Esterase alterations in neurological mutants of the mouse

Zusammenfassung In Analysen von Gehirn-Zymogrammen verschiedener neurologischer Mäusemutanten wurden Abnormalitäten in Form von Esterasedefiziten gefunden. Da solche neulich auch für die multiple Sklerose des Menschen beschrieben wurden, wird vorgeschlagen, unspezifische Esterasen als signifikant für den normalen Myelinanabolismus zu bewerten.

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This investigation was supported by Public Health Service research Grant CA 04691-06 from the National Cancer Institute.     

Renaissance humanism and botany

The enthusiasm of Renaissance humanists for classical learning greatly influenced the development of botany in the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Humanist scholars restored the treatises of Theophrastus, Pliny, Galen and Dioscorides on botany and materia medica to general circulation and argued for their use as textbooks in Renaissance universities. Renaissance botanists' respect for classical precepts and models of the proper methods for studying plants temporarily discouraged the use of naturalistic botanical illustration, but encouraged other techniques for collecting and communicating new observations: herbaria, botanical gardens and field trips.     

Deciphering the evolution and metabolism of an anammox bacterium from a community genome

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) has become a main focus in oceanography and wastewater treatment. It is also the nitrogen cycle's major remaining biochemical enigma. Among its features, the occurrence of hydrazine as a free intermediate of catabolism, the biosynthesis of ladderane lipids and the role of cytoplasm differentiation are unique in biology. Here we use environmental genomics--the reconstruction of genomic data directly from the environment--to assemble the genome of the uncultured anammox bacterium Kuenenia stuttgartiensis from a complex bioreactor community. The genome data illuminate the evolutionary history of the Planctomycetes and allow us to expose the genetic blueprint of the organism's special properties. Most significantly, we identified candidate genes responsible for ladderane biosynthesis and biological hydrazine metabolism, and discovered unexpected metabolic versatility.     

Identification of the gene altered in Berardinelli-Seip congenital lipodystrophy on chromosome 11q13

Congenital generalized lipodystrophy, or Berardinelli-Seip syndrome (BSCL), is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by a near-absence of adipose tissue from birth or early infancy and severe insulin resistance. Other clinical and biological features include acanthosis nigricans, hyperandrogenism, muscular hypertrophy, hepatomegaly, altered glucose tolerance or diabetes mellitus, and hypertriglyceridemia. A locus (BSCL1) has been mapped to 9q34 with evidence of heterogeneity. Here, we report a genome screen of nine BSCL families from two geographical clusters (in Lebanon and Norway). We identified a new disease locus, designated BSCL2, within the 2.5-Mb interval flanked by markers D11S4076 and D11S480 on chromosome 11q13. Analysis of 20 additional families of various ethnic origins led to the identification of 11 families in which the disease cosegregates with the 11q13 locus; the remaining families provide confirmation of linkage to 9q34. Sequence analysis of genes located in the 11q13 interval disclosed mutations in a gene homologous to the murine guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein), gamma3-linked gene (Gng3lg) in all BSCL2-linked families. BSCL2 is most highly expressed in brain and testis and encodes a protein (which we have called seipin) of unknown function. Most of the variants are null mutations and probably result in a severe disruption of the protein. These findings are of general importance for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of body fat distribution and insulin resistance.     

Die Wirkung des Hydrocortisons auf die infektionsbedingte lokale Leukozytenansammlung

Summary The aggregation of leucocytes provoked in the peritoneal cavity of the white mouse by intraperitoneal injection of livingE. coli is inhibited by large doses of hydrocortisone. At the same time, the animal's susceptibility to infection is enhanced. The aggregation of leucocytes induced by injection of a bacterial extract containing lipopolysaccharides is inhibited in a similar manner. The effect of hydrocortisone sets in rapidly and subsides within 24 h. The inhibitory effect of hydrocortisone on the lipopolysaccharid effect on leucocytes seems to be an important factor in the influence of hydrocortisone on the infectious process.     

Wirkung eines tumorhemmenden Stoffes,des Triäthylenmelamins,auf das Wachstum von Fremdkörpergranulom und Tumor

Summary The action of Triethylenmelamine, an anti-tumour substance, was investigated on tumourgrowth and on development of the foreign body granuloma comparatively.It was found that this substance induces in both cases a similar dosis-dependent inhibition of growth.As the inhibiting action of Triethylenmelamine can even be demonstrated on rapidly growing normal tissues, it is questionable whether the antagonistic action against tumour can be designed as tumour-specific.     

Vergleich der Wirkung des Aldosterons auf das Fremdkörpergranulom der Ratte mit derjenigen von Cortexon,Corticosteron, Cortison und Hydrocortison

Summary Aldosterone applied locally in doses of 50–100 enhances slightly the growth of granuloma and in doses of up to 200 fails to inhibit such growth. In the doses, then, its action differs from that of hydrocortisone, cortisone, and cortexone.     

Ein chemisch neuartiger Vasodilatator mit Wirkung auf die Lungenstrombahn

Summary 4-[5-Amino-3-(4-pyridyl)-1 pyrazolyl]-1-methyl-piperidine (CIBA 31531-Ba) was found to have a relatively pronounced vasodilator effect on the pulmonary circulation in the open chest, right heart-bypass cat with fixed cardiac output. This compound most probably has a direct effect on the vascular smooth muscle.     

Influence of an adrenergicβ-receptor blocking agent on the effect of various hypotensive agents in the hypertensive rat

Zusammenfassung Die hypotensiven Wirkungen von Hydralazin und Guanethidin an renal hypertonischen Ratten konnten für kurze Zeit durch Pronethalol antagonisiert werden. Die Wirkung von-Methyl-DOPA wurde nicht beeinflusst.