Trisomy 16 confined to chorionic villi and unfavourable outcome of pregnancy.

Two cases of trisomy 16 confined to placental tissue associated with an unfavourable outcome of the pregnancy are reported. In the first case, after a diagnosis of an apparent non-mosaic trisomy 16 at chorionic villi sample (CVS), an intrauterine fetal death occurred at the 22nd week. In the second case a mosaic with trisomy 16 was found in chorionic villi and the fetus was still-born at 38 weeks. From a comparison of their cases with those of the literature, the authors conclude that a trisomy 16 confined to placental tissue has a negative effect on fetal growth and pregnancy outcome.     

Effect of chronic ethanol and food deprivation on intestinal villus morphology and brush border membrane content of lipid and marker enzymes

Brush border membranes (BBM) were isolated from the jejunum and ileum of control, ad libitum (CAL); control, food-restricted (CFR); control, weight gain (CWG); and ethanol-fed (EF) rabbits. Jejunal alkaline phosphatase activity was similar among control groups, but higher in CAL than EF animals. Sucrase activity was higher in EF and CWG animals than in CAL and CFR. The alkaline phosphatase/sucrase ratio was lower in EF than control animals. Ileal enzyme marker activity was similar among EF and control animals. Sucrase (S) activity was lower in the ileum than in the jejunum. Jejunal free fatty acid and phospholipid/cholesterol (PL/C) were lower in EF than control animals, whereas ileal lipid content was generally similar among all animal groups. Total phospholipid content was similar between sites, but the cholesterol and free fatty acid content were lower in the ileum than the jejunum. The phospholipid/cholesterol ratio was increased only in the ileum of EF animals. The amount of lecithin was decreased in the jejunal BBM of EF animals resulting in a decreased choline/amine phospholipid ratio as compared with control animals. The ileal phospholipid composition was similar among all groups. A large increase in villus height is observed in the jejunum of EF animals. Villus surface area and mucosal surface area are altered with ethanol feeding and food deprivation. Thus, (i) there is a gradient of S and cholesterol between the BBM of jejunum and ileum; (ii) changes in food intake are associated with changes in the morphology as well as the enzyme marker and lipid content of BBM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Changes in superoxide dismutase activity in the presence of electron donors and acceptors

The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) from bovine erythrocytes was measured by the inhibition of nitrotetrazolium blue reduction rate in superoxide anion radical generation systems--xanthine/xanthine oxidase of NADH/phenazine methasulfate. The enzyme activity increases in the presence of compounds acting as electron donors in radical-involving reactions and decreased in the presence of compounds possessing the properties of electron acceptors. Activation of SOD by electron donors and its inhibition by electron acceptors was dependent on the concentration of the above compounds. In the absence of SOD electron donors and acceptors did not change the rate of tetrazolium blue reduction by superoxide anion radicals. The role of the new type of SOD regulation for the enzyme functioning in the cell is discussed.     

Analysis of the form of cortical neuron reaction to acetylcholine

Reaction patterns of 90 cortical neurons to acetylcholine approximated by two parabolas have been divided on simple and complex. The participation of different types of cholinoreceptors in complex reactions to transmitter is proposed.     

Isotopically sensitive branching in the formation of cyclic monoterpenes: proof that (-)-alpha-pinene and (-)-beta-pinene are synthesized by the same monoterpene cyclase via deprotonation of a common intermediate

To determine whether the bicyclic monoterpene olefins (-)-alpha-pinene and (-)-beta-pinene arise biosynthetically from the same monoterpene cyclase by alternate deprotonations of a common carbocationic intermediate, the product distributions arising from the acyclic precursor [10-2H3,1-3H]geranyl pyrophosphate were compared with those resulting from incubation of [1-3H]geranyl pyrophosphate with (-)-pinene cyclase from Salvia officinalis. Alteration in proportions of the olefinic products generated by the partially purified pinene cyclase resulted from the suppression of the formation of (-)-beta-pinene (C10 deprotonation) by a primary deuterium isotope effect with a compensating stimulation of the formation of (-)-alpha-pinene (C4 deprotonation). (-)-Pinene cyclase as well as (+)-pinene cyclase also exhibited a decrease in the proportion of the acyclic olefin myrcene generated from the deuteriated substrate, accompanied by a corresponding increase in the commitment to cyclized products. The observation of isotopically sensitive branching, in conjunction with quantitation of the magnitude of the secondary deuterium isotope effect on the overall rate of product formation by the (+)- and (-)-pinene cyclases as well as two other monoterpene cyclases from the same tissue, supports the biosynthetic origin of (-)-alpha-pinene and (-)-beta-pinene by alternative deprotonations of a common enzymatic intermediate. A biogenetic scheme consistent with these results is presented, and alternate proposals for the origin of the pinenes are addressed.     

Directly observed 15N NMR spectra of uniformly enriched proteins

The proteins cytochrome c2, cytochrome c', and ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from Rhodospirillum rubrum were enriched in 15N by growth of the organism on 15NH4Cl. The proteins were purified to homogeneity and studied by 15N NMR. Longitudinal and transverse relaxation times as well as the nuclear Overhauser effects were determined for various groups of the proteins which vary in molecular weight from 13,000 to 114,000. The values of these parameters for the amide resonances or for groups thought to be rigid were consistent with the molecular weights of the proteins. Relaxation times of the amino-terminal alpha-amino groups and the side chain nitrogen atoms of arginine and lysine were consistent with much more rapid motion. Nitrogen atoms having bound protons were generally found to be decoupled from the protons by chemical exchange. Demonstrable 1H-15N coupling was taken as an indication that exchange was hindered, either by hydrogen bonding interactions or by inaccessibility of the group to solvent. Histidine side chain nitrogen atoms, which experience a large chemical shift upon protonation/deprotonation, were often found to be broadened beyond detectability by chemical exchange and tautomerization. Strategies for improving sensitivity and for obtaining specific peak assignments are also discussed.