Acid Pattern Research Articles

Rapid presumptive identification of anaerobes in blood cultures by gas-liquid chromatography.

Production of volatile and nonvolatile metabolic acids in blood culture broths by aerobic, facultative anaerobic, and obligate anaerobic bacteria was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. Anaerobic blood culture isolates were presumptively identified by the qualitative analysis of volatile fatty acids. Isolates, with a characteristic Gram stain reaction and cellular morphology, were identified by the following acid patterns: Bacteriodes fragilis group with acetic and propionic acids; Fusobacterium with acetic, butyric, and usually propionic acids; Veillonella with acetic and propionic acids; gram-positive cocci with acetic and butyric acids; and Clostridium with acetic and butyric acids.

Fatty-acid metabolism in senescing and regreening soybean cotyledons

Changes in fatty-acid metabolism were studied in soybean (Glycine max Merr.) cotyledons during senescence as well as in cotyledons which had been caused to regreen by removal of the epicotyl from the seedling. The activities of the enzymes acetyl-CoA synthetase (EC 6.2.1.1) and fatty-acid synthetase in plastids isolated from the cotyledons decreased during senescence but increased in response to regreening. These changes in enzyme activities followed the same pattern as changes in the quantities of chlorophyll and polyunsaturated fatty acids in this tissue. The in-vivo incorporation of [(14)C]acetate into total fatty acids in the senescing and regreening cotyledons did not vary markedly with age. In addition, the quantity of label in fatty acids did not decrease for as much as 60 h after the removal of the substrate. During this 60-h period however, there was substantial redistribution of the label among the individual fatty acids. While the labelling pattern of the individual fatty acids did not vary significantly with respect to age in the senescing cotyledons, there was a substantial increase in the synthesis of labelled polyunsaturated fatty acids in the regreening tissue. Thus, the incorporation of [(14)C]acetate into fatty acids did not reflect the changes in the quantities of the individual fatty acids in senescing tissue as well as they did in regreening tissue.

Sulphur amino acids and free amino acids in cotyledons of germinated seedlings ofAlbizzia lebbeck Benth exposed to different light intensities

Metabolism of sulphur amino acids and free amino acids has been studied in the cotyledons during germination ofAlbizzia lebbeck Benth seeds under different light intensities. Seeds ofA. lebbeck contain a large amount of sulphur amino acids which are rapidly utilised during early stages of germination A similarity in the distribution pattern of amino acids in cotyledon samples raised from different seed stocks is noticed. The level of amino acids was higher in the illuminated samples as compared to dark controls. The higher concentration of asparagine, and SAAII during the seedling growth with the increase in light intensities compared to dark-grown seedlings as well as initial seed sample may indicate the involvement of light-triggered reactions in the synthesis of these metabolites.

Physiological Studies on two Cultivars of Pennisetum: P. americanum 23 DB, a Cultivated Species and P. mollissimum, a Wild Species I. Photosynthetic Carbon Metabolism

Summary The photosynthetic carbon metabolism and the anatomical features of the leaves of twO series of plants of Pennisetum have been studied: plants from 23 DB line from the cultivated Pearl millet P. americanum (thyphoides), plants from an ecotype of P. mollissimum , one of its related wild species originating from Mali. The activities and intracellular location of the enzymes of carbon metabolism are very similar in the two plants. These characteristics together with the leaf anatomy indicate that both Pennisetum have the C4 pathway of CO 2 assimilation and belong to the NADP-ME-type. In mesophyll cells two enzymes function to reduce oxaloacetate: the light-activated chloroplast NADP-malate dehydrogenase and the cytoplasmic NAD-malate dehydrogenase. Like malic acid, aspartic acid participates to the transport of CO 2 from the mesophyll to the bundle sheath cells. The labelling pattern of aspartic acid and malic acid during a 14 C0 2 pulse and chase experiment indicate that the turn-over rates of the carbon chains of malate and aspartate are very different and that there are two ways of decarboxylation. While malate synthesized in the mesophyll cells is rapidly decarboxylated in the presence of the bundle sheath chloroplast NADP-malic enzyme, malate originating in the bundle sheath mitochondria from the carbon chain of aspartic acid is more slowly decarboxylated in the presence of the mitochondrial NAD-malic enzyme. The two C4 acids are described as representing two different compartments and having distinct roles in the photosynthetic carbon metabolism. Malic acid is the single CO 2 donor while aspartic acid plays the role of a reservoir for C4 acids. It is assumed that the major and the minor ways of decarboxylation could at least partly be controlled by the nucleotide supply via photosynthesis (NADP) and (or) mitochondrial respiration (NAD). Except for the fact that P. mollissimum fixes more actively CO2 and accumulates more starch than P. americanum 23 DB, it is noteworthy that the two plants have developped similar metabolic adaptation.

Urinary excretion pattern of ascorbic acid in streptozotocin diabetic and insulin treated rats

Summary The urinary excretion pattern of ascorbic acid in streptozotocin diabetic and insulin treated male rats is described. The ascorbic acid concentration in 24 h urine samples was determined over a 30 day collection period. Ascorbic acid levels were also measured in serum which was obtained immediately before and after each of the different treatments described. Diabetes was induced after a 7 day period during which the animals all served as the control group. Some of the diabetic rats received insulin therapy from day 20–28 of the collection period, the insulin being withheld for the last 2 days of the study. Serum ascorbic acid levels were decreased (P

Metabolic changes after jejuno-ileal bypass for obesity.

Metabolic parameters were studied in 6 patients before and for 18 months after jejunoileal bypass for obesity. The postoperative changes in plasma concentration of amino acids were characterized by a decrease in essential amino acids, while the non-essential amino acids were unchanged or elevated, indicating a state of protein-caloric malnutrition. The pattern of fatty acids in serum the first year after operation: an unchanged sum of unsaturated and saturated fatty acids accompanied by a significant fall in linoleic acid and a corresponding increase in oleic acid, showed that even during this period the patients were in a state of essential fatty acid deficiency. The oral glucose tolerance test and the levels of serum immunoreactive insulin activity indicated a general improvement in glucose tolerance and a normalization of preoperative hyperinsulinism. A 40-50% reduction was found both in serum triglycerides and cholesterol levels. Serum iron was reduced by approximately 30%, whereas TIBC levels remained unchanged. The Schilling test showed a significant fall in vitamin B12 absorption postoperatively with subnormal values at 6 and 12 months. Vitamin B12 in serum dropped, but remained within the normal range, suggesting that the preservation of 25 cm of distal ileum is sufficient to secure adequate absorption of vitamin B12. Folic acid levels in serum fell after the bypass, demanding supplementation in 5 of the 6 patients at 6 months postoperatively.

Clinical study on gastric secretion with special reference to pepsin secretion

The stimulating effect of AOC-tetragastrin, caerulein, Histalog and secretin on human gastric acid and pepsin secretion was studied in gastric ulcer patients. The pattern of gastric acid and pepsin secretion after the administration of caerulein was closely resembled to that of gastrin. Slight increase of pepsin secretion after gastrin or caerulein could be based on "wash-out" action caused by the increase of acid secretion after the stimulants. Stimulating effect on gastric pepsin secretion of histalog and secretin would be independent of gastric acid secretion.

Lipases in the storage tissues of peanut and other oil seeds during germination

The castor-bean endosperm-the best-studied material of reserve lipid hydrolysis in seed germination-was previously shown to have an acid lipase and an alkaline lipase having reciprocal patterns of development during germination. We studied oil seeds from 7 species, namely castor bean (Ricinus communis L.), peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), sunflower (Helianthus annus L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), cotton (Gossypisum hirsutum L.), corn (Zea mays. L.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). The storage tissues of all these oil seeds except castor bean contained only alkaline lipase activity which increased drastically during germination. The pattern of acid and alkaline lipases in castor bean does not seem to be common in other oil seeds. The alkaline lipase of peanut cotyledons was chosen for further study. On sucrose gradient centrifugation of cotyledon homogenate from 3-d-old seedlings, about 60% of the activity of the enzyme was found to be associated with the glyoxysomes, 15% with the mitochondria, and 25% with a membrane fraction at a density of 1.12 g cm(-3). The glyoxysomal lipase was associated with the organelle membrane, and hydrolyzed only monoglyceride whereas the mitochondrial and membrane-fraction enzymes degraded mono-, di- and triglycerides equally well. Thus, although the lipase in the glyoxysomes had the highest activity, it had to cooperate with lipases in other cellular compartments for the complete hydrolysis of reserve triglycerides.

Effect on nitrogen retention by adults of different proportions of indispensable amino acids in isonitrogenous cereal-based based diets.

Nitrogen retention of adults who consumed diets in which cereals furnished 6.0 g N and 0.9 g of lysine was improved by increasing lysine to 1.8 g without altering other amino acids. In a second experiment, 70% of the 6.0 g of dietary N was supplied by rice + wheat and 30% by mixtures of amino acids so designed that the total intakes of amino acids were equivalent to those in diets containing 6.0 g N from whole egg (E), egg + potato (EP), rice + wheat (RW), rice + soy (RS), wheat + milk (WM) or corn + beans (CB). Mean N balances of young men in descending order were, g/day: E 0.69 +/- 0.23, RS 0.44 +/- 0.15, EP 0.43 +/- 0.09, WM 0.24 +/- 0.16, CB 0.16 +/- 0.13 and RW -0.02 +/- 0.10. In the same order, these diet provided, g/day: lysine 2.6, 1.9, 2.3, 1.6, 1.4 and 1.0; S-acids 2.2, 1.7, 1.6, 2.2, 1.9 and 2.3; and tryptophan 0.7, 0.4, 0.6, 0.5, 0.3 and 0.4. N balances resulting from diets E, RS and EP did not differ significantly from each other but E was superior to CB and RW (P less than 0.01). Relative amounts and propertions of the essential amino acids could be varied without altering nitrogen retention until at least one amino acid became limiting. Several patterns of indispensable amino acids therefore may be equally effective in meeting needs of adults, but both amounts and relative proportions should be considered.

Utilization of amino acids by pre-ruminant lambs. III.* The influence of age and the dietary proportions of essential and non-essential amino acids on the levels of urea, ammonia and free amino acids in the blood plasma of milk-fed lambs

Jugular blood samples were obtained from 10.5 kg and 28 kg lambs receiving a diet of reconstituted cows' whole milk. The lambs were then given diets in which the proportion of essential amino acids (BAA) in the dietary crude protein was altered over a wide range. A second blood sample was taken after lambs had received such diets for 12 days. Plasma obtained from these samples was analysed for free amino acids, urea and ammonia. The pattern of plasma free amino acids (PFAA) in lambs given reconstituted cows' whole milk is described. In both the pre-treatment and post-treatment samples, the heavier lambs appeared to have lower plasma levels of all EAA, and high plasma levels of glycine, serine, urea and ammonia. In the lighter lambs, there were pronounced responses of PFAA levels to changes in the dietary proportion of EAA. At low proportions, the levels of most EAA in plasma were low. Lysine and phenylalanine were exceptions. In addition, levels of many non-essential amino acids (non-EAA), particularly serine and glycine, were high. At high proportions of EAA, plasma levels of all EAA, especially methionine, rose markedly. Within the non-EAA, serine, proline and glycine were reduced, while taurine and cystathionine increased. In the plasma of the heavier lambs, the response of some amino acids to a given dietary change differed from the response in the lighter lambs. This was especially true of methionine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and arginine. There was also marked between-animal variation in plasma levels. When expressed as molar proportions of total PFAA, results were similar to those of the lighter lambs. There was a pronounced similarity between the response of the PFAA to diets with a low proportion of EAA, and the PFAA pattern characteristic of developing kwashiorkor. __________________ *Part II, Aust. J. Agric. Res., 28, 933 (1977).

Distinct reovirus-like agents associated with acute infantile gastroenteritis

Human reovirus-like particles were found by electron microscopy in the stools of 25% of 71 infants and young children hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis in Mexico between December 1976 and April 1977. The virus was also identified by the electrophoresis patterns of its ribonucleic acid upon disruption of partially purified particles. This technique is as reliable as electron microscopy but less laborious, and could become a routine diagnostic procedure. The electrophoretic patterns of viral ribonucleic acid from different cases suggest that there are at least two different reovirus-like agents associated with infantile gastroenteritis.

Die Substitution von Eiweißfuttermitteln durch lysinergänzten proteinreichen Weizen während der Aufzucht und Legeperiode von Hennen

A large-scale trial was carried out under commercial conditions to investigate to which extent the feeding of rations with varying lysine content to young hens would influence the crude nutrient content of the body fractions and might change the pattern of amino acid composition and the activity of GOT in the blood. Four rations were fed each containing 14.2% crude protein, 626-633 EFh units/kg and 0.59%, 0.61%, 0.54% and 0.46% lysine. The crude protein and crude fat content of the total body and of body fractions were in no case found to be related to the feeding regime. The proportion of crude ash in the "remainder of non-utilizable parts", in "bones", "intestinal and abdominal fat", "ovaries" and "small intestine" decreased with the decreasing lysine content of the rations. The concentrations of free lysine, histidine, arginine, and phenylalanine in the deproteinized blood plasma of the young hens were significantly (a = 0.01) lower in the birds of the lysine deficient group than in the hens of the other groups. Positive regressions were calculated for the lysine content or the content of aspartic acid in the ration and the pattern of free amino acids in blood plasma. Positive and negative linear relationships were found to exist between the concentrations of free lysine, and those of histidine, arginine or threonine, and serine. A close correlation existed between the total amount of essential amino acids in blood plasma and the lysine concentrations of the plasma. Increasing lysine supplementation produced a decline in the N content of the whole blood and blood corpuscles but a rise in the N content of blood plasma. The activity of GOT in the blood of young hens was not found to be useful as an indicator of the quality of dietary proteins.

Nutritional Control of Differentiation (Sclerotization) of the Myxomycete Physarum flavicomum

During differentiation (sclerotization) of the Myxomycete Physarum flavicomum, the acellular phasmodium converts into numerous dormant cells surrounded by cell walls. This work establishes that a condition of nutrient imbalance triggers the differentiation process. Specifically, the unavailability of an adequate spectrum of amino acids in the medium initiates the metabolic and morphological alterations characteristic of the sclerotizing plasmodium. In the absence of extracellular amino acids, the cellular pool of amino acids and cellular protein were catabolized as differentiation proceeded. The pattern of amino acids in the cellular pool also changed during differentiation, as the content of pool amino acids was reduced at least 75 percent. The decrease in protein content was negligible after 12 h incubation but was about 40 percent at 48 h when differentiation was complete. However, in the presence of extracellular amino acids, protein degradation, amino acid pool depletion, and differentiation were all inhibited. Ammonium ions (12.4 mM) similarly delayed differentiation. Differentiation, amino acid pool depletion, and the degradation of cellular protein readily occurred in the presence of an extracellular supply of dextrose, which stimulated cell wall formation. The effect of dimethyl sulfoxide, cyclic 3'-5'-adenosine monophosphate, glutathione, diamide, and other compounds on the differentiation process are reported also.

Free amino acids in plasma in the post-traumatic period.

The pattern of the amino acids in plasma of 22 polytraumatized patients who obtained a standardized total parenteral nutrition over a period of 3-10 days was studied. Following to the trauma - before the infusion period - a rapid decrease of concentration of a part of the amino acids appeared. During the period of parenteral nutrition nearly all of the amino acids showed a different increase in plasma, partly manifold over their normal range which resulted in a disturbance of the pattern of the amino acids. Particularly the influence of the infusion therapy on the sulfur-containing amino acids, the branched-chain amino acids and the glycine level in plasma is discussed.

Induction of nutritional mutants ofMicrococcus glutamicus and their amino acid accumulation

Micrococcus glutamicus ATCC 13032, a glutamic acid-producing organism, was treated with 0.2M ethylmethane sulfonate, the auxotrophs isolated showing varied patterns of extracellular amino acids. Eighty auxotrophic strains were obtained, out of which 31 excreted 1.0-4.0 mg threonine per ml and all the auxotrophs required biotin for growth and production of the amino acid. Eleven auxotrophs produced 1.5 to 3.0 mg alanine per ml and these auxotrophs required amino acids for their growth. Other auxotrophs lost their excretion capacity in subsequent fermentation trials. Further mutation of the biotin-requiring auxotroph Micrococcus glutamicus EM with gamma rays resulted in the isolation of 89 auxotrophic strains, out of which 28 excreted threonine (up to 5.0 mg per ml) higher than the parent auxotroph. Exposure to X-rays yielded 97 auxotrophs, out of these 35 producing 1.0-3.0 mg methionine per ml and requiring biotin for growth and production of the amino acid. Other auxotrophs produced alanine (0.5 to 2.0 mg per ml) and threonine (2.0 to 3.3 mg per ml). Irradiation with gamma rays favoured the development of threonine producing auxotrophs while X-rays favoured methionine-producing auxotrophs.

Biochemistry and microbiology of some Irish Sea sediments: I. Amino-acid analyses

Cores of sedimentary mud, collected on a transect between the Isle of Man and Ireland, were qualitatively analysed for free amino acids by thin-layer chromatography of the dansylated (DNS) derivatives. The DNS derivatives of isoleucine/leucine and α-aminobutyric acid were found in all samples, while the derivatives of phenylalanine, valine, arginine and ammonia were usually present. Acid hydrolysis followed by treatment with ninhydrin showed the presence of peptidyl amino acids in half the DNS-reacted extracts. No distribution pattern of amino acids was found either with geographical location or down the depths of the cores. Attempts to quantify the method were unsuccessful. Other analyses indicated the presence of glucose/galactose, but no neutral or phospholipids or recognizable plant pigments were identified.

Biosynthesis of ascorbic acid and mobilization pattern of macromolecules during water stress in germinating cicer seedlings

Ascorbic acid (AA) turnover, and levels of RNA and protein were determined during germination ofCicer arietinum cv. Chafa under—(i) normal watering; (ii) water stress of six days; and (iii) revival upto next stage of seedling growth after water stress. Water stress lowered significantly AA, ascorbigen, ascorbic acid—macromolecule complex, RNA and protein content in embryo axis while a reverse trend was seen after revival. In the cotyledon, AA, RNA and protein contents were higher during water stress. However on revival only AA and protein contents decreased, whereas the RNA content showed further enhancement. It is suggested that increased synthesis of AA in the cotyledon during water stress may trigger enhanced synthesis of RNA and consequently of enzymic proteins, thus bringing about rapid mobilization of reserve materials during revival.

Investigations on some constituents of Lupinus termis seeds

An investigation of the composition of two varieties ofLupinus termis seeds showed the presence of proteins, free amino acids, lipids, lignin, polysaccharides and mannitol. The polysaccharide materials (27.47 – 34.33%) consisted of starch, combined galacturonic acid, galactose, arabinose, xylose and rhamnose. Combined galactose and rhamnose comprised the major components of polysaccharide materials. Protein's constituted 46.11 – 50.57% ofL. termis seeds. The amino acid composition of the seeds as well as those of the proteins isolated with different agents were determined. The amino acid patterns of free and combined amino acids varied according to the extracting agent.

CHEMICAL, PHYSICAL, AND NUTRITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT SAMPLES OF WHEAT

Thirty-three samples of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were assessed on the basis of physical and chemical analysis, protein quality and quantity, and metabolizable energy. None of the values, or combination of values, from the physical and chemical analyses showed significant correlation with metabolizable energy values. Biological tests demonstrated variations in the nutritive quality of the protein in the different wheats. The diets in which the samples of wheat were incorporated were formulated to contain different levels of protein and different proportions of wheat protein and soybean protein to stress in a variety of ways the pattern of available amino acids provided by the wheat protein. A significant response was obtained from lysine supplementation to different cultivars of wheat. Nevertheless, lysine was not always the primary limiting amino acid for growth, despite a consistent improvement in feed efficiency from lysine supplementation. No consistent difference was found in the nutritional quality of protein from wheats containing different levels of protein. Further tests of protein digestibility and amino acid analyses of various cultivars of wheat may explain the varietal differences in biological response.

A New Congenital Abnormality of Human Fibrinogen

SummaryA dysfibrinogenemia (fibrinogen Bethesda II) was recognized in a Caucasian family with no history of bleeding or thrombosis. Thrombin and Reptilase times were prolonged, and there was a discrepancy between the fibrinogen levels determined by the fibrin tyrosine content and the Clauss method. Other coagulation and fibrinolytic measurements yielded normal values. The half-life of homologous and autologous 125I-fibrinogen in the propositus was approximately 20% shorter than the mean (3.70 ±0.45 days) of normal individuals. Fibrinogen Bethesda II exhibited normal migration during electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel (in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate) or cellulose acetate, normal ultracentrifugal behavior, a normal chromatographic elution pattern and normal levels of hexose and sialic acid. Upon immunoelectrophoresis of whole plasma, the arc was more anodal than that produced by the fibrinogen of normal plasma. Functionally, fibrinogen Bethesda II prolonged the thrombin and Reptilase times of normal plasma and fibrinogen. The rate at which fibrinopeptides were released by thrombin or ancrod was similar to that for normal fibrinogen, and the amounts eventually reached the same levels, but a slight delay was consistently observed in the early stages of the reaction. Aggregation of fibrin monomers prepared with either thrombin or Reptilase was markedly abnormal, whereas the crosslinking (as assessed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) did not differ from that of normal fibrin.