Regulation of enzymes of ethanol metabolism in yeast (Rhodotorula gracilis)

Summary The three enzymes of ethanol metabolism alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase and acetyl-CoA synthetase in the obligate aerobic yeastRhodotorula gracilis are repressed by glucose and induced by C₂ metabolic fuels with a regulatory pattern indicating a correlation in the control mechanisms. To try an identification of the molecular signals involved in the transmission of the inducing stimulus, experiments were carried out by blocking with 2 mM pyrazole the ethanol acetaldehyde metabolic step. Results indicate that ethanol is not specifically required as a molecular signal for induction.This work was supported by a grant from the Italian Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.     

Differentiation in renal homografts of isolated parts of rat embryonic ectoderm

Summary The central and the peripheral areas of the head-fold stage rat embryo ectoderm develop into both the neural tissue and the epidermis when grafted under the kidney capsule of adult rats.This investigation was supported by the grant No. IV/3 from the Research Foundation of S.R. Croatia, and in part by NIH PL 480 Agreement No. 02-038-1.     

Does an inhibitor of mitochondrial adenylate kinase also affect oxidative phosphorylation?

Summary Adenylate kinase activity of intact mitochondria is strongly inhibited by Ap₅A, i.e.p ¹,p ⁵-Di (adenosine-5-) pentaphosphate, whereas oxidative phosphorylation is not affected. Therefore, Ap₅A is a useful tool to distinguish between oxidative and non oxidative ATP generating reactions.Acknowledgment. The generous support of Prof. Dr.Walther Lamprecht is gratefully acknowledged. J. L. thanks the Stipendienfonds des Verbandes der Chemische Industrie for a scholarship.     

Organization of myosin molecules in the muscle thick filament

Summary Tryptic treatment of muscle thick filaments reveals the underlying backbones of aggregatedl-meromyosin as a coli of 3 secondary filaments (helical repeat 130 nm) each in turn a coli of a 3 finer ones.     

Blood plasma investigations by resonance raman spectroscopy: Detection of carotenoid pigments

Summary Using Raman spectroscopy, we demonstrate that low levels of -carotene, lycopene, and xanthophyll give rise to resonance enhanced bands in blood plasma. These results explain the significance of previously unidentified spectral maxima which have been related to the state of health of the blood donor.     

The effect of D-6-methyl-8-[β-isopropylaminoethyl] ergoline-I on the lactation in nursing rats

D-6-Methyl-8-[-isopropylaminoethyl] ergoline-I [VÚFB-10726], beginning from the dose of 0.05 mg/kg p.o., suppresses lactation through the inhibition of prolactin secretion in nursing rats.     

Poly(A) associated RNA from mitochondria and microsomes of rat brain

Summary Rat brain mitochondria contain a significant proportion of poly(A) associated RNA which is higher than that found in microsomes from the same source. When steady state poly(A) RNA of brain mitochondria was analyzed by microelectrophoresis, it displayed a characteristic separation pattern with a large amount of free poly(A).     

Ecdysone 20-hydroxylase from the midgut of the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta L.)

Summary An ecdysone 20-hydroxylase enzyme system that converts -ecdysone to 20-hydroxyecdysone was prepared from the midgut of the tobacco hornworm prepupa. This partially purified enzyme is NADPH dependent and is localized in the mitochondrial fraction of the midgut tissue.     

Octopamine,dopamine and noradrenaline content of the brain of the locust,Schistocerca gregaria

Summary The octopamine, dopamine and noradrenaline content of the brain of the locust,Schistocerca gregaria has been determined using sensitive radiochemical-enzymatic assays. Octopamine and dopamine are present in high concentration but the noradrenaline content is only 1/25 that of octopamine. Both reserpine and fusaric acid (a dopamine--hydroxylase inhibitor) produce a significant depletion of the octopamine stores.The author is a M.R.C. of Canada Fellow. Thanks are due to Drs.A. A. Boulton, A. V. Juorio, andP. H. Wu for helpful discussion.     

Biosynthesis ofα- andβ-ecdysone by the CrayfishOrconectes limosus in vivo and by its Y-Organs in vitro

Summary - and -ecdysone were synthesized from labelled cholesterol by premolt crayfish in vivo and by their Y-organs in vitro.