THE EFFECT OF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION UPON ENZYMATIC ACTIVITY AND VIABILITY OF THE YEAST CELL

1952 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 561-570
Author(s):  
J. G. Aldous ◽  
D. K. R. Stewart

Suspensions of the cells of baker’s yeast were irradiated with ultraviolet light for sufficient times to produce populations of 75, 50, 30, and 5% viable cells. After washing and drying, various enzyme solutions were prepared from these cells. Enzymatic activities, on a nitrogen basis, were compared to those of solutions prepared from a nonirradiated population. At the 50% survival level, hexokinase, carboxylase, and zymase were inhibited to a degree roughly proportional to the viability. Carboxylase, and to a certain extent, hexokinase activity varied directly as the population viability. Catalase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and lactic dehydrogenase showed no diminution in activity even at the 5% survival level. These results suggest that although ultraviolet radiation may produce nuclear damage, the primary site of action may be certain enzymes of the cytoplasm.

1995 ◽  
Vol 308 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
P A Haughan ◽  
M L Chance ◽  
L J Goad

Leishmania donovani promastigotes were cultured in the presence of an azasterol (20-piperidin-2-yl-5 alpha-pregnane-3 beta,20-diol) to determine the effects on sterol biosynthesis and cell proliferation. Inhibition of growth increased gradually with azasterol concentrations up to 5 micrograms/ml; concentrations of azasterol exceeding 5 micrograms/ml were lethal. Sterol biosynthesis was affected by the azasterol when administered at concentrations as low as 100 pg/ml. The primary site of action was the alkylation at C-24 of a delta 24-sterol precursor. The 24-alkylated sterols [ergosta-5,7,24(24(1))-trien-3 beta-ol and ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3 beta-ol] of the protozoan were replaced by delta 24-cholesta-type sterols which then accumulated in the cells. Administration of the azasterol together with a bis-triazole inhibitor of the 14 alpha-methylsterol 14-demethylase reaction, which operates in sterol biosynthesis, resulted in depletion of 24-alkylsterols and their replacement with predominantly 14 alpha-methylsterols lacking a 24-alkyl group. Continuous subculture of promastigotes in the presence of the azasterol resulted in gradual depletion of 24-alkylsterols and their complete replacement by delta 24-cholesta-type sterols. Transfer of the azasterol-treated cells to medium lacking azasterol resulted in a gradual restoration, after several subcultures, of the normal 24-alkylsterol pattern. The results indicate that, although 24-alkylsterols are normally produced by the protozoan, it can nevertheless survive with sterols possessing only the cholestane skeleton. Thus there is no absolute requirement for 24-alkylsterols to fulfil some essential ‘sparking’ role associated with cell growth in promastigotes.


1981 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 1213-1218 ◽  
Author(s):  
C M Schreiner ◽  
K S Hirsch ◽  
W J Scott

The carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, acetazolamide, leads to a unique distal postaxial right forelimb deformity in rats and CBA/J mice, but SWV mice are completely resistant. Using Hansson's histochemical method, the distribution of carbonic anhydrase and its inhibition by acetazolamide in rat, CBA/J mouse, and SWV mouse embryos were compared. Carbonic anhydrase activity was demonstrable in many tissues of sensitive rat and CBA/J mouse embryos and in resistant SWV mouse embryos. The forelimb buds of resistant and sensitive embryos possess carbonic anhydrase activity in the area between the ectoderm and adjacent mesenchyma with no localization of enzyme activity corresponding to the malformation seen in acetazolamide teratogenesis. This suggests that carbonic anhydrase in the forelimbs is not the primary site of action for acetazolamide. A distinctive staining pattern of nucleated erythrocytes in resistant embryos indicated the presence of a low activity form of carbonic anhydrase in nearly half of the erythrocytes. A five-to tenfold greater amount of acetazolamide was needed to completely inhibit carbonic anhydrase activity in nucleated erythrocytes from resistant embryos than in those from sensitive embryos. The existence of a low activity form of carbonic anhydrase in SWV embryo erythrocytes may be the basis of resistance to acetazolamide teratogenesis.


1969 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
pp. 999-1008
Author(s):  
B. Blattberg ◽  
M. N. Levy

Previous investigation of the mechanism responsible for the bradycardia evoked by the intravenous injection of bacterial endotoxin revealed that the primary site of action of the endotoxin must be some subdiaphragmatic structure. The present study was undertaken to localize more precisely this site of action. In anesthetized dogs, the renal pedicles or the intestinal arteries were ligated before endotoxin was administered. It was found that exclusion of the intestinal vascular bed prevented the fall in heart rate, whereas occlusion of the renal vasculature did not alter the cardiac response. To localize the mesenteric site of action of endotoxin more precisely, small doses of endotoxin were injected into each of the individual intestinal arteries and into the splenic artery and the portal vein. The response was compared with that evoked by the injection of an equivalent amount of endotoxin into a femoral artery. It was observed that when endotoxin was injected into the intestinal arteries, bradycardia resulted. However, when endotoxin was injected into the femoral artery or the portal vein, no significant change in heart rate was detected, indicating that the intestines probably are the site of action for evoking bradycardia.


1988 ◽  
Vol 152 (5) ◽  
pp. 599-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra E. File

Ten years ago, specific high-affinity binding sites for benzodiazepines (BDZs) were found in the brain (Mohler & Okada, 1977; Squires & Braestrup, 1977). These binding sites are believed to be the primary site of action of BDZs and are found on the same protein as GABA receptors. GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.


1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (18) ◽  
pp. 2196-2202 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ali ◽  
R. A. Fletcher

The phytotoxic actions of two herbicides, glyphosate and amitrole, were compared using corn seedlings. Six days after treatment with amitrole at 1.68 kg/ha, plant heights, leaf lengths, and shoot fresh weights were reduced 20, 20, and 25% respectively, whereas with glyphosate applied at 1.12 kg/ha the inhibition was 62, 60, and 84% respectively. The lowest concentration of glyphosate (0.28 kg/ha) inhibited plant growth more than the inhibition caused by the highest concentration of amitrole (3.36 kg/ha). A purple colour appeared on the whole shoot of plants treated with glyphosate, and with amitrole, only the new growth of shoots was white. Both treatments reduced chlorophyll levels and the amitrole treatment reduced the carotenoid levels more than the chlorophyll levels. The root growth of plants treated with 1.12 kg/ha glyphosate was inhibited more than 80%, whereas with amitrole at 1.68 kg/ha, the inhibition was 40%. Within 6 h glyphosate severely reduced the rate of root respiration and 12 h after treatment respiration was reduced more than 70%. This rapid effect on root respiration was not observed with amitrole, and even 48 h after treatment, the decrease in respiration was less than 30%. We conclude that the primary site of action of glyphosate in corn seedlings is in the roots whereas the effect of amitrole is in the shoot.


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