Cancer Cell Analyses at the Single Cell-Level Using Electroactive Microwell Array Device

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), shed from primary tumors and disseminated into peripheral blood, are playing a major role in metastasis. Even after isolation of CTCs from blood, the target cells are mixed with a population of other cell types. Here, we propose a new method for analyses of cell mixture at the single-cell level using a microfluidic device that contains arrayed electroactive microwells. Dielectrophoretic (DEP) force, induced by the electrodes patterned on the bottom surface of the microwells, allows efficient trapping and stable positioning of single cells for high-throughput biochemical analyses. We demonstrated that various on-chip analyses including immunostaining, viability/apoptosis assay and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) at the single-cell level could be conducted just by applying specific reagents for each assay. Our simple method should greatly help discrimination and analysis of rare cancer cells among a population of blood cells.     

Purification and Characterization of Sucrose Synthase from Peach (Prunus persica) Fruit

Sucrose synthase (EC 2.4.1.13 [EC] ) was purified from peach fruit(Prunus persica) to a single band of protein on SDS-PAGE byammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose (DE-52) chromatography,Sepharose CL-6B gel filtration, PBA-60 affinity chromatographyand Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. The molecular weight wasestimated to be 360,000 by gel filtration. The enzyme was foundto be a tetramer of identical 87-kDa subunits. The maximum activityfor the synthesis and cleavage of sucrose was observed at pH8.5 and pH 7.0, respectively. The enzymatic reaction followedtypical Michaelis-Menten kinetics in both directions, with thefollowing parameters: K_m(fructose), 4.8 mmM; K_m(UDPglucose),0.033 mM; K_m(sucrose), 62.5 mM; K_m(UDP), 0.080 mM. Other properties,such as substrate specificity and the effects of divalent cations,were also investigated. The relationship between the enzymeand the accumulation of sucrose in peach fruit is discussed. Present address: Laboratory of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture,Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464, Japan. (Received May 2, 1988; Accepted September 14, 1988)     

Alkaline Bismuth Solution as an En Bloc Stain for Formaldehyde-Glutaraldehyde Potassium Permanganate Fixed Fungal Spores

An alkaline solution of bismuth subnitrate reacted well with the cell membranes and cell walls of formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde potassium permanganate fixed Alternaria spores, demonstrating them with greater contrast than in sections stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. Optimal fine structure of fungal spores was obtained by en bloc staining with alkaline bismuth solution after aldehyde and permanganate fixation. The contrast of the cell organelles and cell walls was high enough in sections cut after the alkaline bismuth en bloc stain for direct ultrastructural observation. Our results indicate that the alkaline bismuth stain is useful either as an en bloc or section stain for aldehyde and permanganate fixed fungal spores.     

Stimulation of the Uptake of Sorbitol into Vacuoles from Apple Fruit Flesh by Abscisic Add and into Protoplasts by Indoleacetic Acid

The uptake of sorbitol into vacuoles from immature flesh ofapple fruit (Maluspumila Mill, var domestica Schneid.) was facilitatedby 10^–6 M ABA, while such uptake into protoplasts wasnot stimulated. By contrast, the application of 10^–5 MIAA facilitated uptake of sorbitol into protoplasts but didnot significantly into vacuoles. (Received July 17, 1990; Accepted December 25, 1990)     

Endotoxin and cytokines in patients with gastrointestinal tract perforation

Plasma levels of endotoxin and various cytokines were assessed in 70 patients with gastrointestinal tract perforation. Sepsis developed in 29 of them, and eight of these (27.6%) had on admission endotoxin levels higher than 9.8 pg ml(-1). The clinical outcome correlated with the level of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), rather than with the endotoxin level. The high interleukin 6 (IL-6) level was shown in septic patients and no correlation was observed between the IL-6 level and the clinical outcome. Plasma TNFalpha levels tended to change independently from endotoxin levels, suggesting that TNFalpha may have been locally produced in inflammatory lesions.     

HPLC-studies on nonmercapt-mercapt conversion of human serum albumin

Human mercaptalbumin (HMA) and nonmercaptalbumin (HNA) could be separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at neutral pH. Using HPLC, the present authors found the nonmercapt-mercapt conversion (HNA----HMA) during hemodialysis and the mercapt-nonmercapt conversion (HMA----HNA) after hemodialysis in chronic renal failure, indicating HMA as the covalent carrier protein for sulfur-containing amino acids.     

A study of the association between schizophrenia and the dopamine D3 receptor gene

A study of the genetic association between schizophrenia and aBalI polymorphism in exon 1 of the dopamine D₃ (DRD3) gene, a candidate gene for schizophrenia, was conducted. The polymorphism was examined in 91 patients whose symptoms satisfied DSM-III-R for schizophrenia and 90 controls. There were no significant differences between the groups in allele frequencies or genotype counts. Contrary to a previous report, the patients were no more likely to be homozygous than controls. Moreover, no association with the presence of illness could be demonstrated when the patients were grouped according to sex, age of onset, history of admission to psychiatric institutions or positive family history.