A chemically defined fermentation medium for the growth of Micromonospora purpurea

A chemically defined medium for Micromonospora purpurea has been devised, consisting of glucose, a nitrogen source, calcium carbonate, magnesium sulfate, dibasic potassium phosphate, and the required trace quantities of iron, copper, zinc, and manganese. Using washed cell inocula, dry mycelial weights of more than 16 mg./ml. were obtained in 7-day shaken-flask fermentations. Nutrient requirements for M. purpurea are discussed and growth data presented. Sucrose, maltose, starches and dextrins could be substituted for glucose, and resulted in good growth of the organism. A number of amino acids and inorganic nitrogen-containing compounds were capable of utilization as sole nitrogen sources. Weekly serial transfers of the culture in defined medium have shown no diminution in mycelial weights over a four-month period.     

Differential Chromatographic Bioassay for the Gentamicin Complex

A differential paper chromatographic assay for the components of the gentamicin complex, designated as C(1), C(1a), and C(2), is described. The gentamicins are separated on paper strips with the lower phase of a solvent mixture consisting of chloroform, methanol, and 17% ammonium hydroxide (2: 1: 1, v/v). After chromatographic separation, the paper strips are plated against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P, and the zones of activity are quantified against known standards.     

Biochemical investigations of retinotectal adhesive specificity

The preferential adhesion of chick neural retina cells to surfaces of intact optic tecta has been investigated biochemically. The study uses a collection assay in which single cells from either dorsal or ventral halves of neural retain adhere preferentially to ventral or dorsal halves of optic tecta respectively. The data presented support the following conclusions: (a) The adhesion of ventral retina to dorsal tecta seems to depend on proteins located on ventral retina and on terminal β-N-acetylgalactosamine residues on dorsal tecta. (b) The adhesion of dorsal retina to ventral tecta seems to depend on proteins located on ventral tecta and on terminal β- N-acetylgalactosamine residues on dorsal retina. (c) A double gradient model for retinotectal adhesion along the dorsoventral axis is consistent with the data presented. The model utilizes only two complementary molecules. The molecule suggested to be concentrated dorsally in both retina and tectum seems to require terminal β-N-acetylgalactosamine residues for adhesion. Its activity is not affected by protease. A molecule fitting these qualifications, the ganglioside GM(2), could not be detected in a gradient, but lecithin vesicles containing GM(2) adhered preferentially to ventral tectal surfaces. The second molecule, concentrated ventrally in both retina and tectum, is a protein and seems capable of binding terminal β-N- acetylgalactosamine residues. One enzyme, UDP-galactose:GM(2) galactosyltransferase, has been found to be more concentrated in ventral retina than dorsal, but only by 30 percent.