bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The amino acid sequence of plastocyanin from Vicia faba L. (broad bean)
Authors: Ramshaw John A. M. , Scawen Michael D. , Boulter Donald
Published: August 2015

The amino acid sequence of plastocyanin from broad bean was determined. It consists of a single polypeptide chain of 99 residues. The sequence was determined by using a Beckman 890C sequencer and by dansyl–phenyl isothiocyanate analysis of peptides obtained by the enzymic cleavage of purified cyanogen bromide fragments. Some parts of the sequence depend on the results of Edman degradation of peptides for which amino acid analyses were not obtained. The evidence for one overlap is not strong.
Progesterone-induced lysis of rat kidney lysosomes as studied by changes in light-absorbance
Authors: Badenoch-Jones P. , Baum H.
Published: August 2015

1. A rat kidney lysosomal fraction was prepared by the method of Maunsbach (1966) and characterized by its content of representative marker enzymes for lysosomes, mitochondria, peroxisomes and endoplasmic reticulum. 2. It was shown that both pH-dependent and progesterone-induced lysis lead to a decrease in the E520 of suspensions of this preparation. This decrease parallels quantitatively and temporally the release of soluble acid phosphatase. 3. It is suggested that E520 measurements are a valid method for the continuous measurement of changes in lysosomal integrity. 4. As an example, results are included which demonstrate the ability of Zn2+ to stabilize lysosomes against spontaneous and progesterone-induced lysis.
Metabolism of dihydrotachysterol and 5,6-trans-cholecalciferol in the chick and the rat
Authors: Lawson D. Eric M. , Bell Phillip A.
Published: August 2015

Dihydrotachysterol and 5,6-trans-cholecalciferol are biologically active analogues of cholecalciferol (vitamin D) with a similarity in steric structure to 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, the active form of the vitamin. The question arises as to the nature of the active form of these analogues. High specific radioactivity 14C- and 3H-labelled forms of dihydrotachysterol and 5,6-trans-cholecalciferol and its 25-hydroxy derivative were synthesized and their metabolism was studied in chicks and rats. All these steroids were very rapidly metabolized compared with cholecalciferol; 20% of the dihydrotachysterol dose was excreted in bile in the first 24h, about 50% as a carboxylic acid derivative. Although polar metabolites were detected in tissues, no 1-hydroxy form was observed. Larger proportions of the parent steroid and its 25-hydroxy metabolite were detected in tissues compared with cholecalciferol, but no single metabolite was detected at the intracellular site of action of cholecalciferol. It is suggested that analogues of cholecalciferol will be biologically active if they possess a hydroxyl group in the same steric position as that at C-1 of cholecalciferol, with the greatest activity shown by those that also have a C-25 hydroxyl group. The implication of these findings for the chemical features necessary for binding to receptor proteins are briefly discussed.
Production and utilization of acetate in mammals
Authors: Knowles Spencer E. , Jarrett Ivan G. , Filsell Owen H. , Ballard F. John
Published: August 2015

1. In an attempt to define the importance of acetate as a metabolic precursor, the activities of acetyl-CoA synthetase (EC 6.2.1.1) and acetyl-CoA hydrolase (Ec 3.1.2.1) were assayed in tissues from rats and sheep. In addition, the concentrations of acetate in blood and liver were measured, as well as the rates of acetate production by tissue slices and mitochondrial fractions of these tissues. 2. Acetyl-CoA synthetase occurs at high activities in heart and kidney cortex of both species as well as in rat liver and the sheep masseter muscle. The enzyme is mostly in the cytosol fraction of liver, whereas it is associated with the mitochondrial fraction in heart tissue. Both mitochondrial and cytosol activities have a Km for acetate of 0.3mm. Acetyl-CoA synthetase activity in liver was not altered by changes in diet, age or alloxan-diabetes. 3. Acetyl-CoA hydrolase is widely distributed in rat and sheep tissues, the highest activity being found in liver. Essentially all of the activity in liver and heart is localized in the mitochondrial fraction. Hepatic acetyl-CoA hydrolase activity is increased by starvation in rats and sheep and during the suckling period in young rats. 4. The concentrations of acetate in blood are decreased by starvation and increased by alloxan-diabetes in both species. The uptake of acetate by the sheep hind limb is proportional to the arterial concentration of acetate, except in alloxan-treated animals, where uptake is impaired. 5. Acetate is produced by liver and heart slices and also by heart mitochondrial fractions that are incubated with either pyruvate or palmitoyl-(—)-carnitine. Liver mitochondrial fractions do not form acetate from either substrate but instead convert acetate into acetoacetate. 6. We propose that acetate in the blood of rats or starved sheep is derived from the hydrolysis of acetyl-CoA. Release of acetate from tissues would occur under conditions when the function of the tricarboxylic acid cycle is restricted, so that the circulating acetate serves to redistribute oxidizable substrate throughout the body. This function is analogous to that served by ketone bodies.
The effect of oxytetracycline on insulin resistance in obese mice
Authors: Bégin-Heick Nicole , Bourassa Michel , Heick H. M. C.
Published: August 2015

1. Chronic oxytetracycline treatment was found to improve the insulin resistance of the obese–hyperglycaemic mouse. 2. The improved response to insulin was accompanied by decreased concentrations of circulating insulin and glucose, by a decrease in the lipid content of the liver and by an increase in the insulin-receptor sites of the liver and adipose tissue. 3. The increase in insulin-receptor sites preceded the fall in blood glucose. 4. Comparable studies done on food-restricted animals indicated that although chronic food restriction corrected the hyperinsulinaemia it did not restore the insulin-receptor sites or the hyperglycaemia.
The control of tricarboxylate-cycle oxidations in blowfly flight muscle. The steady-state concentrations of coenzyme A, acetyl-coenzyme A and succinyl-coenzyme A in flight muscle and isolated mitochondria
Authors: Hansford Richard G.
Published: August 2015

(1) A ‘cycling’ method involving citrate synthase (EC 4.1.3.7) and malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) was modified by the inclusion of succinyl-CoA synthetase (EC 6.2.1.5) and hexokinase (EC 2.7.1.1) to permit the determination of very small amounts of succinyl-CoA in addition to CoA and acetyl-CoA. (2) Application of this technique to blowfly (Phormia regina) flight-muscle extracts reveals no change in acetyl-CoA concentration, a slight fall in CoA concentration and a rise in succinyl-CoA concentration during flight. (3) Extraction of isolated mitochondria during controlled (state 4) pyruvate oxidation reveals essentially only acetyl-CoA. Activation of respiration by ADP (state 3) or uncoupling agents leads to a fall in acetyl-CoA and a rise in CoA and succinyl-CoA content. (4) The presence of glycerol phosphate in addition to pyruvate results in a lower acetyl-CoA content in state 4. (5) It is contended that these results are consistent with a primary control of one of the reactions of the tricarboxylate cycle, rather than of pyruvate dehydrogenase, during the state 4 oxidation of pyruvate by isolated mitochondria, and that the modulation of citrate synthase activity by the ratio of acetyl-CoA/succinyl-CoA is unimportant under these conditions.
Role of human skin in the photodecomposition of bilirubin
Authors: Kapoor Chiranjiv L. , Murti Coimbatore R. Krishna , Bajpai Prakash C.
Published: August 2015

1. Human skin epithelium and human skin were found to absorb both free bilirubin and serum-bound bilirubin from an aqueous buffered medium. The serum-bound bilirubin thus absorbed was readily released when human skin epithelium or human skin were transferred to media containing no bilirubin. 2. The Km values for serum-bound bilirubin were 1.8×10−3m and 2.2×10−3m respectively for human skin epithelium and human skin; corresponding Km values for free bilirubin were 3.0×10−4m and 5×10−4m. The Vmax. for bound and free bilirubin was of the same magnitude, the apparent Vmax. being 1.0 and 1.66μmol/g of tissue for human skin epithelium and human skin respectively. 3. When human skin that had acquired a yellow tinge by absorbing bilirubin was incubated in a buffered medium and exposed to a mercury-vapour light, the yellow colour disappeared and decomposition products of bilirubin accumulated in the medium. 4. Experiments with [3H]bilirubin indicated that the pigment absorbed by skin was photo-oxidized to products that were soluble in water and the quantity and number of such products increased with the time of exposure of human skin to the light-source. Under similar conditions [3H]bilirubin alone in buffered medium was also oxidized and gave products which by paper chromatography appeared to be different from those released by human skin that had absorbed bilirubin. 5. The results suggest that by virtue of its large surface area human skin can act as a matrix for the degradative action of light on bilirubin.
Protein kinase activity stimulated by adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate in synaptic-membrane fragments from ox brain. Inhibition of intrinsic activity by free and membrane-bound calcium ions
Authors: Weller Malcolm , Rodnight Richard
Published: August 2015

1. Cyclic AMP-stimulated protein kinase activity phosphorylating intrinsic substrates in preparations of synaptic-membrane fragments from ox cerebral cortex was examined in relation to (a) the content of membrane-bound Ca2+in the preparations and (b) added Ca2+in the assay medium. 2. Centrifugal washing of synaptic-membrane fragments with buffered ethane dioxybis(ethylamine)tetra-acetate solutions decreased bound Ca2+from 2.8±0.4 (s.d.) to 0.9±0.3nmol/mg of protein. In washed preparations basal protein kinase activity was increased by about 40% and the cyclic AMP-stimulated activity by about 15%. Addition of Ca2+in the concentration range 5–50μm to the assay medium progressively inhibited the kinase activity of the washed preparations; in this range of Ca2+concentration the basal activity was inhibited more than the stimulated activity. 3. In unwashed preparations concentrations of Ca2+above 100μm inhibited the cyclic AMP-stimulated activity more than the basal activity. 4. The inhibitory effect of several concentrations of Ca2+was examined in relation to cyclic AMP concentration; no evidence for competition between Ca2+and cyclic AMP for a site on the enzyme was observed.
Calcium-ion binding to the chromaffin-granule surface
Authors: Dean Philip M. , Matthews E. Keith
Published: August 2015

1. Ca2+ions decreased the surface charge of isolated adrenal-medullary chromaffin granules whether the granules were untreated or previously incubated with neuraminidase. 2. Ca2+binding in both cases followed a Langmuir adsorption isotherm. 3. The chromaffin-granule surface was essentially polyanionic with about 10800 anionic sites per granule, of which 4200 sites are capable of binding Ca2+ions with an electrochemical free energy of adsorption of −1.32kJ·mol−1. 4. The surface region of the chromaffin granule was calculated to bind 1306 Ca2+ions at 2.2mm-Ca2+(ionic strength 0.16mol·litre−1). 5. The importance of Ca2+binding to the chromaffin-granule surface is discussed in relation to the hypothesis of secretion by exocytosis.
The synthesis of [14C]streptozotocin and its distribution and excretion in the rat
Authors: Karunanayake Eric H. , Hearse David J. , Mellows Graham
Published: August 2015

[14C]Streptozotocin was synthesized specifically labelled at three positions in the molecule. The biological activity of synthetic streptozotocin was characterised by studies in vivo of its diabetogenic activity and its dose–response curves. After this characterization the excretion pattern of all three labelled forms of streptozotocin was studied. With [1-14C]streptozotocin and [2′-14C]streptozotocin the injected radioactivity was excreted (approx. 70% and 80% respectively) mainly in the urine, the greater part of the excretion occurring in the first 6h period; small amounts (approx. 9% and 8% respectively) were found in the faeces. In contrast, with [3′-methyl-14C]streptozotocin a much smaller proportion (approx. 42%) of the injected radioactivity was excreted in the urine, the major proportion appearing in the first 6h, whereas approx. 53% of the injected radioactivity was retained in the carcasses. In whole-body radioautographic studies very rapid renal clearance and hepatic accumulation of the injected radioactivity was observed with all three labelled forms of the drug. There was some evidence for biliary and intestinal excretion. Major differences were apparent in the tissue-distribution studies, with each of the three labelled forms, particularly with [3′-methyl-14C]streptozotocin. There was no accumulation of [1-14C]streptozotocin in the pancreas for the 6h period after administration. However, with [3′-methyl-14C]streptozotocin (and also [2′-14C]streptozotocin) there was evidence of some pancreatic accumulation after 2h. The results indicate that streptozotocin is subjected to considerable metabolic transformation and to rapid renal clearance. The implication of these suggestions is evaluated with particular reference to the diabetogenic action of streptozotocin.
Carnitine and trimethylaminobutyrate synthesis in rat tissues
Authors: Cox Richard A. , Hoppel Charles L.
Published: August 2015

Liver and testis slices convert 6-N-trimethyl-lysine into 4-N-trimethylaminobutyrate and carnitine. Adipose, skeletal muscle, heart, or kidney tissues metabolize trimethyl-lysine into trimethylaminobutyrate but not into carnitine. Trimethylaminobutyrate hydroxylation, forming carnitine, occurs in liver and to a minor degree in testis. Liver is the primary site of carnitine biosynthesis in the rat.
Transcription of fractionated mammalian chromatin by mammalian ribonucleic acid polymerase. Demonstration of temperature-dependent rifampicin-resistant initiation sites in euchromatin deoxyribonucleic acid
Authors: Chesterton C. James , Coupar Barbara E. H. , Butterworth Peter H. W.
Published: August 2015

The chromatin fractionation method of Frenster et al. (1963) as modified by Leake et al. (1972) was used to prepare fragments of euchromatin from rat liver nuclei. These remain soluble in 5mm-MgCl2, and contain DNA of maximum mol.wt. 1×106–2×106. The fragments were separated from condensable chromatin on a sucrose gradient. Euchromatin contains endogenous DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and most of the nascent RNA labelled in vivo or in vitro. Euchromatin fragments allow initiation of transcription by added purified rat liver form-B RNA polymerase and contain temperature-dependent rifampicin-resistant initiation sites for the form-B enzyme. These findings indicate that transcription of the euchromatin regions of interphase chromosomes is not initiated in condensed chromatin, but is initiated within the euchromatin stretches. Condensable chromatin also contains most of these activities, but is not associated with nascent RNA.
A new systematic strategy for the isolation of proteins, illustrated by the purification of a mammalian exo-β-N-acetyl-d-glucosaminidase
Authors: Robinson Howard K. , Leaback David H.
Published: August 2015

The ‘B’ form of the exo-β-N-acetyl-d-glucosaminidase from pig epididymis was purified by a new systematic strategy to yield a preparation with a specific activity at least equal to that obtainable by an existing empirically derived procedure. The new strategy is essentially a sequence of three carefully chosen steps consisting of an initial fractionation of the constituent proteins according to molecular size, followed by an ion-exchange step designed to select out proteins with closely similar electric-charge properties to those of the protein of interest, and a final high-resolution step dependent on the isoelectric points of the residual proteins. Gel isoelectric focusing itself, or as an element in the technique described by Leaback & Robinson (1974) for the separate display of the molecular size and electric-charge characteristics of proteins, played an important part in the choice of the experimental conditions used in the new strategy, and also in monitoring the progress of the purification.
Deoxycytidylate deaminase. Evidence for a new enzyme in cells infected by the virus of herpes simplex
Authors: Rolton Hilary A. , Keir Hamish M.
Published: August 2015

The activities of dCMP deaminase and DNA polymerase I increased twofold and fivefold in BHK-21/C13 cells after infection by the virus of herpes simplex. The increases were greatly diminished, and under certain conditions prevented, by inclusion of actinomycin D or cycloheximide in the cell–virus system during the infective cycle. The dCMP deaminase purified from infected cells harvested 8h after infection differed from the deaminase purified from non-infected cells inasmuch as (a) it was more resistant to heating at 37°C; (b) the substrate (dCMP) concentration at half-maximum velocity was lower; (c) maximum activation was achieved by a lower concentration of dCTP; (d) it was more resistant to inhibition by dTTP; and (e) it behaved differently when assayed in the presence of a herpes-virus-specific antiserum. The DNA polymerase activity in the infected cells was markedly decreased in the presence of the herpes-virus-specific antiserum.
Ferritin iron uptake and release. Structure–function relationships
Authors: Harrison Pauline M. , Hoy Terence G. , Macara Ian G. , Hoare Richard J.
Published: August 2015

Iron uptake and release by ferritin molecules of different iron contents show similar profiles. These are discussed in relation to the structure of the ferritin molecule. Two models of iron uptake and release are considered. One involves iron oxidation–reduction sites on the protein. The other allows direct interaction of reagents with the iron-core crystallites. It is concluded that the second model accounts better for the experimental results presented now and in previous publications.
Small-angle X-ray scattering of pig thyroglobulin in solution
Authors: Brumberger Harry , Lipton Jeffrey L. , Dorfman Gary , Nakano Eileen
Published: August 2015

Small-angle X-ray scattering measurements on native pig thyroglobulin in phosphate buffer, pH6.9, yield a radius of gyration of 6.4nm (64Å), a particle volume of approx. 1.5×103nm3 (1.5×106Å3), an axial ratio of 2.2:1 (assuming an ellipsoidal shape), and a solvation of 0.63g of solvent/g of protein.
Purification and properties of dolphin muscle aspartate and alanine transaminases and their possible roles in the energy metabolism of diving mammals
Authors: Owen Terrance G. , Hochachka Peter W.
Published: August 2015

1. Mitochondrial and supernatant aspartate transaminases (EC 2.6.1.1) and supernatant alanine transaminase (EC 2.6.1.2) were purified 89-, 204- and 240-fold respectively, from dolphin muscle. Starch-gel electrophoresis of crude and purified preparations revealed that all three enzymes exist as single forms. 2. Km values of α-oxoglutarate, alanine, pyruvate and glutamate for the alanine transaminase were 0.45, 8.2, 0.87 and 15mm respectively. For the aspartate transaminases, the Km values of α-oxoglutarate, aspartate, oxalacetate and glutamate were 0.76, 0.50, 0.10 and 9.4mm respectively, for the mitochondrial form and 0.13, 2.4, 0.06 and 3.2mm respectively, for the supernatant form. 3. In all cases, as the assay pH value was decreased from pH7.3, the Km values of the α-oxo acids decreased whereas those of the amino acids increased. 4. The apparent equilibrium constants for the aspartate transaminases were independent of pH. These values were 9.2 and 6.8 for the mitochondrial and supernatant forms respectively, where [Formula: see text] 5. Studies of the inhibition of the aspartate transaminases by dicarboxylic acids indicated that these enzymes may be controlled by pools of metabolic intermediates. 6. Three key roles are suggested for the transaminases in the energy metabolism of the diving animal. First, it is believed that a combined action of the transaminases could enhance energy production during hypoxia by providing (a) fumarate from aspartate for the ATP-producing reversal of succinate dehydrogenase, and (b) α-oxoglutarate from glutamate for the GTP-producing succinyl thiokinase reaction. Secondly, diving mammals probably accumulate more NADH than other mammals during hypoxia. The aspartate transaminases seem particularly well suited for restoring and maintaining redox balance via the malate–aspartate cycle after aerobic metabolism is resumed. Finally, since the preferred fuel for aerobic work is fat, the combined reactions of the transaminases could be instrumental in providing increased supplies of oxaloacetate for sparking the tricarboxylic acid cycle.
pH-controlled hydrogen-bonding (Short Communication)
Authors: Wood John L.
Published: August 2015

The pH-dependence of the degree of hydrogen-bonding between a base and its conjugate acid is considered. When only a small proportion of the total base is complexed, the amount complexed is proportional to (1+coshp)−1 where p=2.303 (pKa–pH), pKa being the dissociation constant of the conjugate acid. This represents sharp pH-dependence. As the proportion complexed increases, the curve broadens, eventually becoming flat-topped, with more than half the base complexed over the range of pH values pKa±logKC, approximately. (K is the complex association constant and C is the formal base concentration, including all forms.) There are similarities to the extent of mono-protonation of a dibasic acid.
Putrescine catabolism in mammalian brain
Authors: Seiler N. , Al-Therib M. J.
Published: August 2015

In contrast with putrescine (1,4-diaminobutane), which is a substrate of diamine oxidase, monoacetylputrescine is oxidatively deaminated both in vitro and in vivo by monoamine oxidase. The product of this reaction is N-acetyl-γ-aminobutyrate. The existence of a degradative pathway in mammalian brain for putrescine is shown, which comprises acetylation of putrescine, oxidative deamination of monoacetylputrescine to N-acetyl-γ-aminobutyrate, transformation of N-acetyl-γ-aminobutyrate to γ-aminobutyrate and degradation of γ-aminobutyrate to CO2 via the tricarboxylic acid cycle.
Proton/sodium ion antiport in Escherichia coli
Authors: West Ian C. , Mitchell Peter
Published: August 2015

In anaerobic suspensions of Escherichia coli, after H+ ions have been translocated outwards across the plasma membrane by a respiratory pulse, re-equilibration is catalysed by Na+. The sudden addition of a Na+ salt causes the effective outward translocation of H+ by an electroneutral process. We conclude that the plasma membrane of E. coli contains a Na+/H+ antiport system that normally translocates Na+ outwards under the influence of an inwardly directed H+-activity gradient.
Collagen biosynthesis. Characterization of subcellular fractions from embryonic chick fibroblasts and the intracellular localization of protocollagen prolyl and protocollagen lysyl hydroxylases
Authors: Harwood Richard , Grant Michael E. , Jackson David S.
Published: August 2015

1. Subcellular fractions of freshly isolated matrix-free embryonic chick tendon and sternal cartilage cells have been characterized by chemical analysis, electron microscopy and the location of specific marker enzymes. These data indicate the fractions to be of a high degree of purity comparable with those obtained from other tissues, e.g. liver and kidney. 2. When homogenates were assayed for protocollagen prolyl hydroxylase and protocollagen lysyl hydroxylase activities, addition of Triton X-100 (0.1%, w/v) was found to stimulate enzyme activities by up to 60% suggesting that the enzymes were probably membrane-bound. 3. Assay of subcellular fractions obtained by differential centrifugation for protocollagen prolyl hydroxylase activity indicated the specific activity to be highest in the microsomal fraction. Similar results were obtained for protocollagen lysyl hydroxylase activity. 4. Submicrosomal fractions obtained by discontinuous sucrose-gradient centrifugation were assayed for the two enzymes and protocollagen prolyl hydroxylase and protocollagen lysyl hydroxylase were found to be associated almost exclusively with the rough endoplasmic reticulum fraction in both tendon and cartilage cells.
Hormonal control of liver regeneration
Authors: Thrower S , Ord M G
Published: August 2015

Two peaks in cyclic AMP production in rat livers 4 and 12h after partial hepatectomy (MacManus et al., 1972) were confirmed and a third peak established at 22h, which is the peak of DNA synthesis. The increases in cyclic AMP were prevented by β-adrenergic blocking agents, propranolol and pindolol, without affecting ornithine decarboxylase induction or DNA synthesis. The α-blocking agents, phenoxybenzamine and phentolamine, given at the time of partial hepatectomy, delayed the rise in ornithine decarboxylase normally found 4h after operation, but did not affect DNA synthesis. If the α-blocking agents were given at 9–12h or 18h, the onset of DNA synthesis was delayed. Phenoxybenzamine did not affect the induction of ornithine decarboxylase in intact rat livers by glucagon or growth hormone, but did inhibit induction by dexamethasone. The induction of ornithine decarboxylase produced by dexamethasone was inhibited by 17α-hydroxy-progesterone; this compound also blocked the induction of ornithine decarboxylase in livers of partially hepatectomized rats.
Pullulanase synthesis in Klebsiella (Aerobacter) aerogenes strains growing in continuous culture
Authors: Hope G. C. , Dean A. C. R.
Published: August 2015

1. Pullulanase synthesis was studied in 16 classified (N.C.I.B.) strains and in an industrial strain (R) of Klebsiella aerogenes grown in chemostats containing maltose as inducer and sole carbon source. 2. Maximum synthesis was associated with carbon-limited growth at a low dilution rate (about 0.2h-1). The enzyme remained firmly cell-bound and seemed to be located on the cell surface. 3. Three strains had high activity (R, N.C.I.B. 5938, 8017), twelve were intermediate, and two (N.C.I.B. 8153, 9146) had negligible activity but were inducible with pullulan. 4. Pullulan similarly induced low, but adequate, activity in the other strains in conditions (nutrient limitation other than carbon-limitation) in which pullulanase was otherwise very seriously repressed. Nevertheless, in carbon limitation pullulan induced no more enzyme than did maltose, maltotriose or oligosaccharide mixtures, and ‘hyperactivity’ never developed on protracted culture. 5. Cyclic AMP relieved the transient repression produced by adding glucose to maltose-limited cultures and a further change to glucose-limited conditions led to constitutive pullulanase synthesis. 6. Amylomaltase and α-glucosidase activities were also examined but in less detail. 7. The presence of pullulanase in maltose-limited growth is discussed, but no clear function can be assigned to it at present. The molar growth yields for all the strains were very similar, and no correlation was found between the overgrowth of one strain by another and pullulanase activity. Further, any function as a general branching enzyme in polysaccharide synthesis seems unlikely.
Specific changes in the messenger ribonucleic acid content of the rat ventral prostate gland after androgenic stimulation. Evidence from the synthesis of aldolase messenger ribonucleic acid
Authors: Mainwaring W I P , Mangan F R , Irving R A , Jones D A
Published: August 2015

1. Aldolase was selected as a suitable marker for following the androgenic regulation of mRNA synthesis in the prostate gland. 2. Antibodies raised in rabbits against crystalline prostate aldolase were used to monitor the synthesis of this androgen-induced enzyme after hormonal stimulation of castrated animals, by using procedures in vivo and in vitro for the translation of prostate poly(A)-rich mRNA. 3. After androgenic stimulation in vivo the poly(A)-rich mRNA was isolated from the prostate gland and other tissues of castrated rats, and added to a protein-synthesizing system in vitro derived from Krebs II ascites-tumour cells. By using this approach it was found that androgens regulate the synthesis of aldolase mRNA in a highly tissue-specific manner. Stimulation of aldolase mRNA synthesis reached a maximum after 8h of androgenic treatment and then declined. 4. The androgenic control of aldolase mRNA synthesis was also investigated in vivo. After treatment of castrated animals with various steroids in vivo [35S]methionine was injected directly into the prostate gland, and labelled aldolase was selectively precipitated from isolated polyribosomes with anti-aldolase serum. The regulation of aldolase mRNA synthesis in the prostate gland was stringently steroid-specific and could only be evoked by androgens. After a single injection of testosterone, aldolase synthesis reached a maximum after 16h of hormonal stimulation and then declined. 5. Although androgens exert significant control over transcriptional processes in the prostate gland, and appear to regulate the synthesis of aldolase mRNA de novo, the possibility exists for additional means of control at the translational level of aldolase synthesis. The results are discussed in the context of the overall mechanism of action of androgens.
Isolation and identification of products from alkylation of nucleic acids: ethyl- and isopropyl-purines
Authors: Lawley P D , Orr D J , Jarman M
Published: August 2015

Ethylation and isopropylation of guanine in alkaline solution, or of adenine in formic acid, by alkyl methanesulphonates gave the following products: 1-, N2-, 3-, O6-, 7- and 9-alkylguanines; 1-, 3-, 7- and 9-alkyladenines. The products were identified from their characteristic u.v-absorption spectra, by comparison with either known ethyladenines or with the corresponding known methyladenines, and were also characterized by mass spectrometry. Their chromatographic properties on paper, t.l.c. and various columns were determined. DNA was alkylated in neutral solution with 14C-labelled alkyl methanesulphonates and the ratios of the alkylpurines formed were obtained, and compared for alkylation by methyl, ethyl and isopropyl methanesulphonates and by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea. The extents of alkylation at O-6 of guanine relative to those at N-7 of guanine varied with the reactivity of the methylating agents according to the predictions of Swain & Scott (1953) relating nucleophilicity of the groups alkylated with the substrate constants of the alkylating agents. The relative extents of alkylation at N-3 of adenine did not follow this correlation.
Purification of normal human urinary N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase A by affinity chromatography
Authors: Banerjee D K , Basu D
Published: August 2015

N-Acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase A was purified 1000-fold from human urine by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex followed by concanavalin A--Sepharose affinity chromatography. The optimal pH range was 4.4--4.5 for both the N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine derivatives. The Km values were 0.51 mM and 0.28 mM respectively for the N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine derivatives. The glycoprotein nature of the urinary enzyme was established by its affinity towards concanavalin A as well as by the presence of sialic acid, galactose, glucose, mannose and hexosamines in the molecule.
The synthesis of hyaluronic acid by sheep and rabbit articular cartilage in vitro
Authors: Gillard G C , Caterson B , Lowther D A
Published: August 2015

Standard methods of glycosaminoglycan separation were used to confirm the presence of hyaluronic acid in sheep and rabbit articular cartilage. During incubation of carilage in vitro in the presence of [1-14 C]acetate, cartilage cells synthesize this macromolecule and, under the conditions used, it appears to have a shorter turnover time than chondroitin suplhate in the same tissue. The possible functions of hyaluronic acid in cartilage are discussed.
Multiple protein kinases from human lymphocytes. Identification enzymes phosphorylating exogenous histon and casein
Authors: Kemp B E , Froscio M , Rogers A , Murray A W
Published: August 2015

1. Cell-free lysates of human peripheral blood lymphocytes contained two casein kinase activities and two histone kinase activities, which could be separated by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex. 2. Neither of the casein kinase activities were stimulated by cyclic AMP. The major activity was eluted from DEAE-Sephadex between 0.4 and 0.45M-KCl, had a molecular weight of approx. 130,000 (sucrose density gradients) and was stimulated by KCl (maximum 150mM). It also formed higher-molecular-weight aggregates when centrifuged in sucrose gradients containing 150mM-KCl. The minor activity was not retained by DEAE-Sephadex, had a molecular weight of approx. 50,000 and was not stimulated by KCl. 3. The major histone kinase activity was stimulated by cyclic AMP and was eluted from the DEAE-Sephadex column between 0.05 and 0.2M-KCl. The other activity was not stimulated by cyclic AMP and was insensitive to the rabbit muscle protein kinase inhibitor. 4. Evidence was obtained suggesting that the lymphocyte casein kinases were located primarily in the nuclei.
The electrophoretic mobilities of 5-dimethylaminoaphthalene-1-suphonyl-glycopeptides and their relation molecular weight
Authors: Wenn R V
Published: August 2015

The relationship between the electrophoretic mobility at pH2.1 of dansyl-glycopeptides of known composition and their molecular weight is shown to conform with a model equation previously derived for peptides. A dansyl-glycopeptide prepared from hen's-egg ovotransferrin is degraded sequentially with two glycosidases. The molecular weight of each glycopeptide intermediate formed is determined from its electrophoretic mobility. From successive molecular-weight changes, the number and type of sugar residues lost from the parent glycopeptide can be decided and the probable composition of each intermediate determined. The notion that the method has considerable application and would permit analysis of very small quantities of glycopeptides is discussed.
Phosphotriesters in rat liver deoxyribonucleic acid after the administration of the carcinogen NN-dimethylnitrosamine in vivo
Authors: O'Connor P J , Marigison G P , Craig A W
Published: August 2015

After treatment with NN-di[14C]methylnitrosamine, samples of DNA were isolated from rat livers by a conventional phenol procedure and examined for the presence of phosphotriesters. A method of capable of detecting relatively small amounts of 14C-labelled phosphotriesters was developed and used to establish that these products account for 10-12% of the total methylation pattern found after treatment with this agent in vitro. The significance of the presence of phosphotriesters in DNA is discussed.
Immunoassay of serum polypeptide hormones by using 125I-labelled anti(-immunoglobulin G) antibodies
Authors: Beck P , Nicholas H
Published: August 2015

1. A technique for indirectly labelling antibodies to polypeptide hormones, by combining them with radioactively labelled anti-(immunoglobulin G) is described. (a) 125I-labelled anti-(rabbit immunoglobulin G) and anti-(guinea-pig immunoglobulin G) antibodies with high specific radioactivity were prepared after purification of the antibodies on immunoadsorbents containing the respective antigens. (b) Rabbit immunoglobulin G antibodies to human growth hormone, porcine glucagon and guinea-pig immunoglobulin G antibodies to bovine insulin and bovine parathyroid hormone were combined with immunoadsorbents containing the respective polypeptide hormone antigen. (c) The immunoglobulin G antibodies to the polypeptide hormones were reacted with 125-I-labelled anti-(immunoglobulin G) antibodies directed against the appropriate species of immunoglobulin G,and the anti-hormone antibodies were combined with the hormone-containing immunoadsorbent. (d) 125I-labelled anti-(immunoglobulin G) antibodies and anti-hormone antibodies were simultaneously eluted from the hormone-containing immunoadsorbent by dilute HCl, pH 2.0. After elution the anti-(immunoglobulin G) antibodies and antihormone antibodies were allowed to recombine at pH 8.0 and 4 degrees C. 2. The resultant immunoglobulin G-anti-immunoglobulin G complex was used in immunoradiometric (labelled antibody) and two-site assays of the respective polypeptide hormone. 3. By using these immunoassays, concentrations down to 90pg of human growth hormone/ml, 100 pg of bovine insulin/ml, 80 pg of bovine parathyroid hormone/ml and 150 pg of glucagon/ml were readily detected. Assays of human plasma for growth hormone and insulin by these methods showed good agreement with results obtained by using a directly 125I-labelled anti-hormone antibody in an immunoradiometric assay of human growth hormone or by radioimmunoassay of human insulin. 4. The method described allows immunoradiometric or two-site assays to be performed starting with as little as 450 ng of polypeptide hormone-antibody protein. An additional advantage of the method is that a single iodination of the readily available antibodies to immunoglobulin G allows the establishemnt of several polypeptide hormone assays
The effect of phenobarbitone on protein synthesis by liver polyribosomes in fed and starved rats
Authors: Ragnotti G , Aletti M G
Published: August 2015

1. The effect of phenobarbitone on the rate of protein synthesis and on the sedimentation patterns of various liver subcellular fractions containing ribosomes was studied in rats. 2. Phenobarbitone treatment increased the incorporation of [114C]leucine into protein by all preparations, provided they had not been subjected to preliminary treatment with Sephadex G-25. The phenobarbitone-induced effect on incorporation was associated with a gain in liver weight and a higher degree of polyribosomal aggregation. 3. Preparations that were treated with Sephadex G-25 incorporated more radioactivity into protein, but did not show the response to phenobarbitone treatment. 4. When the influence of starvation and phenobarbitone was studied separately on membrane-bound and membrane-free polyribosomes, it was shown that whereas both classes of polyribosomes were affected by starvation, apparently only the former class was susceptible to phenobarbitone stimulation of protein synthesis. 5. The decreased capacity for protein synthesis of polyribosomes from starved rats was independent of their association with the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, but resulted from polyribosomal disaggregation, from an intrinsic defect of the polyribosomes themselves and from changes in composition of the cell cap. 6. The results are discussed in relation to the problem of the control of protein biosynthesis and of the functional separation of membrane-bound and membrane-free polyribosomes.
Some observations on chlorophyll(ide) synthesis by isolated etioplasts
Authors: Griffiths W T
Published: August 2015

1. A modified procedure for the isolation of etioplasts from dark-grown barley is described and the regeneration of phototransformable protchlorophyll(ide) was demonstrated in the isolated plastids. 2. On exposure of the etioplasts to a long-term flash illumination, chlorophyll(ide) synthesis from a precursor pool, which includes all the protochlorophyllide, was demonstrated. 3. Added delta-aminolaevulinic acid failed to be significantly incorporated into chlorophyll(ide) in the etioplasts despite its extensive incorporation into porphyrin precursors of chlorophyll and haem compounds. The findings are discussed in terms of the inability of etioplasts to carry out the metal-insertion step in chlorophyll synthesis. 4. An elevated chlorophyll(ide) concentration was attained in the etioplasts by increasing the size of the utilizable precursor pool by pre-feeding whole plants with delta-aminolaevulinic acid, isolating the etioplasts and subjecting them to the flash illumination.
Incorporation of isotopic carbon into cerebral glycogen from non-glucose substrates
Authors: Phillips M E , Coxon R V
Published: August 2015

1. Measurable incorporation of radioactive carbon from [U-14C]pyruvate, [U-14C]-glutamate and [14C]bicarbonate into the glycogen synthesized by brain slices in vitro was demonstrated. 2. The fructose diphosphatase activity of guinea-pig brain was determined and found to be about 0.03 μmol of substrate degraded/min per g of fresh tissue. 3. The specific radioactivity of the glucose carbon from glycogen relative to that of the precursor added to the incubation medium gave approximate values of 0.195 for glucose, 0.006 for pyruvate, 0.039 for glutamate and 0.001 for bicarbonate.
Functional polarity of the rat hepatocyte surface membrane. Isolation and characterization of plasma-membrane subfractions from the blood-sinusoidal, bile-Canalicular and contiguous surfaces of the hepatocyte
Authors: Wisher M H , Evans W H
Published: August 2015

1. Six rat liver plasma-membrane subfractions of different density and morphological, enzymic and chemical properties were prepared from homogenates by a combination of differential, rate-zonal and density-gradient centrifugation. They consisted of three vesicular ‘light’ subfractions of density 1.12-1.13 and three ‘heavy’ subfractions of density 1.16-1.18 containing membrane strips and intercellular junctions. 2. All six subfractions contained a basal adenylate cyclase activity. One of the ‘light’ subfractions that showed the highest glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was identified as deriving form the blood-sinusoidal face of the hepatocyte. This subfraction, unlike the others, was contaminated by Golgi components, as indicated by its morphological properties and the presence of galactosyl- and sialyl-transferase activities. 3. All the six subfractions showed high activities of the following plasma-membrane marker enzymes: 5′-nucleotidase, alkaline phosphodiesterase (nucleotide pyrophosphatase), alkaline phosphatase, leucine naphthylamidase and Mg2+-activated adenosine triphosphatase. A ‘light’ subfraction that showed the highest specific activities of all the above marker enzymes, but lacked a glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity, was identified as deriving from the bile-canalicular face of the hepatocyte. 4. The ‘heavy’ subfractions, which showed generally the lowest activities of the above plasma-membrane enzyme markers, and were characterized by the presence of desmosomes and gap junctions, were taken to originate from the contiguous faces of the hepatocyte. 5. The protein composition of the six subfractions was generally similar, as shown by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Differences in the amounts of various protein and glycoprotein bands among the subfractions correlated with their morphology, enzymic composition and sialic acid content. 6. Hormonal and histochemical evidence supporting the identification of a bile-canalicular subfraction, a blood-sinusoidal subfraction and contiguous-face subfractions is discussed.
Incorporation of L-[1-14C]leucine into protein by liver postmitochondrial supernatant: opposing effects of preincubated nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate and 4-dimethylamino-3′-methylazobenzene
Authors: Madsen N P , Labuc J E
Published: August 2015

Combination of preincubated drug-metabolizing medium containing NADP+ with a cell-free protein-synthesizing system resulted in marked stimulation of incorporation of L-[1-14C]leucine into protein. Addition of 4-dimethylamino-3′-methylazobenzene, present and previously preincubated in the drug-metabolizing medium, decreased this effect.
The binding of L-tryptophan to serum albumins in the presence of non-esterified fatty acids
Authors: Cunningham V J , Hay L , Stoner H B
Published: August 2015

Bovine, human and rat serum albumins were defatted and palmitic acid, oleic acid and lauric acid added in various molar ratios. The binding of L-tryptophan to these albumins was measured at 20 degrees C in a 0.138 M salt solution at pH 7.4, by using an ultrafiltration technique, and analysed in terms of n, the number of available tryptophan-binding sites per albumin molecule, with apparent association constant, k. 2. n and k were 0.90 and 2.3}10(-4)M(minus-1) respectively for defatted bovine serum albumin and 0.87 and 9.7}10(-3)M(-minus-1) for human albumin. Addition of palmitic acid did not decrease n until the molar ratio, fatty acid/bovine albumin, approached and exceeded 2. The decrease in k was small and progressive. In contrast, lauric caused a marked decrease in n and k at ratios as low as 0.5. A similar distinction between the effects on n of palmitic acid and oleic acid and those of lauric acid was seen for human albumin. k for human albumin was not significantly affected by fatty acids under the conditions studied. 3. It is concluded that primary long-chain fatty acid sites interact only weakly with the tryptophan site on albumin and that inhibition of tryptophan binding occurs when secondary long-chain sites are occupied. Primary medium-chain fatty acid sites are distinct from primary long-chain sites but may be grouped with secondary long-chain sites. 4. The relationship between free and bound tryptophan in samples of rat plasma (Stoner et al., 1975) is discussed in terms of a similar but limited study of rat albumin.
Metabolic changes in rats during developing thiamin deficiency.(Short Communications)
Authors: Liang C C
Published: August 2015

Determinations of rectal temperature, blood glucose, plasma free fatty acids, liver acetyl-CoA and carcass fat of thiamin-deficient rats indicated that during the ensuing anorexia they metabolized their fat reserves more rapidly than did pair-fed normal controls. Their lower metabolic rate indicates that the reserves mobilized are utilized inefficiently.
Characterization of jack-bean α-D-mannosidase as a zinc metalloenzyme
Authors: Snaith S M
Published: August 2015

1. Two methods were used to obtain α-mannosidase free from unbound Zn2+, (a) by removal of excess of metal ion from preparations purified in the presence of Zn2+ and (b) by purification under conditions that eliminate the need to add Zn2+. 2. The purified enzyme is homogeneous on ultracentrifugation, polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and gel chromatography. 3. The molecular weight is estimated to be 230 000. 4. The enzyme contains between 470 and 565 mug of zinc/g of protein, corresponding to between 1.7 and 2 atoms of zinc/enzyme molecule. The contents of other metals are much lower. 5. The enzyme is inactivated by chelating agents and activity is restored by Zn2+. 6. No other metal ion was found to replace Zn2+ with retention of activity. Some bivalent metal ions, e.g. Cu2+, rapidly inactivate the enzyme. 7. The results indicate that jack-bean α-mannosidase exists naturally as a zinc-protein complex and may be considered as a metalloenzyme.