Influence of Co2+, Ni2+ and Fe2+ on the production of tetrapyrroles by Methanosarcina barkeri

Summary The selective formation of three tetrapyrroles, Co-containing corrinoids, Ni-containing factor F₄₃₀ and Fe-containing cytochromes (haems) by Methanosarcina barkeri Fusaro (DSM 804) was achieved as a function of the concentrations of Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Fe²⁺ in a methanol minimmum medium. It was found that about 70% of the total tetrapyrroles synthesized was excreted into the culture supernatant. Hence, the continuous production of tetrapyrroles in a fixed-bed reactor (supporter: porous diatomaceous clay) was carried out at a dilution rate of 10 day^-1 (850 ml medium/85 ml column/day). The effluent discharged from the reactor contained the excreted tetrapyrroles, the concentrations of which were dependent upon the Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Fe²⁺ concentrations in the feed medium. The maximum productivities from the reactor (1 l basis) were 52 M corrinoids/day, 24 M F₄₃₀/day and 8 M haems/day, respectively.     

A concordance correlation coefficient to evaluate reproducibility

A new reproducibility index is developed and studied. This index is the correlation between the two readings that fall on the 45 degree line through the origin. It is simple to use and possesses desirable properties. The statistical properties of this estimate can be satisfactorily evaluated using an inverse hyperbolic tangent transformation. A Monte Carlo experiment with 5,000 runs was performed to confirm the estimate's validity. An application using actual data is given.     

N-iodoacetyltyramine: preparation and use in 125I labeling by alkylation of sulfhydryl groups

Preparation and use of N-iodoacetyltyramine in generation of 125I-labeled compounds is described. The kinetics of alkylation of N-acetylcysteine by N-iodoacetyltyramine (k2 = 3.0 M-1 s-1) and N-chloroacetyltyramine (k2 = 0.12 M-1 s-1) indicate that N-iodoacetyltyramine is more useful for labeling sulfhydryl-containing compounds to high specific activity with 125I. Conditions for preparation of carrier-free 125I-labeled N-iodoacetyl-3-monoiodotyramine in 50% yield based on starting iodide are described. The high degree of group specificity of N-iodoacetyl-3-monoiodotyramine reaction with sulfhydryl groups is demonstrated by the high reactivity toward sulfhydryl-containing bovine serum albumin and low reactivity toward N-ethylmaleimide-blocked bovine serum albumin and IgG. 125I-labeled N-iodoacetyl-3-monoiodotyramine was also used to prepare an 125I-labeled ACTH derivative that retains full biological activity, further demonstrating the selectivity toward reactions with sulfhydryl groups.     

Correction of the N-terminal sequences of the human plastin isoforms by using anchored polymerase chain reaction: identification of a potential calcium-binding domain.

Plastins are a family of at least three cytoplasmic protein isoforms that are expressed differentially between cells of the hematopoietic lineages and cells of solid tissues. Expression of the L-plastin isoform appears to be restricted to replicating blood cells, and the two T-plastin isoforms appear to be restricted to replicating cells of solid tissues. However, L-plastin is induced in many human solid tumor-derived cells. We used the anchored polymerase chain reaction technique to amplify and clone the missing 5' ends of plastin mRNAs. We found that both plastin isoforms contain a potential calcium binding site near the N terminus.     

脊髓苯环立啶受体的心血管效应与去甲肾上腺素能系统

本文应用受体阻断、高效液相,6-OHDA 化学损毁神经末梢和放射自显影等多学科技术方法,探讨脊髓苯环立啶受体的心血管效应与去甲肾上腺素能神经系统的关系。结果表明,哌唑嗪、育亨宾均可对抗 ith PCP 的降压和减慢心率作用,ith PCP 产生降压和减慢心率作用时,脊髓脑脊液内 MHPG 的含量升高;用6-OHDA 损毁脊髓 NA 能神经末梢后,ith PCP的降压和减慢心率作用大为减弱,脊髓 PCP 受体密度亦同时大为降低。可以认为,脊髓内有 PCP 受体分布于 NA 能神经末梢上,促进 NA 释放或抑制 NA 重摄取,可能是脊髓 PCP 受体产生心血管抑制效应的重要机理。     

刺激大鼠下丘脑室旁核激活的中脑中央灰质神经元对躯体传入的反应

电刺激大鼠下丘脑室旁核(PVH),在同侧中脑中央灰质(CG)内寻找逆行及顺行反应单位,然后观察它们对躯体感觉刺激的反应。实验结果表明:CG 及邻近网状结构内有10%(32/318)的单位呈逆行反应。逆行传导速度平均为0.37±0.24m/s(均数±标准差);推测这种CG→PVH 投射纤维属于细有髓或无髓神经纤维。这些单位分布于 CG 的腹外侧及背外侧亚核。50%(14/28)的逆行单位对坐骨(胫)神经的强电刺激和夹尾等损伤性刺激起反应,但对触毛或低强度的神经干刺激无明显反应。以上结果表明:外周躯体感觉,特别是损伤性信息传入 PVH 时,CG 是其中枢驿站之一。电刺激 PVH 还能顺行激活7.55(24/318)、抑制0.7%(2/318)的 CG 单位。有69%(18/26)的顺行反应单位对外周躯体神经强电刺激及夹尾起反应。提示 PVH 可能通过影响 CG神经元的活动而参与中枢痛觉的整合。     

The arcB gene of Escherichia coli encodes a sensor-regulator protein for anaerobic repression of the arc modulon

The arcA (dye) and arcB genes of Escherichia coli are responsible for anaerobic repression of target operons and regulons of aerobic function (the arc modulon). The amino acid sequence of ArcA (Dye) indicated that it is the regulator protein of a two-component control system. Here we show that ArcB is a membrane sensor protein on the basis of its deduced amino acid sequence (778 residues), hydropathicity profile, and cellular distribution. On the carboxyl end of the ArcB sequence there is an additional domain showing homology with conserved regions of regulator proteins. Deletion into this domain destroyed ArcB function. ArcB conserved a histidine residue for autophosphorylation of the sensor proteins, and aspartic residues important for the regulator proteins.     

A cytogenetic study of mentally retarded school children in taiwan with special reference to the fragile X chromosome

Summary A cytogenetic study was made on 341 mentally retarded children in the Provincial Nantou Rehabilitation Center for the Mentally Retarded and the St. Raphael Opportunity Center in Tainan. Of the 89 mentally retarded children with chromosomal abnormalities, 63 had Down syndrome, 13 had the fragile X [fra(X)] syndrome, and the remaining had other aneuploid constitutions. Family studies were possible for 2 of the 13 fra(X) probands. The results of this study illustrate the contribution of chromosomal abnormalities to the pathogenesis of mental retardation in children.     

Genetic transformation in Lactobacillus sp. strain 100-33 of the capacity to colonize the nonsecreting gastric epithelium in mice

Lactobacillus isolates able to colonize the surfaces of the nonsecreting epithelia in the stomachs of monoassociated ex-germfree mice were derived from Lactobacillus acidophilus 100-33. Strain 100-33 was originally isolated from pig feces and is unable to colonize the murine gastric epithelium. In experiments involving attempts genetically to transform the capacity to colonize the epithelium, cells of strain 100-33 were treated with muralytic enzymes and mixed with polyethylene glycol and genomic or plasmid DNA extracted from Lactobacillus fermentum RI. Strain RI was originally isolated from a conventional mouse and has the capacity to colonize the nonsecreting gastric epithelium. The mixtures containing cells, polyethylene glycol, and DNA were plated on a regeneration medium. After overnight incubation, the cells were washed from the plates and introduced by gastric gavage into germfree mice. Only mice that received regenerated 100-33 cells previously mixed with genomic DNA from strain RI had layers of gram-positive bacteria on the keratinized epithelia of their stomachs. Six isolates cultured from the washed gastric tissues of these animals were characterized. When a culture of each or a pool of cultures of the six were orally administered to germfree mice, layers of gram-positive bacterial cells were visible on the keratinized gastric epithelia of the animals within 1 to 3 weeks. Cells of all six, but not of strain 100-33, reacted with antibody made in rabbits to L. fermentum RI cells, as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Nevertheless, all six had fermentation profiles identical to that of strain 100-33.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)