Purification of a protein binding quinacrine and histrionicotoxin from membrane fragments rich in cholinergic receptors in Torpedo marmorata]

A protein is purified by differential centrifugation from membrane fragments rich in acetylcholine receptor prepared from Torpedo marmorata electric organ after dissolution by a mixture of non denaturing detergents. After polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate and Coomassie blue staining the purified protein yields a single band of apparent molecular weight 43,000. Spectroscopic experiments carried out in the absence of Ca++ and detergents reveal that the 43 K protein interacts with the fluorescent local anesthetic quinacrine and with the frog toxin histrionicotoxin (apparent KD : 7 X 10(-7) M) but not with carbamylcholine and the alpha toxin from N. nigricollis.     

Coexistence of neoteny and an internal cycle a polystomatid (Monogenea)]

Metapolystoma cachani a parasite of Ptychadena longirostris (Peters) has been discovered in the Ivory coast. Its life cycle is the first to involve both the possibility of an internal cycle in the bladder of the adult Amphibian and a neotenical reproduction on the gills of the Tadpole. This double process is the link between the Monogeneans which are only parasites of aquatic hosts and those which are adapted to terrestrial hosts. Its place is therefore essential in the phylogeny of Polystomatidae.     

Structure of an antibody combining site by magnetic resonance.

The structure of the combining site of the DNP binding IgA mouse myeloma protein MOPC 315 has been determined by a combination of high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance, model building and chemical modifications. This approach yields that general dimensions of the site, its polarity and asymmetry features, the assignment of the DNP-contact residues and their three-dimensional coordinates.     

Molecular aspects of 2 human urinary glycoproteins with histocompatibility antigen (HLA) serological activity]

Two serologically active urinary glycoproteins (HLA-A 9 and HLA-B 12) were isolated from urine provided by a patient suffering from tubular proteinuria. Their N-terminal sequences were automatically determined. The latter were identical with the sequence of another urinary glycoprotein (protein HC). The relationship between protein HC and the serological activity is discussed.     

Antifertility activity of trimethylphosphate in male rats

Summary The toxic effect of trimethylphosphate on rat testes was investigated after oral dosing with 250 mg/kg for either 5 days/week for 30 days or 6 days/week for 60 days. After these prolonged treatments azoospermia resulted.Acknowledgments. The authors wish to thank Ms M. Michelles, Ms A. Murray and Ms R. Peake for their technical support.     

Effect of chronic hypo and hypervitaminosis C on the brush border enzymes and the intestinal uptake of glucose and alanine

Summary Brush border sucrase and alkaline phosphatase activities are considerably enhanced in the intestine of ascorbic acid deficient guinea-pigs. Similar increase in the uptake of D-glucose and L-alanine also occurs in chronic vitamin C deficiency. However the permeability of D-glucose and L-alanine in the intestine of animals fed with large doses of vitamin C is severely depressed, with a reduction in the levels of sucrase and alkaline phosphatase activities.     

125I-Insulin is preferentially internalized in regions of the hepatocytes rich in lysosomal and Golgi structures

Summary ¹²⁵I-Insulin initially localizes to the plasma membrane of isolated rat hepatocytes but is subsequently internalized and preferentially associates with lysosomal structures. In the present study, we show that this preferential association to lysosomes occurs in regions of the cell rich in lysosomal and Golgi structures.This work was performed while Dr Gorden was visiting professor of the Institute of Histology and Embryology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.This work was supported by grant No. 3.120.77 from Swiss National Science Foundation. We thank M.M. Sidler-Ansermet, O. Jerotic and N. Maalaoui for their valuable help.