Dielectric properties of spherical macroion suspensions. I. Study on monodisperse polystyrene latex

Dielectric properties of polystyrene latex suspended in aqueous media are investigated with special attention to the effect of volume fraction of the latex and salt concentration. The experimental data show the existence of two dispersions, one in the low-frequency range from 10(3) to 10(5) Hz. and the other in the high-frequcncy range from 10(5) to 10(7) Hz. In the salt-free system. both dispersions are of the Debye type and their relaxation limes arc insensitive to the volume fraction. Addition of H2SO4 to the suspension enlarges the magnitude of the low-frequency dispersion and reduces that of the high-frequency dispersion. whereas it does not affect the relaxation times. In the mixture of two species of counterions, e.g. H+ and Na(+), the low-frequency dispersion deviates from the Debye type. while the high-frequency dispersion docs not. From these facts, the high- and low-frequency dispersions are thought to be due to the radial and tangential components of the displacement current at the surface of the latex. The latter process is consistent with the Schwarz theory of the dielectric dispersion of colloidal suspensions.     

In vitro protein synthesis during germination and vernalization in winter wheat embryos

Protein synthesis during germination at 24?C and vernalizationat 4?C in winter wheat embryos were investigated with a cell-freesystem. During germination, the capacity for protein synthesisincreased in the early stage between 12 and 36 hr of imbibitionthen declined to a final low level between 48 and 72 hr. Thistransition was due to quantitative changes of the activitiesof ribosomal and supernatant fractions in the early stage andmainly to those of the supernatant fraction in the later stage.During vernalization, the capacity for protein synthesis continuedto decline over 15 to 60 days at 4?C. This transition was dueto the change in activity of the supernatant fraction; the activityof the ribosomal fraction was nearly constant. Electrophoretic analysis of in vitro products indicated thatthe high molecular weight proteins present in 12-hr embryoshad disappeared in 48-hr germinated wheat embryos and that theproducts in 24- and 36-hr embryos were types intermediate betweenthose of 12- and 48-hr embryos. The products in each vernalizedembryo resembled those in 24- and 36-hr germinated embryos.Therefore, it was concluded that the mRNA species for translationchanged during germination and vernalization in winter wheatembryos. (Received January 20, 1977; )     

The role of virulence antigens (VW) in the protection of mice againstYersinia pestis infection

Subcutaneous infection withYersinia enterocolitica harboring plasmid responsible for Ca²⁺ dependence at 37°C induced cell-mediated protective immunity against a lethal challenge withYersinia pestis; the isogenic derivative strain cured from this plasmid subverted the immunity in mice. This is the first identification of the antigen(s) responsible for the induction of cell-mediated protective immunity against the facultatively intracellular bacteria.     

Requirement of the core structure of a complex-type glycopeptide for the binding to immobilized lentil- and pea-lectins

Structural requirements for the binding of oligosaccharides and glycopeptides to immobilized lentil- and pea-lectins were investigated by use of radioactively-labeled glycopeptides and oligosaccharides. The results indicate that an intact 2- acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl residue at the reducing end of a complex-type oligosaccharide is essential for high-affinity binding to lentil lectin-Sepharose but not to concanavalin A-Sepharose and that an asparagine residue is required for the binding of a complex-type glycopeptide to pea lectin-Sepharose. In addition, interaction of a complex-type oligosaccharide with lentil lectin-Sepharose was enhanced by exposure of nonreducing, terminal 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl groups, whereas interaction with pea lectin-Sepharose was enhanced only after exposure of nonreducing, terminal α-d-mannopyranosyl groups.     

Conformational change accompanying formation of oligomycin-induced Na(+)-bound forms and their conversion to ADP-sensitive phosphoenzymes in Na+,K(+)-ATPase.

Oligomycin reduced the fluorescence intensity of an N-(p-(2-benzimidazoly)phenyl) maleimide (BIPM) probe at Cys-964 of the alpha-chain of pig kidney Na+,K(+)-ATPase with increase in the concentration of Na+ with a Hill coefficient of nh = 0.77 with Kh = 231 mM. The maximum fluorescence decrease was around 80% of the value observed after accumulation of ADP-sensitive phosphoenzyme (E1P) in the presence of 2 M Na+. The addition of Mg2+ and ATP with Na+ or choline chloride to give the same final ligand concentration to the Na(+)-enzyme-oligomycin complex formed with 16 mM Na+ + 1,984 mM choline chloride or 2 M Na+ induced rapid phosphorylation (20 or 21/s) and slower fluorescence decrease (12.1 +/- 1.2 or 10.1 +/- 3.2/s). These additions to the Na(+)-enzyme complex formed under the former or the latter conditions induced slow phosphorylation (13/s) prior to a much slower fluorescence decrease (3.4 +/- 0.3 or 8.6 +/- 0.7/s). The addition of Ca2+ and ATP to these enzyme complexes induced rapid fluorescence changes (21-11/s) followed by one order of magnitude slower rates of phosphorylation (1.5-1.3 s). These data suggest that the decrease in BIPM fluorescence induced by ATP with Ca2+ or with Mg2+, reflects the change of the Na+ binding state before or after the formation of E1P, respectively.     

IgG3 production in MRL/lpr mice is responsible for development of lupus nephritis

MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice spontaneously develop lethal glomerulonephritis (GN) similar to human lupus nephritis, associated with the expression of lymphoproliferation gene lpr. To examine whether a particular IgG subclass is responsible for development of GN in these mice, first quantitative analysis of IgG subclasses in serum and in kidney eluates was performed. Although IgG2a was the dominant subclass in serum throughout the lifespan of mice, the IgG3 level in kidney eluates was three times higher than that of IgG2a at the 16 wk of age, which is the time of onset of development of severe GN. In sera of the 12-wk-old mice, half of the IgG3 was in immune complex form, whereas IgG2a in this form was only 17% of the total amount. Second, cyclosporin A, which ameliorates GN in MRL/lpr mice despite autoantibody production, was found to reduce serum IgG3 and mRNA levels, associated with the revision of cationic shift of the serum IgG3 spectrotype seen in isoelectric focusing. Third, among the hybrid mice with non-autoimmune-prone C3H/HeJ-lpr/lpr (C3H/lpr) mice, MRL/lpr x (MRL/lpr x C3H/lpr) F1, in which the genetic background for GN is likely segregated, the mRNA level for IgG3 correlated well with the degree of glomerular lesion. These findings indicate that production of IgG3 in MRL/lpr mice is one of the major factors responsible for development of GN in these mice, and that this is due to the genetic background of the MRL strain.     

Ejaculations induced by p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) in rats, hamsters and mice.

The ejaculatory response induced by p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) in male rats, hamsters and mice was observed during 2 hours after the injection. The animals were treated intraperitoneally with PCA at doses ranging from 0.78125 to 160 mg/kg. The ED50 (effective dose in 50% of animals) values of PCA for the initiation of ejaculation in rats and hamsters were 1.3397 (1.0732-1.6725) and 0.1105 (0.0802-0.1522) mg/kg, respectively. On the other hand, no ejaculation was observed in any mice at any doses examined. So we concluded that there are species differences in the ejaculatory response, induced by PCA, among rats, hamsters and mice.     

Enhanced lipid peroxidation is not necessary for induction of metallothionein-I by oxidative stress

A study has been made of factors which may influence the induction of metallothionein-I (MT-I) synthesis by the superoxide radical generating agent, paraquat (PQ). Hepatic concentrations of zinc (Zn) and MT-I increased in rats injected with PQ (40 mg/kg, s.c.) or fasting, but were greater in the former. Renal concentration of MT-I increased in fasted rats but not in PQ-treated rats. The data suggest that the increase in MT-I concentrations in PQ-treated rats is not caused by reduction in food intake. Administration of PQ increased hepatic concentrations of Zn, MT-I and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS), indicating the occurrence of lipid peroxidation. Treatment of rats with vitamin E (400 mg/kg, s.c.) on 4 successive days before injection of PQ prevented only the enhancement of lipid peroxidation. The data indicate that the induction of MT synthesis by PQ is not correlated with enhancement of lipid peroxidation. Similar results were obtained in the liver of rats subjected to the radical-generating conditions, such as fasting and exposure to carbon tetrachloride. Free radicals may induce MT synthesis by direct or indirect mechanisms.