both rat and mouse testis although these experiments could not rule out the possible presence of some transferase activity in other organelles.     

Initiation of Germination and Inactivation of Bacillus pumilus Spores by Hydrostatic Pressure

The effect of hydrostatic pressures as high as 1,700 atm at 25 C on the heat and radiation resistance of Bacillus pumilus spores was studied. Phosphate-buffered spores were more sensitive to compression than spores suspended in distilled water. Measurements of the turbidity of suspensions, the viability, refractility, stainability, dry weight, and respiratory activity of spores, and calcium and dipicolinic acid release were made for different pressures and times. Initiation of germination occurred at pressures exceeding 500 atm and was the prerequisite for inactivation by compression. The rate of initiation increased with increasing pressure at constant temperature. This result is interpreted as a net decrease in the volume of the system during initiation as a result of increased solvation of the spore components.     

Observations and Comments Concerning the Isolation of Group B β-Hemolytic Streptococci from Human Sources

A marked increase in the isolation of Group B streptococci from patients in the University Hospital, Saskatoon, has been noted over the past four years, and no change in technical methods has been found to explain this increase. Group B streptococci have been isolated from 242 patients, in 53 of whom the streptococcus was considered the cause of the infection. Infections occurred predominantly in the urinary tract, female genital tract and upper respiratory tract. There was a low incidence of infections in newborn infants, and only four infections were in patients under 1 year old. Infections were more frequent in women than men and in patients over 40 years of age. No particular affinity of Group B streptococci for diabetics was demonstrated.     

Formation of an animal virus within a bacterium

Conclusions Incubation of competent cells ofB. subtilis with a DNA-like subviral entity from vaccinia virus leads to the formation of complete vaccinia virus in the bacteria. The significance of this finding in regard to the concept of a universal genetic code is discussed.With 2 Figures in the TextA preliminary report of these results was presented at the XI. International Congress of Genetics in The Hague, September, 1963.Habilitandenstipendiat 1962/63 of Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Effects of Additives on the Survival of Lactic Streptococci in Frozen Storage

Three single-strain cultures, Streptococcus lactis C₂, S. cremoris R₁, and S. diacetilactis DRC₂, were frozen and stored in skim milk, in skim milk containing apple juice, and in skim milk containing one of the following additives: glycerol (10%, v/v), dimethyl sulfoxide (10%, v/v), l-malic acid (0.5 and 2.0%, w/v), acetamide (0.5 and 2.0%, w/v), or succinimide (0.5 and 2.0%, w/v). Cultures were frozen and stored at -23.3 C, frozen and stored at -196 C in liquid nitrogen, or frozen at -196 C and stored at -23.3 C. Cultures frozen and stored at -196 C in liquid nitrogen gave the greatest recovery of viable cells. The number of cells surviving after storage at -23.3 C was greater when the cells had been frozen in liquid N₂ than when they had been frozen at -23.3 C. All strains stored at -23.3 C showed a decrease in numbers of surviving cells; additives, particularly l-malic acid and apple juice, were advantageous in preserving the viability of the S. lactis C₂ and S. cremoris R₁ strains, but had little or no effect on the survival of S. diacetilactis DRC₂. l-Malic acid and apple juice stimulated acid production for all cultures in activity tests following incubation after thawing, whereas glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide retarded its development.     

REGIONAL ISOLATION PERFUSION IN THE TREATMENT OF ADVANCED MALIGNANT DISEASE

Regional isolation perfusion with an alkylating agent was carried out in a small community hospital, using readily available equipment, ten times in nine cases of advanced malignant disease. Visible regression of tumor, either grossly or histologically, occurred in seven patients and decided subjective improvement occurred in five patients.The long range effect of the procedure could not be determined in the present series, not enough time having elapsed.Side effects included jaundice in four patients, massive necrosis of the tumor in one patient, nausea and vomiting in three patients, postoperative edema in five patients, wound infection in two patients, Horner''s syndrome in one patient, temporary alopecia in three patients, and depression of hemoglobin level in seven patients, of the leukocyte count in four patients and of the platelet count in four patients.A feature of the procedure used in the present series was a system of monitoring the escape of alkylating agent into the systemic circulation.     

The androgen-dependent rat prostate protein,probasin, is a heparin-binding protein that co-purifies with heparin-binding growth factor-1

Summary Rat prostate extracts contain an abundant 20–22 kilodalton heparin-binding protein with near identical chromatographic properties, but only 0.2–1% of the mitogenic activity, of bovine brain heparin-binding growth factor-1 (acidic fibroblast growth factor). Amino terminal amino acid sequence (met-met-thr-asp-lys-asn-leu-lys-lys-lys-ile-glu-gly-asn-trp-arg-thr-val-tyr-leu-ala-ala-ser-?-val-glu-lys-ile-asn-glu-gly-ser-pro) and immunochemical analysis revealed that the protein is identical to the androgen-dependent protein “probasin”. This work was supported in part by NCI grant CA37589 (W. L. M., J. W. C.) and the Medical Research Council of Canada (R. J. M.).