Size analysis of biological membrane vesicles by gel filtration, dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy.

Biological membrane vesicles are analysed in terms of size and size distribution using gel filtration on Sephacryl S-1000, electron microscopy and quasi-elastic light scattering. The agreement between the three methods is satisfactory particularly for homogeneous dispersions. Gel filtration on Sephacryl S-1000 is a quick and convenient method for the routine size analysis of membrane vesicles up to a diameter of about 250 nm.

Characterization of membrane lipids of a general fatty acid auxotrophic bacterium by electron spin resonance spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry.

Lipids in the plasma membrane of the general fatty acid auxotroph Butyrivibrio S2 pack as a bilayer that is characterized by a high order and high motional anisotropy and a low membrane fluidity compared to mammalian plasma membranes. Lipid packing as determined by the electron spin resonance (ESR) order parameter and membrane fluidity as measured by ESR correlation times are, however, comparable to those of other bacterial membranes. Membranes of the organism grown with saturated fatty acids of well-defined hydrocarbon chain length undergo a broad reversible endothermic phase transition, the peak temperature of which is well below the growth temperature; the end-point temperature of this thermal transition approximately coincides with the minimum temperature supporting significant growth of the organism.

Contribution of paramagnetic trace elements to the spin-lattice relaxation time in the liver.

The relaxation times of water protons in rat liver tissue were measured with a NMR spectrometer at 20 MHz. The paramagnetic trace elements Cu, Fe, and Mn were determined by neutron activation analysis. No shortening of T1 could be observed when liver Cu or Fe concentration was increased in the microgram range.

Phase behaviour of a diglyceride prodrug: spontaneous formation of unilamellar vesicles.

A prodrug (Fig. 1(IV)) is synthesized consisting of the beta-blocker bupranolol which is covalently linked to 1, 3-dipalmitoyl-2-succinyl-glycerol. The resulting lipid-like prodrug is amphipathic and surface active.

Encapsulation of hemoglobin in phospholipid liposomes: characterization and stability.

Hemoglobin is encapsulated in liposomes of different lipid composition. The resulting dispersion consists primarily of multilamellar liposomes (hemosomes) of a wide particle size distribution (diameter ranging mainly between 0.1 and 1 micron).

Decreased lipid order induced by microsomal cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase in model membranes: fluorescence and electron spin resonance studies.

Cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase were reconstituted in unilamellar lipid vesicles prepared by the cholate dialysis technique from pure dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), pure dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), pure dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC), and phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine/phosphatidylserine (PC/PE/PS) (10:5:1). As probes for the vesicles' hydrocarbon region, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and spin-labeled PC were used. The steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence parameters of DPH were determined as a function of temperature and composition of liposomes.

Comparative structural aspects of cation binding to phosphatidylserine bilayers.

X-ray diffraction data recorded for monovalent and divalent cation complexes of a series of phosphatidylserines (PS) varying in chain length reveal a simple structural pattern. Only two bilayer structural types differing in hydrocarbon chain tilt but with similar polar group conformations are observed for (i) anhydrous acidic PS, (ii) anhydrous K+-PS, and (iii) Li+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, and Pr3+ complexes of 'hydrated' PS. The X-ray diffraction data suggest that PS becomes dehydrated on complexing with Li+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and other divalent cations and adopts either the chain untilted (form I) or tilted (form II) bilayer structure.

Influence of a prolonged treatment with disulfiram and D-penicillamine on nitrosodiethylamine-induced biological and biochemical effects. II. Investigations on trace elements in the liver.

The influence of a 28-week treatment with disulfiram (DSF), D-penicillamine (PA), and nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), as well as with a combination of DSF or PA with NDEA on the concentrations of eight essential trace elements in the whole liver tissue of rats was measured by means of neutron activation analysis. While NDEA treatment lowered the Zn content of the liver, DSF alone or in combination with NDEA enhanced the Zn and Se concentration by 50%-80%. Co, Cu, and Cd levels were increased by factors of 10, 60, and 110, respectively.

Production of human interferon-beta in mouse L-cells.

A mouse fibroblast cell-constructed by genetic engineering--expresses glycosylated human interferon-beta constitutively. The cells were cultivated on microcarriers in special bioreactors. Under these conditions they produce a maximum yield of 6 000 units interferon-beta/ml/day at cell densities of about 2,2 X 10(6) cells/ml.

Isolation of a functional human interleukin 2 gene from a cosmid library by recombination in vivo.

A method has been developed that allows the isolation of genomic clones from a cosmid library by homologous recombination in vivo. This method was used to isolate a human genomic interleukin 2 (IL2) gene. The genomic cosmid library was packaged in vivo into lambda phage particles.

Leakiness of brush-border vesicles.

From the water content of pelleted brush-border vesicles and from a comparison of the aqueous volume within the pellet that is available to [3H]inulin (58%), inulin [14C]carboxylic acid (34%, both approx. 5000 daltons), [3H]raffinose (97%, 540 daltons) and [3H]glucose (94%, 180 daltons) it is concluded that only 1 in 4 to 6 of the brush-border vesicles is sealed. The implication of this finding for labelling and transport studies and for vesicle formation is discussed.

Interactions of divalent cations with phosphatidylserine bilayer membranes.

The interaction of divalent cations with a homologous series of diacylphosphatidylserines (diacyl-PS) has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. Hydrated di-C14-PS (DMPS) exhibits a gel leads to liquid-crystal bilayer transition at 39 degrees C (delta H = 7.2 kcal/mol of DMPS).

Order-disorder phase transition and lipid dynamics in rabbit small intestinal brush border membranes. Effect of proteins.

The total lipids extracted from brush border membranes form smectic lamellar phases when dispersed in water. 31P broad-band nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) shows that between body temperature (37 degrees C) and freezing of the solvent, the extracted lipids form bilayers with the lipid molecules undergoing fast anisotropic motion. This is also true for the lipids present in the brush border membrane.

Myonecrosis induced by drug overdose: pathogenesis, clinical aspects and radiological manifestations.

The authors report five cases of myonecrosis varying in degree of severity and extent of the lesions, following drug overdose in young patients. The pathogenesis of this condition is discussed with reference both to the literature and the radiological findings of the present study. The clinical and radiological manifestations are described and a possible differential diagnosis is suggested, based on these data.

Vesiculation of unsonicated phospholipid dispersions containing phosphatidic acid by pH adjustment: physicochemical properties of the resulting unilamellar vesicles.

Aqueous dispersions of phosphatidic acid and mixtures of phosphatidic acid with other phospholipids vesiculate when the pH is transiently increased to a pH near or above the second pK of the phosphatidic acid. Both small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) of a narrow size distribution (average diameter 25-30 nm) and large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) of a wide size distribution are formed. The fraction of SUV increases linearly with increasing pH from 6 to 12 and was also increased by increasing the rate of the pH change from 2 min to 1 s.

A Ga-68-labeled tetrabromophthalein (Ga-68 BP-IDA) for positron imaging of hepatobiliary function: concise communication.

We describe the chemical synthesis of an iminodiacetic-acid-substituted tetrabromo-o-cresolphthalein (BP-IDA), which complexes Ga-68 tightly. The liver uptake, bile excretion, and urinary excretion of the complex were examined in rats. Maximum liver uptake reached 60%, and 1-hr cumulative bile excretion was 75% of injected dose.

[Value of computer tomography compared to angiography and echocardiography in the diagnosis of intracardiac thromboses].

Until recently the only means of diagnosing intracardiac thromboses were angiography and M mode and 2D echocardiography. The aim of this study was to assess the value of CAT scanning in this field and to compare it with angiography and ultrasonography. Twenty intracardiac thromboses were studied in 19 patients by CAT scanning: 14 in the left ventricle, 2 in the right ventricle, and 4 in the left atrium, one patient having both left and right ventricular intracavitary thrombosis.

Contiguity to males in utero affects avoidance responding in adult female mice.

Female mice that had been situated in utero between two female fetuses displayed higher levels of active avoidance responding in adult life than females that had been located between two male fetuses and males for whom uterine position was without effect. Uterine position, therefore, influences acquired as well as species-typical behaviors.

[Appendicular invagination and post-appendectomy invagination].

Intussusception of the appendix is an uncommon event (200 cases previously reported) and intussusception after appendicectomy is rare (20 cases previously published). Two recent cases are reported, the first with primary appendiceal intussusception and the second ileocolic intussusception after appendicectomy. In the second case the final pathology report revealed an intussuscepted caecal duplication responsible for the ileocolic intussusception.