Reaction of β-propiolactone with amino acids and its specificity for methionine

1. The reactions of beta-propiolactone with amino acids were investigated under various conditions of pH and temperature to find those under which the reagent acted with specificity. 2. At pH9.0 and 22 degrees , after 15min. of reaction, at least 85% of each amino acid had reacted, methionine and cystine being the most reactive. 3. At pH7.0 and 22 degrees most amino acids reacted; methionine, cystine and histidine reacted almost entirely, and proline and lysine to a significantly smaller extent. 4. At pH3.0 and 22 degrees further specificity was obtained; methionine and cystine were the only reactive amino acids. 5. Reaction at pH3.0 and 0 degrees was specific for methionine; it was the only amino acid modified even after 145hr. of reaction.     

The effect of nitrogen fertilization on the release of soil nitrogen

Summary The effect of fertilizer nitrogen on the available amount of soil nitrogen was investigated in a greenhouse experiment. To 9 different soils, 0, 50, 100 and 200 kg N/ha were applied, resp., as (N¹⁵H₄)₂SO₄ with an atom excess N-15 of 1%.No priming effect could be found for any of the treatments. The available amount of soil N, expressed as A_N value, was not affected by rate of N-fertilizer application.     

Impatiens parviflora DC. — a natural host of cabbage black ringspot and cucumber mosaic viruses

Identification trials were carried out to determine a virus-like disease ofImpatiene parviflora DC. Two forms of foliar symptoms were observed:

1. a)
   Chiorotie and necrotic areas sometimes fallen out, leaving the leaves “shot holed”;     

HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BOVINE NUCHAL LIGAMENT

The histological changes occurring during the development of the bovine nuchal ligament have been observed in sections of formalin-fixed material from 21 animals ranging in age from 110 days of gestation to 10 yr. The elastic fibers which constitute the bulk of the adult ligament were initially few in number. During fetal development, the fibers showed a rapid increase both in number and in their stainability with the usual elastic stains. The average diameter of these elastic fibers increased only slowly until the last uterine month, at which time it began to increase very rapidly. This rapid rate of increase continued through the first 6 postnatal months, after which the rate of increase slowed markedly. However, the fiber diameter continued to rise steadily throughout the period of the study. During the fetal stage of development, the fibroblastic cells of the ligament exhibited unusual nuclear appearances which distinguish them from other fibroblasts. These consisted of marked clumping of the chromatin and an associated nuclear vacuolation or vesiculation. While these changes seem likely to be artefacts of fixation, their temporal correlation with elastin deposition and their demonstration in other tissue cells engaged in elastin production suggest that the factors responsible for these appearances may be related to elastin synthesis.     

Growth of Mycobacterium lepraemurium in Cultures of Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages

Successful growth of Mycobacterium lepraemurium was observed in cultures of mouse peritoneal macrophages. The optimal host cell maintenance medium was composed of 40% horse serum, 50% of the chemically defined medium NCTC 109, and 10% of a 1:5 dilution of beef embryo extract, supplemented with both liver extract and ferric nitrate. Multiplication of the bacilli was observed in 1 week and maximal growth in 6 to 7 weeks. All macrophages were filled with tens to hundreds of the organisms in cultures showing maximal growth. Glycerol caused an increase in the normal length of M. lepraemurium, without a corresponding increase in the number of the bacilli. Elongation of M. lepraemurium was observed 3 or 4 days after infection. Rapid and uniform growth of M. lepraemurium was achieved in serially transferred cultures (subcultures). The cumulative increase of the number of intracellular bacilli was 1.4 x 10(20)-fold in 14 transfers over a period of 68 weeks in one series, and 10(17)-fold in 12 transfers over a period of 56 weeks in another series. The generation time of M. lepraemurium was 7 days, a growth rate which approximates the fastest growth of the organisms in vivo. Organisms harvested from cultures at various stages of growth produced murine leprosy in mice, but showed no growth in bacteriological media. The present model offers an opportunity for studies on the host-parasite relationship without the complication of extracellular growth of the parasites.