Scavenger lipoprotein receptors are more effective in ligand internalization than low density lipoprotein receptors in human monocyte-macrophages

Human monocyte-macrophages in culture express specific receptors for low density lipoproteins (LDL receptor) and human acetylated LDL (AcLDL receptors or scavenger receptors). After 24 h in lipoprotein-deficient serum, the cells expressed 2-3 fold more AcLDL receptors than LDL receptors as measured by trypsin releasable radioactivity after exposure to 125I-LDL or 125I-AcLDL at 37 degrees C. The efficiency of intracellular ligand delivery by the two receptors was evaluated as an internalization index (defined as intracellular + degraded/bound ligand). This index was several fold greater for 125I-AcLDL than for 125I-LDL, in the same cells exposed to either ligand under identical conditions. These results suggest that the scavenger receptors recycle more rapidly than do LDL receptors.     

Thymus cell differentiation and in vivo T-cell migration. I. Migration of lectin-selected thymocytes

The in vivo quantitative distribution and tissue positioning of mouse thymocytes selected in vitro by Lyt phenotype and lectin binding properties were examined. Lyt 1+2- thymocytes were selected for by cytotoxic elimination; peanut agglutinin (PNA) and soybean agglutinin (SBA) binding and nonbinding thymocyte fractions were separated by an agglutinin technique. Selected cell suspensions were labelled in vitro with 51chromium (51Cr) or [3H]adenosine. Labeled washed cells were injected intravenously into syngeneic recipients which were killed at 1, 24 or 48 hr. In recipients of 51Cr-labeled cells, tissues were collected for gamma counting, and the overall percentage recovery of injected radiolabel from the various tissues was assessed. Tissues collected from recipients of [3H]adenosine-labeled cells were fixed, sectioned, and processed for autoradiography; the positioning of labeled cells within the tissues was determined. Selected Lyt 1+2-, PNA-, and SBA- sets all showed significantly enhanced entry into lymph nodes and intestinal lymphoid tissues. Entry of SBA+ cells into these tissues was comparable to that of peripheral T cells. PNA- and SBA- selected sets, but not Lyt 1+2- selected cells, also showed increased localization to the spleen and lungs, and decreased localization to the liver. By autoradiography, PNA- cells entered lymphoid tissues much more than PNA+ cells, and at 1 hr fewer PNA+ cells in spleen were associated with lymphoid follicles. At 24 and 48 hr almost all labeled cells in lymphoid tissues were positioned in T-dependent areas. These results suggest that enrichment for thymocyte subpopulations described as "mature" also enriches for cells with the ability to enter lymphoid tissue. They also suggest that interactions at other tissue sites are important in the determination of in vivo migration, and that surface carbohydrate composition is an important factor in this determination.     

Characterization of an immune suppressor from transformed human trophoblastic JEG-3 cells

Cultured human choriocarcinoma JEG-3 cells secrete an immunosuppressor that inhibits lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by either an antigen or a mitogen. In this study, the immunosuppressive factor was characterized by three methods: ion-exchange and exclusion chromatography, partition in organic solvents, and thin-layer chromatography on silicic acid. This JEG-3 cell factor appeared to be a protein complex of about 150,000–200,000 Da that contained an immunologically active polar lipid. The structural and functional characteristics of JEG-3 cell immunosuppressor are similar if not identical to those of SIF, a suppressor lymphokine derived from T cells. These secretions from transformed trophoblastic cells may correspond to normal placental products or represent a function of malignant cells.     

Glucuronidation and sulfation of p-nitrophenol in isolated rat hepatocyte subpopulations. Effects of phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene pretreatment

Parenchymal cells, isolated from untreated (control), phenobarbital(PB)-or 3-methylcholanthrene(3-MC)-treated rats, were separated into four subpopulations according to cell density, and glucuronidation and sulfation of p-nitrophenol (PNP) in the hepatocyte subpopulations were investigated. PB enhanced the glucuronidation almost 2-fold but not the sulfation, while 3-MC enhanced both glucuronidation (3-fold) and sulfation (2-fold) in the original cell suspensions. Some gradation trends were found in the conjugation activities among the hepatocyte subpopulations: In the control experiment, the extent of glucuronidation in four subpopulations was virtually the same but sulfation in high-density hepatocytes was slightly higher than in low-density ones. Both glucuronidation and sulfation were higher in low-density hepatocytes from PB-treated rats, though the gradation was very modest. Glucuronidation and sulfation tended to be slightly higher in middle-density hepatocytes in the 3-MC experiment. However, no definite correlation in conjugation activities vs. cell density, like those seen in cytochrome P-450s vs. cell density in the hepatocytes isolated from PB-treated rats, were found in the subpopulations from control or inducer-treated rats. Simultaneous studies on acetylation of p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) revealed that the activities in the subpopulations were virtually the same and the inducers had little influence on the activity.     

Microfluorometric detection of asymmetry in the centromeric region of mouse chromosomes

A lateral asymmetry in the centromeric region of mouse chromosomes is revealed in studies involving the BUdR quenching of 33258 Hoechst fluorescence. This cytologically detected asymmetry may reflect the unequal distribution of thymidine between the two chains of mouse satellite DNA.     

Isolation of Glutamyltaurine from Bovine Brains and Proof of Its γ-Linkage by the B/E Linked Scan SIMS Technique

We isolated a glutamyltaurine from bovine brains and determined its structure as gamma-glutamyltaurine (gamma-Glu-Tau; glutaurine) by use of a new mass spectrometric technique [B/E linked scan sputtered ion mass spectrometry (SIMS)], which we have recently shown to be useful for distinguishing the gamma- from the alpha-isomer of glutamyl-dipeptides. Neither the alpha-isomer of glutamyltaurine nor any aspartyltaurines could be detected in bovine brain.     

The role of litter in an old-field community: impact of litter quantity in different seasons on plant species richness and abundance

Summary We studied the effect of removing and adding plant litter in different seasons on biomass, density, and species richness in a Solidago dominated old-field community in New Jersey, USA. We removed all the naturally accumulated plant litter in November (658 g/m²) and in May (856 g/m²) and doubled the amount of litter in November and May in replicated plots (1 m²). An equal number of plots were left as controls. Litter removal and addition had little impact on total plant biomass or individual species biomass in the growing season following the manipulations. Litter removal, however, significantly increased plant densities but this varied depending upon the season of litter removal, species, and life history type. Specifically, the fall litter removal had a much greater impact than the spring litter removal suggesting that litter has its greatest impact after plant senescence in the fall and prior to major periods of early plant growth in spring. Annual species showed the greatest response, especially early in the growing season. Both spring and fall litter removal significantly increased species richness throughout the study. Litter additions in both spring and fall reduced both plant densities and species richness in June, but these differences disappeared near the end of the growing season in September. We concluded than in productive communities where litter accumulation may be substantial, litter may promote low species richness and plant density. This explanation does not invoke resource competition for the decline in species richness. Finally, we hypothesize that there may be broad thresholds of litter accumulation in different community types that may act to either increase or decrease plant yield and diversity.     

Natal dispersal in relation to population density and sex ratio in the field vole,Microtus agrestis

Summary In a sample of 240 juvenile field voles 8% of the males and 22% of the females reached sexual maturity within their natal home range. Among individuals retrapped as adults, 58% of males and 23% of females had dispersed, i.e. had moved more than one home range diameter. The mean distance moved for males (58.5 m) exceeded that for females (28.6 m). Male movement distances were negatively associated with total density, and with density of adult females, but not with male density. Female movements were not related to population density. There were no relation between sex ratio and distance moved. The distribution of distances moved for both males and females fit a geometrical distribution, suggesting the importance of competitive processes.     

Frankia strains of soil underBetula pendula: Behaviour in soil and in pure culture

A K/Rb isotope dilution method was used to determine the uptake of K from undisturbed subsoils. Rb was applied to the topsoil (0–30 cm) to trace the K taken up from the topsoil by crops. The K/Rb ratio in the crops increases when roots contact the Rb-free subsoil. This change in the K/Rb ratio enables the calculation of the uptake of K from the subsoil. Results of 34 field experiments on loess-parabrown soils in N. Germany showed that the subsoil (>30 cm) supplied, on average, 34% of the total K uptake by spring wheat (range 9–70%). The range between the experimental sites is considered in relation to the contents of K in the top and subsoils (as extracted by 0.025 N CaCl₂ solution), the proportion of the total root length in the subsoils, and competition for K between roots in the top and subsoil. In subsoils with similar K contents, uptake from the subsoil decreased significantly from 65 to 21% of total K uptake, as K contents in the topsoils increased from 4 to 8 mg K/100 g. On sites with the same K contents in topsoils (9 mg K/100 g), the subsoil supplied 12 to 61% of total K uptake as the K contents of the subsoil increased from 2 to 27 mg K/100 g. The contribution of uptake of K from the subsoil increased with the development of the crop, from 8% at first node stage to 35% at ear emergence, as the proportion of total root length in the subsoil increased. High root length densities in the topsoil (9 cm/cm³) resulted in competition for K between roots and increased uptake of K from the subsoil.     

The influence of various physical parameters on anther culture of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)

Embryo formation by cultured broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) anthers was best in the pH range of 5.5 to 5.8. Manipulation of the initial medium pH showed, however, that embryos could be recovered throughout the entire pH range tested. Experiments designed to test the influence of anther density on embryo production exhibited an apparent population effect. Comparison of anthers cultured with and without filaments showed a significantly lower level of embryo formation with filaments attached. The importance of anther orientation with the adaxial surface up was also demonstrated. Detailed studies of the effect of temperature on anther response showed the importance of 35°C treatments. Other temperatures and a variety of temperature manipulations were either comparatively ineffective or inhibitory. The duration of 35°C exposure required for optimal response varied widely between 18 and 48 h. Wide variation in plant to plant response was observed despite attempts to optimize the manipulation of physical parameters. Individual plants were identified that reliably formed many thousands of embryos, whereas other plants failed to form embryos under all tested conditions.