The FLP recombinase of the 2 micron circle DNA of yeast: interaction with its target sequences

We have studied the interaction of purified FLP protein with restriction fragments from the substrate 2mu circle DNA of yeast. We find that FLP protects about 50 bp of DNA from nonspecific nuclease digestion. The protected site consists of two 13 bp inverted repeat sequences separated by an 8 bp spacer region. A third 13 bp element is also protected by binding of the FLP protein. We demonstrate that FLP introduces single- and double-strand breaks into the substrate DNA. This site-specific cleavage occurs at the margins of the spacer region, generating 8 bp 5' protruding ends with 5'-OH and 3'-protein-bound termini. Binding to mutant sites and half-sites demonstrates that the third symmetry element is not important for binding and cleavage by the FLP protein. The integrity of the core region is important for the cleavage activity of FLP.     

Specific glucagon-related peptides isolated from anglerfish islets are metabolic cleavage products of (pre)proglucagon-II

Sequence analyses of cDNAs prepared from anglerfish islet mRNA have demonstrated the presence of mRNAs coding for two different preproglucagons, aPPG-I and aPPG-II. Each of these precursors was predicted to contain 29 residue and 34 residue glucagon-related peptides as potential cleavage products. Recently, several glucagon-related peptides found in extracts of anglerfish islets have been isolated and characterized. In order to determine whether any of these peptides could be identified as metabolic cleavage products in anglerfish islets, differentially radiolabeled Mr 2,500-8,000 peptides from islet extracts were subjected to reverse phase HPLC under varying conditions. The potential cleavage products aPPG-II[52-80] and aPPG-II[89-122] could be readily identified among the extract peptides. Both peptides became labeled appropriately (as predicted from their sequences) with 13 different amino acids and demonstrated glucagon-like immunoreactivity in a radioimmunoassay. Conversely, a third peptide (aPPG-II[89-119]) could be found among the labeled products in small amounts only. These results demonstrate that glucagon-II[52-80] and aGLP-II[89-112] are primary cleavage products of aPPG-II and suggest that aGLP-IIc[89-119] may be a peptide generated more slowly by post-translational modification of aGLP-II.     

Membrane properties of isolated winter wheat cells in relation to icing stress

Isolated cell preparations of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were utilized to examine the effect of ice encasement at −1°C and exposure to ethanol on metabolic and biochemical properties of cells. Following icing and ethanol treatments, passive efflux of amino acids increased gradually with duration of exposure to the stress, and closely paralleled the decline in viability of cells. In contrast, uptake of ⁸⁶Rb declined much more rapidly than viability following exposure to icing or ethanol. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy studies revealed no significant change in molecular ordering within the cell membranes following icing or exposure to ethanol, whereas a small but significant increase in order was detected in the noniced controls. O₂ consumption by isolated cells declined only gradually due to icing and ethanol treatments, and remained relatively high even when cell viability was severely reduced. These results indicate that the plasma membrane is a primary site of injury during ice encasement and that damage to the ion transport system is the earliest manifestation of this injury.     

Structure and function in the excretory systems of some terrestrial prosobranch snails (Cyclophoridae)

The excretory systems of terrestrial prosobranch snails of the family Cyclophoridae, collected in Jamaica, Costa Rica and South Africa, have been examined physiologically and as regards their gross and fine structure. The process of urine formation commences in the heart, where fluid is filtered across the wall of the ventricle. Filtration through the auricular wall is believed to be negligible. The kidney, which contains three types of cell, modifies the composition of the filtrate. One type of resorptive cell, characterized by basal infoldings associated with mitochondria, takes up salts. Another type, with basal subcellular spaces, may be responsible for taking up water. The third type of cell is secretory, producing concretions of uric acid and phospholipid which are liberated into the kidney lumen when the cell degenerates.
The rate and mechanism of urine production have been investigated using injections of inulin. The filtration rate at 25°C is 0.5 μl/g/min, and in 100% R.H. the average rate of urine production is 0–39 μl/g/min.
An accessory excretory organ has been developed from the hypobranchial gland of aquatic forms. It is composed of groups of subepithelial tubular glands opening into the mantle cavity by one or a series of pores, and secreting purines, phospholipids and mucus. There is evidence that this organ becomes progressively more complex in forms occupying drier habitats.
The systems of excretion and osmoregulation in the Cyclophoridae are considered to be very similar to those in their aquatic relatives, the Viviparidae and Ampullariidae. Certainly the cyclophorids are not as well adapted to a terrestrial life as are the Pulmonata, and in many respects they may be considered "aquatic" snails living on land.     

Navy (haricot)-bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) lectin. Isolation and characterization of two components from a toxic agglutinating extract

Two protein components were isolated in a highly purified state from a toxic fraction from the navy (haricot) bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). One, a lectin, strongly agglutinated horse erythrocytes and leucocytes, agglutination being readily observable with both types of cell at a lectin concentration of 4mug/ml. The other component (component 1), although possessing some similarity in composition, was thought to be non-agglutinating or, at most, only very weakly so. Component 1 had a mol.wt. of about 143000 and a subunit mol.wt. of about 37000, suggesting a tetrameric structure probably with identical subunits. Alanine was the only N-terminal amino acid identified and the molecule was notable in being devoid of tryptophan and cysteine, low in methionine and high in leucine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid. The lectin was somewhat smaller (mol.wt. about 114000) and apparently also composed of four identical subunits of mol.wt. about 30000. Dansylation showed that arginine occupied the N-terminus of the polypeptide chain. Aspartic acid, serine, threonine and leucine were the predominant amino acids of the lectin, and the sulphur-containing amino acids were entirely absent. Both constituents were glycoproteins and the compositions of the carbohydrate portions (4.9% for component 1 and 8.1% for the lectin) were generally similar, consisting of mannose and glucosamine with smaller amounts of glucose and traces of xylose and arabinose.