Sandwich enzyme immunoassay of mouse mammary tumor virus

Summary A highly sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is described. The assay can detect 3 ng/ml of MMTV. The enzyme used is ß-D-galactosidase fromEscherichia coli and the solid phase used is a piece of silicon rubber.     

Okinonellins A and B,two novel furanosesterterpenes,which inhibit cell division of fertilized starfish eggs,from the marine spongeSpongionella sp

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences - Two novel furanosesterterpenes, okinonellins A (1) and B (2), have been isolated from the spongeSpongionella sp. Both compounds inhibit cell division of...     

Electroshock,brain serotonin,and barbiturate narcosis

Riassunto Dopo elettroshock si osserva nell'encefalo di ratto un aumento di serotonina, particolarmente evidence nell'area mesencefalica e diencefalica, che si accompagna ad una maggior sensibilità al pentobarbital.     

Aldolase C is localized in neuroendocrine cells

To elucidate the localization of the subunit C of aldolase (aldolase C) in peripheral neuroendocrine cells, we made an immunohistochemical study with monospecific antibodies against human aldolase C. Aldolase C was found to be localized in various types of neuroendocrine cells; in the pituitary gland, thyroid, pancreas, adrenal gland, bronchus, and gastrointestinal tract.     

Inhibition and enhancement of photically evoked responses by different doses ofl-DOPA

Summary Administration of small doses ofl-DOPA (10 and 20 mg/kg) resulted in reduction in amplitude of photically evoked responses in the primary visual, association, and cerebellar vermal cortices, while large doses (40 and 80 mg/kg) produced enhancement.Acknowledgment. We thank Prof.K. Kuriyama and Sr.M. McCormick for their help.     

Reduction of serum X-prolyl dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase activity in tumour-bearing mice and reversal of reduced enzyme activity by lentinan,an anti-tumour polysaccharide

Summary Serum X-prolyl dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase activity which had been shown to be depressed in cancer patients was clearly reduced in mice with Ehrlich carcinoma and Sarcoma 180, and slightly reduced in mice with methylcholanthrene-induced sarcomas. The reduced enzyme activity was completely reversed during tumour regression of sarcoma 180 by administration of lentinan, which causes regression of sarcoma 180.     

Effect of aflatoxin B1 on the incorporation of14C-acetate into cholesterol by rat liver

Résumé L'administration d'aflatoxine B₁ (2 et 5 mg/kg, i.p., 24 h avant le sacrifice) a résulté en un abaissement de 80% de l'incorporation du l-¹⁴C-acétate en cholestérol par des coupes de tissu de foie. Le même traitement n'a pas altéré l'activité des drug metabolizing enzymes au niveau des microsomes du foie.     

The isolation and amino acid sequences of new pyroglutamylpeptides from snake venoms

Zusammenfassung Die Strukturaufklärung von zwei neuen tryptophanhaltigen Peptiden im Schlangengift vonAgkistrodon halys blomhoffii ergeben:l-Pyroglutamyl-l-Glutaminyl-l-Tryptophan undl-Pyroglutamyl-l-Asparaginyl-l-Tryptophan. Diese Peptide sind in Schlangengiften der Viperidae- und Crotalidae-Arten verbreitet.

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Supported in part by a grant from the Ministry of Education (Japan).     

Genome sequencing and analysis of Aspergillus oryzae

The genome of Aspergillus oryzae, a fungus important for the production of traditional fermented foods and beverages in Japan, has been sequenced. The ability to secrete large amounts of proteins and the development of a transformation system have facilitated the use of A. oryzae in modern biotechnology. Although both A. oryzae and Aspergillus flavus belong to the section Flavi of the subgenus Circumdati of Aspergillus, A. oryzae, unlike A. flavus, does not produce aflatoxin, and its long history of use in the food industry has proved its safety. Here we show that the 37-megabase (Mb) genome of A. oryzae contains 12,074 genes and is expanded by 7-9 Mb in comparison with the genomes of Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus fumigatus. Comparison of the three aspergilli species revealed the presence of syntenic blocks and A. oryzae-specific blocks (lacking synteny with A. nidulans and A. fumigatus) in a mosaic manner throughout the genome of A. oryzae. The blocks of A. oryzae-specific sequence are enriched for genes involved in metabolism, particularly those for the synthesis of secondary metabolites. Specific expansion of genes for secretory hydrolytic enzymes, amino acid metabolism and amino acid/sugar uptake transporters supports the idea that A. oryzae is an ideal microorganism for fermentation.