Metabolic Studies of Rickettsiae

Abstract

The present study is a continuation of our examination of the scope of intrinsic metabolic capacities of rickettsiae isolated from their host cells (Wisseman et al., 1951 and 1952). It is based on the following considerations: Bovarnick and Miller (1950) presented strong evidence for the presence of a glutamic-aspartic transaminase in Rickettsia prowazeki and Rickettsia mooseri, and some confirming evidence for the occurrence of this enzyme in R. mooseri was found by Wisseman et al. (1952). Since animal tissues (Cammarata and Cohen, 1950) and certain bacteria (Feldman and Gunsalus, 1950) exhibit a wide scope of transaminase reactions, it was conceivable that this situation might also obtain in the rickettsiae of murine typhus. Furthermore, since evidence already at hand (Bovarnick and Miller, 1950; Wisseman et al., 1952) suggests that these microorganisms possess a complex pattern of metabolism, it was considered possible that the rickettsiae could store and transmit metabolic energy through a phosphorylating mechanism and even, perhaps, perform some synthetic activities in the isolated state separated from the host cell. Exploration of these possibilities constitutes the specific subject matter of this report. MATERILS AND METHODS Ricketisial suspensions. Purified and concentrated rickettsial suspensions were prepared from the yolk sacs of embryonated eggs infected with R. mooseri by a modification2 of the method

Colchincine Binding to Tubulin and Effects of Colchicine and Posttranslational Modifications on Microtubule Assembly

“…Cell Culture:GH3 cells (Tashjian et aL, 1968;Tashjian, 1979) were grown in monolayers in a 1:1 mixture of Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DME) and Ham's F-10 medium (Sigma, St. Louis, MO), supplemented with 15% horse serum and penstrep (penicillin-streptomycin) at 37°C, under a 10% CO2 atmosphere. AtT20/D-16 cells (Fürth et aL, 1953) and BS-C-1 cells (Hopps et aL, 1963) The majority of detyrosinated microtubules were distributed in a juxtanuclear location and appeared to be emanating from the MTOC. The detyrosinated microtubules were characterized by a sinuous morphology as described previously (Gundersen et aL, 1984), and formed a basket like structure next to the nucleus (Fig.…”

Επιδημιολογικη Ανοσιολογικη Και Κλινικη Ερευνα Ρικετσιωσεων Και Νεο- Ρικετσιωσεων Εν Ελλαδι

“…Ai ρικετσίαι κατέχουσι υποτυπώδες σύστη μα μεταβολισμού (Bovamick & Snyder 1949). Παραγ<»γή ενεργείας επιτυγ χάνεται,, εν μέρει ή καθ' ολοκληρίαν, δια του κύκλου του Krebs (Bovamick & Snyder 1949, Bovamick & Miller 1950, Wissernnn et al 1951, Wisseman et al 1952, Hopps et al 1956,Kohno 1959, Consigli & Paretsky 1962, Ornisbee 1964. Κατά πόσον, δ κύκλος τοΰ Krebs είναι πλήρης εις τάς ρικετσίας, δέν έχει διευκρινισθή εισέτι.…”