In vitro culture of a root parasite,Aeginetia indica L.

Seed germination and further growth of seedlings of an obligate root parasiteAeginetia indica L. are described. (1) Germination: dormancy of fresh seeds can be broken by sodium hypochlorite treatment, but seeds stored for 1–5 years at 5 C did not necessarily require halogen treatment for good germination. (2) Formation of the tendril, which facilitated the organic connection with the host, was stimulated greatly byMiscanthus root extract. (3) Septation (cell division) of tendril was promoted by addition of sucrose to the basal medium. (4) Rhizogenesis of the seedlingin vitro was stimulated by deproteinized coconut milk.     

Inhibitory Modulation by Sodium Ions of the N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Recognition Site in Brain Synaptic Membranes

Specific binding of radiolabeled L-glutamic acid (Glu) was examined using rat brain synaptic membranes treated with a low concentration of Triton X-100. The binding drastically increased in proportion to increasing concentrations of the detergent used up to 0.1%. Addition of 100 mM sodium acetate significantly potentiated the binding in membranes not treated with Triton X-100, whereas it markedly inhibited the binding in Triton-treated membranes. The binding in Triton-treated membranes was inversely dependent on incubation temperature and reached a plateau within 10 min after the initiation of incubation at 2 degrees C, whereas the time required to attain equilibrium at 30 degrees C was less than 1 min. Sodium acetate invariably inhibited the binding detected at both temperatures independently of the incubation time via decreasing the affinity for the ligand. The binding was significantly displaced by agonists and antagonists for an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-sensitive subclass of brain excitatory amino acid receptors, but not by those for the other subclasses. Inclusion of sodium acetate reduced the potencies of NMDA agonists to displace the binding without virtually affecting those of NMDA antagonists. Moreover, sodium ions inhibited the ability of Glu to potentiate the binding of N-[3H] [1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine to open NMDA channels in Triton-treated membranes. These results suggest that sodium ions may play an additional modulatory role in the termination process of neurotransmission mediated by excitatory amino acids via facilitating a transformation of the NMDA recognition site from a state with high affinity for agonists to a state with low affinity.     

Growth-related changes in color and sex inHalichoeres poecilopterus

Coloration and sex change were studied in a temperate wrasseHalichoeres poecilopterus in the central part of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. 1,270 examples, 45–179 mm SL, were collected from May to December both in 1983 and 1984. The species is a diandric, protogynous hermaphrodite, and has three color patterns: pale color type (A), brilliant color type (B) and intermediate color type (AB). A-fish were less than 142 mm SL and consisted of primary males (42.6%), females (55.4%), secondary males (0.3%) and fish with transitional gonads (1.7%). A-females changed their color to B, through AB, in the size range 101–131 mm SL. A-primary males changed their color to B, through AB, in the size range 103–134 mm SL. B-fish consisted of primary males (38.6%), secondary males (54.6%) and fish with transitional gonads (6.8%). The majority of females changed their sex to male in the size range 98–131 mm SL.     

Reproductive parameters of female Japanese macaques: Thirty years data from the arashiyama troops,Japan

Over a 30-year period from 1954 to 1983, 975 live births were recorded for Japanese macaque females at the Iwatayama Monkey Park, Arashiyama, Japan. Excluding unknown birth dates, primiparous mothers gave birth to 185 infants (182 cases with age of mother known) and multiparous mothers gave birth to 723 infants (603 cases with age of mother known). The peak month of birth was May with 52.3% of the total births occurring during the period. Multiparous females who had not given birth the previous year did so earlier than multiparous females who had given birth the previous year and also earlier than primiparous females. Among the females who had given birth the previous year, females whose infant had died gave birth earlier than females who had reared an infant the previous year. The offspring sex ratio (1:0.97) was not significantly different from 1:1, and revealed no consistent association with mother's age. Age-fecundity exhibited a humped curve. The annual birth rate was low at the age of 4 years but increased thereafter, ranging between 46.7% and 69.0%, at between 5 and 19 years of age, but again decreased for females between 20 and 25 years of age. Some old females displayed clear reproductive senescence. The infant mortality within the first year of age was quite low (10.3%) and the neonatal (less than 1 month old) mortality rate accounted for 49.0% of all infant deaths. There was no significant difference between the mortality rates of male and female infants. A female's rank-class had no apparent effect on the annual birth rate, infant mortality, and offspring sex ratio. These long-term data are compared with those from other primate populations.     

Lipase modification by various synthetic polymers for use in chloroform

Summary Lipase was modified with several hydrophilic and hydrophobic synthetic polymers. The modified lipase was solubilized into chloroform by. The catalytic esterification activity of modified lipase increased linearly with the increase of its solubility in chloroform.     

cDNA sequence and expression of a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene from soybean

A full-length cDNA encoding a subunit of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) was isolated from a developing seed expression library of the C₃ plant Glycine max. The corresponding mRNA is present at similar levels in leaf, stem, root and developing seed. Two potential start codons exist, and the activity of protein initiated from the first such codon could be subject to regulation by protein kinase. Sequence comparison shows a similar upstream start codon in the case of the Ppc2 gene from Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, previously assumed to lack the sequences necessary for phosphorylation. The soybean encoded protein tends to resemble other C₃-type PEPC proteins more closely than those implicated in C₄ or crassulacean acid metabolism.     

The augmentative effect of a protein-bound polysaccharide (PSK) on tumoricidal activity of the soluble factor produced by a streptococcal preparation (OK-432)-activated macrophages

The enhancement of antitumor activities of the tumoricidal soluble factor (SF) from a streptococcal preparation (OK-432)-activated macrophages by the pretreatment with a protein-bound polysaccharide (PSK) was investigated in tumor-bearing mice.Two-step stimulations with OK-432 atin vivo priming andin vitro eliciting were required for the production of the tumoricidal SF by macrophages, and the tumoricidal activity of the SF apparently correlated with the uptake of OK-432 by macrophages at priming phase.Tumoricidal activity of the SF from OK-432-activated macrophages in proteose-peptone (P-P)-pretreated mice significantly decreased with the development of the tumor, whereas in PSK-pretreated mice did not. Pretreatment of tumor-bearing mice with PSK saved a decrease in the macrophages carrying Ia^k or asialo GM1 antigens and an increase in wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) receptors. Furthermore, the uptake of OK-432 by macrophages at priming phase was enhanced. The tumoricidal activity of the SF from OK-432-activated macrophages was augmented.Thus, PSK may restore the depressed functions of macrophages, and the combination therapy with PSK and OK-432 may be effective to enhance the production of tumoricidal SF in tumor-bearing mice.     

1H NMR studies on ferricytochromec 3 fromDesulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F and its interaction with ferredoxin I

Summary The¹H NMR signals of the heme methyl, propionate and related chemical groups of cytochromec ₃ fromDesulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F (D.v. MF) were site-specifically assigned by means of ID NOE, 2D DQFCOSY and 2D TOCSY spectra. They were consistent with the site-specific assignments of the hemes with the highest and second-lowest redox potentials reported by Fan et al. (Biochemistry,29 (1990) 2257–2263). The site-specific heme assignments were also supported by NOE between the methyl groups of these hemes and the side chain of Val¹⁸. All the results contradicted the heme assignments forD.v. MF cytochromec ₃ made on the basis of electron spin resonance (Gayda et al. (1987)FEBS Lett.,217 57–61). Based on these assignments, the interaction of cytochromec ₃ withD.v. MF ferredoxin I was investigated by NMR. The major interaction site of cytochromec ₃ was identified as the heme with the highest redox potential, which is surrounded by the highest density of positive charges. The stoichiometry and association constant were two cytochromec ₃ molecules per monomer of ferredoxin I and 10⁸ M^–2 (at 53 mM ionic strength and 25°C), respectively.     

Formation of cyanate and carbamyl phosphate by electric discharges of model primitive gas

A mixed gas of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen was discharged over 100 ml of 0.2M NaHCO₃ solution in a 5 liter discharge apparatus which simulates the primitive Earth. The formation of cyanate, which is one of the possible primitive condensing agents, was demonstrated by the detection of [Cu(Py)₂] (NCO)₂ that was formed by the addition of copper sulfate-pyridine reagent to the solution. In a series of experiments the partial pressures of nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the starting gas were fixed at 10 cm Hg and 20 cm Hg, respectively, whereas that of hydrogen was varied between 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 cm Hg. The discharges were continued for one week. The rate of appearance of cyanate was strongly dependent upon the partial pressure of hydrogen. The maximum rate of the production of cyanate at the initial stage of the discharge was in the case of 10 cm Hg of hydrogen, in which condition the starting gas is in a predominantly oxidized state. In this case the concentration of cyanate reached about 0.012M after one day. Another discharge experiment was carried out with 0.2M phosphate solution, and the production of carbamyl phosphate was demonstrated through the formation of ATP by the incubation of the discharged solution with ADP and carbamyl phosphokinase.     

Potentiation by BL191 of differentiation of neuroblastoma cells induced by dibutyryl cAMP and prostaglandin E1

BL191, a newly developed phosphodiesterase inhibitor, markedly potentiated a differentiation of neuroblastoma cell clones (Neuro2a, NS-20Y, and N1E115) induced by dibutyryl cyclic adensoine 3′:5′-monophosphate(dibutyryl cAMP) and prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁). BL191 (1 mM) inhibited DNA synthesis more strongly when used together with PGE₁ (0.5 μg/ml) and dibutyryl cAMP (0.5 mM) than papaverine (1.6 μg/ml) alone did. The inhibition rates of DNA synthesis were 72.5% for N1E-115, 75.3% for Neuro2a, and 82.5% for NS-20Y. After the treatment with BL191. PGE₁, and dibutyryl cAMP for 48 h all of three cell lines became enlarged and flattened, and extended long processes. The specific activities of choline acetyl transferase (EC 2.3.1.9) of NS-20Y and dopamine β-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.17.1) of N1E-115 increased about 3-fold as compared to the controls. The tumorigenicities of Neuro2a and N1E-115 cells were decreased, but not of NS-20Y. These data suggest the heterogenous responsiveness in neuroblastoma cells to drug treatment.