Growth-inhibitory activity of the D-mannan of Saccharomyces cerevisiae X2180-1A-5 mutant strain against mouse-implanted sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich-carcinoma solid tumor

The D-mannan of Saccharomyces cerevisiae X2180-1A-5 mutant strain, which possesses a main chain composed of alpha-(1 yields 6) linked D-mannopyranosyl residues and a small proportion of branches composed of alpha-(1 yields 2)- and alpha-(1 yields 3)-linked D-mannopyranosyl residues, showed strong growth-inhibitory activity against mouse-implanted Sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich-carcinoma solid tumor. The observation that the level of this activity was nearly identical with that of the D-mannan of a wild-type strain of bakers' yeast, which possesses a high proportion of branches composed of alpha-(1 yields 2)-and alpha-(1 yields 3)-linked D-mannopyranosyl residues, suggests that the branches are not essential for antitumor activity. The partial acid-degradation products of both D-mannans, the molecular weight of which was one-third of that of each parent D-mannan, had only one half of the antitumor activity of the parent D-mannans. This suggests that molecular size is the most important factor for the differences in acitvity of the polysaccharides of wild and mutant strains.

Genetic mechanism of cis-AB inheritance. I. A case associated with unequal chromosomal crossing over

In contradiction to the general Mendelian inheritance of blood group ABO expression, the A and B characteristics are inherited together from one parent in the rare Cis-AB phenotype. Since the synthesis of blood group A and B substances are controlled by N-acetylgalactosoaminyltransferase (A-enzyme) and galactosyltransferase (B-enzyme), the genetic mechanism of Cis-AB expression may be elucidated by examining the characteristics of A- and B-enzymes in Cis-AB plasma. Biochemical study reveals that the examined Cis-AB plasma contains two separable enzyme components: one with kinetic properties similar to those of common A2-enzyme, but differing from A1-enzyme, and another with kinetic characteristics similar to those of common B-enzyme. Therefore, Cis-AB expression, at least in the case examined, is due to unequal crossing over, producing a chromosome with alleles for A2- and B-enzymes, rather than to a structural mutation in A or B alleles producing a single abnormal enzyme with bifunctional activity.

Factor VIII procoagulant activity, factor VIII related antigen and von Willebrand factor in newborn cord blood

The mean level of factor VIII procoagulant acitivity (VIII:C) and factor VIII related antigen (VIIIR:AG) was normal in 100 newborn cord plasmas, whereas that of von Willebrand factor (VIIIR:WF) activity was slightly lower than normal. On crossed immunoelectrophoresis, 20 of 50 newborn infants had an increased anodal mobility of VIIIR:AG. When the cord plasma showing an abnormal electrophoretic pattern was mixed with normal plasma, two precipitation peaks with a broad base were found. Similar mixing experiments with the abnormal cord plasma and plasma from a patient with atypical von Willebrand's disease did not normalize the electrophoretic mobility of VIIIR:AG. Gel filtration of the cord plasma with an abnormal electrophoretic pattern of VIII:AG, showed that the three activities were all detected at the position corresponding to a molecular weight of about 800 000. The results suggest the presence of qualitative abnormalities of the factor VIII molecule in half of full-term newborn cord plasma.

Phenotype i associated with congenital cataract in Japanese

A Japanese family with two siblings of phenotype i is presented. Both had a past history of surgical treatment for congenital cataract. In Japan, 18 individuals of phenotype i, including our case, have been found in ten unrelated families. Seventeen of them had congenital cataract. Cataract was not found in any of the 45 phenotype I members in these families. It is briefly discussed why these two linked and quite rare genes were found in combination only in Japanese persons.

Relationship between phosphate content and serological activities of the mannans of Candida albicans strains NIH A-207, NIH B-792, and J-1012

The mannans from Candida albicans strains NIH A-207 (serotype A), NIH B-792 (serotype B), and J-1012 (serotype C) were fractionated on a column of diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex into five subfractions containing different amounts of phosphate. Antibody-precipitating activities of the mannan subfractions of strains NIH A-207 and NIH B-792 were proportional to their phosphate content, while those of strain J-1012 did not show regularly proportional precipitin activity. A similar tendency was also observed in the cross-reaction between the mannan su,fractions of strains NIH A-207 and J-1012 and their heterologous antisera. The mannans of strain NIH B-792 showed lower cross-reactivities against antisera of strains NIH A-207 and NIH B-792, i.e., only two subfractions containing larger amounts of phosphate were able to react with these antisera.

The red cell antigen once called Levay is the antigen Kpc of the Kell system

The antigen corresponding to the 'new' allele Kpc postulated in a Japanese family is the low frequency antigen Levay recognized in England 33 years ago.

A 'new' allele, Kpc, at the Kell complex locus

Four Kp(a-b-) Japanese sisters, the product of a consanguineous mating, have otherwise normal Kell antigens. Kpc, a 'new' allele of Kpa and Kpb is the most probable background.

Cross-reaction between the mycelial galactomannas of three Hormodendrum strains and the mannans of two Candida albicans strains of different serotypes, A and B

Cross-reactivity between galactomannans of three representative Hormodendrum strains, H. pedrosoi IFO 6071, H. compactum IFO 6726, and H. dermatitidis IFO 6421, and the mannans of two Candida strains, C. albicans NIH A-207 (serotype A) and C. albicans NIH B-792 (serotype B), were investigated by means of agar-gel double diffusion, quantitative preciptin reaction, and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. The following results were obtained. (i) Antisera to whole cells of three Hormodendrum strains were completely inactive in all in vitro antigen-antibody reactions to mannans of C. albicans NIH A-207 and C. albicans NIH B-792, whereas antisera to both C. albicans strains were found to be cross-reactive against the three Hormodendrum galactomannans. (ii) The results of cross-passive cutaneous anaphylaxis tests using guinea pigs sensitized with antiserum of three Hormodendrum and two Candida seemed to be consistent with those of the vitro assay. (iii) The reactivities of the corresponding acid-resistant core moieties of the three Hormodendrum galactomannas against two anti-C. albicans sera were nearly identical to those of the parent galactomannans in both in vitro and in vivo tests.

An example of naturally occurring anti-Kell (K1) in a Japanese male

'Naturally occurring' anti-Kell (K1) was found in a Japanese male who has never received a transfusion. The antibody agglutinated K:1 cells suspended in saline at 4 and 22 degrees C as well as cells suspended in albumin and treated with proteolytic enzymes.

Relationship between phosphate content and immunochemical properties of subfractions of bakers' yeast mannan

The mannan of bakers' yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was fractionated on a column of diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex into five subfractions. Phosphate content of these mannan subfractions was proportional to the concentration of NaCl solutions used in the chromatographic separation. Quantitative precipitin reactions showed that the serological reactivities of the subfractions were proportional to the content of phosphate. The result of acetolysis study showed that the amounts of mannotetraose and phosphate-containing oligosaccharide fractions increased proportionally to the acidity, whereas the amount of mannose decreased inversely. The results from quantitative precipitin reaction tests and acetolysis study demonstrated that both phosphate contents and multiplicity of branching moieties of mannan subfractions increased proportionally, i.e., micro-heterogeneity concerning the acidity comprised in the parent bulk mannan is not attributable merely to the coexistence of molecular species containing different amounts of phosphate but also to the presence of more of the branching moieties.