The absence of an inhibitory effect of metyrapone (2-methyl-1,2-di (3-pyridyl) propan-1-one) on hepatic microsomal hydroxylation in scurvy.

Microsomes from livers of scorbutic guinea-pigs showed a reduced rate of acetanilide hydroxylation. The response of "scorbutic" liver microsomes to the inhibitor Metyrapone (2-methyl-1,2 di (3-pyridyl) propan-1-one) was different from that of liver microsomes from non-scorbutic guinea-pigs.     

Nuclear pores in the spermatozoon of the rat

Summary The paper describes a hexagonal array of nuclear pores in a non-redundant region of the nuclear envelope underlying the basal surface of the rat spermatozoon head. It is concluded that intranuclear material protruding through these pores is the cause of the characteristic rows of circular bumps found in surface replicas of this region.     

Beta-adrenergic receptors in rat myocardium: Direct detection by a new fluorescent beta-blocker

Summary A new fluorescent -blocker, 9-amino-acridin propranolol (9-AAP), was administered i.v. to rats. Multiple fluorescent 9-AAP binding sites were observed on cardiac muscle cells in frozen sections. Intensity and density of cardiac 9-AAP fluorescence were markedly reduced following pretreatment with (±)- and (–)-propranolol but not with (+)-propranolol. Our findings suggest that 9-AAP may label -adrenergic receptor sites in rat myocardium.D. A. is supported by a fellowship from the Lady Davis Fellowship Trust and by a Research Grant from the Bat-Sheva de Rothschild Fund for The Advancement of Science and Technology. The technical assistance ofA. Itzhak is gratefully acknowledged.     

Effect of X-537A on the phosphorylated protein in sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles

Summary The effect of the antibiotic X-537A on the phosphorylated ATPase (EP) was investigated. The results show that X-537A depresses the level of EP which is dependent on the Ca²⁺ gradient, while the Ca²⁺-independent EP is not affected. Acknowledgments. This work was supported by grants from the Instituto de Alta Cultura of the Portuguese Ministry of Education (No. CB/2) and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.     

Does an inhibitor of mitochondrial adenylate kinase also affect oxidative phosphorylation?

Summary Adenylate kinase activity of intact mitochondria is strongly inhibited by Ap₅A, i.e.p ¹,p ⁵-Di (adenosine-5-) pentaphosphate, whereas oxidative phosphorylation is not affected. Therefore, Ap₅A is a useful tool to distinguish between oxidative and non oxidative ATP generating reactions.Acknowledgment. The generous support of Prof. Dr.Walther Lamprecht is gratefully acknowledged. J. L. thanks the Stipendienfonds des Verbandes der Chemische Industrie for a scholarship.     

Organization of myosin molecules in the muscle thick filament

Summary Tryptic treatment of muscle thick filaments reveals the underlying backbones of aggregatedl-meromyosin as a coli of 3 secondary filaments (helical repeat 130 nm) each in turn a coli of a 3 finer ones.     

Ecdysone 20-hydroxylase from the midgut of the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta L.)

Summary An ecdysone 20-hydroxylase enzyme system that converts -ecdysone to 20-hydroxyecdysone was prepared from the midgut of the tobacco hornworm prepupa. This partially purified enzyme is NADPH dependent and is localized in the mitochondrial fraction of the midgut tissue.     

Effect of air ionization on blood serotonin in vitro

Summary The effect of negative and positive air ionisation on siliconized blood serotonin was studied in vitro. The experiments showed that within 10 min positive ionisation increased serotonin levels in total blood (+40%), plasma (+90%), erythrocytes (+50%) and thrombocytes (+200%). On the other hand, negative ionization (10 min) lowered the serotonin content of total blood (–30%), plasma (–42.5%), erythrocytes (–41.7%) and thrombocytes (–72.3%), thus confirming the Krueger Effect in vitro.This research was generously supported by a grant from the Joint Research Fund of the Hebrew University and Hadassah, and Dr. and Mrs.Leonard Appleby of Palmbeach, Florida.Acknowledgment: Our thanks are due to Mr.B. Shalita, Mrs.Zippora Adar and Mrs.Olga Fradkin for devoted technical assistance.