scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question

Showing papers on "B vitamins published in 1977"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Because NeF binds to the alternative pathway C3 convertase, C3bBb, it is suggested that it is an antibody to a conformational antigen of the C3-factor B complex, and thereby stabilizes this complex.
Abstract: Complement C3 nephritic factor (NeF) produces alternative pathway-meciated C3 cleavage by binding to and stabilizing the alternative pathway C3 convertase, C3bBb. Some studies have suggested that NeF is an immunoglobulin, while others conclude that it is a distinct serum protein. The heterogeneity of NeF was evaluated by electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing of NeF-containing serum followed by hemolytic demonstration of NeF activity in agar gel. With each method, diffuse cathodal zones or multiple bands of hemolysis developed, which revealed remarkable variations in patterns from patient to patient. NeF activity was absorbed by and eluted from insolubilized antibody to Fc and Fab fragments of IgG. Immunoabsorption of six NeF-containing sera with insolubilized anti-kappa and anti-lambda light chain antisera revealed that NeF had kappa antigenic determinants in three, lambda antigenic determinants in one, and both kappa and lambda antigenic determinants in two. These data indicate that NeF is an oligoclonal immunoglobulin. Because NeF binds to the alternative pathway C3 convertase, C3bBb, we suggest that it is an antibody to a conformational antigen of the C3-factor B complex, and thereby stabilizes this complex.

83 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The physiological basis of the family Methanobacteriaceae is strengthened by these findings.
Abstract: To ascertain its physiological similarity to other methanogenic bacteria, Methanospirillum hungatii, the type species of the genus, was characterized nutritionally and biochemically. Good growth occurred in a medium consisting of mineral salts, cysteine sulfide reducing buffer, and an H2-CO2 (80:20) atmosphere. Addition of amino acids and B vitamins stimulated growth. Cell-free extracts contained methylcobalamin-coenzyme M methyltransferase, methylreductase, and formate hydrogenlyase. Cells contained coenzyme M and coenzyme F420. Coenzyme F420 was required for formate hydrogenlyase activity. Coenzyme F420 purified from M. hungatii had identical properties to that purified from species of Methanobacterium. The physiological basis of the family Methanobacteriaceae is strengthened by these findings.

58 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Oct 1977-Cancer
TL;DR: Attention is drawn to the possibility that pituitary, mammary and certain other tumors that sometimes occur among the controls, as well as among experimental animals, may be due to the occasional presence in laboratory animal diets of estrogenic and/or toxic secondary metabolites of the field fungi, Fusaria.
Abstract: Pretreatment of rats with large doses of nicotinamide, which has been shown to increase the incidence of pancreatic islet-cell tumors after streptozotocin and after heliotrine, appears to promote the development of kidney neoplasias in rats given several doses of diethylnitrosamine. Nicotinamide, one of the B vitamins, and a constituent of NAD coenzymes, will prevent the depletion of NAD coenzymes by alkylating agents. It may protect the animal to some extent from the acute effects of hepatocarcinogens but not from the induction of tumors, although it may change the localization of the latter. The possible mechanisms involved in the action of nicotinamide and of certain other modifying agents are discussed. Attention is drawn to the possibility that pituitary, mammary and certain other tumors that sometimes occur among the controls, as well as among experimental animals, may be due to the occasional presence in laboratory animal diets of estrogenic and/or toxic secondary metabolites of the field fungi, Fusaria. Mycotoxins, such as zearalenone and the trichothecenes, are also likely to contaminate human foods; this could explain why multiple tumors in man occur mainly in the sex organs and in the digestive tract.

22 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Larval developmental time and adult fecundity of the flour beetles Tribolium confusum and T. castaneum were measured on twelve different diets: top patent flour; top patents enriched with riboflavin, thiamine and niacin, singly or in combinations; top Patent flour mixed with bran, germ or both.
Abstract: Larval developmental time and adult fecundity of the flour beetles Tribolium confusum and T. castaneum were measured on twelve different diets: top patent flour; top patent flour enriched with riboflavin, thiamine and niacin, singly or in combinations; top patent flour mixed with bran, germ or both; and whole wheat flour. Larval mortality did not exceed 5% on any of the diets. Larvae of both species developed slightly faster and laid significantly more eggs in flour enriched with the three vitamins than in unenriched patent flour. The improvement was due to the addition of riboflavin. The addition of thiamine or niacin or both did not accelerate development or increase fecundity. It was concluded that top patent flour contains enough thiamine and niacin but not enough riboflavin for proper growth and development of flour beetles. Whole wheat flour was the best diet for T. castaneum, and the flour-germ-bran mixture for T. confusum. Larvae of T. confusum developed as rapidly in the mixture, as in whole wheat flour, but the adults laid significantly more eggs. T. castaneum was equally fecund on these diets, but developed faster in the coarser whole wheat flour. In both species, especially T. castaneum, dietary components had a greater effect on fecundity than on rate of larval development. RESUME EFFETS SUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT LARVAIRE ET LA FECONDITE DE TRIBOLIUM CONFUSUM ET T. CASTANEUM DE DIVERS TYPES DE FARINE DE BLE, ENRICHIE EN ELEMENTS NATURELS OU EN VITAMINES DE SYNTHESE Le taux de developpement larvaire et la fecondite des sujets adultes du Tribolium brun de la farine, Tribolium confusum Jacquelin duVal, et du Tribolium rouge de la farine, Tribolium castaneum Herbst, ont ete examines en rapport avec 12 formules alimentaires differentes: fleur de farine; fleur de farine enrichie de riboflavine, de thiamine et de niacine, seules ou combinees; fleur de farine melangee de son, de germe de ble ou de ces deux elements a la fois; enfin, farine de ble entier. Dans chacun de ces regimes, la mortalite larvaire n'a jamais ete superieure a 5%. Les larves de ces deux especes se sont developpees legerement plus vite et ont pondu beaucoup plus d'oeufs avec le regime de fleur de farine enrichie de trois vitamines qu'avec le regime de fleur de farine non enrichie. Ces ameliorations du developpement sont dues a la riboflavine, car l'addition de thiamine ou de niacine, seules ou associees, n'a ni accelere le developpement ni augmente la fecondite. On en a conclu que la fleur de farine contenait assez de thiamine et de niacine, mais qu'il y avait une insuffisance en riboflavine pour assurer le developpement et la croissance des Tribolium spp. La farine de ble entier a ete la plus efficace pour les T. castaneum, et le melange de farine, de germe et de son a eu les memes effets sur les T. confusum. Les larves des T. confusum se sont developpees au meme rythme dans ce melange que dans la farine de ble entier, toutefois les sujets adultes ont pondu une quantite d'oeufs beaucoup plus grande dans ce meme melange. Les T. castaneum etaient egalement feconds dans ce melange, mais se sont developpes plus rapidement dans la farine plus grossiere de ble entier. Pour les deux especes, mais specialement pour les T. castaneum, les composants du regime ont eu un plus grand effet sur la fecondite que sur le developpement larvaire.

15 citations


Book ChapterDOI
TL;DR: There will be new data concerning the extent of the similarity in B-haplotypes of the inbred CC strain in Prague and the B-complex-homozygous American strain, G-B1, which is maintained in Europe both in Copenhagen and in Basel.
Abstract: We will present in this paper some new data which contribute to the analysis of the recombinant B-haplo-type in Prague, RI, which was mentioned already in the preceding section of this meeting. In addition, there will be new data concerning the extent of the similarity in B-haplotypes of the inbred CC strain in Prague and the B-complex-homozygous American strain, G-B1, which is maintained in Europe both in Copenhagen and in Basel.

12 citations




Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that the ‘dying-back’ neuronal degeneration caused by certain organophosphorus compounds depends also on the depletion of coenzymes owing to substitution of their reactivesites by the groups released from the neurotoxic phosphate esters and deficient replacement.
Abstract: Attention has been drawn (Schoental, 1976) to the possibility that alkylating agents, whether those which release their alkylating entities chemically or those which require preliminary metabolic activation, will deplete the tissue concentration of coenzymes, because they will alkylate, among other items, the reactive nucleophilic groups in the latter. When the alkylating entities are released in the hepatocytes, the predominating effects will be liver damage in the centrilobular areas, where the concentrations of the B vitamins become first exhausted. Foetal and other rapidly growing tissues have a lower concentration of coenzymes than the respective adult tissues (Kaplan, 1966; Ferris C muscular hypoplasia was induced in the chick embryos, which could be prevented by nicotinamide. Similarly the presence of 3-acetylpyridine in chick-embryo mesodermal cell cultures will give rise to cartilage; when nicotinamide is added to the culture medium muscle cells will develop preferentially (Caplan et al., 1968), and the decrease in NAD coenzymes in the tissues will be prevented (Rosenberg & Caplan, 1975). Differentiation in foetal tissues growing in uitro appears to be affected by the integrity and concentration of NAD coenzymes. Certain organophosphorus and methyl carbamate compounds can induce abnormalities in the chick embryo, the severity of which correlate with the degree of depletion of NAD coenzymes. Nicotinamide will prevent the depletion of the coenzymes and most of the abnormalities (Proctor & Casida, 1975). The mechanism of action of the organophosphorus compounds remained unexplained. I suggest that the teratogenic effects of the organophosphorus compounds and the decrease in NAD coenzymes is related to the alkylating potentialities of the respective substances. Phosphoric esters can undergo hydrolysis (with the loss of an alkoxyl group), and also dealkylation (with the release of an alkyl group) (see Heath, 1961 ; O’Brien, 1967; Hollingworth, 1969; Hilgetag & Teichmann, 1971, and references therein). The alkylating activity of the various organophosphorus compounds for the nucleophilic 0-, Sor N-groups correlates with the acidity of the remaining part of the molecule, and decreases in the following order: (RO),P(O)H >(RO),P(O)>(RO),P(O)R ROP(0)RZ. It appears surprising that although the alkylating ability of organophosphorus compounds has been known for many years, i t has usually been disregarded in the considerations of their biological action. We have suggested that the ‘dying-back’ neuronal degeneration caused by certain organophosphorus compounds depends also on the depletion of coenzymes owingto substitution oftheir reactivesites by thegroups released from the neurotoxic phosphate esters and deficient replacement (Schoental & Cavanagh, 1977). This view is supported by the fact that B-vitamin deficiencies per se can cause the ‘dying-back’ neuropathies (Cavanagh, 1964) and also teratogenic effects (see Hughes, 1976, and references therein). Though, at present, evidence points mainly to the depletion of NAD coenzymes, other B vitamins containing coenzymes (FAD, CoA, folates, pyridoxal phosphate, thiamin pyrophosphate etc.) are likely also to be implicated in foetal abnormalities, but have not yet been appropriately investigated. If my suggestions should prove justified, it may become possible to prevent the

10 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a modified version of a Linsmaier and Skoog preparation was used for the development of a liquid medium for maize, which enabled perpetuation of callus through repeated subculture.
Abstract: Cell suspension and callus cultures from somatic tissue of inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L.) were cultured on media that were defined via modification of a Linsmaier and Skoog preparation. Germlings incubated on the primary medium originally employed required long-term incubation for callus induction. Modification of the primary medium with high levels of iron and (ethylene dinitrillo)tetraacetic acid (EDTA), B vitamin amendments and vitamin E, shortened incubation by 75% and nearly doubled the percentage of germlings which produced callus. Callus did not remain viable in subcultures to the secondary medium originally employed, whereas a preparation, developed via modification of the original secondary medium, enabled perpetuation of callus through repeated subculture. Modification with high levels of iron and EDTA, plug B vitamins and vitamin E, with decreased concentrations of five inorganic salts, suppressed aberrant organogenesis and stabilized culture growth as viable callus. Similar modification, with the exception that EDTA was omitted, was employed for the development of a liquid medium. Tonicity of the medium was adjusted with a lowered level of sucrose, with the liquid further modified by addition of acetate. Upon development of this liquid, maize became the sixth monocot species for which somatic cells remain viable through repeated subculture in liquid suspensions.

10 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the vitamin contents of six rural Nigerian foods were estimated before and after cooking and the implications of these losses for the peasants are discussed, including losses of vitamin C in all the diets were between 40 and 100%.

9 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Myxamoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum strain Ax-2 were adapted to growth in a medium containing B vitamins, a vitamin-free tryptic digest of casein, soluble starch and inorganic salts and showed that riboflavin or flavin mononucleotide is also required.
Abstract: SUMMARY: Myxamoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum strain Ax-2 were adapted to growth in a medium containing B vitamins, a vitamin-free tryptic digest of casein, soluble starch and inorganic salts. Omission of vitamins from this medium confirmed that D-biotin, thiamin, folate and a-lipoate are essential for myxamoebal growth and showed that riboflavin or flavin mononucleotide is also required. No requirement for other vitamins or growth factors could be detected. A defined medium was developed by replacement of the tryptic digest of casein with a mixture of 20 L-amino acids and addition of Tween 80. Tween 80 caused starch precipitation in the medium and this seemed essential for stimulating growth of the myxamoebae.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results from studies using early-weaned and market pigs demonstrate that, in the case of vitamin B 6, the urinary xanthurenic acid secretion after a tryptophan load and the activities of the serum transaminases are suitable biochemical criteria to diagnose suboptimum supply.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Norethindrone induces aniline hydroxylase in animals fed all diets except those deficient in thiamin and riboflavin and the activities of the four parameters of the drug metabolizing system measured in these studies are clearly affected by the dietary status of the animal.
Abstract: Ingestion of high levels of thiamin significantly decreased the activity of cytochrome P-450, NADPH cytochrome c reductase, and the metabolism of aniline and ethylmorphine. Apparent Vmaxs for ethylmorphine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase were decreased by high levels of riboflavin even though NADPH cytochrome c reductase was elevated. High levels of dietary pyridoxine significantly decreased only the Vmax for aniline hydroxylase. Generally, norethindrone produces either no change or slight depression of cytochrome P-450 regardless of diet, whereas the administration of norethindrone produced no change or an increase in activity of c reductase and ethylmorphine N-demethylase. Norethindrone induces aniline hydroxylase in animals fed all diets except those deficient in thiamin and riboflavin. The activities of the four parameters of the drug metabolizing system measured in these studies as well as the effects of norethindrone are clearly affected by the dietary status of the animal.



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Light hybrid pullets kept in floor pens or in cages received one of five dietary treatments: a conventional developer diet (controls) or whole wheat unsupplemented (B) or supplemented with minerals (C), minerals and vitamins (D), or minerals and B vitamins only (E).
Abstract: 1. Light hybrid pullets kept in floor pens or in cages received one of five dietary treatments: a conventional developer diet (controls) or whole wheat unsupplemented (B) or supplemented with minerals (C), minerals and vitamins (D), or minerals and B vitamins only (E). The control diet was fed from 8 to 20 weeks and other diets from either 8 or 12 to 20 weeks of age. All groups received the same layers’ diet from 20 to 68 weeks of age. 2. Controls grew best and matured first: maturation was delayed by about 2.lb5 d with each 100 g reduction in body weight at 20 weeks. Body weights at 20 weeks, taking controls as 100, were 50, 70, 78 and 73 for B, C, D and E applied from 8 weeks and 72, 87, 87 and 86 when applied from 12 weeks. Lower‐leg length was increased by mineral but not by vitamin supplementation. Birds in floor pens grew faster than those in cages. 3. Mortality was nearly 30% in pullets receiving diet B from 8 to 20 weeks of age: feeding the diet from 12 weeks, or supplementing it with minerals (C)...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The B-vitamins in milk from baboons (Papio cynocephalus) at various stages of lactation were measured microbiation; there were only slight changes in composition as lactation progressed and the absolute values resembled those for human or cow's milk.
Abstract: 1. The B-vitamins in milk from baboons (Papio cynocephalus) at various stages of lactation were measured microbiologically. 2. Mature milk contained, on average (microgram/ml): thiamin 0.18 riboflavin 0.74, nicotinic acid 3.2, folate 0.03, vitamin B6 0.70 vitamin B12 0.002, pantothenic acid 2.63, biotin 0.0065. 3. Colostrum contained much less vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid than mature milk; otherwise, there were only slight changes in composition as lactation progressed. Neither these changes, nor the absolute values, resembled those for human or cow's milk. 4. The average daily secretion of B-vitamins in milk represented less than 10% of the mother's dietary intake; that of folate was less than 0.5% of the mother's dietary intake. 5. Baboon milk was calculated to provide infants with approximately the following quantities of B-vitamins (/d): thiamin 0.06 mg, riboflavin 0.25 mg, nicotinic acid 1.1 mg, folate 10 microgram, vitamin B6 0.25 mg, vitamin B12 0.7 microgram, pantothenic acid 0.9 mg, biotin 2.2 microgram.


Journal Article
TL;DR: The constitution of vitamin storage in the liver comes from the protein quality of the diet and from the possibilities of nitrogen storage.
Abstract: Lots of growing rats consume ad libitum rations based on zein (diets A), or zein partially supplemented in lysine and tryptophan (= protein quality of maize) (diets B), or zein supplemented in amino acids to fill totally its deficiencies (diets C). The diets contain 15 mg of niacin, 1.5 mg of thiamine, 2.5 mg of riboflavin and 1.5 mg of pyridoxine per kg. The efficiency of these vitamins is estimated according to their hepatic amounts. Compared with the diet A, the liver of animals of diet B contains in average 37 p. 100 less vitamins and that of diet C 56 P. 100 less. The amount of niacin in liver directly depends on the tryptophan intake and not on that of the niacin. The amount of riboflavin and pyridoxine depends on the nitrogen in the liver: the retention of 1 mg of nitrogen in the liver provokes the retention of 1.1 mug of riboflavin and of 0.2 mug of pyridoxine. The amount of thiamine is less narrowly linked to the hepatic nitrogen metabolism. The constitution of vitamin storage in the liver comes from the protein quality of the diet and from the possibilities of nitrogen storage.