A fully coupled transient excited state model for the sodium channel

Summary The axon membrane is simulated by standard Hodgkin-Huxley leakage and potassium channels plus a coupled transient excited state kinetic scheme for the sodium channel. This scheme for the sodium channel is as proposed previously by the author. Simultations are presented showing the form of the action potential, threshold behavior, accommodation, and repetitive firing. It is seen that the form of the individual action potential, its all-or-none nature, and its refractory period are well simulated by this model, as they are by the standard Hodgkin-Huxley model. However, the model differs markedly from the Hodgkin-Huxley model with respect to repetitive firing and accommodation to stimulating currents of slowly rising intensity, in ways that are anomn to be related to those features of the sodium inactivation which are anomalous to the H-H model. The tendency for repetitive firing is highly dependent on that parameter which primarily determintes the existence of the inactivation shift in voltage clamp experiments, in such a way that the more pronounced the inactivation shift, the less the tendency for repetitive firing,. The tendency for accommodation is highly dependent on that parameter which primarily determines the “τ_c − τ_h” separation, in such a way that the greater the separation the greater the tendency for the membrane to accommodate without firing action potentials to a slowly rising current.     

Requirement of trypsin inhibitor for measurement of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase in intestinal mucosa of rat

A method was developed for the determination of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity in the microsomal fraction of crypt cells and villi of rat intestinal mucosa. Addition of trypsin inhibitor to homogenizing and incubation media at a proper concentration appeared inevitable for measurement of the activity of the villi fraction. The reductase in crypt cells was also slightly enhanced by the addition of the inhibitor. Using this technique, the enzyme activity in villi was found to be as active as the crypt cell fraction. Since other types of protease inhibitors were not necessarily effective, it was suggested that specific enzyme(s) inactivates the mucosal reductase in the course of measurement.     

Potassium-induced insulin release and voltage noise measurements in single mouse islets of Langerhans

Summary Insulin release and membrane potential fluctuations in response to increased extracellular potassium [K⁺] _o have been measured in single perifused islets of Langerhans from normal mice. An increase in [K⁺] _o from 5mm to 50mm induced a transient insulin release with a peak at about 1 min. The peak value was [K⁺] _o -dependent but the half-timet _1/2 for the decline was constant at nearly 1 min. 2.5mm cobalt completely inhibited the potassium-induced stimulation of insulin release. The insulin release elicited by 28 and 50mm [K⁺] _o was similar in terms of peak, total release and half-time from maximum release. Stepwise increase in [K⁺] _o from 10 to 28 to 50mm resulted in a normal response to 28mm but no peak of release after the 28 to 50mm increase. The results indicate good correlation between excess voltage noise, thought to reflect calcium channel activity, and insulin release evoked by changing extracellular potassium.     

An evaluation of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for the identification of microsporidia

Microsporidian spore polypeptides separated with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) can be used to identify isolates of microsporidia. The spore polypeptides separated with SDS/PAGE provided unique, reproducible electrophoretic profiles which were not influenced by host species or the temperature at which the host larvae were maintained for development. Furthermore, host proteins were not detected in electrophoretic profiles of the spore polypeptides. Spore mixtures of two microsporidian species can be detected when the spore polypeptides of either or both species have been previously separated with SDS/PAGE.     

Membrane damage by a toxin from the sea anemone Stoichactis helianthus. I. Formation of transmembrane channels in lipid bilayers

The addition of nanomolar amounts of a toxin preparation derived from the sea anemone Stoichactis helianthus to black lipid membranes increases their electrical conductance by one million-fold. In addition, the membranes become permeable predominantly to monovalent cations. The elevated bilayer conductance is voltage-dependent, and the current-voltage curves of these bilayers display rectification as well as a region of negative resistance. The membrane activity of the toxin is proportional to the third power of its concentration, and at very low concentrations the membrane conductance increases in discrete uniform steps. These observations indicate that the mechanism of toxin action involves the formation of transmembrane channels constructed by the aggregation of protein molecules which are inserted in the bilayer. The voltage-dependent membrane conductance arises from two distinct channel characteristics: (1) the unit conductance of individual channels is dependent on the polarity of applied voltage; (2) the number of ion-conducting channels is influenced by the polarity as well as the magnitude of applied potential. It is believed that these effects are due to the influence of an electric field on the insertion of toxin molecules into the bilayer or on their subsequent association with each other to produce channels. Partial chemical characterization of the toxin material has shown that the membrane active factor is a basic protein with a molecular weight of 17 500.     

Physiological and biochemical contributions to the taxonomy of the genus prototheca

Five physiological and biochemical characters, which had proved to be valuable for the taxonomy of the genus Chlorella, were studied in the genus Prototheca. There is no hydrogenase activity and no liquefaction of gelatin. Most strains are very acidtolerant (limit of growth at pH 2.0 or 2.5) and very salt-tolerant (limit of growth at 4 or 5% NaCl). Two strains grow well at 38°C. The 16 strains, which were previously assigned to seven taxa, fall into four different groups. Our results tend to support the assumption that Prototheca might be related to Chlorella protothecoides.     

Five New Species of Henneguya (Protozoa: Myxosporida) from Ictalurid Fishes*

SYNOPSIS. Four new species of Henneguya (myxosporidan) are described from Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque (channel catfish). They are as follows: Henneguya postexilis sp. n. and Henneguya longicauda sp. n. from the gills; Henneguya adiposa sp. n. from the adipose fin; and Henneguya diversis sp. n. from the liver, kidney, connective tissue of muscles and fins, and tumor-like external growths. Henneguya pellis sp. n. is described from the dermis of Ictalurus furcatus (LeSueur) (blue catfish). The development stages of all described species are discussed. Henneguya exilis Kudo was found on the gills of one I. punctatus; notes on its spore characteristics are presented.     

Comparisons of benthic invertebrates between riffles and pools

Benthic species assemblages in upstream and downstream ends of riffles and in pools were investigated seasonally in the first five orders of an alluvial gravel stream with distinct pool and riffle channel form. Riffles comprised < 10% of stream area and were separated by pools with extensive bedrock substrate (ca. 15–85% of total surface area) which was scoured during periodic high flow. Virtually all taxa were more abundant in riffles than in pools, except chironomids which were more equally distributed. Inconsistent results were obtained for upstream-downstream comparisons within riffles. Intermittent headwater reaches (orders 1 & 2) which supported half as many taxa retained this pattern during periods of flow, although riffles at these sites were dry from mid-June to mid-November. Pools which contained more gravel, indicating less disturbance during high flow, had a richer assemblage of benthic species than other pools. Many invertebrates in pools may have been there as a result of drift from their preferred riffle habitats, but the presence of gravel in the pools indicates less intense flow disturbance during floods, provides protection from the mild scouring that does occur during floods, and provides refugia from predators.     

Incorporation of the gene for a cell-cell channel protein into transformed cells leads to normalization of growth

Summary Incorporation of the gene for connexin 43, a cell-cell channel protein of gap junction, into the genome of communication-deficient transformed mouse 10T1/2 cells restored junctional communication and inhibited growth. Growth was slowed, saturation density reduced and focus formation suppressed, and these effects were contingent on overexpression of the exogenous gene and the consequent enhancement of communication. In coculture with normal cells the growth of the connexin overexpressors was completely arrested, as these cells established strong communication with the normal ones. Thus, in culture by themselves or in coculture, the connexin overexpressor cells grew like normal cells. These results demonstrate that the cell-cell channel is instrumental in growth control; they are the expected behavior if the channel transmits cytoplasmic growth-regulatory signals.