Enzymic synthesis,chemical characterisation and Sda activity of GalNAcß1-4[NeuAcα2-3]Galß1-4GlcNAc and GalNAcß1-4[NeuAcα2-3]Galß1-4Glc

The tetrasaccharides GalNAcß1-4[NeuAc2-3]Galß1-4Glc and GalNAcß1-4[NeuAc2-3]Galß1-4GlcNAc were synthesised by enzymic transfer of GalNAc from UDP-GalNAc to 3-sialyllactose (NeuAc2-3Galß1-4Glc) and 3-sialyl-N-acetyllactosamine (NeuAc2-3Galß1-4GlcNAc). The structures of the products were established by methylation and¹H-500 MHz NMR spectroscopy. In Sd^a serological tests the product formed with 3-sialyl-N-acetyllactosamine was highly active whereas that formed with 3-sialyllactose had only weak activity.     

Detection and activity of a bacteriocin produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides.

Leuconostoc mesenteroides UL5 was found to produce a bacteriocin, referred as mesenterocin 5, active against Listeria monocytogenes strains but with no effect on several useful lactic acid bacteria. The antimicrobial substance is a protein, since its activity was completely destroyed following protease (pronase) treatment. However, it was relatively heat stable (100 degrees C for 30 min) and partially denaturated by chloroform. The inhibitory effect of the bacteriocin on sensitive bacterial strains was determined by a critical-dilution micromethod. Mutants of L. mesenteroides UL5 which had lost the capacity to produce the bacteriocin were obtained. The mutant strain was stable and phenotypically identical to parental cells and remained resistant to the bacteriocin. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to detect bacteriocin activity corresponding to an apparent molecular mass of about 4.5 kDa.     

Beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin release and gonadotropin secretion after acute exercise in normal males

The plasma beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) response to acute exercise and the relationship of these opioid peptides to basal and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LRH)-stimulated luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion was studied in eight normal male volunteers. Acute exercise resulted in a rise in plasma beta-LPH levels that returned to base line when measured 60 min after exercise. Plasma beta-EP levels did not demonstrate any rise when measured immediately after 20 min of exercise or at 60 min after exercise. Serum LH concentrations in individual volunteers declined to nadir values 60-180 min after exercise after which they showed a rebound to levels higher than the preexercise values in three of five volunteers in whom nadir LH levels were attained before the final (180 min) measurement. Serum FSH concentrations were unaltered by exercise. Acute exercise similarly did not alter the LH/FSH response to exogenous LRH stimulation. Pretreatment of the volunteers with the narcotic antagonist, naloxone, failed to alter the postexercise or LRH-stimulated LH and FSH release. The data suggest that beta-EP does not exert a suppressive effect on LH secretion after acute exercise in normal human males. Whether the suppression of LH secretion after acute exercise in unconditioned males is due to factor(s) cosecreted with beta-LPH, an increase in brain beta-EP or to alternate mechanisms such as alteration in central dopaminergic or GABAergic tone remains to be established.     

Changes in chemical composition and caloric content of developing eggs of the shrimpcrangon crangon

Summary 1. Changes in chemical composition and caloric content as well as the cumulative efficiencies of yolk utilization have been studied in the developing eggs and freshly hatched protozoea of the shrimpCrangon crangon L.2. Per unit dry weight of the fresh egg the following relative increases were observed during the development: 16.8% water, 5.9% ash, 10.6% protein, and 0.5% non-protein nitrogen. During the same period (fresh egg to freshly hatched protozoea) fat content decreased from 32.6% to 15.6% and energy content from 6443 to 5287 cal/g dry organic substance.3. The cumulative efficiencies of yolk utilization for the different constituents varied; they were 70.3% for dry weight, 54.0% for total energy, 83.0% for protein, and 33.6% for fat.4. Of the 0.0453 cal expended on the metabolic processes of the embryo, only 20.8% was drawn from the oxidation of protein, while fat oxidation contributed as much as 75.0%.5. Considerable quantities of inorganic salts (0.29µg/egg) were absorbed from the surrounding sea-water by the egg during its development.

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Änderungen in der chemischen Zusammensetzung und im Kaloriengehalt sich entwickelnder Eier der GarneleCrangon crangon

Kurzfassung Pro Trockengewichtseinheit ergeben sich während der gesamten Eientwicklung vonCrangon crangon L. folgende relative Zunahmen: Wasser 16,8%, Asche 5,9%, Eiweiß 10,6%, Nicht-Eiweiß Stickstoff 0,5%. In gleichem Zeitraum sinken die entsprechenden Werte für den Fettgehalt von 32,6% auf 15,6% und für den Energiegehalt von 6443 auf 5287 cal/g organische Substanz. Für die Entwicklung der aus dem Ei geschlüpften Protozoea beträgt der Kumulativ-Nutzeffekt 70,3% für Trockengewicht, 54,0% für Energie, 83,0% für Eiweiß und 33,6% für Fett. Während der ganzen Entwicklung eines Eies werden im Mittel 0,0453 cal für den Stoffwechsel aufgewendet; davon stammen 20,8% aus dem Eiweiß und 75,0% aus der Fettoxydation. Im Verlauf der Eientwicklung werden offensichtlich beträchtliche Mengen anorganischer Salze (0,29µg pro Ei) aus dem umgebenden Meerwasser absorbiert.

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This paper is based on a lecture presented during the Annual meeting of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea in Hamburg, October, 1967.

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Dedicated to Prof.R. V. Seshaiya, the founder of the Marine Biological Laboratory, Porto Nova, South India, on his 70^th birthday.     

Approaches to breeding for salinity tolerance - a case study on Porteresia coarctata

Cereals are the world's major source of food for human nutrition. Among these, rice (Oryza sativa) is the most prominent and represents the staple diet for more than two-fifths (2.4 billion) of the world's population, making it the most important food crop of the developing world (Anon., 2000a). Rice production in vast stretches of coastal areas is hampered due to high soil salinity. This is because rice is a glycophyte and it does not grow well under saline conditions. In order to increase rice production in these areas there is a need to develop rice varieties suited to saline environments. Research has shown that Porteresia coarctata, a highly salt tolerant wild relative of rice growing in estuarine soils, is an important material for transferring salt tolerant characteristics to rice. It is quite possible that Porteresia may be used as a parent for evolving better and truly salt resistant varieties. The inadequate results and the difficulties associated with conventional breeding techniques necessitate the use of the tools of crop biotechnology in unravelling some of the characteristics of Porteresia that have been highlighted in this report. In view of the limited resources available for increasing salinity tolerance to the breeders to wild rice germplasm, Porteresia is undoubtedly one of the key source species for elevating salinity tolerance in cultivated rice.     

Control of poliomyelitis by pulse immunisation in Vellore,India.

In a simple study into the control of polio in the Third World a town was divided into 16 zones and pulses or oral polio vaccine given at one station in each zone, after extensive publicity about the campaign. Some 62% of children received three doses of the vaccine and the incidence of polio fell dramatically over the study period. It is suggested that this method is applicable to similar communities because it is cheap, effective, and able to be extended to unimmunised communities when resources allow.     

Sublethal effects of textile dye stuff effluent on selected oxidative enzymes and tissue respiration of Cyprinus carpio (Linn.).

Toxic effects of sublethal concentration of dye stuff effluent on succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activities and tissue respiration were studied in C. carpio. While the sublethal exposure significantly reduced SDH activity and tissue respiration, LDH activity increased in gill, brain, liver, muscle and kidney. The maximum inhibition of SDH activity (74%) was recorded in gill and the minimum (38%) in liver. The percentage reduction of oxygen consumption in the tested tissues was in the order of gill greater than brain greater than liver greater than muscle greater than kidney. The muscle showed the highest level (96%) of increase in LDH activity whereas the kidney cells showed the minimum increase. Exposure to sublethal concentration suppressed the aerobic respiration and triggered the anaerobic respiration.     

Effect of neurotensin on pancreatic function in man

The effect of neurotensin on submaximally-stimulated hepatobiliary and pancreatic secretion was studied in 6 healthy subjects. An intravenous infusion of neurotensin 1.4 ± 0.3 pmol/kg/min, designed to reproduce plasma neurotensin immunoreactivity levels within the physiological range, produced a significant increase in pancreatic bicarbonate output. Plasma concentrations of pancreatic polypeptide rose by 83 ± 16 pmol/l and were associated with a small reduction in trypsin, but no significant change in bilirubin outputs.