Purification and characterization of an oxygen-labile, NAD-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase from Desulfovibrio gigas

A NAD-dependent, oxygen-labile alcohol dehydrogenase was purified from Desulfovibrio gigas. It was decameric, with subunits of M(r) 43,000. The best substrates were ethanol (Km, 0.15 mM) and 1-propanol (Km, 0.28 mM). N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis showed that the enzyme belongs to the same family of alcohol dehydrogenases as Zymomonas mobilis ADH2 and Bacillus methanolicus MDH.     

Biochemical model reactions on the prooxidative activity of homocysteine

The sulfur amino acid homocysteine has recently been addressed as marker for vessel damaging and atherosclerotic dispositions. The atherogenic index has been correlated with the one of cholesterol and is significantly higher in cholesterinemic as compared to normal lipidemic persons. In the present communication biochemical model reactions are presented indicating the prooxidative activity of homocysteine where a cooperative effect with the transition-metals copper and iron is indicated.     

The effects of duodenal glucose infusion on some hepatic enzyme activities in sheep

1. Two experiments were performed to examine the effects of duodenal glucose infusion on hepatic enzyme activities in sheep. 2. Glucose infusion significantly increased the specific activities of phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and significantly reduced the specific activity of glucose-6-phosphatase suggesting that the pathways of glucose breakdown are increased, and gluconeogenesis decreased, in glucose-infused animals. 3. The results are discussed in relation to the effects of diet on liver metabolism in sheep.