An apparatus for thin layer vertical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with discontinuous buffer and gel system

A vertical polyacrylamide gel slab electrophoresis apparatus with a discontinuous gel and buffer system and a running gel of 1 mm in thickness was devised. Using this apparatus, which employs stacking and sieving effects, sharp bands comparable to those of disc electrophoresis were obtained.Furthermore, a new application using detection with ultraviolet method was introduced for isozyme study.     

Changes in the Content of Phytochrome I and II Apoproteins in Embryonic Axes of Pea Seeds during Imbibition

The contents of phytochrome I and II in crude extracts fromembryonic axes of Pisum sativum cv. Alaska seeds were immunochemicallydetermined using purified pea phytochrome I and II as standards.We have produced and used three different types of mouse monoclonalanti-pea phytochrome antibodies (mAP) such as one reacting preferentiallywith phytochrome I, one with phytochrome II, and one with bothI and II. Phytochrome II was separated from I in the samplesusing immobilized column chromatography with mAPl. The amountsof two phytochrome species were quantitatively measured withwestern blotting and ELISA. Ca. 0.2 µg /axis of phytochromeI and ca. 0.05 µg /axis of phytochrome II were detectedby ELISA after imbibition for 12 h in the dark, though smallamounts of both were detected in dry axes. Ca. 0.05 µg/axis each of phytochrome I and II were detected by ELISA afterimbibition for 12 h in the light, and the results were confirmedby western blotting. This study showed that phytochrome II isnot green-tissue-specific, being also found in dark-imbibedembryonic axes, and that although light significantly lowersthe content of phytochrome I in the axis, it does not significantlyaffect that of phytochrome II. (Received June 10, 1987; Accepted August 27, 1987)     

Accurate Evaluation of 1,2-Diacylglycerol in Gerbil Forebrain Using HPLC and In Situ Freezing Technique

Gerbil forebrains were frozen in situ to inactivate the tissues, and 1,2-diacylglycerols were first measured quantitatively by HPLC. Although 1,2-diacylglycerols were completely recovered from the HPLC column, the control amount of 1,2-diacylglycerol in gerbil forebrain was only 79.6 nmol/g wet weight, which is about one-fourth of that previously reported for gerbil brain inactivated by liquid N2 after decapitation instead of in situ freezing. The fatty acid composition of 1,2-diacylglycerols in gerbil forebrain was first reported and the control 1,2-diacylglycerols were richer in palmitic acid than in stearic acid or arachidonic acid, which is rather different from the data previously reported for mouse or rat brain obtained by decapitation and analyzed by traditional TLC methods. The amount of 1,2-diacylglycerol increased by 82.9% in gerbil forebrain during 5 min of ischemia induced by bilateral carotid ligation. Arachidonic acid and stearic acid were abundant in the 1,2-diacylglycerols produced by 5 min of ischemia. Thus we were able to obtain accurate values of the amount and the fatty acid composition of 1,2-diacylglycerols in gerbil forebrains using HPLC and in situ freezing technique.     

Retention of nickel oxide (green) aerosol in rat lungs by long-term inhalation

Wistar male rats were exposed to green nickel oxide [NiO(G)] aerosols (mass median aerodynamic diameter, 0.6 μm) for 7 h/d, 5 d/wk for up to 12 mo. The average exposure concentration was controlled at 0.3 mg/m³ and 1.2 mg/m³ during the exposure period. Some rats were sacrificed just after the 3- and 6-mo exposures, and others were sacrificed after the termination of the 12-mo exposure. There were no differences in body weight gain between NiO(G) exposure groups and controls. The lung weights in the exposed rats were heavier than those in the control ones. Nickel concentrations in lungs of exposure groups were much higher than those of controls. The nickel concentrations in liver, kidney, spleen, and blood slightly increased with the passing of the exposure time. The nickel content in rat lungs during the 12-mo exposure was estimated theoretically. The estimated values agreed with the experimental data. This result shows that the clearance rate increases with the decreasing of the particle diameter.     

Reproductive tactics and fertilization success of mature male Miyabe charr,Salvelinus malma miyabei

Synopsis Spawning behaviour, fertilization success and reproductive ecology of stream-resident and lake-run male Miyabe charr, Salvelinus malma miyabei, were studied under natural and artificial conditions. In Shikaribetsu Lake, Japan, the ratio of the two types of males is approximately 1:1, estimated by weir data. The majority of stream-resident males mature sexually at 2⁺ years of age, while the lake-run males begin to mature at 4⁺. In contrast to the large-bodied lake-run males, which paired with females, the smaller stream-resident males attempted to fertilize eggs by ‘streaking’ into the nest. We demonstrated through electrophoretic techniques that stream-resident males were able to fertilize eggs by streaking. Under artificial conditions, the estimated maximum proportion of eggs fertilized by a single stream-resident male was about 16.8. The evolutionary stability of the charr's dual mating system may be explained by Gross's theory for alternative life-history evolution, although further testing is necessary.     

Purification and Storage of Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase from Rice Leaves

Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase was purified fromrice leaves. By using a buffer containing 12.5% (v/v) glycerolthroughout purification, the enzyme was protected from coldlability and was obtained at a high yield (5.5 mg/g fresh wt).The purified enzyme exhibited different rates of CO₂/Mg²⁺-activationby temperature pretreatment/storage. The purified enzyme was stable for at least one year in phosphatebuffer containing 12.5% (v/v) glycerol at 4°C or 50% (v/v)glycerol at –20°C. (Received March 1, 1983; Accepted June 27, 1983)     

Regulatory mechanisms of cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity: I. Suppression of cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity by migration inhibitory factor

The macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) fraction was prepared from the immunoadsorbent column by using anti-guinea pig MIF antiserum. Suppression of cutaneous delayedtype hypersensitivity was achieved by intraperitoneal injection of the MIF fraction into the animals bearing macrophage-rich peritoneal exudates. Skin reactions induced by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) were also suppressed in these animals. Reactivity to skin reactive factor (SRF) was suppressed in these animals as well. The sera obtained from these animals exhibited the inhibitory activity against production of lymphokines from sensitized lymphocytes.     

Isolation and Characterization of Mink Cell Focus-Inducing Murine Leukemia Viruses with Xenotropic Host Range from Mouse Strain SL

A new type of mink cell focus-inducing virus was persistently isolated from the leukemic tissues of SL mice. In contrast to the dual tropic mink cell focus-inducing viruses reported to date, the new virus has the host range of the xenotropic murine leukemia virus. Analysis of RNase T(1) fingerprints of genomic RNAs suggested that the mink cell focus-inducing virus with the xenotropic host range isolated from SL mice is a recombinant virus deriving from xenotropic murine leukemia virus.     

Distribution of lipoxygenase and hydroperoxide lyase in the leaves of various plant species

The enzyme activity responsible for volatile C₆-aldehyde formation was accompanied by lipoxygenase and hydroperoxide lyase in the green leaves of 28 plant species tested, but the level of each enzyme's activity varied. Lipoxygenase activity rather than hydroperoxide lyase activity appears to affect the overall C₆-aldehyde formation. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.712) between hydroperoxide lyase activity and the chlorophyll content of the green leaves; no correlation was found between lipoxygenase activity and chlorophyll content.     

A model of the complex cell based on recent neurophysiological findings

A neural network model is proposed for the understanding of the receptive field properties of the complex cell. The model is based on recent neurophysiological findings on the visual cortical network. The model is proved to be functionally identical with Hubel's and Wiesel's hierarchy model though the two models are structurally quite different.