Beziehungen zwischen Transpiration und Wurzelwerk

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 14 Textabbildungen     

Deletion 1q42.3----qter in a girl with psychomotoric retardation and multiple dysmorphisms

A de novo deletion 1q42.3----qter in a 10-month-old girl with psychomotoric retardation and multiple dysmorphic signs is reported. The patient's symptoms are in accordance with a recently described distal 1q deletion syndrome.     

Tissue distribution of a plasmid DNA encoding Hsp65 gene is dependent on the dose administered through intramuscular delivery

In order to assess a new strategy of DNA vaccine for a more complete understanding of its action in immune response, it is important to determine the in vivo biodistribution fate and antigen expression. In previous studies, our group focused on the prophylactic and therapeutic use of a plasmid DNA encoding the Mycobacterium leprae 65-kDa heat shock protein (Hsp65) and achieved an efficient immune response induction as well as protection against virulent M. tuberculosis challenge. In the present study, we examined in vivo tissue distribution of naked DNA-Hsp65 vaccine, the Hsp65 message, genome integration and methylation status of plasmid DNA. The DNA-Hsp65 was detectable in several tissue types, indicating that DNA-Hsp65 disseminates widely throughout the body. The biodistribution was dose-dependent. In contrast, RT-PCR detected the Hsp65 message for at least 15 days in muscle or liver tissue from immunized mice. We also analyzed the methylation status and integration of the injected plasmid DNA into the host cellular genome. The bacterial methylation pattern persisted for at least 6 months, indicating that the plasmid DNA-Hsp65 does not replicate in mammalian tissue, and Southern blot analysis showed that plasmid DNA was not integrated. These results have important implications for the use of DNA-Hsp65 vaccine in a clinical setting and open new perspectives for DNA vaccines and new considerations about the inoculation site and delivery system.     

Analysis of binding properties and specificity through identification of the interface forming residues (IFR) for serine proteases <Emphasis Type="Italic">in silico</Emphasis> docked to different inhibitors

Background  

Enzymes belonging to the same super family of proteins in general operate on variety of substrates and are inhibited by wide selection of inhibitors. In this work our main objective was to expand the scope of studies that consider only the catalytic and binding pocket amino acids while analyzing enzyme specificity and instead, include a wider category which we have named the Interface Forming Residues (IFR). We were motivated to identify those amino acids with decreased accessibility to solvent after docking of different types of inhibitors to sub classes of serine proteases and then create a table (matrix) of all amino acid positions at the interface as well as their respective occupancies. Our goal is to establish a platform for analysis of the relationship between IFR characteristics and binding properties/specificity for bi-molecular complexes.     

Increased nuclear DNA content in raphide crystal idioblasts during development in Vanilla planifolia L. (Orchidaceae)

Longitudinal files of raphide crystal idioblasts form within the cortical meristematic region of Vanilla planifolia aerial roots. Cell and nuclear enlargement occur gradually throughout idioblast development and nuclear diameter approximates idioblast maturity. Cytophotometric determination of nuclear DNA (Feulgen) contents, measured by the two-wavelength method, revealed that all cortical parenchyma cells are diploid (2C = 6.3 pg), whereas all crystal idioblast nuclei are endopolyploid. Idioblast nuclear DNA content ranged from 4C to 32C (106 pg) and averaged 5.9 times that of parenchyma telophase nuclei. Frequency distribution of individual DNA content measurements depicts multiple genomes (increasing with geometric periodicity) to the 8C level, followed by less strict DNA replication within the crystal idioblast genome. The largest nuclei had the highest DNA content. Endomitotic stages of preprophasic heterochromatic dispersion (Z phase) and partial prophasic chromosomal coiling are observed with light and electron microscopy. DNA content values above the 8C level do not fit the geometrical order which is found if the total genome is replicated during each endo-cycle, a result indicating differential DNA replication. Chromocenter counts substantiate the occurrence of endomitosis to the 8C level and suggest heterochromatin underreplication in higher endopolyploid idioblast nuclei. Possible relationships between observed cytological events of idioblast development and nuclear condition are discussed.