Association of calpains 1 and 2 with protein kinase C activities.

Calpains 1 and 2 co-eluted with protein kinase C activities after hydrophobic (phenyl-Sepharose) and anion-exchange (Mono Q) chromatographies of a 100,000 X g supernatant which was defined as cytosol. After centrifugation of the cytosol at 200,000 X g for 16 h, the major part of calpain 1 and of its associated protein kinase C activity was recovered in the pellet, when the major part of calpain 2, also associated to a protein kinase C activity, was present in the resulting supernatant. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the fractions eluted from the Mono Q column, which contained calpains 1 or 2 and their associated protein kinase C activities, revealed two main bands with a molecular mass of 80 and 28 kDa.

Selenium content in wheat and estimation of the selenium daily intake in different regions of Algeria.

In this work, we have measured the selenium content in wheat produced locally in eight different regions of Algeria from east to west, and we have established the annual consumption of selenium for five socio-professional categories. Instrumental neutron activation analysis is used. The selenium levels in wheat samples varied from 21 (Tiaret) to 153 µg/kg (Khroub), with a mean value about 52 µg/kg. The mean of selenium daily consumption from ingestion of wheat per person in the eight regions varied from 32 to 52 µg/day which is close to the minimal FAO recommendation.

[Calpains, protein kinase c and development of muscle tissue]. / Calpaines, protéine kinase C et développement du tissu musculaire.

Calpains are Ca2+ -dependent thiol proteases which have been identified in various tissues of eucaryotes, but their physiological function in the cell is uncertain. In the muscle fiber, two types of calpains are present which differ by their calcium sensitivity: calpain 1 and calpain 2, which require for their activity micro and millimolar concentrations of calcium respectively. These calpains are associated with protein kinase C activities in the differentiated fiber. The multinucleate myotube is formed by fusion of mononucleated precursor cells, myoblasts. Calpains have been reported to appear in myoblasts at around the time of fusion. Moreover, an apparent synthesis of 1,2 diacylglycerol, an activator of protein kinase C, was observed during fusion of myoblasts. However, more information is required to incriminate totally protein kinase C and calpains in the mechanism of myoblast fusion.