Studies on monotreme proteins. VII. Amino acid sequence of myoglobin from the platypus, Ornithoryhynchus anatinus

Myoglobin isolated from skeletal muscle of the platypus contains 153 amino acid residues. The complete amino acid sequence has been determined following cleavage with cyanogen bromide and further digestion of the four fragments with trypsin, chymotrypsin, pepsin and thermolysin. Sequences of the purified peptides were determined by the dansyl-Edman procedure. The amino acid sequence showed 25 differences from human myoglobin and 24 from kangaroo myoglobin. Amino acid sequences in myoglobins are more conserved than sequences in the alpha- and beta-globin chains, and platypus myoglobin shows a similar number of variations in sequence to kangaroo myoglobin when compared with myoglobin of other species. The date of divergence of the platypus from other mammals was estimated at 102 +/- 31 million years, based on the number of amino acid differences between species and allowing for mutations during the evolutionary period. This estimate differs widely from the estimate given by similar treatment of the alpha- and beta-chain sequences and a constant rate of mutation of globin chains is not supported.     

Early unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia after paracetamol overdosage

A rapid increase of predominantly unconjugated bilirubin in the blood -- which was not due to haemolysis -- was observed in 38 of 60 patients who had taken an overdose of paracetamol. Studies in the rat given an overdose of the drug showed that within 24 hours there was a striking reduction in the activity of bilirubin glucuronyl-transferase and the content of cytochrome P.450 in the liver. It is suggested that such early damage of the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum contributes to the hyperbilirubinaemia of paracetamol poisoning.     

Response properties of single units in an association area of the kitten neocortex

Two percept-genetic methods, the Meta-Contrast Technique (MCT) and the Serial Afterimage Test (AI), were used to study adaptive aspects of perception in a group of 37 subjects suffering from manifest anxiety. The perceptual processes laid bare by these methods reflected not only anxiety but also defensive formations. MCT and AI correlated with each other in these respects and, when combined, correlated with rated symptoms. In accordance with the theory behind percept-genetic methods, anxiety signs appearing late in the test serials were more likely to correspond to manifest symptoms than signs which appeared early. The AI test scores seemed to reflect a difference between anxiety experienced as an inherent quality of life and anxiety as a foreign force struggling for dominance.     

Nutrient database improvement project: The influence of U.S.D.A. Quality and Yield Grade on the separable components and proximate composition of raw and cooked retail cuts from the beef rib and plate

Beef nutrition is important to the worldwide beef industry. The objective of this study was to analyze proximate composition of eight beef rib and plate cuts to update the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR). Furthermore, this study aimed to determine the influence of USDA Quality Grade on the separable components and proximate composition of the examined retail cuts. Carcasses (n = 72) representing a composite of Yield Grade, Quality Grade, gender and genetic type were identified from six regions across the U.S. Beef plates and ribs (IMPS #109 and 121C and D) were collected from the selected carcasses and shipped to three university meat laboratories for storage, retail fabrication, cooking, and dissection and analysis of proximate composition. These data provide updated information regarding the nutrient content of beef and emphasize the influence of common classification systems (Yield Grade and Quality Grade) on the separable components, cooking yield, and proximate composition of retail beef cuts.     

Effect of different treatments on the microstructure and functional and pasting properties of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.), dolichos bean (Dolichos lablab L.) and jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) flours from the north‐east Argentina

The effect of germination (G; 5 days), soaking‐cooking (SC; 6 h–20 min, 6 h–40 min, 6 h–60 min) and microwave (M; 50%, 70%, 100%) treatments on pigeon pea (PP), dolichos bean (DB) and jack bean (JB) seeds was studied. Microstructure of seeds and functional (protein solubility, water‐holding capacity, oil‐holding capacity, emulsion stability) and pasting properties of flours were determined. Germination and microwave treatments modified the protein matrix of cotyledon cells preserving the shape of the starch granule, whereas the SC treatment (6 h–60 min) affected both. The soaking‐cooking is the most influential treatment on the functional properties of PP, DB and JB flours, as increased water absorption capacity (73–96%), decreased protein solubility (>80%) and the tendency to retrogradation of amylose (69–85%) also improved emulsion stability.