Synthesis of a nonacosapeptide (beta-fragment) corresponding to the N-terminal sequence 1-29 of human liver metallothionein II and its heavy metal-binding properties

A nonacosapeptide (beta-fragment) corresponding to the N-terminal sequence 1-29 of human liver metallothionein II was synthesized by the fragment condensation method. The Cd-binding ability of the beta-fragment was much stronger than that of cysteine as thionein and synthetic alpha-fragment corresponding to the C-terminal sequence 30-61 of human liver metallothionein II. Both the alpha- and beta-fragments bound preferentially to Cu ions rather than Cd ions.     

Heptapeptide toxin production during the batch culture of two Microcystis species (Cyanobacteria)

Changes in the content of cyclic heptapeptide hepatotoxins called microcystins were investigated during batch culture of two Microcystis species using high performance liquid chromatography. After adsorption to ODS-silica gel cartridges and elution with methanol, the toxins were analyzed and quantified by HPLC. 35 μg per 100 mg dry cells of microcystin-RR, 34 μg of -YR and 43 μg of -LR were present at the beginning of the exponential growth phase of M. viridis. Microcystin-RR increased markedly towards the end of the exponential phase with the maximum content of 112 μg per 100 mg cells was measured at the late stage of the exponential phase. A remarkable increase of microcystin-YR from 130 μg per 100 mg cells to 1020 μg was observed during the exponential phase of a highly toxic strain of M. aeruginosa. However no clear differences were found in the pattern of change among the three toxins during the growth course.     

Comparison of axonemal proteins from two kinds of Tetrahymena. I. Different characteristics of dyneins in heat stability

Tetrahymena thermophila could still swim after incubation of the cell body at 40°C for 30 min, whereas Tetrahymena pyriformis did not show any motility after the treatment. Turbidity measurements revealed that axonemes of T. pyriformis lost ATP-dependent sliding activity by the heat treatment, whereas those of T. thermophilia still had the activity under the same conditions. In connection with this difference in susceptibility to high temperature, the biochemical characteristics of dyneins were compared between the two species of Tetrahymena. Axonemal dyneins from the two species had significant vanadate-sensitive ATPase activity even after the heat treatment. Native gel electrophoresis and the following two-dimensional electrophoresis showed that the outer arm dynein of T. thermophilia is more stable in maintaining native configuration than that of T. pyriformis against the heat treatment, although both treated dyneins keep three (α, β and γ) subunits. Analysis by peptide mapping demonstrated that β- and γ-subunits of the outer arm dynein are considerably different in amino acid sequences between the two species. These results imply that dynein of T. thermophilia changed their amino acid sequences and biochemical characteristics to adapt to high temperature.     

Dose-response relationship of the cardiovascular adaptation to endurance training in healthy adults: how much training for what benefit?

Occupational or recreational exercise reduces mortality from cardiovascular disease. The potential mechanisms for this reduction may include changes in blood pressure (BP) and autonomic control of the circulation. Therefore, we conducted the present long-term longitudinal study to quantify the dose-response relationship between the volume and intensity of exercise training, and regulation of heart rate (HR) and BP. We measured steady-state hemodynamics and analyzed dynamic cardiovascular regulation by spectral and transfer function analysis of cardiovascular variability in 11 initially sedentary subjects during 1 yr of progressive endurance training sufficient to allow them to complete a marathon. From this, we found that 1) moderate exercise training for 3 mo decreased BP, HR, and total peripheral resistance, and increased cardiovascular variability and arterial baroreflex sensitivity; 2) more prolonged and intense training did not augment these changes further; and 3) most of these changes returned to control values at 12 mo despite markedly increased training duration and intensity equivalent to that routinely observed in competitive athletes. In conclusion, increases in R-wave-R-wave interval and cardiovascular variability indexes are consistent with an augmentation of vagal modulation of HR after exercise training. It appears that moderate doses of training for 3 mo are sufficient to achieve this response as well as a modest hypotensive effect from decreasing vascular resistance. However, more prolonged and intense training does not necessarily lead to greater enhancement of circulatory control and, therefore, may not provide an added protective benefit via autonomic mechanisms against death by cardiovascular disease.     

An X-ray study on the interaction between indole ring and pyridine coenzymes: Crystal structure of 1-methyl-3-carbamoylpyridinium: Indole-3-acetic acid (1:1) monohydrate charge-transfer complex

The crystal and molecular structures of the title complex has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods, as a model for tryptophan residues in protein-pyridine coenzyme interactions. The structure was solved by direct methods and was refined by standard methods (final R = 0.073). The light-green crystals consist of alternate layers of indole-3-acetic acid and 1-methyl-3-carbamoylpyridinium molecules piled up to the c-direction, and are stabilized by the crystal water participating in hydrogen bonds in the a- and b-directions. The parallel stackings and interplanar spacing distances between indole and pyridinium rings strongly suggest a II–II¹ charge transfer from the indole ring to the lowest unoccupied orbital of the pyridinium ring in the ground state. Furthermore, this crystal structure provides evidence that quaternization of the N1 position enhances electron-acceptor properties of pyridine. On the other hand, the proton magnetic resonance spectra suggest that the stacking mode between both rings in solution is very similar to the one observed in the crystal structure.