Primary structure of mitochondrial glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase from rat liver: Comparison with that of the pig heart isozyme

The complete amino acid sequence of the mitochondrial glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase isozyme from rat liver is presented. The sequence contained 401 amino acid residues, 10 of which are methionine. Cyanogen bromide cleavage of mitochondrial glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase produced 12 peptides, one of which contained an internal homoserine residue resulting from incomplete cleavage by cyanogen bromide. The calculated molecular weight was 44,358. The sequence showed 94% homology with that of the corresponding isozyme from pig heart. These findings support the conclusion that the rate of evolution of the mitochondrial isozymes is lower than that of their cytosolic isozymes.     

Surface ultrastructure of the tegument of Clonorchis sinensis newly excysted juveniles and adult worms.

The tegumental structures of newly excysted juveniles and adult worms of Clonorchis sinensis were studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. After excystation the juvenile's tegumental surface is characterized by knoblike protuberances and is armed almost entirely with numerous rows of small spines encircling the body. These spines are double- or triple-pointed on the anterior portion of the body and become single-pointed posteriorly. Four types of presumed sensory structures were observed as follow: A) ciliated knoblike papillae and B) nonciliated platelike papillae, both of which are arranged in rougly a bilaterally symmetrical pattern dorsally, ventrally, and laterally; C) rounded swellings of nonciliated papillae on the lips of the ventral and oral suckers, which are characterized in the transmission electron microscope by a rounded dense body in the apical bulb; and D) a sensory receptor with a bulbous projection having the appearance of a modified cilium, which was not found with SEM likely owing to its being enclosed by an extension of the tegument. In full-grown adult worms, the tegumental surface is knobbed or lobulated in various forms without surface spines. The tegumental structures in the adults appear to be clearly differentiated from those in the juveniles. Upraised, buttonlike papillae, each topped by a short cilium, which are similar to the Type A papillae in the juveniles, are distributed thickly around the oral and ventral suckers, and are rather randomly scattered over the remainder of the body. Some nonciliated swollen papillae were found on the lip of the ventral sucker.     

A new biologically active phenolic from Cattleya trianaei

A new phenolic, hydroxyeucomic acid, and dopamine were isolated from Cattleya trianaei and their biological activities examined.     

Affinity chromatography of trypsin and related enzymes. V. Basic studies of quantitative affinity chromatography.

A detailed study of the quantitative affinity chromatography of trypsin [EC 3.4.21.4] is reported here. Frontal chromatography using an enzyme solution of very low concentration on an affinity adsorbent gave the dissociation constant of the enzyme-immobilized ligand complex (Kd). Kd values determined under various conditions enabled us to discuss in detail the interaction of trypsin and affinity adsorbents (mainly Gly-Gly-Arg Sepharose). The pH dependence of Kd was consistent with that of the interaction of trypsin and product-type compounds. The effects of changes in temperature, ionic strength, dielectric constant, etc., were also studied. The Ki values of soluble competitive inhibitors can be determined by analysis of their effects on the elution volume of the enzyme. The values obtained were in good agreement with those obtained by kinetic analysis. The present method proved to be useful as a general procedure to investigate the interaction of a protein and a specific ligand.     

A hypotetraploid human T lymphoid cell line established by cell fusion.

A human T lymphoid cell line was established by cell hybridization technique from peripheral blood leucocytes of a patient with Sezary syndrome. The cells beared the surface antigens of human T lymphocyte specificity as demonstrated by immune cytolysis tests, but did not form E rosettes with sheep red blood cells. Isozyme patterns of enzymes in this line such as lactate dehydrogenase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and esterase were of human type. The line had 79 chromosomes in modal number. This case supports the proposal that the production of tetraploids is favourable for establishment of cell lines.     

Light dependency of the mating process in Closterium acerosum

Sexual cell division and activation of gametangial cells forconjugation in Closterium acerosum were induced by light. L₂₀₀cells conjugated at maximum level under the following conditions;(i) a light intensity higher than 1,000 lux in a 16-hr lightand 8-hr dark regime and (ii) an illumination time longer than12 hr at 3,000 lux. L₂₀₀ cells also conjugated under continuousillumination at 3,000 lux. The action spectrum for the activation of gametangial cellshad peaks around 450, 611 and 665 nm. 3-(4'-Chlorophenyl)-l,l-dimethylurea (CMU) inhibited the accumulationof carbohydrates and sexual cell division at 10^–5 M andthe activation of gametangial cells for conjugation at 10^–4M. (Received August 15, 1977; )     

Random replication and random assortment model for plasmid incompatibility in bacteria

To understand the incompatibility between two related plasmids, both of which replicate in an autonomous state under a common control mechanism, we have developed a model that assumes a random choice mechanism for replication of plasmid copies and their random assortment into daughter cells upon cell division. Segregation kinetics by this model is analyzed mathematically and the number of generations required for segregation is calculated as a function of plasmid copy number per cell. The results obtained offer enough quantitative data to make our model reasonably realistic.     

Inhibition of topoisomerase I by heparin

DNA topoisomerase I isolated from mouse mammary cacinoma cells was shown to be inhibited by heparin, the dose giving 50% inhibition (IC₅₀) being 0.20 μg/ml. Other chemically related acid mucopolysaccharides including heparan sulfate, dermatan sulfate etc. were more than 500 times less active than heparin. When the amount of enzyme was doubled relative to the substrate the inhibition was reversed. Addition of heparin to assay mixtures after the initiation of the reaction immediately inhibited the enzyme reaction.     

X-ray diffraction data for (1→3)-α-d-glucan triacetate

The crystal structures of (1→3)-α-d-glucan triacetates were studied by X-ray diffraction measurements on fibre diagrams. The oriented films annealed in water at high temperature were of higher crystallinity and occurred as two crystalline polymorphs (GTA I and GTA II) depending on the samples and also the annealing temperature. All reflections in GTA I were indexed with a pseudo-orthorhombic unit cell with a = 1·753, b = 3·018 and c(fibre axis) = 1·205 nm. From the fibre repeat data coupled with the density data and the presence of only the (003) reflection on the meridian, an extended three-fold helical structure was proposed. Although some reflections in GTA II split from the layer lines, the basic unit cell was a monoclinic system with a = 1·685, b = 3·878, c (fibre axis) = 1·210 nm and γ = 112·2°. A similar three-fold structure to GTA I was proposed from the almost identical fibre repeat and the conformational analysis on (1→3)-α-d-glucan. It was concluded that, on acetylation, the d-glucan structure changed from the fully extended two-fold helix to the extended three-fold accompanied by some extent of chain shrinking.