NUTRITION OF TRIDACHIA CRISPATA (MORCH) (SACOGLOSSA)

Autotrophic nutrition plays an important role in adult Tridachiacrispata in the western Atlantic Ocean and results from an endosymbioticassociation between the sacoglossan and the kleptoplastids ofChlorophyta. A series of living specimens 7-80 mm in length was studied inthe laboratory. After a body length of 10 mm has been attained,the parapodial lobes of the two sides meet and fuse. Microscopicexamination of faecal strings of specimens undergoing this transitionrevealed that algal remains were produced only by juvenilesless than 13 mm long. Larger specimens defaecated only rarelyand the diminutive faecal strings contained no recognizablealgal debris. This transition probably parallels the physiologicaltransition between juvenile heterotrophic nutrition and adultautotrophic nutrition. Microscopic examination of the radulae of transitional specimensshowed no diminution of the size, number or morphology of theteeth. This indicates that in an emergency heterotrophic nutritionmay be resumed. Growth rates of Tridachia were measured in the laboratory, withand without light and the provision of algal foods. Unfed animalslost weight rather rapidly in captivity, whereas those fed uponsuitable algae (Halimeda discoidea, Caulerpa verticillata, C.racemosa and Chaetomorpha sp) did not.Caulerpa sertularioideswas suitable for food for a limited time, but proved toxic afterabout a week. Of the other species tested, Caulerpa verticillatawas the least suitable, while Halimeda, Chaetomorpha and Caulerparacemosa were the best. Ironically, C. verticillata was theonly one of the algal species tested which is known to be takenin the natural diet in Floridean waters. These experiments confirmedthat heterotrophic feeding will be resumed in Tridachia if theculture-conditions do not favour autotrophic nutrition.     

Autocatalytic processing of the streptococcal cysteine protease zymogen: processing mechanism and characterization of the autoproteolytic cleavage sites.

The autocatalytic processing of the streptococcal cysteine protease zymogen (proSCP) to active streptococcal cysteine protease (SCP) was investigated in vitro using purified protein from Streptococcus pyogenes strain B220. It was found that the autocatalytic maturation of the zymogen proceeds through the sequential appearance of at least six intermediates, five of which were characterized through a combination of N-terminal sequencing and MS. Intermediates were identified as resulting from cleavages after Lys26, Asn41, Lys101, Ala112, and Lys118. Time-course studies of the proSCP processing gave a sigmoidal activity profile and indicated that proSCP catalyses its own transformation, mainly via an intermolecular processing mechanism. A similar sequential appearance of intermediates was observed when inactive Cys192Ser proSCP was treated with native, enzymatically active SCP, thus demonstrating that the maturation can exclusively proceed by a bimolecular mechanism. It was shown that proSCP, but not mature SCP, immobilized on a Sepharose resin is capable of liberating itself from the column, indicating that the zymogen is also capable of intramolecular processing. In order to test whether the amino acid sequences at the processing sites could be used for developing new, specific substrates, 3-amino benzoic acid octapeptide derivatives based on all five characterized amino acid sequences from the autoprocessing cleavage sites were synthesized and tested for activity. The 3-amino benzoic acid derivatives have kcat/KM values ranging from 1200 to 7700.M-1.s-1, making them very good endopeptidase substrates for SCP.     

Partial and total iodide organification defect in different sibships in a kindred.

Identical twins with goiter but without intellectual retardation and with slightly delayed bone age were found to have defective iodide organification as demonstrated by incomplete perchlorate discharge tests. They are grandnieces of a normal member of a sibship which included four children with severe retardation and complete thyroid iodide organification defect. The parents and grandparents are not consanguine. Possible explanations are considered for the problem of why the disorder is manifest completely in one sibship and only partially in the other.     

Culture conflict and coping in a group of aboriginal adolescents

Critical incidents adapted to presentation in picture form were used to investigate responses of Aboriginal adolescents from Elcho Island mission in the Northern Territory of Australia in conflict situations arising from culture contact. These Aboriginal youths are part of a complex environment where choice behaviour is mediated by specific and broader situational characteristics of the social environment. Results showed a relationship between conflict responses and orientation to traditional values and skills, but no apparent relationship between conflict responses and modern value orientation or psychopathology variables. Adolescents who attended high school in Darwin were seen as more mission and academically oriented than locally educated youth. Contrary to expected patterns, males appeared to be less involved in both mission and traditional activities and more restricted by traditional social expectations than were females.