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Cadmium speciation of the intestinal compartment of the earthworm species, Lumbricus terrestris, has been investigated using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under non-denaturing conditions. Worms exposed to Cd(NO) supplemented soils have been studied and compared to control samples. Prior to electrophoresis, the worm intestines were removed and dissected. Proteins in the crude intestinal extracts were separated using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The cadmium distribution in the proteins has also been described. In a second set of experiments, cadmium bound to proteins was first isotopically exchanged with labelled cadmium (Cd) and then cadmium speciation was performed using gel electrophoresis. Autoradiography of this gel shows an intense band in the contaminated sample whereas this band was absent in the control sample. These results show that one type of major protein has a strong affinity for cadmium in the worm intestinal extract. This type of protein had a migration close of that of rabbit liver metallothionein used for comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human nasal mucosa biopsy samples were studied by biochemical and histological methods to determine whether the concentration of calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity (CGRP-LI) as a marker of sensory nerves was dependent on the activity of neutral endopeptidase-like enzyme (NEP-LE). Mucosal samples from the middle turbinate were obtained from 32 patients undergoing functional endoscopic nasal surgery for non-allergic chronic rhinosinusitis. The degree of symptoms related to nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea and headaches was recorded. The number of inflammatory cells in each biopsy sample was evaluated by conventional histopathological examination. CGRP-LI was measured by radioimmunoassay. The activity of NEP-LE was evaluated in vitro using [3H] Leu5-enkephalin as substrate. A good correlation was observed between increased concentrations of CGRP, abundant inflammatory cells and the intensity of symptoms (R2 = 0.80). A low activity of NEP-LE was associated with a high concentration of both inflammatory cells and CGRP, suggesting that NEP-LE activity was reduced during inflammation. These observations further support the hypothesis that reduced degradation of sensory neuropeptides could be involved in the pathophysiological mechanisms of non-specific chronic rhinosinusitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Protoplasma is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Protoplasma is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The presence of a glycolytic complex or particle has been demonstrated in the insect midgut form of Trypanosoma brucei brucei. It differs from the 'glycosome' of the bloodstream form of the parasite in that 3-phosphoglycerate kinase is absent. The latter enzyme appears to be cytosolic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of specific inhibitors on the high-affinity transport system of cyclitols and on the respiration of Pseudomonas putida shows that the transport activity is dependent on high energy phosphate bond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Experientia is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Experientia is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)