Escherichia coli membrane particulate fraction has been spin-labeled by incubating with sn-glycerol-3-phosphate, CTP, palmitoyl CoA and 12-nitroxide stearoyl CoA. Incorporation of the spin-labeled acyl chain into phosphatidyl-glycerol was confirmed. ESR spectrum of the spin-labeled phosphatidylglycerol in E. coli membrane consisted at least of two components; one due to the labels undergoing rapid anisotropic motions and the other due to strongly immobilized labels (the overall splitting value, approx. 58 G). The relative intensity of the two components was dependent on the concentration of divalent cations. The immobilized component decreased on treatment of the membrane with EDTA and increased on addition of Mg2+ or Ca2+. The spectrum at 1 mM Mg2+ or Ca2+ consisted almost only of the immobilized component. Spin-labeled phosphatidylglycerol in total lipid membrane showed ESR spectrum due to mobile labels and the spectrum was not affected appreciably by the divalent cations. The results suggest the divalent cation-mediated interaction of phosphatidylglycerol with proteins in E. coli membrane. Phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent uptake of methyl-alpha-D-glucoside was markedly accelerated by Mg2+. Ca2+ was not effective for the enhancement. The divalent cation-induced interaction of phosphatidylglycerol with proteins was discussed in relation to the sugar transport.

Calcium↗

PubMed1978

An adaptive correlation ratemeter: a new method for Doppler fetal heart rate measurements.

For use in a cardiotocograph, ultrasound Doppler fetal singles have been thought to provide merely a limited reliability of the fetal heart rate record because of the difficulty of signal processing to obtain a consistent trigger, although the signal itself is easy to obtain with an excellent signal-to-noise ratio. However, the authors have developed a unique signal processing system using a correlation technique with an automatic adaptation algorithm, which solved almost all of the difficulties associated with the old Doppler cardiotocograph and showed that the ultrasound Doppler fetal signal can also provide heart rate records compatible to that obtained by a fetal ECG system. The authors are sure that their method is a most promising one in the coming age of microprocessor-oriented instrumentation.

Computers↗

PubMed1978

Oligomeric immunoglobulin A antibody response to rubella virus infection.

Pooled sera from rubella patients in the early convalescent stage, containing a high titer of hemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) antibody, were treated with protein A-conjugated gel to reduce immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody and then centrifuged in sucrose gradients. This treatment resulted in the detection of an HI activity peak sedimenting at a rate intermediate between 7S and 19S. In contrast to the 19S antibody, the HI activity of this peak was not abolished by 2-mercaptoethanol, but sedimented at 7S after this treatment. The activity was considered to consist of IgA oligomers, since it was removed by anti-IgA immunosorbent. The appearance of the oligomeric IgA antibody after the infection was then studied using serum samples collected sequentially from five rubella patients. Shortly after the onset of the disease, the HI activity appeared at high titer and thereafter gradually decreased in titer until it could no longer be detected in the sera. The time of its disappearance varied with each patient.

Antibodies, Viral↗

PubMed1978