The effects of (2RS, 3RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4, 4-dimethyl-2-(1H-1,2,4 triazol-1-yl) pentan-3-ol (Paclobutrazol:PP333) and root pruning on the growth,water use and response to drought of Colt Cherry rootstocks

The effect of (2RS, 3RS)-1-(4-Chlorophenyl)-4, 4-dimethyl-2-(1H-1,2,4 triazol-1-yl) pentan-3-ol (PP333) on the growth and transpiration of normal and root pruned colt rootstocks was measured. PP333 reduced plant height, stem diameter increment, leaf number, area and weight and stem weight. Root pruning reduced root, leaf and stem weight, and plant height in control plants. PP333 reduced both total water use and transpiration per unit leaf area and increased stomatal resistance. In control plants root pruning also reduced total water use and increased stomatal resistance. 15 days after the beginning of the experiment half the plants in all treatments were allowed to dry out. The effects of drought, i.e. reduced transpiration, growth and leaf water potentials, were smaller in PP333 treated than in control plants.     

Evidence that hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling in rats is polyamine dependent

This study tested the hypothesis that the polyamines, a family of low-molecular-weight organic cations with documented regulatory roles in cell growth and differentiation, are mediators of chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling. Relative to room air controls, chronically hypoxic animals (inspired O2 fraction = 0.1; 21 days) exhibited higher pulmonary arterial pressures (measured in room air), thicker medial layers in pulmonary arteries of 50-100 microns diam, increased hematocrits, and right ventricular hypertrophy. In addition, lung contents of the polyamines, putrescine, spermidine, and spermine were greater in hypoxic animals than in controls. alpha-Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an inhibitor of polyamine synthesis, attenuated the hypoxia-induced elevations in lung putrescine and spermidine content and blunted the increases in pulmonary arterial pressure and medial thickness. Neither the increased hematocrit nor right ventricular hypertrophy associated with chronic hypoxia were abrogated by DFMO. In addition, DFMO failed to influence vasoconstrictor responses provoked by acute hypoxic ventilation in isolated, buffer-perfused rat lungs. These observations suggest that depression of polyamine biosynthesis with DFMO blunts the sustained increase in pulmonary arterial pressure by attenuating hypoxia-induced medial thickening.     

Permanent preservation of whole alizarin red S skeletons by clearing and embedding in polyester resins

A one-step clearing and embedding procedure for alizarin red S stained skeletons is described. Embryos are fixed in formalin, skinned and eviscerated. After staining in a 10 mg/liter solution of alizarin red S in 5% aqueous KOH, specimens are dehydrated in a graded series of acetone-polyester monomer solutions. Finally, the specimens are embedded at room temperature in the polyester resin. A special reusable metallic mold is described for embedment of large fetuses. Specimens previously cleared in glycerol can be processed with this method.     

The purification and characterization of glucokinase from the thermophile Bacillus stearothermophilus.

Homogeneous glucokinase (EC 2.7.1.2) from the thermophile Bacillus stearothermophilus was isolated on the large scale by using four major steps: precipitation of extraneous material at pH 5.5, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, pseudo-affinity chromatography on Procion Brown H-3R-Sepharose 4B and gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA 34. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of about 330 units/mg of protein and was shown to exist as a dimer of subunit Mr 33,000. Kinetic parameters for the enzyme were determined with a variety of substrates. The glucokinase was highly specific for alpha-D-glucose, and the only other sugar substrate utilized was N-acetyl-alpha-D-glucosamine. The enzyme shows Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with a Km value of 150 microM for alpha-D-glucose. The glucokinase was maximally active at pH 9.0.     

Monoclonal antibody-defined antigens of human prostate cancer cell line PC3

Summary Over 600 hybridomas were derived from the immunization of mice with live cells and aqueous extracts of the human prostatic carcinoma cell line PC3. A total of 26 hybridomas with restricted reactivities were selected, subcloned and antibodies tested on a variety of tumor and normal cells. Seven monoclonal antibodies showed reactivity for prostate cancer and other tumor cell lines, including breast carcinomas. Three of the antibodies obtained after immunization with live cells reacted with live cells only and three of the four antibodies obtained after immunization with cell extract reacted with cell extracts and spent culture media. The fourth antibody in the latter group was reactive only in the immunoperoxidase staining assay. Antibody PrS5 recognized a 90,000 molecular weight molecule from ¹²⁵I-surface-labeled cells in immunoprecipitation analysis. Antibodies PrE3 and PrD8 detected a nonacid glycolipid pentasaccharide from PC3 cells and meconium, and a glycoprotein of 115,000 molecular weight from ¹²⁵I-surface-labeled red blood cells. The similar patterns of reactivity in RIAs and antigen analysis suggest that antibodies PrE3 and PrD8 recognize the same molecule. The results emphasize the usefulness of immunohistochemistry in the testing of monoclonal antibodies and the impact of the form in which the antigen is presented on the resultant antibody specificity     

Chronic cigarette smoke exposure adversely alters 14C-arachidonic acid metabolism in rat lungs, aortas and platelets

Male rats were exposed to freshly generated cigarette smoke once daily, 5 times a week for 10 weeks. Inhalation of smoke was verified by elevated carboxyhemoglobin in blood sampled immediately after smoke exposure and by increased lung aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity 24 hours after the last smoke exposure. Aortic rings isolated from smoke-exposed rats synthesized less prostacyclin (PGI2) from 14C-arachidonic acid than rings from sham rats. Platelets from smoke-exposed rats synthesized more thromboxane (TXA2) from 14C-arachidonic acid than platelets from room controls but not those from sham rats. Lung microsomes from smoke-exposed rats synthesized more TXA2 and had a lower PGI2/TXA2 ratio than lung microsomes from room controls and shams. It is concluded that chronic cigarette smoke exposure alters arachidonic acid metabolism in aortas, platelets and lungs in a manner resulting in decreased PGI2 and increased TXA2, thereby creating a condition favoring platelet aggregation and a variety of cardiovascular diseases.     

Coding assignment and nucleotide sequence of simian rotavirus SA11 gene segment 10: location of glycosylation sites suggests that the signal peptide is not cleaved.

A cloned DNA copy of simian rotavirus SA11 genomic segment 10 was used to confirm the assignment of the nonstructural glycoprotein NCVP5 to this gene. Determination of the nucleotide sequence for gene 10 indicated that NCVP5 is 175 amino acids in length and has an N-terminal hydrophobic region with the characteristics of a signal sequence for membrane translocation. Unexpectedly, this region was also the location for the only two potential glycosylation sites within the molecule, asparagine residues 8 and 18. The carbohydrates carried by NCVP5 were of the high-mannose type, Man9GlcNAc and Man8GlcNAc, with the mannose 9 species predominating; no complex oligosaccharides were present. If these asparagine residues are the sites for carbohydrate attachment, this implies that cleavage of the putative signal peptide does not occur during the maturation of this nonstructural glycoprotein.     

The growth,activity and distribution of the fruit tree root system

Summary The paper reviews information, much of it obtained from studies using the East Malling root observation laboratories, on the growth and development of the fruit tree root system. The production of new white root varies from year-to-year, generally being highest in the early years. As trees age, woody roots constitute an increasing fraction of total root length although the contribution made by new root growth to the total root length of established trees is also affected by soil management, being higher for trees under grass than under herbicide. Soil management also affects the balance of short (lateral) to long (extension) roots; under grass there are more lateral roots.Calculation of the rate of water uptake per unit root length needed at various times in the year to meet transpirational demand, suggests that woody roots, which recent experimental work has shown to be capable of absorbing water, must be responsible for much of total water supply.Measurements of VA mycorrhizal infection in field-grown trees indicated, for part of the season, higher per cent infection in trees grown under irrigated grass than under herbicide management. It is suggested that this, which is associated with raised leaf phosphorus levels, may be due at least partly to higher numbers of lateral roots, the root type which becomes infected. The growth and functioning of the root system under field conditions depend upon the production and integration of a range of root types.