Biogenesis of mitochondria

Summary The action of ethidium bromide and berenil on the mitochondrial genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been compared in three types of study: (i) early kinetics (up to 4 h) of petite induction by the drugs in the presence or absence of sodium dodecyl sulphate; (ii) genetic consequences of long-term (8 cell generations) exposure to the drugs; (iii) inhibition of mitochondrial DNA replication, both in whole cells and in isolated mitochondria.The results have been interpreted as follows. Firstly, the early events in petite induction differ markedly for the two drugs, as indicated by differences in the short-term kinetics. After some stage a common pathway is apparently followed because the composition of the population of petite cells induced after long-term exposure are very similar for both ethidium bromide and berenil. Secondly, both drugs probably act at the same site to inhibit mitochondrial DNA replication, in view of the fact that a petite strain known to be resistant to ethidium bromide inhibition of mitochondrial DNA replication was found to have simultaneously acquired resistance to berenil. From consideration of the drug concentrations needed to inhibit mitochondrial DNA replication in vivo and in vitro it is suggested that in vivo permeability barriers impede the access of ethidium bromide to the site of inhibition of mitochondrial DNA replication, whilst access of berenil to this site is facilitated. The site at which the drugs act to inhibit mitochondrial DNA replication may be different from the site(s) involved in early petite induction. Binding of the drugs at the latter site(s) is considered to initiate a series of events leading to the fragmentation of yeast mitochondrial DNA and petite induction.     

SEEDS AND EMBRYOS OF ARAUCARIA MIRABILIS

Seeds and embryos contained within the silicified ovuliferous cone Araucaria mirabilis from the Cerro Cuadrado petrified forest are described. One wingless seed, 0.8–1.3 cm in length and 0.2–0.6 cm in width, is embedded in each ovuliferous scale. Seeds show a three-layered integument and a prominent wavy nucellus which is attached basally to the endotesta. The megagametophyte contains cellular inclusions that may represent starch grains. Ovule vascularization is complex and appears most similar to that of Araucaria bidwillii. Embryos 2 mm long and 0.25 mm wide appear to be in a telo-stage period of development. Shoot apex, cotyledons, root meristem, and calyptroperiblem are present in the embryos in which vascular tissues and secretory elements were beginning to differentiate at the time of fossilization. Embryo ontogeny is considered in light of stages encountered in extant gynmosperm taxa. The absence of the microgametophyte phase in the Cerro Cuadrado collection is discussed.     

HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF THE EXTRACELLULAR CARBOHYDRATE OF COLACIUM MUCRONATUM (EUGLENOPHYCEAE)1

The stalk of Colacium mucronatum Bourr. & Chad. is composed primarily of a cylindrical shaft with a lightly staining inner core and diffuse peripheral cortex. The shaft and cortex arise from a ring-shaped region around the canal opening whereas the core appears continuous with the canal which may be associated with initial cell attachment. All parts of the stalk, as well as the lining and contents of the reservoir, canal and flagellum exhibit stain reactions associated with neutral or mildly acidic carbohydrate with widely spaced anionic groups in low concentration.     

Die Wirkung von Harnmarken auf Artgenossen beim Haushund

An 11 Versuchstagen wurden die Reaktionen von insgesamt 3 Rüden und 2 Hündinnen auf einem rund 2stündigen Spaziergang in nicht oder wenig bekanntem Gebiet beobachtet. Auf einem ersten Rundgang wurden die spontan abgegebenen Harnmarken eines Versuchstieres mit kleinen Objekten markiert, dann ein zweiter Hund an loser Leine den gleichen Weg (meist in umgekehrter Richtung) entlanggeführt und dessen Reaktionen auf die markierten Stellen registriert. Im ganzen wurden bei den ersten Rundgängen 261 Harnmarken abgesetzt. In 47,1 % der Fälle ging der im zweiten Rundgang vorbeigeführte Hund ohne ersichtlichen Grund an der Harnmarke vorbei. Bei Beachtung der Marken zeigten sich 6 verschiedene Reaktionen: 1. Beschnuppern, 2. Harnen über oder neben die Marke, 3. Scharren mit den Hinterpfoten nach Überharnen, 4. Belecken der Marke, 5. Knurren beim Scharren, 6. Zähneklappern nach Beschnuppern und Belecken. Die Marken von feindlichen Rüden und läufigen Hündinnen werden nach Beschnuppern signifikant häufiger als die eigenen bzw. diejenigen einer nichtläufigen Hündin mit einer weiteren Reaktion beantwortet. Die Marken nichtläufiger Hündinnen und die eigenen Marken ergaben keine unterschiedlichen Reaktionen beim Rüden. Eine Hündin reagiert auf die Marken eines (feindl.) Rüden nicht mehr als ein Rüde auf die eigenen Marken. Die Harnmarken vermitteln dem Hunderüden Informationen darüber, ob sie von einer läufigen Hündin, einem fremden Rüden oder von ihm selbst (bzw. einer nicht-läufigen Hündin) stammen.     

From Microscopic to Macroscopic Descriptions of Cell Migration on Growing Domains

Cell migration and growth are essential components of the development of multicellular organisms. The role of various cues in directing cell migration is widespread, in particular, the role of signals in the environment in the control of cell motility and directional guidance. In many cases, especially in developmental biology, growth of the domain also plays a large role in the distribution of cells and, in some cases, cell or signal distribution may actually drive domain growth. There is an almost ubiquitous use of partial differential equations (PDEs) for modelling the time evolution of cellular density and environmental cues. In the last 20 years, a lot of attention has been devoted to connecting macroscopic PDEs with more detailed microscopic models of cellular motility, including models of directional sensing and signal transduction pathways. However, domain growth is largely omitted in the literature. In this paper, individual-based models describing cell movement and domain growth are studied, and correspondence with a macroscopic-level PDE describing the evolution of cell density is demonstrated. The individual-based models are formulated in terms of random walkers on a lattice. Domain growth provides an extra mathematical challenge by making the lattice size variable over time. A reaction–diffusion master equation formalism is generalised to the case of growing lattices and used in the derivation of the macroscopic PDEs.     

Structure and properties of rat thymus deoxyribonucleoprotein. Solubility properties and effects of precipitation

1. Deoxyribonucleoprotein was prepared from rat thymus and was studied chiefly by the method of electric birefringence. The birefringence depends on the electrical and optical properties of the molecules and on their volume; the decay time of birefringence (after the removal of the electric field) depends on molecular length. 2. A comparison was made of the properties of deoxyribonucleoprotein redissolved after precipitation in 0.15m-sodium chloride with those of the original material, the main object being to find if structural changes have occurred in the former. As a preliminary, the dependence of the solubility of the deoxyribonucleoprotein on the concentration of added salt was investigated, and the birefringence properties were also studied after the addition of sodium chloride at low concentrations, after the alteration of pH and after dialysis. 3. It was found that precipitation of deoxyribonucleoprotein occurs in two fractions, beginning at about 0.4mm-sodium chloride. The solubility is minimal at about 0.15m-sodium chloride. 4. The electric birefringence and decay time of the deoxyribonucleoprotein decrease with increasing concentration of added sodium chloride, and the birefringence also decreases after dialysis. Prolonged dialysis leads to precipitation. 5. The properties of deoxyribonucleoprotein redissolved after precipitation with 0.15m-sodium chloride differ considerably from those of the original deoxyribonucleoprotein. This is attributed to some type of disorganization process occurring during precipitation. It is concluded that the organization of the original structure is very specific.