Showing papers in "Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B in 1976"

Anaerobic metabolism in bivalvia (Mollusca) Characteristics of anaerobic metabolism

Abstract: 1. 1. The role of carbohydrates (glycogen, trehalose, glucose), lipids and proteins as forms of energy storage during aerobiosis and anaerobiosis is discussed. 2. 2. Fatty acid and amino acid conversions cannot be ruled out during anaerobiosis, but this is accompanied by a simultaneous mobilization of carbohydrates. 3. 3. Carbohydrates are therefore the main energy reserve stores under this condition. A Pasteur effect has been shown only in a few studies. The consumed carbohydrates form only a fraction of the pool size. This may be the result of a reduction of the metabolic rate during anaerobiosis. 4. 4. Calculations of ATP production and consumption reveal that the lowest possible energy demand is far below that of the standard rate. 5. 5. Anaerobiosis may lead to the accumulation of pyruvate, lactate, octopine, succinate, alanine, acetate, propionate and CO 2 . The ratio in which these compounds accumulate alters with time. Alanine and lactate are probably initial end products. 6. 6. Stoichiometric studies between consumed fuel substrates and accumulated compounds are discussed. 7. 7. There is a relationship between pH changes and shell movements. During shell closure there is a gradual decrease in pH. 8. 8. ATP levels decrease during anaerobiosis.

A survey of avian eggshell pigments

Abstract: 1. 1. Eggshells from 108 species were examined for appearance and pigment content. 2. 2. Principal pigments found were protoporphyrin, biliverdin IXα and its zinc chelate. 3. 3. 49 species had protoporphyrin only, 2 had biliverdin only, 33 had protoporphyrin and biliverdin, 17 had all 3 pigments, one species had biliverdin and its zinc chelate, one had protoporphyrin and biliverdin zinc chelate and five species had no pigment. Biliverdin zinc chelate was never found alone.

The long chain metabolites of linoleic and linolenic acids in liver and brain in herbivores and carnivores

Abstract: 1. 1. The parent vegetable polyenoic acids and their long-chain animal metabolites have been studied in liver and brain phospholipids in a herbivorous mammal (Kob) and a carnivore (Hyaena) of similar body size, but contrasting developments of the nervous system. 2. 2. The fatty acid patterns of the phospholipids were found to be tissue and species specific. 3. 3. The major metabolite of linolenic acid was docosapentaenoate (C22:5,n-3) in the Kob liver, but docosahexaenoate (C22:6,n-3) in the Hyaena. Brain grey matter of both species contained the hexaenoate. 4. 4. Comparative studies from 30 different species demonstrated that the brain ethanolamine phosphoglycerides (EPG) had a relatively constant fatty acid composition despite wide variations in the fatty acid composition of liver EPG.

Natural occurrence, and experimental induction by estradiol-17-β, of a lipophosphoprotein (vitellogenin) in flounder (Platichtys flesus, L.)

Abstract: 1. 1. A specific lipophosphoprotein, vitellogenin is demonstrated in female flounders during vitellogenesis. 2. 2. The synthesis of vitellogenin can be induced in both normal males and females by estradiol-17-β treatment. In vitellogenic females the estradiol-treatment increases the synthesis of vitellogenin. 3. 3. Determination of alkali-labile protein phosphorus is shown to be a useful indication of vitellogenin in serum. 4. 4. By subjecting serum of vitellogenic animals to gel filtration it is possible to isolate a crude preparation of vitellogenin, which has a molecular weight of about 550,000.

Isolation, characterization, and physical properties of protein antifreezes from the winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus.

Abstract: 1. 1. Three proteins with an unusual ability to depress the freezing point of water have been purified from the blood serum of the winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus . 2. 2. The amino acid compositions of these proteins are essentially the same and consist of large amounts of alanine, threonine and aspartic acid. 3. 3. The flounder protein antifreeze is quite different compositionally from the glycoprotein antifreeze previously isolated from antarctic nototheniid fishes. Therefore it seems that macromolecular antifreeze solutes have evolved independently in fishes at least twice.

Microsomal mixed function oxidases in an estuarine fish, Fundulus heteroclitus, and their induction as a result of environmental contamination.

Abstract: 1. 1. An hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase (MFO) system is described in the estuarine fish, Fundulus heteroclitus . 2. 2. In vitro aldrin ∗ epoxidation rates were measured and compared to those seen in freshwater fish. 3. 3. The oxidases are microsomal, require NADPH, † and were poisoned by carbon monoxide (CO) indicating the involvement of a CO-binding component. 4. 4. Liver microsomal preparations contained the CO-binding cytochrome P-450. 5. 5. High levels of these enzymes were induced both by a drug in the laboratory and by contamination of the aquatic environment by foreign hydrocarbons.

Proline metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes.

Abstract: 1. 1. Oxygen uptake by epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi , Costa Rica strain, was stimulated by l -proline, l -glutamate and to a lesser degree by l -aspartate. 2. 2. l -proline reversed partially malonate-induced inhibition of respiration but did not reverse KCN-induced inhibition. 3. 3. Labeled proline, glutamate, aspartate, cystine and lysine were detected by thin-layer chromatography in the free amino acid pool from cells incubated with l -proline- 14 C. 4. 4. Labeled tricarboxylic acid intermediates were also found by this method in extracts from organisms incubated with l -proline- 14 C which contained also pyruvate. 5. 5. Labeled alanine was not found in epimastigotes incubated with l -proline- 14 C, l -glutamate- 14 C or aspartate- 14 C indicating a difference between T. cruzi amino acid metabolism and that found in other hemoflagellates. 6. 6. Labeled l -proline was not found in epimastigotes incubated with d -glucose- 14 C, glutamate- 14 C or aspartate- 14 C indicating that the flow of carbon from proline to glutamate and aspartate may not be reversible. 7. 7. All results suggest the presence of a proline-glutamate inter-conversion pathway in T. cruzi epimastigotes.

Studies on the digestive enzymes of the stomachless bonefish Carassius auratus gibelio (bloch): Endopeptidases

Abstract: 1. 1. In the digestive system of Carassius auratus gibelio trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like proteases were found, but no pepsin, no elastase and no collagenase. 2. 2. The occurrence of these enzymes as zymogenes in the hepatopancreas was shown. 3. 3. The endopeptidases are seryl-proteases. 4. 4. Unlike bovine trypsin and chymotrypsin, the Carassius endopeptidases are unstable below pH 6. The proteinases are not stabilized or activated by Ca-ions.

Seasonal changes in the carotenoids of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus dröbachiensis

Abstract: 1. 1. The carotenoids of S. drobachiensis ovaries and eggs were echinenone, β-carotene, zeaxanthin, isocryptoxanthin, and small amounts of a fucoxanthin isomer. The major carotenoids of the gut wall and gut contents were fucoxanthin, mainly isomerized, β-carotene and zeaxanthin. Echinenone was detectable but isocryptoxanthin was not. 2. 2. Seasonal variation in ovarian carotenoids was studied. Echinenone constituted between 79 and 85% of the total, except in spawned out ovaries where it fell to 50%, reflecting preferential incorporation of echinenone into eggs. 3. 3. Evidence is presented for the synthesis of echinenone from β-carotene via isocryptoxanthin in the ovary rather than in the gut wall. 4. 4. The possible significance of the degree of oxidation of animal carotenoids is discussed briefly.

Some properties and occurrence of glutamine synthetase in fish.

Abstract: 1. 1. Transferase activity of glutamine synthetase, K m for glutamine, and pH optimum were determined in brain and liver tiflaes of several species of fish. 2. 2. Specific activity was high in elasmobranch liver and below limits of detection in teleost liver. 3. 3. Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) glutamine synthetase was inhibited by higher than optimal concentrations of hydroxylamine, a substrate which also affected the K m value for glutamine. 4. 4. The enzyme from Chinook salmon brain is inhibited by (in decreasing order): Zn 2+ , Cd 2+ , Mn 2+ , and Mg 2+ . 5. 5. The assay method, activities, and inhibition are discussed relative to environment, physiology, and phylogeny of the species studied.

The lysozyme of the plaice Pleuronectes platessa L.

Abstract: Lysozyme from the serum of the plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L., has been purified 78-fold with chitin coated cellulose. 1. 2. Further purification on CM-cellulose yielded a single band on acrylamide electrophoresis, exhibiting lysozyme activity. 2. 3. The quantitative amino acid composition of plaice serum lysozyme is reported. 3. 4. The mol. wt is identical with hen egg white lysozyme. 4. 5. A method is described for identifying fractions with lysozyme activity in polyacrylamide gels.

Comparative studies of paramyosins

Abstract: 1. 1. Paramyosin has been isolated from animals in seven invertebrate phyla. 2. 2. The paramyosin/myosin weight ratio in these muscles varies from 0.07 to 2.2. 3. 3. The amino acid compositions of these paramyosins have been determined and comparison by a multivariate statistical method shows that protein similarity coincides with morphological relatedness.

The plasma transport proteins of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol in fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds.

Abstract: 1. 1. The transport proteins of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol were studied in 22 species of fish, 12 species of amphibians, 5 species of reptiles and 19 species of birds. 2. 2. Fish with a cartilaginous skeleton, and amphibia used lipoproteins for 25-hydroxycholecalciferol transport. 3. 3. Bony fish and reptiles had an α-globulin transport protein. 4. 4. 12 species of birds used β-globulin transport proteins, 4 species used albumin and 3 species used an α-globulin.

Oligomycin sensitivity of the mitochondrial ATPase as a marker for fly transmissability and the presence of functional kinetoplast DNA in African trypanosomes.

Abstract: 1. 1. The ATPase activity of particulate preparations of two strains of Trypanosoma (Trypanozoon) brucei brucei , able to multiply in insects, was found to be highly sensitive to the inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation oligomycin, although in one of these strains no sign of mitochondrial respiratory chain activity was detectable. 2. 2. On the other hand, the ATPase activity of four other strains of African trypanosomes, unable to multiply in insects (I − strains)—a kinetoplastic strain of Trypanosoma (T.) evansi and dyskinetoplastic variants of T. (T.) evansi and T. (T.) brucei brucei was insensitive to oligomycin. 3. 3. We conclude that the ATPase is a mitochondrial enzyme and that its oligomycin sensitivity reflects the presence of a functional kinetoplast DNA and a mitochondrial protein-synthesizing system and, hence, the ability to develop functional mitochondria and to multiply in insects. 4. 4. The analogy between I − trypanosomes and cytoplasmic petite mutants of yeast is stressed.

Characterization of the mitochondria of the free-living nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans.

Abstract: 1. 1. Conditions are discussed for obtaining population levels of 200,000/ml in 6 days using axenic cultures of the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. Lifespan and growth data under these conditions are presented. 2. 2. An isolation procedure which results in high quality mitochondria is presented, and metabolic data on respiaration rates, respiratory control ratios, and ADP: O ratios using various substrates are given. 3. 3. The effects of inhibitors of respiration and ATPase activity and of uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation are presented. 4. 4. Cytochrome content of the mitochondria as determined from difference spectra is given. No indication of the large amounts of the b type pigment reported in Turbatrix aceti was found. 5. 5. The metabolism and respiratory chain of C. elegans appear to be similar to the classic mammalian systems. The only gross difference noted was the absence of ATPase stimulation by traditional uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation. In this respect, the C. elegans mitochondria resemble more closely those of ascaris.

The cellular DNA content of sharks, rays and some other fishes.

Abstract: 1. 1. The haploid amount of DNA was determined for 31 species of elasmobranchs and 8 other non-teleost fishes. 2. 2. The elasmobranchs have a modal DNA amount of about 4 pg, compared to 1 pg for the teleosts. 3. 3. The DNA content of the other non-teleosts ranges from 1.2 at the low end to 142 pg for lungfishes that have been assayed. 4. 4. Several characteristics that are common to DNA distributions in many different groups of organisms, such as a skewed distribution and the positive correlation between specialization and a low amount of DNA, are apparent here. The lungfishes appear to be an exception to the latter characteristic.

A comparative study of the digestive enzymes in the hepatopancreas of Jonah crab (Cancer borealis) and Rock crab (Cancer irroratus).

Abstract: 1. 1. In general, specific activities of enzymes were greater in the hepatopancreas of Cancer irroratus than in Cancer borealis . Optimum pH activity of each enzyme was similar for both species. 2. 2. Two proteinases similar in optimum pH (3·8 and 8·0) to those in gastric juice of Homarus americanus were found. Molecular weights were estimated at 16,700 and 20,500 for C. borealis and C. irroratus respectively. 3. 3. Among the carbohydrases, chitobiase was most predominant with a specific activity of 0·4 U/mg protein in lyophylised powder extract of C. irroratus . An unusually high level of β-galactosidase was found compared to other forms of Crustacea. There was also a considerable difference in molecular weights of α-glucosidase between C. borealis (47,000) and C. irroratus (86,000). 4. 4. In contrast to the American lobster, the hepatopancreas is the apparent source of production of certain esterases in C. irroratus and C. borealis .

Biochemical genetics and evolution of North American blackbirds, family Icteridae

Abstract: 1 1 Electrophoretic patterns of 14 proteins encoded by 15 genetic loci were examined from 35 populations of seven species of North American blackbirds, family Icteridae 2 2 Analysis of allelic variation revealed a genetic basis for considering the seven species as members of two groups previously established from morphological evidence These are the Agelaiine group, which includes two species of meadowlarks, genus Sturnella, and the Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, and the Quiscaline group which includes the Brewer's Blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus, and two species of grackles, Cassidix mexicana and Quisculus quiscula The more primitive Brownheaded Cowbird, Molothrus ater, was found to be most similar to members of the Quiscaline group 3 3 A phylogeny of the taxa is presented including divergence times for the seven species Speciation of the forms appears to have been within the last 160,000 years, with a major portion of the divergence occurring during the Pleistocene glaciation

Protein, RNA and DNA metabolism in relation to ovarian vitellogenic growth in the flounder Platichthys flesus (L.)

Abstract: 1. 1. Estrogen treatment causes a simultaneous increase in the amounts of circulating vitellogenin and total liver RNA in sexually mature male and nonvitellogenic female flounders. 2. 2. In nature, initiation of ovarian growth in female flounders is characterized by marked increases in the amounts of circulating vitellogenin and of total DNA and RNA in the liver. 3. 3. RNA and vitellogenin reach maximum level in December, when ovarian growth is rapid and the liver weights maximal. 4. 4. A linear relationship exists between liver wet weight and total hepatic DNA with a correlation coefficient of 0.84.

Studies on insect bacteriolytic enzymes--II. Some physical and enzymatic properties of lysozyme from haemolymph of Galleria mellonella.

Abstract: 1. 1. Purified Galleria mellonella lysozyme generally resembles the avian lysozymes in amino acid composition but differs from goose egg-white lysozyme, particularly in cystine and tryptophane content. 2. 2. Complete inactivation followed oxidation of tryptophane in Galleria lysozyme, and reduction of the protein disulphide bonds caused an inhibition which was reversed in oxidising conditions. 3. 3. Transglycosylation is catalysed by Galleria lysozyme. Binding of bacterial cell walls, chitin oligosaccharides and Biebrich scarlet is weaker with Galleria lysozyme than with hen lysozyme. The association of substrate with Galleria lysozyme may involve tryptophane, but no detailed structural similarity with hen lysozyme was established for the active centres.

Metabolic and hematological effects of starvation in the european eel, Anguilla anguilla L.--III. Fatty acid composition.

Abstract: 1. 1. Fatty acid composition in liver and muscle was studied in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) after 11, 47, 96 and 164 days of starvation during the winter season. 2. 2. The changes in muscle were small compared with those in liver. 3. 3. In both liver and muscle there was a marked decrease in 14:0.∗ 4. 4. In the liver starvation caused a decrease in 16:1, 18:1, 20:1 and/or 18:3 and an increase in 20:4, 20:5, 22:4 and 22:5. 5. 5. The observed changes are discussed in relation to differences in distributional pattern among the lipid classes, to α- and β-positional preferences and to environmental temperature.

Evidence of collagen in the egg capsule of the dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula.

Abstract: 1. 1. The amino acid composition of the dogfish egg capsule and X-ray patterns of samples are conclusive regarding the evidence of collagen in this structure. 2. 2. Labelling of the egg capsule secreting gland (nidamental gland) with radioactive proline demonstrates that this collagen is secreted by very narrow cells of tubules located in the areas D and E of the glands. 3. 3. These cells alternate with large prismatic cells secreting at least another protein, which contains a high amount of tyrosine and SH groups.

The connective tissues and collagens of cod during starvation.

Abstract: 1. 1. Starvation causes the myocommata and skin of cod to thicken. 2. 2. Collagen prepared from the thickened tissue appears to have identical properties to normal collagen—molecular shape, intramolecular crosslinking, amino and imino acid composition and thermal denaturation temperature. An exception is the intermolecular crosslinking which appears to be greater in starving myocomma collagen (in skin there was again no difference). 3. 3. The collagen of cod seems to have a higher turnover throughout life than mammalian collagen. 4. 4. Apart from any effects of starvation, it is found that the force required to break a unit thickness of myocomma decreases in older fish, but during life the fish more than compensate for this by increasing the thickness.

A comparative study of β-crystallin from six mammals

Abstract: 1. 1. The major β-crystallin fractions have been isolated from the ocular lens of six species of mammals. 2. 2. Each species has two major β-crystallin classes which differ in mol. wt, but which share some identical polypeptides. 3. 3. Definite variations in polypeptide composition are demonstrated among the species studied. 4. 4. The β-crystallins from the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) are the most distinctive among those of the species studied.

The effect of different dietary oils on tissue fatty acids and tissue pathology in turbot Scophthalmus maximus.

Abstract: 1. 1. Three groups of turbot were given diets containing 40 g/kg of one of three different oils, cod liver oil, corn oil, or hydrogenated coconut oil for 16 weeks. 2. 2. Weight gain and food protein conversion were best in the turbot given cod liver oil and poorest in those given hydrogenated coconut oil. 3. 3. The fatty acids in the lipids of the liver and extrahepatic tissues of the different groups of turbot accorded with their dietary history. Little metabolic transformation of dietary fatty acids appeared to have occurred. There was little conversion of linoleate to arachidonate in the fish given corn oil and little accumulation of eicosatrienoic acid in the fish given hydrogenated coconut oil. 4. 4. Pathological changes comprising thickening and distortion of fat cell membranes, increased vasculatization and some loss of cellular integrity occurred in the adipose tissue surrounding the lateral lymphatic sinus in turbot given hydrogenated coconut oil and to a limited degree in those given corn oil. Marked lipid infiltration and ceroid deposition also occurred in the livers of turbot given hydrogenated coconut oil.

The biosynthesis of astaxanthin—XVI. The carotenoids in crustacea

Abstract: 1. 1. The carotenoids were isolated from seven species of Crustacea. 2. 2. Astaxanthin was the most prominent pigments in both carapaces and internal organs. 3. 3. Other pigments isolated include β-carotene, echinenone, canthaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, 3-hydroxy-canthaxanthin and 3,3′-dihydroxy-ϵ-carotene.

Purification and partial characterization of a second toxin from the scorpion Tityus serrulatus.

Abstract: 1. 1. A purification procedure is described for a second toxin of T. serrulatus, which also can be used with advantage for toxin I. 2. 2. Aminoacid compositions of toxins I and II were determined. 3. 3. Molecular weight of the toxins, were 6400 and 7700, respectively for toxins I and II. 4. 4. N-terminal residues were lysine for toxin I and glycine for toxin II. 5. 5. No free sulfhydryl group was detected in toxin I or II. 6. 6. LD50 of toxin II is higher than that of toxin I, but toxin II is more efficient in releasing acetylcholine in rat brain slices. 7. 7. Comparisons are established between toxins I and II of T. serrulatus and between these and toxins of other scorpions.

Soluble mammalian epoxide hydratase: action on juvenile hormone and other terpenoid epoxides.

Abstract: 1. 1. A soluble epoxide hydratase from mouse liver or kidney converts juvenile hormone and two epoxide containing juvenoids to their respective diols faster than the microsomal epoxide hydratases. 2. 2. The soluble enzyme hydrates the two trisubstituted epoxides much faster than the tetrasubstituted epoxide. 3. 3. Analysis by gel filtration indicates an approximate mol. wt of 150,000 for the liver enzyme while isoelectric focusing indicates a pI of 4·9.

Multiple haemoglobins in plaice and flounder and their functional properties

Abstract: 1. 1. Iso-electric focusing experiments reveal a marked heterogeneity of plaice and flounder haemoglobins. The component haemoglobins are isolated for functional study. 2. 2. The isolated plaice haemoglobins are very similar with regard to oxygen affinity (P50 near 6·5 torr at 15°C and pH 7·6), Bohr effects (Δ log P50/Δ pH = 0·5−0·6) and ATP and temperature sensitivities. The main flounder haemoglobins have higher oxygen affinities (P50 approx 4·4 torr) and smaller Bohr factors (−0·22 to −0·36). The oxygenation properties lack evidence for interaction between the component haemoglobins. 3. 3. The component differentiations are discussed comparatively in relation to the inactivity of flatfish and the hypoxic conditions that may prevail in their benthic habitats.

Comparative analysis of tissue esterases of the zebra danio (Brachydanio rerio) and the pearl danio (B. albolineatus) by disc gel electrophoresis

Abstract: 1. 1. The multiple forms of soluble esterases from liver, ovary, skeletal muscle and intestine of Brachydanio rerio and Brachydanio albolineatus have been analyzed by polyacrylamide (disc) gel electrophoresis. 2. 2. Nineteen separable zones of soluble esterase activity were observed in B. rerio and 10 separable zones in B. albolineatus. 3. 3. Although each tissue had its own unique esterase profile, different tissues within a species shared several esterase isozymes in common. The same tissues of the two species had fewer esterases in common. 4. 4. Esterase isozymes were identified in liver and intestinal tissues that showed unusual patterns of inhibition with DFP, eserine sulfate and sulfhdryl-group inhibitors.