Volume 27, Issue 3

In this study the effect of poly I : C-induced interferon on Herpesvirus hominis (HVH) infection in vitro and in vivo was investigated. The in vitro results revealed a significant effect of interferon on infections of HVH strains of different origin in mouse embryonic cells. The in vivo experiments performed in the HVH-mouse system indicate that the effective induction of interferon in an aminal increases its resistance to subsequent infection with HVH.

A rapid and simple technique for the detection of latent RNA tumor viruses has been described. It is based on phenotypic mixing between the latent agent (s) and a nondefective strain of RSV used as indicator virus. Most of the embryos from two different chicken lines tested so far contain such agents. According to their host range and serological properties they belong to subgroup E. The phenotypic mixing assay may also be applied for the titration of nontransforming viruses in general.

Treatment of host cells with Concanavalin A prevents the assembly or release of fowl plague virus from chick fibroblasts and inhibits fusion of BHK cells by the paramyxovirus SV5. Metabolic events of the host cells are not greatly impaired during the early phase of infection. There is evidence that the carbohydrate moiety of the Con A receptor of fowl plague virus is associated with the viral neuraminidase.

The events leading to the recognition of serum hepatitis (“homologous serum jaundice”) as a disease entity are described and reasons given why seroprophylaxis against measles played an important role in this discovery. The injection of human serum as a prophylactic was practised on an increasing scale from about 1920 to about 1950, by which time it had largely been superseded by immunoglobulin (gamma globulin). Apart from the transfusion of blood and blood products the other major human to human transfer of material was vaccination against yellow fever in the years 1937 - 1940. The consequences of this large scale interchange between human subjects included the dissemination of serum hepatitis virus, and the possibility of transfer of other viruses is discussed.

Neuraminidase antibodies are known to inhibit hemagglutination by X-15 and X-15 (HK) recombinant viruses. However, the level of inhibition observed varies when different batches of chicken erythrocytes are employed, and the test generally detects neuraminidase antibodies with less sensitivity than an enzyme inhibition test. By titrating neuraminidase antibodies in the presence of anti-IgG globulins, with appropriate specificity, the hemagglutination-inhibition activity of neuraminidase antibodies is enhanced and the effect of cell variation is minimized. Consequently results obtained with this modified method for titrating neuraminidase antibodies become comparable to those obtained by measuring enzyme-inhibition. The improved hemagglutination-inhibition procedure possesses the important advantages of greater convenience and economy. Similar enhancing effects may also be obtained with egg white and guinea pig serum.

The physical and serological states of ribonucleoprotein antigen, released by dissociation of influenza virus, have been characterized. While the simplest antigenic derivative has a sedimentation constant of 4s, more complex antigenic forms, 19s, 38s, and 60s have been identified and isolated. The physical dimensions of isolated g-antigen are dependent on the form of pretreatment of virus concentrate and on the method of virus disruption. The properties of several isolated substructures vary, depending on interaction of the protein with host antigen and nucleic acid. The results suggest that influenza virus ribonucleoprotein associates readily with host antigens and that this interaction plays a significant role in initiating the process of budding which leads to release of mature virus.

Triphenyltetrazolium chloride exhibits a strong growth inhibition in respiratory competent cells but shows only minor effects in respiratory deficient mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Use of this dye thus allows rapid selection of rarely occurring respiratory deficient mutants, showing karyotic as well as extrakaryotic inheritance. Mutation induction by tetrazolium chloride was not observed. The results favour the hypothesis that triphenyltetrazolium chloride interferes with the terminal oxidase of the respiratory chain.

A definition of the term “life”, if understood as one element in a supposed class of extraterrestrial and prebiological phenomena, is shown to be logically impossible because life is the sole known element of that class. Instead, the properties of the class of “bioids”, defined as the class of “open systems which can exist in several steady states” (DECKER and SPEIDEL, Chemiedozententagung, Hamburg 1968; DECKER, 6th FEBS Meeting, Madrid 1969, Abstracts Vol. p. 146) are explored. It contains all lifelike systems as a subclass and is equivalent to the class of thermodynamical open systems which, simultaneously, are “systems” as defined in kybernetics: consisting of “elements” (steady states) and “relations” (transitions between such). Generalizations of the concepts of “species” (as steady states), “mutation” (as transition between steady states) and “evolution by mutation and selection of the fittest” are defined in this class, making those concepts independent of nucleic acids, proteins, macromolecules and linear matrices which may be special features of terrestrial life or advanced systems only. This is derived on the example of the kinetics of a chemical bioid, where two autocatalysts compete for one substrate. The autocatalytic condensation of formaldehyde into monosaccharides was investigated in a flow reactor as an example of a chemical bioid. The transition of the nonreacting into a reacting state was seen in the kinetics; further transitions in the very complex reaction seemed to follow without lag time the changes in the reaction conditions; the elucidation of supposed additional states requires further differentiation of the complex reaction products. The consumption of formaldehyde could be followed down to very high dilutions, to 20°C and to a formaldehyde supply of 1 g per day per litre. The results allow, by extrapolation, the conclusion that a formaldehyde bioid presumably could subsist in a reacting state under prebiological conditions in 10 cm deep water on a photochemical formaldehyde supply of 10-100 mg per day per qm from a methane atmosphere. Such a system would act as an information source providing a steady supply of complex carbon compounds from a C 1 precursor.

The labelling of Methyl 7,11-dichloro-3,7,11-trimethyl-2-dodecenoate and Methyl 10,11-epoxy-3,7,11-trimethyl-2-cis/trans-dodecenoate with tritium by methylation of the acids with diazomethane in the presence of carrier-free tritium water and the hydrogenation of 10,11-Epoxy-6,7-cis-2,3-trans/cis-farnesyl propynyl ether with titrium gas gave high spec. radioactivities (3.7; 0.49 and 25 Ci/mMol). The strong binding of these hormones to the haemolymph proteins of white newly moulted and of colored larvae was demonstrated by gelfiltration with sephadex G-25. The disc-electrophoretic identification of the carrier proteins in the haemolymph of colored larvae showed that the hormones are approximately total bound by the hormone binding factor of a lipoprotein band. In the haemolymph of white newly moulted larvae there is a second hormone binding band beside the lipoprotein band with similar binding capacity.

When maize coleoptile sections were incubated in buffer, nucleotides appeared in the solution as shown by photometric measurement. After 2-3 hours the concentration of the nucleotides stayed constant. However subsequent addition of 3-indole acetic acid to the buffer lead to a linear, rapid and significant net efflux of nucleotides lasting several hours. The nucleotides Adenosin-5′-monophosphate (5′-AMP) and Adenosin-3′: 5′-monophosphate (c-AMP) could be identified in the solution after incubation. The incorporation of [8 -14 C]-adenine into 5′-AMP and c-AMP was measured. After treatment with 3-indole acetic acid c-AMP- 14 C-synthesis was increased in the tissue about 100% over control.

When light is switched on or off the pH of the medium of green cells of a large number of various plant species investigated (Elodea, Zea mays, Amaranthus caudatus, Oenothera hookeri x albicans, Mnium undulatum, Scenedesmus obliquus) increases or decreases respectively. This effect is linked with the non-cyclic photosynthetic electron flow: 1. the effect is independent of the gross ion content of the external medium, 2. green plant cells deficient in photosystem II do not show the effect, 3. addition of 2 · 10 -6 M DCMU to the medium has a similar effect as switching off the light. The pH-effect is inhibited by FCCP, it is abolished in N 2 , but a normal effect is observed in CO 2 -free air. The transient changes of H ⊕ -net flux upon change of illumination are discussed in relation to both the proton pump of the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts and to CO 2 fixation after the uptake of HCO 3 ⊖ from the external solution coupled with the release of OH ⊖ ions. The results are also compared to other signals of similar kinetics observed in experiments with intact plant cells, especially with light-triggered transients of membrane potential and ATP-level.

In Triturus cristatus amputation causes the reappearance of larval tetrahydrobiopterin, thus raising the ratios tetrahydrobiopterin/isoxanthopterin and tetrahydrobiopterin/riboflavin from zero to values between 3-5. This increase first occurs in the remaining skin and in the eyes. The increase of both ratios in the regeneration bud, beginning with the 20 th day after amputation, coincides with their drop in both other tissues. Chloramphenicol and isoxanthopterin both strongly inhibit the formation of a regeneration bud. They also block the increase of both ratios in the remaining skin and in the rudimental regenerate as well. Reserpine induces regenerative ability in Triturus vulgaris, which normally lacks this. It has a strong melanizing effect and, moreover, it causes an increase of both ratios in the regeneration bud and in the remaining skin.

Human squamous cell carcinoma has elevated levels of tetrahydrobiopterin. As the level of riboflavin is low, the ratio tetrahydrobiopterin/riboflavin shows values of 5 - 8.3. In contrast, in differentiated tissues with high metabolic activity but low mitotic rate, like submaxillary glands, elevated levels of tetrahydrobiopterin are accompanied by high content of riboflavin. Thus the ratio tetrahydrobiopterin/riboflavin in kept as low as about 0.5. Chloramphenicol and, in particular, isoxanthopterin reduce tumor growth in rats and prevent tetrahydrobiopterin accumulation as well.

The preparation and chemical properties of barium-oxocuprat (I) inclusive the results of the crystal structure determination by single crystal X-ray investigations are described. BaCu 2 O 2 crystallizes isotypically with SrCu 2 O 2 . (a = 5.72 and c = 10.06 Å. Spacegroup : D 19 4h - 14 1 /amd.) The influence of the bigger Ba 2⨁ -ion on the oxigenconfiguration surrounding the cations is discussed. It seems that the stretched O - Cu - O-dumbell is an invariable structural element in the oxocompounds of copper (I), which is shown by comparison of already known oxocuprates (I) . Only the way of interchainment varies evidently with stoichiometry.

The title compound, CpMn (PF 3 ) 3 , is formed by photochemically induced CO/PF 3 exchange with CpMn (CO) 3 in a THF-solution. The yellow crystalline solid is obtained in 70% yield. It is obvious that in the course of this reaction intermediate THF-substitution-products are formed. For the first time we were able to prove that besides CpMn (CO) 2 THF, CpMn (THF) 2 CO is also a product of the above reaction. These intermediate THF-complexes are already at normal pressure able to exchange THF for PF 3 .

The Schiff base, N-hydroxyethylnaphthalideneimine forms solid complexes with Mn (II) , Co (II), Ni (II), Cu (II), Zn (II), Cd (II), Pd (II) and UO 2 (II). The structures of these compounds have been discussed on the basis of their elemental analysis, magnetic moment values and electronic spectral data. These studies have conclusively proved that UO 2 (II) and Mn (II) complexes are octahedral in shape whereas the Cu (II) complex molecule displays a square planar or tetragonally distorted octahedral configuration. Co (II) , Ni (II) , Zn (II) and Cd (II) complexes are tetrahedral in structures while the Pd (II) compound is square planar.

Potentiometric evidences have been cited for the formation of 1:1:1, ternary complexes in the systems La (III) -NTA-Hydroxy acids (where hydroxy acids = malic, tartaric, 1-hydroxy 2-naphthoic and 2-hydroxy-3 naphthoic acids).

Reaction of bisbenzenechromium (I)-cation with strong bases yields - in addition to diamagnetic products - a paramagnetic species for which the structure of (π-C 6 H 6 ) Cr ⊕ (π-C 6 H 5 ⊖ ) is suggested on the basis of ESR spectroscopic evidence. The ESR spectrum also indicates an intramolecular, interannular proton exchange with a frequency of the order 10 7 sec -1 .

In connection with the permeation theory of Träuble, in which kinks are considered as carriers through lipid layers of membranes, the influence of unsaturated long chain compounds on the kink structure is studied in membrane models. Unsaturated compounds in bimolecular films of saturated long chain compounds lead to higher kink concentrations and favor the random distribution of the kinks.