The connector of bacteriophage phi 29 is involved in DNA packaging during viral morphogenesis and we have studied its in vitro binding to DNA using either linear or circular DNA. The protein-DNA complexes have been analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by atomic force microscopy (AFM) of samples directly deposited on mica. TEM showed the presence of a specific binding due to the interaction of the protein with the free ends of the DNA. The study of these samples by AFM showed two major types of morphologies: The interaction of the connector with circular DNA revealed that the strands of DNA that enter and exit the protein complex form an angle with a mean value of 132 degrees. Nevertheless, when the connector was incubated with linear DNA (and later circularized), there was an additional bend angle of about 168 degrees. Further morphological analysis of the latter samples by AFM revealed a structure of the protein-DNA complex consistent with the DNA traversing the connector, probably through the inner channel. On the other hand, images from the samples obtained by incubation of the connector with circular DNa were consistent with an interaction of the DNA with the outer side of the connector.

Bacillus Phages↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of restraint on gastric acid secretion in cats.

Experiments were carried out on cats fitted with a gastric fistula. In one group of 6 cats basal gastric secretion, and in another group of 7 cats pentagastrin induced gastric secretion was collected two or three times a week during a 2 hr session. The sessions were conducted either in a "harness" situation where the cat's movements were restricted, or in a "cage" situation where the cat was unrestricted and could move freely. It was found that in four of 6 cats in the basal secretion group and in five of 7 cats in the pentagastrin induced secretion group, gastric acid output was significantly higher in sessions in harness than in sessions in cage. These differences in acid output were due to acidity rather than volume of secretion. It was hypothesized that restriction of the animal's movements in the harness could evoke a "reflex of freedom" which, however, could not be accomplished because of the confinement. This could evoke a neural conflict eventually leading to functional disturbances in the autonomic system. This, in turn, resulted in changes in gastric acid secretion.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

NADPH oxidase-like activity in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) macrophages.

Evidence for the existence of an NADPH oxidase-like enzyme in rainbow trout macrophages is given. Reduced-minus-oxidised difference spectroscopy revealed the presence of a cytochrome b with three absorbance peaks, at 430, 533, and 558 nm. The low midpoint potential of the latter peak suggests this cytochrome is the same as the terminal component of NADPH oxidase (i.e., cytochrome b-245). Subcellular fractionation of macrophages revealed two peaks of cytochrome b activity, in accord with the concept of a plasma membrane localisation of cytochrome b activity in addition to a mitochondrial localisation. Finally, that the rainbow trout oxidase is a multicomponent enzyme was suggested by inhibitor studies, where specific inhibitors of the flavin and cytochrome b-245 components of NADPH oxidase induced significant reduction in superoxide anion production.

Acetophenones↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Disappearance of atrial natriuretic factor from circulation in the rat.

The rate of disappearance of radioiodinated forms of 3 different atrial natriuretic factors (ANF (Ser 99-Tyr 126), ANF (Arg 101-Tyr 126), ANF (Ser 103-Tyr 126)) from circulation in the rat was studied. Before proceeding to study the half-life of these peptides, the biological activity of their cold iodinated forms was examined. Upon incorporation of iodine into the ANF molecule, there was a 2 to 5-fold loss in their binding affinities to mesenteric arteries and adrenal capsules as compared to their respective uniodinated forms. A similar loss in their potency to inhibit basal aldosterone release from adrenal zona glomerulosa cells was observed. The rate of disappearance of the radioiodinated peptides from plasma was very fast; the half-life of ANF (Ser 99-Tyr 126) was 16.8 +/- 0.9 sec. Similar values were also obtained for ANF (Arg 101-Tyr 126) and ANF (Ser 103-Tyr 126). The in vivo disappearance of ANF from plasma is probably due to the binding to receptors in the cells since in vitro incubation of ANF (Ser 99-Tyr 126) with rat plasma caused only a slight loss in its immunoreactivity in the first 5 minutes. Hepatectomy and nephrectomy did not cause any major prolongation of the disappearance rate suggesting that these two organs may not be the primary sites involved in the removal of this peptide from circulation.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An atrial natriuretic factor-like activity in rat posterior hypophysis.

An atrial natriuretic factor-(ANF) like immunoreactivity (IR-ANF), is present in the posterior hypophysis of the rat. In order to obtain more direct information on the presence and biological activity of this new posterior hypophysis peptide, we applied a procedure similar to that described for rat atria, to extract an ANF-like material from the posterior hypophysis of the rat. An analysis of the tissue extracts by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) suggested that, in this organ, the ANF-like peptides may be present in multiple forms: a low molecular weight peptide which had a RP-HPLC pattern similar to that of the synthetic rat 28 amino acid C-terminal (Ser 99-Tyr 126) ANF, and an unidentified higher molecular weight peptide. The partially purified low molecular weight peptide was found to have a potency similar to that of synthetic rat ANF in the inhibition of adrenocorticotropin-stimulated aldosterone secretion in dispersed zona glomerulosa cells, suggesting that the ANF-like peptide was biologically active. Immunohistochemical visualization of the ANF-like peptides revealed the distribution of the peptide within the posterior hypophysis. There was no immunohistochemical staining for ANF in the intermediate lobe. These results suggest the existence of biologically active ANF-like peptides within the posterior hypophysis of the rat. It is possible that these peptides may modulate locally the posterior hypophysis hormone secretion.

Adrenal Glands↗