Kurt Salomon

A note on the synthesis of fatty acids in bone marrow homogenates as affected by X-radiation☆

1. 1. The synthesis of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in bone marrow homogenates from untreated and X-radiated rabbits has been studied with α-14C-acetate as a precursor. 2. 2. Two and three-fold increases, respectively, over preradiation levels in saturated and unsaturated fatty acid synthesis were observed immediately after radiation. 3. 3. Whereas saturated fatty acid synthesis, which approached control values at 48 hours after radiation, again increased 312 times 72 hours after radiation, unsaturated fatty acid synthesis had fallen to 18% of the preradiation value. At 158 hours after radiation, the relationship between saturated and unsaturated fatty acid synthesis was reversed since unsaturated fatty acid synthesis had risen to 283% and saturated fatty acid synthesis had dropped to 58% of the preradiation value. 4. 4. Oxygen uptake and 14CO2 production increased immediately after radiation, reaching preradiation values 48 hours after exposure. 14CO2 evolution decreased steadily throughout the experimental period while oxygen uptake was unchanged 158 hours after exposure. 5. 5. Hemin synthesis after radiation has been found to behave in a manner similar to that observed in other studies. 6. 6. The term W has been introduced to denote the capacity of the bone marrow to synthesize fatty acids from α-14C-acetate.

Studies on the biosynthesis of hemin in soy bean nodules

Soy bean nodule homogenates are able to incorporate the carbon atoms of acetate and glycine into hemin. Acids of the Krebs cycle, malonate and sodium azide inhibited the incorporation of the a-carbon atom of glycine into hemin. CoA and substances containing sulfhydryl groups also inhibited the above reaction. Magnesium, acetate, glycine, hydrosulfite and fluoride stimulated. The effects of various combinations of these substances were also investigated. Some implications of the results obtained are discussed.

The effect of various pathological-conditions on in vivo hemoglobin synthesis I. Hemoglobin synthesis in beryllium-induced anemia as studied with α-14c-acetate

Abstract The biosynthesis of newly formed intraerythrocytic hemin and globin has been studied by means of α- 14 C-acetate in rabbits exposed to beryllium fluoride. It was found that the percentage of the administered 14 C dose incorporated into hemin and globin in the anemic animals was significantly lower than in the controls. The ratios of globin to hemin 14 C activities on a millimolar basis exhibit no significant differences in beryllium-exposed and normal rabbits. The bearing of these findings on the mechanism of hematopoiesis in beryllium-poisoned rabbits is discussed.

Distribution of Total Ferritin in Intestine and Mesenteric Lymph Nodes of Horses After Iron Feeding.

Summary 1. The distribution of total ferritin in the intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes in a control horse was compared with the corresponding distributions in 2 horses fed iron, using an immunochemical technic for determining the ferritin in extracts of the tissues in question. 2. Ferritin was found to be present in the first 11.5 feet of intestine of the control horse as well as in the last 3 feet of intestine. Small amounts of ferritin were detected in the mesenteric lymph nodes of the control animal. 3. Twenty-four hours after the oral administration of an amount of ferrous ammonium sulfate containing 30 g of iron to a second horse the total ferritin content was appreciably increased in the first 2.5 feet of intestine while 48 hours after feeding the same amount of ferrous ammonium sulfate to a third horse, there were notable increases in the amounts of total ferritin in the first 11.5 feet and in the last 3 feet of intestine. 4. Twenty-four hours after feeding iron to a second horse there was approximately a 4-fold increase in the amount of total ferritin in the mesenteric lymph nodes based on the value for the control horse, while 48 hours after feeding iron to the third horse, more than a 5-fold increase was noted, as judged by the value for the control horse. 5. The data indicate that ferritin is involved in the phenomenon of iron absorption through the intestine of the horse, and that the lymphatic system is concerned with iron absorption by some process in which ferritin also plays a role.

The effect of various pathological conditions on in vivo hemoglobin synthesis. II. Polonium-induced anemia as studied with alpha-C14-glycine.

As set forth in the first paper of this series (1), knowledge gained in recent years concerning the mechanism of the biosynthesis of hemoglobin provides adequate and convenient tools for an inquiry into the pathogenesis of certain experimental anemias, as far as derangement of hemoglobin metabolism is concerned. If one adopts as one of the criteria of the derangement of hemoglobin synthesis the globinto-hemin millimolar C14 activity ratio,3 then one encounters two types of anemia producing agents, namely those which bring about marked alterations of this ratio (2) and those which leave the ratio more or less intact (1). In order to determine whether internally administered radiation in the form of the alpha-particle emitter polonium would cause a change in the aforementioned ratio, experiments were carried out with polonium-treated rats using alpha-C14-glycine as a hemoglobin precursor. It appears from the data to be reported below that internal radiation from this source belongs to that group of anemia producing agents which leave the ratio of hemin to globin synthesis relatively unaffected during the development of a significant degree of anemia.

The effect of X-irradiation on incorporation of orthophosphate-32P and acetate-2-14C into rabbit erythrocyte stroma

Abstract 1. 1. Exposure of rabbits to 600 r of X-rays depresses 32 P-activity in the circulating red cell stroma for a period of six days after irradiation. 2. 2. No similar changes could be detected in the 14 C-activity of erythrocyte stroma of irradiated animals after injection of acetate-2- 14 C.