On the phospholipids of adultAncylostoma caninum

Summary The phospholipid composition ofAncylostoma caninum has been examined. Phospholipids amounted to 0.9% of the wet weight of the parasite. Ethanolamine and choline containing lipids comprised about 76% of the total phospholipids. Lysolecithin, sphingomyelin, phosphatidyl inositol and phosphatidyl serine were present in minor amounts. Cerebrosides and sulfatides were also identified.Acknowledgements. We wish to acknowledge the contributions of Mr Ashok Chopra in the initial part of this work. Thanks are due to Mr Adarsh Kumar for skilled assistance.     

Evidence for dissociation of ferrihemoglobin by poly-L-lysine

Summary Circular dichroism and absorption spectra of ferrihemoglobin were shown to be altered upon binding with poly-L-lysine at alkaline pH. When ferrihemoglobin immobilized to Sepharose gel was treated with poly-L-lysine, hemoglobin subunits were released from the gel. These results suggest that ferrihemoglobin was dissociated into subunits by poly-L-lysine.We thank Dr A. Ichihara and K. Aki for their valuable discussions and encouragement during the course of these studies.     

2/8 translocation in a Japanese Burkitt's lymphoma

Summary A new translocation between chromsomes 2 and 8 t(2p^–; 8q⁺), was found in fresh lymphoma cells from a Japanese patient with Epstein-Barr virus-carrying Burkitt's lymphoma, and in a lymphoma cell line derived from this patient. There was no 14q⁺ translocation, as has been previously described in African and North American Burkitt's lymphomas.Supported by a grant-in-aid for Cancer Research (52-11) from the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan.     

Possible significance of aminotransferases in tissues of the aestivating fresh water mussel,Lamellidens marginalis (Lamarck)

Summary Both aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels increased in digestive gland, foot and mantle on aestivation. The free amino acids and pyruvic acid also increased in all tissues. The significance of these changes is discussed in relation to gluconeogenesis.Acknowledgment. The authors thank Professor K.S. Swami, Head, Department of Zoology, for encouragement and Mr I. Kabeer Ahamed for his help.     

Role of sialic acid in the maintenance of cell surface rigidity.

Removal of the cell surface sialic acid with neuraminidase brings about cell deformation in amoeba. The membranes of these deformed cells are eventually ruptured leading to the liberation of the cell mass.     

Mitochondrial calcium efflux and porcine stress-susceptibility

Summary Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ efflux rates ofM. longissimus dorsi correlate very closely with parameters associated with porcine stress-susceptibility. Experimental data support the measurement of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ efflux to be a very sensitive and reliable method for differentiating porcine stress-susceptibility.Acknowledgments. The autors are grateful to Dr Webb (Edinburgh) and to Dr Monin (Theix) for supplying halothanescreened pigs, to Mr C.C. Ketteridge for technical assistance and to Mr N. F. Doun for drip measurements.     

Specificity in the hydrolysis of N-acyl-L-phenylalanine 4-nitroanilides by chymotrypsin

Summary The affinity of N-acyl-L-phenylalanine 4-nitroanilides for chymotrypsin is enhanced as the hydrophobicity of non-amino acid residues in the P₂-position of the substrates increases, whereas k_cat remains nearly constant. On the other hand, if alanine or leucine is in the P₂-position k_cat increases with decreasing K_M.