On the distribution of plasma L-asparaginase

The guinea-pig, Cavia porcellus, is unusual in possessing plasma L-asparaginase, an enzyme with anti-tumor activity, 21 additional species have been examined as to the presence of this enzyme: the results confirm and extend its remarkably limited species distribution.     

Action of leucine aminopeptidase 1 and 2 (Aspergillus oryzae 410) on various synthetic peptides (author's transl)]

By use of di- or tripeptides as substrates, LAP 1 and LAP 2, 2 fractions from Aspergillus oryzae hydrolyze oligopeptides that possess leucine as N-terminal amino acid. LAP 1 fraction also hydrolyzes the histidyl bond. Both fractions have no activity towards peptides as glutathion, gly-pro-ala; they have low or no activity towards tyrosyl and tryptophanyl bond.     

Regional and subcellular distribution of superoxide dismutase in brain.

Superoxide dismutase has been found to be widely distributed and of approximately the same specific activity in all regions of human brain examined. It is not reduced during degeneration of the basal ganglia in Huntington's Chorea. After subcellular fractionation of human and guinea-pig cerebral cortex, the highest specific activity of the enzyme was found in the soluble fraction.     

Die Leucinaminopeptidaseaktivität des Rattenharnes nach Verabreichung einer mastzellerschöpfenden Substanz

Summary LAP activity was determined in rat urine under normal conditions and following mast cell depletion by compound 48/80. A statistically significant increase in urinary LAP activity is found after administration of compound 48/80. This increase is due to mast cell depletion and the resulting anaphylactoid reaction.     

Collagen treated with (+)-catechin becomes resistant to the action of mammalian collagenase

Treatment of radioactively labeled guinea-pig skin soluble collagen or calf skin collagen with the flavonoid (+)-catechin makes the collagen resistant to the action of mammalian collagenase but not to the action of bacterial collagenase. Complete resistance to the action of the mammalian enzyme may be achieved by incubating 0.6 mg of collagen (dry weight) with 0.1 mM (+)-catechin, followed by dialysis to remove the unbound flavonoid. Since incubation of the mammalian enzyme with (+)-catechin does not inhibit its activity, it is postulated that (+)-catechin binds tightly to collagen and modifies its structure sufficiently to make it resistant to enzyme degradation.     

Action de leucine aminopeptidase I et II extracellulaires d'Aspergillus oryzae (I.P.410) sur des peptides synthétiques

Summary By use of di- or tripeptides as substrates, LAP 1 and LAP 2, 2 fractions fromAspergillus oryzae hydrolyze oligopeptides that possess leucine as N-terminal amino acid. LAP 1 fraction also hydrolyzes the histidyl bond. Both fractions have no activity towards peptides as glutathion, gly-pro-ala; they have low or no activity towards tyrosyl and tryptophanyl bond.

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Nous remercions la Société Rapidase (Seclin) de nous avoir fourni les milieux de culture.     

Regional and subcellular distribution of superoxide dismutase in brain

Summary Superoxide dismutase has been found to be widely distributed and of approximately the same specific activity in all regions of human brain examined. It is not reduced during degeneration of the basal ganglia in Huntington's Chorea. After subcellular fractionation of human and guinea-pig cerebral cortex, the highest specific activity of the enzyme was found in the soluble fraction.Acknowledgments. We thank the Huntington's Chorea Foundation for financial support. Address reprint requests to the Neurochemistry Lab., V. A. Hospital, Seattle, Wash. 98108, USA.     

On the distribution of plasma L-asparaginase

Summary The guinea-pig,Cavia porcellus, is unusual in possessing plasma L-asparaginase, an enzyme with anti-tumor activity. 21 additional species have been examined as to the presence of this enzyme: the results confirm and extend its remarkably limited species distribution.This work was supported in part by grant GM/CA 25378 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health.We are grateful to dr Hanna Hensch, Philadelphia Zoological Garden, and Ms Joan Whitla and Dr Richard J. Montali, National Zoological Park/Smithsonian Institution, for samples of frozen serum.To whom correspondence should be addressed.     

Collagen treated with (+)-catechin becomes resistant to the action of mammalian collagenase

Summary Treatment of radioactively labeled guinea-pig skin soluble collagen or calf skin collagen with the flavonoid (+)-catechin makes the collagen resistant to the action of mammalian collagenase but not to the action of bacterial collagenase. Complete resistance to the action of the mammalian enzyme may be achieved by incubating 0.6 mg of collagen (dry weight) with 0.1 mM (+)-catechin, followed by dialysis to remove the unbound flavonoid. Since incubation of the mammalian enzyme with (+)-catechin does not inhibit its activity, it is postulated that (+)-catechin binds tightly to collagen and modifies its structure sufficiently to make it resistant to enzyme degradation.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by grants from the Easter Seal Research Foundation of the National Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children and Adults (R-7821), and the National Institutes of Health (HL-20447). (+)-Catechin was a generous gift from Zyma SA, CH-1260 Nyon, Switzerland.     

Effects of [N-(2-oxo-3,5,7-cycloheptatrien-1-yl)] aminooxoacetic acid ethyl ester (AY-25,674) on cyclic 3',5'-nucleotide formation and phosphodiesterase activity.

The orally-effective antiallergic compound [N-(2-oxo-3,5,7-cycloheptatrien-1-yl)] aminooxoacetic acid ethyl ester (AY-25,674) exhibited a potency equivalent to or 3 times less than theophylline in inhibiting guinea-pig lung and beef heart PDE, respectively, AY-25,674 did not affect the basal activity of guinea-pig lung adenyl cyclase. Although part of the antiallergic activity of AY-25,674 may be due to the ability to elevate cyclic AMP levels by PDE inhibition, other modes of action appear to be of greater relevance.     

Effects of [N-(2-oxo-3,5,7-cycloheptatrien-1-yl)] aminooxoacetic acid ethyl ester (AY-25,674) on cyclic 3′,5′-nucleotide formation and phosphodiesterase activity

Summary The orally-effective antiallergic compound [N-(2-oxo-3,5,7-cycloheptatrien-1-yl)] aminooxoacetic acid ethyl ester (AY-25,674) exhibited a potency equivalent to or 3 times less than theophylline in inhibiting guinea-pig lung and beef heart PDE, respectively. AY-25,674 did not affect the basal activity of guinea-pig lung adenyl cyclase. Although part of the antiallergic activity of AY-25,674 may be due to the ability to elevate cyclic AMP levels by PDE inhibition, other modes of action appear to be of greater relevance.The authors acknowledge the excellent technical assistance of Ms M.T. Silvestre.     

An alkaline protease in the delayed hypersensitivity skin lesions in the guinea-pigs.

An alkaline hemoglobinolytic protease was extracted from the delayed hypersensitivity skin lesions induced by bovine gamma-globulin as an antigen in the guinea-pig. The enzyme was heat-labile and inhibited by thiol-blocking reagents. The mol.wt. was more than 100,000 and optimal pH around 9.     

Die Urokinase des Meerschweinchens

Summary In contrast to the urinary fibrinolysokinase (=urokinase) of other species, the urokinase in guineapigs reveals a most peculiar behaviour. A significant and well reproducible activation of fibrinolysin is obtainable only when guinea-pig fibrinolysin is used. Fibrinolysin of other species is only slightly activated. This fact is most important in investigations on the increased fibrinolytic activity of guinea-pig urine.     

Inflammatory factors produced by sensitized guinea-pig peripheral blood lymphocytes

Summary The supernatants obtained from stimulated tuberculin-sensitive guinea-pig peripheral blood lymphocytes contain factors that induce a cutaneous inflammatory response in normal guinea-pigs similar to the tuberculin reaction and inhibit the migration of normal guinea-pigs peritoneal exudate cells. There appears to be a correlation between the presence of in vitro migration inhibitory activity and inflammatory activity in vivo.     

Effect of starvation on enzymes related to lipid metabolism in guinea-pig lungs

The changes in activities of acetyl CoA carboxylase, microsomal fatty acid elongation enzyme, choline phosphotransferase, triglyceride lipase, phospholipase A1 and phospholipase A2 were followed in guinea-pig lungs at 24, 48 and 72 h after food deprivation. Triglyceride lipase was elevated and phospholipase A1 and phospholipase A2 were unaffected, while the other activities decreased. The significance of these findings in relation to food deprivation is discussed.     

Etude de l'activité anticomplémentaire du sérum décomplémenté de rats hypo-, normo- et hyperglycémiques

Summary The anticomplementary activity of decomplemented rat serum was determined using a technique of inhibition of guinea-pig complement in a 50% hemolysis system. The anticomplementary activity of the serum varies inversely to the glycemic state of the rats, being highest in the serum from hypo, and lowest in that of hyperglycemic animals.     

Adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase from brain tissue: different stabilities during incubation of cerebral cortical slices.

Adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase were prepared from brain slices from guinea-pig. The specific activity of adenylate cyclase declined rapidly with increasing incubation time of tissue slices, while phosphodiesterase activity was almost uneffected by the incubation of brain slices.     

Nuclear envelope and nuclear matrix: interactions and dynamics

The peripheral nuclear lamina is located near the nuclear inner membrane and consists of lamin filaments and integral membrane proteins, including the lamin B receptor and various isoforms of lamina-associated polypeptides (LAP) 1 and 2. Several nuclear membrane proteins also interact with chromatin proteins BAF and Hp1. Lamins in the nuclear interior associate with at least one soluble (non-membrane-bound) LAP2 isoform named LAP2alpha. The internal lamins, together with Tpr-based filaments that connect to nuclear pore complexes, are proposed to be major structural elements of the internal nuclear matrix. We describe the structural links between the peripheral lamina and the internal nuclear matrix that are thought to be mediated by LAP2 family members, filament protein Tpr and nucleoporin Nup153. These findings are discussed in relation to human diseases that arise from mutations in nuclear lamina proteins.     

A histochemical demonstration of the Na+ + K+-ATPase activity in the thyroid and the effect of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (c-AMP).

With a suitable modification of the Farquhar and Palade technique the Na+ + K+-ATPase activity in guinea-pig thyroid is demonstrated. The addition of c-AMP (5 X 10(-6) M or 1.5 X 10(-5) M) to the incubation media produced an apparent intensification of the Na+ + K+ -ATPase activity in the thyroid.     

The activity of sorbitol dehydrogenase in some mammalian erythrocytes

Summary The activity of sorbitol dehydrogenase was found to be high in the red blood cells of man, dog, guinea-pig and mouse and comparatively lower in those of goat, sheep, rabbit, cat and rat.