Continuous production of gibberellic acid in a fixed-bed reactor by immobilized mycelia of Gibberella fujikuroi in calcium alginate beads

Summary The continuous production of gibberellic acid with immobilized mycelia of Gibberella fujikuroi was maintained over a hundred days in a tubular fixed-bed reactor. Free mycelium at the beginning of the storage phase was harvested from G. fujikuroi shake-flask culture and was immobilized by ionotropic gelation in calcium alginate beads.The continuous recycle production system consisted of a fixed-bed reactor, a container in which the culture medium was heated, stirred and aerated, and valves for sample withdrawal or reactant addition during the first 1320 h (55 days). A two-phase continuous extractor was then added for the last 960 hours (40 days). Free and immobilized mycelium shake-flask cultures with the same strain used in the continuous culture system were also realized to compare growth, maintenance and production parameters. The results show about the same gibberellic acid productivity in both free and immobilized mycelium shakeflask cultures: 0.384 and 0.408 mgGA₃·gBiomass^-1 ·day^-1, respectively, whereas in the continuous system the gibberellic acid production is about twice as large for a similar biomass: 0.768 mgGA₃·gBiomass^-1·day^-1. Several factors affecting the overall productivity of the immobilized systems were found to be: the quality and the quantity of mycelia in the biocatalyst beads and the immobilization conditions.     

Linked genetic markers of the rabbit κ light chain are not linked to the Tcr β chain genes

In order to investigate linkage, we used serum allotypes of the two rabbit C isotypes and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of the genes for V , C , and T-cell receptor C . The inheritance of these genetic markers was studied through backcross and F₂ matings. Southern analysis and hybridization of genomic DNA with a C probe detected a 5 kb Pst I fragment linked to expression of the K2bas1 allotype and the presence of the 1b ^bas gene and a 6.6 kb Pst I fragment linked to the expression of the K1b9 allotype, the presence of the 2 ^bas2 gene and lack of expression of the K2bas1 allotype. A V probe detected a 1.3 kb Eco RI fragment linked to the presence of the 1b ^bas gene and expression of the K2bas1 allotype. In contrast, the 9 or 14 kb Eco RI RFLP (C ^a or C ^b) detected with a Tcr chain probe segregated independently from C allotypes and RFLPs. It has previously been found that C and C are also unlinked in man, whereas in the mouse they are linked at a distance of 8 centimorgans.     

Comparative analysis of the Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli ompC genes

The nucleotide (nt) sequence of the gene encoding the Salmonella typhi OmpC outer membrane protein, and its deduced amino acid (aa) sequence are presented here. The S. typhi ompC gene consists of an open reading frame of 1134 nt, corresponding to a protein of 378 aa; with a 21-aa signal peptide. This protein is 11 aa longer than Escherichia coli OmpC, but it has an identical leader peptide. The mature OmpC sequence shows 79% similarity for both bacteria at the aa level, and 77% similarity at the nt level. Seven main variable regions in the OmpC protein were identified. Five of them correspond to hydrophilic regions and contain aa observed most frequently in turn configurations in soluble proteins. This suggests that these aa stretches could be located on the exterior of the outer membrane. To probe into the genus and species specificity of the main variable regions, we have constructed complementary oligodeoxyribonucleotides. The use of one of them with a small number of DNA samples is illustrated here; no restriction fragment length polymorphism or nt sequence heterogeneity could be found between S. typhi and Salmonella typhimurium.     

Nutraceutical Activity of Anthocyanins from the Edible Berries of Rhamnus pompana

We present the inhibitory properties of the R. pompana anthocyanin fraction (RPAF) and its major constituents on alpha-glucosidase (AG), pancreatic lipase (PL), HMG-CoA reductase, and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). The effect of RPAF was also evaluated in ICR male mice subjected to oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and hypercaloric/atherogenic diet for 30 days. RP-HPLC/MS profiling revealed that RPAF contained five major anthocyanins and induced slight inhibition on PL and HMG-CoA reductase (IC₅₀, 245–338 μg mL⁻¹) whereas strong activity on AG and ODC (IC₅₀, 130–133 μg mL⁻¹) was observed. Kinetic studies and molecular docking with pelargonidin-3-O-rutinoside (P3R) on ODC, revealed changes in K_m (0.9514–0.9746 mM) and V_max (1.96–2.32 μmol mg⁻¹ min⁻¹) suggesting mixed inhibition and molecular interaction with two active sites of ODC. P3R showed antiproliferative activity (IC_50, 46.5 μM) and decreased polyamine accumulation in DLD-1 cells. The results of OGTT confirmed that RPAF regulates postprandial glucose levels in diabetic animals which experienced a significant glucose depletion (30 %; p<0.001) from 30 to 120 min post-treatment. Prolonged supplementation of RPAF caused significant decrease (p<0.001) in plasma glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-c and triglycerides as well as significant increase (p<0.001) of HDL-c compared with normoglycemic untreated animals.     

Partial trisomy 16q resulting from maternal translocation 11p/16q

A 3 1/2-year-old male with partial trisomy of the long arm of chromosome 16 resulting from a maternal balanced translocation 11p;16q is described. Clinical findings are compared with similar case reports from the literature.     

Induction of ion transport in rat heart mitochondria by fluorescamine

This report describes experimental results which show that the fluorescent reagent fluorescamine induces mitochondrial energy-independent swelling when the incubation media contain the chloride salts of the cations Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+. The reaction depends on the concentration of the dye and is inhibited by Mg2+, and its extension is closely related to the amount of the primary amino groups titrated by fluorescamine. Analysis of the labeled inner membrane in polyacrylamide gel shows that the amount of aminofluorescamine complex is lower when mitochondria are in the presence of Mg2+.     

Some effects of tetracaine on rat heart mitochondria

The effect of the local anesthetic tetracaine on some functions of rat heart mitochondria was studied, and the results show that this tertiary amine inhibits the oxidation of NAD-dependent substrates by affecting the mitochondrial membrane in a site located between the NADH dehydrogenase and Co Q span through a process which is not affected by K⁺, Ca2⁺, or Mg2⁺. Also the results show that tetracaine induces sodium uptake probably by a H⁺/Na⁺ exchange reaction.     

Heterogeneity of glutamine synthetase polypeptides in Neurospora crassa

Purified preparations of Neurospora crassa glutamine synthetase contain two nonidentical polypeptides that can be separated by acrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and 7 M urea. These polypeptides are synthesized both in vivo and in a heterologous cell-free protein-synthesizing system. The data presented indicate that both polypeptides contain an active site for glutamine synthetase activity and suggest that there is not a precursor-product relationship between them.     

Flexible Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy: Anesthesia,Technique and Results

During a period of three years, 256 diagnostic bronchoscopies were done with flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopes at a Veterans Administration hospital. In all of these procedures, topical cocaine hydrochloride anesthesia was used, and it proved satisfactory and free of any undesirable side effects.The peroral route using an endotracheal tube is preferred for flexible bronchofiberscopy. Fluoroscopic guidance is essential in examining peripheral lung lesions. A 70 percent positive yield was obtained for patients with peripheral carcinoma of the lung as contrasted to a 47 percent yield when the tissue specimens were obtained blindly.