Ornithine decarboxylase,S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase and arginine decarboxylase fromMycobacterium bovis (BCG)

Summary Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase (AMDC) and arginine decarboxylase (ADC) activities were detected for the first time in extracts ofMycobacterium bovis (BCG). All the decarboxylases differed from corresponding known bacterial decarboxylases in that: a) ODC did not require GTP for activity; b) ODC was not inhibited by any known inhibitor of bacterial ODCs; c) AMDC and ADC did not require Mg²⁺-ion for activity and were not markedly inhibited by any known inhibitor of the decarboxylases of other bacteria.     

Functional role of arginine residues in glutamic acid decarboxylase from brain and bacteria

Summary The arginine-specific reagent phenylglyoxal rapidly inactives glutamic decarboxylase from both mouse brain andE. coli when preincubated with the enzyme at concentrations of 3 mM to 40 mM. The rate of inactivation follows pseudo-first-order kinetics and is dependent upon the concentration of phenylglyoxal. These and other data presented support the idea that arginine residues play a key role in the mechanism of action of glutamic decarboxylase.     

Functional role of arginine residues in glutamic acid decarboxylase from brain and bacteria.

The arginine-specific reagent phenylglyoxal rapidly inactives glutamic decarboxylase from both mouse brain and E. coli when preincubated with the enzyme at concentrations of 3 mM to 40 mM. The rate of inactivation follows pseudo-first-order kinetics and is dependent upon the concentration of phenylglyoxal. These and other data presented support the idea that arginine residues play a key role in the mechanism of action of glutamic decarboxylase.     

Resorption von Serumproteinen in die Haemolymphe bei Larven vonHypoderma bovis (De Geer) (Diptera,Hypodermatidae)

Summary By electrophoresis it became obvious that larvae ofHypoderma bovis are able to take up complete proteins from their host's serum directly into the haemolymphe, fatbody and ovarium. This could be proved by experiments with radioactive albumin.     

Interaction of N-(DL-seryl)N′-(2,3,4-trihydroxybenzyl)-hydrazine with L-Dopa decarboxylase from pig kidney

Summary Interaction of seryl trihydroxy-benzyl-hydrazine with a highly purified preparation of Dopa decarboxylase from pig kidney has been studied. This compound was found not to be a powerful inhibitor in vitro. Kinetic and spectral data suggest some possibilities on the binding nature of the inhibitor and substrates.     

Adjuvanticity and delayed-type hypersensitivity by Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)

Résumé Le BCG, lavé à l'eau distillée, puis à l'etherethanol, puis au chloroforme, est traité par l'anhydride acétique. Le bacille ainsi traité par acétylation perd, à poids égal, par rapport au bacille vivant, de son pouvoir d'induire une hypersensibilité retardée spécifique, mais accroit son pouvoir de stimulation non spécifique des réactions immunitaires.

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Acknowledgments. The authors wish to thank ProfessorG. Mathé for his interest in this investigation and MrsF. Kosloff from Pasteur Institute, Paris, France, for her generous gift of BCG.     

Antigenic activity of lobster (Homarus vulgaris) arginine kinase and its cyanogen bromide fragments]

The antigenic saturation of lobster arginine kinase (38 000 daltons) by its specific antibodies has been studied. It was found that seven antigenic binding sites are simultaneously reactive on the surface of the enzyme in the presence of a large excess of antibodies or of their Fab fragments. After cyanogen bromide cleavage, the antigenic reactivity is distributed on several fragments of various sizes.     

Activation of rat stomach histidine decarboxylase after inhibition of acid secretion with 2-Phenyl-2-(2-Pyridyl)-Thioacetamide (SC-15396)

Zusammenfassung 2-Phenyl-2(2-Pyridyl)-Thioacetamide (SC-15396) ist ein kräftiger Inhibitor von sowohl basaler als auch stimulierter gastrischer Säuresekretion und aktiviert die Histidindecarboxylase in der Magenschleimhaut. Die enzymaktivierende Wirkung von SC-15396 wird durch Resektion des Antrums verhindert. Daraus kann geschlossen werden, dass die durch SC-15396 hervorgerufene Enzymaktivierung eine Folge von erhöhter Freisetzung von antralem Gastrin ist.     

Lithium lowers renal,cardiac and splenic ornithine decarboxylase activity in mice

Summary A single i.p. injection of lithium chloride (5–7.5 moles/g b.wt) in mice caused a 70–80% decrease in renal, cardiac and splenic ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity within 1 h, whereas pulmonary ODC activity was unaffected. Lithium chloride did not have any effect on ODC activity in vitro when added to homogenates of the tissues studied. We suggest that the effect of lithium on ODC activity is not direct, but mediated via e.g. hormonal or nervous influence.This study was supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (04X-02212, 14X-00028), and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lund (Sweden).     

Structure revision and cytotoxicity of the germacranolide, stizolicin, from Stizolophus balsamitus (Asteraceae)

The structure of the cytotoxic sesquiterpene lactone, stizolicin, reisolated from Stizolophus balsamitus (Centaurea b.) was revised to a trans, trans germacranolide (1) on the basis of simultaneous application of lanthanide shift reagent and NOE in the NMR.