Intracellular Localization and Characterization of Beef Liver Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Isozymes

Various physiological roles of mammalian aldehyde dehydrogenase had been anticipated because of its broad substrate specificity. In order to clarify roles of the enzyme and the regulation of aldehyde metabolisms in liver, the intracellular distribution and isozyme of beef liver aldehyde dehydrogenase were studied.

The presence of the mitochondrial, the microsomal and the cytoplasmic isozymes were proved by the isoelectric focusing. These isozymes were different from each other in pH-activity curve in the responces for steroid hormones and disulfiram.

It was suggested by comparing the reactivities of these isozymes for various aldehydes that particular aldehyde might be oxidized by a favorite isozyme at particular locality in the liver cells and that a share of physiological role among these isozymes is probable.     

Novel Secoiridoid Glucosides in Olea europaea Leaves Suffering from Boron Deficiency

From the methanol extract of boron deficient Olea europaea leaves, two secoiridoid glycosides, not detected in leaf extracts of untreated plants, 6′-E-p-coumaroyl-secologanoside and 6′-O-[(2E)-2,6-dimethyl-8-hydroxy-2-octenoyloxy]-secologanoside, were isolated together with three known secoiridoid glycosides, oleuropein, oleoside dimethyl ester, and secologanoside. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by means of NMR and MS spectral analyses. The above novel secoiridoids were synthesized by the plant as a physiological response to nutrient stress.     

White monkey syndrome and presumptive copper deficiency in wild savannah baboons

In immature wild savannah baboons (Papio cynocephalus), we observed symptoms consistent with copper (Cu) deficiency and, more specifically, with a disorder referred to as white monkey syndrome (WMS) in laboratory primates. The objectives of this study were to characterize this pathology, and test three hypotheses that (1) Cu deficiency may have been induced by zinc (Zn) toxicity, (2) it may have been induced by molybdenum (Mo) toxicity, and (3) cumulative rainfall during the perinatal period and particularly during gestation is an ecological factor distinguishing infants afflicted with WMS from non-WMS infants. During 2001-2009, we observed 22 instances of WMS out of a total 377 live births in the study population. Visible symptoms exhibited by WMS infants included whitening of the animal's fur and/or impaired mobility characterized by an apparent "stiffening" of the hindlimbs. Occurrence of WMS did not vary significantly by gender. However, among individuals that survived at least 180 days, WMS males had a significantly lower survivorship probability than non-WMS males. Zn/Cu ratios assessed from hair samples of adult female baboons were higher in females who had produced at least one WMS offspring relative to females who had not had a WMS offspring. This was true even when the hair sample was collected long after the birth of the female's afflicted infant. We consider this potentially indicative of a robust tendency for low Cu levels induced by elevated Zn intake in some individuals. No significant differences of Mo/Cu ratios were observed. Cumulative rainfall during gestation (～179 days) was 50% lower for WMS infants relative to non-WMS infants. In contrast, rainfall for the two classes of infants did not differ in the 180 days before conception or in the 180 days following birth. This finding highlights the importance of prenatal ecological conditions in healthy fetal development with regard to WMS.     

REGULATION OF BIOSYNTHESIS OF DIMETHYLSULFONIOPROPIONATE AND ITS UPTAKE IN STERILE MUTANT OF ULVA PERTUSA (CHLOROPHYTA)1

It has been shown that marine algae produce the compatible solute dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) from methionine (Met) via four enzymatic reactions in which the third step, synthesis of 4‐dimethylsulfonio‐2‐hydroxy‐butyrate (DMSHB) from 4‐methylthio‐2‐hydroxybutyrate (MTHB), is the committing step. However, regulation of the biosynthetic pathways and transport properties of DMSP is largely unknown. Here, the effects of sulfur and sodium concentrations on the uptake and synthesis of DMSHB and DMSP were examined in a sterile mutant of Ulva pertusa Kjellm. Sulfur deficiency increased the activity of the sulfur assimilation enzyme O‐acetyl serine sulfhydrylase but decreased the MTHB S‐methyltransferase activity, suggesting the preferential utilization of sulfur atoms for Met metabolites other than DMSP. Uptake of DMSP and DMSHB was enhanced by S deficiency. High salinity enhanced the MTHB S‐methyltransferase activity as well as the uptake of DMSHB. The MTHB S‐methyltransferase activity was inhibited by its product DMSP. These data demonstrate the importance of MTHB S‐methyltransferase activity and uptake of DMSHB for the regulation of DMSP.     

益肾活血解毒汤治疗肾虚血瘀型颈动脉粥样硬化患者的疗效观察

摘要 目的：观察益肾活血解毒汤治疗肾虚血瘀型颈动脉粥样硬化（CAS）效果。方法：选取我院2021年8月~2023年4月收治的肾虚血瘀型CAS患者80例,随机分为观察组和对照组,各40例。两组均予以常规西医治疗,观察组加服益肾活血解毒汤,治疗周期为四周。观察两组的临床疗效、血脂等指标变化,并进行统计学比较。结果：两组治疗前中医证候积分无差异（P＞0.05）,而治疗后,观察组中医证候积分明显低于对照组（P<0.05）;观察组总有效率（97.50%）虽在数值上高于对照组（92.50%）,但并无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;相较于治疗前,两组治疗后血脂指标（CHOL、TG、LDL-C）和炎性因子（NLRP3、Caspase-1、IL-1β、IL-18）水平显著下降（P<0.05）,而观察组下降幅度更大,与对照组差异显著（P<0.05）;服药期间,两组均无明显不良反应发生。结论：常规调脂抗动脉粥样硬化联合益肾活血解毒汤治疗肾虚血瘀型CAS疗效肯定,可有效改善临床症状,调节血脂水平,控制炎症反应,且安全性良好。     

A novel electrochemically active and Fe(III)-reducing bacterium phylogenetically related to Aeromonas hydrophila,isolated from a microbial fuel cell

A facultative anaerobic bacterium was isolated from a mediator-less microbial fuel cell fed with artificial wastewater containing acetate and designated as PA3. The isolate was identified as a strain of Aeromonas hydrophila based on its biochemical, physiological and morphological characteristics as well as 16S rDNA sequence analysis and DNA-DNA hybridization. PA3 used glucose, glycerol, pyruvate and hydrogen to reduce Fe(III), nitrate and sulfate. Cyclic voltammetry showed that PA3 was electrochemically active and was the culture collection strain A. hydrophila KCTC 2358. Electricity was generated from a fuel cell-type reactor, the anode compartment of which was inoculated with cell suspensions of the isolate or A. hydrophila KCTC 2358. The electrochemical activities are novel characteristics of A. hydrophila.     

Foliar fertilization to control iron chlorosis in pear (Pyrus communis L.) trees

The effectiveness of foliar fertilization to re-green chlorotic leaves in iron-deficient pear trees has been studied. Trials were made to assess the influence of (i) the level of Fe deficiency, (ii) the leaf surface treated (adaxial or abaxial), and (iii) two different surfactants, L-77 and Mistol. Treatments were ferrous sulphate alone, ascorbic, citric and sulphuric acids, applied either alone or in combination with ferrous sulphate, Fe-DTPA and water as a control. Solutions were applied with a brush and leaves were treated twice each year. None of the treatments caused a full recovery from Fe deficiency chlorosis. Treatments containing Fe caused the largest re-greening effects, and FeSO₄ had a similar re-greening effect to Fe(III)-DTPA. Increases in leaf Chl were more pronounced with abaxial leaf surface applications and in severely deficient leaves. Using Fe(III)-DTPA in foliar sprays does not seem to be justified, since their effects are not better than those of FeSO₄. The joint use of Fe(III)-DTPA and L-77 and that of FeSO₄ and citric acid do not seem to be suitable. With a single foliar application, FeSO₄ combined with acids gave slightly better results than FeSO₄ alone. Acidic solution applications without Fe may be effective in alleviating chlorosis in some cases, especially in the case of citric acid. In the current state of knowledge, foliar fertilization cannot offer yet a good alternative for full control of Fe chlorosis, although its low environmental impact and cost make this technique a good complementary measure to soil Fe-chelate applications and other chlorosis alleviation management techniques. Abbreviations: Chl – chlorophyll; EDDCHA – ethylenediamine di(5-carboxy-2-hydroxyphenylacetic) acid; EDDHA – ethylenediamine di(o-hydroxyphenylacetic) acid; EDDHMA – ethylenediamine di(o-hydroxy-p-methylphenylacetic) acid; EDDHSA – ethylenediamine di(2-hydroxy-5-sulfophenylacetic) acid     

温敏失绿突变体水稻1103s在失绿过程中全叶蛋白的变化

从全叶蛋白比较入手,研究了温敏失绿突变体水稻（ＯｒｙｚａｓａｔｉｖａＬ．）１１０３ｓ失绿前、后的变化,并结合该突变体在不同温度处理和遗传背景下叶片全蛋白的变化特征分析了变温诱导与失绿的关系。结果表明,诱导后１１０３ｓ的叶片上,失绿部分的组织中没有出现冷胁迫的迹象,其Ｒｕｂｉｓｃｏ的大、小亚基表现正常。一个５１ｋＤ（ＰＩ＝４．５）的特异蛋白Ｐ１在失绿部分的组织中消失,而在叶片绿色部分的组织中检测到了Ｐ１蛋白,不过量有所减少,说明在失绿叶片上突变基因的表达存在组织差异性。Ｐ１蛋白在常温下生长的１１０３ｓ叶片中为一大量蛋白,此蛋白在“８９０２ｓ”、“窄叶青８号”等品种中均可检测到;并且持续低温处理的１１０３ｓ植株和１１０３ｓ×８９０２ｓ杂交一代的叶片中Ｐ１蛋白的表达未受影响。由此推测,Ｐ１蛋白是水稻叶片中的一个与叶绿素的代谢过程密切相关的重要功能蛋白。在１１０３ｓ中,Ｐ１蛋白的变化不是温度诱导的直接后果,而是受突变所导致的温敏过程调控的下游变化。