Myoglobin-like aerotaxis transducers in Archaea and Bacteria

Haem-containing proteins such as haemoglobin and myoglobin play an essential role in oxygen transport and storage. Comparison of the amino-acid sequences of globins from Bacteria and Eukarya suggests that they share an early common ancestor, even though the proteins perform different functions in these two kingdoms. Until now, no members of the globin family have been found in the third kingdom, Archaea. Recent studies of biological signalling in the Bacteria and Eukarya have revealed a new class of haem-containing proteins that serve as sensors. Until now, no haem-based sensor has been described in the Archaea. Here we report the first myoglobin-like, haem-containing protein in the Archaea, and the first haem-based aerotactic transducer in the Bacteria (termed HemAT-Hs for the archaeon Halobacterium salinarum, and HemAT-Bs for Bacillus subtilis). These proteins exhibit spectral properties similar to those of myoglobin and trigger aerotactic responses.     

Effects of isoproterenol and dopamine on the myocardial hexose monophosphate shunt

Summary Long-term exposure of rats to isoproterenol and dopamine resulted in an increase of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and a greater availability of 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate in the myocardium. These results are interpreted to indicate an enhanced flow through the hexose monophosphate shunt.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Zi 199/1). The excellent technical assistance of Miss G. Steinkopff is gratefully acknowledged.     

Experimentelle Untersuchungen über eine röntgenkymographische Methode zur Messung der Strömungsgeschwindigkeit des Blutes

Summary The röntgenokymographical measurement of the speed of flow of the blood is based on the observation that, with the Stumpf kymograph, progressive movements taking place longitudinally can be recorded with the same ease as periodically recurrent, sinusoid movements. From the time during which the kymograph operates, which can be read off the time relay, and a few measurable stretches of the kymogram defined in detail in the text, the speed of propagation of a directed process of movement can be calculated. If a drop of iodized oil traverses the vessel at the same speed as the blood, the speed of flow of the blood can be ascertained. In numerous tests on models not only was the practicability of the method as such proved, but more specialized conditions of flow in tubes of irregular lumen or having aneurysmal sacculations were examined. In this connection vortical formations are very clearly shown. The particular merit of this new röntgenokymographical method (flow kymography) is seen to reside in the fact that the cycle of speeds can be followed along a considerable length of vessel, and also that circumscribed alterations in speed within the part-sections examined can be anatomically localized. Experiments in the use of the method on human subjects are in preparation.     

手性药物拆分方法的研究

本通过对几种拆分手性药物的方法的列举，比较几种方法，详细介绍了几种方法的特点，以及它们的不同作用。各个方法中又列出了不同的线索，根据这些线索来研究这几种拆分的方法，它们的优缺点以及针对这些缺点的解决方法，最后给出了几个典型的用该方法的实验，以辨别它们的效用。     

Low dose oral cannabinoid therapy reduces progression of atherosclerosis in mice

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, and is the primary cause of heart disease and stroke in Western countries. Derivatives of cannabinoids such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) modulate immune functions and therefore have potential for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. We investigated the effects of THC in a murine model of established atherosclerosis. Oral administration of THC (1 mg kg(-1) per day) resulted in significant inhibition of disease progression. This effective dose is lower than the dose usually associated with psychotropic effects of THC. Furthermore, we detected the CB2 receptor (the main cannabinoid receptor expressed on immune cells) in both human and mouse atherosclerotic plaques. Lymphoid cells isolated from THC-treated mice showed diminished proliferation capacity and decreased interferon-gamma secretion. Macrophage chemotaxis, which is a crucial step for the development of atherosclerosis, was also inhibited in vitro by THC. All these effects were completely blocked by a specific CB2 receptor antagonist. Our data demonstrate that oral treatment with a low dose of THC inhibits atherosclerosis progression in the apolipoprotein E knockout mouse model, through pleiotropic immunomodulatory effects on lymphoid and myeloid cells. Thus, THC or cannabinoids with activity at the CB2 receptor may be valuable targets for treating atherosclerosis.     

Different response of adenine nucleotide synthesis de novo in kidney and brain during aerobic recovery from anoxia and ischemia

Zusammenfassung Unter Verwendung von¹⁴C-markiertem Glycin wurden durch Bestimmung der mittleren spezifischen Aktivitäten von Glycin im Gewebe und durch Messung der Glycin-Inkorporation in die Adenin-Nucleotide die de novo-Syntheseraten dieser Verbindungen in Niere und Gehirn in vitro und in vivo unter normoxischen Bedingungen sowie nach vorausgegangener Anoxie bzw. Ischämie bestimmt. Zwischen der Fähigkeit eines Organs zur postanoxischen Nukleotidsynthese-Steigerung und seiner funktionellen Erholungsfähigkeit nach Sauerstoffmangel scheinen enge Beziehungen zu bestehen.

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Fellow of the A.-v.-Humboldt-Stiftung.

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This work was supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft No. Ge 129/7.