Do Schwann cells produce collagen type III?

Summary The fact that collagen from both normal nerve endoneurium and Schwann cell tumours present characteristics of collagen type III, suggests that Schwann cells produce this type of collagen.     

Altered or increased transfer-RNA methylation in the course of Interferon action on cells in culture?

Summary The induction of the antiviral state by Interferon might reflect the decrease of the rate of biosynthesis, the degradation or the alteration of one or several tRNAs. This could result in rate-limiting concentrations for codons common in viral RNA but rare in host mRNA. Altered methylation of tRNA could be the basis of such a phenomenon. However, we could not find an altered extent of methylation of total tRNA or an altered pattern of methylation, if mixed tRNAs were chromatographed on MAK- or BD-cellulose columns, despite a large range of conditions of pretreatment of chick embryo fibroblast cultures with interferon.Work supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation, grants 3.1050 and 3.540.     

DNA polymerases in prokaryotes and eukaryotes: Mode of action and biological implications

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences -     

Inhibition of tumor-induced angiogenesis and of tumor growth by activated lymphocytes

Summary Inhibition in angiogenesis (neo-vascularization) and of growth of a tumor piece graft in the anterior chamber of the eye of mice have been observed in the presence of activated syngeneic lymphocytes.Acknowledgment. The authors are thankful to ICMR, New Delhi, for financial assistance and to Mr N.C. Ghosh for illustration.     

Alkaloide ausSchizozygia caffaeoides (Boj.) Baill.

Summary FromSchizozygia caffaeoides (Boj.) Baill. (Apocynaceae), one major and ten minor new alkaloids have been isolated and characterised. Most of them are N-acylindoline derivatives, partly with the hitherto unknown 5,6-methylendioxyindoline system. Some possible correlations between these alkaloids are discussed.

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Den Herren Dres.H. Fritz, R. W. Schmid undH. Wagner und ihren Mitarbeitern danken wir für Spektren und Mikroanalysen.     

Morphologie und Bedeutung des ergastoplastischen Cisternen-Kollapses

Summary Acetyl salicycil acid, malonic acid and riboflavin deficiency produce characteristic changes of the endoplasmic reticulum called collapsed cisternae of rat and mouse hepatocyte probably as a consequence of a disturbed oxydative metabolism.     

Ouabain--a link in the genesis of high blood pressure?

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a risk factor that increases risk of myocardial infarction, renal failure or cerebral stroke. The pathogenesis of hypertension is due to a variety of causes, including inherited predisposition, dietary habits, especially salt intake, smoking, and also 'general lifestyle'. But for the scientist interested in the complex interplay of physiological and molecular factors, the actual causes of high blood pressure remain uninvestigated. The following article is concerned with new reports that ouabain, a plant derivative, occurs in human beings, in whom it appears to have a hormonal function; ouabain may even play a key role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. We are thus brought a step closer to the background of cardiovascular disease; we may also be afforded a lead to a new therapeutic principle.     

The role of proteolytic processing in the morphogenesis of virus particles.

Proteinases are encoded by many RNA viruses, all retroviruses and several DNA viruses. They play essential roles at various stages in viral replication, including the coordinated assembly and maturation of virions. Most of these enzymes belong to one of three (Ser, Cys or Asp) of the four major classes of proteinases, and have highly substrate-selective and cleavage specific activities. They can be thought of as playing one of two general roles in viral morphogenesis. Structural proteins are encoded by retroviruses and many RNA viruses as part of large polyproteins. Their proteolytic release is a prerequisite to particle assembly; consequent structural rearrangement of the capsid domains serves to regulate and direct association and assembly of capsid subunits. The second general role of proteolysis is in assembly-dependent maturation of virus particles, which is accompanied by the acquisition of infectivity.