Production of interleukin-1 activity of Kupffer cells from mice treated with the acidic mannan fraction of baker's yeast.
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We investigated the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) activity by Kupffer cells (KC) from mice treated with a neutral mannan fraction (WNM) or an acidic mannan fraction (WAM025) from baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in vivo and in vitro. The mice administered WAM025 showed an increase in the number of KC and the IL-1 production compared with mice administered WNM. In an in vitro stimulation assay using KC from a normal mouse, it was also found that WAM025 displayed an increase in IL-1 production. Diisopropyl fluorophosphate completely inhibited the production of IL-1 by KC from the mice administered WAM025. (+info)
Influence of selenium-enriched yeast supplementation on biomarkers of oxidative damage and hormone status in healthy adult males: a clinical pilot study.
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The mechanisms responsible for the protective role of selenium against the development of prostate cancer remain to be determined (L. C. Clark et al., J. Am. Med. Assoc., 276: 1957-1963, 1996). In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that selenium supplementation reduces oxidative stress. A secondary aim was to determine whether selenium-induced changes in testosterone (T) metabolism may also be involved. To this end, we conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 247 micro g selenium/day administered p.o. in the form of Se-enriched yeast. Study subjects were 36 healthy adult males, 11 blacks and 25 whites, 19-43 years of age. Supplementation occurred over the first 9 months, after which all subjects were placed on placebo for an additional 3 months. Blood and urine were collected at baseline and after 3, 9, and 12 months. In the selenium group, plasma selenium levels were 2-fold higher than baseline values after 3 and 9 months and returned to 136% of baseline after 12 months (P < 0.0001), whereas in the placebo group, levels were unchanged. A 32% increase in blood glutathione (GSH) levels was observed after 9 months in the selenium group only (P < 0.05). This change coincided with a 26% decrease in protein-bound GSH (bGSH) and a 44% decrease in bGSH:GSH ratios (P < 0.05). The changes in GSH and bGSH were highly correlated with changes in plasma selenium concentrations and may reflect a decrease in oxidative stress. No changes were observed in either group for plasma T, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or DHT:T ratios, suggesting that selenium had no effect on the alpha-reductase involved in the conversion of T to DHT. A small but significant decrease in prostate-specific antigen levels was observed after 3 and 9 months (P < 0.001), and this difference disappeared after 12 months. Future trials will test the above hypothesis in prostate cancer patients and in subjects at high risk for prostate cancer. (+info)
Phagolysosomal pH in alveolar macrophages.
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We studied phagolysosomal pH in alveolar macrophages (AM) using fluorescein-labeled yeast (FYP) and silica particles (FSP) as probes. Fluorescence intensities from the ingested test particles were measured on populations of AM using fluorescence spectrometry and on individual phagolysosomes using fluorescence microscopy. Measurements were performed on rabbit AM, which had been incubated with FYP or FSP (in vitro procedure). We also instilled FYP or FSP via the trachea into rabbit lungs and after 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months lavaged the lungs and measured the pH in AM (in vivo procedure). Phagolysosomal pH was independent of the number and size of the fluorescent particles. Measurements of populations of AM with fluorescence spectrometry and of individual phagolysosomes with fluorescence microscopy gave similar average pH. For the FYP, pH decreased during the first day after lavage both in the in vitro and the in vivo procedures. For the FSP, pH was unchanged during the same period. After 1 day pH was similar for both particles. Electron microscopy showed a larger number of lysosomes in contact with phagosomes and a higher percentage of vacuolated phagosomes for FYP than for FSP. In the in vivo procedure, pH was unchanged at least up to 1 month, and this pH was lower than that in the in vitro procedure. The difference was probably due to conditions at the time of phagocytosis. Particles retained in the lung parenchyma were within AM, and their location within the AM appeared unchanged from 1 week up to 3 months. (+info)
FORMATE-PYRUVATE EXCHANGE REACTION IN STREPTOCOCCUS FAECALIS. I. FACTOR REQUIREMENT FOR INTACT CELLS.
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Wood, N. P. (A. & M. College of Texas, College Station), and D. J. O'Kane. Formate-pyruvate exchange reaction in Streptococcus faecalis. I. Factor requirement for whole cells. J. Bacteriol. 87:97-103. 1964.-A factor present in plant and animal sources was found necessary for the incorporation of formate-C(14) into pyruvate by Streptococcus faecalis 10Cl. Yeast extract produced a response linear in the range between 10 and 30 mg/ml of reaction mixture. Soy peptone, beef peptone, and Brain Heart Infusion replaced yeast extract, but various intermediates, cofactors, amino acids, purines, pyrimidines, and peptides did not stimulate the reaction. A lag occurred in the rate of formate incorporation that was not influenced by anaerobic conditions or growth of cells in a medium containing pyruvate and formate. Phosphate or maleate buffer permitted rapid exchange velocities but tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane or collidine buffer was inhibitory. Heating yeast extract at 121 C for 15 min in 3 n H(2)SO(4) produced 66% inactivation of the factor(s), whereas treatment with 3 n KOH produced 97% inactivation. The factor(s) was insoluble in butanol, benzene, ethyl acetate, or chloroform. The material adsorbed on Dowex-1 (OH(-)) and Amberlite IR-120 (H(+)) but not on Amberlite IR-4B (OH(-)). The active component(s) was highly polar, nonvolatile, dialyzable, and had amphoteric properties. (+info)
D-ARABITOL PRODUCTION BY ENDOMYCOPSIS CHODATI.
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Endomycopsis chodati in an aerated fermentation produced d-arabitol in yields of 35 to 40% of the sugar supplied. Glucose, mannose, and sucrose were suitable substrates. A synthetic medium was developed for the fermentation that showed that nitrogen in the medium must be limiting to obtain high yields of arabitol. Excess phosphate also tended to lower arabitol yields, although the effect was not so great as with nitrogen. Pilot plant-size fermentations were made in which all the nutrients were supplied by blackstrap molasses and urea. Arabitol yields in these fermentations were about 40% of the sugar supplied. (+info)
INFLUENCE OF AERATION AND OF PANTOTHENATE ON GROWTH YIELDS OF ZYMOMONAS MOBILIS.
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Belaich, Jean-Pierre (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France), and Jacques C. Senez. Influence of aeration and of pantothenate on growth yields of Zymomonas mobilis. J. Bacteriol. 89:1195-1200. 1965.-The growth yields and rates of Zymomonas mobilis were measured in aerobic and anaerobic cultures on glucose medium containing yeast extract, amino acids, or ammonium chloride as the nitrogen source. In the absence of yeast extract, pantothenate was required. The growth yield and rate of the cultures in synthetic (amino acids) or minimal (NH(4)Cl) medium supplemented with pantothenate corresponded only to about one-half the "normal" values obtained in the presence of yeast extract, suggesting a situation of energetically uncoupled growth. Attempts to restore normal growth by the addition of various compounds were unsuccessful. Aeration of the cultures resulted in a partial oxidation of ethyl alcohol to acetate, but did not modify the growth yield nor the division time. Both aerobic and anaerobic cells, however, contained cytochrome c and a cytochrome oxidase of the a(2) type, which was completely inhibited by 10(-4)m cyanide. In anaerobically grown cells, an additional cytochrome of the b type was present. The absence of a Pasteur effect suggests that the transfer of electrons by the respiratory chain of Z. mobilis may not be coupled with oxidative phosphorylation. Aeration had no effect on the catalase content of the cells. As shown by C(14)-glucose incorporation, 2 to 3% of the glucose metabolized was assimilated by the cells in both synthetic and rich complex medium. No intracellular glycogen nor poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate was accumulated when growth was limited by nitrogen or by phosphate in the presence of excess glucose. (+info)
INFLUENCE OF DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID DEGRADATION PRODUCTS AND ORTHOPHOSPHATE ON DEOXYNUCLEOTIDE KINASE ACTIVITY AND DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID SYNTHESIS IN PNEUMOCOCCUS TYPE 3.
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Firshein, William (Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.). Influence of deoxyribonucleic acid degradation products and orthophosphate on deoxynucleotide kinase activity and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in pneumococcus type III. J. Bacteriol. 90:327-336. 1965.-An oligodeoxynucleotide fraction derived from a deoxyribonuclease-treated calf-thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) can enhance the activity of deoxycytidylic acid (dCMP) and deoxyguanylic acid (dGMP) kinases in cell suspensions of type III pneumococci. High levels of orthophosphate can produce similar effects. For part of the incubation period, the activity of dCMP and dGMP kinases is very low or undetectable in unsupplemented-cell suspensions of pneumococci. In contrast, the remaining kinases, deoxyadenylic acid and thymidylic acid, which are present in ample amounts in control and supplemented cells throughout the incubation period, are unaffected by the addition of oligodeoxynucleotides and orthophosphate. The stimulation of kinase activity is amino acid-dependent and can be abolished by adding chloramphenicol. When the oligodeoxynucleotide fraction and orthophosphate are further supplemented with all eight of the naturally occurring deoxynucleosides and deoxynucleotides (which do not affect kinase activity), a preferential enhancement of DNA synthesis occurs in comparison with cell growth or protein synthesis. Addition of deoxynucleosides and deoxynucleotides to unsupplemented cells produces only a slight increase in DNA synthesis. The preferential enhancement of DNA synthesis can be prevented by adding chloramphenicol at a certain time during incubation. (+info)
INFLUENCE OF DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID DEGRADATION PRODUCTS AND ORTHOPHOSPHATE ON UPTAKE OF DEOXYNUCLEOSIDES IN PNEUMOCOCCUS TYPE 3.
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Firshein, William (Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.), and Bernadette A. Gargan. Influence of deoxyribonucleic acid degradation products and orthophosphate on uptake of deoxynucleosides in pneumococcus type III. J. Bacteriol. 90:337-342. 1965.-The uptake of specific C(14)-deoxynucleosides by a type III encapsulated (virulent) strain of pneumococcus in resting-cell suspensions is enhanced when such deoxynucleosides are added as part of a supplement consisting of other deoxynucleosides, deoxynucleotides, an oligo(deoxy)nucleotide fraction derived from a deoxyribonuclease-treated calf-thymus deoxyribonucleic acid, and orthophosphate. Ribonucleic acid degradation products or yeast extract are ineffective in this respect. Mixtures of deoxynucleosides and deoxynucleotides stimulate uptake of a specific deoxynucleoside during early stages of incubation, whereas orthophosphate and, to a limited extent, the oligonucleotides stimulate uptake during later stages of incubation. The stimulated uptake of specific deoxynucleosides can be abolished by adding chloramphenicol. (+info)