Life without myoglobin

Hemoproteins are widely distributed among prokaryotes, unicellular eukaryotes, plants and animals [1]. Myoglobin, a cytoplasmic hemoprotein that is restricted to cardiomyocytes and oxidative skeletal myofibers in vertebrates, has been proposed to facilitate oxygen transport to the mitochondria [1-3]. This cytoplasmic hemoprotein was the first protein to be subjected to definitive structural analysis and has been a subject of long-standing and ongoing interest to biologists [1-3]. Recently, we utilized gene disruption technology to generate mice that are viable and fertile despite a complete absence of myoglobin [4]. This unexpected result led us to reexamine existing paradigms regarding the function of myoglobin in striated muscle.     

Morphological and enzymehistochemical changes in the interscapular adipose tissue of adult guinea-pigs during prolonged exposure to cold

Zusammenfassung Dauereinwirkung von Kälte (2 Monate +4°C) führte beim Meerschweinchen zum Auftreten multilokularer Fettzellen, welche intensive histochemische Reaktion für mehrere oxydative Enzyme zeigten. Die Zahl der Mitochondrien und LDH-1 war im Kälteversuch vermehrt.

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Acknowledgment. This study was initiated when Dr.J. Hirvonen worked as a post-doctoral fellow of NIH, U.S. Public Health Service (No. F05 TW 1546) at Arctic Health Research Center, Fairbanks (Alaska).     

Natural occurrence of 2-5A in interferon-treated EMC virus-infected L cells.

Until now the interferon-mediated 2'-5' adenine oligonucleotide inhibitors (2-5A) of cell-free protein synthesis have not been detected in intact cells. Here we report their natural occurrence in interferon-treated, EMC virus-infected mouse L cells in amounts consistent with the idea that they play a part in the inhibition of virus growth.     

Ontogenetic changes in relative levels of cyclic AMP-dependent and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinases in prostates,epididymides and testes from guinea-pigs

Summary Changes in realtive levels of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (A-PK) and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (G-PK) in prostates, epididymides and testes from guinea-pigs were examined at 3 different ages. During postnatal development, a decrease in the ratio of the 2 classes of protein kinases was seen in prostates, whereas increases of the ratios of the enzymes were found in epididymides and testes.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by grant RR-08199 from the National Institutes of Health, USA. The authors thank Dr J.F. Kuo, in whose laboratory part of this work was performed, for his great advice.Undergraduate trainee of Minority Biomedical Support.     

Occurrence of soluble pigments in the genusBacillus

Résumé B. anthracis cultivé en bouillon dans certaines conditions précisées dans ce travail, produit un pigment rose sensible aux variations de pH.B. cereus produit de même, un pigment jaune-brun, fluorescent. Les pigments sont solubles et se retrouvent dans le filtrat. Quatre autres espèces deBacillus ne produisent pas de pigments dans les mêmes conditions. La production de pigments en bouillons de culture pourrait être employée comme un critère additionnel pour la classification des souchesBacillus.

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This investigation was supported by research grant E-1535 from the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Public Health Service.