Immunological studies on lysosomal sphingomyelinase: Identification of a 28 000-Da component deficient in urine from patients with Niemann-Pick disease types A and B

The immunoblotting technique was used to identify sphingomyeJinase protein in samples of tissue and urine after subjection to poIyacrylamide-gel etectrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. In a sphingomyelinase preparation purified from control urine a prominent band was seen with an M_r of 28 000 Da. Glycoprotein fractions from urine and placenta, a membrane extract from spleen, and a partially purified sphingomyelinase preparation from placenta contained the 28 000-Da band plus additional, higher-M_r bands. The 28 000-Da band was detectable in urine from a patient with Niemann-Pick disease type C, but not in urine from patients with Niemann-Pick disease types A and B. It is concluded t h a t sphingomyeJinase is composed of at least one polypeptide with an M_r of 28 000 Da and that this polypeptide is deficient in the urine of patients with Niemann-Pick disease types A and B.     

Arachidonic acid-induced human platelet aggregation independent of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase

It is generally agreed that arachidonic acid (20:4ω6) can stimulate platelet aggregation after conversion to prostaglandin G₂ and H₂ and thence to thromboxane A₂. This action is prevented by cyclooxygenase inhibitors. Washed platelets were isolated on metrizamide gradient and resuspended in a Ca²⁺-free buffer. Their stimulation by C 20:4 6 was followed by ¹⁴C serotonin (5HT) release, thromboxane (TX) synthesis and an increase of light transmission, not dependent on aggregation, accompanied by slight lysis (14%). The addition of extrinsic Ca²⁺ suppressed lysis and allowed the formation of aggregates. Under these conditions, cyclooxygenase inhibitors such as acetyl salicylic acid, indomethacin or flurbiprofen totally suppressed TX synthesis without preventing platelet aggregation or [¹⁴C]-5HT release. Other C 20 polyunsaturated fatty acids could not substituted for C 20:4ω6 in inducing aggregation, and Ca²⁺ was found to be a prerequesite for protection of the cell against lysis as well as for aggregation in the absence or TX formation. The use fo the lipoxygenase inhibitor BW 755 C did not prevent C 20:4ω6-induced aggregation of aspirin-treated platelets, suggesting that the phenomenon was independent of this pathway also. The total suppression of oxidative metabolism with these inhibitors was verified by the analysis of icosanoids using glass capillary column gas chromatography. It is suggested that under these condition, C 20:4ω6-induced platelet aggregation might be due to an increased membrane permeability to Ca²⁺ induced by this fatty acid in the absence of oxidation.     

Enzyme activities of monoamine oxidase,cathechol-o-methyltransferase and γ-aminoubutyric acid transaminase in primary astroglial cultures and adult rat brain from different brain regions

The activities of monoamine oxidase (MAO), cathechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and -aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA-T) were measured in primary cultures from newborn rat cultivated from 6 different brain regions. These primary cultures contained mostly astroglial cells, evaluated by the presence of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAp, -albumin) and the S-100 protein. The enzyme activities in the corresponding brain areas from adult rat were also quantified. MAO activities were on the same level in 14-day old cultures and in adult rat brain homogenates, with significantly lower values in brain stem as compared to the other brain regions examined. COMT activities were on a higher level in the cultures than in adult rat brain homogenates. Astroglial cells from hippocampus were found to have the highest and those from brain stem the lowest COMT-activities. GABA-T activities were lower in the cultures than in adult rat homogenates. No significant differences were seen in the various astroglial cultures. Accumulation of [³H]dopamine and [³H]-aminobutyric acid (GABA) visualized by autoradiography showed only a slight uptake of dopamine in comparison with the uptake of GABA. It is concluded that astroglial cells in culture have enzymatic properties similar to those of astroglial cells in different brain regions of adult rat brain. Studies are in progress to evaluate if the regional heterogeneity observed among cultivated astroglial cells is affected by in vivo differentiation until cultivation and/or time in culture.     

Morphogenetic deficiencies in transplanted gonadal anlagen of the mutant l(3)pl (lethal-polyploid) in Drosophila hydei

Larval gonads of Drosophila hydei, homozygous for the lethal gene l(3)pl (lethal-polyploid), were cultured in normal hosts. Ovaries of the late third larval instar were implanted into metamorphosing larvae. These can attach to the gonoduct system of the host and transform into adult ovarian structures but the spectrum of their capacity to differentiate varies largely. In favourable cases mature oocytes can be formed which are fertile. More frequently mitotic disturbances in the follicle cells and cystocytes lead to the formation of abortive egg chambers and abnormally shaped oocytes. Testes of the middle third larval instar were cultured for 2 weeks in adult females. Primary spermatocytes are able to sustain meiotic divisions and form early spermatids, even though the occurrence of fractionated nuclei in post-meiotic germ cells indicates defective meiotic divisions. Post-meiotic differentiation is blocked in mutant spermatids which fail to elongate. The mutant gene l(3)pl thus, not only affects cell divisions, but also interacts in certain cytodifferentiation processes such as spermatid elongation and egg shaping. All cellular processes found so far to be abnormal in mutant tissues involve microtubular function. This suggests that the gene l(3)pl interacts with the microtubular system and several aspects of this interpretation are discussed.     

C-glycosylflavones of the gnetopsida

C-Glycosylflavones have been identified in Ephedra antisyphilitica, Gnetum gnemon and Welwitschia mirabilis. The C-glycosidic moieties of apigenin and luteolin derivatives have been identified as glucose and/or xylose for these species.     

Bromine oxidation of 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-Glucofuranose and sucrose

Sucrose and $\text{1,2-O-}\text{isopropylidene-α-}\text{d}\text{-glucofuranose}$ (1) were oxidised with bromine in aqueous solution at pH 7 and room temperature. The resulting keto derivatives were converted into their more-stable O-methyloximes, which were characterised by spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. Oxidation of 1 occurred at C-3 and C-5, with a preference for C-5. In the sucrose derivatives isolated after oxidation, those having a keto group in the glucopyranosyl moiety preponderated. The axial fructofuranosyl aglycon protects position 3 in the glucopyranosyl group and oxidation occurs only at C-2 and C-4. Small amounts of sucrose oxidised at C-3 in the fructofuranosyl moiety were also found.     

Composés glucidiques et azotés et résistance à la sécheresse chez Ailanthus altissima

In Ailanthus altissima, carbohydrate and protein reserves are mainly localized in the tap-root. Under drought stress they are very quickly hydrolysed. Despite the water deficiency, an increase in starch synthesis is observed in the leaves and stem during the first stages of stress. Stimulation of the cambial activity of the stems and an increase in protein content have also been observed. Chemical analyses have shown a high proline content which increases markedly following drought stress, especially in the tap-root.     

Tissue specific nuclear antigens in the germinal vesicle ofXenopus laevis oocytes

Summary A library of hybridoma cell lines has been established which produce monoclonal antibodies against antigens from the germinal vesicle ofXenopus laevis oocytes. Many of the antigens are also found in the nuclei ofXenopus embryonic cells in culture. The fate of two of these antigens during embryogenesis was traced by immunofluorescence on embryo and tadpole sections. Early in development these antigens appear to be evenly distributed in the nuclei of all cells. In later stages they gradually disappear from most embryonic structures but are strongly accumulated in the nuclei of some specific cell types and organs.     

Degradation of long chain n-alkanes by Chlorococcales

Summary Four out of thirty-one algae strains belonging to the order Chlorococcales exhibited good growth on solid media containing n-alkanes. Chlorella vulgaris (397) was able to degrade n-tridecane in cooxidation. The corresponding secondary alcohols and ketones in C₂-to C₇-position could be identified in the culture broth. The same oxidation products could be found in the media of cultures grown in darkness with the addition of glucose. This demonstrates a subterminal degradation pathway of C. vulgaris.There was no indication for a mono-or diterminal oxidation of alkanes by algae.The fatty acid pattern of lipids exhibited an incease in long chain acids and a decrease in shorter chain acids. The growth rate of cells grown on alkanes increased after 72 h, but the release of autospores was retarded.     

Origin,destination and mapping of tritocerebral neurons of locust

Summary The connectivities of the tritocerebrum of locust (Locusta migratoria L., Schistocerca gregaria (Forsk.)) were studied histologically and by means of cobalt chloride infusion. Its neuropil consists partly of fibers which traverse the tritocerebrum and areas consisting of neuropilar agglomerizations (glomeruli). The following direct connections between the tritocerebrum and other regions were observed: connections to 1) dorsal and lateral brain regions (mushroom body, optic lobe), 2) the ventral nerve cord, 3) the stomatogastric nervous system (here the protocerebrum and the subesophageal ganglion are also involved in these connections), 4) the retro-cerebral glands (corpora cardiaca, corpora allata), and 5) muscles of the foregut. Acknowledgements. This study was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft to N.K. The authors wish to thank Dr. H.-W. Honegger (Fachbereich Biologie, Universität Konstanz) and Dr. N.J. Strausfeld (E.M.B.L., Heidelberg) for helpful comments and for assisting with the English text