[Components of human complement system. Testing and isolation of C4]. / Komponenty sistemy komplementa cheloveka. Testirovanie i vydelenie C4.

A modified reagent for testing the hemolytic activity of human complement component C4 has been obtained. Reagent R4 was obtained by treatment of human blood serum pools with 0.075 M solution of hydrazine hydrate. This reagent was found to be rich in the serum fraction obtained by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose DE-52 and containing an active complement C3 component. To test the sensitivity and specificity of the reagent, component C4 was subjected to purification. This procedure resulted in a hemolytically active, electrophoretically and immunoelectrophoretically homogeneous component C4. DEAE-cellulose DE-52, DEAE-Sephacel, Ultragel AcA-34 and, again, DEAE-Sephacel were used consecutively as purification agents. The activity yield of component C4 with regard to the initial serum level was 20%.

[Components of human complement system. Testing and isolation of C3 and C5]. / Komponenty sistemy komplementa cheloveka. Testirovanie i vydelenie C3 i C5.

Modified reagents for testing the hemolytic activity of human complement components, C3 and C5, have been obtained. These reagents were obtained by treatment of human blood serum pools with a saturated solution of KBr (reagent R3) or 2 M KSCN and denaturated yeasts (reagent R5). These reagents were found to be rich in the serum factor obtained through the use of DEAE-cellulose DE-52 and containing the active component of the complement (C4). To test the sensitivity and specificity of the above reagents, components C3 and C5 were purified. After this procedure these components emerged as hemolytically active, electrophoretically and immunophoretically homogeneous components, C3 and C5. DEAE-cellulose DE-52, DEAE-Sephacel, Hydroxylapatite and Ultra-gel AcA-34 were used consecutively as purification agents. The activity yields of components C3 and C5 with regard to the initial serum levels were 31% and 18%, respectively.

[Hydrogen production by the cyanobacterium Anabaena variablis in the light]. / Obrazovanie vodoroda tsianobakteriiami Anabaena variablis v prisutstvii sveta

Light of low intensity (less than or equal to 25-10(5) erg-cm(-2)-sec(-1)) stimulates hydrogen production by cell suspensions of Anabaena variabilis in the presence of glucose, pyruvate or formate. The maximum rate of hydrogen production in the presence of these substrates was observed at light intensities of 650, 1400 and 2250 erg-cm(-2)-sec(-1), respectively. The rate of oxygen production by the cells increases while the rate of hydrogen evolution decreases with increase in light intensity (2.5-6.0-10(3) erg-cm(-2)-sec(-1)). In the presence of DCMU (10(-5)-10(-4) M), hydrogen evolution is not inhibited in the presence of pyruvate or formiate and is inhibited to a less extent in the presence of glucose. According to the results obtained, hydrogen evolution by A. variabilis in the light does not require the action of two photosystems. Inhibition of hydrogen production at significant light intensities is due to the action of oxygen on this process; the rate of oxygen evolution increases with light intensity.

[Hydrogen metabolism in Anabaena variabilis in the dark]. / Metabolizm vodoroda u Anabaena variabilis v temnote

Cells and extracts of the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis are capable of hydrogen absorption in the dark in the presence of H-acceptors with various redox potentials. Preliminary adaptation of the cells to anaerobic conditions has no effect on the process. A. variabilis can also evolve hydrogen in the dark. Reduced methylviologen (RMV), formiate, pyruvate, and glucose may be substrates for hydrogen evolution by the cells. The extracts evolve hydrogen in the presence of RMV, benzylviologen, azocarmine, or NAD (P) H + ATP. No adaptation of the cells to anaerobic conditions is required for hydrogen evolution from RMV, and chloramphenicol has no effect on the process. The rate of hydrogen evolution is however higher in the cells adapted to anaerobic conditions. Production of hydrogen from pyruvate by the cells adapted and non-adapted to anaerobic conditions was detected only after their incubation with the substrate during 2--3 hours, and chloramphenicol inhibited the process.