Essential trace elements in humans

Serum arsenic concentrations of persons suffering from renal failure and undergoing hemodialysis treatment (n=85) and of healthy controls (n=25) were determined by hydride-generation AAS technique after microwave digestion. The results were evaluated by comparing the values of both groups, considering physiological factors and individual data, as well as comorbid conditions of the hemodialysis (HD) patients. Serum arsenic levels were diminished in the patient group compared with controls (mean values 8.5±1.8 ng/mL vs 10.6±1.3 ng/mL). Furthermore, additional diseases within the hemodialysis group, particularly injuries of the central nervous system (CNS), vascular diseases, and cancer, were correlated to occasionally markedly decreased serum arsenic concentrations. It was concluded that arsenic homeostasis is disturbed by HD treatment and certain additional diseases. Desirable arsenic concentrations in the body seem to be reasonable. This consideration results in the conclusion that arsenic could play an essential role in human health. Thus, reference arsenic concentrations in different human tissues and body fluids should be established in order to recognize not only arsenic intoxication, but also arsenic deficiency. Perhaps arsenic deficiency contributes to the increased death risk of HD patients, and therefore, arsenic supplementations for patients with extremely low serum arsenic concentrations should be taken into account.     

Interaction sites on phosphorylase kinase for calmodulin

Holophosphorylase kinase was digested with Glu-C specific protease; from the peptide mixture calmodulin binding peptides were isolated by affinity chromatography and identified by N-terminal sequence analysis. Two peptides originating from the subunit, having a high tendency to form a positively charged amphiphilic helix and containing tryptophane, were synthesized. Additionally, a homologous region of the subunit and a peptide from the subunit present in a region deleted in the isoform were also selected for synthesis. Binding stoichiometry and affinity were determined by following the enhancement in tryptophane fluorescence occurring upon 1:1 complex formation between these peptides and calmodulin. Finally, Ca²⁺ binding to calmodulin in presence of peptides was measured. By this way, the peptides 542–566, 547–571, 660–677 and 597–614 have been found to bind specifically to calmodulin.Together with previously predicted and synthesized calmodulin binding peptides four calmodulin binding regions have been characterized on each the and subunits. It can be concluded that endogenous calmodulin can bind to two calmodulin binding regions in as well as to two regions in and . Exogenous calmodulin can bind to two regions in and in . A binding stoichiometry of 0.8mol of calmodulin/ protomer of phosphorylase kinase has been determined by inhibiting the ubiquitination of calmodulin with phosphorylase kinase. Phosphorylase kinase is half maximally activated by 23nM calmodulin which is in the affinity range of calmodulin binding peptides from to calmodulin. Therefore, binding of exogenous calmodulin to activates the enzyme. A model for switching endogenous calmodulin between , and and modulation of ATP binding to as well as Mg²⁺/ADP binding to by calmodulin is presented.     

Metabolism of 2-chloro-4-methylphenoxyacetate by Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP 134

2-Chloro-4-methylphenoxyacetate is not a growth substrate for Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP 134 and JMP 1341. It is, however, being transformed by enzymes of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid metabolism to 2-chloro-4-methyl-cis, cis-muconate, which is converted by enzymatic 1,4-cycloisomerization to 4-carboxymethyl-2-chloro-4-methylmuconolactone as a dead end metabolite. Chemically, only 3,6-cycloisomerization occurs, giving rise to both diastereomers of 4-carboxychloromethyl-3-methylbut-2-en-4-olide. Those lactones harbonring a chlorosubstituent on the 4-carboxymethyl side chain were surprisingly stable under physiological as well as acidic conditions.     

Über die elektrische Kapazität der Zellmembran und die Leitfähigkeit des Zytoplasmas von Ehrlich-Aszitestumorzellen

Zusammenfassung In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die elektrische Leitfähigkeit und die Membrankapazität von Ehrlich-Aszitestumorzellen gemessen. Die Membrankapazität beträgt 1,7±0,3 Farad/cm². Die spezifische Leitfähigkeit des Zytoplasmas beträgt 0,013 [ ^–1 cm^–1]±12%. Der spezielle Verlauf der Dispersion der Dielektrizitätskonstanten und der Leitfähigkeit der Zellsuspension zeigt, daß ein sehr breites Spektrum von Relaxationszeiten vorliegt, das nicht durch die Größenverteilung der Zellen allein erklärt werden kann. Die Spektralverteilung der Relaxationszeiten hat die FormH(T)=const. Die spezifische Leitfähigkeit des Protoplasmas kann in erster Näherung durch die elektrische Beweglichkeit der Elektrolytionen in einer etwa 15%igen Proteinlösung erklärt werden.Für die Mitarbeit bei den Versuchen möchte ich Frau H.Valetas meinen Dank aussprechen.Herrn Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Dr. h. c.Boris Rajewsky zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Entwicklungsgeschichtliche untersuchungen an einer Blattmutante vonHyoscyamus niger L.

Summary The leaf shape of the mutantfiliformis (fil) ofHyoscyamus niger L. is strongly modified by external factors (like nutrition and light) as well as by the height of insertion. The name filiformis refers to thread-like leaves which always occur in the inflorencence; they may also be formed in the vegetative region, especially under short day conditions. Other leaves may have a small rhombic blade or a larger blade with irregular edges and deep incisions. Even pinnate leaves have been found. In contrast to the leaves of normalHyoscyamus, all mutant leaves (hypsophylls included) have a stalk-like basal portion that seems to be homologous to the basal part of the normal blade. This mutant is caused by one recessive factor which is linked neither toann nor topall.the submarginal initials of the normalHyoscyamus blade were always found dividing according to the periclinal-anticlinal type, while in the mutant the activity of the submarginal initials frequently resulted in a primarily biseriate mesophyll (so-called double-edged segmentation).This is apparently the first time that gene control of the mode of submarginal blade growth has been observed. Further differences between mutant and normalHyoscyamus concern the venation, the lengths of palisade cells and of stomata guard cells, the frequency of stomata per mm², and the thickness of the blade.

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Electron Microscopy of Peripheral Nerves and Neuromuscular Junctions in the Wasp Leg

The peripheral nerve branch innervating the femoral muscles of the common yellow jacket (Vespula carolina) has been found to possess a thick lemnoblast basement membrane and a complex mesaxon. The term "tunicated nerve" is proposed to designate the type of peripheral nerve in which one or several axons are loosely mantled by meandering, cytoplasm-enclosing membranes of the lemnoblast. The peripheral axon courses longitudinally in a groove in the muscle fiber between the plasma membrane of the muscle fiber and a cap formed by lemnoblast and tracheoblast. The junction is characterized by apposition of plasma membranes of axon and muscle fiber, abundant mitochondria, and synaptic vesicles in the axon, and aggregates of "aposynaptic granules" plus mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum on the muscle side of the synapse. Unlike the vertebrate striated muscle fiber, no complex infolding of the synapsing plasma membrane of the muscle fiber occurs. The "connecting tissue" of the insect is formed by tracheoblasts, their basement membranes, and the basement membranes of other cells. Further mechanical support is given by the ramifying tracheoles. The physiologic roles of the specialized structures are considered.     

Benzothiadiazole induces disease resistance in Arabidopsis by activation of the systemic acquired resistance signal transduction pathway

Benzothiadiazole (BTH) is a novel chemical activator of disease resistance in tobacco, wheat and other important agricultural plants. In this report, it is shown that BTH works by activating SAR in Arabidopsis thaliana. BTH-treated plants were resistant to infection by turnip crinkle virus, Pseudomonas syringae pv ‘tomato’ DC3000 and Peronospora parasitica. Chemical treatment induced accumulation of mRNAs from the SAR-associated genes, PR-1, PR-2 and PR-5. BTH treatment induced both PR-1 mRNA accumulation and resistance against P. parasitica in the ethylene response mutants, etr1 and ein2, and in the methyl jasmonate-insensitive mutant, jar1, suggesting that BTH action is independent of these plant hormones. BTH treatment also induced both PR-1 mRNA accumulation and P. parasitica resistance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing the nahG gene, suggesting that BTH action does not require salicylic acid accumulation. However, because BTH-treatment failed to induce either PR-1 mRNA accumulation or P. parasitica resistance in the non-inducible immunity mutant, nim1, it appears that BTH activates the SAR signal transduction pathway.     

The leaf peroxisomal form (MFP IV) of multifunctional protein functioning in fatty-acid β-oxidation

We have purified for the first time from green leaves a multifunctional protein (MFP) involved in fatty acid -oxidation. The protein, designated MFP IV, was extracted from green leaves of three-week-old cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants. Chromatography on cation exchanger, separation on hydroxylapatite, and fast-protein liquid chromatography on Phenylsuperose led to a more than 7000-fold purification and to the isolation of an apparently homogeneous 80-kDa monomeric protein. This protein is immunologically related to the glyoxysomal MFP II, as evidenced by immunodecoration with antiserum raised against MFP II. Comparison of molecular masses of all MFPs presently known revealed that the MFP prepared from green leaves (MFP IV) is distinct from MFP II (76.5 kDa) and MFP I (74 kDa) from dark-grown cotyledons. By including other properties in this comparison, we demonstrated that MFP IV can also be distinguished from the glyoxysomal MFP III (81 kDa) and the bacterially expressed MFP-a (80 kDa). Moreover, MFP IV is a constituent of leaf peroxisomes and contains the activities of 2-enoyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.17),l-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.35) and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA epimerase.Abbreviation MFP multifunctional protein This work was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie.