Isolation and characterization of a new hemagglutinin from the red alga Gracilaria bursa-pastoris

A new agglutinin has been isolated from the red alga Gracilaria bursa-pastoris by affinity chromatography on a yeast mannan-Cellulofine column. This agglutinin was isolated as a monomeric glycoprotein with a relatively low molecular weight. It had an isoelectric point of 4.7 and contained large amounts of Gly, Asx and Glx. It agglutinated trypsin-treated rabbit erythrocytes at the low concentration of 30 ng/ml. The activity was inhibited only by glycoproteins bearing N-glycans. This agglutinin also showed mitogenic activity for mouse splenic lymphocytes.     

Close correlation between levels of cholesterol and free fatty acids in lymphoid cells

Summary A close correlation was found between the levels of free cholesterol and free fatty acids in lymphoid cells from thymus, spleen or lymph node of mice and guinea-pigs. This relationship suggests a possible role of cholesterol regulating the fatty acid levels in lymphoid cells.     

Melanogenic melanocytes in human sebaceous glands

Summary Electron microscopic observations revealed for the first time a small number of active melanocytes synthesizing distinctive melanin-containing organelles (melanin granules) in the ducts and acini of human sebaceous glands.     

A simple method for conformational assignment of trisubstituted allylic alcohols

Zusammenfassung Methode zur Identifizierung voncis-trans trisubstitutierten Allylalkoholen durch NMR mit dem Shift-Reagenz Eu(DPM)₃ und gleichzeitige Gehaltsbestimmung der Isomeren in der Mischung.     

Arachidonic acid metabolites as intracellular modulators of the G protein-gated cardiac K+ channel

Arachidonic acid is released from cell membranes in response to receptor-dependent as well as receptor-independent stimulation in various cells, including cardiac myocytes. Arachidonic acid is converted to prostaglandins by cyclooxygenase and to leukotrienes by 5-lipoxygenase, metabolites which are very biologically active and modulate cellular functions such as platelet aggregation, smooth muscle contraction and neural excitation. The molecular mechanisms underlying their modulations are, however, still badly understood. Here, we report that the 5-lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid activate the pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein-gated muscarinic K+ channel (IK.ACh): arachidonic acid activation of IK.ACh was prevented by the lipoxygenase inhibitors, nordihydroguaiaretic acid and AA-861; leukotriene A4 and C4 activated IK.ACh. The activation occurred in pertussis toxin-treated atrial cells and ceased when inside-out patches were formed but the patches were still susceptible to stimulation by GTP and to inhibition by GDP-beta-S. These results indicate that arachidonic acid metabolites may stimulate the G-protein in a receptor-independent way.     

Extended blood half-life of monomethoxypolyethylene glycol-conjugated hen lysozyme is a key parameter controlling immunological tolerogenicity

The blood half-life of a protein is prolonged by conjugating a protein with a linear amphiphilic polymer, monomethoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG). The conjugation gives a protein immunotolerogenicity; hence, it is likely that the long half-life is crucial for the tolerogenicity. We prepared a tolerogenic mPEG conjugate of hen egg lysozyme (mPEG_1.5-HEL), which is conjugated 1.5-fold the molecular weight of mPEG against that of HEL, and evaluated the relationship between in vivo stability and the tolerogenicity. mPEG_1.5-HEL retained immunogenicity to prime HEL-specific T cell and antibody responses and had a long blood half-life, more than 27 times that of native HEL. The tolerant state was maintained as long as mPEG_1.5-HEL was detected in sera. With a decrease in the blood mPEG_1.5-HEL level, the tolerant state returned gradually to the responsive state; however, reinjection of mPEG_1.5-HEL again restored the tolerance. Thus, the extended blood half-life of HEL by mPEG conjugation is probably vital for establishing and maintaining the tolerant states. Received 17 May 1999; accepted 1 June 1999     

新疆北部阿尔泰地区库尔提蛇绿岩中斜长花岗岩的SHRIMP年代学研究

研究显示, 库尔提蛇绿岩中斜长花岗岩的野外地质产状、岩石学和岩相学以及地球化学特征均与剪切成因的斜长花岗岩一致, 是由洋壳运移过程中下部第三层发育的剪切带中的辉长岩经低角度剪切变形形成的角闪岩的部分熔融形成的. 斜长花岗岩的锆石SHRIMP年代学研究表明, 该蛇绿岩形成于泥盆纪, 形成时间为372±19 Ma, 这同时代表了库尔提弧后盆地的扩张时代. 该年代学研究结果表明, 古亚洲洋板块向西伯利亚板块俯冲消减作用应始于晚古生代早期.