1. Concanavalin A formed precipitates with polyelectrolytes such as fucoidan, RNA, heparin and bacterial lipopolysaccharides. 2. Precipitate formation also occurred between ficoll and concanavalin A. 3. Precipitate formation between concanavalin A and dextran or soluble starch was induced by the incorporation of phosphate groups into the unreactive glucans. 4. Introduction of polar groups, such as acetate, formate and phosphate, into glycogen resulted in enhanced precipitation with concanavalin A, whereas the opposite effect was noted on incorporation of hydrophobic (methyl) centres. 5. Neutral sugars and salt partially inhibited complex-formation between polyelectrolytes and concanavalin A. 6. Concanavalin A-glycogen complexes could be dissociated with 5% (w/v) trichloroacetic acid or 44% phenol-water. 7. Concanavalin A lost its glycogen-complexing ability after phenol treatment. 8. Evidence is presented for the existence of common binding sites on concanavalin A for both neutral polysaccharides and polyelectrolytes. 9. Hydrogen bonding appeared to play a major role in neutral polysaccharide-concanavalin A precipitate formation, whereas both hydrogen bonding and electrostatic forces were implicated in polyelectrolyte-concanavalin A complex-formation.

Acetates↗

PubMed1968

Inhibition by methylphenidate of transport across the yeast cell membrane.

The influence of methylphenidate on glycolysis in yeast cells was studied to describe more fully the nature of the reactions in which this drug participates. CO(2) production and O(2) uptake of yeast cells was inhibited 75% by a 10 mm concentration of the compound. This effect, with glucose as a substrate, occurred at pH 7.0, but not at pH 4.5. Kinetic data indicated that the reaction was noncompetitive and complex; the methylphenidate effect on CO(2) production could not readily be reversed. Glycolysis by cell-free extracts was not inhibited at the 10-mm concentration, but was affected at 100 mm. Utilization of O(2) with maltose and ethyl alcohol as substrates also was reduced. Entry into the cells of a number of different carbohydrates and of glycine was inhibited to different degrees. The loss from suspended cells of materials absorbing at 280 nm was reduced, and the efflux of sorbose, arabinose, and lactose was decreased. Thus, transport into and out of the cells was inhibited and leakage, or permeability, was reduced. It is hypothesized that methylphenidate reacts with a cell membrane constituent, or constituents, and inhibits glycolysis by blocking sugar passage.

Arabinose↗

PubMed1968