A toxic substance produced by Nocardia otitidiscaviarum isolated from cutaneous nocardiosis

During our studies on toxic substances from clinically isolated Nocarida, a new isolate identified as Nocardia otitidiscaviarum from cutaneous nocardiosis was found to produce a toxic substance called HS-6 that had strong in vitro as well as in vivo toxicity. The mouse intraperitoneal LD₅₀ value was 1.25 mg/kg and the ED₅₀ value for L1210 cultured cells was 0.3 ng/ml. The structure of HS-6 was determined and found to belong to the 16-membered macrocyclic group with a molecular formula of C₄₃H₆₈O₁₂. HS-6 also showed activity against pathogenic fungi such as Cryptococcus neoformans.     

The chemical modification of cysteine-69 of rat liver fatty acid-binding protein (FABP): a fluorescence approach to FABP structure and function

Summary Hepatic-FABP was labelled at cysteine-69 with the fluorescent environmentally sensitive reporter group AEDANS. The labelled protein had an emission maximum at 465 nm indicating that cysteine-69 was buried in a non-polar environment. The modified protein was still able to bind ligands such as oleic acid, oleoyl CoA and haem. The affinity of AEDANS-FABP for haem was unaltered as compared with the native protein indicating that cysteine-69 must be remote from the ligand binding site. The binding of oleic acid did not significantly perturb the fluorescence emission spectrum of the fluorescent reporter group suggesting that there are not large conformational changes in the region of cysteine-69 on fatty acid binding. The binding of stoichiometric amounts of oleoyl CoA was accompanied by a small fluorescence enhancement which suggests that fatty acyl CoAs may interact with other regions of the FABP molecule not involved in fatty acid binding.Abbreviations FABP Fatty Acid-Binding Protein - AEDANS 5-[2-(Acetyl)aminoEthyl]Aminonaphthalene-1-Sulphonic Acid - AAEDANS 5-[2-(Iodoacetyl-AminolEthyl] aminonaphthalene-1-Sulphonic Acid - DTNB 5,5Dithiobis-(2-Nitrobenzoic acid)     

Evidence for inhibitory SH groups in the thiol activated K:Cl cotransporter of low K sheep red blood cells

The monofunctional thiol reagents N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and methyl methanethiosulfonate (MMTS) stimulate ouabain resistant (OR) electroneutral K:Cl cotransport in LK sheep red blood cells at low, but not at high concentrations. Diamide (DM), on the other hand, only stimulates OR K:Cl flux (Lauf, P.K., J. Memb. Biol. 101: 179–188, 1988). The DM stimulated K:Cl cotransport was decreased toward the control value prior to DM stimulation when NEM or MMTS were added, subsequently. The inhibitory effect was dependent on the compound's concentration and exposure time and, in the case of MMTS, was reversed upon addition of dithiothreitol (DTT). The inhibition was more prominent when NEM treatment was performed at pH 8.0 and disappeared at pH 6.0. In contrast the NEM stimulatory effect was most effective when the pH of NEM treatment was 6.0 (Bauer, J. & Lauf, P.K., J. Memb. Biol. 73: 257–261, 1983). The results suggest the existence of additional, however, inhibitory thiol groups in the already thiol-activated K:Cl cotransporter, with a different pKa value and a lower affinity for NEM or MMTS as compared to the stimulatory thiol groups. Like the activating thiols, the inhibitory sulfhydryls appeared to be inaccessible to non-penetrating thiol reagents and hence, must be located deeper within the red cell membrane.     

Histopathology and cell culture characteristics of liver cells from grc − and grc + rats given diethylnitrosamine

The histopathological response and cell culture characteristics of liver cells from the R16 (grc ^–) strain of rats, which carries an MHC-linked deletion, were examined one week after a single intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/ kg body weight diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and were compared with the response of liver cells from wild type (grc+) rats. The DEN exposure induced hydropicl vacuolar changes in the parenchymal cells and a limited proliferation of oval cells in the periportal areas of the livers of both grc+ and grc rats. Primary culture of collagenase-digested livers consisted of parenchymal, bile ductular and oval-related cells as determined by cell-specific immunohistochemistry. Subpassaged cells from grc+ rats exhibited oval cell ultrastructural morphology, inducible histochemical staining for gammaglutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and DEN-associated onset of anchorage-independent growth. Primary cultures of liver cells from R16 rats consistently failed to form cell strains upon subpassage.Abbreviations DEN diethylnitrosamine - grc growth and reproduction complex - GGT gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase - MHC major histocompatibility complex     

Chemical modification of active sites in relation to the catalytic mechanism of F1

Recent studies of chemically modified F₁-ATPases have provided new information that requires a revision of our thinking on their catalytic mechanism. One of the subunits in F₁-ATPase is distinguishable from the other two both structurally and functionally. The catalytic site and regulatory site of the same subunit are probably sufficiently close to each other, and the interaction between the various catalytic and regulatory sites are probably sufficiently strong to raise the uni-site rate of ATP hydrolysis by several orders of magnitude to that of promoted (multi-site) ATP hydrolysis. Although all three subunits in F₁ possess weak uni-site ATPase activity, only one of them () catalyzes promoted ATP hydrolysis. But all three subunits catalyze ATP synthesis driven by the proton flux. Internal rotation of the ₃₃ or ₃ moiety relative to the remainder of the F₀F₁ complex did not occur during oxidative phosphorylation by reconstituted submitochondrial particles.     

Plant wound compounds from oviposition scars used in host discrimination by a stem-galling sawfly

The stem-galling sawfly Euura lasiolepisuses one or more plant wound compounds resulting from oviposition scars as cues in host discrimination (avoiding sites occupied by conspecifics). Four experiments were conducted to test hypotheses about how Euurapartitions resources. Experiment 1 demonstrated that Euuraavoids ovipositing on nodes with scars from previous ovipositions. Experiment 2 showed no evidence that the sawfly uses oviposition-deterring pheromones and indicated there is a time lag following oviposition before the oviposition scar becomes a deterrent. Experiment 3 showed that sawflies avoid artificially formed scars, demonstrating that a plant cue alone can lead to host discrimination. Experiment 4 showed that visual or tactile cues are not necessary for host discrimination and indicated that a plant wound compound functions as an oviposition deterrent. Both experimental results and field surveys showed that Euuraoviposition scars were more uniformly distributed than expected if sawflies were ignoring previous ovipositions.     

色氨酸残基在磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶催化功能中的作用

在pH7.5条件下,用NBS对PEP羧化酶中色氨酸残基进行共价修饰表明,PEP羧化酶中48个色氨酸残基均能被NBS修饰。用邹承鲁图解法求得,其中4个残基为酶表现催化活性所必需的。 PEP羧化酶的变构效应剂G6P、Gly及Mal分别与酶预保温后,再经NBS修饰,前两种处理中,同样浓度的NBS所用修饰的色氨酸残基数和处理后的残存酶活与对照相比有很大的差异,而用Mal处理的,两者与对照相差无几。     

Stimulus-evoked slow potential shifts and changes in [K+]0 of the frog optic tectum

Summary In 17 frogs (Rana esculenta var ridibunda) immobilised with succinyl choline the optic tectal surface was stimulated by trains of electrical pulses or by a flash to the contralateral eye. Sustained potential shifts (SPSs) and changes in extracellular potassium concentration ( [K⁺]₀) were simultaneously recorded.In response to electrical stimulation SPSs of maximal amplitudes (1.19±0.1 mV) were recorded between 50 and 200 m in depth and maximal [K⁺]₀ (0.69 ±0.08 mM) between 100 and 350 m. The changes of SPS and [K⁺]₀ showed a close similarity in experiments with changes in voltage, pulse duration and frequency of stimuli within a train. The induced SPS had a duration of 28±1.54 s, the [K⁺]₀ of 32±1.23 s.The flash stimulus induced an SPS and [K⁺]₀ of maximal amplitudes between 50 and 200 m in depth with values of 0.57±0.1 mV and 0.29±0.03 mM respectively. An additional wave with a latency of ca 1 s and a duration of ca 3 s arose on the background of the SPS to a flash stimulus, associated with an additional increase in [K⁺]₀.It is considered that the accumulation of K⁺ in extra-cellular space, with neuronal activity, results in depolarization of radial processes of ependymal glia. This is reflected in the neuropil of the upper layers of the optic tectum as an SPS.We would like to dedicate this article to the memory of Alexander Roitbak who died as a result of a tragic accident while this paper was in press. He will be remembered fondly especially for his contributions to understanding of the functions of Neuroglia. E.V.O., P.R.L., T.A.R.     

Floral scent in dioeciousSalix (Salicaceae)—a cue determining the pollination system?

Floral scents of male and female inflorescences of three dioeciousSalix species were collected by head-space adsorption, and analysed by GC-MS. InSalix caprea andS. cinerea 1,4-dimethoxy benzene was the main compound, and male and female scents showed a high degree of resemblance. No dominant compound was found inS. repens and malefemale scent similarity was low. Floral scent inSalix is likely a strong orientation cue, guiding pollinators between male and female plants ensuring pollen transfer and pollination. We suggest that a high degree of male-female floral scent resemblance is coupled to a high degree of insect pollination. Floral scent does not promote reproductive isolation betweenS. caprea andS. cinerea.     

Reproductive and Pollination Biology of Magnolia and its Allied Genera (Magnoliaceae). I. Floral Volatiles of Several Magnolia and Michelia Species and their Roles in Attracting Insects

Abstract Volatile substances emitted from the flowers of eight Magnolia taxa ( M. sieboldii ssp. japonica, M. praecocissima var. praecocissima and var. borealis, M. tomentosa, M. salicifolia, M. obovata, M. denudata, and M. grandiflora ) and one Michelia species ( M. compressa ) (Magnoliaceae) were examined and identified using GC-MS. Volatile substances of these Magnolia and Michelia species consist primarily of monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids produced by the mevalonate pathway, acetogenins by the acetate-malonate pathway, and phenyl-propanoids by the shikimate pathway. These Magnolia and Michelia species all possessed various combinations of volatile monoterpenoids, acetogenins, and phenylpropanoids, except for Magnolia obovata , which emitted primarily sesquiterpenoids. Free amino acids in pollen of 12 Magnolia and one Liriodendron species were also analyzed, and their value as food sources for pollinators evaluated.
Pollinators visiting the flowers of five Magnolia species were collected in their native sites and identified. Their behaviors and roles as pollinating agents were assessed.