Identification and characterization of yeasts in brem, a traditional Balinese rice wine

Fifty-one yeast strains isolated from fermented mash of Balinese rice wine, brem, fermented using five different types of starters, ragi tape, were identified on the basis of their internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and their 18S rDNA sequences. The results revealed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae(35 strains), Candida glabrata(six strains), Pichia anomala(three strains) and Issatchenkia orientalis(seven strains) were the main yeasts in the fermentation of the rice wine. These yeasts undergo succession during the fermentation in which S. cerevisiae was mostly found as the principal yeast at the end of fermentation. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 18S rDNA sequences of selected strains placed the isolated S. cerevisiae strains in the Saccharomyces sensu stricto group. Karyotype analysis of the S. cerevisiae strains resolved using pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) showed that the strains are typically associated with different types of starters.     

Sympathetic outflow to the skeletal muscle in humans increases during prolonged light exercise

Saito, Mitsuru, Ryoko Sone, Masao Ikeda, and Tadaaki Mano.Sympathetic outflow to the skeletal muscle in humans increases during prolonged light exercise. J. Appl.Physiol. 82(4): 1237 - 1243, 1997.Toinvestigate the effects of exercise duration on muscle sympatheticnerve activity (MSNA), heart rate, blood pressure (BP), tympanictemperature, blood lactate concentration, and thigh electromyogram weremeasured in eight volunteers during 30 min of cycling in the sittingposition at an intensity of 40% of maximal oxygen uptake. MSNA burstfrequency increased 18 min after exercise was begun (25 ± 4 bursts/min at baseline and 36 ± 5 bursts/min at 21 min ofexercise), reaching 41 ± 5 bursts/min at the end ofexercise. Heart rate and systolic BP increased during exercise. Twenty minutes after commencement of exercise, however, bothsystolic and diastolic BP values tended to drop compared with theinitial period of exercise. Tympanic temperature increased in atime-dependent manner, and the increment was significant 12 min afterexercise was begun. Blood lactate concentration and integratedelectromyogram showed no significant changes during exercise. Theincreased MSNA during prolonged light-intensity exercise may be asecondary effect of the drop in BP as a result of blood redistributioncaused by thermoregulation rather than by metaboreflex.

     

Calcitonin gene-related peptide in the human hypothalamus

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-like immunoreactivity (LI) in the human hypothalamus was investigated by radioimmunoassay and by immunocytochemistry. CGRP-LI was detected from two hypothalami obtained at autopsy (2.1 and 7.0 ng/g wet tissue) by radioimmunoassay. Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography revealed that most of the CGRP-LI in the human hypothalamus was eluted in an identical position with synthetic human CGRP. For immunocytochemistry, human hypothalami obtained at autopsy were fixed and cryostat-sectioned at 40 microns. Free floating sections were immunostained with antibody to CGRP. CGRP-immunoreactive cell bodies were found in the supraoptic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus and infundibular nucleus. These findings indicate that CGRP exists in the cell bodies of the supraoptic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus and infundibular nucleus in the human hypothalamus and CGRP may play some roles in the endocrine and other functions of the human hypothalamus.     

Calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivities in pheochromocytomas

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is reported to exist in high concentrations in plasma and tumor tissues of medullary thyroid carcinomas. CGRP-like immunoreactivity (LI) in tumor tissues of pheochromocytomas was investigated by radioimmunoassay. CGRP-LI in 9 pheochromocytomas ranged from 0.50 to 1240 ng/g wet tissue. Sephadex G-50 column chromatography revealed that most of CGRP-LI in tumor extracts was eluted in an identical position to synthetic human CGRP. Reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography revealed that CGRP-LI in tumor extracts was eluted in an identical position to synthetic human CGRP and in a more hydrophobic position. These results indicate that high concentrations of CGRP-LI also exist in tumor tissues of pheochromocytomas.     

Competition between two congeneric stream gobies for habitat in southwestern Shikoku, Japan

Competition between two congeneric gobies, Rhinogobius sp. LD (large-dark type) and CB (cross-band type), for habitat was studied in a tributary of the Shimanto River, southwestern Shikoku, Japan. Habitat use by CB, measured by water depth, current velocity, and substrate, was compared between before and after the removal of LD. After the removal of LD, CB shifted their habitat use to coarser substrates than previously, suggesting a release from effects of LD. This result supports a hypothesis from our previous study that habitat partitioning between CB and LD is a consequence of interference effects of LD on CB.     

Role of xyloglucan breakdown in epidermal cell walls for auxininduced elongation of azuki bean epicotyl segments

Auxin-induced elongation of epicotyl segments of azuki bean ( Vigna angularis Ohwi et Ohashi cv. Takara) was suppressed by a fucose-binding lectin from Tetragonolobus purpureas Moench and by polyclonal antibodies raised against xyloglucan heptasaccharide (Xyl₃Glc₄) when the cuticle present in the outer surface of epicotyls was abraded. In contrast, elongation of non-abraded segments was not influenced by the lectin or the antibodies. Epicotyl segments, from which the epidermal and the outer cortical cells had been removed, elongated rapidly for 2 h and than only slowly. Auxin slightly stimulated elongation of the inner tissue segments in the phase of slow growth. Neither in the presence nor in the absence of auxin did the lectin or the antibodies affect elongation of the inner tissue segments. The split portions of outer surface-abraded epicotyl segments incubated in buffer extended outward, and auxininhibited this outward bending. The lectin and the antibodies reversed the effect of auxin on bending. The fucose-binding lectin pretreated with fucose or the immunoglobulin fraction obtained from preimmune serum exhibited little or no inhibitory effect on auxin-induced elongation of abraded or split segments. These results support the view that a breakdown of xyloglucans in the epidermal cell walls plays an essential role in auxin-induced elongation in dicotyledons.     

Proton translocation by ATPase and bacteriorhodopsin.

Stable membrane proteins and lipids are convenient to study biomembranes. Two stable proton translocating proteins were purified and reconstituted into vesicles capable of proton translocation. One was a thermostable ATPase (TF0-F1) of thermophilic bacterium PS3 and the other was rhodopsin of Halobacterium halobium. TF0-F1 was composed of a proton pump moiety (TF1) and a proton channel moiety (TF0). TF1 was the first membrane ATPase which was crystallized and reconstituted from its five polypeptides. Like TF0 and TF1, the rhodopsin in purple membrane was highly stable against dissociating agents, acids and alkali. Phospholipids of these biomembranes were also stable and contained no unsaturated fatty acyl groups. The molecular species of the phospholipids of PS3 were determined by mass chromatography. Measurements were made of the difference in electrochemical potential of protons (deltamicronH+) across the membrane of the reconstituted vesicles. The deltamicronH+ attained was 312 mV in TF0-F1 vesciles and was 230 mV in the rhodopsin vesicles. To conclude that electron transport components are not necessary for ATP synthesis in energy yielding biomembranes, two experiments were performed: The ATP synthesis was observed i) on acid-base treatment of TF0-F1 vesicles, and ii) on illumination of the rhodopsin-TF0-F1 vesicles.     

Mouse strain variations in the magnitude of induction of liver DT-diaphorase and hereditary transmission of the trait

1. Strain variations among mice in terms of cytosolic DT-diaphorase activity were studied in liver, kidney, stomach and heart tissues with or without the administration of 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA). 2. BHA induced DT-diaphorase activity in all strains examined, and the magnitude of induction varied depending on the strain and tissue. Among the 10 inbred strains tested, BALB/c and C57BL mice showed relatively large magnitudes of induction for liver DT-diaphorase, whereas C3H and CBA mice showed relatively small magnitudes. 3. Results of examinations of BALB/c-C3H-F1, -F2 and C57BL-CBA-F1 mice revealed that smaller magnitudes of induction of liver DT-diaphorase were inherited essentially as a dominant trait. The hereditary trait could be adequately explained by postulating two gene loci that regulate the magnitude of induction. 4. The possible significance of DT-diaphorase activity in chemical carcinogenesis was discussed.