Molybdenum nutrition of isolates of four Aspergillus species

The molybdenum requirement for growth and conidial formation by Aspergillus flavus, A. terreus, and A. sulphureus was found to be 0.2 ppb, which was one-fifth that of an A. niger isolate. Molybdenum deficiency depressed growth, conidial formation, dry weight, soluble protein, and the specific activities of nitrate reductase, succinic dehydrogenase, and aconitase in all the isolates of Aspergillus studied, but the specific activities of catalase and peroxidase were depressed only in isolates of A. niger, A. terreus, and A. flavus. Also, molybdenum deficiency stimulated the specific activities of acid phosphatase and ribonuclease in the A. flavus isolate, although the specific activities of these enzymes decreased in other isolates. Eighteen hours after the addition of molybdenum (5 ppb) to molybdenum-deficient (0.02 ppb) cultures of A. niger, the specific activities of catalase, peroxidase and succinic dehydrogenase were restored in the absence of cycloheximide, while the specific activity of nitrate reductase was recovered even in the presence of the inhibitor. There was no effect on the specific activities of aconitase and acid phosphatase following the addition of molybdenum to molybdenum-deficient cultures of A. niger.     

Biogenesis of some antibiotics in the presence of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid.

2-Chloroethylphosphonic acid (CEPA) affected both the growth of and antibiotic production in Streptomyces aureofaciens, S. griseus, S. antibioticus, and Penicillium citrinum. Streptomyces strains seemed to be more sensitive to the presence of CEPA in the medium than did the fungus. A decrease in both growth and antibiotic production was observed with a concomitant increase in the concentration of the ethylene-releasing compound in the medium. Higher concentrations of CEPA completely inhibited the growth of the above microorganisms.     

Dual regulation of adenylate cyclase and guanylate cyclase: alpha 2-adrenergic signal transduction in adrenocortical carcinoma cells

Isolated adrenocortical carcinoma cells of rat contain alpha 2- and beta-adrenergic receptors. When these cells are incubated with alpha 2-adrenergic agonists, there is a concentration-dependent increase of cyclic GMP that is blocked by the alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist yohimbine but not by the beta-antagonist propranolol. Concomitantly, both p-aminoclonidine (20 microM) and clonidine (100 microM), the alpha 2-adrenergic agonists, stimulate membrane guanylate cyclase activity. In calcium free medium there is no alpha 2-agonist-dependent increase in cyclic GMP. Isoproterenol, a beta-agonist, and forskolin cause an increase in cyclic AMP but not cyclic GMP. The cyclic AMP increase induced by isoproterenol is blocked by propranolol but not by yohimbine. Isoproterenol- and forskolin-dependent increases in cyclic AMP are inhibited by p-aminoclonidine and the inhibition is relieved by yohimbine. These results indicate a dual regulation of guanylate cyclase and adenylate cyclase by the alpha 2-receptor signal: guanylate cyclase is coupled to the receptor in a positive fashion, whereas adenylate cyclase is coupled in a negative fashion. Calcium is obligatory in the cyclic GMP-mediated response.     

Higher incidence of spontaneous sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and X-ray-induced chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes during pregnancy

In vitro cultures of peripheral blood lymphocytes from human and muntjac (barking deer) females who were at an advanced stage of pregnancy (32-37 weeks pregnant women and 20-24 weeks pregnant muntjacs) showed an enhanced frequency of SCEs and X-ray-induced chromosome aberrations when compared with those of nonpregnant females. Lymphocyte cultures of nonpregnant females to which sex hormones progesterone, oestrogen and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) were added together exogenously also showed higher frequency of SCEs. The plausible reason(s) for such high incidence of SCEs during pregnancy is discussed.     

Platelet count on slow induction to high altitude

Platelet counts were estimated at sea level in 50 lowlanders. They were divided at random in two groups (A and B) of 25 each. Group A went up by train/road transport to 3658 m, while group B reached the same height after 8 days of acclimatisation enroute. Platelet counts were estimated serially in both groups at high altitude. Symptoms of high altitude exposure were also recorded. No significant change in the counts was noted in either group and none became Symptomatic. All were brought back to sea level by air and deinduction studies carried out on days 1 and 4 of return. The importance of these findings in the light of our existing knowledge is discussed.     

Properties of a cellulolytic Sporolactobacillus and some non-sporing cellulolytic rods, presumptive clostridia, from an anaerobic digester

Anaerobic digesters contain a wide variety of anaerobic cellulolytic bacteria. Many of these are sporing rods. Some isolates from a mesophilic cattle waste anaerobic digester were classified as Sporolactobacillus spp. A further group of bacteria could not be induced to sporulate. In some respects they resembled Eubacterium , but considering all the properties it is suggested that they should be classified as a species of Clostridium.     

Synthesis, modification with N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene and physicochemical studies of DNA model compound d(TACGTA)

The deoxyhexanucleotide d(TACGTA) was synthesized by a modified phosphotriester method. The modified procedure made rapid synthesis of deoxyoligonucleotide possible in gram quantity. N-Acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (AAAF) modified d(TACGTA). Thin layer chromatography and UV analysis of the acid treated AAF modified hexanucleotide showed that the covalent modification with AAF took place exclusively at C(8) of guanine in d(TACGTA). d(TACGTA) and AAF modified d(TACGTA) were purified by preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The pure products were characterized by 1H and 31P-NMR. The circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of d(TACGTA) was consistent with DNA in the B form even in the presence of 4 M NaCl whereas the modified hexamer had nearly inverted spectrum in the absence of any added salt. Both NMR and CD analyses indicated profound alteration of conformation of d(TACGTA) upon covalent modification with AAF. The stabilization of the Z-like conformation in the modified hexamer under physiological conditions of salt and temperature suggests biological relevance.