fimA-folD genes linkage in Salmonella identifies a putative junctional site of chromosomal rearrangement in the enterobacterial genome

Abstract Analysis of the Salmonella chromosomal region located upstream of the fimA gene (coding for the major type 1 fimbrial subunit) showed a close linkage of this gene to the folD gene (coding for the enzyme 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase/5, 10-methenyltetrahydrofolate cyclohydrolase), indicating that the fim gene cluster of Salmonella , unlike that of Escherichia coli , has no regulatory genes located upstream of fimA and apparently terminates with this gene. The respective locations of the fim and folD genes in the E. coli and Salmonella genetic maps suggests that the fimA-folD intergenic region of Salmonella encompasses a junctional site of a genetic rearrangement that probably originated from the different chromosomal location of the fim genes in these species.     

Chromosomal aberrations induced in human cultured cells by liposome-encapsulated deoxyribonuclease I

Experiments of incorporation of a nucleolytic enzyme into human cells cultured in vitro have been carried out with the aim of inducing structural chromosome variations. Human heteroploid cells, either as asynchronous populations or enriched in mitoses, and PHA-stimulated lymphocytes were used as recipients. We found that all these cells when exposed to pancreatic DNAase I encapsulated in liposomes, either of multilamellar (MLV) or of small unilamellar (SUV) type, show an incidence of chromosome damage higher than that induced by the enzyme free in the incubation buffer. Our results indicate that liposomes are suitable vehicles for the transfer of an exogenous nuclease into human cultured cells. The enzyme remains functionally active and interacts with nuclear DNA, giving rise to chromosome lesions.     

Genetic variation and distances of five Italian native sheep breeds

Genetic distances among five of the most important Italian native sheep breeds were estimated by using gene frequencies of four blood group and seven blood protein loci and by three different computing methods. The values of the three distance matrices were highly correlated. Genetic distances were found within the range values reported in the literature for local breeds. Shorter distances fitted the historical evidence of migrations.     

Hydrolysis and protection from hydrolysis of enkephalins in human plasma

Seven groups of enkephalin-degrading enzymes and three groups of inhibitors active on these enzymes were separated from human plasma. The activity of the enzymes in hydrolyzing enkephalins and of the inhibitors in protecting enkephalins from proteolysis was measured. Results obtained with the endogenous inhibitors were compared to those relative to synthetic inhibitors. Data obtained indicate that all enkephalin-degrading enzymes found in plasma are significantly inhibited by the endogenous substances present in this tissue. The inhibition of the different classes of plasma enzymes by two of the three groups of endogenous substances is quite uniform, while one group of inhibitors appears specific to dipeptidylpeptidases. Results obtained are discussed in terms of the functional role of the inhibitory substances and of the possible pharmacological implication of their presence in human plasma.     

Voltammetric studies on the electrochemical behaviour of membrane-entrapped hemes

Summary The electrochemical behaviour of Fe(III)-protoporphyrin IX entrapped into a cellulose triacetate membrane has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The physical entrapment into a solid matrix does not modify the redox properties of the entrapped berries, which also act as efficient promoters in the electrochemistry of cytochromec. Such a system represents a promising example of a simple solid-state promoter, and stimulates further investigations in order to obtain more complex systems that may be of significance for basic and applied bioelectrochemistry.     

Antibiotic resistance in strains of Listeria spp. from meat products

The susceptibility or resistance to 26 antimicrobial agents was determined for 64 strains of Listeria monocytogenes and 102 strains of L. innocua isolated from Italian meat products. Some strains of L. monocytogenes were found to be resistant to tetracycline, erythromycin, co-trimoxazole and clindamycin. No plasmids were found in any L. monocytogenes strain. Five strains of L. innocua contained a 7.9 kbp plasmid, but these isolates were not resistant to any antibiotic in common and treatment with curing agents could not eliminate resistance to antibiotics. These results suggest that antibiotic resistance was not likely to be plasmid mediated in our strains.     

Characterization of amine oxidases from pisum, lens, Lathyrus and Cicer

Amine oxidases have been purified to homogeneity from Pisum sativum, Lens esculenta, Lathyrus sativus and Cicer arietinum. The enzymes have a M_r. of 150 000 and are composed of two identical subunits of 72 000. The amine oxidases showed an isoelectrophoretic heterogeneity.     

Monolayer black membranes from bipolar lipids of archaebacteria and their temperature-induced structural changes

The membrane of Caldariella acidophila, an extreme thermophilic archaebacterium, is characterized by unusual bipolar complex lipids. They consist of two nonequivalent polar heads, linked by a C40 alkylic component. The molecular organization of these lipids in the plasma membrane is still a matter of study. In this paper, we present current-voltage measurements on artificial bipolar lipid membranes, indicating that molecules are indeed organized as a covalently bound bilayer, in which each molecule is completely stretched and spans its entire thickness. Furthermore, conformational transitions of these artificial membranes (which could be formed only above 70 degrees C from a lipid/squalene dispersion) are analyzed in the 80 to 15 degrees C temperature range. Abrupt variations in capacitance and valinomycin-induced conductance seem to indicate the occurrence of at least two structural changes. Measurements are also extended to different solvent systems. Results are consistent with the picture of a monolayer bipolar lipid membrane in which few solvent molecules align themselves parallel to the lipophilic chains. The amount of solvent as well as the temperature at which conformational transitions occur, depend on the solvent system in which the lipid is dispersed.     

Trisomy 21 mosaicism in two subjects from two generations.

In the course of a chromosome fragility investigation on the cancer prone hereditary disorder xeroderma pigmentosum, a low proportion of cells with a 47,XY,+21 karyotype was found in lymphocyte cultures of a patient not showing any Down syndrome symptom. The presence of trisomy 21 mosaicism was demonstrated also in peripheral blood of the healthy father and confirmed by "chromosome painting" that allowed a rapid detection of chromosomes 21 on metaphase cells and interphase nuclei. The trisomic cell line was not detected in fibroblast cultures. The analysis of chromosome 21 heteromorphism indicated that in both subjects the mosaic could result from either a diploid or an aneuploid zygote. Since in the trisomic cell line of the father and the son the extra chromosome 21 seems to be the same, a predisposition toward mitotic errors (non-disjunction or anaphase lagging) may be postulated, leading to the recurrent gain or loss of a specific chromosome 21. In order to test the hypothesis of an abnormal mitotic behaviour of the chromosome 21, we investigated the centromere separation index and the DNA restriction pattern in Southern blots probed with satellite DNA sequences specific for chromosome 21 centromere. Both the approaches did not reveal any peculiar feature that may account for the genetically determined proneness to mitotic error observed in the family.     

Low-dimensional chaotic attractors in the rat brain

The existence of chaotic attractors for discrete time series, derived from the occurrences of spikes during electrophysiological recordings, was investigated. The time series included between 800 and 5200 points per analyzed record. The spike trains were recorded in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (n=13) and in the auditory thalamus (n=14). The experiments were performed on anesthetized rats during spontaneous activity and during auditory stimulation. According to standard methods of dynamical systems theory, an embedding space was constructed using delay coordinates. The embedding and correlation dimensions were computed by means of the correlation integrals. For 7 of 27 samples, a deterministic structure with a low embedding dimension (ranging between 2 and 6) and a correlation dimension between 0.14 and 3.3 could be determined. Evidence was found that the sensory stimulation may affect the chaotic behavior. Single units recorded simultaneously from the same electrode tip may display different chaotic dynamics, even with a similar time-locked response to the stimulus onset.