Preliminary clinical observations with recombinant interleukin-2 in patients with AIDS or LAS

The toxicity of recombinant Interleukin-2 (IL-2) was studied in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or persistent lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS). Increasing doses of the drug from 10(3) Units/m2 to 10(6) U/m2 were given as an intravenous bolus injection. At the high-dose levels some minor effects, such as fever up to 39.5 degrees C, chills, malaise or vomiting, were observed. The administration of 10(6) U/m2 as a 4-hour infusion showed identical results. No particular alterations of laboratory parameters were found. At the high-dose level the serum concentration of neopterin, which is released from macrophages after interferon gamma stimulation, was significantly (p less than 0.001) elevated above pretreatment levels. The clinical observation of daily infusions of 10(6)/m2 for 14 days revealed the same side effects. All patients developed lymphocytosis and eosinophilia. Two patients had suffered from severe diarrhoea for several weeks presumably due to cryptosporidiosis. In both cases diarrhoea ceased under the treatment with IL-2 and did not occur in the following two months.     

Isolation and characterization of a heparin with high anticoagulant activity from Anomalocardia brasiliana

The isolation, some structural features, physicochemical properties and pharmacological activities of a heparin from Anomalocardia brasiliana are reported. It is shown that the mollusc heparin is very similar to those present in mammalian tissues with regard to chemical composition, physicochemical properties, pharmacological activities and susceptibility to heparinase and heparitinase II from Flavobacterium heparinum, as well as to the types of products formed by the action of these enzymes. Three significant quantitative differences were observed for the mollusc heparin when compared with the ones from mammalian origin, namely, a higher degree of binding with antithrombin III (45%), higher molecular weight (27-43 kDa) and higher anticoagulant activity (320 I.U./mg). The possible biological role of heparin is discussed in view of the present findings.     

Complete complementary DNA of rat tyrosine aminotransferase messenger RNA. Deduction of the primary structure of the enzyme

The primary structure of rat tyrosine aminotransferase (L-tyrosine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase; EC 2.6.1.5), a liver-specific enzyme involved in gluconeogenesis, has been deduced from the nucleotide sequence of a cloned full-length cDNA. The mRNA is 2362 nucleotides long (excluding the poly(A) tail) and codes for a polypeptide of 454 amino acids with a molecular weight of 50634. Unambiguous identification was obtained by comparison of this sequence with the amino acid sequences of several peptides obtained from the purified enzyme.     

Schriftenschau

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Der Sperlingskauz (Glaucidium passerinum) im Schwarzwald

Summary After a decrease and extinction due to deforestation the population has been reestablished by releasing captive-bred owls. Now about 40 territories are occupied with an average density of 0,8–1,0 territories/10 km². Highest density: 17 territories/80 km².     

Use of purified antipeptide sera of selected specificity for the detection of the simian virus 40 large T antigen by western blotting

Western blotting was used as a powerful alternative to immunoprecipitation for the detection of the simian virus 40 (SV40) large tumor (T) antigen. After resolution by electrophoresis on a SDS-polyacrylamide gel of a [¹⁵S]methionine labeled crude extract from SV40 infected monkey kidney cells, the separated proteins were transferred electrophoretically on nitrocellulose paper. T antigen was detected on nitrocellulose strips by using for the first time, specific, purified antipeptide monoclonal antibodies directed against the N- and C-terminal portions of the molecule, and¹²⁵I-labeled Protein A.     

Regulation of the β-ketoadipate pathway in Rhizobium japonicum and bacteroids by succinate

Rhizobium japonicum 61-A-101 and its bacteroids catabolize phenol and p-hydroxybenzoate. With phenol as a carbon source, utilization started only after a prolonged lag phase while p-hydroxybenzoate was almost instantancously metabolized. Succinate, which supports rapid growth of Rhizobium japonicum, completely repressed respication of phenol; the oxidation of p-hydroxybenzoate was partially inhibited. Pyruvate, supporting slower growth than succinate, retarded the onset of phenol consumption but did not affect its maximum rate.Catabolite repression of phenol utilization by succinate appears to be a characteristic feature of rhizobia. In Pseudomonas putida which also actively metabolizes phenol, succinate had no effect on phenol utilization.