Active insolubilized antibiotics based on cellulose and cellulose carbonate

The coupling of a number of antibiotics to cellulose and cellulose trans-2,3-carbonate under a series of coupling conditions has been investigated, and it has been shown that by such couplings active insoluble derivatives of antibiotics can be produced. It was found that the antibiotics became firmly bound to cellulose itself, whereas use of cellulose carbonate extended the range of antibacterial activity retained. In the case of cellulose, it was considered that physical adsorption phenomena were operating, whereas a covalent bond was more likely in the case of cellulose carbonate where the antibiotic amino groups could attack the electrophilic cyclic carbonate carbon atoms. The release of antibiotic from the matrix during testing of antibacterial activity was likely due to the action of a cellulase or additionally an esterase in the case of cellulose carbonate. The importance and potential of these new types of chemical derivatives are discussed in terms of new outlets for the commerical use of cellulose.

Poly(N-acryloyl-4- and -5-aminosalicylic acids. II. Antibacterial properties and uses for the preparation of active, insoluble antibiotics

The antibacterial properties of poly(N-acryloyl-4- and -5-aminosalicylic acids) and their borate complexes were evaluated. Poly(N-acryloyl-4- and 5-aminosalicylic acids) were used to render the antibiotics streptomycin and gentamicin insoluble. The antibacterial properties of the resultant water-insoluble streptomycin and gentamicin derivatives were evaluated, and the results show that the polymers are suited to the preparation of active insoluble antibiotics. Potential antimicrobial applications of the polymers are discussed.

Structural investigation of the carbohydrate element of human pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone by methylation analysis

A preparation of human follicle-stimulating hormone has been subjected to methylation analysis by using the methyl sulphinyl carbanion-dimethyl sulphoxide-methyl iodide method. The hydrolysis products of the methylated glycoprotein were reduced, acetylated, analysed by gas-phase chromatography and mass spectrometry and identified by comparison with standards. Methylation analysis demonstrated that (1) the d-galactose, mannose, fucose and 2-amino-2-deoxyglucose units exist in the pyranose forms, (2) the 2-amino-2-deoxyglucose units are N-acetylated, (3) the fucopyranose units occupy terminal non-reducing positions, (4) the d-galactopyranose units are linked in the 1- and 2-positions, (5) the mannopyranose units exist in three forms, some as terminal non-reducing residues, some as 1,6-linked residues and some as 1,3,4-linked branch points, and (6) the 2-acetamido deoxyglucopyranose units are 1,6-linked. These structural assignments are compared with other data previously obtained for the carbohydrate moieties of follicle-stimulating hormone.

A study of the growth rate of F2 and F3 Africander cross, Brahman cross and British cross cattle from birth to 18 months in a tropical environment

The mean birthweights and weaning weights of approximately 1200 male and female calves of the F2 and F3 generations of Africander cross (AX), Brahman cross (BX) and Shorthorn X Hereford cross (SH) cattle, together with the weights at four months, and nine months post weaning for approximately 500 of the females, for the years 1964-1968, are presented. BX calves (29.7 kg) were lighter at birth than AX (31.0 kg) or SH (31.8 kg), but at weaning (eight-nine months) they were 13.7 kg heavier than the AX, and 28.9 kg heavier than the SH. In the first four months postweaning, at the end of the dry-season, female AX gained 21.5 kg, BX gained 18.5 kg, and the SH 11.7 kg, and in the next five months, which included the wet-season, AX gained 78.6 kg, BX 83.1 kg, and SH 63.2 kg. At approximately eighteen months old the AX weighed 282.8 kg, BX 294.8 kg, and SH 244.2 kg. There were substantial differences between years but the rank order of the breeds at each growth period did not change.

Isolation and analysis of the nucleic acids and polysaccharides from Clostridium welchii

A method previously described for the use of bentonite in the isolation of the nucleic acids from two gram-positive organisms was applied to the isolation of the nucleic acids from two strains of Clostridium welchii. The nucleic acids were separated from polysaccharides by the fractional precipitation of their cetyltrimethyl-ammonium salts from sodium chloride solution, and the base composition of the nucleic acids was determined. One strain of C. welchii investigated (NCTC 10578) was shown to produce considerable quantities of an acidic and also a weakly acidic or neutral polysaccharide; the other strain (ATCC 10543) gave very small quantities of the latter but none of the former polysaccharide. The monosaccharide composition of these polysaccharides was determined and the acidic polysaccharide was shown to resemble dermatan sulfate.

Periodate oxidation studies of human pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone

A preparation of human pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone was subjected to periodate oxidation, borohydride reduction and acid hydrolysis. Comparison of the analysis of the remaining intact carbohydrate and amino acid units with the analyses of the original material and identification of the carbohydrate fragments permit some structural assignments to the molecule of follicle-stimulating hormone. The results of radioimmunological assay of fragments of the molecule of follicle-stimulating hormone suggest that, although the carbohydrate component is essential for biological activity, it is not a requirement for immunological activity, which appears to be a function of the protein moiety.

Evaluation of human follicle-stimulating hormone preparations

A procedure for the purification of human pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is outlined. Various methods of protein determination were applied to the preparation (CP 150), and the results obtained compared with those of amino acid analysis. The composition of CP 150 with respect to amino acid and carbohydrate components is reported, and is suggested as the most suitable basis for expression of biological activity and stability. CP 150 sedimented as a single boundary with S20,w = 2·8s. The composition of various reported FSH preparations including CP 150 are compared, and attention is drawn to some striking similarities.

Human oocytes: maturation in chemically defined media

Human oocytes from ovarian follicles resume meiosis in F10, a defined medium, in numbers comparable to that obtained in medium containing serum. Several simple Krebs-Ringer media also support maturation, which suggests a similarity of nutritional requirements between human and mouse oocytes. Fewer oocytes reach metaphase II when the investing follicular cells are removed prior to culture.