Sugar regulation of harvest-related genes in asparagus.

The signals controlling the abundance of transcripts up-regulated (pTIP27, pTIP31, and pTIP32) or down-regulated (pTIP20 and pTIP21) after harvest in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) spears were examined. pTIP27 and pTIP31 are known to encode asparagine synthetase (AS) and a beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) homolog, respectively. The nucleotide sequences of pTIP20, pTIP21, and pTIP32 were determined, and they encode histone 3, histone 2B, and an unknown product, respectively. Changes in respiration, soluble sugars, and abundance of the five mRNAs were similar in the tips stored as 30-mm lengths or as part of 180-mm spears. We previously hypothesized that sugars may regulate the level of AS transcripts in asparagus tissue. Asparagus cell cultures were used to test the role of sugar status may regulate the level of AS transcripts in asparagus tissue. Asparagus cell cultures were used to test the role of sugar status in regulating gene expression. Transcript abundance for AS, beta-gal, and pTIP32 was low in cells in sugar-containing medium but increased within 12 h after transferring cells to a sugar-free medium. Histone 3 and histone 2B transcripts were, in general, abundant in cells on sugar-containing medium but declined in abundance when transferred to sugar-free medium. When cells were returned to sugar-containing medium the abundance of transcripts for histone 3 and histone 2B increased, whereas that for AS, beta-gal, and pTIP32 decreased. Soluble sugar levels are known to decline rapidly in the tips of harvested spears. Metabolic regulation by sugar status may have a major influence on gene expression in asparagus spears and other tissue after harvest.

High-molecular-mass alkaline phosphatase in amniotic fluid: properties and relationship with lamellar body phospholipid.

We have confirmed that most of third trimester amniotic fluid alkaline phosphatase is macromolecular. This is not, however, as has been previously suggested, due to complexing with lamellar body phospholipid. Amniotic fluid high-Mr ALP and serum high-Mr ALP are similar with regard to p-nitrophenylphosphate hydrolysis, thermostability, and activation energy but experiments with uncompetitive inhibitors indicate differences in isoenzyme composition.

Citrate regional anticoagulation in haemodialysis.

The use of citrate as an anticoagulant in haemodialysis is for patients who are recognised to be at risk if systemically anticoagulated. This paper describes a trial of use of a technically simple procedure involving the use of small volumes of citrate solution. It introduces the measurement of plasma citrate levels in a population of stable patients on regular dialysis treatment. Using synchronous pre- and post-dialyser blood samples, measurement of the whole blood clotting times demonstrated the restriction of anticoagulation to the extracorporeal circulation. It is concluded that citrate anticoagulation is safe, acceptable and simple for use in haemodialysis for patients at risk from systemic anticoagulation.

Optimized assay for serum angiotensin-converting enzyme activity.

This optimized two-point kinetic assay for serum angiotensin-converting enzyme is based on the colorimetric determination of hippurate with cyanuric chloride/dioxan reagent. The hippurate is released from hippuryl-L-histidyl-L-leucine by angiotensin-converting enzyme in the presence of chloride ion. CVs for the method (within-run and between-run) ranged from 2.1 to 3.2%. Linearity extends up to 200 U/L. Results are unaffected by lipemia and icterus. Hemoglobin in concentrations greater than 1.5 g/L causes a slight negative interference. Reference intervals for men and women are 22-82 U/L and 25-69 U/L, respectively.

Substrate specificity and mode of action of a cellulase from Aspergillus niger.

The mode of action and substrate specificity of a cellulase purified from Aspergillus niger were examined. The enzyme showed little capacity to hydrolyse highly ordered cellulose, but readily attacked soluble cellulose derivatives and amorphous alkali-swollen cellulose. Activity towards barley glucan and lichenin was greater than with CM-cellulose. Low activity was detected with CM-pachyman (a substituted beta-1,3-glucose polymer) and xylan. Activity towards yeast glucan, mannan, ethlene glycol chitin, glycol chitosan, laminarin, polygalacturonic acid and pectin could not be demonstrated. Cellobiose and p-nitrophenyl beta-D-glucoside were not hydrolysed, whereas the rate of hydrolysis of the higher members of the reduced cellulodextrins increased with chain length. The central bonds of cellotetraosylsorbitol and cellopentaosylsorbitol were the preferred points of clevage. Kinetic data indicated that the specificity region of the cellulase is five glucose units in length. The evidence indicates that the cellulase is an endoglucanase.

Chemical modification of cellulase from Aspergillus niger.

N-Bromosuccinimide completely inactivated the cellulase, and titration experiments showed that oxidation of one tryptophan residue per cellulase molecule coincided with 100% inactivation. CM-cellulose protected the enzyme from inactivation by N-bromosuccinimide. The cellulase was inhibited by active benzyl halides, and reaction with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide resulted in the incorporation of 2.3 hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl groups per enzyme molecule; one tryptophan residue was shown to be essential for activity. Diazocarbonyl compounds in the presence of Cu2+ ions inhibited the enzyme. The pH-dependence of inactivation was consistent with the reaction occurring with a protonated carboxyl group. Carbodi-imide inhibited the cellulase, and kinetic analysis indicated that there was an average of 1 mol of carbodi-imide binding to the cellulase during inactivation. Treatment of the cellulase with diethyl pyrocarbonate resulted in the modification of two out of the four histidine residues present in the cellulase. The modified enzyme retained 40% of its original activity. Inhibition of cellulase activity by the metal ions Ag+ and Hg2+ was ascribed to interaction with tryptophan residues, rather than with thiol groups.

Purification and properties of a cellulase from Aspergillus niger.

A cellulolytic enzyme was isolated from a commercial cellulase preparation form Aspergillus niger. A yield of about 50mg of enzyme was obtained per 100g of commerial cellulase. The isolated enzyme was homogeneous in the ultracentrifuge at pH 4.0 and 8.0, and in sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis but showed one major and two minor bands in disc gel electrophoresis. No carbohydrate was associated with the protein. Amino acid analysis revealed that the enzyme was rich in acidic and aromatic amino acids. Data from the amino acid composition and dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis indicated a molecular weight of 26000. The purified enzyme was active towards CM-cellulose, but no activity towards either cellobiose or p-nitrophenyl beta-D-glucoside was detected under the assay conditions used. The pH optimum for the enzyme was pH 3.8-4.0, and it was stable at 25 degrees C over the range pH 1-9; maximum activity (at pH 4.0) was obtained at 45 degrees C. The cellulase was more stable to heat treatment at pH 8.0 than at 4.0. Kinetic studies gave pK values between 4.2 and 5.3 for groups involved in the enzyme-substrate complex.