Gel Electrophoretic Patterns Research Articles

Effects of glycoprotein synthesis inhibitor on myelination in rat cerebellum

Effects of a glycoprotein synthesis inhibitor on myelination were investigated in rat cerebellum. The glycoprotein synthesis inhibitor, tunicamycin (TM), was injected intracranially into newborn rats. The activity of 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) in the cerebellum was significantly reduced in 2-week-old animals and was restored to the normal level by age 3 weeks. When TM was injected into newborn rats every 3-4 days for a total of 6 times, CNPase activity was still low at 3 and 4 weeks. Immunohistochemical stainings for CNPase and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) were performed on paraffin sections of multiple-TM-injected cerebellum at 3 weeks. The intensity of the staining with MAG antiserum in the white matter was clearly decreased in TM-treated cerebellum compared with the control. The myelin in the granule cell layer was poorly stained with CNPase antiserum in TM-treated cerebellum. Subcellular fractionation was carried out and the CNPase activity in each fraction was measured. The CNPase activity in the myelin fraction (P2A) from the TM-treated cerebellum was significantly lower than that in the control. In contrast, the activity in the synaptosomal (P2B) and microsomal (P3) fractions from the multiple-TM-injected cerebellum was higher than in those from the controls. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic patterns of the P2A fractions were analyzed. The P2A fraction from TM-treated cerebellum contained less Wolfgram protein than the control. These results suggest that glycoprotein synthesis plays certain roles in myelination in the central nervous system.

Surface Membrane Glycoproteins of Wild-Type and Differentiation-Inducer-Resistant HL-60 Cells

AbstractSurface membrane glycoproteins (SMGs) of cells from the parental wild-type HL-60 cell line and from three sublines variably cross-resistant to the granulocyte differentiation-inducing effects of retinoic acid (RA), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and certain purine bases (6-thioguanine [6TG] or hypoxanthine) were studied by one-dimensional and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. After both oligosaccharide (periodate/borotritiide) and peptide (1,3,4,6-tetrachloro-3α, 6α-diphenylglycouril) ectolabeling procedures, striking common changes were noted in the gel electrophoretic patterns of the SMGs from the RA- and 6TG-resistant sublines compared to those from the wild-type HL-60 line or the DMSO-resistant subline. Most prominently, this included the presence in the RA- and 6TG-resistant cells of an apparent high molecular weight acidic glycoprotein(s) (mol wt, 200 to 285 kilodaltons [kD]; isoelectric point range [pI], 4.5 to 6.0) not observed in the wild-type or DMSO-resistant cells and, conversely, the presence of a lower molecular weight glycoprotein(s) (mol wt, 120 to 165 kD; pl, 4.2 to 5.9) in the wild-type and DMSO-resistant cells, which was absent or much reduced in the RA- and 6TG-resistant cells. These acidic SMGs did not change as a function of the induction of granulocyte differentiation. However, some other more basic SMGs varied as a function of granulocyte differentiation in both the wild-type and differentiation inducer-resistant sublines, including the loss of the transferrin receptor and the gain of a mol wt 55-to 60-kD neutrophil-associated protein. In the context of previously reported information, these results indicate (1) that the overall pattern of SMG changes in the RA- and 6TG-resistant cells closely resembles that associated with multidrug (pleiotropic) resistance to cytotoxic agents in a variety of mammalian cells; (2) that the RA/6TG resistance-associated SMG changes are not granulocyte differentiation stage-specific; and (3) that either the RA/6TG resistance-associated SMG changes are not related to the resistance mechanism or they are involved in the resistance/cross-resistance mechanism(s) for RA/purine bases but not for DMSO.

Surface membrane glycoproteins of wild-type and differentiation-inducer- resistant HL-60 cells

Surface membrane glycoproteins (SMGs) of cells from the parental wild- type HL-60 cell line and from three sublines variably cross-resistant to the granulocyte differentiation-inducing effects of retinoic acid (RA), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and certain purine bases (6-thioguanine [6TG] or hypoxanthine) were studied by one-dimensional and two- dimensional gel electrophoresis. After both oligosaccharide (periodate/borotritide) and peptide (1,3,4,6-tetrachloro-3 alpha, 6 alpha-diphenylglycouril) ectolabeling procedures, striking common changes were noted in the gel electrophoretic patterns of the SMGs from the RA- and 6TG-resistant sublines compared to those from the wild-type HL-60 line or the DMSO-resistant subline. Most prominently, this included the presence in the RA- and 6TG-resistant cells of an apparent high molecular weight acidic glycoprotein(s) (mol wt, 200 to 285 kilodaltons [kD]; isoelectric point range [pl], 4.5 to 6.0) not observed in the wild-type or DMSO-resistant cells and, conversely, the presence of a lower molecular weight glycoprotein(s) (mol wt, 120 to 165 kD; pl, 4.2 to 5.9) in the wild-type and DMSO-resistant cells, which was absent or much reduced in the RA- and 6TG-resistant cells. These acidic SMGs did not change as a function of the induction of granulocyte differentiation. However, some other more basic SMGs varied as a function of granulocyte differentiation in both the wild-type and differentiation inducer-resistant sublines, including the loss of the transferrin receptor and the gain of a mol wt 55- to 60-kD neutrophil- associated protein. In the context of previously reported information, these results indicate (1) that the overall pattern of SMG changes in the RA- and 6TG-resistant cells closely resembles that associated with multidrug (pleiotropic) resistance to cytotoxic agents in a variety of mammalian cells; (2) that the RA/6TG resistance-associated SMG changes are not granulocyte differentiation stage-specific; and (3) that either the RA/6TG resistance-associated SMG changes are not related to the resistance mechanism or they are involved in the resistance/cross- resistance mechanism(s) for RA/purine bases but not for DMSO.

Major protein changes during vitellogenesis and maturation of Fundulus oocytes

The protein content of various size follicles was measured in Fundulus heteroclitus and indicated four phases of increase relative to follicle volume: Phases I (previtellogenic; estimated to be <0.01 mg/mm 3), II (vitellogenic; 0.20 mg/mm 3), III (early maturation; 0.03 mg/mm 3), and IV (late maturation; 0 mg/mm 3). A pronounced and rapid size increase occurs during maturation due to hydration, but protein uptake, which was also documented cytologically, contributes to about 16% of the volume increment during early maturation. Protein incorporation appears to stop abruptly at the time of germinal vesicle breakdown, most likely reflecting an altered physiological state of the oocyte. SDS-polacrylamide gel electrophoretic patterns of various size follicles indicated that five major protein bands (molecular weights = 122, 103, 45, 26, and 20 k) accumulate during vitellogenesis and presumably are proteolytically derived from a 200-kDa vitellogenin precursor. During maturation, the 122- and 45-kDa proteins disappear and several new, lower molecular weight bands appear. Proteolysis of specific yolk proteins may thus help generate part of the osmotic pressure gradient required for water uptake during oocyte maturation.

Limited proteolysis of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase.

Myosin light chain kinase plays a central role in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction. The activity of this enzyme is controlled by protein-protein interaction (the Ca2+-dependent binding of calmodulin) and by phosphorylation catalyzed by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The effects of these two regulatory mechanisms on the conformation of myosin light chain kinase and the locations of the phosphorylation sites, the calmodulin-binding site, and the active site have been probed by limited proteolysis. Phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated myosin light chain kinases were subjected to limited digestion by four proteases having different peptide bond specificities (trypsin, chymotrypsin, Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, and thrombin), both in the presence and in the absence of bound calmodulin. The digests were compared in terms of gel electrophoretic pattern, distribution of phosphorylation sites, and Ca2+ dependence of kinase activity. A 24 500-dalton chymotryptic peptide containing both sites of phosphorylation was purified and tentatively identified as the amino-terminal peptide. The following conclusions can be drawn: neither phosphorylation nor calmodulin binding induces dramatic changes in the conformation of the kinase; the kinase contains two regions that are particularly susceptible to proteolytic cleavage, one located approximately 25 000 daltons from the amino terminus and the other near the center of the molecule; the two phosphorylation sites are located within 24 500 (probably 17 500) daltons of the amino terminus; the active site is located close to the center of the molecule; the calmodulin-binding site is located in the amino-terminal half of the molecule, between the sites of phosphorylation and the active site, and this region is very susceptible to cleavage by trypsin.

Effect of regulatory light chain on chymotryptic digestion of scallop adductor myosin.

Chymotryptic digestability of scallop myosin was studied by measuring (a) changes in the gel electrophoretic pattern and (b) production of the soluble fraction obtained by centrifugation. Chymotryptic digestion of essential light chain (SH-LC) was strongly inhibited by association of regulatory light chain (R-LC) with myosin. This is in agreement with the observation of Stafford et al. (Biochemistry 18, 5273 (1979]. SH-LC and R-LC were both more resistant to the chymotryptic digestion when R-LCs were associated with myosin in the presence of calcium than when they dissociated from myosin in the presence of EDTA. In contrast, heavy chains of scallop myosin were digested more quickly in the presence of calcium than EDTA. This suggests that association of R-LC induces reversible changes in the heavy chain conformation, which lead to an increase in the chymotryptic digestability of heavy chains. The chymotryptic digestability of scallop myosin increased in two distinct phases as the calcium concentration in the digestion medium was increased, but monophasically as the magnesium concentration was increased. The magnesium increased the digestability by approximately half as much as did calcium. These findings suggest two types of attachment between regulatory light chains and desensitized myosin: one mediated specifically by low concentrations of calcium ions, the second by higher concentrations of either calcium or magnesium.

Electrophoretic patterns of extracellular deoxyribonuclease (DNase) and their correlation with T-type in group A streptococci.

Molecular heterogeneity of the extracellular deoxyribonuclease (DNase) in group A streptococci was demonstrated in 42 clinical isolates. Although polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic patterns of the extracellular DNase of all the isolates were heterogeneous, they could be divided into five main patterns with respect to the presence or absence of three DNase components including DNase B. By comparing the electrophoretic patterns of DNase in all the isolates with their T-types, we found that the patterns were quite characteristic for their T-types, especially in the prevalent T-types 12 and 1, and that the isolates of T-types 12 and 1 produced DNase B as their major extracellular DNase. Relative DNase B activity in the total extracellular DNase activity of group A, B, and G isolates was determined by the rapid method of neutralization with anti-DNase B antibody. The results showed neutralization of DNase activity in all the isolates of group A streptococci, largely corresponding to their T-types, but not of the isolates of groups B and G. These results indicate that the electrophoretic patterns of the extracellular DNase of group A streptococci are closely correlated with their T-types, suggesting the physicochemical taxonomic value of these properties.

Calcium binding and conformation of regulatory light chains of smooth muscle myosin of scallop.

Calcium binding was studied with two regulatory light chains (RLC-a and RLC-b) of smooth muscle myosin of scallop. With the equilibrium dialysis method, the binding of 0.98 mol Ca2+ per mol of RLC-b was observed with a dissociation constant of 2.3 X 10(-5) M. Similar values for RLC-b, 1.9 X 10(-5) M, and RLC-a, 1.5 X 10(-5) M, were obtained by measuring the difference absorption spectrum induced by Ca2+. The difference molar absorption coefficient at 288 nm was 159 and 209 M-1 X cm-1 for RLC-a and RLC-b, respectively, while it was -34 M-1 X cm-1 for the regulatory light chain of striated muscle myosin of scallop (RLC-st). Proton NMR spectra of the three light chains were very similar to each other and were broader than those of other Ca2+ binding proteins, parvalbumin and calmodulin. The regulatory light chains may be more rigid than in these Ca2+ binding proteins. CD spectra were measured for the three light chains, and the estimated helix contents were 27, 29, and 24%, respectively, for RLC-a, RLC-b, and RLC-st. All these results in comparison with the primary structures led us to suppose that the polypeptide of regulatory light chains is folded in such a way that domain 4 becomes near to the calcium binding site of domain 1. The decrease in intact light chains on trypsin digestion was determined for the gel electrophoretic patterns. RLC-a was 6 times more susceptible to the tryptic digestion than RLC-b.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Quality changes in Alaska pollack meat paste ("surimi") during frozen storage.

Some attempts were made to find the reasonable conditions of frozen storage of Alaska pollack meat paste (“surimi”).Small blocks of Alaska pollack surimi were kept frozen at -20°, -30°, -40°, -60° and -80°C for one year and changes in muscle protein composition, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic and ultracentrifugal sedimentation patterns of muscle protein fractions, and gel (kamaboko)-forming ability were followed at due intervals.At -20°C, myofibrillar proteins were gradually denatured, resulting in decreases of extractability and gel-forming ability, and in changes of ultracentrifugal pattern. At -30°C, denaturation of those proteins proceeded much more slowly than at -40°C. In contrast, no or little denaturation of myofibrillar proteins occurred below -40°C.It was concluded that -30°C is the most reasonable temperature for a short term storage up to several months, whereas -40°C is preferable for a long term storage up to one year.

Effect of rhatannin on the incorporation of precursors into proteins and ribonucleic acids of rat liver.

The mechanism by which rhatannin (condensed tannin purified from Rhei Rhizoma) produces a prolonged decrease in plasma amino acids in the postabsorptive state was investigated in vivo by measuring the incorporation of [14C] phenylalanine (Phe) into proteins in serum, liver, kidney and muscle. Enhanced incorporation into serum proteins was observed 4 to 8 h after the intraperitoneal administration (12.5 mg/kg body weight), and the maximal enhancement was observed 6 h after the treatment. Incorporations into other proteins did not change. Further, a fluorogram of the polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic pattern of serum obtained from rats after rhatannin treatment revealed incorporation of the labeled amino acid into protein (s) which corresponded to albumin in terms of electrophoretic mobility. Incorporation of [3H] phenylalanine after a 20 min in vivo labeling 6 h after rhatannin treatment was enhanced in hepatic microsomal and mitochondrial fractions. In addition, stimulated incorporation of [3H] orotic acid into rat hepatic nuclear and cytoplasmic ribonucleic acids (RNA) was observed after rhatannin treatment and the maximal enhancements were achieved at 6 h. Thus, the decrease of plasma amino acid level 4 to 8 h after rhatannin treatment may be due in part to the increased removal of amino acids by the liver, although the underlying mechanisms of enhancement of the syntheses of hepatic protein and RNA in rhatannintreated rats remain obscure.

Hereditary interindividual differences in the glutathione transferase activity towards trans-stilbene oxide in resting human mononuclear leukocytes are due to a particular isozyme(s).

We have shown earlier that there are large, hereditary interindividual differences in the cytosolic glutathione transferase activity towards trans-stilbene oxide in human mononuclear leukocytes. In the present study we ask whether these differences reflect the presence or absence of a particular isozyme(s) of glutathione transferase. First, in order to measure the high glutathione transferase activity optimally it was necessary to modify our previous assay by increasing the concentration of reduced glutathione from 3 to 5 mM and of the substrate from 50 to 250 microM. It was then found that the low activity demonstrates an apparent Km for trans-stilbene oxide of 28.3 microM, whereas the corresponding value for the high activity was 127 microM. Secondly, it was found that while glutathione transferase activity towards trans-stilbene oxide in different individuals segregated into three groups, low, high and very high, glutathione transferase activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene in these same mononuclear leukocyte fractions formed only a single group with no tendency towards such segregation. Thirdly, the SDS-poly-acrylamide gel electrophoretic pattern obtained with the supernatant fraction from mononuclear cells demonstrating high glutathione transferase activity towards trans-stilbene oxide contained a band of 25 000 molecular weight which was either absent or present at a much lower level in cells demonstrating low activity. We conclude that high activity towards trans-stilbene oxide in circulating, resting human mononuclear cells is catalyzed by a particular isozyme(s) of glutathione transferase. cis-Stilbene oxide, styrene oxide and, possibly, benzo[a]pyrene 4,5-oxide are also substrates for this isozyme(s).

Synthesis of myelin proteins and ultrastructural investigations in regenerating rat sciatic nerve

Myelin protein synthesis, as well as ultrastructural and morphometric changes in regenerating peripheral nerve, was studied. Sciatic nerves of rats were crushed unilaterally; sham-operated nerves of the contralateral side served as controls. For the in vivo experiments, rats were killed at selected periods after the nerves were crushed (30, 60, 90, and 120 days); seven days prior to killing, the animals were injected intravenously with L-[4,5-3H]leucine. For the in vitro experiments, proximal and distal segments of sciatic nerve and equivalent sham-operated nerves were labeled with 3H-amino acid mixture 90 days after axotomy. Purified myelin was isolated from nerve segments; specific radioactivity and gel electrophoretic patterns of proteins were analyzed. Cross-sectional electron microscope (EM) preparations of proximal, distal, and contralateral segments of nerves also were examined. Results showed that the incorporation of labeled amino acids into total myelin proteins was enhanced significantly in the distal segment of sciatic nerves at all of the periods of regeneration studied. The yield of myelin protein per mm distal nerve segment increased as regeneration proceeded. The remyelination of fibers early after nerve crush was weak, whereas it gradually attained the normal range 90-120 days after axotomy. Morphometric analysis of myelin sheath thickness of regenerating axons was consistent with the data obtained for myelin protein synthesis.

Relationship between the myofibrillar ATPase activity of human biopsy material and hemodynamic parameters.

The myofibrillar ATPase activity and pyrophosphate gel electrophoretic pattern of native myosin of fresh human left ventricular papillary muscles were examined in 52 cases of mitral valve replacement. The myofibrillar ATPase activity of hypertrophied myocardium did not differ from that of non-hypertrophied myocardium (mean +/- SD, 36.2 +/- 8.7 vs 31.8 +/- 8.6 nmolPi/mg/min, ns) and there was no significant difference in myofibrillar ATPase activity as a function of left ventricular enddiastolic pressure. Pyrophosphate gel electrophoresis of myosin revealed the presence of two components. It is questionable whether the component of higher electrophoretic mobility (approximately 25-35% in concentration) is identical with rat ventricular myosin VM-1 because an increase in this component seems to correlate with a decrease of myofibrillar ATPase activity, its concentration was significantly higher in the hearts with left ventricular hypertrophy, high enddiastolic pressure, high aortic pressure or low cardiac index. From these results, it is not necessarily clear whether hemodynamic overload in valvular heart diseases can alter left ventricular myofibrillar ATPase activity, but it can be said that the overload influences the concentration of the two components of native myosin revealed by pyrophosphate gel electrophoresis.

Comparative studies on three rattlesnake toxins

S. D. Aird and I. I. Kaiser. Comparative studies on three rattlesnake toxins. Toxicon 23, 361 – 374, 1985. — Toxins from the venoms of Crotalus durissus terrificus, Crotalus s. scutulatus and Crotalus viridis concolor were compared using gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel and denaturing and non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The three heterodimeric native toxins behaved similarly on each of the separation media, except that the C. d. terrificus toxin displayed a pronounced tendency to dissociate on DEAE-Sephacel, even in the absence of urea. In the presence of 6M urea, subunit dissociation was quantitative for all three toxins. Recombination of purified subunits resulted in toxins which eluted from the gel filtration column in identical fashion to native toxins. Non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic patterns of recombined toxins actually showed greater band resolution than did the native toxins. Six hybrid toxins were generated on polyacrylamide gels from cross-combinations of purified subunits, each with different mobilities than the parental toxins. Mobilities of the hybrid toxins depended principally upon the mobilities of the basic subunits. All three purified native toxins showed comparable ld 50's in female mice (0.039 – 0.061 μg/g). The C. d. terrificus acidic × C. s. scutulatus basic hybrid toxin showed toxicity identical to that of the C. s. scutulatus recombined toxin. Phospholipase activity is associated with the basic subunit in all three toxins. Intact toxins show a distinctive lag in phospholipase activity which is not seen with purified basic subunits alone. These results indicate that the principal toxins in these three venoms are homologous.

魚肉の物性の魚種間の差および鮮度低下による変化

The object of this study is to estimate objectively the species difference and the changes in he physical properties of fish meat during the post-harvest storage and to search for the changes of the muscular matters underlying the property changes. Muscles of five fish species: skipjack, flyingfish, common horse mackerel, plaice, and channel rock fish were stored at 4°C for 14 days. Sample fish were taken out in turn and submitted to measurements of physical properties, namely penetration of a needle, firmness and cohesiveness by a General Foods type Texturometer, respectively. The measured values of each measurement item varied from species to species. During the storage, each of them shifted to the values reflecting the softening of the muscle usually observed. The rate of softening varied from species to species. The extractability of myofibrillar-, sarcoplasmic-, alkali-soluble-, and stroma-protein fractions of five fish muscles did not show any significant changes during storage. The SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic patterns of these extracted protein fractions and of the myofibrillar proteins extracted after M. H. STROMER showed no difference with respect to the storage time. The muscle samples were broken by rotating blades and sieved by 7 mesh, the percentage of the pieces remaining on the sieve decreased with the decrease of the freshness. The muscle samples were homogenized and the length of the myofibril fragments or the sarcomere number of each fragment was estimated under a microscope. The percentage of the small myofibrils varied by the fish species, and the degree of fragmentation increased with the storage period. These results denoted that changes in the physical properties, namely softening of meat, during the post harvest storage were affected more by the changes of the muscle tissue structures than by the changes of the component proteins.

Changes in protein synthetic profiles during retinoic-acid induction of differentiation of murine embryonal carcinoma cells

Analysis of two-dimensional gel electrophoretic patterns of proteins labeled with [ 35S]methionine was undertaken to investigate changes in gene expression in embryonal carcinoma cell line Nulli-SCCI during the induction of differentiation in vitro by retinoic acid. The results indicate that changes in protein profiles occur long before overt morphological differentiation is observed. Studies utilizing the antimetabolite. α-amanitin, coupled with those involving the cell-free translation of poly(A) + -RNA, suggest that gene expression is controlled post-transcriptionally as well as transcriptionally. In this respect, embryonal carcinoma cells appear to resemble early embryonic cells, which show evidence of multiple levels of control of gene expression during the initial stages of development and differentiation.

Mitogen-induced B-cell differentiation in Xenopus laevis

Spleen cells from the South African clawed toad Xenopus laevis proliferate vigorously upon pokeweed mitogen (PWM) stimulation, as measured by 3H-thymidine up- take. The peak response is observed after 6-8 days of culture, and both light- and electron-microscopy examinations of stimulated cells reveal the presence of a large number of lymphoblasts. Beside proliferation, PWM induces the in vitro differentiation of a large proportion of lymphoblasts into immunoglobulin (Ig)-producing plasmablasts, as shown by direct immunofluorescence. On average, 25% of the lymphoblasts contain cytoplasmic high-molecular weight Ig (IgM) at days 8–10, whereas less than 1% of the lymphoblasts have cytoplasmic low-molecular-weight Ig (IgY). Ig's of mitogen-stimulated cells were labeled bio-synthetically and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS/PAGE). The results confirm that Xenopus lymphoblasts induced in vitro synthesize Ig polypeptide chains. These are assembled into monomers of H 2L 22 units or polymerized hexameric forms. Both the monomer and hexamer forms are secreted. Two Ig heavy chains with apparent molecular weights (MW) of 74 and 81 daltons (kd) are detected in the cell lysates. The secreted chains have respectively an MW which is 3 kd and 5 kd greater than the intracellular forms. The two-dimensional gel electrophoretic pattern of PWM-induced Ig's is as heterogeneous as that of serum IgM. We conclude that PWM induces the in vitro proliferation and polyclonal differentiation of a large proportion of splenic B lymphocytes into plasmablasts.

Erythrocyte membrane vesiculation and changes in membrane composition during storage in citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine-1.

Serial studies were made of the membranes of the erythrocytes and the vesicles shed during storage of blood in polyvinyl chloride containers for 35 days in citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine anticoagulant. Special precautions were taken to eliminate artifacts created by contaminating leukocytes, platelets and red blood cell ghosts. A total of 15.6% of the cholesterol and 5.2% of the phospholipids of the membranes was lost with no gross change in the gel electrophoretic patterns. The quantity of vesicles found in the supernatant plasma increased during storage and their membranes were characterized by the absence of spectrin, ankyrin, and periodic acid Schiff bands 2 and 3. The ratio of lipids to protein in the vesicles increased as they accumulated perhaps reflecting a rearrangement of the erythrocyte membrane constituents during prolonged maintenance at 4 degrees C.

Haemolymph of femaleOxya hyla hyla serville (Orttioptera: Acrididae): A preliminary study

The preliminary light microscopic and biochemical study of the haemolymph ofOxya hyla hyla records the presence of five different types of haemocytes and gives a quantiative estimation of plasma proteins along with their gel electrophoretic band patterns. The higher number of total haemocyte count in adult female compared to that of immature one may be attributed to some kind of synthesis and transport of proteins or other yolk materials during vitellogenesis. High plasma protein concentration during monsoon may be associated with the reproductive maturity of these insects. The gel electrophoretic pattern of plasma proteins reveals the constant presence of two particular bands suggesting the occurrence of lipoprotein and juvenile hormone carrier protein.

Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and Alcian Blue staining of sulphated glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides.

Oligosaccharide fragments of glycosaminoglycans may be separated for rapid analysis by electrophoresis through a 10% polyacrylamide matrix. An extensive ladder-like set of bands is observed for partial testicular hyaluronidase digests of chondroitin 4- or 6-sulphate, and for dermatan sulphate. Co-electrophoresis of purified oligosaccharides has established that the major bands of these patterns represent fragments differing in chain length by one disaccharide unit, with the smallest fragments having the greatest mobility. Additional minor bands, representing heterogeneity in the repeating unit structure, are also observed. There are slight differences in the mobilities of oligosaccharides derived from the three major types of sulphated glycosaminoglycans. Alcian Blue is employed for visualization of the digest fragments. Sample loads of 5-10 micrograms per band appear optimum. The smallest oligosaccharide which may be stained by this method is the hexasaccharide. After consideration of this effect, a good correlation is found to exist between densitometric scans of the gel-electrophoretic patterns and gel-filtration chromatographic profiles based on uronic acid concentration.