An extracellular proteolytic enzyme from Scopulariopsis brevicaulis. I. Purification and properties

A proteolytic enzyme present in culture filtrates of Scopulariopsis brevicaulis was purified about 200-fold by (NH4)2SO4 and ethanol fractionations followed by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, DEAE-Sephadex, and hydroxylapatite. Ultracentrifugation of the purified enzymes showed only one sedimenting component and its molecular weight was estimated to be about 24 000. The protease hydrolyzed casein, urea-denatured hemoglobin, gelatin, fibrinogen, fibrin, insulin chains A and B, but not human serum albumin or ovalbumin. It also coagulated milk. The enzyme had no action on the various peptides tested and showed low esterase activity. Optimum pH for casein hydrolysis was 10.5 to 11; for hemoglobin hydrolysis 7.0–9.5, and for gelatin hydrolysis, 6.0–8.0. The enzyme activity was unaffected by most metal ions, SH-reagents, and some natural trypsin inhibitors. The protease was strongly inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride. Although similar in some respects to CA-7, the enzyme isolated from Aspergillus oryzae, and other alkaline proteases, the S. brevicaulis protease does not appear to be identical with any one of them.

Sparrow limit of spectral resolution in the reflection echelon and the fabry-perot interferometer having surface imperfections

The limit of spectral resolution as defined by Sparrow has been calculated for the reflection echelon and Fabry-Perot interferometer having a different type of polishing imperfections on the surface of the plates.For the sake of comparison the Rayleigh limit of resolution has also been calculated and compared with the Sparrow limit.

Microbial transformation of 19-hydroxypregnanes

Nocardia species aromatized 19-hydroxyprogesterone, 3beta, 19-dihydroxy-pregn-5-en-20-one 3-acetate and pregn-5-ene-3beta, 19, 20beta-triol 3-acetate, without cleavage of the side chain, into 3-hydroxy-19-norpregna-1,3,5 (10)-trien-20-one. Septomyxa affinis aromatized the ring A and cleaved the side chain of 19-hydroxyprogesterone to yield estrone. With 19-hydroxypregna-4, 7-diene-3, 20-dione as substrate, the transformation was more complex and many products were formed.

Diffraction images of a general periodic rectangular wave object in a polarizing microscope with crossed polarizers

Diffraction images of a general periodic rectangular wave object formed by a polarizing microscope with crossed polarizers have been investigated. Expressions for the intensity distribution in the images have been obtained. Results have been presented for the intensity distribution and contrast in the diffraction images of the system. A close similarity has been shown between the rectangular wave response corresponding to a particular bar width and the sine wave response.

Sociopsychiatric study of schizophrenia

The psychiatric status and social and family backgrounds of 154 schizophrenic patients were assessed in order to determine the degree to which interpersonal relations, social factors or the psychotic state itself were predominant factors in the promotion of hospitalization. It was found that the psychiatric status of the patient was the most important factor in determining admission to hospital. An unwarranted extrusion of a patient from a family setting was noted in very few cases, and this most often in the face of adverse effects of the patient's illness on the family.

Effect of an apodizing screen on the rectangular and triangular wave response of a circular aperture with incoherent incident light

A theoretical study has been made of the effect of an apodizing screen in front of a circular aperture on the images of periodic objects with rectangular and triangular transmission profile. Irradiance distribution and contrast in the far field diffraction images have been calculated assuming the incident illumination to be completely incoherent. Object functions which give wave response similar to sine wave response (OTF) have been identified.

Agar plate method for detecting microorganisms which produce equilin and other estrogens from various steroids

The intense red color produced by a reagent specific for xi(7)-estrogens is used to directly detect microorganisms which produce these estrogens from various steroids.

Modulation of a general periodic object with triangular waveform by a narrow rectangular aperture with amplitude filters

Imagery of a general periodic triangular wave object formed by an aberration-free narrow rectangular aperture (slit) with tapered illumination, has been investigated. The system is assumed to be operating in incoherent light. Results have been presented for the far field intensity distribution in the diffraction images and the general triangular wave response of the system. An object function which gives a wave response nearly similar to that of sine wave has been pointed out.

Hydrolysis of phenoxymethyl penicillin into 6-amino-penicillanic acid with spores of fusaria

Hydrolysis of phenoxymethyl penicillin into 6-aminopenicillanic acid with spores of fusaria was studied.

Improved three-beam interferometric method

Three-beam interference has been investigated, in order to obtain an intensity distribution that enables more accurate determination of small phase changes by photometric null setting criterion. A phase change in the interfering beam makes the adjacent fringes unequal in brightness as well as in thickness so that the form discrimination property of the eye assists its brightness discrimination property, thereby increasing the accuracy of measurements to lambda/450. A simple experimental arrangement to demonstrate the results of analytical study is presented.

11 alpha-hydroxylation of steroids by spores of Aspergillus ochraceus

Spores of A. ochraceus were used to transform a variety of steroids into their 11α-hydroxy derivatives. Physicochemical data of some new 11α-hydroxy derivatives are presented. Specificity of A. ochraceus in relation to steroid transformations is discussed.

Large-scale transformation of steroids by fungal spores

Spores of Aspergillus ochraceus and Septomyxa affinis were produced on a large scale by surface sporulation on moist wheat bran and barley. 11alpha-Hydroxylation of progesterone and Reichstein's compound S by spores of A. ochraceus and 1-dehydrogenation of compound S by spores of S. affinis were carried out in 5-liter fermentors. It was shown that, above a certain minimum, increase in aeration and agitation did not significantly affect steroid conversion. The industrial feasibility of the spore process was further demonstrated by 11alpha-hydroxylation of 6alpha-fluoro-16alpha,17alpha-dihydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione in a modified 200-gal stainless-steel vessel with spores of A. ochraceus. Strict aseptic conditions are not necessary, either during harvesting of spores or during steroid transformation.