Role of cell membrane galactosyltransferase in concanavalin A agglutination of erythrocytes

It has been previously observed that rabbit erythrocyte cell surface galactosyltransferase appears to play a role in concanavalin A agglutination of these erythrocytes (Podolsky et al., 1974). Further, a correlation between the occurrence or level of cell surface galactosyltransferase and concanavalin A agglutinability of other cell types has also been observed. The mechanism by which rabbit erythrocyte galactosyltransferase participates in concanavalin A agglutination has now been further defined. The enzyme was solubilized and purified. Characterization of the enzyme properties has shown them to be similar to those reported for other purified galactosyltransferases. Amino acid and carbohydrate analysis showed a high asparagine content and the presence of D-mannose. Specific alpha-mannosidase treatment of the enzyme showed that some of these D-mannose residues were terminal sugars. The purified enzyme also conferred concanavalin A agglutinability to non-agglutinable human erythrocytes. However, the ability to confer concanavalin A agglutinability was unrelated to the enzyme activity per se (as measured with fetuin acceptor) but appeared to be entirely dependent on the presence of terminal alpha-linked D-mannosyl residues in the enzyme structure. These findings suggest that the presence of terminal alpha-mannosidyl residues on cell surface glycoproteins such as galactosyltransferase may be the determining factor in agglutination of cells by concanavalin A.     

Cerebral ischemia in gerbils: effects of acute and chronic treatment with adenosine A2A receptor agonist and antagonist

Despite significant progress in understanding of the potential of adenosine A1 receptor-based therapies in treatment of cerebral ischemia and stroke, very little is known about the effect of selective stimulation of adenosine A2A receptors on the outcome of a cerebrovascular arrest. In view of a major role played by adenosine A2 receptors in the regulation of cerebral blood flow, we have investigated the effect of both acute and chronic administration of the selective adenosine receptor agonist 2-[(2-aminoethylamino)-carbonylethylphenylethylamino]-5'-N- ethylcarboxoamidoadenosine (APEC) and antagonist 8-(3-chlorostyryl)caffeine (CSC) on the outcome of 10 min ischemia in gerbils. Acute treatment with APEC improved recovery of postischemic blood flow and survival without affecting neuronal preservation in the hippocampus. Acute treatment with CSC had no effect on the cerebral blood flow but resulted in a very significant protection of hippocampal neurons. Significant improvement of survival was present during the initial 10 days postischemia. Due to subsequent deaths of animals treated acutely with CSC, the end-point mortality (14 days postischemia) in this group did not differ statistically from that seen in the controls. It is, however, possible that the late mortality in the acute CSC group was caused by the systemic effects of brain ischemia that are not subject to the treatment with this drug. Chronic treatment with APEC resulted in a statistically significant improvement in all studied measures. Although chronic treatment with CSC improved postischemic blood flow, its effect on neuronal preservation was minimal and statistically insignificant. Mortality remained unaffected. The results indicate that the acute treatment with adenosine A2A receptor antagonists may have a limited value in treatment of global ischemia. However, since administered CSC has no effect on the reestablishment of postischemic blood flow, treatment of stroke with adenosine A2A receptor antagonists may not be advisable. Additional studies are necessary to elucidate whether chronically administered drugs acting at adenosine A2 receptors may be useful in treatment of stroke and other neurodegenerative disorders.     

Martensite formation,strain rate sensitivity,and deformation behavior of type 304 stainless steel sheet

The strain and strain rate dependence of the deformation behavior of Type 304 stainless steel sheet was evaluated by constant temperature tensile testing in the temperature range of −80 °C to 160 °C. The strain rate sensitivity, strain hardening rate, and ductility reflected the compctition of two strengthening mechanisms: strain-induced transformation of austenite to martensite and dislocation substructure formation. At low temperatures, the strain rate sensitivity and strain hardening rate correlated with the strain-induced transformation rate. A maximum in total ductility occurred between 0 °C and 25 °C, and the contributions of strain rate sensitivity and strain hardening to independent maxima with temperature of the uniform and post-uniform strains are discussed. Formerly Visiting Scientist, Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines.