Screening and characterization of glutaryl-7-aminocephalosporanic acid acylase from Pseudomonas sp.

Summary Three screening methods were used to isolate GL-7-ACA acylase-producing strains. Three positive isolates were identified with Pseudomonas nitroreducens CCRC 11041 possessing the highest activity, against GL-7-ACA and GL-7-ADCA. No activity was detected when Ceph C or succinyl-7-ACA was used as substrate; glutaric acid was found to be inhibitory. CCRC 11041 could produce maximal GL-7-ACA acylase activity when cultivated on meat extract medium II. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 5.0 and a temperature optimum of 42°C.     

A simple and modified manometric method for measuring oxygen uptake rate of plant cells in flask cultures

Summary A simple and convenient technique was developed based on the principle of Warburg manometric method to measure O₂ uptake rate (OUR) and CO₂ evolution rate (CER) of suspended cells in a shake flask culture. It was successfully applied to suspension cultures of rice (Oryza sativa) and Panax notoginseng cells, and some important bioprocess parameters, such as OUR, CER, respiratory quotient (RQ), specific OUR (SOUR) and specific CER (SCER), were quantitatively obtained. The measuring system is easy to operate, able to treat many samples simultaneously and is economical.     

采用薄层层析─紫外分光光度法测定广西不同产地黄花蒿中青蒿素含量

采用薄层层析─紫外分光光度法测定不同地区黄花蒿中的青蒿素含量,并对照测定野生与人工栽培样品,结果人工栽培的黄花蒿中青蒿素含量较野生高。     

Ca~（2＋）对叶绿素a／b钙结合蛋白波谱学特性的影响（Ⅱ）

用钙螯合亲和层析分离纯化得到的叶绿素ａ／ｂ钙结合蛋白,其荧光发射峰在６８０±１ｎｍ,钙结合后导致荧光发射峰强度降低。当再加入ＥＧＴＡ,螯合钙后,其荧光发射峰强度得以部分恢复。该蛋白在结合钙后,其圆二色谱也发生变化。这些结果表明该蛋白质的构象在结合钙后发生了变化。该蛋白质的荧光激发光谱在４４０ｎｍ和４７０ｎｍ处的激发峰表明此蛋白结合有叶绿素ａ和叶绿索ｂ。本文对叶绿素ａ／ｂ钙结合蛋白在光系统Ⅱ中的可能功能进行了讨论。     

In vitro labeling of the sialic acid moiety of glycoconjugates with carbon-14

Labeling of sialoglycoproteins with carbon-14 in vitro was performed by reacting the aldehyde groups, generated by mild periodate oxidation of the terminal sialyl groups, with 14C-labeled sodium cyanide to produce the labeled cyanohydrin derivatives (Kiliani reaction). Labeling with tritium was carried out by reduction of the aldehyde groups generated on the sialyl residues with 3H-labeled sodium borohydride following standard procedures. The behavior of both types of labeled specimens of fetuin and ovine submaxillary mucin, individually and in mixtures, was investigated by gel-filtration chromatography, gel electrophoresis, and cesium bromide gradient ultracentrifugation. The labeled sialyl residues were subjected to partial characterization: color yield with the resorcinol and thiobarbituric acid reagents, behavior on ion-exchange chromatography, and susceptibility to mild acid and enzymatic hydrolyses. In addition to these model glycoproteins, this procedure was also utilized to label the sialoglycoproteins present in human tracheobronchial secretions collected from normal subjects and patients with chronic bronchitis. The potential uses of this approach for comparative studies of normal and pathological sialoglycoconjugates available in minute amounts is described. The extension of this approach to the labeling of the galactosyl and N-acetylgalactosaminyl moieties of glycoconjugates following treatment with galactose oxidase is outlined.     

Ca2+-dependent K+ permeability of heart sarcolemmal vesicles. Modulation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity and by calmodulin

The Ca2+-dependent K+ permeability of heart sarcolemma vesicles was measured by following the transmembrane movement of the charge compensating tetraphenylborate anion. The increase in vesicles permeability induced by Ca2+ is lost when membrane proteins are dephosphorylated by an endogenous protein phosphatase and is restored by a phosphorylation process catalysed by a cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The calmodulin antagonist R 24571 lowers the Ca2+-dependent K+ permeability by decreasing the Ca2+ affinity of the K+ transporting system.     

Baseline and sodium arsenite-induced sister chromatid exchanges in cultured lymphocytes from patients with Blackfoot disease and healthy persons

Summary A significantly higher frequency of baseline sister chromatid exchange (SCE) was found in the cultured lymphocytes of 13 Blackfoot disease patients (BFP) in comparison with that of healthy persons (HP). Twelve of these BFP consumed well water containing a high concentration of arsenic for 15 years or longer and had switched to drinking tap water 12 years before the time of this study. Sodium arsenite was found to be effective in increasing the SCE frequency and delaying the cell growth of the lymphocytes from both BFP and HP. However, the SCE increment induced by sodium arsenite as well as the progression of the cell divisions in the cultured lymphocytes showed no significant difference between BFP and HP.     

Histochemical localization of zinc in the feline tapetum

Summary High resolution electron microscopy of ultrathin sections confirms the presence of a membrane surrounding the tapetal rods in the cat. Cats depleted of taurine exhibit disruption and disorganization of this membrane, probably the first stage of more severe tapetal degeneration. Histochemical localization of zinc shows it to be present on the periphery of the tapetal rods. The amount of zinc present on the periphery of the tapetal rods of taurine depleted cats was greatly reduced. Taurine in feline tapetum, confirmed by autoradiography and direct measurement, was also greatly reduced in taurine-depleted cats. We conclude that both taurine and zinc are localized on the periphery of the tapetal rods and that they contribute to the stability of the membrane. We have also confirmed earlier reports that the cat tapetal rods contain riboflavin and no detectable cysteine.Presented in part at the International Symposium Taurine-Questions and Answers Mexico City, November 16–19, 1980