Sequence specificity in spermine-induced structural changes in CG-oligomers

The role of spermine in inducing A-DNA conformation in deoxyoligonucleotides has been studied using CCGG and GGCC as model sequences. It has been found that while CCGG adopts an alternating B-DNA conformation in low salt solution at low temperature, addition of spermine to this medium induces a B --greater than A transition. In contrast, the A-DNA-like structure of GGCC in low salt solution at low temperature does not change under the influence of spermine. This suggests a sequence-dependent behaviour of spermine. Further these results suggest that the A-DNA conformation observed in the crystals of d(iCCGG) and d(GGCC)2 might have been due to the presence of spermine in the crystallization cocktail.     

Homologous 3''-terminal regions of mRNAs for surface antigens of different antigenic variants of Trypanosoma brucei.

Sequences corresponding to the complete 3'-terminal regions of the messenger RNAs for three different Variant Surface Glycoproteins of Trypanosoma brucei were determined on complementary DNA inserts cloned in recombinant plasmids. The three sequences show 80-130 base pair long segments of strong (70-80%) homology at the 3' ends, whereas ther regions upstream from the last 130-140 base pairs contain no significant homology. The signal AAUAAA, present near the 3' ends of almost all known polyadenylated mRNAs of eukaryotes, does not occur in the 3'-terminal sequences of these three variants.     

Minor xanthones of Garcinia mangostana

Two new trioxygenated xanthones with a 3,3-dimethyl allyl side chain have been isolated from the fruit hulls of Garcinia mangostana. The structures were established from spectral and chemical data.     

Pedigree analysis of vitiligo: Further support for multilocus involvement

Vitiligo is a dermatological disorder in man that shows familial aggregation. We performed segregation analysis on data pertaining to vitiligo on members of 147 pedigrees each ascertained through a single proband, and tested various non-genetic, and one-locus and two-locus genetic models. Non-genetic and one-locus genetic models were rejected in favour of a two-locus model postulating epistatic interaction of recessive alleles in the aetiology of vitiligo. The present results show that vitiligo is not a single-locus disorder and substantiate our earlier inference, drawn on the basis of nuclear-family data, of multilocus involvement in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.     

Alstolenine, 19,20-dihydropolyneuridine and other minor alkaloids of the leaves of Alstonia venenata

Structures of alstolenine and 19,20-dihydropolyneuridine, two new indole alkaloids of the leaves of Alstonia venenata have been established. In add     

Statistical analysis of family data on complex disorders in man

A genetic model is discussed for recessively inherited disorders that do not follow a single-locus Mendelian pattern of inheritance. Further complexity arising from variable age of onset is also discussed. Methods of statistical analysis of family data using the likelihood principle are described for such complex disorders. The methods are exemplified using data on families of prelingual deafness and vitiligo.     

Adding an appropriate amino acid during crosslinking results in more stable crosslinked enzyme aggregates

Carrier free immobilization, especially crosslinked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs), has become an important design for biocatalysis in several areas. Adding amino acids during formation of CLEAs was found to give biocatalysts more stable at 55 °C and in the presence of 60% acetonitrile. The half-lives of CLEAs prepared with and without Arg addition were 21 and 15 h (subtilisin) and 4 and 1.6 h (α-chymotrypsin) at 55 °C, respectively. The corresponding half-lives during acetonitrile presence were 4.1 and 3.0 h (subtilisin) and 39 and 22 min (α-chymotrypsin), respectively. CLEAs made with Arg had higher percentages of alpha helix. CLEAs made by adding Lys, Ala, or Asp also were more stable. In the case of Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (TLL), CLEA with Ala was even more stable than CLEA with Arg. The addition of a suitable amino acid, thus, enhances CLEA stabilities. The results are discussed in the light of earlier results on chemical modification of proteins and the observation that the Arg/Lys ratio is invariably high in the case of enzymes from thermophiles.