Abnormal thermoregulation in drug-free male schizophrenia patients.

Schizophrenia patients may develop various thermoregulatory disturbances. We hypothesized that a standardized exercise-heat tolerance test [two 50-min bouts of walking a motor-driven treadmill at 40 degrees C (relative humidity=40%)] would reveal abnormal thermoregulation in drug-free schizophrenia patients. Six drug-free schizophrenia outpatients and seven healthy comparison subjects participated in this study. The schizophrenia patients exhibited significantly higher baseline and exertion-related rectal temperature. The relevance of these findings to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia-related thermoregulatory disorders is as yet unclear.

Temperature and pH optima for 21 species of thermophilic and thermotolerant fungi.

A glucose-containing mineral medium supplemented with 0.01% yeast extract is described upon which all the species of thermophilic and thermotolerant fungi tested will grow. Thirteen of the 21 species do not require the yeast extract supplement for growth. Using this solid, supplemented mineral medium, the pH and temperature optima for growth of all strains were measured. No correlation was found between temperature optimum and pH optimum among members of the group tested.

Genetics of the mandelate pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The linkage of genes governing synthesis of enzymes functional in the conversion of l(+)-mandelate to benzoate in Pseudomonas aeruginosa was studied. These genes were found to be linked in a fashion consistent with regulatory mechanisms known to govern synthesis of this inducible pathway. Surprisingly, linkage was also observed between the mandelate genes and those governing the synthesis of functionally related enzymes that participate in the catabolism of anthranilate and benzoate. These latter genes are grouped in at least three regulatory units. Some theoretical explanations for high intensity of linkage among functionally related genes whose expression is not induced by a common metabolite are discussed.

Regulation of the mandelate pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The pathway of mandelate metabolism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is composed of the following steps: l(+)-mandelate --> benzoylformate --> benzaldehyde --> benzoate. These three steps are unique to mandelate oxidation; the benzoate formed is further metabolized via the beta-ketoadipate pathway. The first enzyme, l(+)-mandelate dehydrogenase, is induced by its substrate. The second and third enzymes, benzoylformate decarboxylase and benzaldehyde dehydrogenase, are both induced by benzoylformate. The same benzaldehyde dehydrogenase, or one very similar to it, is also induced by beta-ketoadipate, an intermediate in the subsequent metabolism of benzoate. This dehydrogenase may also be induced by adipate or a metabolite of adipate. These conclusions have been drawn from the physiological and genetic properties of wild-type P. aeruginosa strains and from the study of mutants lacking the second and third enzyme activities.

Clustering of functionally related genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Genes for the mandelate and benzoate pathways in Pseudomonas aeruginosa are clustered to a greater degree than that predicted on the basis of the induction pattern.