Fructans in callus of Gomphrena macrocephala St.-Hil.

The production of fructose-containing carbohydrates by leaf and node callus of Gomphrena macrocephala St.-Hil. grown in three different auxin to cytokinin ratios is described. The amount of these carbohydrates in node callus rose with increasing -naphthalene acetic acid to 6-benzylaminopurine ratios, while in leaf callus it tended to decrease. An homologous series of fructans was detected only in callus grown in 1:2 auxin to cytokinin ratio. These fructans were of the inulin series in contrast to the phlein series present in the tuberous root of intact plants. Fructose polymers were also detected in culture medium and these made up approximately 98% of the total fructopolysaccharides produced. The mean molecular weight of these polymers (40 kDa) was 3 times greater than that of fructan from intact plants. The fructo-polysaccharide pool could be a reflection of different physiological processes taking place in the callus rather than a direct effect of growth regulator treatment.Abbreviations BA-6 benzylaminopurine - DP degree of polymerization - high-MW high molecular weight - HPAEC/PAD high performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection - low-MW low molecular weight - MS Murashige and Skoog - NAA -naphthalene acetic acid - TFA trifluoroacetic acid - TLC thin layer chromatography     

Cell/substratum adhesions in RSV-transformed rat fibroblasts

Cell/substratum adhesions have been studied in rat fibroblasts transformed by a ts-mutant of Rous sarcoma virus (LA-29) using light and electron microscopy and a variety of preparative methods including immunolabeling. Cells were studied both during the process of transformation, i.e., shifting from 39 degrees to 35 degrees C, and in a fully transformed state (passaged at 35 degrees C continuously). The typical focal contacts observed at 39 degrees C (restrictive temperature) were replaced by "point-contacts" (100-200 per cell) which were classified by immunolabeling as podosome-like adhesions containing actin, beta 1 integrin subunit, vinculin, talin, alpha-actinin, and small membrane patches containing clathrin and integrin. Tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins and pp60src were found in association with groups of small particles on the protoplasmic surface of ventral membranes by gold immunolabeling. Both types of point-contacts were visualized by electron microscopy of ultrathin sections and shadowed replicas and characterized by gold immunolabeling wherever possible. The overall composition of podosome-like adhesions is similar to focal contacts but there are differences in the three-dimensional organization of the microfilaments and in the topography of vinculin which is associated more with actin filaments than with the plasma membrane. The presence of talin and extracellular matrix receptor in podosomes together with the adhesive properties of these actin-containing structures argues against the hypothesis that pp60src affects the interaction of actin with the plasma membrane by phosphorylating the fibronectin receptor and/or other associated proteins.     

Interactions between plants: the role of mycorrhizae

Summary We present and discuss evidence, mostly from our own research, on some possible roles of mycorrhizae in interactions between plants. Experiments investigating whether seedlings become more rapidly infected with mycorrhiza if they are near large, already infected plants have shown that contact between the seedling's roots and established mycelium sometimes speeds up infection but on other occasions it does not. The reason for the discrepancies is not clear. Mycorrhiza can substantially alter the balance between competing plant species in a way that would not be predicted from their response when growing separately. An experiment involving large and small plants of the same species growing together showed little effect of mycorrhiza on the balance between plants of different sizes. The rate of transfer of ³²P between plants of Lolium perenne or Plantago lanceolata was so slow, even when they were mycorrhizal, that phosphorus transfer between living plants seems unlikely to be of major ecological importance. However, nitrogen was found to be transferred much more freely than phosphorus between P. lanceolata plants. Situations are discussed in which there could be a source-sink relationship between plants causing net flow of carbon or mineral nutrients from one to the other. If nutrients pass from dying roots to living plants via mycorrhizal links, this could result in preferential nutrient cycling between species that share the same type of mycorrhiza. Some evidence is presented that this does happen.     

The effect of visibility on territory size and shape

Although several authors have suggested that visibility affectsterritorial behavior, there have been few systematic studiesof this phenomenon. Here we review five ways that visibilitymight influence the use and defense of space in territorialanimals, and then we discuss a laboratory study on the effectof visibility on territory size and shape. Juvenile lizardswere allowed to establish territories in two habitats identicalexcept for a visual obstacle that bisected one of the two habitats.Lizards in the habitat with good visibility defended compactterritories of a size comparable to those in the field. In contrast,those in the low-visibility situation avoided territories thatincluded the visibility barrier and instead chose either verysmall or highly elongated territories. Territories with goodvisibility probably cost less to defend than those with poorvisibility; territory owners may also prefer high-visibilityterritories because they reduce predation risk or increase foragingsuccess.     

Varying functions of specific major histocompatibility class II transactivator promoter III and IV elements in melanoma cell lines.

Melanoma cells commonly express MHC class II molecules constitutively. This is a rare, or possibly unique, phenotype for a nonprofessional antigen-presenting cell, where MHC class II expression ordinarily occurs only after IFN-gamma treatment. Despite the fact that constitutive expression of MHC class II on melanoma cells has been observed for decades and that the regulation of the MHC class II genes is well understood for many different cell types, there is no data regarding the basis for constitutive MHC class II expression in melanoma cells. Here we report that MHC class II expression in melanoma cells can be traced to constitutive expression of the class II transactivator protein (CIITA), which mediates both IFN-gamma-inducible and -constitutive MHC class II expression in all other cell types. In addition, we determined that constitutive CIITA expression is the result of the activation of both the B cell-specific CIITA promoter III and the IFN-gamma-inducible CIITA promoter IV, the latter of which previously has never been known to function as a constitutive promoter in any cell type. The recently described B cell-related ARE-1 activity is important for promoter III activation in the melanoma cells. Constitutive promoter IV activation involves the IFN regulatory factor element (IRF-E), which binds members of the IRF family of proteins, although the major, IFN-gamma inducible member of this family, IRF-1, is not constitutively expressed in these cells. In cells with constitutively active promoter IV, the promoter IV IRF-E is most likely activated by IRF-2. The relevance of these results to the pathway of melanoma development is discussed.     

The ultrastructure and innervation of muscles controlling chromatophore expansion in the squid,Loligo vulgaris

Squid chromatophores are organs of colour change, consisting of a pigment sac opened by contraction of 10–24 radial muscle fibres. The ultrastructure and innervation of these muscle fibres were examined by electron microscopy and diagramatic reconstructions made on the basis of serial ultra-thin sections. At the proximal end of the fibre, nearest the pigment sac a cortical myofilament zone surrounds 2 cores containing mitochrondria; further along the fibre these merge to form one central core. The myofilament zone forms a groove containing a nerve bundle consisting of 2 to 4 axons per muscle fibre. The axons are surrounded by glial cell processes, and either originate from a neighbouring fibre, or join the fibre at some point along its length. Axons twist around each other, forming a series of synapses with the muscle fibre. As many as 6–37 synapses exist along the length of each muscle fibre; the mean synapse interval is 9.05 m, but the largest may be 123 m. At the distal end of the muscles, the nerve is located towards the middle of the fibre, which it penetrates as the muscle splits up. Electron-lucent vesicles are present in all synaptic regions, but electron-dense vesicles are only found towards the distal end of the fibre. There is thus a possibility that more than one neurotransmitter is present in the nerves innervating chromatophores. Electron-lucent and dense-cored vesicles are not colocalised.This work was carried out during the tenure of a BBSRC CASE studentship     

Socio-maternal behaviors in response to an infant birth inColobus guereza

A number of social behaviors were observed in a captive troop ofColobus guereza on a regular basis for eight months. These included clasping and related behaviors, forward mounts, rear mounts, presents, troop positions during rest periods, infant transfers and attempted transfers, play, and grooming. During the observation period two significant events occurred: a re-introduction of a mother and her juvenile female, and the birth of an infant to a resident female. These events caused an increase in certain adult behaviors indicating a relationship of them with similar behaviors done between mothers and infants. This similarity seemed to indicate the co-evolution of “maternal” behaviors for use in adult social interactions and the phenomenon of infant transfer or sharing. The maternal and socio-maternal behaviors and their infantile precursors are then discussed in relation to the ontogeny of behavioral forms, the ontogeny of motivation in such behaviors, and the idea of infantile regression during development and in adult life.     

The preparation of cervical scrape material for automated cytology using gallocyanin chrome-alum stain.

A method is described for preparing cervical scrape specimens for automated analysis on the Cerviscan prescreening system. In order to reduce the cellular clumping found in cervical scrape material, cells are collected in suspension, syringed to disaggregate the cell clumps, and then pipetted onto a glass to give a monolayer of cells. The cells are then stained with gallocyanin chrome-alum to give the required quantitation of nucleic acid content, using a rapid staining procedure. Experimental results are given which show that specimens prepared by this method are more suitable for automated analysis than the conventional Papanicolaou stained preparation.     

Alternative models of conspecific attraction in flies and crabs

Animals are often attracted to one another when selecting habitats,but little is known about the rules governing conspecific attraction.We use Akaike Information Criterion to evaluate alternativemodels of the effects of conspecifics on individual choice inthe context of habitat selection. One set of models was testedusing data collected on virgin female flies, Drosophila melanogaster,selecting habitats in the laboratory; a second set of modelswas tested using data collected on crabs, Ocypode rotundata,selecting foraging patches in the field. Patterns of space usein the flies were most consistent with models indicating thatindividuals were attracted to other females that selected trapsduring the same hour, as well as to cues left by females thathad entered traps during the previous hour. Results for thecrabs were most consistent with a model which assumes that individualspreferred to join the patch with the most crabs but that theirability to assess the number of crabs in alternative patcheswas constrained by basic psychophysical principles (Weber'slaw). These results provide support for hypotheses about thefunctional significance of conspecific attraction in the fliesand the crabs and illustrate the richness of information aboutconspecific attraction that can be obtained when the same dataset is confronted with alternative models of the ways that animalsrespond to one another when selecting habitats.