Reactivity of a Monoclonal Antibody Raised against Human Leukemic Cells to Embryonic and Adult Tissues of the Mouse and Teratocarcinomas

C-9-1, a monoclonal IgM antibody raised against human null cell acute lymphocytic leukemia cells reacted with restricted regions of embryonic and adult tissues of the mouse. The antigen positive sites in the embryos included embryonic ectoderm, visceral endoderm, trophoblastic cells invading the maternal decidua of 5∼7-day embryos, primordial germ cells of 10∼12-day embryos, epithelium of nasal chamber, the bronchus, Mullerian duct, epididymis and bladder of 12∼17-day embryos. In the adult mice, C-9-1 antigen was detected in renal tubules, a part of stomach, bladder, endometrium and epididymal sperm. Embryonal carcinoma cells, but not endodermal cells of teratocarcinoma expressed the antigen. Thus, C-9-1 antigen showed distribution similar to SSEA-1. However, C-9-1 antigen was not detected in preimplantation embryos, nor in oviduct, both of which are positive for SSEA-1.     

Effects of Surfactant Protein-A on the Interaction of Pneumocystis murina with its Host at Different Stages of the Infection in Mice

ABSTRACT. We examined the effects of surfactant protein A (SP-A), a collectin, on the interaction of Pneumocystis murina with its host at the beginning, early to middle, and late stages of infection. Pneumocystis murina from SP-A wild-type (WT) mice inoculated intractracheally into WT mice (WT_S-WT_R) adhered well to alveolar macrophages, whereas organisms from SP-A knockout (KO) mice inoculated into KO mice (KO_S-KO_R) did not. Substitution of WT mice as the source of organisms (WT_S-KO_R) or recipient host macrophages (KO_S-WT_R) restored adherence to that found with WT_S-WT_R mice. In contrast, when immunosuppressed KO and WT mice were inoculated with P. murina from a homologous source (KO_S-KO_R, WT_S-WT_R) or heterologous source (WT_S-KO_R, KO_S-WT_R) and followed sequentially, WT_S-KO_R mice had the highest levels of infection at weeks 3 and 4; these mice also had the highest levels of the chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein-2 and neutrophils in lavage fluid at week 3. Surfactant protein-A administered to immunosuppressed KO_S-KO_R mice with Pneumocystis pneumonia for 8 wk as a therapeutic agent failed to lower the organism burden. We conclude that SP-A can correct the host immune defect in the beginning of P. murina infection, but not in the middle or late stages of the infection.     

OCCURRENCE OF A FAR-RED-ABSORBING PIGMENT (P 715) IN LEAF EXTRACT OF GYNKGO BILOBA

The occasional occurrence of far-red-absorption band in thegreen extract of Gynkgo biloba leaves was noticed. It resultedfrom the conversion of the ordinary red-absorbing form of thechlorophyllous pigments with absorption maximum at 675 mµ(P 675), to the far-red-absorbing form with absorption maximumat 710–715 mµ (P 715). The conversion seems to takeplace in two steps, i.e., first, decrease in thered-absorptionband, and secondly, appearance of the far-red-absorption band.Under some experimental conditions, the latter step occurs onlyafter a certain time lag. The conversion is accompanied by thechangeof chlorophylls a and b, contained in the initial formof the pigment, P 675, to the pheophytins and pheophorbides.The properties of the far-red-absorbing pigment are differentfrom those of other chlorophyllous pigments discovered in otherplant materials. ( Accepted January 29, 1965)     

Effect of antibiotics on biogenesis of mitochondria during aging of sliced sweet potato root tissue

The number of mitochondrial particles, and the activities ofperoxidase and cytochrome oxidase increased during aging ofsliced sweet potato root tissue. Blasticidin S inhibited allthese processes, indicating the occurrence of de now synthesisof protein. Chloramphenicol suppressed the synthesis of cytochromeoxidase and the reproduction of mitochondria but did not suppressperoxidase synthesis. Cylcoheximide suppressed peroxidase synthesisleaving the activities of cytochrome oxidase synthesis and mitochondrialreproduction unimpaired. A differentiation of ribosomal andmitochondrial protein syntheses is suggested. Mitomycin G and5-iododeoxyuridine inhibited the reproduction of mitochondriabut not the synthesis of enzymes. ¹This paper constitutes Part 76 of the Phytopathological Chemistryof Sweet Potato with Black Rot. (Received January 4, 1969; )     

CHANGES IN RESTING POTENTIAL AND ION ABSORPTION INDUCED BY LIGHT IN A SINGLE PLANT CELL

1. Effect of light on ion absorption and resting potential of theinternodal cell of Nitella flexilis was investigated under variousconditions.
2. On illumination, the resting potential increasedby about 30mVin 10^–4 M KCl and by about 60 mV in 10^–4M NaClsolution. A similar photoelectric response was also observedin 10^–3 M KCl, 10^–2 M CaCl₂ and 5 x 10^–2 MCaCl₂ solutions, but not at all in 10^–2 M KCl solution.
3. Absorption of ions by the cell took place in parallel withthelight-induced change in resting potential.
4. Red and bluelights were very effective in increasing the restingpotential,while green light was almost ineffective. These differenteffectsof color lights were in good agreement with their effectsinincreasing the osmotic value of the cell.
5. The photoelectricresponse was not affected by phenylurethane,which, on the otherhand, strongly inhibited the light-inducedion absorption.
6. Theuptake of ions by the cell from the external medium intothevacuole is assumed to proceed in two different steps: thefirstis the process involving the ion movements across theoutermostplasmalemma, and the second is that involved in thetransportof ions through the cytoplasmic layer and tonoplast.The formerprocess is considered to be influenced by the increasein restingpotential probably caused by the light absorbed bychlorophyll.The process was, however, suggested to be independentof photosynthesis.On the other hand, the latter process issupposed to be relatedto photosynthesis. A discussion was madealong this line.

(Received July 26, 1962; )     

Effects of gamma-ray irradiation on metabolic changes in potato tubers in response to cutting

Potato tubers were subjected to cobalt-60 gamma-ray irradiationand stored at room temperature for from 10 days to 4 months.Effects of this irradiation on metabolic changes in potato tubersin response to cutting were investigated. The quantities ofpolyphenols, such as chlorogenic acid and isochlorogenic acid,in the tissue increased as compared with the non-irradiatedsample. Although the polyphenol content and activities of o-diphenoloxidase, peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonialyase increasedafter cutting, increases were lower in the irradiated sample.On the other hand, in the dose range between 5,000 and 12,400rad, the irradiated sample showed a larger defense action againstinfection by the black rot fungus, Ceratocystis fimbriata thandid the non-irradiated sample. (Received April 16, 1968; )