Preferential fatigue of the rib cage muscles during inspiratory resistive loaded ventilation

Because the inspiratory rib cage muscles are recruited during inspiratory resistive loaded breathing, we hypothesized that such loading would preferentially fatigue the rib cage muscles. We measured the pressure developed by the inspiratory rib cage muscles during maximal static inspiratory maneuvers (Pinsp) and the pressure developed by the diaphragm during maximal static open-glottis expulsive maneuvers (Pdimax) in four human subjects, both before and after fatigue induced by an inspiratory resistive loaded breathing task. Tasks consisted of maintaining a target esophageal pressure, breathing frequency, and duty cycle for 3-5 min, after which the subjects maintained the highest esophageal pressure possible for an additional 5 min. After loading, Pinsp decreased in all subjects [control, -128 +/- 14 (SD) cmH2O; with fatigue, -102 +/- 18 cmH2O; P less than 0.001, paired t test]. Pdimax was unchanged (control, -192 +/- 23 cmH2O; fatigue, -195 +/- 27 cmH2O). These data suggest that 1) inability to sustain the target during loading resulted from fatigue of the inspiratory rib cage muscles, not diaphragm, and 2) simultaneous measurement of Pinsp and Pdimax may be useful in partitioning muscle fatigue into rib cage and diaphragmatic components.     

Succession and growth rates of encrusting crustose coralline algae (Rhodophyta,Cryptonemiales) in the upper fore-reef environment off Ishigaki Island,Ryukyu Islands

Observations were made on the succession and growth rates of crustose coralline algae growing in situ on artificial substrata in a shallow fore-reef environment on Ishigaki Island, Ryukyu Islands. Succession in well-illuminated environments manifests itself as a gradual replacement of species having very thin thalli by those having larger and thicker thalli. The species Porolithon onkodes, Paragoniolithon conicum and Lithophyllum insipidum achieved dominance by competitive interactions of overgrowing margins. The thicker species recruit quickly (within the first few months), but because of their slow growth rate do not displace the pioneer species that have very thin thalli until after the latter begin to die. Regardless of seasonal temperature fluctuations, which exceed 10 °C, the coralline algal succession is the same for each season. The maximum lateral growth rates of the major species range between 2.9 and 3.9 mm/month. Vertical growth rates of Porolithon onkodes, the thickest species, are the most rapid (more than 2 mm/year at maximum) relative to those of other species. Accretion rates of entire coralline algal cover on ungrazed substrata range from 1.0 to 1.2 mm/year (not allowing any lag time for recruitment), whereas those of grazed substrata are lower. These results are consistent with species which are ecological equivalents and live in similar environments on Caribbean reefs.     

Role of carbohydrate moiety of IL-5. Effect of tunicamycin on the glycosylation of IL-5 and the biologic activity of deglycosylated IL-5

IL-5 is a T cell-derived lymphokine that induces B cell growth and differentiation in murine systems. In this study, we examined the role of carbohydrate moiety of IL-5 in the expression of biological function. IL-5 polypeptides translated in Xenopus oocytes were heterogeneous in terms of isoelectric point (pI 4.7 to 8.0) and m.w. (45,000 to 60,000 under nonreducing conditions) and yielded m.w. of 25,000 to 30,000 under reducing conditions. Treatment of rIL-5 with N-glycanase under reducing conditions yielded an IL-5 monomer of m.w. 12,000 to 14,000. Furthermore, deglycosylated rIL-5 that had been translated in the presence of tunicamycin showed very limited heterogeneity by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (first dimension, nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis; second dimension, SDS-PAGE). The m.w. was 27,000 to 28,000 under non-reducing conditions and migrated to m.w. 13,000 to 14,000 under reducing conditions. These results indicate that IL-5 is a glycoprotein carrying the N-glycosidically-linked carbohydrates. Treatment of IL-5 with sialidase caused the decrease in the heterogeneity in isoelectric point of IL-5. Deglycosylated rIL-5 that had been obtained from tunicamycin-treated oocytes could bind to IL-5-responding cells (T88-M), which express both high- and low-affinity IL-5 receptors, as efficient as intact rIL-5 under high-affinity conditions. Scatchard plot analysis of equilibrium binding of 35S-labeled rIL-5 to T88-M cells revealed that the dissociation constants (Kd) of glycosylated rIL-5 and deglycosylated rIL-5 were 127 pM and 110 pM, respectively. IL-5 activities determined by both B cell growth and differentiation assays were not affected by deglycosylation. These results indicate that N-linked glycoside moiety of IL-5 molecules may not play an essential role in the expression of its activity.     

Purification and characterization from bovine brain cytosol of two GTPase-activating proteins specific for smg p21, a GTP-binding protein having the same effector domain as c-ras p21s

The smg-21 GTP-binding protein (smg p21) has the same effector domain as the ras proteins (ras p21s) and is identical with the proteins of the rap1A and Krev-1 genes. In this paper, two proteins stimulating the GTPase activity of smg p21 are partially purified from bovine brain cytosol. These proteins, designated as smg p21 GTPase-activating protein (GAP) 1 and 2, are separated from a c-ras p21 GAP described previously by column chromatographies. smg p21 GAP1 and -2 stimulate the GTPase activity of only smg p21 but not that of c-Ha-ras p21 or the rho and smg-25A GTP-binding proteins. smg p21 GAP1 or -2 does not stimulate the dissociation of guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate or GDP from smg p21. smg p21 GAP1 or -2 themselves do not have GTP/GDP binding or GTPase activity. The Mr values of smg p21 GAP1 and -2 are estimated to be 250-400 x 10(3) and 80-100 x 10(3) by gel filtration and sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation, respectively. The activity of smg p21 GAP1 and -2 is killed by tryptic digestion or heat boiling. These results indicate that bovine brain contains two smg p21 GAPs in addition to c-ras p21 GAP.     

Small molecular weight GTP-binding proteins in human platelet membranes. Purification and characterization of a novel GTP-binding protein with a molecular weight of 22,000

When guanosine 5'-(3-O-[35S]thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S)-binding activity was assayed in the particulate and cytosol fractions of human platelets, most activity was found in the particulate fraction. GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) were extracted from the particulate fraction by sodium cholate and purified by several column chromatographies. At least three G proteins with Mr values of about 21,000, 22,000, and 24,000 (21K G, 22K G, and 24K G, respectively) were separated in addition to the stimulatory (Gs) and inhibitory (Gi) regulatory GTP-binding proteins of adenylate cyclase. Among them, the amount of 22K G was more than 10-fold of those of other G proteins. 22K G was purified to near homogeneity and characterized. 22K G specifically bound GTP gamma S, GTP, and GDP, with a Kd value for GTP gamma S of about 50 nM. [35S]GTP gamma S binding to 22K G was inhibited by pretreatment with N-ethylmaleimide. 22K G hydrolyzed GTP to liberate Pi, with a turnover number of 0.01 min-1. 22K G was not copurified with the beta gamma subunits of Gs and Gi and was not recognized by the antibodies against the ADP-ribosylation factor for Gs and the ras protein. The peptide map of 22K G was different from those of the smg-25A and rho proteins, which we have purified from bovine brain membranes. 21K G was identified to be the c-ras protein, but 24K G was unidentified. These results indicate that there are multiple G proteins in platelet membranes and that a novel G protein (22K G) is a major G protein in platelets.     

Functional analysis of mononuclear cells infiltrating into tumors. V. A. soluble factor involved in the regulation of cytotoxic/suppressor T cell infiltration into tumors

We have analyzed the mechanisms controlling the accumulation of cytotoxic/suppressor T lymphocytes in tumor tissues. We found that tumor-infiltrating helper/inducer T cells isolated from T-9 gliosarcoma-sensitized rats between 4 and 6 days after T-9 gliosarcoma inoculation produced a lymphocyte migration factor (LMF) during in vitro culture. Four peaks of LMF activity (A through D) were detected upon fractionation of LMF by using a Mono Q anion exchange column chromatography. Peak C exhibited the strongest activity among the four peaks of LMF. The action of peak C was chemotactic, but not chemokinetic. Peak C had an isoelectric point of 8.0 and a Mr of 26,000 Da. Only cytotoxic/suppressor T cells were found to be sensitive to peak C in vitro as well as in vivo. It is thus likely that peak C is responsible for the infiltration of cytotoxic/suppressor T cells into tumor tissues. The infiltration of lymphocytes into tumor tissues might also be regulated by the expression of lymphocyte sensitivity for LMF. The target molecule for LMF at 4 days may involve an asparagine-linked oligosaccharide.     

The reaction of Aspergillus niger catalase with methyl hydroperoxide.

The formation of Compound I from Aspergillus niger catalase and methyl hydroperoxide (CH3OOH) has been investigated kinetically by means of rapid-scanning stopped-flow techniques. The spectral changes during the reaction showed distinct isobestic points. The second-order rate constant and the activation energy for the formation of Compound I were 6.4 x 10(3) M-1s-1 and 10.4 kcal.mol-1, respectively. After formation of Compound I, the absorbance at the Soret peak returned slowly to the level of ferric enzyme with a first-order rate constant of 1.7 x 10(-3) s-1. Spectrophotometric titration of the enzyme with CH3OOH indicates that 4 mol of peroxide react with 1 mol of enzyme to form 1 mol of Compound I. The amount of Compound I formed was proportional to the specific activity of the catalase. The irreversible inhibition of catalase by 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT) was observed in the presence of CH3OOH or H2O2. The second-order rate constant of the catalase-AT formation in CH3OOH was 3.0 M-1 min-1 at 37 degrees C and pH 6.8 and the pKa value was estimated to be 6.10 from the pH profile of the rate constant of the AT-inhibition. These results indicate that A. niger catalase forms Compound I with the same properties as other catalases and peroxidases, but the velocity of the Compound I formation is lower than that of the others.     

Concentrations of essential elements after repeated administrations of tin and selenium

To study effects of simultaneous administration of tin (Sn) and selenium (Se) on concentrations of several essential elements, mice were injected with either SnCl2 (ip) or Na2SeO3 (sc), alone or both compounds at a daily dose of 5 mumol/kg each for 12 consecutive days. Mice were sacrificed at 20 h after the last injection and concentrations of Sn, Se, Na, Ca, Zn, P, Fe, K, and Mg in the liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, testis, seminal vesicle, lung, femoral muscle, and femoral bone were determined. In the control mice, Sn and Se concentrations were the highest in bone (0.69 micrograms Sn and 6.93 micrograms Se/g dry wt). Administered Sn was found to accumulate in all organs except the testis. Among the essential elements determined, Na was the most affected in terms of concentration in the organs and Mg was the least affected element in these organs. Among the organs tested, each elemental concentration in the pancreas was most affected. Simultaneous injections of Sn and Se appeared to keep the correlation coefficients between elements similar to those found in the control mice.