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Biomedical subjects

C F Fox

Publications and source records attributed to C F Fox.

102 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

A density label for membranes.

Bromostearic acid satisfies the essential fatty acid requirement of an unsaturated fatty acid auxotroph of Escherichia coli K12. Over 55% of the fatty acids derived from lipids isolated from membranes of cells grown in bromostearate-supplemented medium contained bromine, as established by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry of the methyl esters. During equilibrium centrifugation in sucrose gradients, the cytoplasmic membranes isolated from bromostearate-grown cells banded at a density approximately 0.06 g/cm(3) greater than membranes isolated from oleate- or elaidate-grown cells, affording a complete separation between membranes which contain brominated fatty acids and those which do not.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Induction of the lactose transport system in a lipid-synthesis-defective mutant of Escherichia coli.

In order to relate the biogenesis of the lactose transport system to lipid synthesis, a glycerol-requiring mutant of Escherichia coli K-12 with a specific defect in l-glycerol-3-phosphate synthesis was isolated and characterized. The defective enzyme is the biosynthetic l-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [l-glycerol-3-phosphate: NAD (P) oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.8] which functions as a dihydroxyacetone phosphate reductase to provide l-glycerol-3-phosphate for lipid synthesis. In this mutant, removal of glycerol from the growth medium results in inhibition of the synthesis of protein, deoxyribonucleic acid, and phospholipid. Inhibition of phospholipid synthesis immediately follows glycerol removal, whereas the inhibition of deoxyribonucleic acid and protein synthesis is preceded by a short lag period. Glycerol starvation does not change the turnover pattern of previously synthesized phospholipids. The blocking of lipid synthesis by glycerol starvation causes a drastic decrease in inducibility of beta-galactoside transport activity relative to beta-galactosidase, indicating that induction of lactose transport requires de novo lipid synthesis.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Isolation and mapping of phosphotransferase mutants in Escherichia coli.

Mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 defective in enzyme I or Hpr, the two common components of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system, were isolated by a simple, direct method. The ptsI locus, the structural gene for enzyme I, and the ptsH locus, the site of mutations leading to loss of Hpr activity, are adjacent genes and could be part of a single operon. These two genes lie between the purC and supN markers in the order: strA... guaB-purC-ptsI-ptsH-supN-dsdA... his.

Chromosome Mapping↗

A lipid requirement for induction of lactose transport in Escherichia coli.

The rate of derepressed synthesis of a membrane protein required for lactose transport (M protein) by Escherichia coli is increased in response to increased gene dosage to the same extent as the rates of synthesis of beta-galactosidase and galactoside acetylase. However, elevated gene dosage does not increase beta-galactoside transport to the same extent that it increases synthesis of M protein and of the soluble proteins of the lac operon. Though the factor or factors other than M protein which limit induction of the transport system at high levels of lac operon expression have not been identified, studies with Escherichia coli mutants blocked in the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids indicate that unsaturated fatty acids must be supplied during the course of induction of the lac operon to permit synthesis of a functional lactose transport system, but not of beta-galactosidase or galactoside acetylase.

Biological Transport↗

Membrane structure and function.

An understanding of the biochemical basis of membrane function is an important goal of present day biology. In this paper, a biochemical approach to the problem of the specific transport of sugars across the membrane of Escherichia coli is discussed. A new biochemical model for lactose transport system in this organism is presented, in which a specific membrane protein (M protein) plays the role of the sugar carrier. Experiments which have led to the discovery of such a protein, its specific labeling, and partial purification are briefly reviewed.

Carbon Isotopes↗

Multifocal neurological impairment caused by infection-induced rise in blood lithium and amitriptyline.

We present the case of a thirty-eight-year-old woman who developed a febrile illness which was associated with a rise of blood lithium and amitriptyline, and subsequently suffered permanent neurological impairment, implicating CNS dysfunction at several levels. Medical, laboratory, radiological and neuropsychological findings are described, and the attribution of the syndrome is discussed. It is crucial to emphasize that the authors are not challenging the frequently useful combination of lithium and antidepressants. Rather, we urge psychiatrists to be vigilant when such patients develop febrile illnesses.

Adult↗