bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health-related quality of life in relation to mobility and fall risk in 85-year-old people: a population study in Sweden
Authors: TÖRNVALL EVA , MARCUSSON JAN , WRESSLE EWA
Published: August 2015

Optimal mobility is fundamental for healthy ageing and quality of life. This study is part of a cross-sectional population-based study of 85-year-old people residing in Linköping municipality, Sweden. The purpose was to describe 85-year-old peoples' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in relation to mobility and fall risk while adjusting for gender and body mass index. Data collection included a postal questionnaire, a home visit and a reception visit. HRQoL was assessed with EQ-5D-3L, mobility with the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and fall risk with the Downton Fall Risk Index (DFRI). All those who completed the DFRI, TUG and EQ-5D-3L were included in the present study (N = 327). Lower HRQoL was associated with longer time taken to complete TUG and higher fall risk in both genders but not with body mass index. Women had higher risk of falling, took a longer time to complete TUG and reported less physical activity compared with men. Health-care professionals should address mobility capacity and fall risk in order to maintain quality of life in elderly people. This is of utmost importance, especially for elderly women because impaired mobility, high risk of falling and occurrence of pain are common among women, and related to lower HRQoL.
Debate: The role of international criminal justice in fostering compliance with international humanitarian law
Authors: Jenks Chris , Acquaviva Guido
Published: August 2015

Much has been written about the “deterrent” role of international courts and tribunals in preventing potential atrocities. Since the establishment of thead hoctribunals and the International Criminal Court, the international community has sought to anchor the legitimacy of international justice in the “fight against impunity”. Yet recent studies have suggested that an overly broad characterization of international courts and tribunals as “actors of deterrence” might misplace expectations and fail to adequately capture how deterrence works – namely, at different stages, within a net of institutions, and affecting different actors at different times.1

TheReviewinvited two practitioners to share their perspectives on the concrete effects of international criminal justice on fostering compliance with international humanitarian law. Chris Jenks questions the “general deterrence” role of international criminal justice, contending that the influence of complicated and often prolonged judicial proceedings on the ultimate behaviour of military commanders and soldiers is limited. Guido Acquaviva agrees that “general deterrence”, if interpreted narrowly, is the wrong lens through which to be looking at international criminal justice. However, he disagrees that judicial decisions are not considered by military commanders, and argues that it is not the individual role of each court or tribunal that matters; rather, it is their overall contribution to an ever more comprehensive system of accountability that can ultimately foster better compliance with international humanitarian law.
Levels of Visual Stress in Proficient Readers: Effects of Spectral Filtering of Fluorescent Lighting on Reading Discomfort
Authors: Loew Stephen J. , Rodríguez Celestino , Marsh Nigel V. , Jones Graham L. , Núñez Jose Carlos , Watson Kenneth
Published: August 2015

Visual stress (VS) affects reading in 5–12% of the general population and 31–36% of children with reading disorders. Symptoms include print distortions and visual discomfort when reading, and are exacerbated by fluorescent lighting. Prior research has indicated that VS can also affect proficient readers. We therefore examined levels of visual discomfort in a group of expert readers (n = 24) under both standard and spectrally-filtered fluorescent lighting. Participants rated their awareness of six symptoms of VS under each lighting condition. Under the standard condition, 4(16.7%) of the group recorded moderate to high levels of VS. Differences in symptom levels and reading speed between conditions were analysed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Under the filter condition, the group reported less discomfort regarding all six symptoms of VS surveyed. The differences were significant with respect to three of the symptoms (p = .029 - p < .001), with a medium effect size in all of them (r = .31 - r = .46) and total score (p = .007; r = .39). Variations in reading proficiency included significantly fewer self-corrections (p = .019) and total errors (p = .004). Here we present evidence that VS-type symptoms of reading discomfort are not confined to populations with reading difficulties and may also occur in proficient readers, and that simple adaptations to fluorescent lighting may alleviate such symptoms.
The chromatin remodeller RSF1 is essential for PLK1 deposition and function at mitotic kinetochores
Authors: Lee Ho-Soo , Park Yong-Yea , Cho Mi-Young , Chae Sunyoung , Yoo Young-Suk , Kwon Myung-Hee , Lee Chang-Woo , Cho Hyeseong
Published: August 2015

Accumulation of PLK1 at kinetochores is essential for chromosome alignment and segregation; however, the mechanism underlying PLK1 recruitment to kinetochores remains unresolved. The chromatin remodeller RSF1 tightly associates with centromere proteins, but its mitotic function is unknown. Here we show that RSF1 localizes at mitotic kinetochores and directly binds PLK1. RSF1 depletion disrupts localization of PLK1 at kinetochores; the C-terminal fragment of RSF1, which can bind PLK1, is sufficient to restore PLK1 localization. Moreover, CDK1 phosphorylates RSF1 at Ser1375, and this phosphorylation is necessary for PLK1 recruitment. Subsequently, PLK1 phosphorylates RSF1 at Ser1359, stabilizing PLK1 deposition. Importantly, RSF1 depletion mimicks the chromosome misalignment phenotype resulting from PLK1 knockdown; these defects are rescued by RSF1 S1375D or RSF1 S1359D but not RSF1 S1375A, showing a functional link between phosphorylation of RSF1 and chromosome alignment. Together, these data show that RSF1 is an essential centromeric component that recruits PLK1 to kinetochores and plays a crucial role in faithful cell division.
Longer-term outcome in the prevention of psychotic disorders by the Vienna omega-3 study
Authors: Amminger G. Paul , Schäfer Miriam R. , Schlögelhofer Monika , Klier Claudia M. , McGorry Patrick D.
Published: August 2015

Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential for neural development and function. As key components of brain tissue, omega-3 PUFAs play critical roles in brain development and function, and a lack of these fatty acids has been implicated in a number of mental health conditions over the lifespan, including schizophrenia. We have previously shown that a 12-week intervention with omega-3 PUFAs reduced the risk of progression to psychotic disorder in young people with subthreshold psychotic states for a 12-month period compared with placebo. We have now completed a longer-term follow-up of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, at a median of 6.7 years. Here we show that brief intervention with omega-3 PUFAs reduced both the risk of progression to psychotic disorder and psychiatric morbidity in general in this study. The majority of the individuals from the omega-3 group did not show severe functional impairment and no longer experienced attenuated psychotic symptoms at follow-up.
Adiabatic far-field sub-diffraction imaging
Authors: Cang Hu , Salandrino Alessandro , Wang Yuan , Zhang Xiang
Published: August 2015

The limited resolution of a conventional optical imaging system stems from the fact that the fine feature information of an object is carried by evanescent waves, which exponentially decays in space and thus cannot reach the imaging plane. We introduce here an adiabatic lens, which utilizes a geometrically conformal surface to mediate the interference of slowly decompressed electromagnetic waves at far field to form images. The decompression is satisfying an adiabatic condition, and by bridging the gap between far field and near field, it allows far-field optical systems to project an image of the near-field features directly. Using these designs, we demonstrated the magnification can be up to 20 times and it is possible to achieve sub-50 nm imaging resolution in visible. Our approach provides a means to extend the domain of geometrical optics to a deep sub-wavelength scale.
Multifunctional luminescent nanomaterials from NaLa(MoO4)2:Eu3+/Tb3+ with tunable decay lifetimes, emission colors and enhanced cell viability
Authors: Yang Mei , Liang Youlong , Gui Qingyuan , Zhao Bingxin , Jin Dayong , Lin Mimi , Yan Lu , You Hongpeng , Dai Liming , Liu Yong
Published: August 2015

A facile, but effective, method has been developed for large-scale preparation of NaLa(MoO4)2 nanorods and microflowers co-doped with Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions (abbreviated as: NLM:Ln3+). The as-synthesized nanomaterials possess a pure tetragonal phase with variable morphologies from shuttle-like nanorods to microflowers by controlling the reaction temperature and the amount of ethylene glycol used. Consequently, the resulting nanomaterials exhibit superb luminescent emissions over the visible region from red through yellow to green by simply changing the relative doping ratios of Eu3+ to Tb3+ ions. Biocompatibility study indicates that the addition of NLM:Ln3+ nanomaterials can stimulate the growth of normal human retinal pigment epithelium (ARPE-19) cells. Therefore, the newly-developed NaLa(MoO4)2 nanomaterials hold potentials for a wide range of multifunctional applications, including bioimaging, security protection, optical display, optoelectronics for information storage and cell stimulation.
Impaired coherence of life narratives of patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Allé Mélissa C. , Potheegadoo Jevita , Köber Christin , Schneider Priscille , Coutelle Romain , Habermas Tilmann , Danion Jean-Marie , Berna Fabrice
Published: August 2015

Self-narratives of patients have received increasing interest in schizophrenia since they offer unique material to study patients’ subjective experience related to their illness, in particular the alteration of self that accompanies schizophrenia. In this study, we investigated the life narratives and the ability to integrate and bind memories of personal events into a coherent narrative in 27 patients with schizophrenia and 26 controls. Four aspects of life narratives were analyzed: coherence with cultural concept of biography, temporal coherence, causal-motivational coherence and thematic coherence. Results showed that in patients cultural biographical knowledge is preserved, whereas temporal coherence is partially impaired. Furthermore, causal-motivational and thematic coherence are significantly impaired: patients have difficulties explaining how events have modeled their identity and integrating different events along thematic lines. Impairment of global causal-motivational and thematic coherence was significantly correlated with patients’ executive dysfunction, suggesting that cognitive impairment observed in patients could affect their ability to construct a coherent narrative of their life by binding important events to their self. This study provides new understanding of the cognitive deficits underlying self-disorders in patients with schizophrenia. Our findings suggest the potential usefulness of developing new therapeutic interventions to improve autobiographical reasoning skills.
High frequency of deficient consumption and low blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in HIV-1-infected adults from São Paulo city, Brazil
Authors: Sales Stephanie Hael , Matta Sandra Maria , Silva Daniela Cardeal da , Assone Tatiane , Fonseca Luiz Augusto M. , Duarte Alberto J. S. , Casseb Jorge
Published: August 2015

Micronutrient deficiency is common in patients with HIV/AIDS, usually caused by mal-absorption and/or drug interactions. 25-hydroxyvitamin D is of fundamental importance for the homeostasis of musculoskeletal health. The current study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of HIV-infected subjects in order to make their nutritional diagnoses, including their vitamin D blood levels and to estimate their consumption of vitamin D. The study included 98 HIV-1-infected subjects, followed at University of São Paulo Medical School - HC-FMUSP. We performed a nutritional evaluation, along with the determination of patients’ serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and calcium concentration, biochemical analyses and an anthropometric assessment. In the medical interview a 24-hour food recall was used (R24) to estimate daily calorie intake, macronutrients, calcium and vitamin D. A high level of vitamin D deficiency was observed in our patients: 83.4% of them had levels below 30 ng/ml; they also presented an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, along with a high consumption of dietary fat. Factors related to the virus itself and to the use of antiretroviral drugs may have contributed for the low vitamin D levels seen in our HIV-1-infected patients.
Key steps towards the oriented immobilization of antibodies using boronic acids
Authors: Duval Florine , van Beek Teris A. , Zuilhof Han
Published: August 2015

The reader is guided through several points that need to be considered for a successful antibody immobilization using boronic acids.
Molecular basis of substrate translocation through the outer membrane channel OprD of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Samanta Susruta , Scorciapino Mariano Andrea , Ceccarelli Matteo
Published: August 2015

The dynamics and interplay of internal and external loops create two alternative paths for the permeation of substrates through the specific outer membrane channel OprD.
Stereoselective coordination: a six-membered P,N-chelate tailored for asymmetric allylic alkylation
Authors: Császár Z. , Farkas G. , Bényei A. , Lendvay G. , Tóth I. , Bakos J.
Published: August 2015

Six-membered chelate complexes [Pd(1a–b)Cl2], (2a–b) and [Pd(1a–b)(η3-PhCHCHCHPh)]BF4, (3a–b) of P,N-type ligands 1a, ((2S,4S)-2-diphenyl-phosphino-4-isopropylamino-pentane) and 1b, ((2S,4S)-2-diphenyl-phosphino-4-methylamino-pentane) have been prepared.
Zinc as a micronutrient and its preventive role of oxidative damage in cells
Authors: Kloubert Veronika , Rink Lothar
Published: August 2015

Zinc deficiency leads to increased ROS production, thereby causing lipid peroxidation. Subsequently, signallingviathe NF-κB pathway is increased, resulting in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines which in turn cause chronic inflammatory diseases.
A microscale turbine driven by diffusive mass flux
Authors: Yang Mingcheng , Liu Rui , Ripoll Marisol , Chen Ke
Published: August 2015

An external diffusive mass flux is shown to be able to generate a mechanical torque to rotate a microscale turbine based on anisotropic diffusiophoresis.
Comb-like poly(l-cysteine) derivatives with different side groups: synthesis via photochemistry and click chemistry, multi-responsive nanostructures, triggered drug release and cytotoxicity
Authors: Wu Xingjie , Zhou Linzhu , Su Yue , Dong Chang-Ming
Published: August 2015

A series of comb-like graft polypeptides having different side groups and tunable grafting ratios were prepared by sequential photocleavage reactions and Michael-type thiol–ene addition, which provides a promising platform for on-demand nanomedicine and cancer therapy.
Removal of chlorpyrifos from waste water by wheat straw-derived biochar synthesized through oxygen-limited method
Authors: Wang Peifang , Yin Yayun , Guo Yong , Wang Chao
Published: August 2015

Wheat straw-derived biochar at 750 °C (WS750) can effectively adsorb chlorpyrifos and the driving force is most likely attributed to the π⋯π stack between the aromatic ring of chlorpyrifos and these aromatic areas on WS750 surface.
Covalently anchored 2-amino ethyl-3-propyl imidazolium bromideon SBA-15 as a green, efficient and reusable Brønsted basic ionic liquid nanocatalyst for one-pot solvent-free synthesis of benzopyranopyrimidines under ultrasonic irradiation
Authors: Nasab Mina Jafari , Kiasat Ali Reza
Published: August 2015

Preparation of benzopyranopyrimidine derivatives under ultrasonic irradiation, catalyzed by SBA-IM-NH2.
Two luminescent metal–organic frameworks with multifunctional properties for nitroaromatic compounds sensing and photocatalysis
Authors: Wang Fengqin , Wang Chengmiao , Yu Zongchao , He Qingguo , Li Xiuyu , Shang Chonglong , Zhao Yongnan
Published: August 2015

Two luminescent MOFs were employed as multifunctional materials for selectively sensing of nitroaromatic compounds and photodegradation of RhB.
A pH-responsive AIE nanoprobe as a drug delivery system for bioimaging and cancer therapy
Authors: Wang Haibo , Liu Gongyan , Dong Shihua , Xiong Junjie , Du Zongliang , Cheng Xu
Published: August 2015

A multifunctional drug delivery system with AIE character was designed and constructed for simultaneous cellular imaging and pH-triggered drug release.
The study on two kinds of spiro systems for improving the performance of host materials in blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes
Authors: Liu Xiang-Yang , Liang Feng , Ding Lei , Dong Shou-Cheng , Li Qian , Cui Lin-Song , Jiang Zuo-Quan , Chen Hua , Liao Liang-Sheng
Published: August 2015

The introduction of spiro-acridine-fluorene (SAF) can affect the electronic structure of the whole molecule, which made SAF-based materials exhibit totally different photophysical properties from conventional spirobifluorene-based materials.
Methionyl-lysyl-bradykinin, a new kinin from ox blood
Authors: Elliott DF , Lewis GP
Published: August 2015

1. The pseudoglobulin fraction from ox serum was maintained at acid pH for several days and was then incubated at pH7.5 and 37 degrees . At least two polypeptides capable of stimulating smooth muscle were produced and attempts were made to obtain these in the pure state. 2. Only one substance could be purified completely and this was found to be a new plasma kinin, methionyl-lysyl-bradykinin. 3. The biological properties of this new kinin were compared with those of bradykinin and with a sample of synthetic methionyl-lysyl-bradykinin. 4. The possible significance of these results in relation to plasma-kinin formation by kallikrein and other enzymes is discussed.
Effect of salicylate on oxidative phosphorylation and respiration of mitochondrial fragments
Authors: Miyahara JT , Karler R
Published: August 2015

1. The effects of salicylate on oxidative phosphorylation and respiration were investigated in liver and brain mitochondria, and in sonically prepared mitochondrial fragments. 2. Salicylate was shown to uncouple oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondrial fragments, as well as in intact mitochondria. The effects of salicylate on mitochondria and oxidative phosphorylation resemble those produced by dinitrophenol. 3. The quantitative effects of salicylate on respiration in vitro were shown to be complex. The final effect may be the resultant of an interaction of a multiplicity of factors, such as the tissue, the substrate, mitochondrial and extramitochondrial influences, and the direct effect on the respiratory chain itself.
Lysosomal enzyme changes in enforced mammary-gland involution
Authors: Greenbaum AL , Slater TF , Wang DY
Published: August 2015

1. Changes occurring in the activities and latency of acid ribonuclease and beta-glucuronidase have been studied in rat mammary gland during the early phases of mammary involution. 2. It was found that there were rapid increases in the proportions of both enzymes in the; free' (i.e. unsedimentable) form. The total activities of both enzymes did not show the rapid decrease characteristic of most other enzymes studied during mammary-gland involution. 3. The effects of pretreating the rats with reserpine or the antihistamine drug Phenergan on these lysosomal changes was studied. Neither treatment affected the enzymic redistribution that occurs during early involution. 4. It was concluded that lysosomal rupture occurs as an early manifestation of mammary-gland involution. Although reserpine treatment preserves the histological appearance of the gland and, apparently, inhibits involution, this drug did not prevent the lysosomal changes normally found in suspensions.
The formation of 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulphonamide during the preparation of 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulphonylamino acids
Authors: Neadle DJ , Pollitt RJ
Published: August 2015

1. The amount of 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulphonamide formed during the reaction of an amino acid with 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulphonyl chloride depends on the structure of the amino acid and on the conditions used. 2. The reaction probably involves attack of a further molecule of 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulphonyl chloride on the 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulphonyl-amino acid and also gives the aldehyde (or ketone) with one carbon atom less than the parent amino acid.
Kinetic studies with skeletal-muscle hexokinase
Authors: Toews CJ
Published: August 2015

Rat skeletal-muscle hexokinase was partially purified by ammonium sulphate fractionation and gel filtration. The mechanism of the skeletal-muscle hexokinase was studied kinetically by initial-velocity analysis and product inhibition. Glucose 6-phosphate was a non-competitive inhibitor of glucose and ATP. ADP was a non-competitive inhibitor of glucose and a competitive inhibitor of ATP. The data on product inhibition and initial-velocity analysis of skeletal-muscle hexokinase support an ordered sequential mechanism (ordered Bi Bi) where the addition of substrates and release of products is in the order: ATP, glucose, glucose 6-phosphate and ADP.
The biosynthesis of biotin in growing yeast cells: The formation of biotin from an early intermediate
Authors: Eisenberg M A
Published: August 2015

1. Yeast cells grown in the presence of an unknown radioactive biotin vitamer produced by Penicillium chrysogenum incorporated the vitamer into the newly synthesized biotin. 2. The biotin was isolated as the avidin-biotin complex and after hydrolysis the biological activity and radioactivity were shown to be coincidental. 3. The specific activity of the biotin was identical with that of the pimelic acid used in a previous investigation to label the unknown vitamer. 4. The role of the unknown biotin vitamer as an intermediate in biotin biosynthesis is discussed.
Effect of cycloheximide on protein biosynthesis in rat liver
Authors: Korner A
Published: August 2015

1. The liver ribosomes of rats given cycloheximide by intraperitoneal injection incorporate less amino acid into protein than ribosomes from control rat liver when they are incubated in vitro with excess of Sephadex-treated cell sap. The effect is rapid, marked and persistent. 2. Cell sap from liver of cycloheximide-treated animals is inhibitory but the inhibition can be relieved almost entirely by treating the cell sap with Sephadex. No damage has been done to the cell-sap factors: it is suggested that the dissolved cycloheximide in the cell sap causes the inhibition. 3. Cycloheximide added in vitro inhibits amino acid incorporation into protein in the presence or absence of polyuridylic acid. The inhibition is lessened by addition of excess of cell sap but is not abolished. 4. The differences between these results and those obtained with mouse liver (Trakatellis, Montjar & Axelrod, 1965) might arise because of species differences in sensitivity to the drug.
Separation of antigens by immunological specificity. Use of cellulose-linked antibodies as immunosorbents
Authors: Gallop RGC , Tozer BT , Stephen J , Smith H
Published: August 2015

1. Immunosorbents were prepared by coupling activated aminocellulose with the gamma-globulin concentrates of antisera prepared against ovalbumin and human serum albumin. 2. The immunosorbents were low in solubility, but high in capacity for homologous antigens. 3. The high specificity of these immunosorbents was demonstrated by their use in fractionating various mixtures of fluorescent ovalbumin, (131)I-labelled human serum albumin, lysozyme and ribonuclease.
Separation of antigens by immunological specificity. Use of disulphide-linked antibodies as immunosorbents
Authors: Stephen J , Gallop RGC , Smith H
Published: August 2015

1. gamma-Globulin concentrates of antisera prepared against ovalbumin and human serum albumin were thiolated and cross-linked to form insoluble polymers. 2. These immunosorbents were of low solubility and of high capacity for homologous antigen. 3. The high specificity of these immunosorbents was demonstrated by fractionation of various binary mixtures of fluorescent ovalbumin, (131)I-labelled human serum albumin, lysozyme and ribonuclease.
The isolation, characterization and structure of uroterpenol, a monoterpene from human urine
Authors: Wade AP , Wilkinson GS , Dean FM , Price AW
Published: August 2015

Human urine is shown to contain, in a conjugated form, a compound of molecular formula C(10)H(18)O(2), which is named uroterpenol. Details are reported of the isolation procedure, the preparation of derivatives and the chemical and physical properties, together with a proof that the compound is p-menth-1-ene-8,9-diol.
The metabolism of glyoxylate by cell-free extracts of Pseudomonas sp
Authors: Bailey E , Hullin RP
Published: August 2015

1. Extracts of Pseudomonas sp. grown on butane-2,3-diol oxidized glyoxylate to carbon dioxide, some of the glyoxylate being reduced to glycollate in the process. The oxidation of malate and isocitrate, but not the oxidation of pyruvate, can be coupled to the reduction of glyoxylate to glycollate by the extracts. 2. Extracts of cells grown on butane-2,3-diol decarboxylated oxaloacetate to pyruvate, which was then converted aerobically or anaerobically into lactate, acetyl-coenzyme A and carbon dioxide. The extracts could also convert pyruvate into alanine. However, pyruvate is not an intermediate in the metabolism of glyoxylate since no lactate or alanine could be detected in the reaction products and no labelled pyruvate could be obtained when extracts were incubated with [1-(14)C]glyoxylate. 3. The (14)C was incorporated from [1-(14)C]glyoxylate by cell-free extracts into carbon dioxide, glycollate, glycine, glutamate and, in trace amounts, into malate, isocitrate and alpha-oxoglutarate. The (14)C was initially incorporated into isocitrate at the same rate as into glycine. 4. The rate of glyoxylate utilization was increased by the addition of succinate, alpha-oxoglutarate or citrate, and in each case alpha-oxoglutarate became labelled. 5. The results are consistent with the suggestion that the carbon dioxide arises by the oxidation of glyoxylate via reactions catalysed respectively by isocitratase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and alpha-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase.
The cell wall of Bacillus licheniformis N.C.T.C. 6346. Composition of the mucopeptide component
Authors: Hughes R. C.
Published: August 2015

1. The mucopeptide component of wall preparations from Bacillus licheniformis was obtained in soluble form by treatment of the acid-insoluble residue of walls with lysozyme. 2. The soluble mucopeptide contains glutamic acid, diaminopimelic acid, alanine, N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid in the molecular proportions 1·0:1·0:1·6:0·8:0·7. In addition approx. 1 mole of amide/mole of glutamic acid is present. Essentially all of the dry weight and nitrogen content of soluble mucopeptide is accounted for by these constituents. 3. The optical configurations of the amino acids were determined. Approx. 0·6 mole of d-alanine and 1·0 mole of l-alanine are present/mole of glutamic acid. 4. The structures of several small peptides derived from soluble mucopeptide after mild acid hydrolysis were established. 5. The structure of soluble mucopeptide from B. licheniformis is discussed on the basis of these results together with data on the number of free amino groups present in soluble mucopeptide.
Effects of 5-fluorouracil and 6-azauracil on the synthesis of ribonucleic acid and protein in Saccharomyces carlsbergensis
Authors: De Kloet S. R.
Published: August 2015

1. Some effects of 6-azauracil and 5-fluorouracil on protein and RNA synthesis in Saccharomyces carlsbergensis were studied. 2. Both analogues caused a severe inhibition of RNA formation, whereas protein synthesis was much less affected. 3. Induced α-glucosidase formation was only slightly impaired. 4. Both analogues caused an inhibition of ribosome formation, although 5-fluorouracil was far more effective. 5. In the presence of the latter analogue abnormal RNA of high molecular weight and of more DNA-like base composition accumulated. On reincubation in medium free of analogue but containing uracil the abnormal RNA disappeared and was replaced by the normally sedimenting high-molecular-weight RNA species.
The utilization of some halogenated aromatic acids by Nocardia. Oxidation and metabolism
Authors: Cain R B , Tranter E. Karen , Darrah Josephine A.
Published: August 2015

1. Halogen analogues of p-nitrobenzoate and benzoate were oxidized by washed cells of Nocardia erythropolis. 2. The oxidation of 2-fluoro-4-nitrobenzoate ceased at the level of acetate, and fluoroacetate was found in the incubation medium and particularly in hot-ethanolic extracts of the cells. 3. Several fluorine-containing intermediates were detected and 2-fluoroprotocatechuate was identified as one of them. 4. The nitro group was also reduced by the organism, as evidenced by the formation of 4-amino-2-fluorobenzoate. 5. Extracts of N. erythropolis activated fluoroacetate and condensed the resulting fluoroacetyl-CoA with oxaloacetate to form fluorocitrate. This product was a very powerful inhibitor of citrate metabolism by guinea-pig kidney homogenates and of the aconitase also present in the bacterial extracts. The inhibitions effected by synthetic fluorocitrate and the natural product were comparable. 6. 2-Fluoro-4-nitrobenzoate had negligible mammalian toxicity. 7. The isolation of fluoroacetate as a product of 2-fluoro-4-nitrobenzoate oxidation implies that the aromatic ring in this bacterium must be degraded via a γ-carboxymuconolactone; fluoroacetate cannot arise by metabolism through the isomeric β-carboxymuconolactone.
The oxidation of aminoacetone by a species of Arthrobacter
Authors: Green Margaret L. , Lewis J. B.
Published: August 2015

1. A micro-organism similar to Arthrobacter globiformis has been isolated from sewage by elective growth on a medium containing l-threonine as sole source of carbon and nitrogen. 2. Washed cell suspensions of the organism catalyse the complete disappearance of aminoacetone from the medium and its almost complete oxidation. 3. In the presence of iodoacetate, aminoacetone disappearance is accompanied by the accumulation of methylglyoxal, about 70% of the aminoacetone removed being accounted for in this way. 4. It is suggested that the conversion of aminoacetone into methylglyoxal is catalysed by an amine oxidase.
Formation of ketone bodies from [14C]palmitate and [14C]glycerol by tissues from ketotic sheep
Authors: Taylor J. A. , Jackson H. D.
Published: August 2015

Labelled ketone bodies were produced readily from [U−14C]palmitate, [2−14C]palmitate and [1−14C]glycerol by sheep rumen-epithelial and liver tissues in vitro. On a tissue-nitrogen basis, both tissues had similar capacities for ketogenesis. Palmitate was a ketogenic substrate in both rumen-epithelial tissue and liver, and more of its 14C appeared in ketone bodies than in the 14CO2 liberated. Glycerol was actively metabolized to ketone bodies, but more readily underwent complete oxidation to carbon dioxide; this complete oxidation was most pronounced in rumen-epithelial tissue from ketotic ewes. These experiments with labelled compounds confirm earlier observations that rumen-epithelial tissue, like liver, actively forms ketone bodies from long-chain fatty acids and show further that normal rumen-epithelial tissue can convert palmitate into ketone bodies as readily as into carbon dioxide. Free glycerol, which is metabolized only by liver tissue in non-ruminants, is also metabolized by rumen epithelium. The rumen epithelium thus has unique metabolic capacity among extrahepatic tissues.
Biosynthesis of intestinal mucins. Effect of puromycin on mucoprotein biosynthesis by sheep colonic mucosal tissue
Authors: Allen A. , Kent P W
Published: August 2015

1. Surviving sheep colonic mucosal tissue incorporated l-[U−14C]threonine when incubated in Krebs medium III at 37° in an atmosphere of oxygen, into a well-characterized mucoprotein fraction, isolated by papain digestion of the incubated scrapings. 2. Acidic hydrolysis and chromatography of the labelled mucoprotein showed that threonine was the only constituent to become labelled. In the presence of puromycin the incorporation of l-[U−14C]threonine was considerably diminished (6·7 and 18·5% of control in duplicate experiments). Furthermore, puromycin also decreased incorporation of radioactivity from d-[U−14C]-glucose (48·0 and 31·6% of control) and 35SO42− (21·2 and 23·6% of control) into the mucoprotein fraction. 3. In a puromycin-inhibited system, with d-[U−14C]-glucose, where the overall specific radioactivity of the mucoprotein was 48% of control, the labelling of the individual monosaccharide constituents (as% of control) was: N-acetylneuraminic acid, 44%; N-glycollylneuraminic acid, 61%; hexosamines, 46%; fucose, 68%; galactose, 34%.
The oxidation of cyst(e)ine by mast-cell tumour P815 in culture
Authors: Wheldrake J. F. , Pasternak C A
Published: August 2015

1. Mast-cell tumour P815 cells oxidize [35S]cyst(e)ine to 35SO42−. 2. Addition of cysteinesulphinate or sulphite decreases the formation of 35SO42−; at the same time [35S]cysteinesulphinate or 35SO32− accumulates. 3. Extracts of P815 cells form sulphite from cysteinesulphinate and 2-oxoglutarate. The Km for cysteinesulphinate is 6·35mm and that for 2-oxoglutarate is 0·165mm. 4. Extracts oxidize sulphite to sulphate. 5. No formation of hydrogen sulphide from cyst(e)ine was detectable. 6. It is concluded that P815 cells oxidize cyst(e)ine to sulphate solely via cysteinesulphinate and sulphite. 7. The concentration of the enzymes catalysing this sequence is unaltered by several variations in the conditions of growth.
The submicrosomal distribution of hepatic uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferases in the rabbit
Authors: Gram Theodore E. , Hansen Alfred R. , Fouts James R.
Published: August 2015

1. Rabbit liver microsomes were subfractionated into rough- and smooth-surfaced types, and glucuronyltransferase activity in each microsomal subfraction was determined with p-nitrophenol, o-aminophenol and phenolphthalein as substrates. The glucuronyltransferase activity measured with p-nitrophenol and o-aminophenol as substrates was localized predominantly in rough-surfaced microsomes. Glucuronyltransferase measured with phenolphthalein as substrate was equally present in rough- and smooth-surfaced microsomes. 2. Phenobarbital pretreatment of rabbits did not stimulate any of the glucuronyltransferase activities measured in either rough- or smooth-surfaced microsomes. 3. Preincubation of rabbit liver microsomes for 30–60min. at 37° under oxygen did not cause any loss of glucuronyltransferase activity. Such preincubation caused either no change or increased enzyme activity in both submicrosomal fractions. The relative distribution of transferase activity in rough- and smooth-surfaced microsomes was not affected by preincubation.
Studies on extracellular ribonucleases of Ustilago sphaerogena. Purification and properties
Authors: Arima Terukatsu , Uchida Tsuneko , Egami Fujio
Published: August 2015

1. Four ribonucleases were isolated from culture media of Ustilago sphaerogena. They were designated ribonucleases U1, U2, U3 and U4. 2. They were purified about 1600-, 3700-, 1100- and 16-fold respectively. 3. It was shown by gel filtration that ribonucleases U1, U2 and U3 have molecular weights about 10000 like ribonuclease T1, and that ribonuclease U4 is much larger. 4. Ribonucleases U1, U2 and U3 are thermostable, but ribonuclease U4 is not. 5. The pH optimum of ribonucleases U1 and U4 is pH8·0–8·5, and that of ribonucleases U2 and U3 is pH4·5.
Effect of glutathione on ribonuclease
Authors: Kim Sangduk , Paik Woon Ki
Published: August 2015

GSH, but not GSSG, inhibits the reactivation by phosphate ion of ribonuclease activity inactivated by urea or guanidine. The effects of GSH are rather slow and pretreatment of ribonuclease with urea is a requisite for the inhibitory action of GSH on enzyme reactivation. GSH is more effective in urea than in guanidine and its action is greatly enhanced by EDTA. An optimum pH of about 9·0 was found for the inhibitory effect of GSH. Titration of the thiol groups formed after inactivation of ribonuclease by GSH strongly suggests that the reduction of only one disulphide linkage is involved. The reduction of this bond is sufficient to completely abolish the enzymic activity.
Control of amino sugar metabolism in Escherichia coli and isolation of mutants unable to degrade amino sugars
Authors: White R. J.
Published: August 2015

1. Growth of Escherichia coli on glucosamine results in an induction of glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase [2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucose 6-phosphate ketol-isomerase (deaminating), EC 5.3.1.10] and a repression of glucosamine 6-phosphate synthetase (l-glutamine–d-fructose 6-phosphate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.16); glucose abolishes these control effects. 2. Growth of E. coli on N-acetylglucosamine results in an induction of N-acetylglucosamine 6-phosphate deacetylase and glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase, and in a repression of glucosamine 6-phosphate synthetase; glucose diminishes these control effects. 3. The synthesis of amino sugar kinases (EC 2.7.1.8 and 2.7.1.9) is unaffected by growth on amino sugars. 4. Glucosamine 6-phosphate synthetase is inhibited by glucosamine 6-phosphate. 5. Mutants of E. coli that are unable to grow on N-acetylglucosamine have been isolated, and lack either N-acetylglucosamine 6-phosphate deacetylase (deacetylaseless) or glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase (deaminaseless). Deacetylaseless mutants can grow on glucosamine but deaminaseless mutants cannot. 6. After growth on glucose, deacetylaseless mutants have a repressed glucosamine 6-phosphate synthetase and a super-induced glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase; this may be related to an intracellular accumulation of acetylamino sugar that also occurs under these conditions. In one mutant the acetylamino sugar was shown to be partly as N-acetylglucosamine 6-phosphate. Deaminaseless mutants have no abnormal control effects after growth on glucose. 7. Addition of N-acetylglucosamine or glucosamine to cultures of a deaminaseless mutant caused inhibition of growth. Addition of N-acetylglucosamine to cultures of a deacetylaseless mutant caused lysis, and secondary mutants were isolated that did not lyse; most of these secondary mutants had lost glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase and an uptake mechanism for N-acetylglucosamine. 8. Similar amounts of 14C were incorporated from [1−14C]-glucosamine by cells of mutants and wild-type growing on broth. Cells of wild-type and a deaminaseless mutant incorporated 14C from N-acetyl[1−14C]glucosamine more efficiently than from N[1−14C]-acetylglucosamine, incorporation from the latter being further decreased by acetate; cells of a deacetylaseless mutant showed a poor incorporation of both types of labelled N-acetylglucosamine.
The control of sulphate reduction in Escherichia coli by O-acetyl-l-serine
Authors: Jones-Mortimer M. C. , Wheldrake J. F. , Pasternak C A
Published: August 2015

1. Extracts of Escherichia coli A.T.C.C. 9723 and K12703 contain serine transacetylase and O-acetylserine sulphhydrase. Synthesis of the latter enzyme is repressed by growth on l-cyst(e)ine and other sulphur compounds. 2. O-Acetyl-l-serine added to cells growing on glutathione or sulphate as source of sulphur induces the enzymes that catalyse (a) the activation of sulphate to adenosine 3′-phosphate 5′-sulphatophosphate (EC 2.7.7.4 and 2.7.1.25), (b) the reduction of adenosine 3′-phosphate 5′-sulphatophosphate to sulphite and (c) the reduction of sulphite to sulphide (EC 1.8.1.2). Hydrogen sulphide is liberated from cultures growing on sulphate as source of sulphur and in the presence of O-acetylserine. 3. The cysE mutants of E. coli K12 lack serine transacetylase. Addition of O-acetylserine permits growth on sulphate as source of sulphur; at the same time the enzymes of sulphate reduction, previously absent, are synthesized. Such mutants have no detectable intracellular cyst(e)ine when starved of sulphur. 4. These results suggest that O-acetylserine is necessary for synthesizing the enzymes of sulphate reduction in E. coli. Its action does not appear to be by interference with the repressive control exerted over these enzymes by cyst(e)ine.
N-terminal acetyl-peptides from two calf thymus histones
Authors: Phillips D. M. P.
Published: August 2015

1. The same N-terminal peptide was isolated from two major calf thymus histone fractions, F2al and F2a2. 2. The structure of the peptides is N-acetylseryl-glycyl-arginine, and the yields account for most of the N-acetyl groups previously found in these histones. 3. Some other peptides not giving a ninhydrin reaction were also investigated.
Studies of the incorporation of [5−3H]uridine during activation and transformation of lymphocytes induced by phytohaemagglutinin. Dependence of the incorporation rate on uridine concentration at certain critical concentrations
Authors: Forsdyke D. R.
Published: August 2015

1. Partially purified pig blood lymphocytes were stimulated to transform in culture with phytohaemagglutinin. Initial cell activation was assessed by measuring the increase of uridine incorporation into RNA induced by phytohaemagglutinin. The phytohaemagglutinin/serum ratio for this effect was similar to that required for transformation; however, no inhibition at high phytohaemagglutinin/serum ratios was found during cell activation. 2. Without replenishment of medium the pool of competitors with added uridine for incorporation fell to zero during 2 days of culture. At certain critical pool concentrations uridine itself could stimulate the rate of uridine incorporation. 3. Most of the tritium from [5−3H]uridine added at the initiation of culture had been incorporated into RNA by the end of the second day of culture; the subsequent loss of radioactivity preceded a fall in the total RNA content of cultures. 4. RNA was qualitatively examined on sucrose density gradients. In the first 30min. after the addition of phytohaemagglutinin, increased labelling occurred predominantly between the 28s and 4s regions of the gradients. On the second day of culture with phytohaemagglutinin mainly RNA sedimenting beyond the 28s region of gradients was labelled in 30min.
Fractionation of native and denatured transforming deoxyribonucleic acid from Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Ayad S R , Barker G R , Weigold Josephine
Published: August 2015

1. Native DNA from Bacillus subtilis was fractionated by stepwise elution from methylated albumin, the transforming activity being confined to two out of four fractions. Partial separation of DNA active in transformation for the arginine marker from that showing activity for the histidine and tryptophan markers was achieved. 2. Partial denaturation of DNA at 90° and 93·5° resulted in the preferential destruction of transforming activity for the histidine and tryptophan markers. 3. Denaturation of DNA at 100° followed by chromatography on methylated albumin yielded five fractions, two of which exhibited residual activity. Redenaturation at 100° resulted in the interconversion of four out of the five fractions. Redenaturation of fractions labelled with 15N and 2H suggested the presence of a specific component that did not readily take part in the interconversions.
Chromatography of oxidized and reduced cytochrome c on carboxymethylcellulose
Authors: Dixon H. B. F. , Thompson C. M.
Published: August 2015

1. Cytochrome c was isolated from horse heart by a chromatographic method. 2. Oxidized and reduced cytochrome c were chromatographed on CM-cellulose that was in equilibrium with several buffer systems of constant composition at pH values of 8·4, 6·75 and 4·9. 3. Separation was better at the higher pH values; the oxidized form was retarded more than twice as much as the reduced form, though they differed by only a single charge. 4. Self-competition between cytochrome molecules is suggested to account for the peak distortion observed at high loads (above 20μm protein concentration).
Determination of bilirubin glucuronide and assay of glucuronyltransferase with bilirubin as acceptor
Authors: Van Roy F. P. , Heirwegh K. P. M.
Published: August 2015

1. Conjugated bilirubin is conveniently determined by coupling with the diazonium salt of ethyl anthranilate. 2. This method has been used in the development of assays for UDP-glucuronyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.17), with bilirubin as substrate, in rat liver homogenates, microsomal preparations and partly purified fractions. 3. Chromatographic analysis suggests that bilirubin monoglucuronide is the product of the enzyme systems studied.
Electron transport in mitochondria isolated from the flagellate Polytomella caeca
Authors: Lloyd D , Chance B.
Published: August 2015

1. Mitochondria isolated from Polytomella caeca contain cytochromes b, c+c1 and a+a3 and several flavoprotein species. 2. Electron transport is inhibited by antimycin A, rotenone, piericidin A and cyanide. 3. Spectral data indicate that antimycin A inhibits the reoxidation of reduced cytochrome b. 4. Various types of flavoprotein are characterized by simultaneous spectrophotometric and fluorimetric measurements on antimycin A-inhibited preparations and also by their absorption and fluorescence-emission spectra. 5. The rotenone-sensitive site lies between the two flavoproteins of the respiratory chain, designated FpD1 and FpD2. 6. Other flavoprotein species detected include those involved in the oxidation of succinate and externally added NADH; a large proportion of mitochondrial flavine is reduced by dithionite but not by known respiratory substrates. 7. The kinetics of flavoprotein and cytochrome reactions were studied.
A comparison of the properties of the pyruvate kinases of the fat body and flight muscle of the adult male desert locust
Authors: Bailey E. , Walker P. R.
Published: August 2015

1. The pyruvate kinases of the desert locust fat body and flight muscle were partially purified by ammonium sulphate fractionation. 2. The fat-body enzyme is allosterically activated by very low (1μm) concentrations of fructose 1,6-diphosphate, whereas the flight-muscle enzyme is unaffected by this metabolite at physiological pH. 3. Flight-muscle pyruvate kinase is activated by preincubation at 25° for 5min., whereas the fat-body enzyme is unaffected by such treatment. 4. Both enzymes require 1–2mm-ADP for maximal activity and are inhibited at higher concentrations. With the fat-body enzyme inhibition by ADP is prevented by the presence of fructose 1,6-diphosphate. 5. Both enzymes are inhibited by ATP, half-maximal inhibition occurring at about 5mm-ATP. With the fat-body enzyme ATP inhibition can be reversed by fructose 1,6-diphosphate. 6. The fat-body enzyme exhibits maximal activity at about pH7·2 and the activity decreases rapidly above this pH. This inactivation at high pH is not observed in the presence of fructose 1,6-diphosphate, i.e. maximum stimulating effects of fructose 1,6-diphosphate are observed at high pH. The flight-muscle enzyme exhibits two optima, one at about pH7·2 as with the fat-body enzyme and the other at about pH8·5. Stimulation of the enzyme activity by fructose 1,6-diphosphate was observed at pH8·5 and above.