Removal of acid by trioctylamine from samples for microbiological assay

Metal-dependent proteinase of the lens. Assay, purification and properties of the bovine enzyme

1. Two new assay methods were developed for the lens proteinase. In both, the substrate was alpha2-crystallin (a major lens protein); in the first method, the products were detected by reaction with trinitrobenzenesulphonate in the presence of SO32-, whereas in the second method, 3H-labelled substrate was used, and the products were detected as radioactivity soluble in trichloroacetic acid. 2. The neutral proteinase from bovine lens was partially purified by extraction of the lens at pH5.0 and column chromatography on hydroxyapatite and Sepharose 6B gel. 3. The purified enzyme had no detectable activity against haemoglobin, azo-casein or gamma-crystallin under optimum conditions for alpha2-crystallin. 4. The enzyme showed greatest activity and stability at pH7.5. It was reversibly inhibited by EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline, and activated by Ca2+ and Mg2+. 5. Molecular weights obtained for the enzyme by chromatography on Sepharose 6B were approx. 500,000 in buffer of I = 0.02, and 250,000 at I = 1.02. 6. The properties of the purified lens proteinase are such as to suggest that this enzyme could account for the entire endopeptidase activity of the lens.

Imidazole in organs of inbred chickens selected for resistance or susceptibility to lymphoid leukosis or Marek's disease

Total and soluble imidazole was determined on samples of liver and kidney and soluble imidazole was determined on blood from eight strains of chickens selected at three locations for resistance or susceptibility to lymphoid leukosis and/or Marek's disease. Liver and kidney total and soluble imidazole was not different between strains classed as resistant or susceptible to lymphoid leukosis and/or Marek's disease. The weighted average of soluble blood imidazole was higher (P smaller than 0.01) in strains classed as resistant to lymphoid leukosis. A similar difference (P smaller than 0.01) was observed with strains classed as resistant or susceptible to Marek's disease when the selections from one location were not included in the weighted average.

The metabolism of amino acids in the bovine lens. Their oxidation as a source of energy

1. The metabolism by the bovine lens of nine (14)C-labelled l-amino acids was studied. These were: alanine, aspartate, glutamate, leucine, lysine, proline, serine, tyrosine and tryptophan. 2. All were taken up by the tissue and incorporated into protein. 3. Aspartate and glutamate, although poorly taken up, were readily metabolized to CO(2). Radioactivity from glutamate was also found in glutathione, glutamine, proline and ophthalmic acid. Aspartate was converted into glutamate, glutathione, proline, alanine and lactate. 4. Alanine was largely converted into lactate, which was released into the medium, but incorporation of radioactivity into CO(2), glutamate, glutathione, aspartate and lipids also occurred. 5. Radioactivity from leucine was detected in CO(2), lipids, glutamate, glutathione, proline and glutamine. 6. Lysine was only slightly broken down by the bovine lens; radioactivity was observed in CO(2), glutamate, glutathione, proline and two unidentified compounds. 7. Proline was metabolized to glutamate from which CO(2), glutathione and glutamine were formed. Hydroxyproline in the capsule collagen was labelled. 8. Radioactivity from serine was found in CO(2), lipids, glutathione, glycine, cystine, ATP, lactate and three unidentified compounds, one of which was probably taurine. 9. Neither tyrosine nor tryptophan were metabolized by the bovine lens. 10. The ability of the lens to metabolize amino acids was also shown by measurement of NH(3) production: more NH(3) was formed when glucose was absent from the incubation medium. 11. These experiments suggest that oxidation of amino acids is a source of energy for the lens.

The metabolism of glucose by the rabbit lens in the presence and absence of oxygen

1. The effect of the absence of oxygen on the metabolism of [U-(14)C]glucose by the rabbit lens has been examined. 2. Protein-free extracts of incubated lens were subjected to electrophoresis followed by chromatography on paper; radioautographs showed 10 compounds substantially labelled. In the absence of oxygen, less radioactivity appeared in glucose, sorbitol, fructose, alanine, glutamic acid, glutathione and nucleotides, and more in lactic acid, alpha-glycerophosphate and glycerol. 3. The radioactivity of lens protein was about two to four times greater after aerobic than after anaerobic incubation. 4. The radioactivity of carbon dioxide was 2- to 4-fold greater after aerobic incubation than after anaerobic incubation. 5. After aerobic incubation of the lens, the radioactivity of all the labelled compounds was higher in the outer part (cortex) than in the inner part (nucleus). 6. Free glycerol has been found to be present in the lens. Its concentration, and that of alpha-glycerophosphate, has been measured in the lens of several species of animal.

A method for the determination of nucleotide sequence in polyribonucleotides

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