bSTH and IGF-I levels in blood and milk of black and white dairy cows before and after application of recombinantly derived bovine somatotropin

In an 8 week trial period six black and white dairy cows were injected with Optiflex, a slow release formulation of recombinantly derived bovine somatotropin (BST). Three cows each were injected at two-weeks (BST-14) or four weeks (BST-28) intervals. The dosage was 640 mg BST per injection. Average milk yield increased by 18.3% and 13.8% in groups BST-14 and BST-28 respectively. Blood plasma levels of bSTH and IGF-I increased till day 10 post-injection; thereafter they declined, except IGF-I levels in group BST-14 which persisted continuously elevated with minor variations. No bSTH above detection level could be assayed in the milk of treated animals. The IGF-I level in milk was slightly elevated after BST-application but stayed within the normal range.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangioscopy. An adjunct to endoscopic exploration of the common bile duct

Choledochoscopy is an accepted technique in the operative exploration of the common bile duct, and is complimentary to operative cholangiography. Retrograde cholangiography can be achieved perorally in up to 97 per cent of patients and it is reasonable to assume that the use of complimentary cholangioscopy in such patients would help to improve the accuracy of bile duct examination just as it does when applied in the operative setting. We have had the opportunity to use a new technology in the endoscopic evaluation of the common bile duct. An endoscopic retrograde cholangioscopy (ERCP) is first performed and ductal anatomy outlined. When indicated, an endoscopic sphincterotomy is performed. If large stones are present they are removed with a balloon or basket. The standard side-viewing endoscope is then removed and replaced with the large channel, side-viewing scope. A "baby" scope is introduced through the "mother" scope and canulation of the common duct with the "baby" scope is performed. Biopsies and brushings of lesions may be obtained and numerous instruments are available for manipulation through the biopsy channel of the "baby" scope. The use of retrograde cholangioscopy as an adjunct to retrograde cholangiography should provide the same advantages that have been demonstrated with the use of operative choledochoscopy. Use of this instrument will allow the endoscopist to accurately identify questionable lesions seen on the cholangiogram, selectively canulate particular biliary radicals, biopsy lesions of the common duct, and perhaps intervene therapeutically in selected biliary tract lesions.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in a general surgery practice

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is performed for the diagnosis and therapy of benign and malignant biliary and pancreatic disease. There are few reports in the literature regarding the incorporation of this procedure into a general surgery practice. One hundred seven consecutive ERCPs performed by the same surgeon over a two-year period were reviewed. The most frequent indications for ERCP were jaundice, suspected common bile duct stones, and a history of pancreatitis. Successful cannulation of the ampulla of Vater was achieved in 97 per cent of the cases with the desired duct being adequately visualized in 90 per cent of the cases. Sphincterotomy was performed in 42 per cent of the procedures and common bile duct stones were removed with a balloon or basket catheter. The overall complication rate was seven per cent with no mortality. ERCP accounted for 20 per cent of all endoscopies and 12 per cent of all procedures performed by the surgeon. Twelve per cent of these patients were subsequently operated upon by the surgeon while another 16 per cent requiring surgery were returned to the referring physician. This study supports the feasibility of the incorporation of ERCP into a general surgery practice.

Different segmental flexibility of human serum transferrin and lactoferrin

X-ray diffraction studies show that the diferric (holo) forms of human serum transferrin and lactoferrin have almost the same conformation in crystal. In solution, however, the two proteins exhibit different characteristics. The differences are even more pronounced in the apo forms. Small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering data show that lactoferrin is less compact, in apo and holo forms, than the corresponding forms of transferrin in solution. The comparison of primary structures of the two proteins suggests that one of the interdomain hinge regions is significantly longer in lactoferrin than its counterpart in transferrin. The difference in flexibility due to the long hinge region in lactoferrin may be responsible for many of the differences in the physicochemical characteristics of the two proteins.

Regularities in the primary structure of proteins

In this paper the latest protein database consisting of more than a million amino acids is analyzed to characterize the short range regularities in the primary structure. The amino acid distributions along the polypeptide chain and among the proteins have been studied first. Their influence on the amino acid pair statistics was taken into account. We are primarily interested in the distances of the covalent structure, where the amino acid pair frequencies show non-random characters. The amino acid pairs separated by at least 20 residues in the covalent structure exhibit an exact Gaussian distribution. We found that there is a range of non-random pairing in the covalent structure. We conclude that the pair preference characters are different for each of the 20 x 20 amino acid pairs. The range of the non-random pairing varies from pair to pair, and in most cases it does not extend beyond the 9th neighbour. The preferences of a certain pair in a certain position can not be derived from the character of that pair in another position. The preference values of 400 amino acid pairs are listed for up to the pairs in 9th neighbour position. Some fields of potential application of these data have also been discussed.

[The current situation of mycobacterial chemoresistance and its implications for antitubercular treatment]

The data in the present paper consider, for a longer period, the secondary and the initial drug resistance in pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The paper studies mainly the period of the last 9 years (1979-1987) in comparison with a previous period of 6 years (1973-1978). The 2,194 antibiograms performed for 7 common tuberculostatics show an increase, in the last years, of the general resistance of the germs from 24.3% to 36%. The increase of the resistance is noticed to all the tuberculostatics, but mainly to Rifampicin, from 14.8% to 49.3% and to streptomycin, from 22.7% to 44.8%. An important increase is found, at present, mainly in the drug resistance of germs in the extrapulmonary specimens (lymph nodes 28.5% and CSF 40%) to streptomycin and INH.

Modification of membrane physical properties, biological response and insulin binding in Friend cells by low serum concentration

The effect of low serum concentration on plasma membrane fluidity and lipid composition, differentiation and insulin binding was investigated in three Friend erythroleukemia clones. Both FLC (clones No. 745) and F(+) (Ostertag F4N) Friend erythroleukemia cells can be induced to differentiate and to produce hemoglobin when exposed to DMSO. Clone R(3) (Ostertag F4-D5-1) is a DMSO-resistant clone when grown under normal conditions (15% serum) but could undergo differentiation with accumulation of protoporphyrin IX upon induction with DMSO when grown in low serum concentration (2.5% serum). Electron spin resonance measurements of the order parameters (S) and S(T parallel) demonstrate that R(3) has a more fluid plasma membrane than the FLC and F(+). The order parameters of the outer hyperfine splittings S(T parallel) at 37 degrees C are 0.60 +/- 0.009, 0.62 +/- 0.008 and 0.64 +/- 0.009 for R(3), F(+) and FLC, respectively. We have used the insulin receptors as a model for a polypeptide hormone receptor associated with the plasma membrane of the Friend clones. Insulin binding studies demonstrated that the receptor of R(3) had a decreased affinity for insulin manifest as a 10-fold increase in the amount of insulin required to compete for half of the tracer binding (18 nM for R(3) vs. 2 nM for FLC and F(+)). Computer-fit Scatchard plot analysis by the negative cooperativity model reveal that R(3) possessed a similar number of sites/cell (about 70,000) as the FLC or F(+) cells, with similar high and low affinities. Growing the DMSO-resistant clone R(3) in low serum concentration caused a decrease in receptor number by 35%, and an increase in receptor affinity to that seen with the differentiable clones. Thus, the abnormal properties of the plasma membrane and insulin receptor of the DMSO-resistant clone in our earlier report (Simon et al. (1984) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 803, 39-47) were partially reversed by growing the cells in a low serum concentration, restoring the cellular response to the differentiation agent.

A possible way for prediction of domain boundaries in globular proteins from amino acid sequence

A simple approach to domain border prediction in globular proteins is outlined relying on the amino acid sequence only. Statistically determined sequential and association preference data of amino acids were combined to generate short range preference profiles along the polypeptide chains. Domain boundaries correlate with the minima of preference profiles, but some false minima also exist. Possibilities are discussed to exclude the false minima and to further improve the efficiency of the algorithm.

Characteristic sequential residue environment of amino acids in proteins

The occurrence of all di- and tripeptide segments of proteins was counted in a large data base containing about 119 000 residues. It was found that the abundance of the amino acids does not determine the frequency of the various di- and tripeptide segments. In addition, the frequency of the various tripeptides cannot be predicted from the observed pair-frequency values. The pair-frequency distribution of amino acids is highly asymmetrical, pairs formed from identical residues are generally preferred and amino acids cannot be clustered on the basis of their first neighbour preferences. These data indicate the existence of general short range regularities in the primary structure of proteins. The consequences of these short range regularities were studied by comparing Chou-Fasman parameters with analogous parameters determined from the results of conformational energy calculations of single amino acids. This comparison shows that Chou-Fasman parameters carry significant information about the environment of each amino acid. The success of the Chou-Fasman's prediction and the properties of the pair and triplet distribution of the amino acid residues suggest that every amino acid has a characteristic sequential residue environment in proteins. The observed preferences could be invoked, for example, in protein design or in the study of the evolutionary relationship of proteins.

Electrostatic effect of trypsin binding on the hydrogen exchange rate of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor beta-sheet NH's

The changes of H-D exchange rates upon protein-protein interactions are generally interpreted as a result of the changes of the dynamic properties of the proteins. The effect of trypsin binding on the H-D exchange kinetics of some trypsin inhibitor amide H's was reported (Simon et al., 1984). In this paper the electrostatic potential originating from the trypsin molecule is calculated at the positions of the studied amide H's in the trypsin-trypsin inhibitor complex. We conclude that the observed decrease of the exchange rates is mainly due to the electrostatic field of the trypsin molecule.

The effect of iron binding on the conformation of transferrin. A small angle x-ray scattering study

Distance distribution functions, p(r), radii of gyration, Rg, and radii of gyration of cross section, Rq, of apotransferrin, monoferric transferrin, and diferric transferrin have been compared. The alteration of Rg and Rq upon iron binding has been determined by a difference method. An unusual feature of the stepwise structural changes of transferrin upon iron saturation is that binding of the first ferric ion is responsible for more than half of the whole change in Rq, whereas Rg alters significantly only after the binding of the second ferric ion.

Investigation of protein refolding: a special feature of native structure responsible for refolding ability

A possible origin of the refolding ability of globular proteins is discussed. It is shown that the structure of native proteins has a special feature, namely, that this is the only structure in which the short overlapping segments of the polypeptide chain are in one of the significantly stable conformations of the oligopeptides with the same amino acid sequences as segments themselves. It is shown that this special feature is responsible for the refolding ability of proteins. A simple formula is given for the estimation of the time, t, necessary for the spontaneous formation of a refolding nucleus by a certain segment and it is shown that the segment which has the smallest t value, will serve as a refolding nucleus. It is suggested that natural selection which ensures the maintenance of the native structure of globular proteins automatically results in the refolding ability of proteins regardless of the biological relevance of this ability.

Conformation of human IgG subclasses in solution. Small-angle X-ray scattering and hydrodynamic studies

The structure of six human myeloma proteins: IgG1(Bal), IgG2(Klu), IgG3(Bak), IgG3(Het), IgG4(Kov) and IgG4(Pol), was studied in solution using small-angle X-ray scattering and hydrodynamic methods. For IgG1(Bal) and IgG3(Het) the experimental data, including radius of gyration (Rg degree), radii of gyration of the cross-section (Rq1, Rq2), intrinsic viscosity [eta], sedimentation coefficient (S degree 20,w) and molecular mass, were interpreted in terms of structural models based on the Fab and Fc conformations, observed in crystal, by varying the relative positions of the Fab and Fc parts, i.e. their relative angles and distances. The values Rg degree = (6.00 +/- 0.05) nm, S degree 20,w = (6.81 +/- 0.10) S and [eta] = 0.0062 +/- 0.0005 cm3/mg obtained for IgG1(Bal) are compatible with a planar model in which the angle between the Fab arms is about 120 degrees. For IgG3(Het) the following data were obtained: Rg degree = (4.90 +/- 0.05) nm, S degree 20,w = (6.32 +/- 0.01) S and [eta] = (0.0065 +/- 0.0005) cm3/mg. The apparent contradiction between the higher molecular mass and lower Rg degree and S degree 20,w values for IgG3(Het) in comparison to IgG1(Bal) can be resolved by proposing a 'non-planar' (tetrahedral) molecular shape, in which the long hinge peptide is in a folded conformation and the two Fab and Fc parts are in a closely packed arrangement. In this model the angle between the two Fab arms is about 90 degrees, in the average position. The X-ray scattering and hydrodynamic behaviour of the IgG2 and IgG4 types of antibodies appeared to be similar to IgG1(Bal). The parameters of the two IgG3 proteins are similar while they are different to the others.

Electron-spin resonance studies of lipid-modified microsomes from Friend erythroleukemia cells

The fatty acid composition of cultured Friend erythroleukemia cells was modified by supplementation of the medium with oleic or linoleic acid. There was a 30% reduction in saturated and a 35% reduction in polyunsaturated fatty acids in microsomal phospholipids when the cells were grown in media supplemented with oleic acid, and a 3-fold increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids when the cells were grown in linoleic acid-supplemented media. Electron-spin resonance studies with the 5- nitroxystearate probe demonstrated that there was no appreciable change in microsomal lipid mobility as measured by the order parameters. In contrast, changes in lipid mobility were detected with the spin-label probe when microsomes were first isolated from Friend erythroleukemia cells and subsequently modified by incubation with liposomes composed of either dioleoyl- or dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine plus bovine liver phospholipid-exchange protein. The fatty acid compositional changes produced in these microsomes were similar to those obtained when the intact cells were grown in media containing supplemental fatty acids. These findings indicate that the lipid mobility of Friend cell microsomes can be altered by phospholipid replacements in vitro, but that this does not occur when similar microsomal fatty acid modifications are produced during culture of the intact cell.

Abnormal insulin binding and membrane physical properties of a Friend erythroleukemia clone resistant to dimethylsulfoxide-induced differentiation

We have compared insulin binding, plasma membrane fluidity, and phospholipid composition of three different Friend erythroleukemia clones, a wild type (FLC) a mutant (R3) and the revertant to wild type F+. The R3 clone is a non-differentiating DMSO-resistant clone (R3) and has altered membrane fluidity and dramatically altered insulin-binding properties. The receptor of R3 bound insulin as if it possessed a single class of low affinity receptors that lacks the property of negative cooperativity. The Scatchard plot is linear and there is no ligand-induced acceleration of dissociation. The Hill coefficient for R3 is 1, implying 'no cooperativity', whereas the Hill coefficient for the two DMSO-inducible clones, (FLC and F+) is 0.3, implying 'negative cooperativity'. In addition, the insulin receptor of R3 has a decreased affinity for insulin, manifested as a 40-fold increase in the amount of insulin required to compete for half of the tracer binding (41 nM for R3 vs. 1 nM for FLC and F+). Computer-fitted Scatchard plots analyzed by the negative cooperativity model reveal that R3 has 95 000 receptor sites/cell, with a high affinity constant Ke of 0.016 nM-1, and a low affinity constant, Kf of 0.012 nM-1. Both DMSO-inducible clones have about 40 000 receptor sites/cell with Ke of 0.11 nM-1 and Kf of 0.02 nM-1. Electron spin resonance measurements with the 5-nitroxy stearate spin probe demonstrate that R3 had a more fluid plasma membrane than the FLC and F+ clones. The lipid composition of R3 is different from that of the DMSO-inducible clones. The weight ratio for unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids for R3 is 2.5, and the FLC clone has a lower ratio of 1.9. These results are consistent with our earlier findings in FLC that very high membrane fluidity is associated with alterations in the binding properties of the insulin receptor.

The diffusion of water across the stratum corneum as a function of its water content

The flux of tritiated water (HTO) through pieces of stratum corneum at four different levels of hydration has been measured. The concentration of water in the stratum corneum, the concentration of HTO in the presenting solution, and the thickness, density, and weight per unit area of the dry stratum corneum are known. The thickness of the hydrated stratum corneum and the permeability and diffusion constants of HTO were calculated. From these in vitro data it is possible to calculate the in vivo thickness of the stratum corneum, its water concentration profile, and the flux of water (transepidermal water loss) at environments of different relative humidities. Both the transepidermal water loss and the water concentration profile change very little as the environmental relative humidity increases from 0 to 80%. The small decrease in the water concentration of the surface layers of cells as the relative humidity becomes very low, however, may cause an observable alteration in the physical characteristics of the surface layers.

Phospholipid fatty acid modification of rat liver microsomes affects acylcoenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase activity

The effect of phospholipid fatty acyl composition on the activity of acylcoenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase was investigated in rat liver microsomes. Specific phosphatidylcholine replacements were produced by incubating the microsomes with liposomes and bovine liver phospholipid-exchange protein. Although the fatty acid composition of the microsomes was modified appreciably, there was no change in the microsomal phospholipid or cholesterol content. As compared to microsomes enriched for 2 h with dioleoylphosphatidylcholine, those enriched with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine exhibited 30-45% less acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity. Enrichment with 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoylphosphatidylcholine increased acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity by 20%. By contrast, dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine abolished microsomal acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity almost completely. Addition of cofactors that stimulated microsomal lipid peroxidation inhibited acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity by only 10%, however, and did not increase the inhibition produced by submaximal amounts of dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine. Certain of the phosphatidylcholine replacements produced changes in palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase, NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidase, glucose-6-phosphatase and UDPglucuronyl transferase activities, but they did not closely correlate with the alterations in acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity. Electron spin resonance measurements with the 5-nitroxystearate probe indicated that microsomal lipid ordering was reduced to a roughly similar extent by dioleoyl- or by dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine enrichment. Since these enrichments produce widely different effects on acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity, changes in bulk membrane lipid fluidity cannot be the only factor responsible for phospholipid fatty acid compositional effect on acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase. The present results are more consistent with a modulation resulting from either changes in the lipid microenvironment of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase or a direct interaction between specific phosphatidylcholine fatty acyl groups and acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase.

Hydrogen exchange and the dynamic structure of proteins

In native proteins, buried, labile protons undergo isotope exchange with solvent hydrogens, but the kinetics of exchange are markedly slower than in unfolded polypeptides. This indicates that, whereas buried protein atoms are shielded from solvent, the protein fluctuates around the time average structure and occasionally exposes buried sites to solvent. Generally, hydrogen exchange studies are designed to characterize the nature of the fluctuations between conformational substates, to monitor the shift in conformational equilibria among protein substates due to ligand binding or other factors, or to monitor the major cooperative denaturation transition. In this article, we review the recent reports of hydrogen exchange in proteins, focusing on recent advances in methodology, especially with regard to the implications of the results for the mechanism of hydrogen exchange in folded proteins.

De novo methylation and expression of retroviral genomes during mouse embryogenesis

Retrovirus genomes introduced into mouse zygotes by microinjection of cloned DNA, or into morula stage pre-implantation mouse embryos by infection with Moloney murine leukaemia virus (M-MuLV), became de novo methylated and were blocked in expression. No restriction of virus expression and no de novo methylation were observed when post-implantation mouse embryos were infected with virus. Efficient de novo methylation activity may be an important characteristic of gene regulation in early mouse embryos.

Electron spin resonance studies on intact cells and isolated lipid droplets from fatty acid-modified L1210 murine leukemia

It has been suggested that the formation of cytoplasmic lipid droplets may produce an artifact and be responsible for the differences in membrane physical properties detected in lipid-modified cells using fluorescence polarization or spin label probes. To investigate this, the electron spin resonance spectra of lipid droplets isolated from the cytoplasm of L1210 leukemia cells were compared with spectra obtained from the intact cell. Mice bearing the L1210 leukemia were fed diets containing either 16% sunflower oil or 16% coconut oil in order to modify the fatty acid composition of the tumor. A microsome-rich fraction prepared from L1210 cells grown in animals fed the sunflower oil-rich diet contained more polyenoic fatty acids (52 versus 29%), while microsomes from L1210 cells grown in animals fed the coconut oil-rich diets contained more monoenoic fatty acids (37 versus 12%). The order parameter calculated for lipid droplets labeled with the 5-nitroxystearic acid spin probe was only about one-half that of intact cells, whereas it was similar to that obtained for pure triolein droplets suspended in buffer. Order parameters of the inner hyperfine splittings calculated from the spectra of cells grown in the sunflower oil-fed animals [0.543 +/- 0.001 (S.E.)] were lower than those from the cells grown in animals fed the coconut oil diets (0.555 +/- 0.002) (p less than 0.005). In contrast, the order parameters of the lipid droplets isolated from the cells grown in animals fed sunflower oil (0.303 +/- 0.029) or coconut oil (0.295 +/- 0.021) were not significantly different, indicating that motion of a spin label probe in the highly fluid cytoplasmic lipid droplets is not affected by these types of modifications in cellular fatty acid composition. Therefore, the electron spin resonance changes that are observed in the intact cells cannot be due to localization of the probe in cytoplasmic lipid droplets. These results support the conclusion that the electron spin resonance changes observed with the 5-nitroxystearic acid spin probe are due to changes in membrane fluidity produced by the modification in cellular lipid composition.

Effect of the membrane lipid environment on the properties of insulin receptors

We have altered the fatty acid composition of the Friend erythroleukemia cells and studied the effect on the binding parameters of the insulin receptor. Cells were grown for about five generations in media enriched with oleate (a monounsaturated fatty acid) or linoleate (a polyunsaturated fatty acid). The microsomal phospholipids normally contained about 40% saturated, 40% monounsaturated, and 20% polyunsaturated fatty acids. In cells grown with oleate, monounsaturates rose to 63% and in cells grown with linoleate, the polyunsaturated component rose to 52%. Fluidity determination by electron spin resonance similarly indicated that the membranes of cells grown in linoleic acid were more fluid than those grown in oleic. Control cells demonstrated the least membrane fluidity.

The cells enriched in unsaturated fatty acids had an increased number of insulin receptors and decreased receptor affinity, but the exact interpretation of the change was dependent on the method of data analysis. When analyzed assuming negative cooperativity among a single class of receptors, there was an increase in receptor number from 23,000/cell in the control cells to 39,000/cell in the oleate-enriched and to 81,000/cell in the linoleate-enriched cells. These changes were accompanied by reciprocal decreases in the affinity of both the unoccupied form of the receptor (Ke) and the occupied form of the receptor (Kf). When analyzed assuming two independent classes of sites, there was no major change in the number or affinity of the high affinity receptors (6000–8000/cell). There was, however, a marked increase in the number of low affinity receptors from 15,000/cell in the control cells to 32,000/cell in the oleate-enriched and 74,000/cell in the linoleate-enriched cells. This increase in receptor concentration was again accompanied by a reciprocal decrease in the affinity of the low affinity receptor.

These studies thus demonstrate a relationship between the cellular fatty acid composition and the properties of insulin receptors. The observed changes could be due to alterations in the quaternary structure Of the receptor.

Chromosomal position and activation of retroviral genomes inserted into the germ line of mice

The exogenous Moloney leukemia virus (M-MuLV) was inserted into the germ line of mice by exposing embryos to virus at different stages of embryogenesis. Mice derived from exposed embryos were mosaics with respect to integrated virus. Nine new substrains, designated Mov-5 to Mov-13, were derived, each of which carries a single M-MuLV genome at a different chromosomal position in its germ line. Four substrains, Mov-1 to Mov-4, were derived previously. Restriction enzyme analyses demonstrated that, with the exception of Mov-4 and Mov-6 mice, no major rearrangements or deletions have occurred in the integrated proviral genomes. Infectious virus is not activated in the majority of substrains (Mov-4 to Mov-8 and Mov-10 to Mov-12), whereas the other mice develop viremia. A detailed comparison between Mov-1 and Mov-13 mice demonstrated that the time of virus activation is different. Mov-13 mice activate infectious virus during embryogenesis, leading to a distinct pattern of virus expression in all tissues of the adult, but the viral genome in Mov-1 mice is activated only during the first two weeks after birth, leading to virus expression predominantly in lymphatic organs. Together with previous observations, at least four different phenotypes of virus expression-that is, early virus activation during embryogenesis, virus activation after birth, virus activation late in life and no expression of infectious virus at all-can be distinguished among the 13 substrains. Our results suggest that the chromosomal region at which a viral genome is integrated influences its expression during development and differentiation.

[Sodium or methyl glucamine salts as contrast media for urography (author's transl)]

A double blind trial was carried out comparing 15 g sodium amidotrizoate and 15.3 methyl glucamine amidotrizoate for urography. The sodium preparation resulted in significantly better visualisation of the urinary tract, both in normal patients and in those with renal insufficiency. For routine urography in the given dose there was no difference as regards demonstration of the parenchyma and filling of the urinary tract. Similarly, there was no difference in tolerance after the intravenous administration of the two substances. The sodium salt should be avoided in patients with cardiac failure, whereas these are better tolerated than methyl glucamine salts by asthmatics. Judging by our results, the sodium salts are to be preferred for routine urography in a dose of 50 ml., particularly for patients with mild to moderate renal insufficiency.

Differences in membrane unsaturated fatty acids and electron spin resonance in different types of myeloid leukemia cells

The fatty acid composition and some physical properties of intact cells and isolated plasma membranes of two types of mouse myeloid leukemia cell clone grown in culture have been examined. One clone type, MGI+D+, can be induced by the macrophage and granulocyte-inducing protein (MGI) to differentiate into mature macrophages and granulocytes. The other clone type, MGI+D-, could not be induced to differentiate into mature cells. A two-fold increase in the ratio of saturated fatty acid to unsaturated fatty acid was found in the MGI+D- compared to the MGI+D+ clones. The MGI+D- clones produced an unusual polyunsaturated C20:5 fatty acid at 28 degrees C, whereas the MGI+D+ clones did not grow at this temperature. The cells and their isolated plasma membranes were studied by electron spin resonance. The motion of the 5-nitroxide stearate spin label was found to be higher in the intact cells and in the membranes of MGI+D- clones than of the MGI+D+ clones. The cells of MGI+D+ clones showed a similar freedom of motion to normal myeloblasts from the bone marrow. The results indicate that myeloid leukemia cells which differ in their competence to be induced to differentiate into mature cells have different physical properties of their plasma membranes and that this is correlated with their fatty acid acyl chain composition.