Comparative chemical studies on the quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) egg ovalbumin

1. Three components of quail ovalbumin were fractionated by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. 2. These were A1, A2, and A3, of which the major is A2. They contained phosphorus of 3, 2 and 1 residues, respectively. 3. The amino acid composition were higher in Lys, Asp, Ser, Thr and Gly, and lower in Arg, Glu and Ile than chicken ovalbumin. 4. The carbohydrate compositions were slightly higher in hexose and lower in hexosamine than chicken ovalbumin. 5. The molecular weight was determined to be 43,000, and the isoelectric point was pI 4.70.

Calcified mesenteric cyst

Reported is a case of a calcified mesenteric cyst that was causing obstruction of the small bowel. Because only roughly one case occurs per 100,000 hospital admissions, mesenteric cysts are rarely thought of and may be difficult to diagnose. The differential diagnosis includes such critical lesions as aortic aneurysm, pancreatitis, ovarian cysts, omental cysts, and lipomas of the mesentery. The proper treatment of these rare lesions is somewhat influenced by causative factors: embryonic, traumatic, neoplastic, infectious, or degenerative. Surgical excision or enucleation is preferred to internal or external drainage. Ultrasonography is becoming increasingly valuable as a diagnostic tool.

Synthesis of alpha-fetoprotein by human yolk sac tumor transplanted into nude mice

All nude mice bearing primary or secondary transplants of a human yolk sac tumor exhibited a high serum alpha-fetoprotein level. This finding clearly indicates the synthesis of alpha-fetoprotein by the human yolk sac tumor and supports an idea that human yolk sac tumor simulates yolk sac endoderm not only morphologically but also functionally.

Nalidixic acid resistance: a second genetic character involved in DNA gyrase activity

ATP-dependent DNA supercoiling catalyzed by Escherichia coli DNA gyrase was inhibited by oxolinic acid, a compound similar to but more potent than nalidixic acid and a known inhibitor of DNA replication in E. coli. The supercoiling activity of DNA gyrase purified from nalidixic acid-resistant mutant (nalA(R)) bacteria was resistant to oxolinic acid. Thus, the nalA locus is responsible for a second component needed for DNA gyrase activity in addition to the component determined by the previously described locus for resistance to novobiocin and coumermycin (cou). Supercoiling of lambda DNA in E. coli cells was likewise inhibited by oxolinic acid, but was resistant in the nalA(R) mutant. The inhibition by oxolinic acid of colicin E1 plasmid DNA synthesis in a cell-free system was largely relieved by adding resistant DNA gyrase. In the absence of ATP, DNA gyrase preparations relaxed supercoiled DNA; this activity was also inhibited by oxolinic acid, but not by novobiocin. It appears that the oxolinic acid-sensitive component of DNA gyrase is involved in the nicking-closing activity required in the supercoiling reaction. In the presence of oxolinic acid, DNA gyrase forms a complex with DNA, which can be activated by later treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate and a protease to produce double-strand breaks in the DNA. This process has some similarities to the known properties of relaxation complexes.

The in vivo incorporation of [32P]-labeled orthophosphate into pyrophosphatidic acid and other phospholipids of Cryptococcus neoformans through cell growth

Cryptococcus neoformans was cultured in a liquid medium containing [32P]-orthophosphate and harvested at various stages of cell growth. An aliquot of the [32P]-labeled cells was transferred to a nonradioactive medium, and the culture was continued again for some hours. The [32P]-radioactivity composition and the phosphorus composition of individual phospholipids relative to the total phospholipid through the incubation periods were estimated. Although levels of major phospholipids remained constant throughout the cell growth, the distribution pattern of the [32P]-radioactivity of individual phospholipids changed remarkably along with the progress of cell growth. The changing patterns of the specific radioactivities of individual phospholipids through the growth phase demonstrated that phosphatidic acid was one of the most active metabolites in phospholipids and that pyrophosphatidic acid was also metabolically active.

4-Desmethylsgerols in the seeds of Solanaceae

Thirteen 4-desmethylsterols: cholesterol, 24-methylcholesterol, 24-ethylcholesterol, stigmasterol, 24-methylcholesta-5,24-dienol, 24-ethylcholesta-5,24-dienol, 28-isofucosterol, 24-methylenecholesterol, cholestanol, 24-methylcholestanol, 24-ethylcholestanol, cholest-7-enol and 24-ethylcholest-22-enol, were identified in the seeds of solanaceous plants. The distribution of these 4-demethylsterols in the seeds of eleven plants among seven genera of the Solanaceae family was determined.

Persistence of Sendai virus in a mouse breeder colony and possibility to re-establish the virus free colonies

An epizootic of Sendai virus infection occurred in a mouse breeder colony with respiratory signs, mortality, retarded growth in young and prolonged gestation period in adults. Thereafter, the infection persisted in this colony without any clinical signs and with 90 to 100% antibody positivity in adults. Weanlings had maternal antibodies and no pneumonic lesions. Antibodies were hardly detected in 6-week-old mice with high incidence of red hepatization or congestion in their lungs, but mice over 8 weeks of age had antibody without the lesions. After isolating weanlings and pregnant mice with antibodies from the infected colony, the isolated weanlings and offspring from the isolated dams became negative for Sendai virus antibodies.

[Long term surveys on Tyzzer's disease in three rat breeder colonies (author's transl)]

Retired rats of SD strain from three breeder colonies (A, B and C) were monthly monitored for CF antibody to Tyzzer's organism for 2 to 6 years. In colony A, antibody-positive rats were found at frequencies ranging from 5 tp 100% with a single peak during about one year without any detectable signs of apparent disease. However, in colony B, in spite of the outbreak of the disease, antibody-positive animals were only sporadically detected during about 4 years after the outbreak. Thereafter, in this colony, the antibody was not demonstrated in all animals examined for 2 years, and susceptibility to the disease of 3-week-old rats was the same as that of ones from one-infected colony. Cortisone test did not suggest the infection. In colony C, no antibody-positive rats were detected for 3 years.

Studies on serum gastrin of the patients with gastric cancer

In patients with gastric cancer who were to undergo gastrectomy, the fasting serum gastrin concentration in the peripheral vein was estimated by radioimmunoassay. The blood samples were also collected from the gastric veins and artery during the time of operations. These gastrin values were compared with morphological findings in the resected stomach. No significant differences in serum gastrin concentration was found between the patients of gastric cancer and normal subjects. In the patients with mucosal atrophy in the oxyntic gland area but with no atrophy in the pyloric gland area, however, significant increase in serum gastrin concentration was observed. In cases where fundal atrophy was accompanied by atrophy in the pyloric gland area, the increase was not observed. The amount of gastrin content in cancer tissue was negligible. These results indicate that the increase in serum gastrin concentration in some patients with gastric cancer might be due to the accompanied atrophy of oxyntic glands in the stomach.

Effect of prolonged administration of gastrin on experimental carcinogenesis in rat stomach induced by N-methyl-N' -nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine

The effects of gastrin on gastric acid secretion and on the incidence of gastric carcinoma induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoquanidine were investigated in rats. At Week 50 after the start of the experiment, it was found that prolonged administration of gastrin after treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoquanidine resulted in a significant increase in gastric acid secretion and a significant reduction in the incidence of adenocarcinomas of the glandular stomach. The administration of gastrin did not influence the histological appearance of the few gastric adenocarcinomas that did develop.

Occurrence of lanosterol and lanostenol in seeds of red pepper (Capsicum annuum)

Cycloartenol and cycloartanol are the major components of the 4,4-dimethylsterol fraction separated from the seeds of red pepper (Capsicum annuum, Solanaceae). Lanosterol and lanostenol, whose occurrence in higher plants has hitherto been known as extremely rare, are identified in the fraction by gas liquid chromatography, combined gas liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and isolation as their epoxides.

Effect of fundusectomy on serum and antral gastrin levels in rats

In adult male rats, fundusectomy decreased acid secretion but significantly increased total antral gastrin and both fasting and food-stimulated serum gastrin levels. The rise in fasting serum gastrin could be inhibited by antral acidification, suggesting that decreased acidity caused postfundusectomy hypergastrinemia. The mechanism for the increase in total gastrin in antral tissue is probably the same. These studies provide a useful experimental model for the increasing of antral gastrin and for the production of hypergastrinemia.

Novobiocin and coumermycin inhibit DNA supercoiling catalyzed by DNA gyrase

Novobiocin and coumermycin are known to inhibit the replication of DNA iing of DNA catalyzed by E. coli DNA gyrase, a recently discovered enzyme that introduces negative superhelical turns into covalently circular DNA. The activity of DNA gyrase purified from a coumermycin-resistant mutant strain is resistant to both drugs. The inhibition by novobiocin of colicin E1 plasmid DNA replication in a cell-free system is partially relieved by adding resistant DNA gyrase. Both in the case of coliclls. DNA molecules which are converted to the covalently circular form in thepresence of coumermycin remain relaxed, instead of achieving their normal supercoiled conformation. We conclude that DNA gyrase controls the supercoiling of DNA in E. coli.

Lipid composition of 30 species of yeast

The detailed composition of cellular lipid of more than 23 species of yeast has been determined quantitatively by thinchrography on quartz rods, a method previously used for estimating cellular lipids of seven species of yeast. That data was fortified by neutral and phospholipid quantitations on 30 species of yeast cells. Most of the test organisms contained 7-15% total lipid and 3-6% total phospholipid per dry cell weight, except for the extremely high accumulation of triglycerides in two species of Lipomyces. Qualitatively, 30 species of yeast cells contained similar neutral lipid constituents (triglyceride, sterol ester, free fatty acid, and free sterol) and polar lipid components (phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ehtanolamine, phosphatidyl serine, phosphatidyl inositol, cardiolipin, and ceramide monohexoside) without minor constituents. Based on the quantitative composition of neutral lipids, the 30 species of yeast were divided into two groups , the triglyceride predominant group and the sterol derivative group. These groupings were fairly well overlapped from the standpoint of the distribution characteristics of fatty acid. The relative polar lipid compositions also grossly resembled each other. Only one exception of polar lipid composition in yeast cells was found in Rhodotorula rubra species which contained phosphatidyl ethanolamine as the most abundant phospholipid. Fatty acid distribution patterns in yeast cells consistently coincided with other reports concerning fatty acid composition of yeast cells. Correlation of lipid composition and classification of yeasts are suggested and discussed.

Lymphocyte subpopulation in neoplastic and non-neoplastic thymus and in blood of patients with Myasthenia gravis

The lymphocyte subpopulations in the thymus and in the blood were investigated in ten myasthenic patients who had been thymectomized. Histologically, the thymuses tested comprised three cases of thymoma including two cases with malignant characteristics, five cases of hyperplastic thymus with lymph follicles and germinal centres, and two cases of persistent thymus without lymph follicles. Virtually all lymphoid cells in the three thymomas formed spontaneous rosettes with sheep red blood cells as did normal thymocytes from non-myasthenic patients. There was no significant proportion of immunoglobulin Ig-bearing lymphocytes. While the majority consisted of cells forming spontaneous rosettes with sheep red blood cells, there was a certain proportion (2-17%) of Ig-bearing lymphocytes in four of five hyperplastic thymuses, in one of two persistent thymuses, and in a residual atrophic thymus of a thymoma. The myasthenic patients tested were for the most part normal, as compared with healthy individuals, in the proportion of rosette-forming lymphocytes and Ig-bearing lymphocytes in the blood collected immediately before and one to three months after thymectomy. The presence of Ig-bearing lymphocytes in the thymus was not necessarily related to the appearance of circulating antibody to striated muscle. The antibody to striated muscle was demonstrated in all myasthenic patients with thymoma.

Immunofluorescent demonstration of alpha- fetoprotein and other plasma proteins in yolk sac tumor

All seven pure yolk sac tumors of gonadal and extragonadal origin tested showed a bright positive fluorescence for alpha-fetoprotein in the tumor tissue. A positive reaction was seen in both the tumor cells and the hyaline globules. In all cases, however, the positive fluorescence was distributed in some focal areas of the tumor tissue. Certain tumor cells showed a strong granular intracytoplasmic fluorescence, whereas others showed a weak or a negative fluorescence. The fluorescence-positive tumor cells were located mainly in the areas rich in fluorescence-positive hyaline globules. Besides alpha-fetoprotein, certain plasma proteins--albumin, alpha-1 antitrypsin, and transferrin--were also demonstrated in all five yolk sac tumors tested. The pattern of the distribution of positive fluorescence was basically similar to that of alpha-fetroprotein. Other plasma proteins--orosomucoid, haptoglobin, Gc-globulin, alpha-2 macroglobulin, hemopexin, and ceruloplasmin--were present in certain tumors, and were distributed mainly in a limited number of hyaline globules. Both IgG and IgA were present in two tumors of ovarian origin. The immunoglobulins were for the most part present in extracellular hyaline globules, suggesting that these are taken up from the circulation. Test for fibrinogen, beta-lipoprotein, IgM, IgE, beta-1C/beta-1A and beta-1E globulins were negative or questionable. In a hepatoblastoma, tests for alpha-fetoprotein were positive, but those for other plasma proteins were negative. Fine granular fluorescence was seen in each hepatocellular tumor cell. Mesenchymal elements were virtually unstained.

Surgical treatment of large ventricular septal defect with pulmonary hypertension in the first 24 months of life

A total of 74 patients under 24 months of age with large ventricular septal defects (VSD) and pulmonary hypertension were subjected to surgical treatment from 1969 through 1975. Emergency pulmonary artery (PA) banding was performed in 13 patients during the first year of life with 1 death from postoperative respiratory failure. Primary closure of the VSD was performed in 61 patients using simple hypothermia and short-term coronary perfusion, with an operative mortality of 1.6%. There were no late deaths or neurological disturbances. Normal hemodynamic data were obtained in all 7 patients who underwent postoperative cardiac catheterization from one month to five years after the primary correction. It is concluded that primary closure of a VSD in infancy is reasonable and that PA banding is indicated only for those patients less than 6 months old with a complicated defect or in an emergency situation.

Primary intracranial yolk sac tumor: immunofluorescent demonstration of alpha-fetoprotein synthesis

An autopsy case of 20-year-old male with primary intracranial yolk sac tumor (endodermal sinus tumor) is reported. Whereas the biopsy specimen obtained from the pineal region showed diffuse proliferation of atypical tumor cells, the metastatic subdural tumor removed from lumbar spinal region had the characteristic histologic appearance of yolk sac tumor. The histologic diagnosis was intracranial yolk sac tumor originating in the pineal gland. The elevated amount of alpha-fetoprotein in the cerebrospinal fluid and in the serum further supported the diagnosis. At autopsy, only metastatic tumor was present in the posterior fossa. The immunofluorescence study demonstrated the presence of intra- and extracellular alpha-fetoprotein globules in the tumor tissue. The intra- and extracellular distribution of alpha-fetoprotein, in general, appeared to coincide with that of the PAS-positive hyaline globules in the tumor.

Amino acid replacement in the protein S5 from a spectinomycin resistant mutant of Bacillus subtilis

Ribosomal protein S5 was isolated from wild type Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 and from a spectinomycin resistant mutant (BSPC 111) derived from spectinomycin sensitive to resistance is accomtrypsin and all the tryptic peptides were isolated by column- and paper-chromatography. By comparative amino acid analyses of the peptides, it was demonstrated that the S5 from the mutant differs from the wild type S5 by a replacement of one amino acid, namely lysine by isoleucine in the peptide T9. The results are compared with E. coli spectinomycin resistant mutants.

Proton magnetic resonance spectra of tetracyclic triterpene alcohols under the influence of a lanthanide shift reagent

The proton magnetic resonance spectra were measured for four series of tetracyclic triterpen-3beta-ols, i.e. 5alpha-lanostane, 5alpha-euphane, 5alpha-tirucallane, and 5alpha-dammarane series, in the presence of a molar equivalent of tris (dipivalomethanato) europium, a lanthanide shift reagent. The spectral pattern measured in the presence of the shift reagent was found useful for distinguishing each series and also for characterizing each skeletal isomer of tetracyclic triterpene alcohols.

24-Methylenedammarenol: a new triterpene alcohol from shea butter

A new triterpene alcohol was isolated from shea butter and its structure was shown to be 24-methylenedammarenol (24-methylene-5alpha-dammar-20[21]-en-3beta-o1). Dammaradienol (5alpha-dammara-20[21],24-dien-3beta-o1) also was isolated from shea butter.

The distribution of pyrophosphatidic acid in nature

The occurrence of a novel phospholipid, pyrophosphatidic acid, in the lipid extracts of yeasts (23 species), bacteria (E. coli), algae (chlorella), mammalia (human, rabbit, guinea pig, and mouse), insect (cockroach), fish (carp), mollusc (clam), and spermatophyta (spinach) was investigated. Pyrophosphatidic acid was found exclusively in the lipid extracts of several kinds of yeast species, but not in other normal living species (animals, plants, and microorganisms) so far investigated. All of the yeast species containing this lipid belong to the asporogenous yeasts (Cryptococcus neoformans CBS-132, Cryptococcus laurentii Z 6-5, Rhodotorula glutinis H 3-9-1, Rhodotorula rubra AY-2, Kloeckera apiculata KK-3, and Trichosporon cutaneum KC 4-3), and ballistosporogenous yeast (Sporobolomyces salmonicolor WF 174). In contrast, no detectable amount of pyrophosphatidic acid was found in the cellular lipids of ascosporogenous yeasts.

Analysis of methylsterol fractions from twenty vegetable oils

The 4-monomethylsterol and 4,4-dimethylsterol fractions were separated from the unsaponifiables of 20 vegetable oils by preparative thin layer chromatography, and their compositions were determined by gas liquid chromatography. Tentative identification of the individual components of these fractions was carried out by gas liquid chromatography and combined gas liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Among 4-monomethylsterols, obtusifoliol, gramisterol, and citrostadienol occur abundantly in most of the oils. Cycloeucalenol also occurs in some of the oils as a major component of 4-monomethylsterols. Other 4-monomethylsterols tentatively identified are: lophenol, 31-norlanosterol, 31-norcycloartenol, and 31-norlanostenol and/or 4alpha-methylzymostenol. Among 4,4-dimethylsterols, cycloartenol and 24-methylenecycloartanol followed by beta-amyrin and cycloartanol are common to most of the oils. Butyrospermol, alpha-amyrin, lupeol, and cyclobranol together with a 4,4-dimethylsterol, presumably lanostenol, occur in some of the oils. Cyclolaudenol is present in poppy seed oil. Besides these compounds, each of the oils contains some unidentified members of 4-monomethylsterols and 4,4-dimethylsterols. The methylsterol fraction of capsicum seed oil as compared with that of the other oils is characterized by its very high content of lophenol and cycloartanol together with three other members, presumably 31-norlanostenol, 4alpha-methylzymostenol, and lanostenol.

Excitation of an optical fiber by a Gaussian beam

In this paper we present the results of an in-depth analysis of the problem of Gaussian beam excitation of optical fibers at normal incidence. The method entails the application of the continuity conditions at the interface located at the fiber end using Gaussian beams with different spot sizes as our excitation source. Next, the simultaneous set of equations obtained is numerically solved for the reflected, guided, and radiated modal coefficients and their corresponding powers.

24-Methylenelanost-9(11)-en-3beta-ol, new triterpene alcohol from shea butter

A new triterpene alcohol was isolated fron shea butter and its structure was shown to be 24-methylenelanost-9(11)-en-3beta-ol. Gas chromatographic correlations between this triterpene alcohol and other related compounds are discussed.

Gas chromatographic differentiation of 4-desmethyl-, 4-monomethyl- and 4,4-dimethyl-sterols. Part II : differentiation of sterols based on deltaRAc-values on four stationary phases

The deltaRAc-values, i.e., ratios of retention data for sterol acetates to those for the corresponding free sterols, were determined for fourteen 4-desmethylsterols, seven 4-monomethylsterols and twenty-two 4,4-dimethylsterols on SE-30, OV-17, QF-1 and HiEFF-8B stationary phases. The QF-1 phase is found sperior to the others in affording the values which are the most effective for differentiation between the three sterol groups. Within the same sterol group, the values for individual sterol members on any of the stationary phases differ to some extent due to minor variations in their skeletal structure. These differences are useful for distinguishing individual members of the same sterol group differing in their skeletal structure, particularly in the position of double bond. The relative deltaRAc-values, i.e., ratios of deltaRAc-values of individual sterols to the deltaRAc-value of a standard sterol, are found almost independent upon the operating conditions of gas liquid chromatography and may be regarded as a characteristic value of sterols on one and the same stationary phase.

Postitional specificity of fatty acids in pyrophosphatidic acid from Cryptococcus neoformans

Pyrophosphatidic acid isolated from Cryptococcus neoformans was degraded to phosphatidic acid in aqueous pyridine. The phosphatidic acid was hydrolyzed by phospholipase A (EC 3.1.1.4) of Crotalus adamanteus to lysophosphatidic acid and 2-positioned fatty acids. From the analyses of the fatty acid composition of pyrophosphatidic acid and its degraded products (phosphatidid acid, lysophosphatidic acid, and fatty acid), it was concluded that most of the saturated fatty acids of pyrophosphatidic acid were at the 1,1'-positions while the unsaturated fatty acids were largely confined to the 2,2'-positions. The positional specificity of the fatty acids in pyrophosphatidic acid coincided with that of ordinary glycerophosphatides.

A mode of the growth of Mycobacterium lepraemurium in a cell-free liquid medium (38501)

The first report regarding in vitro growth patterns of M. lepraemurium was presented. Evidence is indicated that a growth mode of a single cell of M.lepraemurium in vitro is similar to that of culturable mycobacterium, especially atypical mycobacterium. This finding has added one property to characteristics of M. lepraemurium which have been already known.

Studies Relating to Aziridine Antitumor Antibiotics. Part I. Asymmetric Syntheses. Part II. Chiral Aziridines and their Conversion to α-Aminoacids

Separable diastereomeric cis-l-menthyl 2-phenyl-3-aziridinecarboxylates (4 and 5) were prepared by the Gabriel reaction. N-Acylation with p-nitrobenzoyl chloride or p-anisoyl chloride of 4 and 5 gives 7 and 8, and 23 and 24, respectively. Sodium iodide-catalyzed rearrangement of the N-acylated aziridines is regiospecific with exclusive attack at C-2 and from 8 is obtained the chiral 2-oxazolines cis-9 and trans-10 in a ratio of 30:70 together with the unsaturated amide 11. The structure of the latter was proven by independent synthesis. The intermediate l-menthyl N-p-nitrobenzoyl-3-iodophenyl-alaninate (18) was isolated at lower temperatures and shown to form the equilibrium mixture of 9 and 10 with triethylamine owing to partial racemization by a Finkelstein identity reaction. Use of an N-p-anisoyl substituent in the aziridine improves the yield of chiral 2-oxazolines by preventing the formation of 11, and allows the separation of pure cis- and trans-oxazolines for characterization. The aziridines bearing N-p-anisoyl substituents display a greater sensitivity to attack by weaker nucleophiles than the p-N-nitrobenzoyl analogs.Acid hydrolysis of 9 and 10 gives D-allo-β-phenylserine in an optical yield of about 17% from which 5 and 8 are tentatively assigned the 2R,3R configuration. Similar acid hydrolysis of the 2-p-anisyl-2-oxazoline (26b) allowed the isolation of the intermediate l-menthyl O-anisoyl-allo-β-phenylserinate (30a), hydrolysis of which gave D-allo-β-phenylserine in about 18% optical yield. The isolation of allo-β-phenylserine only from cis- and trans-2-oxazolines is attributed to acid-catalyzed inversion at the benzylic center to the conformationally more stable allo form.