Glycoprotein biosynthesis in splenic cells. Purification of a microsomal galactosyl-transferase

Summary One part of the microsomal galactosyl-transferase activity of splenic cells of rats can by solubilized by the action of Triton X-100 and Tween 20. Its purification on a Sephadex G-200 column and by electrophoresis on a polyacrylamide gel leads to a solution of high specific enzymic activity.This work has benefited from the help of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, the Direction des Recherches et Moyens d'Essais, the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale Française the Délégation Générale à la Recherche Scientifique et Technique and the Université de Lyon (UER Lyon-Sud et Biologie Humaine).     

Molecular ecology of a Neolithic meadow: The DNA of the grass remains from the archaeological site of the Tyrolean Iceman

The paper reports on the molecular analysis of samples of approximately 5,300-year-old grass found at the alpine archaeological site where the so-called Tyrolean Iceman was discovered. The grass comes from a cloak made of long grass blades and/or the stuffing of the snow footwear worn by the Iceman. The results show that while the largest fraction of the DNA extractable from the grass is of foreign origin, a much smaller part belongs to the original genetic material of the grass itself, and can be used as a valuable taxonomic clue to the plant species utilized by neolithic men to manufacture their equipment. On the other hand, the foreign DNA, or at least a portion of it, comes from microorganisms-mainly filamentous fungi and unicellular algae-which seem to have been associated with the grass since the time the grass was harvested.     

Limitations of the ‘direct linear plot’ in evaluation of drug-protein binding parameters

Summary The applicability of the direct linear plot is compared with that of the Scatchard plot for the estimation of protein binding parameters. Only, if one class of binding sites exists in the system tested, binding parameters may be estimated by use of the direct linear plot. On the other hand the Scatchard plot also provides estimates in systems with more that one class of binding sites.     

Nature and the time course of the effect of CO2 on electroretinogram (ERG) in an arachnid

Summary Electroretinogram recorded from the median eye of the scorpion, Heterometrus fulvipes before and after exposure to CO₂ indicated that the rate of recovery of b wave to pre-CO₂ level was slow and delayed as compared to a wave. b wave may therefore have a more central origin than that of a wave, which finds corroboration in the results of the depth recording in this eye with the microelectrode.The equipment was a gift from USAFOSR to Prof. T. H. Bullock and Prof. K. P. Rao, and the work was carried out at the Department of Zoology, Bangalore University. I thank Dr R. V. Krishnamoorthy and Dr A. R. Kasturi Bai.     

Die langsamen positiven Potentiale im Säuger-ERG Elektroretinogramm

Summary Investigating the slow positive potentials of the electroretinogram (ERG) of different mammals, c-wave and d.c.-potential proved to be strictly discernible. With respect to its amplitude and its peak time, the c-wave differs in various species. There are two types of d.c.-potentials, a scotopic and a photopic one.     

Isoforms of baker's yeast transketolase

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Determinant of efficiency of a monomeric enzyme: Acceleration by site-specific molecules for trypsin

Summary The interaction of a specific ligand at substrate binding site was shown to be responsible for the catalytic efficiency of trypsin. The reasoning of induced fit theory was refined by kinetic analysis of characteristic properties of inverse substrates.This work was supported by grants from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan.     

Changes in the lumen of coronary vessels under oligemic hypotension

Conclusions The decrease of circulating blood volume, resulting in oligemic hypotension, may evoke in anaesthetized cat the active constrictory coronary vessel responses of 2 types, one occuring immediately after start of the hypotension and the other having a significantly prolonged latency.

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, , , , ( 4 ), ( 45 ).

     

Conjugated terpenoid ketones: A new group of plant growth regulators

Summary ,-unsaturated terpenoid ketones have a root-inducing property on the hypocotyl cuttings ofPhaseoulus aureus. Significantly isopathcoulenone, (I) is distinctly more active in causeing rooting over IAA.Acknowledgment. The work was financially supported by the Punjab State Government, India, under the scheme Chemistry of some natural products and their significance in agriculture. The authors thank Dragoco, Holzminden, Federal Republic of Germany, for supplying the samples of monoterpenes.     

Etude de l'hydrolyse et des propriétés toxiques vis-à-vis des mitochondries de maïs Texas,d'un insecticide,le méthomyl ou S-méthyl-N [(méthylcarbamoy)oxyl] thioacétimidate

Summary Methomyl, or S-methyl-N [(methylcarbamoyl)oxy] thioacetimidate, a common insecticide, has been found to be a specific poison of mitochondria of corn with Texas cytoplasm. Its hydrolysis under very mild acidic conditions affords thiomethyl methylthiosulphonate, which strongly inhibits the activity of CmST and N mitochondria of corn.     

The role of repair in radiobiology

Summary Apart from cancer and mutation induction, radiobiological effects on mammals are mostly attributable to cell death, defined as loss of proliferative capacity. Survival curves relate retention of that capacity to radiation dose, and often manifest a quasi-threshold (shoulder). The shoulder is attributable to an initial mechanism of repair (Q-repair) which is gradually depleted as dose increases. Another form of repair, which is not depleted (P-repair), increases the dose required to deliver an average of one lethal event per cell (dose D₀). Neither form of repair can unambiguously be linked with repair of defects in isolated DNA. An important initial lesion may well be disruption of the complex structural relationship between the DNA, nuclear membrane and associated proteins. One form of P-repair may be restoration of that structural relationship.     

Chromosomes and some issues of the evolution of the ground squirrel genusCitellus (Rodentia: Sciuridae)

Citellus (s. str.) relictus, C. dauricus C. pygmaeus (2=36, NF=72). . (Colobotis) erythrogenys . fulvus -. . (Urocitellus) undulatus (2n=32, NF=64) . columbianus. Citellus, , Citellus, . , .     

Interdependence between locomotor activity and duration of wakefulness in humans during isolation

Summary Locomotor activity was recorded in 14 subjects who lived singly in an isolation unit for 16 to 88 days. Their free-running circadian rhythms had a mean period of 25.9 h, with individual means in the duration of wakefulness () ranging from 12.1 to 22.9 h. Intraindividually, the hourly means of activity were negatively correlated with to such a degree that the total amount of activity per day remained constant irrespective of large variations in .     

Glutamate decarboxylase activity in brain regions of differentially-housed mice; a difference in the olfactory bulb

Summary Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activities were determined in homogenates of 8 brain regions of mice that had been differentially housed (isolated vs grouped) for 4–9 weeks. GAD activity was lower in whole forebrains and in olfactory bulbs of isolated mice, changes which might be associated with their increased aggressiveness.     

On the origin of the protein yolk in the oocytes ofAplysia depilans (Gastropoda,Opistobranchia)

Summary In the oocytes ofAplysia depilans it has been observed electronmicroscopically that gemmae or daughter-nucleoli separate from the nucleolus. These gemmae after having overcome the nuclear membrane, would aggregate together, even after transformation, into yolk globules. These observations seem to give plausibility to the hypothesis that there is a close relationship between production of ribonucleoproteic material by the nucleolus and yolk production.     

Correlations between glucose-inhibition and control parameters of α-glucosidase kinetics inApis mellifica haemolymph (Hymenoptera: Insecta)

Summary Kinetics studies of haemolymph -glucosidase inhibition by D. glucose led to general correlations between inhibition and control parameters, all over the honeybee development. Maximum velocities are not affected by the inhibition, while affinity constants are always significantly increased, and Hill coefficients tend to decrease, especially in foraging adults and in prenymphs. In this later case, the n-type effect tends to break the manifestation of the K-type mechanism.     

Eptoformazione non ossidativa nel muscolo scheletrico

Summary The so-called non-oxydative heptoformation has been shown in enzymatic preparations of rat skeletal muscle, using as substrates glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate.     

Zur Genese hepatozellulärer Kerneinschlüsse bei Colchicinvergiftung

Summary The colchicin-induced nuclear inclusions are a postmitotic phenomena. Fusing chromosome vesicles often include a portion of cytoplasm, surrounded by persisting parts of the vesicle membranes (indirect or membraned n.i.). This membrane sometimes degenerates; the n.i. then lies free in the karyoplasm (secondarily direct or free n.i.).     

‘Action substances’ of peripheral nerve re-visited

Fifty years ago, four action substances were described as being liberated from peripheral nerve in the course of activity. An attempt has been made to update this information. Confirmatory evidence is available that acetylcholine and thiamine do play a role in the course of activity. However, the question of the relationship in time between their release and the electrical events, and the possible effect on specific ionic gating mechanisms, remains unclarified. The liberation of potassium has been found to be a transmembrane K efflux, and the question of the existence of another substance similar to thiamine has not been pursued.a member of the Editorial Board of EXPERIENTIA from 1974 to 1982