Transmembrane movements of lipids

Summary Membranes allow the rapid passage of uncharged lipids. Phospholipids on the other hand diffuse very slowly from one monolayer to another with a half-time of several hours. This slow spontaneous movement in a pure lipid bilayer can be selectively modulated in biological membranes by intrinsic proteins. In microsomes, and probably in bacterial membranes, non-specific phospholipid flippases allow the rapid redistribution of newly synthesized phospholipids. In eukaryotic plasma membranes, aminophospholipid translocase selectively pumps phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) from the outer to the inner leaflet and establishes a permanent lipid asymmetry. The discovery of an aminophospholipid translocase in chromaffin granules proves that eukaryotic organelles may also contain lipid translocators.     

Competition for antigen presentation in living cells involves exchange of peptides bound by class II MHC molecules

T cells recognize foreign proteins as peptides bound to self molecules encoded by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The kinetics of interaction between purified class II MHC molecules and peptides is unusual, in that the rate of association is very slow, but once formed, the complexes are extremely stable. This raises the question of how the antigen-presenting cell provides a sufficient number of free MHC binding sites to ensure T cell immunity. We present results suggesting that an exchange of peptide in MHC binding sites may take place under physiological conditions.     

Postmolt cuticle growth in a cockroach: in vitro deposition of multilamellate and circadian-like layered endocuticle

Summary Pieces of the hind legs of freshly moltedBlaberus craniifer adults were cultivated in vitro. The deposition of multilamellate and circadian-like layered endocuticle was observed. In multilamellate cuticle, the number of double lamellae was frequently much greater than the number of days in culture. In circadian-like layered cuticle, the number of double layers corresponded to the numbers of days in culture, or it was smaller.I am indebted to Mrs Hassenrück, for excellent assistance. — Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (We 389/12-2).     

Esterases of the flounder (Platichthys flesus,Pleuronectidae, Teleostei): Development of an identification protocol using starch gel electrophoresis and characterization of loci

Summary Fish esterases are among the most difficult enzymes to identify using starch gel electrophoresis because of the many loci that are simultaneously active, and especially because of duplication phenomena, satellite bands, and stain trails. In an attempt to simplify and clarify electropherograms, various staining and inhibitory methods were tested on esterases from the flounderPlatichthys flesus. A range of migration and staining buffers and substrates were used, as well as chemical inhibition and heat inactivation. A combination of the methods made it possible to distinguish and characterize the five presumed esterase loci.