Irreversible thiophosphorylation and activation of tension in functionally skinned rabbit ileum strips by [35S]ATP gamma S.

Rabbit ileum strips were functionally skinned by exposure to staphylococcal alpha-toxin. Incubation of the strips in the ATP analog ATP gamma S or [35S]ATP gamma S in the presence of Ca2+ (but not in the absence of Ca2+) resulted in a maximal Ca2+-insensitive activated tension that persisted following removal of Ca2+. Correlated with this tension was 35S-labeling of the 20,000-dalton myosin light chain, LC20, that persisted even after removal of Ca2+. Tension in these strips partially relaxed when exposed to ATP (alpha,beta-methylene). In contrast, alpha-toxin-treated strips exposed to ATP or [gamma-32P]ATP showed Ca2+-sensitive, reversible activated tension and reversible 32P-labeling of the LC20. These results are consistent with a currently proposed model of Ca2+ control of smooth muscle contraction involving a myosin light chain kinase-phosphatase system.     

Purification of pig synovial collagenase to high specific activity.

1. Pig synovium in tissue culture secretes a specific collagenase in a latent form. 2. The latent enzyme was concentrated by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and activated with 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate, and the active enzyme was purified by chromatography on Ultrogel AcA44, DEAE-cellulose, heparin-Sepharose and a zinc-chelate medium to a specific activity of 53 400 units/mg. of protein. 3. The enzyme was shown to be essentially homogeneous by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. 4. The purified collagenase digested collagen to give the characteristic three-quarter and one-quarter pieces.     

Flow microfluorometric system for screening gynecologic cytology specimens using propidium iodide-fluorescein isothiocyanate.

Seventy cervical cytology specimens have been screened by a xero resolution flow analyzer-sorter using propidium iodide and fluorescein isothiocyanate as fluorochromes for nucleus and cytoplasm, respectively. This system shows a 1% sensitivity for detection of abnormal cells using only crude visual data analysis. Screening of clinical specimens was performed on the instrument with a 5.8% false negative rate and a 11.8% false positive rate by comparison with routine visual cytologic evaluation of the same samples.     

Dufour's gland secretion of Myrmica rubra: Chemical,electrophysiological, and ethological studies

The major volatile compounds of the Dufour's gland secretion of the ant Myrmica rubra have been identified as acetaldehyde, ethanol, acetone, and butanone, in the approximate ratios of 35:3:40:25, with a total content of 12 ng per gland. Ethological tests have shown that three effects recognized earlier for the Dufour's gland can be attributed to these components. Acetaldehyde synergized by ethanol produces an attractive effect on foraging workers. Acetone induces an increased linear speed, and changes in sinuosity of movement are induced by ethanol synergized by butanone. Ethanol, butanone, or mixtures of all four induce the deposition of Dufour's secretion on the foraging area.     

Effect of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Formulations on the Growth of Estuarine Bacteria

Polychlorinated biphenyl formulations inhibited the growth of certain estuarine bacteria. The sensitive strains, although exhibiting some similar physiological characteristics, contained both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.     

Transduction of chromosomal genes between enteric bacteria by bacteriophage P1.

We have used P1 transduction to create intergeneric hybrid strains of enteric bacteria by moving the genA and hut genes between Klebsiella aerogenes, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The use of E. coli as the recipient in such transductions permits the construction of episomes and specialized transducing phage containing non-E. coli material. The effect of host restriction modification and deoxyribonucleic acid homology on the frequency of intergeneric transduction of these loci has been examined.     

Comparison of radioimmunoassay and gas-liquid chromatography analyses of progesterone concentrations in cow's milk.

Progesterone concentrations in milk were not significantly different when quantitated by different methods (RIA vs. GLC). There was a significant day effect (P less than 0.05) on milk progesterone level due apparently to gradually decreasing values as pregnancy advanced over days 30, 120 and 210. The means for the percent fat content were different (P less than 0.05) for all comparisons among four times of collection (immediately premilking, milking pool, immediately postmilking, and 3 hr postmilking). For progesterone concentration, the main effect of time and the three-way interaction (time times antiserum times purification method) were significant (P less than 0.005); all other main effects and interactions were not significant. Within each of 4 assay groups (2 antisera times 2 purifications), the concentration of progesterone was greater (P less than 0.05) for the samples which were collected immediately postmilking than for any of the other times of collection. The three-way interaction seemed due primarily to difference in progesterone determinations among the four assay groups in the samples which were taken immediately postmilking. Over all milk samples within each assay group, the percent fat content and the concentration of progesterone were positively correlated (r = 0.71, P less than 0.01).