The effect of NADH and NAD+ on the proteolysis of lactate dehydrogenase isozymes by trypsin

Résumé L'effet de la NADH et NAD⁺ sur la protéolyse de la lacticodéhydrogénase isoenzyme 1 (LDH 1) et isoenzyme 5 (LDH 5) par la trypsine fut étudié. Les résultats montrent que la NAD⁺ exerce une protection contre la protéolyse de la LDH 1. Mais ni la NADH ni la NAD⁺ ne protègent contre la protéolyse de la LDH 5.     

Genetic and developmental basis of evolutionary pelvic reduction in threespine sticklebacks

Hindlimb loss has evolved repeatedly in many different animals by means of molecular mechanisms that are still unknown. To determine the number and type of genetic changes underlying pelvic reduction in natural populations, we carried out genetic crosses between threespine stickleback fish with complete or missing pelvic structures. Genome-wide linkage mapping shows that pelvic reduction is controlled by one major and four minor chromosome regions. Pitx1 maps to the major chromosome region controlling most of the variation in pelvic size. Pelvic-reduced fish show the same left-right asymmetry seen in Pitx1 knockout mice, but do not show changes in Pitx1 protein sequence. Instead, pelvic-reduced sticklebacks show site-specific regulatory changes in Pitx1 expression, with reduced or absent expression in pelvic and caudal fin precursors. Regulatory mutations in major developmental control genes may provide a mechanism for generating rapid skeletal changes in natural populations, while preserving the essential roles of these genes in other processes.     

Differential distribution of TASK-1, TASK-2 and TASK-3 immunoreactivities in the rat and human cerebellum

In this work, the distributions of some acid-sensitive two-pore-domain K⁺ channels (TASK-1, TASK-2 and TASK-3) were investigated in the rat and human cerebellum. Astrocytes situated in rat cerebellar tissue sections were positive for TASK-2 channels. Purkinje cells were strongly stained and granule cells and astrocytes were moderately positive for TASK-3. Astrocytes isolated from the hippocampus, cerebellum and cochlear nucleus expressed TASK channels in a primary tissue culture. Our results suggest that TASK channel expression may be significant in the endoplasmic reticulum of the astrocytes. The human cerebellum showed weak TASK-2 immunolabelling. The pia mater, astrocytes, Purkinje and granule cells demonstrated strong TASK-1 and TASK-3 positivities. The TASK-3 labelling was stronger in general, but it was particularly intense in the Purkinje cells and pia mater.Received 25 February 2004; received after revision 19 April 2004; accepted 28 April 2004     

Stimulation of pyruvate carboxylation by gastric secretagogues

Summary Pyruvate carboxylation was stimulated by 2 gastric secretagogues, histamine and dibutyryl cyclic AMP, and by butyrate. Thiocyanate, an inhibitor of acid secretion, produced a slight decrease. Avidin significantly reduced acid secretion and this effect was overcome by biotin and oxalacetate. The results suggest that carboxylation of pyruvate is one of the reactions controlling oxidative metabolism and acid secretion in toad gastric mucosa.This investigation was supported by Consejo de Desarrollo Científico y Humanístico de la Universidad del Zulia, and by CONICIT Grant S1-0455.     

Evidence that no significant quantities ofp-amino-hyppuric acid are transported by the renal lymphatics

Zusammenfassung Bei der Bestimmung der renalen Plasmaströmung mit der Paraaminohippursäuremethode wird vorausgesetzt, dass dieser Stoff nicht durch die Lymphgefässe aus der Niere abtransportiert wird. Die Kontrolle der PAH-Konzentration im D. thoracicus während der intravenösen Infusion ergab, dass sie die Plasmakonzentration nicht signifikant überschreitet, so dass die «lymphatische PAH-Clearance» gegenüber der renalen Clearance vernachlässigt werden kann.     

The effect of anoxia and of muscle activity on the lymphatic and venous transport of lactate dehydrogenase

Zusammenfassung Nach 3 1/2 stündiger Muskelischämie wurde bei Hunden mit Ductus thoracicus-Fistel eine signifikante Zunahme der Milchsäuredehydrogenase-Aktivität im Blutserum und in der Lymphe der anoxischen Extremität bei gleichzeitiger signifikanter arterovenöser Aktivitätsdifferenz beobachtet. Auch Muskelarbeit verursachte eine Erhöhung der Enzymaktivität im Serum und in der Lymphe. Durch Unterbrechen der Verbindung zwischen Venen und Lymphsystem konnte das direkte Eindringen des Enzymproteins in die Blutkapillaren bewiesen werden.     

The influence of proteolytic enzymes inhibitor on the course of lymphocyte transformation in vitro

Résumé Nous avons observé que l'inhibiteur d'enzymes protéolytiques (Zymofren-Specia) inhibe la transformation blastique des lymphocytes sensibilisés de cobaye évoquee par la phytohémagglutinine ou l'antigène. Nous n'avons pas observé d'influence ce de produit sur la consommation d'oxygène.     

Increasing dominance of large lianas in Amazonian forests

Ecological orthodoxy suggests that old-growth forests should be close to dynamic equilibrium, but this view has been challenged by recent findings that neotropical forests are accumulating carbon and biomass, possibly in response to the increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide. However, it is unclear whether the recent increase in tree biomass has been accompanied by a shift in community composition. Such changes could reduce or enhance the carbon storage potential of old-growth forests in the long term. Here we show that non-fragmented Amazon forests are experiencing a concerted increase in the density, basal area and mean size of woody climbing plants (lianas). Over the last two decades of the twentieth century the dominance of large lianas relative to trees has increased by 1.7-4.6% a year. Lianas enhance tree mortality and suppress tree growth, so their rapid increase implies that the tropical terrestrial carbon sink may shut down sooner than current models suggest. Predictions of future tropical carbon fluxes will need to account for the changing composition and dynamics of supposedly undisturbed forests.