Relationships among New World species of Hibiscus section furcaria (Malvaceae)

Seventeen species ofHibiscus sectionFurcaria are native to the New World, of which 12 (one diploid, nine tetraploids, one octoploid and one decaploid) have been studied cytotaxonomically. New chromosome counts (2n=4x=72) are reported forH. cucurbitaceus, H. flagelliformis, H. kitaibelifolius, andH. laxiflorus. Seventeen types of tetraploid interspecific hybrids (seven new to this study) all showed complete meiotic chromosome homology (genome formulaGGPP) and normal floral development. That all hybrids were nevertheless almost completely sterile suggests a cytoplasmic component to the genetic differentiation of the species. The diversification of the tetraploid species in habits, habitats and geographical ranges is considerable, despite their similar genome constitutions. A key to 17 native and four introduced African species is presented.Hibiscus cerradoensis sp. nov. is described.     

The effect of centrifugal accelerations on the polarity of statocytes and on the graviperception of cress roots

The structural polarity of statocytes of Lepidium sativum L. is converted to a physical stratification by a root-tip-directed centrifugal acceleration. Sedimentation of amyloplasts and nucleus to the centrifugal (distal) cell pole and the lateral displacement of the distal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) complex occur after centrifugation for 20 min at an acceleration of 50 g. With higher doses (20 min, 100-2,000 g), smaller organelles become increasingly displaced. From the centrifugal to the centripetal cell pole, the following stratification is observed: 1) amyloplasts with mitochondria; 2) nucleus with mitochondria and a few dictyosomes, as well as laterally located ER; 3) dictyosomes with a few mitochondria; 4) vacuoles; and 5) lipid droplets. Within the first 7.5 min, after the roots have been returned to 1 g, the original arrangement of the amyloplasts sedimented on the underlying ER complex is reestablished in 66% of the statocytes. When roots previously centrifuged in an apical direction are exposed in a horizontal position to 1 g, the latent period of the graviresponse is increased by 7.5 min relative to the non-centrifuged controls. The kinetics of the response are identical to the controls. Roots centrifuged first in an apical direction and then for 2 h in a lateral direction (1,000 g) have statocytes with a physical stratification perpendicular to the root axis. A gravitropic curvature does not take place during the lateral centrifugation. These results support the hypothesis that the distal ER complex is necessary and sufficient for graviperception.     

Regulation of the genes for E. coli DNA gyrase: Homeostatic control of DNA supercoiling

DNA gyrase is the bacterial enzyme responsible for converting circular DNA to a negatively supercoiled form. We show that the synthesis of DNA gyrase is itself controlled by DNA supercoiling; synthesis is highest when the DNA template is relaxed. The rates of synthesis in vivo of both the A and B subunits of DNA gyase are increased up to 10-fold by treatments that block DNA gyrase activity and decrease the supercoiling of intracellular DNA. Similarly, efficient synthesis of both gyrase subunits in a cell-free S-30 extract depends on keeping the closed circular DNA template in a relaxed conformation. The results suggest that DNA supercoiling in E. coli is controlled by a homeostatic mechanism. Synthesis of the RecA protein and several other proteins is also increased by treatments that relax intracellular DNA.     

CYTOTAXONOMY OF TWELVE SPECIES OF HIBISCUS SECTION FURCARIA

Menzel, Margaret Y. (Florida State U., Tallahassee), and F. D. Wilson. Cytotaxonomy of twelve species of Hibiscus section Furcaria. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(3): 262–271. Illus. 1963.—Metaphase-I chromosome numbers and pairing in 88 accessions showed that H. cannabinus, H. costatus, and H. surattensis are diploid (n = 18); and H. acetosella, H. aculeatus, H. bifurcatus, H.furcellatus, H. meeusei, H. radiatus, H. rostellatus and H. sabdariffa are tetraploid (n = 36), with similar low multivalent frequencies, hence probably allotetraploids each combining 2 well-differentiated genomes. No intraspecific variation in ploidy was found. Fertile, vigorous F₁ hybrids between H.furcellatus and H. bifurcatus showed complete chromosome pairing (n = 36), confirming a close relationship between the parents. Two African strains of H. diversifolius were octoploid (n = 72) with low multivalent frequency and hence probably contain 4 differentiated genomes. At least 4, perhaps 5 or 6, differentiated genome groups are represented in tropical Africa, and at least 2 in the American tropics.     

HYBRIDS AND GENOME RELATIONS OF HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA,H. MEEUSEI,H. RADIATUS AND H. ACETOSELLA

Chromosome pairing was studied in the following hybrids: Hibiscus radiatus-meeusei (tetraploid F₁), H. sabdariffa-meeusei (tetraploid F₁ and spontaneous allooctoploid F₂), and hexaploid H. acetosella-(sabdariffa-meeusei). Genome constitutions of the species adduced from these data are symbolized as follows: H. radiatus and H. acetosella, AABB; H. meeusei, AAXX; H.sabdariffa, XXYY or AAYY.     

Binding of the J 1 Adhesion Molecules to Extracellular Matrix Constituents

The J1 glycoproteins can be obtained in multiple forms in the soluble fraction of developing and adult mouse brain tissue. They are recovered as two forms of apparent molecular weights of 160,000 and 180,000 (J1-160) from adult mouse brain and as forms of apparent molecular weights of 200,000 and 220,000 (J1-220) from developing brain. J1-160 and J1-220 share common epitopes but are considered as separate entities, with J1-220 being immunochemically closely related if not identical to tenascin. Based on the observation that J1 immunoreactivity appears on basement membrane and interstitial collagens after denervation of the neuromuscular junction in adult rodents, we became interested in investigating the binding properties of J1 glycoproteins to extracellular matrix constituents in vitro. Both J1-160 and J1-220 bound to collagens type I-VI and IX but not to laminin, fibronectin, bovine serum albumin, or gelatin under hypotonic buffer conditions. Under isotonic buffer conditions, J1-220 bound to all collagen types, whereas J1-160 bound only to collagen types V and VI with values that could be examined by Scatchard analysis. Binding of J1-220 to collagens displayed two binding constants (KD) between 1.5 and 4.4 X 10(-9) and 1.8 and 5.5 X 10(-8) M, respectively, under hypotonic buffer conditions and a single KD of 2.1-8.0 X 10(-8) M under isotonic buffer conditions. Binding of J1-160 to collagens had an apparent KD of 1.9-8.0 X 10(-9) M under hypotonic buffer conditions. Under isotonic buffer conditions, binding constants of J1-160 to collagen types V and VI were approximately 2 X 10(-8) M. Binding of J1-220 to collagen type I could be inhibited by J1-220, J1-160, and collagen type VI but not by fibronectin or gelatin. Conversely, binding of J1-160 was inhibited by J1-220, J1-160, and collagen type VI (in order of decreasing efficacy of competition). J1-160 and J1-220 were retained on a heparin-agarose column and eluted in a salt gradient at approximately 0.5 M NaCl. The formation of the J1-heparin complexes was inhibited 100-fold more efficiently by heparin than by chondroitin sulfate. These experiments show that J1 glycoproteins resemble in many respects the extracellular matrix constituents fibronectin, laminin, vitronectin, and von Willebrand factor.     

Single chloride channels in endosomal vesicle preparations from rat kidney cortex

Summary Endocytotic vesicles from rat kidney cortex, isolated by differential centrifugation and enriched on a Percoll gradient, contain both an electrogenic H⁺ translocation system and a conductive chloride pathway. Using the dehydration/rehydration method, we fused vesicles of enriched endosomal vesicle preparations and thereby made them accessible to the patch-clamp technique. In the fused vesicles, we observed Cl^– channels with a single-channel conductance of 73±2 pS in symmetrical 140mm KCl solution (n=25). The current-voltage relationship was linear in the range of –60 to +80 mV, but channel kinetic properties dependended on the clamp potential. At positive potentials, two sublevels of conductance were discernible and the mean open time of the channel was 10–15 msec. At negative voltages, only one substate could be resolved and the mean open time decreased to 2–6 msec. Clamp voltages more negative than –50 mV caused reversible channel inactivation. The channel was selective for anions over cations. Ion substitution experiments revealed an anion permeability sequence of Cl^–=Br^–=I^–>SO ₄ ^2– F^–. Gluconate, methanesulfonate and cyclamate were impermeable. The anion channel blockers 4,4-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid (DIDS, 1.0mm) and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid (NPPB, 0.1mm) totally inhibited channel activity. Comparisons with data obtained from radiolabeled Cl^–-flux measurements and studies on the H⁺ pump activity in endocytotic vesicle suspensions suggest that the channel described here is involved in maintenance of electroneutrality during ATP-driven H⁺ uptake into the endosomes.