Transformation of Erwinia chrysanthemi by Escherichia coli plasmids DNA

We have demonstrated in this study that CaCl2-MnCl2 treatment is effective in the preparation of competent cells of Erwinia chrysanthemi for transformation. Plasmids pMB9 and pBR322, which are of Escherichia coli origins, were transformed into E. chrysanthemi at frequencies of 1.5 X 10(-7) and 4.5 X 10(-7) per recipient, respectively. The frequencies were 60- to 80-fold lower than those in the well established rec- E. coli; however, the procedure is practically useful in transformation experiments. The plasmids were maintained rather stable in the cells if antibiotics were included in the media. When transformed by pECl and pEC6, which were chimeric plasmids consisting of pBR322 and an E. chrysanthemi chromosomal DNA fragment of 2.4 and 3.5 Mdal, respectively, the transformation frequencies of E. chrysanthemi were at the same range of that by pBR322. Neither colony morphology nor the polypectate degradation ability was changed after transformation by the plasmids. In conclusion, we have established a system of molecular cloning in E. chrysanthemi SR120A exploiting pBR322 as a vector.

Estimation of human body composition by electrical impedance methods: a comparative study

This study 1) further validated the relationship between total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) and densitometrically determined lean body mass (LBMd) and 2) compared with existing body composition techniques (densitometry, total body water, total body potassium, and anthropometry) two new electrical methods for the estimation of LBM: TOBEC, a uniform current induction method, and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), a localized current injection method. In a sample of 75 male and female subjects ranging from 4.9 to 54.9% body fat the correlation between LBMd and LBM predicted from TOBEC by use of a previously developed regression equation was extremely strong (r = 0.962), thus confirming the validity of the TOBEC method. LBM predicted from BIA by use of prediction equations provided with the instrument also correlated with LBMd (r = 0.912) but overestimated LBM compared with LBMd in obese subjects. However, no such systematic error was apparent when new prediction equations derived from this heterogeneous sample of subjects were applied. Thus the TOBEC and BIA methods, which are based on the differing electrical properties of lean tissue and fat and which are convenient, rapid, and safe, correlate well with more cumbersome human body composition techniques.

The Cancellation of Magnetic Flux. I. On the Quiet Sun

We studied the disappearance of magnetic flux in an area of the quiet Sun from digital and photographic magnetograms recorded at 2�5 min intervals for many hours on 9 July 1984 at the Big Bear Solar Observatory. We limited the quantitative part of the analyses to features which had a total of 1017 Mx (1 Mx "'" 10-8 Wb) or greater and at least a 20 G (1 G"", 10-4 T) contour, and which changed by more than 10% of the maximum measured flux during the 5�5 hours of most consistent image quality during the observing day. Sixteen examples of flux disappearance and three ephemeral regions met these criteria. The disappearance of flux in these examples occurred only in closely spaced features of opposite polarity. The mutual disappearance of magnetic flux in closely spaced features of opposite polarity is herein defined as 'cancellation'. The 16 examples of cancellation were observed in combinations of network features, intranetwork features, and ephemeral regions. In two of the three ephemeral regions, an imbalance of magnetic flux between the two poles within each of the ephemeral regions was created, at least in part, by the cancellation of one pole with an adjacent feature of opposite polarity. Many smaller cancellation are clearly recognized below the threshold that we established for our initial measurements. We conclude that cancellation is the dominant way in which magnetic flux is observed to disappear on the quiet Sun.

The Cancellation of Magnetic Flux. II. In a Decaying Active Region

An active region was studied in detail during its period of decay from 3 to 8 August 1984 using Ha filtergrams and videomagnetograms acquired at the Big Bear Solar Observatory. The decay was initiated by a process of fragmentation in which very small knots of magnetic flux separated from larger concentrations of flux. The fragmentation was observed at discrete locations around the periphery of both the dominant areas of negative and positive field, but possibly occurred more frequently in the main polarity inversion zone. The fragmentation and migration of knots of magnetic flux were common predecessors to the disappearance of flux.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae-induced hydrocephalus in hamsters

Hydrocephalus was induced in neonatal hamsters after intracerebral inoculation of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Examination of the ependyma from affected animals by electron microscopy did not reveal mycoplasma. However, in an ependymal organ culture system, M. pneumoniae cytadsorbed to ependymal cells.

Toxic effects of the antifertility agent gossypol in male rats

In the present investigation the influence of gossypol on the male sex function and toxicology in the rat have been studied. Gossypol was injected daily for 5 weeks to adult male rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain with 1 or 10 mg/kg body wt. The low dose of gossypol (1 mg/kg body wt.) did not have any effect on the following parameters: plasma testosterone concentrations, body growth, kidney weights, sex organ weights (ventral prostate, seminal vesicle, epididymis), testicular weights, blood flow to testes, epididymides and ventral prostate as measured with the microsphere technique, intraarterial blood pressure and morphology of testis and epididymis. The plasma testosterone response to acute LH-injection was not significantly different in gossypol-treated rats when compared to control rats. The high dose of gossypol (10 mg/kg body wt) caused signs of tubular degeneration, retarded body growth, markedly reduced testosterone concentrations, involutions of the ventral prostate and seminal vesicles and gastrointestinal disturbances. After 5 weeks of treatment the mortality rate was 13%. It is concluded that gossypol is a very toxic substance in rats, since only a 10-fold increase of a non-effective dose caused serious side effects in addition to its antifertility effects.

Biologic functions of the OKT1 T cell surface antigen. I. The T1 molecule is involved in helper function

The OKT1 (Leu-1) monoclonal antibody reacts with a 69 KD glycoprotein that is present on only a fraction of functionally mature thymocytes but is maintained on most peripheral T cells. In the study presented, we examined the role of this surface molecule in T cell function. We found that addition of the OKT1 antibody to B cells and autologous T4+ cells markedly enhances B cell differentiation. This enhancement was apparent when nonirradiated or irradiated T4+ cells but not T8+ cells were used. Moreover, the OKT1 antibody as well as the OKT1 F(ab')2 fragment enhanced B cell differentiation in a dose-dependent fashion. It is important to note that perturbation of the T1 molecule with OKT1 in the presence of autologous E- cells causes the rapid release of molecules that trigger B cells to proliferate and differentiate into Ig-secreting cells. These data when considered together suggest that OKT1 reacts with a T cell membrane determinant or a complex that is intimately involved in the execution of helper function on OKT4+ cells.

Biologic functions of the OKT1 T cell surface antigen. I. The T1 molecule is involved in helper function

The OKT1 (Leu-1) monoclonal antibody reacts with a 69 KD glycoprotein that is present on only a fraction of functionally mature thymocytes but is maintained on most peripheral T cells. In the study presented, we examined the role of this surface molecule in T cell function. We found that addition of the OKT1 antibody to B cells and autologous T4+ cells markedly enhances B cell differentiation. This enhancement was apparent when nonirradiated or irradiated T4+ cells but not T8+ cells were used. Moreover, the OKT1 antibody as well as the OKT1 F(ab')2 fragment enhanced B cell differentiation in a dose-dependent fashion. It is important to note that perturbation of the T1 molecule with OKT1 in the presence of autologous E- cells causes the rapid release of molecules that trigger B cells to proliferate and differentiate into Ig-secreting cells. These data when considered together suggest that OKT1 reacts with a T cell membrane determinant or a complex that is intimately involved in the execution of helper function on OKT4+ cells.

The T4 surface antigen is involved in the induction of helper function

The OKT4 monoclonal antibody reacts with a 62K m.w. glycoprotein present on a subset of human T cells with the capacity to help or induce B cell differentiation. The present studies were undertaken to determine whether the T4 molecule itself plays any role in the helper function mediated by T4+ cells. Using a series of monoclonal antibodies (OKT4, OKT4A-E), which react with distinct noncompeting epitopes of the T4 molecule, we found that OKT4A and OKT4E, but not OKT4, antibodies inhibited the induction of B cell differentiation by T4+ cells. This inhibition was apparent when using nonirradiated or irradiated T4+ cells, and was noted over a wide range of concentrations. Importantly, inhibition occurred only if the antibody was present during the first 24 hr of cell culture, and the presence of antibody did not alter the kinetics of induction of B cell differentiation. Thus, these data suggest that the T4 molecule plays an early, critical role in cellular interactions required for helper cell function.

Body potassium by four-pi 40K counting: an anthropometric correction

Four-pi whole body counting for the 1.46 meV photon of 40K has apparent advantages over single-crystal or two-pi counters in efficiency and in subject geometry independence. However, our studies of obese populations have disclosed a systematic undermeasurement of 40K, suggesting that nonhomogeneous K distribution results in systematic undercounting of 40K. In the current study 42K, emitting a 1.52 meV photon, was used in 109 volunteers ranging from 50 to 181 kg, and multiregression covariance analysis was applied to develop correction formulas based on anthropometrics. These corrections quantitatively account for the unappreciated loss of 40K and 42K photons in annular adipose tissue that surrounds the lean body, in which most K+ is concentrated. The correction ranges from 1 to 28% and is a linear (although different) function of weight in both sexes. Thus corrected, body potassium measurements, taken in conjunction with exchangeable sodium and water measurements, provide estimates for whole body osmolality that match measured serum values. Such a quantitative accounting for previously "lost" cation in 58 subjects provides independent evidence for the appropriateness and accuracy of the correction. With this correction, body potassium was recalculated in the 1,492 adult members of a previously reported group of 3,083 subjects.

The T4 surface antigen is involved in the induction of helper function

The OKT4 monoclonal antibody reacts with a 62K m.w. glycoprotein present on a subset of human T cells with the capacity to help or induce B cell differentiation. The present studies were undertaken to determine whether the T4 molecule itself plays any role in the helper function mediated by T4+ cells. Using a series of monoclonal antibodies (OKT4, OKT4A-E), which react with distinct noncompeting epitopes of the T4 molecule, we found that OKT4A and OKT4E, but not OKT4, antibodies inhibited the induction of B cell differentiation by T4+ cells. This inhibition was apparent when using nonirradiated or irradiated T4+ cells, and was noted over a wide range of concentrations. Importantly, inhibition occurred only if the antibody was present during the first 24 hr of cell culture, and the presence of antibody did not alter the kinetics of induction of B cell differentiation. Thus, these data suggest that the T4 molecule plays an early, critical role in cellular interactions required for helper cell function.