On certain characteristics of the Silk-worm which are apparently non-Mendelian

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Purification and some properties of bovine pineal tryptophan 5-monooxygenase

Tryptophan 5-monooxygenase was purified approximately 1,000-fold from the bovine pineal gland. The purified enzyme catalyzed the hydroxylations of both L-tryptophan and L-phenylalanine at a comparable rate. Evidence was presented suggesting that the hydroxylations of both amino acids were catalyzed by the single enzyme. The apparent Km values for L-tryptophan and for L-phenylalanine were approximately 16 and 32 μM, respectively, when tetrahydrobiopterin was used as a cofactor. The apparent molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be approximately 30,000 by gel filtration on columns of Sephadex G-75 and G-100 and by ultracentrifugation in sucrose density gradients. These properties of bovine pineal tryptophan 5-monooxygenase were distinguishable from those of rat liver phenylalanine hydroxylase, another enzyme which had been shown to catalyze the hydroxylations of both L-tryptophan and L-phenylalanine.     

Spinal cord injury: emerging beneficial role of reactive astrocytes' migration

Spinal cord injury (SCI), despite considerable progress in palliative care, has currently no satisfying therapeutic leading to functional recovery. Inability of central nervous system severed axons to regenerate after injury is considered to originate from both limited intrinsic capabilities of neurons and inhibitory effect of the local environment. Precisely, the so-called "glial scar" formed by reactive astrocytes in response to injury exerts a well-known axon-outgrowth inhibitory effect. However, recent studies revealed that role of reactive astrocytes after SCI is more complex. During the first weeks after injury, reactive astrocytes indeed protect the tissue and contribute to a spontaneous relative functional recovery. Compaction of the lesion center and seclusion of inflammatory cells by migrating reactive astrocytes seem to underlie this beneficial effect. Stimulation of reactive astrocytes migration in the sub-acute phase of SCI might thus represent a new approach to improve the functional outcome of patients.     

Establishment of a variety of human bone marrow stromal cell lines by the recombinant SV40-adenovirus vector.

Various human bone marrow stromal cell lines were established from the adherent cell populations by introduction of the recombinant SV40-adenovirus vector with an infection or electric poration procedure. As compared with DNA transfection, the vector introduction was able to immortalize the cells with more than 100 times higher efficiency. Morphological and cytochemical analyses indicated that various cloned cell lines with different properties were isolated by the vector introduction. All the established cell lines expressed SV40 large T antigen. These results provided the evidence indicating that the recombinant SV40-adenovirus vector was a useful tool to establish a variety of cell lines with different biological activities from human bone marrow stroma.     

Impact of long-term continuous positive airway pressure on liver fat in male obstructive sleep apnea patients with fatty liver

Sleep and Biological Rhythms - Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an established factor in the pathogenesis and exacerbation of fatty liver disease. However, randomized controlled trials have failed...     

Metabolism of14C-labeled epibrassinolide in intact seedlings of cucumber and wheat

The metabolism of exogenously applied¹⁴C-24-epibrassinolide (¹⁴C-EBR) in seedlings of cucumber and wheat was examined. Total lipids were extracted with isopropanol and chloroform, and then partitioned with water. More than 80% of radioactivity was distributed to chloroform-phase. Concentrated chloroform-phase was applied to silica gel plate and was developed with chloroform-ethanol (5:1 v/v). Rf value of original¹⁴C-EBR was about 0.6. In cucumber leaves harvested after 2 day-culture, three peaks were detected at Rf 0.11, 0.47 and 0.84. In cucumber petioles of 2 day-culture, however, a major peak was detected at Rf 0.90. But¹⁴C-EBR was hardly metabolized in hypocotyls and roots after 2 days. In wheat leaves harvested just after pulse labeling, a peak was detected at Rf 0.63. By further analysis of this peak using ODS-HPLC, however, an original peak of¹⁴C-EBR and two metabolites having higher polarity were detected. In wheat leaves harvested after 2 day-culture, the profile of TLC scanning was similar to that just after pulse labeling, although, an original peak of¹⁴C-EBR was no longer detected by ODS-HPLC. In wheat roots,¹⁴C-EBR was hardly metabolized. These results indicate that¹⁴C-EBR occurring in leaves and petioles is metabolized to produce several kinds of metabolites.     

Effects of antibiotics on the chloroplast replication in the mossPlagiomnium trichomanes

Protoplasma - Four morphological processes were observed during the cycle of the chloroplast replication of the mossPlagiomnium trichomanes; spherical to ellipsoidal, ellipsoidal to slight...     

Biochemical polymorphism in the rat,Rattus norvegicus: Genetic study of four markers

The linkage of the hemoglobin (Hbb) and albino (c) loci has been determined from backcross progeny of the mating (WAG/Orl × Long Evans/Orl)F ₁ × WAG/Orl. The data give 9.1 ± 1.8% recombination. The backcross (August/Orl × WAG/Orl)F ₁ × August/Orl segregating for Hbb and pink-eyed yellow (p) shows 21.5±4.2% recombination. The proposed gene order on linkage group I is p-c-Hbb. Linkage of the seminal vesicle protein (Svp-1) and the nonagouti (a) loci has been determined from backcross progeny of the mating (August/Orl × Long Evans/Orl)F ₁ × Long Evans/Orl. The data show 7.1±3.4% recombination. Svp-1 thus represents an additional marker in linkage group V. Two new autosomal variants have been reported: The locus which controls a plasma protein's polymorphism has been designated Gl-1 with two codominant alleles Gl-1a and Gl-1b. The other locus, controlling a testis esterases polymorphism, has been assigned the symbol Es-3 and has two codominant alleles Es-3a and Es-3b. The absence of linkage of Gl-1 and Es-3 to each other and to five different loci has also been reported. Rat and mouse analogy with respect to these markers and established linkages is discussed.