Primary structure of an alkaline ribonuclease from bovine liver.

A pyrimidine base specific and most basic alkaline RNase named RNase BL4 was isolated from bovine liver as a protein showing a single band on slab gel-electrophoresis. The enzyme is most active at pH 7.5.

Antigenic determinants on rat metallothionein: fine epitope mapping for a murine monoclonal antibody and rabbit polyclonal antisera.

In order to determine the epitope of metallothionein (MT) to a murine monoclonal antibody (MT 189-14-7) which had been produced by immunization with rat MT 2 (Kikuchi et al. (1988) Mol. Immunol.

The structure of the asparagine-linked sugar chains of bovine brain ribonuclease.

The asparagine-linked sugar chains of bovine brain ribonuclease were quantitatively released as oligosaccharides from the polypeptide backbone by hydrazinolysis. After N-acetylation, they were converted into radioactively-labeled oligosaccharides by NaB3H4 reduction. The radioactive oligosaccharide mixture was fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography, and the acidic oligosaccharides were converted into neutral oligosaccharides by sialidase digestion.

[Effects of the anti-ulcer agents on the amine contents and regulating enzyme activity of gastric mucosa during the healing process of acetic acid induced gastric ulcer in rats].

In order to elucidate the action of an H2 blocker (cimetidine) and gastric mucosal protection agents (sucralfate and sofalcone) on the relapse and recurrence of gastric ulcer, the effects of cimetidine, sucralfate and sofalcone on the contents of histamine and serotonin and histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity in the gastric mucosa were examined in the ulcer region and the intact region at the 10th day after the operation to produce acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer in rats. The following results were obtained: 1) HDC activity in the gastric mucosa of rats treated with cimetidine (100 mg/kg twice daily) tended to increase in the intact region, and it was significantly increased in the ulcer region. 2) Increased HDC activity due to cimetidine treatment was observed at the 10th day after interruption of cimetidine administration.

The difference spectra of bovine kidney RNase K2 induced upon binding with nucleotides markedly differ from those of bovine pancreatic RNase.

The difference spectra obtained upon the addition of nucleotides to bovine kidney RNase, which shows 40% sequence homology with bovine pancreatic RNase, are markedly different from those of bovine pancreatic RNase. As one of the factors which possibly contribute to this difference, we examined the effect of the substitution of Phe120 in bovine pancreatic RNase by Leu in RNase K2 on the difference spectra.

Primary structure of a ribonuclease from bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) liver.

A pyrimidine base-specific ribonuclease was purified from bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) liver by means of CM-cellulose column chromatography and affinity chromatography on heparin-Sepharose CL-6B, which gave single band on SDS-slab electrophoresis. The primary structure of the bullfrog liver RNase was determined. It consisted of 111 amino acid residues, including 8 half-cystine residues.

[Changes in amine contents and regulating enzyme activity of gastric mucosa during the healing process of acetic acid induced ulcer in rats].

Changes in the contents of various amines and histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity in the gastric mucosa during the healing process of acetic acid induced gastric ulcer in rats were sequentially examined in the ulcer region and intact region at 2, 10, 40, 80, 180 and 365 days after the operation. The following results were obtained: 1) Histamine (HA) content in the ulcer region was decreased as compared with the intact region at 2 and 10 days and returned to the control level in 40 days. After 180 days, the contents in the ulcer region and intact region were also increased as compared with that of the normal control region.

[Comparative effects of traditional Chinese medicines (dai-saiko-to, hatimi-zio-gan and byakko-ka-ninzin-to) on experimental diabetes and hyperlipidemia].

In order to clarify the anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic actions of traditional Chinese medicines, experiments were carried out with experimentally diabetic rats induced by cyproheptadine treatment. The following results were obtained: 1) Dai-saiko-to decreased the blood glucose level at 30, 60 and 120 min after glucose loading in the tolerance test; and the drug tended to increase serum insulin level and increased the ratio (glucose/insulin) at 120 min after the glucose loading. A significant decrease in serum total cholesterol was observed in the high fat diet-treated rats.

Primary structure of a ribonuclease from bovine brain.

The primary structure of a pyrimidine base-specific ribonuclease from bovine brain was determined. The sequence determined is (sequence; see text). Although the sequence homology of this RNase with bovine pancreatic RNase A is 78.

A murine monoclonal anti-metallothionein autoantibody recognizes a chemically synthesized amino-terminal heptapeptide common to various animal metallothioneins.

A murine hybridoma clone (MT 189-14-7) producing an IgM-class monoclonal antibody specific for metallothionein (MT) was produced with rat Zn-MT 2-keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugate as an immunogen. The reactivity of the monoclonal antibody with MTs obtained from various animal species was determined by the competitive radioimmunoassay. The MT 189-14-7 antibody bound equally to various MTs 1 and 2 including mouse MTs 1 and 2.

Primary structure of a non-secretory ribonuclease from bovine kidney.

The primary structure of a non-secretory ribonuclease from bovine kidney (RNase K2) was determined. The sequence determined was VPKGLTKARWFEIQHIQPRLLQCNKAMSGV NNYTQHCKPENTFLHNVFQDVTAVCDMPNIICKNGRHNCHQSPKPVNLTQCNFIAGRYPDC RYHDDAQYKFFIVACDPPQKTDPPYHLVPVHLDKYF. The sequence homology with human non-secretory RNase, bovine pancreatic RNase, and human secretory RNase are 46, 34.

Purification of acid ribonucleases from bovine spleen.

Two acid RNases were purified from bovine spleen by means of ammonium sulfate fractionation, chromatographies on-phospho-cellulose, heparin-Sepharose CL-6B, poly G-Sepharose, and 2', 5'-ADP-Sepharose, and gel filtration on Toyopearl HW 55F. Both purified preparations were homogeneous as judged by disc electrophoresis at pH 4.3.

Effects of oral contraceptive steroids on aortic collagen, elastin and cholesterol levels in iron-deficient rats.

The effects of oral contraceptive steroids (OCS) and/or Fe deficiency on aortic collagen, elastin and cholesterol levels in female rats were investigated for 12 months. The Fe deficiency did not affect the aortic collagen and cholesterol levels, but it had a tendency to decrease the elastin content. The administration of OCS tended to increase the collagen content, while it did to lower the elastin levels.

[Mode of the anti-allergic action of cepharanthine on an experimental model of allergic rhinitis].

Cepharanthine, a biscouclaurine alkaloid of Stephania cepharantha, has been used for various clinical purposes. Cepharanthine was known to inhibit histamine release from mast cells obtained from sensitized animals. In vitro studies suggested that the mechanism of action of cepharanthine may be ascribed to the membrane stabilizing action.

Simultaneous determination of oxygen and mercury in inorganic and organic mercury compounds.

Oxygen and mercury in inorganic and organic mercury compounds are determined simultaneously by a modification of the Schütze-Unterzaucher method. The determination of mercury is not influenced by the presence of sulphur and nitrogen in the samples. In 13 inorganic and organic mercury compounds, oxygen has been determined with an error of less than 0.

Oxygen determination in organic fluorine compounds by means of a glassy-carbon pyrolysis tube.

A conventional apparatus for determination of oxygen in organic compounds has been improved for application to organic fluorine compounds. A feature of the apparatus is the use of a pyrolysis tube made of glassy carbon instead of quartz, which eliminates effects due to hydrogen fluoride produced in pyrolysis of the sample. Ten analyses of dexamethasone with the apparatus gave a mean value of 20.

Simultaneous determination of oxygen and cadmium in cadmium and cadmium compounds.

Cadmium and its compounds were analysed for oxygen and cadmium by a modification of the Schütze-Unterzaucher method. Oxygen in some compounds such as cadmium oxide, nitrate and sulphate could not be determined by the usual method. The method of adding carbon was employed for the determination of total oxygen.