Genetic identification of rat liver carboxylesterases isolated in different laboratories

Six carboxylesterases previously isolated from rat liver microsomes, characterized in Brussels and in Kiel, were compared with genetically defined liver esterases of various reference strains using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. The six liver carboxylesterases were identified as alloenzymic forms of ES-3, ES-4, ES-8/ES-10 and ES-15 according to the genetic nomenclature recommended by van Zutphen (Van Zutphen, L.F.M. (1983) Transplant. Proceed. 15, 1687-1688). The genetic and biochemical characteristics of the four isoenzymes are summarized, and their identity with several other drug-metabolizing esterases/amidases and lipases of rat liver endoplasmic reticulum is discussed.     

Genome relationship betweenPsathyrostachys huashanica andP. fragilis (Poaceae)

Hybrids between the Chinese endemic speciesPsathyrostachys huashanica Keng and the SW. Asian speciesP. fragilis (Boiss.)Nevski (all 2n = 14) developed normally but were completely sterile. Meiotic analyses revealed a high chiasma frequency indicating that the two species as well asP. juncea (Fisch.)Nevski share the same basic genome (called N). The hybrid nature of the plants was established through karyotype analysis and Giemsa C-banding.     

Kinetics of carbonyl reductase from human brain.

Initial-rate analysis of the carbonyl reductase-catalysed reduction of menadione by NADPH gave families of straight lines in double-reciprocal plots consistent with a sequential mechanism being obeyed. The fluorescence of NADPH was increased up to 7-fold with a concomitant shift of the emission maximum towards lower wavelength in the presence of carbonyl reductase, and both NADPH and NADP+ caused quenching of the enzyme fluorescence, indicating formation of a binary enzyme-coenzyme complex. Deuterium isotope effects on the apparent V/Km values decreased with increasing concentrations of menadione but were independent of the NADPH concentration. The results, together with data from product inhibition studies, are consistent with carbonyl reductase obeying a compulsory-order mechanism, NADPH binding first and NADP+ leaving last. No significant differences in the kinetic properties of three molecular forms of carbonyl reductase were detectable.     

Chondroid bone arises from mesenchymal stem cells in organ culture of mandibular condyles

Mandibular condyles of fetal mice 19 to 20 days in utero comprising clean cartilage and its perichondrium were cultured for up to 14 days, and their capacity to develop osteoid and to mineralize in vitro was examined. After 3 days in culture the cartilage of the mandibular condyle appeared to have lost its inherent structural characteristics, including its various cell layers: chondroprogenitor, chondroblastic, and hypertrophic cells. At that time interval no chondroblasts could be seen; instead, most of the cartilage consisted of hypertrophic chondrocytes. By that time, the surrounding perichondrium, which contains pluripotential mesenchymal stem cells, revealed the first signs of extracellular matrix enclosing type I collagen, bone alkaline phosphatase, osteonection, fibronectin, and bone sialoprotein as demonstrated by immunofluorescent techniques. Electron microscopic examinations of the newly formed matrix revealed foci of mineralization within and along collagen fibers as is normally observed during bone development. The composition of the latter mineral deposits resembled calcium pyrophosphate crystals. Following 14 days in culture larger portions of the condyle revealed signs of osseous matrix, yet the tissue reacted positively for type II collagen. Hence, the condylar cartilage, a genuine representative of secondary-type cartilage, elaborated in vitro a unique type of bone that would be most appropriately defined as chondroid bone. Biochemical assays indicated that the de novo formation of chondroid bone was correlated with changes in alkaline phosphatase activity and 45Ca incorporation. The findings of the present study imply that mesenchymal stem cells that ordinarily differentiate into cartilage possess the capacity to differentiate into osteogenic cells and form chondroid bone.     

Characteristics of neuronal systems in the visual cortex

The coupling complexity of cortical areas makes it very difficult to analyse them experimentally. Studies of model systems provide the possibility of adapting the analysis to the available data base and elaborating the fundamental properties that depend on the structure of the system. We propose a model system of variable complexity that is spatially two-dimensional and time-dependent, uses feedback for iteration and smoothing, includes the mapping of the cortical networks and can be nonlinear as the case requires. Combining such elementary systems on the basis of neuroanatomical findings enables us to simulate cortical mappings and to interpret neurophysiological data. The decisive factor is that the dynamics of the system and the neuroanatomically based spatial coupling are closely connected with each other.     

Tranexamic acid as an aid to reducing blood transfusion requirements in gastric and duodenal bleeding.

A prospective randomised double blind study examined the effect of the antifibrinolytic drug tranexamic acid compared with placebo in 154 patients bleeding from verified benign lesions in the stomach or duodenum or both. Three out of 72 patients receiving tranexamic acid underwent emergency surgery compared with 15 out of 82 given placebo (p = 0.010). Nineteen patients receiving placebo rebled during their admission as compared with 10 in the active treatment group (p = 0.097). Blood transfusion requirements were significantly reduced by tranexamic acid (p = 0.018). Side effects occurred in six patients, of which an uncomplicated deep venous thrombosis was the most severe. Tranexamic acid reduces the blood transfusion requirement and need for emergency surgery in patients bleeding from a benign gastric or duodenal lesion.     

Early and late effects in the bone marrow of mice following 2 Gy (6 MeV) neutron irradiation

Summary Following 5 Gy gamma irradiation, residual damage in bone marrow persisted up to one year and was ascribed to genetic defects in hemopoietic stem cells (von Wangenheim et al. 1986). To see whether high LET radiation is more efficient in inducing late effects, mice were whole-body irradiated with a single dose of 2 Gy neutrons ( = 6 MeV) and femoral cellularity, CFU-S number, proliferation ability of bone marrow cells (PF) and the compartment ratio (CR), i.e. the splenic 125-iodo-deoxyuridine incorporation per transfused CFU-S were measured up to one year after the radiation insult. Within 12 weeks, femoral cellularity, PF and CR recovered to control or near-control level, whereas CFU-S numbers remained significantly below control. No further recovery was observed. On the contrary, PF and CR deteriorated again after 12 and 26 weeks, respectively. CFU-S per femur tended to decrease as well. Thus it is demonstrated that a single dose of 2 Gy 6 MeV neutrons causes significant injury in function (PF) and structure (CFU-S numbers, CR) of bone marrow which persisted up to one year. While this residual injury can be attributed to genetic defects in hemopoietic stem cells, its increasing expression is probably due to late evolving damage in microenvironmental cells. The RBE of 6 MeV neutrons for the introduction of late effects in the bone marrow is in the range of 3.     

High degree of homology between primary structure of human lysosomal acid phosphatase and human prostatic acid phosphatase

Alignment of the amino-acid sequences of the human lysosomal acid phosphatase (LAP) and human prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) yielded an extensive homology between the two mature polypeptide chains. In the overlapping part, which extends over the entire PAP sequence and the N-terminal 90% of the LAP sequence, the identity is 49.1%. The LAP has an additional C-terminal sequence, which is encoded by the last exon of the LAP gene. This sequence contains the transmembrane domain of LAP, which is lacking in the secretory PAP. All six cysteine residues as well as 20 out of 27 (LAP) and 26 (PAP) proline residues present in the overlapping part of the proteins are conserved, suggesting that they are involved in stabilization of the tertiary structure of both proteins. Only two out of 8 N-glycosylation sites in LAP and 3 in PAP are conserved, suggesting that the dense N-glycosylation of LAP is related to its function in lysosomes.     

Structural comparison of the 68 kDa laminin-binding protein and 5'-nucleotidase from chicken muscular sources: evidence against a gross structural similarity of both proteins

The 68 kDa laminin-binding protein purified from chicken skeletal muscle and the ectoenzyme 5'-nucleotidase from chicken gizzard are both able to interact with laminin. They were both shown to possess a nearly identical amino acid composition. The 79 kDa glycosylated form of 5'-nucleotidase can be transformed into an enzymatically active form by treatment with endoglycosidase F (Endo F). Deglycosylated (Endo F-treated) 5'-nucleotidase exhibits an apparent molecular mass of 68 kDa. Using immunological and finger-printing techniques, both proteins were analysed to determine their structural relatedness. The results obtained indicate that both proteins are not identical but may posses a few common peptides of yet unknown sequence and length.