Reduction of adenylylsulfate and 3′-phosphoadenylylsulfate in phototrophic bacteria

Summary Extracts of 14 species of phototrophic bacteria, partly grown with different sulfur compounds, were tested for their ability to form volatile sulfur compounds from adenylylsulfate (APS) and 3-phosphoadenylylsulfate (PAPS). The Rhodospirillum species showed marked activities with both APS and PAPS while the Rhodopseudomonas species seem to prefer PAPS. the Chromatiaceae exhibited the strongest activities with APS, whereas Chlorobium limicola had equally high activity with PAPS.We thank J. F. Imhoff for skilful assistance and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft for financial support.     

Effect of spike disease on the 5′-and 3′-nucleotidase activities in sandal plants

Summary In the sandal plant affected by spike disease, caused by mycoplasma-like organisms, the changes occurring in the 5-and 3-nucleotidase activities were studied and their possible significance discussed.     

Adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate levels in maize roots

Summary Endogenous levels of adenosine 3,5-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in maize (cv. LG 11) root cells, grown in light and dark conditions, were found to be 309 and 387 pmoles/g of fresh tissue respectively.This investigation was partially supported by USA National Science Foundation grant No. CDP 8004200 to the senior author.     

Fever produced in rabbits by N6, O2′-dibutyryl adenosine 3′, 5′-cyclic monophosphate

Zusammenfassung Die Injektion von N⁶-2-O-Dibutyryl-adenosin-3 5-monophosphat in den lateralen Hirnventrikel von Kaninchen führt zu einer langanhaltenden Fieberreaktion, was vermuten lässt, dass zyklisches Adenosin-35-monophosphat als weiterer Mediator in der Genese des Fiebers fungiert.     

Etiologic factors in Paget’s disease of bone

Paget’s disease of bone is a chronic focal skeletal disorder characterized by increased bone resorption by the osteoclasts. Paramyxoviral gene products have been detected in pagetic osteoclasts. Paget’s disease is an autosomal dominant trait with genetic heterogeneity. Several mutations in the ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domain of sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1/p62) have been identified in patients with Paget’s disease. Similarly, mutations in the valosin-containing protein (VCP) gene have been shown to cause inclusion body myopathy associated with Paget’s disease of bone and frontotemporal dementia. In addition, gene polymorphisms and enhanced levels of cytokine/growth factors associated with Paget’s disease have been identified. However, the etiologic factors in Paget’s disease remain elusive. A cause and effect relationship for the paramyxoviral infection and SQSTM1/ p62 gene mutations responsible for pagetic osteoclast development and disease severity are unclear. This article will highlight the etiologic factors involved in the pathogenesis of Paget’s disease. Received 6 October 2005; received after revision 2 November 2005; accepted 24 November 2005     

Crystal and molecular structure of 3, 3′-dibromobenzophenone

Résumé La structure du cristal de 3, 3-dibromobenzophénone a été définie par l'emploi de données obtenues par rayons X dans trois dimensions. Les distances et les angles de liaison ont été obtenus et l'on a trouvé que deux anneaux de phényle de la molécule ne sont pas dans le même plan, l'angle compris entre eux étant de 39,9°.     

On factors involved in the mechanism of ‘Taste-blindness’

Zusammenfassung Der genetisch kontrollierte, hohe Geschmacksschwellenwert — Geschmacksblindheit — gegenüber Phenylthioharnstoff (PTC) und anderen bitteren, strukturell ähnlichen Anti-Schilddrüsensubstanzen, scheint durch die Qualität und Quantität des löslichen Speichel-Enzym-Systems Tyrosiniodinase bedingt zu sein.PTC-Geschmacksblinde sind «Alles-Esser», PTC-Schmecker hingegen weisen eine erhöhte kulinarische Selektivität auf. Diese Tatsache ist um so interessanter, als der Schwellenwert der beiden Gruppen gegenüber den klassischen Geschmacksqualitäten — süss, salzig, sauer und bitter — derselbe ist.     

5′-Methyl-cytosine in the macronulear DNA ofBlepharisma japonicum

Summary Brief report on the presence of 5-methyl-cytosine as a minor base (0.56%) in the macronuclear DNA of the ciliate orotozoanBlepharisma japonicum. The evidence comes from electrophoresis of macronuclear DNA digested by appropriate restriction endonucleases and high-performance liquid chromatography     

Protein turnover in glycine-C14-labelled Landschütz ascites tumor cells

Zusammenfassung Untersuchungen über die Stabilität der Eiweißstoffe von Landschütz-Aszites-Tumoren wurden an C¹⁴-Glykokoll,-Valin oder -Leucin markierten Zellen durchgeführt. Es wurde festgestellt, dass während der Zellteilung und des Wachstums kontinuierlich etwa 5–10% pro Tag der einmal gebundenen C¹⁴-Aktivität als niedrigmolekulare Komponenten in die Aszitesflüssigkeit ausgeschieden wird. Diese Instabilität kommt offenbar durch intrazellulare Umsetzung der Eiweißstoffe und nicht durch Ausscheidung ganzer Eiweissmoleküle zustande.     

Promotion of epithelial keratinization by N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in rat forestomach in organ culture

Summary The effect of N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) on epithelial differentiation of fetal rat forestomach was investigated in organ culture. When forestomach tissues removed from 16.5-day fetuses were treated with 5 g and 3 g of MNNG per ml for 1 h, epithelial keratinization was observed after 4 and 5 days, respectively, whereas it occurred after 6 days in control cultures. A clear dose-response relationship was found in the promotion of epithelial keratinization by MNNG.This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Cancer Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan.Acknowledgment. The authors wish to express their gratitude to Prof. T. Mizuno of the University of Tokyo for valuable suggestions.     

Protein profiling of 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation and (tumor necrosis factor α-mediated) starvation

The increased incidence of obesity and related disorders in Western societies requires a thorough understanding of the adipogenic process. Data at the protein level of this process are scarce. Therefore we performed a proteome analysis of differentiating and starving 3T3-L1 cells using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis combined with mass spectrometry. Effects of different starvation conditions were examined by subjecting 3T3-L1 adipocytes to caloric restriction, either in the absence or the presence of the lipolysis inducer tumor necrosis factor-. Ninety-three differentially expressed proteins were found during differentiation and starvation of 3T3-L1 cells, 50 of which were identified. GenMAPP/MAPP-finder software revealed a non-reciprocal regulation of the glycolytic pathway during 3T3-L1 differentiation followed by starvation. Furthermore, proteins involved in growth regulation, cytoskeletal rearrangements and protein modification, 16 of which have not been described before in 3T3-L1 cells, were identified. In conclusion, our data provide valuable information for further understanding of the adipogenic process.Received 9 November 2004; received after revision 21 December 2004; accepted 28 December 2004     

Changes in adenylate cyclase and 5′-nucleotidase activities in liver membranes from alloxan diabetic rats

Summary Liver membrane adenylate cyclase activity was significantly higher and 5-nucleotidase activity significantly lower in alloxan diabetic rats compared with normal rats.     

Einbau des 2′,4,4′,6′-Tetrahydroxy-chalkon-2′-glucosid-[β-14C] in Isoflavone

Summary 2,4,4,6-Tetrahydroxychalcone-2-glucoside-[-¹⁴C] is incorporated into biochanin-A in chana germ (Cicer arietinum L.) without randomization of the radioactivity. Possibly a very low incorporation into formononetin occurs also. After administration of the chalcone a large part of the activity is bound to the acid insoluble residue of the cicer shoots (lignin-like substances) in an (as yet) undetermined manner. This binding also occurs in heat denatured homogenates.

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VI. Mitt. Zur Biogenese der Isoflavone. V. Mitt.H. Grisebach undG. Brandner, Biochim. biophys. Acta60, 51 (1962).     

Protein kinase C-dependent NF-κB activation is altered in T cells by chronic stress

Chronic stress has been associated with impaired immune function. In this work we studied the effect of chronic mild stress (CMS) exposure on the early intracellular pathways involved in T cells after stimulation with mitogen. We found that mitogen stimulation of T lymphocytes from CMS-exposed mice resulted in a reduction of the intracellular [Ca²⁺] rise, an impairment of growth-promoting protein kinase C (PKC) activation, a lower NF-κB activation and an increase in the inhibitory cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway activity with respect to those found in control lymphocytes. However, T cell activation with the direct PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore led to a similar proliferative response in both CMS and control lymphocytes, indicating that signals downstream of PKC would not be affected by stress. In summary, our results show that chronic stress induced an alteration in T cell early transduction signals that result in an impairment of the proliferative response.Received 11 February 2005; received after revision 20 May 2005; accepted 6 June 2005     

Synthesis and application of the photolabile guanosine 3′,5′-phosphoric-o-nitrobenzylester

Summary The o-nitrobenzylester of guanosine 3,5-phosphate is prepared and the photolysis studied. This photoactive form of cGMP should be an agent capable of altering the intracellular concentration of cGMP through membrane penetration and subsequent photolysis.Acknowledgments. We would like to thank the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Universität Konstanz for kindly supporting this research.