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Biomedical subjects

F J Hird

Publications and source records attributed to F J Hird.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1972

Transport of acetate and butyrate in the hind-gut of rabbits.

1. Everted sacs of colonic mucosa from the wild rabbit did not transport acetate against a concentration gradient, but permeation down a concentration gradient did occur. 2. Butyrate was shown to permeate sheets of caecal mucosa with some conversion into ketone bodies during the passage. More ketone bodies were released from the serosal surface of the sheet than from the epithelial surface, regardless of the side to which the butyrate was added. 3. During absorption in vivo of [1-(14)C]butyrate from the caecum the ratio of [(14)C]butyrate to (14)C-labelled ketone bodies in the blood collected from the appropriate caecal vein was 13. The extent of conversion of butyrate into ketone bodies during absorption in vivo was less than that observed during transport in vitro. Possible explanations of these differences are discussed. 4. The relative concentrations of the individual volatile fatty acids in blood collected from the caecal vein during absorption in vivo were similar to those present in contents from the caecum. 5. The results are compared with similar transport and absorption studies on the ruminant fore-stomach.

Acetates↗
PubMed1967

The reactivity of the disulphide bonds of purified proteins in relationship to primary structure.

1. With the aid of a coupled system involving glutathione reductase, the reaction of glutathione with the disulphide bonds of purified proteins has been studied. 2. Bovine serum albumin, conalbumin, lysozyme, trypsin inhibitors from egg white, lima bean and soya bean either did not react with glutathione or reacted only slightly. With these proteins reactivity was markedly increased by limited proteolysis. 3. Bovine and human gamma-globulins, fibrinogen and beta-lactoglobulin exhibited some reactivity (less than 15%) with glutathione and again this was increased by limited proteolysis. Pepsin, trypsin and chymotrypsin exhibited greater reactivity than the proteins previously mentioned. Di-isopropylphosphoryl-chymotrypsin exhibited less reactivity than chymotrypsin, suggesting that autolysis under the experimental conditions used contributed towards the reactivity of this protein. Proteolysis also increased the reactivity of these proteins. The three disulphide bonds of insulin were reduced by glutathione. 4. Above 35 degrees the disulphide bonds of serum albumin show a progressive increase in reactivity and at 55 degrees half of the bonds become accessible to glutathione. 5. From the results obtained with the proteins investigated, the conclusion reached is that the disulphide bonds of native proteins are structurally protected and do not react with glutathione under physiological conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1967

Reduction of ribonuclease by glutathione at elevated temperatures: the molecular mechanism.

1. The mechanism of the reaction between ribonuclease and GSH at elevated temperatures has been studied by using N-(4-dimethylamino-3,5-dinitrophenyl)-maleimide to label the reduced ribonuclease. 2. After incubation for 2hr. at 35 degrees , enzymically active ribonuclease was recovered; at 50.8 degrees half of the initial ribonuclease was recovered as enzymically active ribonuclease and half as reduced labelled ribonuclease; at 55 degrees all of the initial ribonuclease was recovered in the labelled form. 3. It was inferred that the rate-limiting step was the reduction of the first disulphide bond in any one molecule. This was followed by rapid reduction of the other bonds in the same molecule.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1966

Oxidative phosphorylation accompanying oxidation of short-chain fatty acids by rat-liver mitochondria.

1. The factors concerned in the estimation of P/O ratios when fatty acids are oxidized by rat-liver mitochondria have been assessed. 2. The oxidation of butyrate, hexanoate and octanoate is accompanied by ATP synthesis. At low concentrations of the fatty acids, P/O ratios approximately 2.5 are obtained. 3. Oxidative phosphorylation is uncoupled, respiratory control ratios are lowered and respiration is inhibited when the concentration of the fatty acid in the incubating medium is raised (to 5-10mm); octanoate is a more potent uncoupler than either hexanoate or butyrate. 4. Serum albumin and carnitine, either singly or in combination, protect the mitochondria from the effect exerted by the fatty acids. 5. The rate of oxidation of short-chain fatty acids in the presence of ADP is increased in the presence of carnitine.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1966

The effect of hexokinase and tricarboxylic acid-cycle intermediates on fatty acid oxidation and formation of ketone bodies by rat-liver mitochondria.

1. The oxidation of butyrate, hexanoate and octanoate by rat-liver mitochondria suspended in a tris-potassium chloride medium in the presence of malate and serum albumin has been investigated. 2. The oxidation of butyrate to acetoacetate was markedly decreased by the addition of a system competitive for ATP (hexokinase-glucose). 3. Serum albumin or tricarboxylic acid-cycle intermediates prevented the inhibition by hexokinase and in their presence a greater proportion of the oxygen consumption was contributed by the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The results suggest that the energy supply for fatty acid activation is either compartmentalized in a spatial or kinetic sense or there exists a special activating mechanism not involving ATP. 4. Malate and other tricarboxylic acid-cycle intermediates caused substantial reduction (to beta-hydroxybutyrate) of the acetoacetate formed during the oxidation of butyrate, hexanoate and octanoate.

Animals↗
PubMed1966

Transport and metabolism of fatty acids by isolated rumen epithelium.

1. The metabolism of even-numbered saturated (acetic acid to stearic acid) and unsaturated (oleic acid and linolenic acid) fatty acids by diaphragms of isolated rumen epithelium has been investigated. 2. When fatty acids are presented to the papillae surface, ketone bodies are released from the opposite (muscle) side of the tissue. 3. When the concentration of octanoate or decanoate is increased to a critical value, which varies inversely with the chain length of the fatty acid, the respiration of the tissue is inhibited and ketone body synthesis is diminished. Under these conditions unmetabolized fatty acid crosses the tissue down a concentration gradient. 4. The inhibitions by octanoate and decanoate are more marked when the fatty acid is presented to both surfaces of the rumen epithelium. 5. During the oxidation of octanoate and decanoate at non-inhibitory concentrations, small quantities of shorter chain fatty acids, including acetate, are produced.

Acetates↗
PubMed1965

The reactivity of the disulphide bonds of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease with glutathione.

1. Bovine pancreatic ribonuclease is not reduced by GSH at near-physiological concentrations and pH. 2. Disruption of the structure of ribonuclease by proteolytic enzymes leads to products that can be reduced by GSH. 3. At higher temperatures the disulphide bonds of ribonuclease are completely reduced by GSH in a coupled system. The T(tr) is 51 degrees and this has been found to be lower than the T(tr) for the abnormal tyrosine residues under the same conditions.

Animals↗