Identification of β-galactofuranosyl residues and their rapid internal motion in the Penicilliumochro-chloron cell wall probed by 13C NMR

Polysaccharides, which come into resonances in the ¹³C NMR spectrum of $\text{Penicillium}\text{ochro-chloron}$ intact mycelium and give anomeric carbon signals at 107.5 and 108.3 ppm, are associated with the cell wall. By ¹³C NMR and gas liquid chromatography analysis, it is shown that the polysaccharides are two types of β-galactofuranosyl residues, one of which has (1→2)-β-galactofuranosyl linkages. Both β-galactofuranosyl residues, which are minor cell wall components, experience rapid internal motion in the cell wall.     

Atmospheric condition controlling the seed germination of an achlorophyllous orchid,Galeola septentrionalis

The aseptic seed germination ofGaleola septentrionalis was observed only in an airtight vessel at 30 C, germination being enhanced with increasing air pressure in the vessel up to the optimum of 1.8 atm. The presence of O₂ and CO₂ was essential for germination, and their optimum concentrations were 5 and 8%, respectively. The optimum pressure for germination (1.8 atm) was not influence by the composition of the air. Ethylene added at concentrations ranging from 2 to 8μl/l enhanced germination and its removal reduced the germination. The atmospheric condition required for the seed germination of this orchidin vitro was discussed with regard to that in its natural habitat.     

Kupffer cells play important roles in the metabolic degradation of a soluble anti-tumor (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan, SSG, in mice

Abstract Metabolic degradation of a soluble highly branched (1 → 3)-β- d -glucan, SSG, was examined in mice using a macrophage blocker, gadolinium chloride (GdCl₃). Intraperitoneally administered SSG distributed in the liver was slowly degraded, and after 5 weeks about 30% of the SSG became anionic. In addition, it is suggested that the metabolites would contain fewer branching points as assessed by the reactivity to limulus factor G. On the other hand, in the spleen, the molecular weight and the degree of branching of SSG were not changed for at least 5 weeks. Blockade of Kupffer cells by GdCl₃ did not significantly change the distribution ratio of SSG in the liver. However, the treatment significantly delayed the degradation of SSG. These results suggested that Kupffer cells play important roles, not in the distribution, but in the oxidative degradation of SSG in the liver. In addition, splenic macrophages did not significantly contribute to the metabolic degradation of SSG.     

Electrophoretic analysis of soluble proteins specifically synthesized under phosphate deficiency in the mycelia ofPholiota nameko

Mycelial soluble proteins ofPholiota nameko labeled in vivo during the Pi-supplied (P⁺) and the Pi-depleted (P⁻) cultures were separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and visualized by fluorography. A comparison of protein profiles from the P⁺ and P⁻ cultures showed that Pi deficiency induces the synthesis of 15 polypeptides and an increase in the relative amount of 29 polypeptides. These result suggests that many proteins may be specifically synthesized de novo under Pi deficiency as part of the adaptive mechanism for this condition.     

Hemolytic Activity of a Togavirus,Getah*

A purified toga-alphavirus, Getah (GET), showed optimal hemolytic activity for one-day-old chick red blood cells when incubated at 37 C for 120 min at pH 6.2. Experimental data obtained from various angles, such as pH dependency, inhibition by virus-specific antiserum and by concanavalin A, indicated that the hemolysis was a property of the virus particle itself. Although the mechanism of hemolysis by togaviruses has not been known, our results indicated that viral lipids may participate in this activity since the hemolytic activity was impaired by delipidation procedures.     

Automated in vitro selection to obtain functional oligonucleotides.

In vitro selection or systematic evolution of ligand by exponential enrichment (SELEX) has been devised for the identification of high-affinity oligonucleotide aptamers to target molecules. However, the selection process is repetitive and time-consuming. We have developed an automatic for in vitro selection by assembling an affinity chromato-column, a PCR thermal cycler, a HPLC and a sample operation system. Several molecular biology methods were optimized for the machine. Automated selection was used to generate nucleic acid aptamers interacting specifically with an environmental contaminant.