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The SigD regulon of Mycobacterium abscessus determines cell envelope composition and antibiotic susceptibility.

A major determinant of the exceptional intrinsic resistance of M. abscessus is the lipid-rich cell envelope, yet the regulatory systems that remodel envelope-associated pathways remain poorly defined. Here, we determine the σD regulon in M. abscessus and establish its role in cell envelope homeostasis and intrinsic resistance to hydrophobic antibiotics. RNA-Seq analysis of a MabΔsigD mutant identified 447 differentially expressed genes, while ChIP-Seq mapped 72 σD binding sites and defined a conserved promoter motif (GTAACA/G-N16-CGAT). Using a combination of σD binding, motif orientation and expression data, we identified a core set of directly regulated genes, distinct from what was previously observed in M. tuberculosis, many of which encode proteins involved in envelope-associated functions. These include loci involved in trehalose polyphleate (TPP) biosynthesis, the antigen 85 complex and peptidoglycan remodeling enzymes. Deletion of sigD resulted in a significant reduction in TPPs in the cell envelope and an increase in ethidium bromide accumulation. Consistent with these changes, loss of σD selectively sensitized M. abscessus to hydrophobic antibiotics, including rifampicin and tigecycline. Deletion of mmpL10, which is required for transport of TPP precursors, recapitulated the drug sensitivity of MabΔsigD, implicating envelope composition as a key effector of the phenotype. Expression of the σD regulon further increased during starvation and in response to SDS, isoniazid, and ethambutol, mediated by degradation of RsdA, consistent with a role in stress-responsive envelope adaptation. Together, these findings demonstrate σD is active during logarithmic growth in rich media where it regulates the expression of envelope-associated genes that influence envelope permeability and basal level susceptibility to hydrophobic antibiotics; its activity further increases in response to cell envelope stress, presumably promoting envelope remodeling to counteract damage.

Regulon

Anion transport in red blood cells. I. Chemical properties of anion recognition sites as revealed by structure-activity relationships of aromatic sulfonic acids.

The present study is concerned with the chemical factors that determine the inhibitory properties of reversible aromatic sulfonic acids on sulfate exchange system of human red blood cells. Two series of compounds were tested for inhibitory potencies: benzene sulfonic acid (BS) and 2,2'-disulfonic stilbene (DS) derivatives, each series with substituent groups such as Cl, OH, NH2, NO2, NNN, N-acetamido, and N-benzoamido. As judged by various kinetic criteria, all congeners of BS and DS appear to have common sites of action in the anion transport system. The range of inhibitory potencies, as defined by the concentration required to produce 50% inhibition (ID50), varied over a 10(4) range (ID50:2-50,000 microM). The degree of inhibition was correlated with two physicochemical properties of the substituent groups: (a) lipophilicity, as judged by the pi values (Hansch factor) of the groups; and (b) the electronic character, as judged by sigma values (Hammett factor) of the groups. Optimal correlations were obtained with a linear combination of the two factors. Based on the above structure-activity relationships and on a comparison between the inhibitory properties of congeners of BS and DS, we suggest that the microenvironment of substrate recognition sites bears a positive multipolar character and possesses functionally essential groups with electron donor capacity embedded in a hydrophobic area.

Anions

Sigma subunit of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase affects the function of lambda N gene.

A new class of Escherichia coli mutants, referred to as grn, has been isolated by localized mutagenesis. These mutations affect the sigma subunit of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (ribonucleoside 5'-triphosphate:RNA nucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.6) by abolishing the expression of the lambda N gene, and they are closely lniked to dnaG in the order dnaG-grn-uxaA. Detailed study of one such mutant, grn1, yielded the following results: (i) grn1 is a single mutation and the mutant cell shows cold-sensitivity in growth; (ii) the Grn phenotype of the mutant can easily be suppressed by secondary mutations in the beta subunit gene of RNA polymerase; (iii) purified holoenzyme of RNA polymerase isolated from the mutant showed an altered salt-dependency in vitro, and the mixed reconstitution of the mutant with the wild-type subunits showed that the sigma subunit of the grn1 mutant is altered; (iv) lambda phage mutants (lambda grg), which overcome the grn mutation, can be classified into two groups, the "nin-deletion" and the "N-mutant" groups (both of these are also able to grow on the previously described groN mutant of Georgopoulos and nusAB of Friedman); (iv) the mutant polymerase transcribed 12S as well as 7S RNA from lambda DNA in the presence of the rho factor in vitro. These results indicate that the grn mutation alters the sigma subunit of RNA polymerase and that the sigma subunit participates in activating the N-mediated antitermination mode of lambda phage transcription.

Bacteriophage lambda

The molecular structure of the free acid of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP).

The structure of the free acid of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate has been determined from three dimensional x-ray diffraction data collected with a GE XRD-490 automated diffractiometer. The molecule crystallizes in the orthorhobic space group P212121 with a = 17.953(17), b = 7.530(7), and c = 12.755(12) and Z = 4. The structure was solved by direct methods. The 969 independent data were defined by full matrix least-squares to a final agreement factor, RF, of .050 for FO greater than sigma (FO). The compound exists as a switterion in the solid state. N(7) of the base is protonated. The structure of the free acid is similar to that of the sodium salt. Both have the syn conformation. The puckering of the sugar rings is also similar. Small differences exist in the bond angles of the cyclic phosphate and furanose rings.

Cyclic GMP

Proteomic signatures for sudden cardiac death and related intermediate phenotypes.

BACKGROUND: Novel markers for sudden cardiac death (SCD) are needed. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore whether a protein risk score derived from a large-scale proteomics dataset improves risk prediction of SCD in the general population. METHODS: A total of 52,705 individuals with 1459 unique plasma protein measurements were included from the UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project. A protein risk score was developed using lasso-penalized Cox regression on 40,722 participants enrolled at the English centers and validated on 11,983 participants enrolled at the remaining centers. RESULTS: The protein risk score formula developed from the derivation set comprised 64 unique plasma proteins including latent-transforming growth factor beta-binding protein 2, protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor sigma, and spondin-1. In the test set, a per standard deviation increase in protein risk score was associated with a hazard ratio of 2.60 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.12-3.18) for SCD. Adding a protein risk score to SCD clinical risk factors resulted in a concordance index increase of 0.063 (95% CI 0.037-0.105) for SCD. For ventricular arrhythmia-mediated SCDs, an increase in concordance index when a protein risk score was added to SCD clinical risk factors was 0.070 (95% CI 0.010-0.188). A protein risk score added to SCD clinical risk factors resulted in a risk reclassification of 16.9% (95% CI 9.0-24.7) at a 10-year risk threshold of 5%. A protein risk score was significantly associated with intermediate phenotypes of SCD including corrected QT prolongation, an increase in left ventricular mean myocardial thickness, and a decrease in left ventricular global longitudinal strain. CONCLUSION: A protein risk score derived from a single plasma sample significantly improved risk prediction of SCD and related intermediate phenotypes.

Humans

Cytosolic phosphorylation potential.

The tissue contents of the reactants of the myokinase (EC 2.7.4.3) and the combined glyceraldehyde-3-phophate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.29)-3-phosphoglycerate kinase (EC 2.7.2.3) reactions were measured in rapidly inactivated samples of human blood and rat brain, muscle, and liver. The tissue contents of the reactants of the creatine kinase (EC 2.7.3.2) reaction were measured in rat brain and muscle. In vitro the value of the expression: KG+G = [sigma3PG] . [sigmaATP] . [sigmalactate] KLDH = [sigmaHAP]/22] . [sigmaADP][sigmaPi] . [sigmaRUVATE] (1) was found to be 0.725 x 10(7) M-1 at I = 0.25, T = 38 degrees C, and free [Mg2+] = 0.15 mM and the value measured in vivo in red cell was 0.699 x 10(7) M-1. The value of the expression KMYK = ([sigma ATP] [sigma AMP]/[ADP2]) measured under the above conditions and at pH 7.2 was found to be 0.744 while the value found in red cell was 0.784 +/- 0.037. These reactions, therefore, appear to be in a state of near-equilibrium in the red cell and the measured tissue contents of ATP and ADP, which are common reactants in both reactions, approximate closely the activity of these reactants in vivo. In brain and muscle, the value of KG + G/KLDH calculated from the measured tissue contents of the reactants was a factor of 20 or more lower than that expected at equilibrium as was the measured value of the expression: KCK = [sigma ATP] [sigma creatine] divided by [sigma ADP] [sigma creatine-P] [H+] (2) Substitution of calculated free [sigma ADP] values in the expression of KG + G/KLDH gave values of 0.83 +/- 0.19 x 10(7) M-1 for brain and muscle, respectively, which agreed well with the value of 1.65 x 10(7) M-1 measured in vitro at I = 0.25, free [Mg2+] = 1 mM, T = 38 degrees C. This agreement between two highly active enzyme systems in the same compartment is taken as evidence of the existence of near-equilibrium in both these systems and suggests that free cytosolic [sigma ADP] is probably 20-fold lower than measured cell ADP content in mitochondrial-containing tissues.

Adenine Nucleotides

The stability of the sigma sleep spindle.

The present study closely examined the distribution of sigma sleep spindle activity or six normal human males who slept undisturbed for approximately 8 h/night for 3 consecutive nights. Sigma spindle activity was monitored by an automatic spindle detector system which performed at 92.5% accuracy when judged against established visual criteria. Individuals differed markedly in total sigma spindle production across nights, but the failure to detect significant differences among nights and the large intra-class correlation suggests noteworthy inter-night stability of the sigma spindle.

Adult

Beta-adrenoceptor studies. 2. Effects of alkyl substitution on beta-adrenoceptor blocking, antiarrhythmic, and local anesthetic activities of 1,1'-(o-phenylenedioxy)bis(3-isopropylamino-2-propanol).

A series of bis(2-hydroxy-3-isopropylaminopropyl) ethers of nuclear-substituted catechols (1-7) has been synthesized and examined in vitro for beta-adrenoceptor blocking activity, antagonism of ouabain-induced arrhythmias, and local anesthetic activity. Both tracheal and right atrial beta-adrenoceptor blocking activity are markedly decreased by alkyl substitution in position 3 of parent catechol diether 1. Substitution in position 4 still lowers the affinity to cardiac arrhythmias and local anesthetic activity increases with introduction of alkyl substituents in the 3 as well as in the 4 position. In contrast with biological activities, the partition coefficient 1-octanol-phosphate buffer, pH 7.40, of 1 did not change significantly by 3- and 4-methyl substitution. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed using log P or pi values in combination with pKa(m), E8, or sigma. With cardiac beta-adrenoceptor blocking activity the optimal equation contained E8 and pi parameters, tracheal activity appeared to depend mainly on the E8 parameter, whereas for antiarrhythmic and local anesthetic activities the lipophilicity of the substituents appeared to be the determinant factor.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists

Independent production of CO2 sensitivity by nuclear gene Dly and a transmissible agent from delayed-recovery Drosophila melanogaster.

Flies of stocks designated delayed-recovery by McCrady and Sulerud (1964) remain temporarily paralyzed after exposure to carbon dioxide. This condition is similar to CO2-sensitivity, which occurs in flies infected with the maternally transmitted sigma viruus, but is due, at least in part, to the third chromosome mutant gene Dly. Because earlier work indicated that extracts of delayed-recovery flies could occasionally transmit CO2 sensitivity when injected into resistant recipients, we have tested the possibility that some delayed-recovery stocks contain a sigma-like transmissible virus, in addition to the Dly gene. We found that TDR-orange, a stock derived from the original delayed-recovery line, and temperature-cured populations of the same stock, both contain some agent that is transmissible by injection. TDR-BC3f, a stock derived by backcrossing through the male line to eliminate maternally transmitted factors, does not appear to contain such an infectious agent, but remains sensitive to CO2. These observations lead us to the conclusion that the originally described delayed-recovery stocks harbor an infectious extrachromosomal agent, in addition to possessing the Dly gene, and each is capable of producing a sensitivity to carbon dioxide.

Animals

Altered promoter selection by a novel form of Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase.

Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase holoenzyme prepared by several standard methods utilizes bacteriophage T7 DeltaD111 DNA as an efficient template. The major RNA products are specific transcripts from T7 promoters A(1) and C; these promoters are also efficiently utilized by RNA polymerases purified from a wide range of other bacterial species [Wiggs, J., Bush, J. & Chamberlin, M. (1979) Cell 16, 97-109]. In contrast, B. subtilis RNA polymerase preparations purified by a modification of the method of Burgess and Jendrisak (designated fraction 5) utilize T7 DeltaD111 promoters A(1) and C and an additional promoter site, J, which has been located at 90.6% on the standard T7 physical map. This promoter is not used by B. subtilis core RNA polymerase or by RNA polymerase from any other bacterial species we have tested. Sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of fraction 5 RNA polymerase shows that it contains B. subtilis components sigma and delta and a polypeptide of M(r) 92,000 in addition to the B. subtilis beta, beta', and alpha subunits. Chromatography of fraction 5 on single-stranded DNA-cellulose gives an enzyme fraction, Bs I, that is indistinguishable from B. subtilis RNA polymerase holoenzyme both in its peptide composition (betabeta'alpha(2)sigma) and in the selective transcription of only T7 RNAs A(1) and C. Chromatography of fraction 5 on phosphocellulose yields an enzyme fraction, Bs II, devoid of sigma subunit but containing the M(r) 92,000 peptide and traces of delta. This fraction synthesizes predominantly T7 J RNA in vitro together with traces of T7 A(1) and C RNAs. Hence, B. subtilis RNA polymerase fraction Bs II appears to contain a form of RNA polymerase that can transcribe selectively without detectable amounts of B. subtilis sigma subunit and that utilizes a promoter site not used by other known bacterial RNA polymerases. The structural basis for this specificity is not yet known.

Bacillus subtilis

Organochlorine residues in harp seal (Phagophilus groenlandicus) tissues, Gulf of St. Lawrence, 1971, 1973.

Levels of p,p'-DDT, p,p'-TDE, p,p'-DDE, dieldrin, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and HCB were determined in certain tissues of 31 harp seals (P hagophilus groenlandicus) taken from the Gulf of St. Lawrence during 1971 and 1973. The seals ranged in age from less than two weeks to 18 years. Mean concentrations of PCBs and sigma DDT in the various tissues were about the same sigma DDT levels were 1.64--9.88 ppm in adult seal blubber and 1.08--3.73 ppm in seal pup blubber. Organochlorine levels in harp seal samples taken in 1973 were similar to those reported by other workers for samples collected in the Gulf of St. Lawrence during 1967-71.

Age Factors

Characterization and determination of the activity of biliary beta-glucuronidase in rats.

beta-Glucuronidase activity determined in 100 diluted bile samples from 12 rats with bile duct fistula by using phenolphthalein glucuronide as substrate incubated at 56 degrees C and pH 6 was 636 +/- 650 (mean +/- S.D.) modified Sigma units/ml. The enzyme had an optimal pH of 6.0 and was inhibited slightly by cholate by markedly by chenodeoxycholate and deoxycholate. The biliary beta-glucuronidase had, thus, low activity under normal physiologic condition because of the high pH (8.1) and high bile salt content (20 mumoles/ml) of the bile. The enzyme kinetic studies revealed that the direct bilirubin was a competitive inhibitor to phonolphthalein glucuronide for the enzyme. The affinity of the former to the enzyme was 163 times that of the latter. The studies provided a method for measuring the true activity of biliary beta-glucuronidase (Vmax) devoid of interfering factors by measuring the enzyme velocity (v) in the diluted bile with at least five different concentrations of substrate (s). The plotting of (1/v) vs. (1/s) should yield the y intercept or (1/Vmax).

Animals

Methods for evaluation of urinary excretion parameters of alclofenac after I.M. administration of its water soluble lysine salt in man.

The urinary excretion data after I.M. administration of water soluble lysine salt of Alclofenac were analysed by the techniques suggested by Niebergall, Wagner, Martin and Cummings. All methods used give similar estimates of both DU infinity and Kel with exception of the "Sigma minus" method when DU infinity obtained by "Rate Method" was utilized. Niebergall's method is preferred on the basis that it provides an accurate estimation of both DU infinity and Kel. These parameters, evaluated after administration of Alclofenac-lysinate, resulted in agreement with previously reported data obtained after administration of different pharmaceuticals of acidic drug.

Adult

The Sigma1 ER membrane receptor promotes structural protein folding and genome packaging of dengue virus.

Dengue virus (DENV) exploits the host endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to support viral protein translation and folding, replication, and assembly, although the identity of ER factors that promote these distinct steps during infection remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that the ER-resident Sigma1 ER membrane receptor (S1R) promotes virus structural protein folding and genome packaging of DENV during infection. Under S1R knockdown (KD), DENV infection is impaired without compromising virus translation or replication. Strikingly, EM analysis revealed that DENV particles in and secreted from S1R-depleted cells are smaller, likely because they are empty particles devoid of the vRNA genome. Biochemical experiments demonstrated that S1R binds to the prM structural protein and under S1R KD, the prM, E and C structural proteins became detergent-insoluble. Thus, without S1R, all three virus structural proteins misfold, impairing efficient genome packaging. Together, these findings identify a novel ER chaperone that supports a critical DENV infection step.

Dengue Virus

Meta-evolutionary exome analysis identifies novel type 2 diabetes mellitus genes in the UK Biobank and all of us.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk is heavily influenced by genetics, yet current association tests have explained only parts of its heritability. We developed MEVA (Meta-Evolutionary Action), a meta-analytic framework that integrates three complementary methods-EAML, Sigma-Diff, and GeneEMBED-to assess the functional burden of protein-coding variants using evolutionary data. MEVA was applied to exome data from 28,115 T2DM cases and 28,115 controls in the UK Biobank (UKB), identifying 101 genes (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;1e-5). MEVA outperformed its component methods, each of which substantially outperformed a conventional burden test (MAGMA), in recovering known T2DM genes (AUROC&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.925) and maintaining robustness in progressively smaller cohorts (AUROC&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.917). MEVA showed significant enrichment for T2DM-related loci (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;6.8e-10, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;2.0e-34), protein interactions (z&#x2009;=&#x2009;4.6, z&#x2009;=&#x2009;4.2), pathways (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;1.3e-6, z&#x2009;=&#x2009;2.0), phenotypes (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;1.3e-21, z&#x2009;=&#x2009;9.1), and literature mentions (z&#x2009;=&#x2009;7.2). Replication in 16,915 T2DM cases and 16,915 controls from All of Us (AoU) yielded 99 genes (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;1e-5), 23 of which were also recovered in the UKB cohort - far exceeding random chance. These included established genes (SLC30A8, WFS1, HNF1A) and less-characterized candidates (NRIP1, ADAM30, CALCOCO2, TUBB1, ZFP36L2, WDR90). Notably, NRIP1 loss-of-function variants were associated with increased T2DM risk in both the UKB (OR = 1.09, FDR&#x2009;=&#x2009;5.4e-4) and AoU (OR = 1.09, FDR&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.046), and TUBB1 and CALCOCO2 gain-of-function variants showed consistent risk effects (FDR&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Pathway analyses revealed convergence on endoplasmic reticulum chaperone complexes (FDR&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.02) and Hippo signaling (FDR&#x2009;=&#x2009;8.5e-4). Finally, all 177 candidate genes were functionally prioritized using ten orthogonal criteria to guide experimental follow-up. These results demonstrate that combining complementary, impact-aware association tests increases sensitivity, improves replication, and expands the catalog of genetic risk factors for T2DM.

Humans

[The Hoffmann reflex in the normal new-borns. Post-natal evolution of the conduction velocity of the alpha motor and the Ia sensitive fibres of the ulnar nerve (author's transl)].

The conduction velocities of the alpha motor fibres and the IA sensitive fibres of the ulnar nerve have been studied in a group of full term newborn babies and during the neonatal period. At birth the average conduction velocity of the alpha motor fibres is 25,7 m/sec (sigma = to 2,4 m/sec) that of the IA afferent fibres is 35 m/sec (sigma = to 3,2 m/sec). The post natal evolution of the conduction velocity as a function of age has been established for both types of fibres. The time required for nervous conduction between the olecranon process and the wrist diminishes clearly in the course of the first two years because of a discordance between the augmentations of the length and of the diameter of the nerve fibers. The evolution of this conduction time as a function of the age and of the length of the forearm, has been established for the period between birth and the age of six years. The Hoffmann reflex in the inferior limb is present in all infants at birth; its latency is 14,2 msec; the ratio R = to Hmax/Mmax x 100 = to 55,75 p. 100 is identical to that found in the adult. A Hoffmann reflex exists in 66 p. 100 of the population studied in the ulnar nerve. Its latency is 11,1 msec; R = to Hmax/Mmax is equal to 30 p. 100. This reflex disappears progressively during the development.

Age Factors

[Maximum velocity of load-free shortening Vmax, myocardial capacity and "contractility indices" in the hypertrophic myocardium].

Based upon literature and our own experimentation on Goldblatt rats, the significance of a decrease of the maximal shortening velocity of the myocardium at zero load (Vmax) in the hypertrophied, chronically pressure-loaded heart is discussed. In the hypertrophied myocardium with varying concentrations of the contractile structures, the developed tension under isometric conditions (sigma) and the maximum rate of tension development (d sigma/dtmax) can indicate significant deviations from the values of controls of the same age, without, however, making it possible to draw from these changes absolute conclusions about the elementary contractile process. With the enhanced concentration of contractile proteins, the mentioned isometric values, as well as the maximum instantaneous power (cross-sectionally related) of the myocardium can be increased during a stage of hypertrophy in which Vmax is already reduced. The decrease of Vmax shows a rough correlation with the reduction of the specific ATPase activity of actomyosin and is already observed at moderate degrees of hypertrophy (30 to 50%). The time course of the change of both parameters in experimental hypertrophy suggests a causal relation between the changes of those two parameters and the failure of the myocardium in later stages of a chronic overload. Under the condition of reliable estimation, Vmax allows for, also with changed actomyosin concentration, an assessment of the elementary contractile process. On the other hand, Vmax does not present a sufficient measure for the cross-sectionally related power capacity of the hypertrophied myocardium. The possible dissociation between the unloaded shortening velocity and the cross-sectionally related power capacity could, in certain cases, explain an unsatisfactory correlation between Vmax and the clinical state of the heart. The so-called empirical indices of contractility, which are not always clearly related to basic physiological characteristics of the myocardium, should be interpreted with particular reserve in relation to the hypertrophied cardiac muscle.

Actomyosin

Coding of incremental changes in skin temperature by single warm fibers in the monkey.

1. Experiments were designed to answer the question: how well does a single warm fiber innervating the glabrous skin of the monkey's hand resolve incremental changes in the intensity of near-rectangular warming pulses applied to the fiber's receptive field? 2. In these experiments the measure of the warm fiber's capacity to resolve incremental changes in the intensity of successive warming pulses was termed the discriminable stimulus increment (DSI). The DSI is defined as that incremental difference in the intensity of a pair of warming pulses that could be resolved correctly, with a probability of 0.75, by comparing the fiber's responses to these two stimuli. In the specified conditions of the experiment, DSI = 0.67 sigma delta tau/(dR/dI) where sigma delta tau is the standard deviation of the difference in responses of the fiber to pairs of stimuli, and dr/dI is the fiber's sensitivity to incremental stimulus change. (dr/dI) was experimentally determined as the mean rate of change of the fiber's responses to incremental changes in the intensity of the warming pulse. 3. The DSI, as defined above, assumes that the basis for differentiating the stimuli in each pair was that the larger response in the fiber was in each instance generated by the more intense stimulus. A more general form of the DSI was also developed and used to examine the effects on intensity resolution of different discrimination rules that the brain might use. 4. In the experimental analysis the response measure of each warm fiber was the cumulative impulse count over successively longer segments of the stimulus period. With short integration intervals the DSI was high (i.e., intensity resolution was poor), but typically the DSI fell to a plateau level within 2.0--2.5 s of the onset of the warming stimulus. 5. The DSI was measured on 23 warm fibers in Macaca nemestrina for warming pulses with intensities of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 degrees C, at T-base levels of 29, 34 (near normal temperature of palmar skin), and 39 degrees C. For most observations the intensity resolution possible from the responses of single warm fibers, measured over this wide variety of stimulus conditions, was less than is achieved by the human observer trained to differentiate comparable warming pulses applied to the skin of the thenar eminence.

Adaptation, Physiological