Albumin obscures sex differences in blood protein patterns of rats and humans.

Sex related differences in the blood protein patterns of male and female rats and humans have been studied by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. In rats, a prominent band of mol.wt. 74000--78000 is seen in females in far greater quantity than in males, castrated males or ovariectomized females. A secondary band of 100000 is seen under non-reducing conditions in female rats that is absent in males. In humans, bands of 92000 and 88000 mol.wt. appear to be variable in concentration in men although relatively constant in women. The above differences are observable only if serum albumin is removed from the samples before electrophoresis. The results suggest that each sex has its own characteristic blood protein pattern.     

Oxidant effect of acetylphenylhydrazine: a comparative study with erythrocytes of several animal species.

Red cells from several animal species were treated with acetylphenylhydrazine and a comparative study of the oxidation of hemoglobin (Hb) and glutathione (GSH) made. Wide interspecies differences were observed but the oxidation of GSH paralleled that of Hb. Added glucose protected both Hb and GSH from oxidation; GSH by itself exercises a protective effect on Hb. The characteristic rates of oxidation of GSH in the different species can be observed only in the presence of oxyhemoglobin but not carboxyhemoblobin or methemoglobin. The oxidation of Hb appears to be the primary event, the oxidation of GSH being a consequence thereof.     

Regulation of stem elongation in chinese cabbage by inflorescence removal and application of growth regulators

The effect of inflorescence removal on stem elongation in Chinese cabbage cv. Spring A was studied. Removal of the inflorescence before its visibility, or upon its appearance but before the beginning of bolting (stages 1–3), markedly reduced the stem length. Removal after the beginning of bolting (stage 5) had no effect on stem length.Application of GA₃ to the treated plants partially or fully restored the elongation of the flowering stem, whereas paclobutrazol inhibited the elongation of the treated, as well as the control stems. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or kinetin was ineffective in restoring stem elongation of the plants from which the inflorescence had been removed. Inflorescences at stages 1–2 were found to secrete about 10 times more gibberellic acid (GA)-like activity compared with control apices or inflorescences at stage 5.It is suggested that the developing inflorescence is the major source of GAs which control stem elongation. However, shortly after the appearance of the inflorescence at the onset of bolting, stem elongation is no longer dependent on GAs derived from the apical inflorescence but require GAs from other sources.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center Bet Dagan, Israel No. 2218-E, 1987 series.     

Localization of anti-clathrin antibody in the sarcomere and sensitivity of myofibril structure to chloroquine suggest a role for clathrin in myofibril assembly

Immunofluorescence microscopy has been used to demonstrate that X22, a monoclonal antibody specific for clathrin heavy chain, localizes in repetitive bands that appear soon after the fusion of skeletal myoblasts into multinucleate fibers. This organization has been found in cultures containing myotubes that develop in vitro from explants of newborn rat hindlimb cells and in myotubes derived from the L8E63 myogenic line. Bands were also prominent in skinned fibers prepared from adult rat soleus muscle and in cardiac myocytes grown in vitro from 4-day heart ventricles. Immunofluorescence banding was localized in the sarcomere as a doublet, with one element on either side of the Z line. Evidence that supports the conclusion that the reaction with X22 antibody is specific and indicative of the localization of clathrin in the sarcomere includes: (1) Identical titration of X22 antibody reactivity with the determinant in coated vesicles and in the sarcomere. (2) Conditions (eg., pH and Tris) that disrupt clathrin baskets or prevent its assembly likewise disrupt the localization of X22 in bands. (3) Chloroquine inhibits both the normal trafficking of clathrin in the cell and X22 banding in the sarcomere. (4) Immunoblot analysis of myotube lysates reveals a single band with an electrophoretic mobility identical to the 180,000-Da clathrin heavy chain. (5) The assembly of clathrin into sarcomeric bands occurs early in the development of the myofibrillar apparatus. Quantitation of the appearance of X22 banding in primary cultures of myotubes indicates that it precedes that of other myofibrillar proteins and that assembly takes place in the following order: X22, titin, myosin heavy chain, actin, and desmin. The assembly of myosin, titin, and actin into sarcomeric bands, as well as X22, is inhibited by chloroquine. Upon prolonged exposure to chloroquine previously assembled proteins are drastically reduced or no longer evident in the sarcomere. On the basis of these results and considering the role of clathrin in intracellular transport and its capacity to interact with actin and alpha-actinin, we suggest that clathrin may have diverse roles in the assembly, integrity, and functioning of the sarcomere and its integration with the sarcolemma. The early organization of X22 into bands further suggests that clathrin may also function early in the assembly of the contractile system.     

Specific binding of sulphated polymers to ram sperm proacrosin

Sulphated polysaccharides and zona pellucida glycoproteins have been shown to bind non-enzymatically to proacrosin, the protein found within the acrosomal vesicle of mammalian spermatozoa. The mechanism of this interaction has been investigated using ¹²⁵I-fucoidan to probe purified ram sperm proacrosin. Results show that (a) binding of' ¹²⁵I-fucoidan to proacrosin is inhibited only by sulphated polymers and (b) recognition is mediated by poly(sulphate) groups and is largely independent of the composition of the polymer chain. It is suggested that a similar mechanism is responsible for the interaction between proacrosin and zona pellueida glycoproteins during the early stages of fertilization in mammals and this process mediates firm binding of spermatozoa to the egg.     

The proteins of the content of the secretory granules of the rat parotid gland

The proteins of the secretory granules of the rat parotid gland were characterized by sodium dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis, by chromatography of [³H]prolinelabeled proteins on DEAE-cellulose and by amino acid analysis.Sodium dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis of the secretory granule content showed five principal proteins and a limited number of minor components. Only two of the principal bands could be identified as known secretory enzymes of the parotid gland. One was identified as the α-amylase and one as deoxyribonuclease. Peroxidase and ribonuclease form minor portions of the secretory proteins.The other three major proteins constitute, together, about 60% by weight, of the secretory granule content proteins. Of these, one which represents more than 30% of the total granule protein was found to contain uniquely high amounts of leucine residues (21 mole%). Another one of these principal proteins was relatively rich in cysteine residues (7 mole%).The fifth principal protein was found to contain high amounts of proline (28 mole%) glutamic acid (17 mole%) and glycine (18 mole%) residues. Its amino acid composition was very similar to that of the proline-rich proteins that were previously shown to be present in the membrane isolated from these granules. This protein, however, differed from the “membranous” proline-rich proteins by several criteria.Two minor glycoproteins of the secretory granule content were also found to be rich in proline residues (37 mole%). As with the other proline-rich proteins of the granule, they contained no sulphur-containing amino acids, stained faintly pink with Coomassie Blue and were underestimated by the Lowry method. They differ however, from all the other proline-rich proteins of the granule by having a significantly higher content of threonine, less glycine (9 mole%) and much less glutamic acid (3 mole%).Of the principal proteins, only the deoxyribonuclease and the half-cystine-rich proteins were positively stained by periodic acid Schiff staining.The possible functions of the leucine-rich, the half cystine-rich and the various proline-rich proteins are discussed.     

Basic protein changes during the final stages of sperm maturation in the house cricket

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has been used to analyse basic protein changes during the final stages of spermiogenesis in the house cricket. Mature sperm were obtained from the spermathecae of inseminated females. Their basic protein is electrophoretically heterogeneous, with two major and two minor components, all of unusually high mobilities, as expected ofprotamine. No histones are present. Testis also contains basic protein components of high mobilities, although in small amount relative to the histones present. Testis preparations were centrifuged on a density gradient of colloidal silica to separate nuclei of different stages of spermiogenesis from each other, and it was found that very late spermatids contain relatively large amounts of protamine. At least seven different protamine-like components, each with a different mobility, occur during the final maturation stages. The particular components present, and their abundancies, vary during development. The complement first found in spermatids is different from that of a later spermatid; still another complement is found in sperm from the seminal vesicle; and still another in mature sperm. Components which are abundant in spermatids are progressively eliminated, while components which are barely detectable in them gradually increase in abundance to become the major components of the basic protein complement at maturity.     

Parents exposed to warming produce offspring lower in weight and condition

The parental environment can alter offspring phenotypes via the transfer of non‐genetic information. Parental effects may be viewed as an extension of (within‐generation) phenotypic plasticity. Smaller size, poorer physical condition, and skewed sex ratios are common responses of organisms to global warming, yet whether parental effects alleviate, exacerbate, or have no impact on these responses has not been widely tested. Further, the relative non‐genetic influence of mothers and fathers and ontogenetic timing of parental exposure to warming on offspring phenotypes is poorly understood. Here, we tested how maternal, paternal, and biparental exposure of a coral reef fish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus) to elevated temperature (+1.5°C) at different ontogenetic stages (development vs reproduction) influences offspring length, weight, condition, and sex. Fish were reared across two generations in present‐day and projected ocean warming in a full factorial design. As expected, offspring of parents exposed to present‐day control temperature that were reared in warmer water were shorter than their siblings reared in control temperature; however, within‐generation plasticity allowed maintenance of weight, resulting in a higher body condition. Parental exposure to warming, irrespective of ontogenetic timing and sex, resulted in decreased weight and condition in all offspring rearing temperatures. By contrast, offspring sex ratios were not strongly influenced by their rearing temperature or that of their parents. Together, our results reveal that phenotypic plasticity may help coral reef fishes maintain performance in a warm ocean within a generation, but could exacerbate the negative effects of warming between generations, regardless of when mothers and fathers are exposed to warming. Alternatively, the multigenerational impact on offspring weight and condition may be a necessary cost to adapt metabolism to increasing temperatures. This research highlights the importance of examining phenotypic plasticity within and between generations across a range of traits to accurately predict how organisms will respond to climate change.     

Focus: Vaccines: Myocarditis Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review of Case Reports

Introduction: COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), often presents with a spectrum of symptoms at varying levels of severity, ranging from asymptomatic patients to those with fatal complications, such as myocarditis. With increased availability of COVID-19 vaccines, the awareness of possible side effects has expanded as reports surface. This study reviewed cases of myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination and with existing literature on COVID-19 infection-induced myocarditis to compare clinical courses and analyze possible mechanisms of action. Methods: A systematic review of literature was conducted to identify published case reports (as of February 3, 2022) pertaining to the development of myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination with either Pfizer or Moderna for an in-depth analysis. Additional subgroup analyses were conducted based on age, past medical history, vaccine manufacturer, and dose number. Results: There were 53 eligible case reports that were included in this study. Patients were mostly male with a median age of 24 years, and the most reported symptom upon presentation was chest pain. Seventy percent of the cases involved the Pfizer vaccine with a majority of myocarditis developing subsequent to second dose. Resolution of symptoms was achieved in all but one patient. Clinical severity, as measured primarily by left ventricular ejection fraction, appeared to be worse among adult patients than pediatric, as well as for patients with comorbidities. Conclusion: This study revealed an observable association between COVID-19 vaccines and myocarditis. However, the clinical course and prognosis seem favorable and less prevalent than those conferred from natural infection.