Changes in the levels of pituitary and steroid hormones in ovine and human ovarian follicular fluid

Changes in the protein and steroid hormones of follicular fluid, aspirated from different follicles of sheep and human ovaries, have been measured and correlated with the size of the follicles. As the fluid contains a number of proteins, steroids have been measured directly and after ether extraction. The follicular fluid concentrations of progesterone and 17 beta-oestradiol measured directly in the fluid increased with the size of the follicles. The levels of free testosterone remained constant in all sizes of follicles, while those of bound hormone showed a 10- to 15-fold increase over the free testosterone concentrations in both the sheep and human follicular fluid. A decrease in the levels of bound testosterone in the fluid of large follicles (LFFL) coincided with the increase in bound 17 beta-oestradiol, suggesting the possible conversion of bound testosterone to oestrogen as the follicle attained maturity. The ratio of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to luteinizing hormone (LH) varied in the fluid obtained from different size follicles, being 1:7 in small (SFFL), 1.3.5 in medium (MFFL) and 1:2.3 in large (LFFL) follicles of sheep ovaries. The LH content of follicular fluid of different size follicles appeared to be the same, with LFFL showing a minor increase over SFFL. In the human, the fluid from medium follicles contained very little LH compared to LFFL. These differences in the pattern of LH levels present in the fluid from different size follicles between human and sheep ovaries presumably reflect species variations in the entry of LH into the follicles.     

Characterization and partial purification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida albicans</Emphasis> Secretory IL-12 Inhibitory Factor

Background  

We have previously shown that supernatant from Candida albicans (CA) culture contains a Secretory Interleukin (IL)-12 Inhibitory Factor (CA-SIIF), which inhibits IL-12 production by human monocytes. However, the effect of CA-SIIF on secretion of other cytokines by monocytes is unknown, and detailed characterization of this factor has not been performed.     

Microbial transformation of rifamycin B: A new extracellular oxidase fromCurvularia lunata

Summary A highly active extracellular rifamycin oxidase was isolated fromCurvularia lunata var.aeri. The enzyme has a pH optimum of 6.5 and temperature optimum of 50°C.     

Novel assay for screening rifamycin B-producing mutants.

A simple method that allows easy identification of rifamycin B-producing strains is described. This method involves the use of an enzyme, rifamycin oxidase, which converts inactive rifamycin B to active rifamycin S. In this method, colonies to be tested are grown in pairs. The two colonies are then transferred to two plates seeded with a sensitive strain of Staphylococcus aureus, one plate of which contains the enzyme rifamycin oxidase. All paired colonies which show a larger inhibition zone diameter on the enzyme-containing plate are identified as rifamycin B producers.     

Variability of milk fat globule membrane protein gene between cattle and riverine buffalo.

A study on butyrophilin (BTN) gene was conducted to detect variability at nucleotide level between cattle and buffalo. Hae III PCR-RFLP was carried out in crossbred cattle and it revealed polymorphism at this locus. Three genotypes namely, AA, BB and AB and two alleles were observed with frequencies 0.78, 0.17, 0.04 and 0.87, 0.13, respectively. The sequences of different cattle, buffalo and sheep breeds have been reported in the EMBL gene bank with accession numbers: AY491468 to AY491475. The nucleotides, which have been substituted from allele A to B, were found to be C to G (71st nucleotide), C to T (86th nucleotide), A to T (217th nucleotide), G to A (258th nucleotide), A to C (371st nucleotide) and C to T (377th nucleotide). The nucleotide substitution at 71st, 86th and 377th position of the fragment were expected to be a silent mutation where as nucleotide changes at 217th, 258th and 371st positions were expected to be substituted by lysine with arginine, valine with isoleucine and leucine with proline in allele B. The differences of nucleotides and amino acids between cattle, buffalo and sheep breeds have been revealed and on the basis of nucleotide as well as protein variability the phylogenetic diagram have been developed indicating closeness between cattle and buffalo.     

Fine structural abnormalities in the developing mouse embryo

Initial changes in the fine morphology of apparently normal mouse zygotes and embryos were studied in serial sections of mouse oviducts that had been fixed in situ. These changes included extra sperm in the perivitelline space, nuclear budding, the presence of large nucleoli, perinuclear vesicles, the concentration of cytoplasmic organelles, and the extrusion of cytoplasmic ground substance. Initial changes in the nucleus and cytoplasm were undetectable when the zygotes and embryos were examined with the light microscope. It was concluded that serious abnormalities in zygotes and embryos, which may not be identified at the light microscope level, may be detected if they are examined in the electron microscope. Therefore, zygotes and embryos should be critically evaluated before being rated as normal.     

Characterization of Changes due to pH Variations in Beta Peptide (25–35) Leading to Alzheimer’s Disease

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - The effect of various concentrations of amyloid beta peptide (ABP) in different pH (pH 2, 6, 7, 8, 10) in aging at different time...     

Seed germination and plant fitness response of a narrowly endemic,rare winter annual to spatial heterogeneity in microenvironment

Environmental heterogeneity affects distributions of plant species, although the effects of fine-scale heterogeneity on plant demographies are not widely studied. Diminutive winter annuals, especially rare taxa, can be sensitive to spatial variation in microenvironment as a consequence of their small stature above and belowground. To address whether spatial environmental heterogeneity affects demography, germination and fitness of Chorizanthe orcuttiana, an endangered winter annual distributed in distinct easterly and westerly microhabitats within an exceedingly narrow niche in California, we performed multiyear observational and empirical studies. We manipulated after-ripening environment, soil moisture and ambient light at both aspects, and profiled microclimate, soil physicochemistry and soil microbiomes at all sites. We show that easterly aspects host larger plants in larger populations, and have lower air temperatures combined with higher soil moisture in comparison to the west-facing sites. Yet, soil physicochemistry and microbiomes were similar across all sites. Manipulations of after-ripening conditions showed that seeds exposed to low humidity (17%) during dormancy and sown at easterly aspects exhibited the highest germination percentages, whereas seeds incubated in situ and subsequently sown at westerly aspects yielded the lowest germination. Simultaneous manipulations of soil moisture and light showed that at both aspects higher moisture combined with shade led to higher germination, whereas ambient soil moisture combined with shade yielded the lowest germination. Altogether, our studies show that the diminutive, rare winter annual C. orcuttiana exhibits higher germination and plant fitness under cooler soil conditions with higher soil moisture while preferring drier environments during after-ripening.     

Purification and physicochemical properties of polygalacturonase from Aspergillus niger MTCC 3323

Polygalacturonases are the pectinolytic enzymes that catalyze the hydrolytic cleavage of the polygalacturonic acid chain. In the present study, polygalacturonase from Aspergillus niger (MTCC 3323) was purified. The enzyme precipitated with 60% ethanol resulted in 1.68-fold purification. The enzyme was purified to 6.52-fold by Sephacryl S-200 gel-filtration chromatography. On SDS–PAGE analysis, enzyme was found to be a heterodimer of 34 and 69 kDa subunit. Homogeneity of the enzyme was checked by NATIVE-PAGE and its molecular weight was found to be 106 kDa. The purified enzyme showed maximum activity in the presence of polygalacturonic acid at temperature of 45 °C, pH of 4.8, reaction time of 15 min. The enzyme was stable within the pH range of 4.0–5.5 for 1 h. At 4 °C it retained 50% activity after 108 h but at room temperature it lost its 50% activity after 3 h. The addition of Mn²⁺, K⁺, Zn²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Al³⁺ inhibited the enzyme activity; it increased in the presence of Mg²⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions. Enzyme activity was increased on increasing the substrate concentration from 0.1% to 0.5%. The K_m and V_max values of the enzyme were found to be 0.083 mg/ml and 18.21 μmol/ml/min. The enzyme was used for guava juice extraction and clarification. The recovery of juice of enzymatically treated pulp increased from 6% to 23%. Addition of purified enzyme increased the %T₆₅₀ from 2.5 to 20.4 and °Brix from 1.9 to 4.8. The pH of the enzyme treated juice decreased from 4.5 to 3.02.