The sequence of the nucleotides at the alpha-sarcin cleavage site in rat 28 S ribosomal ribonucleic acid

The sequence of the 521 nucleotides at the 3' end of a rat 28 S rRNA gene was determined. The region encompasses the site of cleavage of 28 S rRNA by the cytotoxin alpha-sarcin. The toxin hydrolyzes a phosphodiester bond on the 3' side of a guanine residue 393 nucleotides from the 3' end. The alpha-sarcin domain is composed of a purine-rich sequence of 14 highly conserved nucleotides.     

Release of LH after administration of an analog of synthetic LH-RH in cattle

The $\text{in vivo}$ effect of an analog of LH-RH, (Des-Gly-NH₂¹⁰, Proethylamide⁹)-LH-RH, on LH release, was studied in one bull with azooapermia, and one cow with cystic follicle. The single intravenous injection of 100 μg LH-RH analog caused abrupt and marked increase in serum LH and the high levels of LH were maintained for 3 hours. The highest levels of serum LH were 48 and 114 times as high as the pre-treatment levels in a bull and a cow, respectively. Further studies are being undertaken to evaluate this compound for improving reproductive function in cattle.     

Study of glomerular vasculature in teleosts with the resin-replica method

Glomerular vasculature was investigated in the carpCyprinus carpio, the scorpionfishSebastiscus marmoratus, and the marine catfishPlotosus lineatus with the resin-replica method. An afferent arteriole was connected with a glomerulus in every fish. It was slender in the carp, whereas the scorpionfish and marine catfish possessed thick afferent arterioles. The glomerular capillaries were sinusoidal. The divergences, convergences, and windings of these capillaries were not well developed in any of the fish. The glomerular capillaries converged into an efferent arteriole in the carp and scorpionfish. In the marine catfish, on the other hand, most of the glomeruli had two efferent arterioles.     

Effect of rice fiber on human fecal microflora

The effects of brown rice, containing fourfold as much dietary fiber as polished rice, on the human fecal microflora were determined. Significantly increased numbers of Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Enterococcus faecalis were observed during the brown rice intake, whereas the total counts and the numbers of bacteroides, Eubacterium aerofaciens, and Escherichia coli during the intake were lower than those before and after the intake. Lower numbers of clostridia and low incidences of Clostridium paraputrificum and C. perfringens were observed during the brown rice intake.     

Purification and characterization of a Ca2+-dependent actin filament severing protein from bovine adrenal medulla

We describe the purification of an actin regulatory protein from bovine adrenal medulla. This protein caused a dose-dependent decrease of the specific viscosity of actin solution within 30 s of its addition in a Ca2+-sensitive way. Sedimentation assays and the observation by electron microscopy showed that this effect was ascribable to the fragmentation of actin filaments. This protein apparently promoted nucleation of actin polymerization and increased the critical concentration of actin for polymerization nearly 5-fold, suggesting its binding to the barbed end of actin filaments. The inhibitory effect of this protein on the elongation of actin from the barbed end of the myosin subfragment S1-labeled actin seeds confirmed this suggestion. These properties are similar to those of gelsolin. However, the physicochemical properties of this protein having a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 74,000, a Stokes radius of 3.9 nm, a sedimentation coefficient (s0(20),w) of 4.5 S, and an immunological characterization showed that this protein is different from gelsolin.