The 64-kilodalton membrane protein of Bacillus subtilis is also present as a multiprotein complex on membrane-free ribosomes

The 64-kDa membrane protein of Bacillus subtilis is evidently involved in the attachment of secreting ribosomes to membrane. On immunoprecipitation with antibody to this protein, the solubilized particulate fraction, with or without prior chemical cross-linking, yields a complex of four proteins (64, 60, 41, and 36 kDa). This "S complex" was found to be associated with membrane-free ribosomes rather than with membrane, but the 64-kDa protein is also present, without the other proteins of the S complex, in the membrane-ribosome fraction and in the cytosol. Only the form present in the membrane-ribosome fraction is protected from protease. These findings suggest a cycle in which the complex participates in initiation of secretion but not in the later stages. It is not yet clear whether the 64-kDa protein found in the membrane-ribosome complexes is retained from the S complex after initiation and later recycled via the cytosol or whether it is a separate pool.

Conduction of nonconjugative plasmids by F' lac is not necessarily associated with transposition of the gamma delta sequence

A nonconjugative kanamycin-resistant (Kmr) recombinant plasmid, pNR5311, transferred at a low frequency from an Hfr or F' lac Escherichia coli donor to an F- lac- recipient. Among the transconjugants, two types of Kmr plasmids were found: one was indistinguishable from pNR5311 (type A), and the other was a recombinant between pNR5311 and the gamma delta sequence (type B). When the F' lac strain was used as a donor, 5% of lactose-fermenting (Lac+) and 75% of lactose-nonfermenting (Lac-) transconjugants had type A plasmids. A kinetic study revealed that type A plasmids were transferred more readily in short mating periods than were type B plasmids. Involvement of Tn903, which is present in pNR5311, in transfer of type A plasmids was unlikely since there was no discernible change in the F' lac molecule coexisting with the type A plasmid in the transconjugant cells. The non-gamma delta-associated conduction of pNR5311 by F' lac did not require the recA+ function of the donor. Conduction of pBR322 by F' lac was also carried out, and two types of plasmids with and without gamma delta were found, as with pNR5311. These findings suggest that the transfer of nonconjugative plasmids is conducted by a novel pathway which is not associated with translocation of transposable elements into either plasmid.

Estrogen-dependent plasminogen activator in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced rat mammary tumors in vivo and in vitro

Hormonal regulation of plasminogen activator in rat mammary tumor induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) was studied both in vivo and in vitro. Plasminogen activator activity in DMBA-induced tumor (DMBA-tumor) was markedly decreased by ovariectomy, and recovered in a dose-dependent fashion upon estradiol administration, reaching a maximal level at 12 hr. This estrogen-stimulated production of the enzyme was prevented by actinomycin D, cycloheximide, and tamoxifen, indicating that in DMBA-tumor, estrogen might regulate de novo synthesis of plasminogen activator at a transcriptional level via an estrogen receptor system. Furthermore, DMBA-tumor cells in primary culture displayed similar estrogen-dependency toward the production of the enzyme without any cell proliferation. This indicates that the action of estrogen is mediated neither by cell division nor by prolactin, another hormone pastulated to be responsible for the development and growth of DMBA-tumor. Taken together, the present results have led to support the view that the primary function of estrogen is to induce plasminogen activator, which is probably essential to maintain the malignant state of DMBA-tumor.

Mortality estimation from registered deaths in less developed countries

Age-specific population growth rates were introduced to demographic analysis in earlier work by Bennett and Horiuchi (1981) and Preston and Coale (1982). In this paper, we derive a method which uses these growth rates to transform what may be a set of incompletely recorded deaths by age into a life table that accurately reflects the true mortality experience of the population under study. The method does not rely on the assumption of stability and, for example, in contrast to intercensal cohort survival techniques, is simple to implement when presented with nontraditional intercensal interval lengths. Thus we can obtain mortality estimates for less developed countries with defective data, despite departures from stability. Further, we assess the sensitivity of the method to violations in various assumptions underlying the procedure: error in estimated growth rates, existence of non-zero net intercensal migration, age dependence in the completeness of death registration, and misreporting of age at death and age in the population. We demonstrate the use of the method in an application to data referring to Argentine females during the period 1960 to 1970.

[Allergic reaction to CDDP: report of 4 cases]

Four cases of CDDP allergic reaction (CDDP reaction) are reported. CDDP was given intravenously with vinka-alkaloid and bleomycin or cyclophosphamide (CDDP combination therapy). Case 1 was a 59-year-old man with left ureteral squamous cell carcinoma. The tumor was so large and infiltrated into the retroperitoneal space, that he had conservatively undergone only left nephrectomy and tumor biopsy. Post-operative CDDP combination therapy was performed. Soon after the beginning of the 6th CDDP drip-infusion, a reaction to CDDP occurred. Case 2 was a 22-year-old man diagnosed to have left testicular embryonal carcinoma with multiple pulmonary metastases. After radical orchiectomy and retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy, CDDP combination therapy was performed. At the beginning of the 8th CDDP drip-infusion, a reaction to CDDP occurred. Case 3 was a 49-year-old man diagnosed to have non-papillary bladder carcinoma. Although his bladder was tumor free by TUR-Bt, distant lymph node metastases occurred. CDDP combination therapy was performed. At the beginning of the 6th CDDP drip-infusion, a reaction to CDDP occurred. Case 4 was a 64 year-old-man diagnosed to have bladder carcinoma which was recurrent from right renal pelvic tumor. After total cystectomy and ileal conduit, CDDP combination therapy was performed for diffuse retroperitoneal lymph nodes metastases. At the beginning of the 8th CDDP drip-infusion, a reaction to CDDP occurred. Reaction to CDDP developed at the 6th to 8th course of combination chemotherapy with CDDP, i.e., 450 to 700 mg of CDDP in total doses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions in aging Slc: Wistar rats

Spontaneous neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions in 98 male and 100 female Slc: Wistar rats, which have been widely used in Japan for toxicological studies, were examined. As spontaneous tumors, the most frequent tumors in males were testicular interstitial cell tumors, followed by tumors of the hematopoietic organs, adrenal gland, thyroid gland, preputial gland, pituitary gland, liver and mammary gland. Those in females were tumors of the pituitary gland, mammary gland, hematopoietic organs, uterus and thyroid gland. The organ distribution and histological types of spontaneous tumors observed in Slc: Wistar rats were very similar to those in F-344/DuCrj rats, although the incidences of some tumors differed slightly in the two strains. Various non-neoplastic lesions were also observed in the heart, kidney, liver and many other organs. These results should be useful in evaluating the results of toxicological and carcinogenic studies on this strain of rat.

A 64-kilodalton membrane protein of Bacillus subtilis covered by secreting ribosomes

The complexed (ribosome-bearing) membrane fraction of Bacillus subtilis contains several proteins (CM-proteins) that are virtually absent from the ribosome-free fraction and hence might be components of the apparatus of protein secretion. We have determined, by trypsin digestion and by labeling with a nonpenetrating reagent (diazoiodosulfanilic acid), the accessibility of four of these proteins on the two surfaces of the membrane, as exposed either in protoplasts or in inverted membrane vesicles. The 68-kilodalton protein is a transmembrane protein and the 45-kilodalton protein faces only the external surface, whereas the 31-kilodalton protein is inaccessible from either side. Of particular interest is the 64-kilodalton protein: it can be digested by trypsin, and can bind antibody, on the cytoplasmic surface, but only after the ribosomes have been released. This protein is thus evidently a component of the apparatus of protein secretion, closely covered by secreting ribosomes. Whether the other CM-proteins are also involved in protein secretion is uncertain.

Chronological changes in latent prostatic carcinoma found in surgical specimens from Japanese during 28 years

Out of 1,193 specimens from open prostatectomies in Japanese at Tokyo Teishin Hospital during the 28 years from 1953 to 1980, 38 focal type latent prostatic carcinomas were found. These were classified histologically by Gleason's criteria and subdivided into two groups, a low grade group (patterns 1 and 2) and a high grade group (patterns 3, 4 and 5). The incidence of the focal type of latent prostatic carcinoma in 1967-1980 was significantly higher than that in 1953-1966 (P less than 0.05). The incidence of the high grade group was significantly higher in the recent 14-year period (P less than 0.05), while the incidence of the low grade group was not. The prevalence of latent prostatic carcinoma in the Japanese male population, especially the prevalence of the high grade group, may have increased during these 28 years, which may be associated with the increasing mortality rate for prostatic cancer in the Japanese.

Localization and quantitation of proteins characteristic of the complexed membrane of Bacillus subtilis

We prepared antibodies to four proteins (molecular weights, 68,000, 64,000, 45,000, and 31,000) that are characteristic of the complexed (ribosome-bearing) fraction of the membrane of Bacillus subtilis and found that these proteins are immunologically distinct. Quantitation by immunoprecipitation confirmed that the ribosome-free membrane fraction contains much lower concentrations of these four proteins than the complexed-membrane fraction. The 64-kilodalton protein appeared to be attached more loosely than the other proteins, since it was more readily extracted from the membrane. In addition, this protein was also present in the cytosol in an even greater amount than in the membrane. The 68-, 64-, and 31-kilodalton proteins are present in cells in stoichiometrically equivalent amounts.

Proteins of ribosome-bearing and free-membrane domains in Bacillus subtilis

In lysates of Bacillus subtilis a free-membrane fraction without ribosomes can be separated from the denser membrane-ribosome complexes. As determined by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis, these two fractions differ markedly in protein composition; at least six major bands (molecular weights, 130,000, 92,000, 68,000, 64,000, 45,000, and 31,000) are essentially unique to the complexed-membrane fraction (CM proteins), and two are unique to the free-membrane fraction. After growth was slowed, the proportion of the free-membrane fraction increased, but the composition of this fraction was the same, whereas after puromycin treatment, which abruptly increased the proportion of the free-membrane fraction, this fraction contained CM proteins. Thus, it appears that the two fractions recovered from growing cells represent topographically and functionally distinct domains. In addition, the effect of growth rate suggests that formation of the complexed domain is regulated at least roughly in parallel with the formation of ribosomes. The separation of these membrane fractions should facilitate the study of protein secretion, membrane topography, and morphogenesis in bacteria.

A remarkable increase of superoxide dismutase activity in synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Superoxide dismutase activities in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis were determined by the technique of McCord and Fridovich. The superoxide dismutase activity from the rheumatoid arthritis group was found to be remarkably higher than that from the osteoarthritis group. The high superoxide dismutase activity of rheumatoid arthritis is correlated with the severity of the disease. A significant correlation was also found between C-reactive protein and superoxide dismutase activity. These observations suggest that superoxide dismutase activity is a manifestation of the acute inflammatory stage of rheumatoid arthritis.

Degradation kinetics and mechanism of aminocephalosporins in aqueous solution: cefadroxil

The degradation kinetics and mechanism of a new, orally effective cephalosporin derivative, cefadroxil, in aqueous solution were investigated at pH 2.51-11.5 at 35 degrees and ionic strength 0.5. The degradation rates were determined by high=pressure liquid chromatography. At constant pH and temperature, the degradation followed first-order kinetics and a log k-pH profile was presented. The shape of the rate-pH profile resembled that for cephalexin or cephradine under the same conditions. Citrate and phosphate buffers enhanced general acid and base catalysis of the degradation. In aqueous solution, cefadroxil was shown to degrade by three parallel reactions: (a) intramolecular aminolysis by the C-7 side-chain amino group on the beta-lactam moiety, (b) water-catalyzed or spontaneous hydrolysis, and (c) beta-lactam cleavage by the nucleophilic attack of hydroxide ion. In neutral and weak alkaline solutions, the main degradation products were two piperazine-2, 5-diones and 3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(5H)-thiophenone, the former being formed from Reaction a, while the latter arose via the degradation pathways of Reaction b and/or c.

A sensitive and inexpensive high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for tyrosine hydroxylase

We describe a highly sensitive assay method for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) using high-performance liquid chromatography with amperometric determination. This assay method could be applicable to any tissues with low enzyme activity, such as rat cerebellum. We also describe the kinetic properties of TH in rat cerebral cortex.

The molecular forms of gamma-glutamyl transferase in bile and serum of icteric rats

Alterations in the molecular form of gamma-glutamyl transferase (5-glutamyl)-peptide:amino-acid 5-glutamyltransferase, EC 2.3.2.2.) were studied in the bile and serum of rats under surgical ligation of the bile duct. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the bile, followed by the enzyme stain, revealed a major, slowly migrating broad band and a minor, faster migrating band. The former was converted to the latter upon limited proteolysis of the bile with a very small amount of papain. This conversion was accompanied by a decrease in molecular size of the enzyme. Both enzyme forms were specifically adsorbed to a concanavalin A-Sepharose column. Most of the papain-treated enzyme preparation could be eluted from the column by alpha-methyl-D-glucoside, a haptenic sugar of this lectin. On the other hand, the predominant form of the enzyme in the untreated bile was eluted only in the presence both of the sugar and Triton X-100. Based on the chromatographic behavior of the two enzyme forms (detergent-solubilized and protease-solubilized form) purified from rat renal brush border membrane on concanavalin A-Sepharose column, it was concluded that the predominant form of the enzyme in the bile was the detergent-solubilized form and that the minor component represents the protease-solubilized enzyme. The serum from icteric rats was also found to contain both types of the enzyme. However, the relative amount of the protease-solubilized form to the detergent-solubilized form in the serum was much greater than that in the bile. These findings suggested that gamma-glutamyl transferase in the hepatobiliary membrane systems was solubilized into the bile mainly as the detergent-solubilized form, and that, during the process of translocation into the blood circulation, the enzyme was partly converted to the protease-solubilized form by some protease-like action.

Circular dichroism of cattle rhodopsin and bathorhodopsin at liquid nitrogen temperatures

The photoevent in vision has been considered to be the conversion of rhodopsin to bathorhodopsin, which is caused by photoisomerization of the chromphoric retinal. Recently some objections were raised to this hypothesis. The reliability of the hypothesis was verified by measurement of circular dichroism of bathorhodopsin. The measurement of circular dichroism of rhodopsin extract (containing 66% or 75% of glycerol) at liquid nitrogen temperatures (-195 degrees C) by a conventional spectropolarimeter induced an extraordinary large signal, owing to linear dichroism originated from conversion of rhodopsin to bathorhodopsin by the measuring light. The similar linear dichrolism can be induced by irradiation of rhodopsin extract at -195 degrees C with polarized light or natural light. At photosteady state the linear dichroism disappeared. Circular dichroism spectrum of cattle rhodopsin displayed two positive peaks ([theta]max = 80 800 degrees at 335 nm, and [theta]max = 42 600 degrees at 500 nm) at -195 degrees C, whereas, bathorhodopsin displayed a positive peak ([theta]max = 43 100 degrees at 334 nm) and a negative peak ([theta]max = 163 000 degrees at 540 nm). The change of the positive sign to negative one at alpha-band of circular dichroism spectrum supports the hypothesis that the conversion of rhodopsin is due to rotation of the chromophoric retinal about C-11--12 double bond ('photoisomerization model').

Effects of a systematic application of human chorionic gonadotropin, gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog and bovine anterior pituitary gonadotropin in cows with cystic ovarian disease

Fourty-one cows with ovarian follicular cysts (cysts) diagnosed by rectal palpation and observation of estrus behavior were injected intramuscularly (i.m.) with 20,000 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Ten days after this treatment all the cows were examined per rectum for changes in the ovaries with special regard to luteinization of cysts. Cows not responding to HCG were administered 500(10)mug of an analog of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH), Des-Gly-LH-RH-ethylamide, i.m.. If the cysts remained unchanged 10 days subsequent to the second treatment, a third treatment, 400 KE of bovine anterior pituitary gonadotropin (APG), was given i.m. HCG was clinically effective in only 8 cows (20 %). All of the 8 cows conceived. Of 33 cows not responding to HCG, 18 cows (55 %) responded to Gn-RH analog and 12 cows (36 %) conceived. Eleven (73 %) of 15 cows failing to respond to Gn-RH analog were successfully treated with APG and 6 cows (40 %) conceived. In 37 cases, treatment effects were also evaluated by determining serum levels of progesterone prior to and 10 days subsequent to each treatment. When effects of treatment were judged by 1.0 ng/ml or more increase of serum progesterone levels 10 days after treatment, HCG was effective in 13 of 37 cows (35 %), retreatment with Gn-RH analog was successful in 8 of 16 cows (50 %) and APG was ineffective in 3 cows not responding to both HCG and Gn-RH analog. It may be concluded that the therapeutic effect of HCG is disappointing and about half of the cases not responding to HCG were successfully treated with Gn-RH analog. If the cows did not respond to both HCG and Gn-RH analog, they may not respond to APG either.

Myosin from abdominal flexor muscle in a crayfish, Procambarus clarki Girard

1. Crayfish (Procambarus clarki) myosin was obtained from abdominal flexor muscle. The Ca2+-ATPase activity of crayfish myosin was much lower than that of rabbit skeletal myosin. However, F-actin-activated Mg2+-ATPase of crayfish and its superprecipitation closely resembled those of rabbit skeletal myosin. This fact suggests that the ability of crayfish myosin to combine with F-actin is essentially the same as that of skeletal myosin, although the chemical structures of both the myosin molecules when involved in their Ca2+-ATPast activity must be different from each other. 2. Crayfish and rabbit skeletal myosins were subjected to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Crayfish myosin was found to have one heavy chain and two distinct light chain components (CF-gl and CF-g2), which have molecular weights of 18,000 and 16,000, respectively. These light chains correspond in molecular weight to the light chains (SK-g2 and SK-g3) in rabbit skeletal myosin. 3. CF-g1 could be liberated from the crayfish myosin molecule reacting with 5,5'-dithio-bis (2-nitrobenzoic acid), (Nbs2), without recovery of ATPase activity by the addition of DTT. These properties are equivalent to those of SK-g2 in rabbit skeletal myosin, although Nbs2-treated crayfish myosin did not recover its ATPase activity at all.

The crystal structure of 4Nb2O5.9WO3 studied by 1 MV high-resolution electron microscopy

Images of pale yellow crystals of 4Nb2O5. 9WO3, obtained with a 1 MV high-resolution electron microscope revealed twinned domains of a tetragonal tungsten bronze structure with a superlattice of 3 x 1 subcells. Comparison with computer calculations suggests that the cations filling the pentagonal tunnels include both Nb and W. Crystals darkened due to reduction on longer heating included no domains and were sensitive to electron irradiation; cations were knocked on from the filled to the vacant pentagonal tunnels. This suggests that some oxygens are released from the -M-O-M-O-M- strings in the tunnels on reduction to weaken the chemical bonding. The number of deficient oxygens is known from the weight gain on oxidizing the crystal. Some additional experiments reveal that there is no '6Nb2O5. 1 IWO3' phase. The resolving power of the present microscope is discussed on the basis of the analysis of the chromatic aberration.

Formation of hyposorhodopsin in frog retina

Hypsorhodopsin was formed in frog retina by irradiation at liquid helium temperature and converted into bathorhodopsin above about 29K.