Erythropoietic effects of PGE2 and 2 endoperoxide analogs

Summary The erythropoietic effects in exhypoxic polycythemic mice of two endoperoxide analogs were assessed and compared with PGE₂. The 9a, 11a epoxymethano analog (U-44069) was found to be a much more potent erythropoietic stimulus than the 11a,9a analog (U-46619) or PGE₂.This work was supported by a Senior Research Grant-in-Aid from the American Heart Association-Louisiana (DMG) and USPHS Grant No. AM 13211 (JWF).     

Soybean photosynthesis: simultaneous14CO2 and O2 estimates

Summary A method of estimating the photosynthetic rate of soybean leaves using an oxygen electrode is presented. The procedure is rapid, requires small samples and compares favourably with estimates by other techniques. Light saturation occurs at 1200 E·m^–2·sec^–1. The apparent K_m for HCO ₃ ^– is 3.2 mM at pH 7.6.     

Gonadotrophin-releasing activity of histones H2A and H2B

We report that histones H2A and H2B possess gonadotrophin-releasing activity in vitro and assess the signal transduction pathways involved in these effects. Perifused and incubated rat anterior pituitary (AP) cells were used, and luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured by RIA. Perifusion of cells with histone H2A (30 μM) or histone H2B (30 μM), markedly stimulated LH release but failed to elicit any FSH response. Cells incubated with 6 or 30 μM histone H2A showed a dose- and time-dependent stimulatory effect on both LH and FSH release which was blocked by 1 μM peptide MB35, an 86–120 amino acid fragment of histone H2A. Incubation of pituitary cells with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and histones H2A or H2B showed a stimulatory effect on LH and FSH release which was similar to the sum of the separate effects. Trifluoperazine, as well as ethylene glycol bis(b-aminoethyl ether) N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), alone or in the presence of the calcium ionophore A23187, significantly reduced the response of AP cells to histones. Various cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) enhancers had no effect on histone-stimulated release of gonadotrophins in incubated AP cells. Our results confirm previous evidence that histones may act as hypophysiotrophic signals. Calcium- and diacylglycerol-associated pathways, but not cAMP, appear to participate in these effects. Received 11 August 1997; received after revision 20 January 1998; accepted 26 January 1998     

Extracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+ and cellular metabolism of phospholipids.

High extracellular concentration of Ca2+ inhibits the incorporation of 32P into the cellular phospholipids. This effect is more significant in neoplastic than in normal cells, and it is accompanied by an increase of the percentual incorporation into the lecithin fraction.     

Inhibition of monoamine oxidase by 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone and 2-hydroxy-ethylhydrazine

Zusammenfassung Die MAO-hemmende Aktivität von 3-Amino-2-Oxazolidinon und von 2-Hydroxy-Äthylhydrazin wird beschrieben.     

姜黄素诱导肝癌HepG2细胞凋亡及其对bcl-2及survivin蛋白表达的影响

目的 研究姜黄素对HepG2细胞凋亡的促进作用,并探讨其可能的的作用机制.方法 实验分为空白对照组、1 mg/ml、1.5mg/ml、2mg/ml的姜黄素处理组,MTT法检测不同浓度姜黄素对细胞增殖抑制情况;电镜观察细胞形态及其结构变化;流式细胞术检测凋亡率;Western blot检测各组作用24 h后细胞中bcl-...     

Response of briefly glycerinated smooth muscle to Ca2+ and Mg2+

Summary Smooth muscle, treated with 50% glycerol solution at 27°C for 20 min, contracted on the application of Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺. The briefly glycerinated smooth muscle can be used as a model system of smooth muscle contraction.     

Inhibition of alpha-chymotrypsin by 2-halogeno-ethanols; comparisons with 2-methyl-ethanols and urea.

2-Halogeno- and 2-methyl-ethanols inhibit alpha-chymotrypsin in the order of their substituted groups: [1] tri- greater than di- greater than mono-, [2] Br- greater than Cl- greater than CH3- greater than F-. The inhibition by the halogeno-ethanols is mediated differently from that by the methyl-ethanols, ethanol, and urea.     

Polycystins and cellular Ca2+ signaling

The cystic phenotype in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is characterized by a profound dysfunction of many cellular signaling patterns, ultimately leading to an increase in both cell proliferation and apoptotic cell death. Disturbance of normal cellular Ca²⁺ signaling seems to be a primary event and is clearly involved in many pathways that may lead to both types of cellular responses. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the molecular and functional interactions between polycystins and multiple components of the cellular Ca²⁺-signaling machinery. In addition, we discuss the relevant downstream responses of the changed Ca²⁺ signaling that ultimately lead to increased proliferation and increased apoptosis as observed in many cystic cell types.     

H2 receptor antagonists and human granulopoiesis

Summary The effect of 2 H₂ receptor antagonists (ranitidine and cimetidine) on the in vitro growth of human granulomonopoietic precursors (CFU-GM) was studied. Ranitidine, although having an anti H₂ receptor activity much greater than that of cimetidine, displays the same toxicity for CFU-GM.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by CNR, Rome, PFCCN and AIRC, Milan.     

Nonmuscle myosin-2: mix and match

Members of the nonmuscle myosin-2 (NM-2) family of actin-based molecular motors catalyze the conversion of chemical energy into directed movement and force thereby acting as central regulatory components of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton. By cyclically interacting with adenosine triphosphate and F-actin, NM-2 isoforms promote cytoskeletal force generation in established cellular processes like cell migration, shape changes, adhesion dynamics, endo- and exo-cytosis, and cytokinesis. Novel functions of the NM-2 family members in autophagy and viral infection are emerging, making NM-2 isoforms regulators of nearly all cellular processes that require the spatiotemporal organization of cytoskeletal scaffolding. Here, we assess current views about the role of NM-2 isoforms in these activities including the tight regulation of NM-2 assembly and activation through phosphorylation and how NM-2-mediated changes in cytoskeletal dynamics and mechanics affect cell physiological functions in health and disease.     

H2 receptor antagonists and human granulopoiesis

The effect of 2 H2 receptor antagonists (ranitidine and cimetidine) on the in vitro growth of human granulomonopoietic precursors (CFU-GM) was studied. Ranitidine, although having an anti H2 receptor activity much greater than that of cimetidine, displays the same toxicity for CFU-GM.     

OWL2QL存储与应用

通过对OWL2语法结构和推理方式的分析,提出OWL2基本元素和公理在关系数据库中的存储结构和推理实现方式.将部分推理结果在数据库中进行存储,提高了本体存储和推理的效率,并能对大规模的本体进行存储.通过构建知识管理平台验证了该存储方式的有效性.     

Effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on motility of sea urchin spermatozoa

Summary Swimming speed of sea urchin spermatozoa, measured by a light scattering technique, did not change with 0-20 mM Ca²⁺ in the medium. The speed was maximum at the normal concentration of Mg²⁺ (49 mM) in sea water.Supported by grants-in-aid from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan, and a grant from the Ford Foundation.