Influence of blood sera from dogs subjected to ischemia and recirculation on incorporation of14C-amino acids in vitro

Incomplete ischemia of the spinal cord was produced in dogs by 40 min occlusion of the abdominal aorta that was followed by 5–40 min of recirculation. Amino acid incorporation into ribosomes in vitro in the presence of venous blood sera was estimated. The most significant reduction in incorporation was produced by sera of the dogs following a short recirculation period (5–10 min). No significant changes were observed at the end of the ischemic period nor at longer periods of recirculation. The decrease in incorporation might be the consequence of inactivation or absence of a substance stimulating polypeptide synthesis in vitro, normally present in blood sera of intact dogs, that temporarily loses its activity during recirculation.     

Effect of Lincocin Treatment on the Greening Process in Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Leaves

The effect of lincocin (a plastid protein synthesis inhibitor) treatment on the greening process of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) leaves have been studied. In comparison with control leaves treated ones had a decreased rate of chloroplast development. They had a marked chlorophyll deficiency and a decreased chlorophyll a/b ratio. Some long and short wavelength forms of chlorophyll a were lacking as evidenced from the absorption spectra at 25°C and the fluorescence spectra at 77°K. The –¹⁴CO₂ fixation was inhibited by 80–90% in treated leaves. The fluorescence induced by the measuring light was greater in the treated leaves than in the control ones, and the kinetics of the decline of the relative fluorescence intensity were also different. Electron microscopic studies showed macrogranum-like structures and incomplete membrane vesicles in the treated plastids. After longer treatment a destruction of membranes was observed. The results indicate some structural and functional membrane deficiencies and instability of the membranes.     

Flagellar ultrastructure and flagella-associated antigens of Campylobacter fetus.

Ultrastructural examinations of the flagellum of Compylobacter (Vibrio) fetus were performed throughout the growth cycle. Filament diameters, exceeding 17.6 nm during the exponential phase, were substantially greater than those reported for unsheathed flagella of other genera with the exception of Pseudomonas fluorescens. Filament diameters increased during growth, reaching a mean width of 21.2 nm in middle to late stationary phase. Internal flagellar structure, principally of the parallel lined variety, was observed during the later periods of growth but not during exponential or early stationary phase. Despite the unusually large filament sizes, no evidence of a flagellar sheath was observed after selected treatments (0.01 N HCl, 6 M urea, tris(hydroxymethyl) amino-methane-hydrochloride buffer, warm water) or examination of thin sections. To determine whether alterations in filament size and variable ability to demonstrate filament fine structure were correlated with progressive changes in serological activity, agglutination and immobilization tests were conducted with antisera directed against intact flagella, the principal flagellar antigen, the O antigen, and a superficial glycoprotein which has been found in association with the flagellum and the cell envelope. Significant differences in the serological activity of cells at different growth intervals were not noted with any of the sera employed.     

Exploration of various electronic properties along the reaction coordinate for hydration of Pt(II) and Ru(II) complexes; the CCSD, MPx, and DFT computational study

In the study behavior of molecular electrostatic potential, averaged local ionization energy, and reaction electronic flux along the reaction coordinate of hydration process of three representative Ru(II) and Pt(II) complexes were explored using both post-HF and DFT quantum chemical approximations. Previously determined reaction mechanisms were explored by more detailed insight into changes of electronic properties using ωB97XD functional and MP2 method with 6–311++G(2df,2pd) basis set and CCSD/6–31(+)G(d,p) approach. The dependences of all examined properties on reaction coordinate give more detailed understanding of the hydration process.

Lecithotrophic development and metamorphosis in the Indo-West Pacific brittle star Ophiomastix venosa (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea)

Summary

The larval development of the ophiocomid ophiuroid Ophiomastix venosais described using SEM. The gastrula transforms into a uniformly ciliated early larva which progressively changes into a lecithotrophic late premetamorphic larva with a continuous bilateral ciliated band. This stage is short-lived and equivalent to a highly reduced ophiopluteus. Comparisons between O. venosa and other ophiuroid species whose development has been investigated suggest that, whatever the developmental mode (lecithotrophic or planktotrophic), a pluteus stage always occurs in ophiuroids with planktonic development. Two metamorphic stages were identified, the late metamorphic larva differing from the early one by the closure of the larval mouth. The appearance of the permanent mouth marks the end of the metamorphosis. The postlarva still possesses remnants of larval features. The transformation of the reduced ophiopluteus into a barrel-shaped metamorphic larva with transverse ciliated bands, a vitellaria larva, is followed. The possible occurrence of a unique type of metamorphic larva in non-brooding ophiuroids is discussed. Verification of this, however, needs further SEM investigations on metamorphic larva from species having “regular” planktotrophic development.     

The protective effect of aminoguanidine on cerebral ischemic damage in the rat brain

The NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemical technique is commonly used to localize the nitric oxide (NO) produced by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in neural tissue. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is induced in the late stage of cerebral ischemia, and NO produced by iNOS contributes to the delay in recovery from brain neuronal damage. The present study was performed to investigate whether the increase in nitric oxide production via inducible nitric oxide synthase was suppressed by the administration of aminoguanidine, a selective iNOS inhibitor, as it follows a decrease of NADPH-diaphorase activity (a marker for NOS) after four-vessel occlusion used as an ischemic model. The administration of aminoguanidine (100 mg/kg i.p., twice per day up to 3 days immediately after the ischemic insult) reduced the number of NADPH-diaphorase positive cells to control levels. Our results indicated that aminoguanidine suppressed NADPH-diaphorase activity, and also decreased the number of NADPH-diaphorase positive cells in the CA1 region of the hippocampus following ischemic brain injury.     

The 33 kDa protein of photosystem II is a low-affinity calcium- and lanthanide-binding protein

We have shown that the isolated 33 kDa protein of photosystem II contains one calcium and one lanthanide low-affinity binding site with binding constants (K(D)) on the order of 10(-5) M. Binding of calcium or lanthanides to this site induces conformational changes in the protein that manifest in fluorescence emission spectra of the protein, circular dichroism spectra, and calorimetric thermograms where the phase transitions are shifted to lower temperatures. The role of calcium binding to the 33 kDa protein in the attainment of its native structure and the significance of this interaction for the oxygen evolution process are discussed.     

Stimulation of oxygen evolution in photosystem II by copper(II) ions

We have found that copper(II) ions at about equimolar Cu2+/photosystem II (PS II) reaction center proportions stimulate oxygen evolution nearly twofold. This high affinity Cu-binding site is different from the binding sites of Mn and Ca ions. The analysis of the Cu2+ content in PS II preparations isolated from wild-type tobacco and a tobacco mutant deficient in light-harvesting complex suggests that Cu2+ may be a native component of PS II and may take part in the oxygen evolution process. At higher concentrations, Cu2+ ions inhibit oxygen evolution and quench fluorescence.