Hypotonic swelling-induced Ca2+ release by an IP3-insensitive Ca2+ store

Hypotonicswelling increases the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration([Ca²⁺]_i) in vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC). The source of this Ca²⁺ is not clear. To study thesource of increase in [Ca²⁺]_i in response tohypotonic swelling, we measured [Ca²⁺]_i infura 2-loaded cultured VSMC (A7r5 cells). Hypotonic swelling produced a40.7-nM increase in [Ca²⁺]_i that was notinhibited by EGTA but was inhibited by 1 µM thapsigargin. Priordepletion of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃)-sensitive Ca²⁺ stores with vasopressin did not inhibit the increasein [Ca²⁺]_i in response to hypotonic swelling.Exposure of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺-loaded intracellular storesto hypotonic swelling in permeabilized VSMC produced an increase in⁴⁵Ca²⁺ efflux, which was inhibited by 1 µMthapsigargin but not by 50 µg/ml heparin, 50 µM ruthenium red, or25 µM thio-NADP. Thus hypotonic swelling of VSMC causes a release ofCa²⁺ from the intracellular stores from a novel sitedistinct from the IP₃-, ryanodine-, and nicotinic acidadenine dinucleotide phosphate-sensitive stores.

     

Artificial Brassica napus flowering in Bangladesh

Summary Natural rapeseed (Brassica napus L.; AACC 2n=38), originated in the temperate climate of the Southwest European Mediterranean region, fails to complete its generative phase in the subtropics and is thus not cultivated in countries like Bangladesh. Adapted agroecotypes are available from the diploid representatives of its genome A (B. campestris/pekinensis, 2n=20) and C (B. oleracea/alboglabra, 2n=18). An artificial resynthesis based on carefully selected progenitor lines was expected to give a photoperiodically better adapted rapeseed. B. pekinensis x B. oleracea/alboglabra gave 2 hybrids and 87 matromorphous plants from 1,448 crossed flowers and the reciprocal combination gave no hybrid but 11 matromorphous plants from 2,228 pollinated flowers. The two true hybrids were vegetatively propagated and chromosome doubled. Part of the F₂ was grown in Sweden (all plants flowered and the most early ones were selected), part in Bangladesh (13 out of 706 plants flowered). The selected F₃ material flowered in Bangladesh and transgressions in earliness could be recorded, some lines were of definite agronomic potential. A correlation in earliness between reaction in Sweden (long day) and Bangladesh (short day) was observed.     

Various characteristics of the structure and synthesis of procollagens produced by cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with Danlos-Ehlers syndrome type I

The electrophoretic mobilities of the collagen and procollagen type I and III chains synthesized by the fibroblasts isolated from patients with type I Ehlers-Danlos syndrome as well as a set of peptides obtained by splitting of pro alpha 1(I) and pro alpha 2(I) type I procollagens by cyanbromide are not different from the normal ones. The fact demonstrates the absence of long insertions or deletions, or the sufficient defects in intracellular chain modifications. The changes were also nor registered for the ratio of type I and III collagens from the digested by pepsin preparations of protein accumulating in the culture media of the cultured skin fibroblasts from patients. The studied strains of cultured fibroblasts from patients suffering the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have the trend to increased accumulation of partially processed chains of proc alpha 1(I) and proc alpha 2(I) type I procollagen and to the increased ratio of pro alpha 1(I) to pro alpha 2(I).     

Polystyrene substratum for bulk culture of anchorage dependent cells

Twisted ribbons made of polystyrene were used as a packing material for the cultivation of anchorage dependent cells. Normal human fibroblast cells grown on this support in a laboratory scale reactor reached densities of about 5–7×10⁵ cells/ml. The cells adhered strongly to the carrier and no cell detachment was observed upon transfer to serum free medium. The properties of this packing material and its potential use are discussed.     

The cellular and molecular regulation of 1,25(OH)2D3 production

The synthesis of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ is a critical control point in the regulation of calcium metabolism, and possibly in the growth and differentiation of a number of cell types. This paper reviews our current understanding of the regulation of this process at the cellular and molecular levels, with the emphasis on the mechanisms of feedback control 1,25(OH)₂D₃ itself, control of parathyroid hormone, the roles of cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C, and the interaction between the various intracellular regulators of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ production.     

Induction of protective immunity against Schistosoma mansoni by a non living vaccine. I. Partial characterization of antigens recognized by antibodies from mice immunized with soluble schistosome extracts

A single intradermal injection of frozen and thawed schistosomula in conjunction with the bacterial adjuvant Mycobacterium bovis strain Bacille Calmette Guerin, Phipps substrain (BCG) induced significant levels of resistance to challenge Schistosoma mansoni infection in C57BL/6 mice. Immunization with the aqueous fraction remaining after 100,000 X G centrifugation of the larval lysate was also protective under these conditions, suggesting that some immunogenic determinants may not be membrane associated. Frozen-thawed cercariae and soluble components of adult worms also protected against challenge infection in these experiments. These observations indicate that soluble immunogens are present in both early and late developmental stages of the parasite, and therefore may be good candidate antigens for an immunochemically defined vaccine against schistosomiasis. Induction of humoral reactivity against soluble or membrane antigens was examined in mice protected against cercarial challenge by prior exposure to frozen-thawed larvae, soluble larval, or soluble adult antigens plus BCG. Animals that were immunized with frozen-thawed larvae produced low but significant levels of antibodies against larval surface antigens when examined by indirect immunofluorescence or by immunoprecipitation of surface-labeled schistosomula. Mice immunized with soluble antigens, however, showed negligible antibody reactivity against surface membrane antigens. Because mice immunized with soluble antigens were resistant to challenge infection, these results strongly suggest that anti-surface membrane reactivity is not required in the mechanism of protective immunity in this model. Sera from mice immunized with either total freeze-thaw larval lysate or soluble schistosome extracts all showed strong reactivity against soluble antigens, as detected by ELISA. Western blot analysis showed these antisera to react with a restricted number of high m.w. antigens that were present both in schistosomula and in adult worms. These antigens are therefore likely to play a major role in the development of resistance in this model as immunogens and/or as targets of protective immune response.     

Effects of DDT on photosynthetic electron flow in Secale species

Following a survey of a range of varieties of rye, mainly Secale cereale, for reaction to DDT, the mode of action of the pesticide in a susceptible variety was studied. Two sites of interaction of DDT with the photosynthetic electron transport chain were demonstrated. The first site of inhibition was on the oxidizing side of photosystem 2, between the sites of electron donation from diphenylcarbazide at pH 6.0 and pH 8.0 in Tris-washed chloroplasts. The second site of DDT inhibition was in the intermediate electron transport chain, and was demonstrated by using dichlorophenol-indophenol and phenyldiamines as electron donors in chloroplasts where electron flow from photosystem 2 was inhibited by 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. The sites are distinct from those characteristic of herbicides which affect photosynthetic electron flow.     

The Genera of the Subfamily Heteroderinae (Nematoda: Tylenchoidea) with a Description of Two New Genera

The family Heteroderidae, its two subfamilies Heteroderinae and Meloidogyninae and the nominal genera of Heteroderinae (Heterodera Schmidt, 1871; Meloidodera Chitwood, Hannon &Esser, 1956; and Cryphodera Colbran, 1966) are rediagnosed. Meloidoderita Pogosyan, 1966 is considered a genus inquirenda. Two new genera from southern California are described in the subfamily Heteroderinae. A key to the genera, illustrations and a phylogeny of the Heteroderinae are proposed.