Cadmium-113 FT NMR-spectra of rabbit liver metallothioneins

Summary Cadmium-113 FT NMR-spectra of rabbit liver metallothionein-I and-II gave 6 and 7 NMR-signals, respectively, at between 610 and 670 ppm downfield from aqueous Cd(ClO₄)₂ solution (0.1 M).We thank Mr M. Imanari (JEOL) for the NMR-data and Dr K. Kubota (NIES) for encouragement.     

Modification of the action of pentagastrin on acid secretion by botulinum toxin

Summary I.v. botulinum toxin after 60–90 min abolished the dose-response relationship between pentagastrin and gastric acid secretion in anesthetized rats and guinea-pigs. The toxin reduced but did not abolish the acid stimulatory effect of histamine. As expected, the acid response to vagal stimulation was abolished and that to methacholine in rats was unaltered by the toxin.Acknowledgment. We are grateful to the generosity of Dr Edward J. Schantz, Food Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, for the botulinum toxin used. — This research was supported by NIH grant 1 RO1 AM 17125, The Secretion of Pepsin.     

Purification and structural characterisation of human HLA-linked B-cell antigens.

The human B cell-specific alloantigen which is closely linked genetically to HLA contains two non-covalently associated, sialogycoprotein subunits of molecular weight (MW) 29,000 (p29), and 34,000 (p34). Although p29 and p34 have different amino-terminal sequences, their tyrosine peptide maps indicate considerable similarity in other portions of their polypeptide chains. Thus the genes for their proteins may have evolved by duplication of a common ancestral gene. Another lymphocyte cell surface protein of MW 16,000 (p16) has also been characterised. Both p16 and p44 (the heavy chain of HLA-A,B antigens) have been compared with p29 and p34.     

Sperm activation inBalanus balanoides (Crustacea: Cirripedia)

Summary Ammonium ions alone will activate both vesicula and inseminated spermatozoa ofBalanus balanoides. Maximum activity, however, occurs when inseminated spermatozoa are treated with the blood and oviducal gland fluid ofB. balanoides.Acknowledgments. I should like to thank Mr K. White for the ammonia determinations and Prof. D. J. Crisp and Dr P. A. Gabbott for useful discussions.