The endogenous lectins of the chick blastoderm are present in association with an apolipoprotein in distinct organelles and in the extracellular matrix

Summary Affinity purified preparations of the galactose-binding lectin from gastrulating chick blastoderms consist of three main polypeptides. Two of these have been identified as the 14 kD and 16 kD galactose-binding lectins. A third one migrates in SDS-PAGE gels with a relative molecular weight of 6,500±500 and has been identified as an apolipoprotein (Apo) of plasma very low density lipoproteins, Apo-VLDL-II. We have studied the localization of these polypeptides using immunofluorescence and ultrastructural immunocytochemistry with peroxidase and protein-A gold. The 14 kD lectin occurs in the intracellular yolk where it is mainly present within the electron lucent component. The 16 kD is also present in the intracellular yolk platelets, but tends to predominate in the electron-dense component. In addition, the 16 kD lectin is also present in pleiomorphic yolk-associated organelles and in the extracellular matrix. Apo-VLDL-II is also localized in the electron-lucent component of the yolk platelet and in the extracellular matrix. Our results suggest that the lectin(s) are associated with Apo-VLDL-II in the yolk platelet, and may subsequently become externalized.     

Identification of some lactic acid bacteria from two Zimbabwean fermented milk products

Ten predominant lactic acid bacterial isolates from traditionally fermented milk and four isolates from an industrially fermented milk, Lacto, together with 14 reference strains ofLactobacillus and three ofLactococcus were examined for 32 characteristics. Data were analysed using the simple matching coefficient and clustering was by unweighted pair group average linkage. All the isolated from traditionally fermented milk belonged to the genusLactobacillus. Seven isolates could be identified as belonging toL. helveticus, L. plantarum, L. delbrueckii subsp.lactis, L. casei subsp.casei andL. casel subsp.pseudoplantarum. Three of the isolates could only be identified as either betabacteria or streptobacteria. The four isolates from Lacto were identified asLactococcus lactis. However, they could not be identified to subspecies level.

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Résumé On a examiné 32 caractéristiques de 10 souches de bactéries lactiques isolées de fait fermenté de manière traditionnelle, et de 4 souches isolées d'un lait fermenté industriel, le Lacto, ainsi que 14 souches de référence deLactobacillus et trols deLactococcus. Les données ont été analysées en utilisant le coefficient d'apparienient simple et le groupement par lien moyen de groupe pair non balancé. Toutes les souches isolées du lait fermenté de manfère traditionnelle appartiennent au genteLactobacillus. Sept souches ont pu étre identifiées comme appartenant àL. helveticus, L. plantarum, L. delbruckii subsp.lactis, L. casei subsp.casei etL. casei subsp.pseudoplantarum. Trois de ces souches n'ont pu être identifiées soit comme bétabactéries soit comme streptobactéries. Les quatres souches isolées de Lacto ont été identifiées commeLactococcus lactis. Celles-ci n'ont toutefois pas pu être identifiées jusqu'au stade de sous-espèce.

     

Flavonoid variations in Avena species

Twenty-five Avena species were investigated for their flavonoids. The flavonoids identified were vitexin, isovitexin, vitexin 2″-rhamnoside, isovitexin 2″-arabinoside, isoswertisin 2″-rhamnoside, tricin 5-glucoside, tricin 7-glucoside and tricin 7-diglucoside. Chemosystematic relationships are discussed.     

Resistance of some common fungi to gamma irradiation

Ten species of fungi representing the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Caldosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium, and Penicillium were examined for their relative resistance to gamma irradiation from a 137Cs source. Inactivation doses for dematiaceous fungi in agar medium ranged from 0.6 to greater than 1.7 megarads, whereas those for moniliaceous fungi were less than 0.3 megarad. D10 values (the dose required to reduce the inoculum by 1 log) for Curvularia geniculata (greater than 0.29 megarad) exceeded those for control spores of Bacillus pumilus (0.15 megarad).     

What is Unique About Superoxide Toxicity as Compared to Other Biological Reductants? — A Hypothesis

Usually the toxicity of superoxide is attributed lo its ability to reduce metal ions and subsequently reoxidation of the metal by hydrogen peroxide yields deleterious oxidizing species. As many other nontoxic biological reductants reduce metal compounds, we suggest that part of the mechanism of superoxide toxicity results from its ability to oxidize metal ions bound to biological targets, which subsequently degrade the target via an intramolecular electron Transfer reaction.     

Isolation and expression of linked zinc finger gene clusters on human chromosome 11q

Proteins that share conserved "zinc finger" motifs represent a class of DNA-binding proteins that have been shown to play a fundamental role in regulating gene expression and to be involved in a number of human hereditary and malignant disease states. We have isolated, characterized, and mapped zinc finger-encoding genes specific to human chromosome 11q to investigate their possible association in the molecular pathogenesis of several disease loci mapped to this chromosome. An arrayed chromosome 11q cosmid library was screened using a degenerate oligonucleotide corresponding to the H/C link consensus sequence of the Drosophila Kruppel zinc finger gene, resulting in the isolation of six putative zinc finger genes. Three of the genes (ZNF123, ZNF125, and ZNF126) were analyzed and shown to contain tandemly repeated zinc finger motifs of the C2-H2 class. All three novel genes were found to be expressed in normal adult human tissues, although the tissue-specific pattern of expression differs markedly. Isolated zinc finger genes were regionally mapped on chromosome 11 using fluorescence in situ suppression hybridization and demonstrated clustering of the genes at 11q13.3-11q13.4 and 11q23.1-11q23.2. Analysis of in situ hybridization to interphase nuclei demonstrated a maximum distance of 1 Mb separating distinct finger genes. This analysis defines two linked multigene families of zinc finger genes to chromosome bands associated with a high frequency of specific translocations associated with malignancies.     

Fruiting at High Temperature and Its Genetic Control in the Basidiomycete Flammulina velutipes

Of 10 geographic strains of Flammulina velutipes, 4 were found capable of fruiting at 22°C (Fr_H) rather than at the typical 15°C (Fr_L). Crosses made between Fr_H and Fr_L monokaryons were never observed to fruit at 22°C. However, some hybrids did fruit at the intermediate temperature of 18°C when grown on appropriate substrates, indicating incomplete dominance of the low-temperature requirement. Analysis of progeny of five Fr_H × Fr_L crosses indicated that a minimum of two genes appears to control the requirement for fruiting at ≤15°C. The genes are not closely linked to either incompatibility locus.     

Initial stages in the course of adventitious bud formation on embryos of Picea abies

Adventitious buds on embryos of Picea abies (L.) Karst. developed after a pulse treatment with 250 μ M benzyladenine (BA) of pH 5.5 for 2 h. Light and temperature regimes were not critical during the initial stages. Adventitious buds developed faster after a pulse treatment and the variation among different experiments was lower compared to when the embryos were cultured on media supplemented with BA. Various stages of the differentiation of adventitious buds were identified: stage 1 - appearance of meristematic centres (approximately the first two weeks); stage 2 - development of adventitious bud primordia (approximately the third week); stage 3 - adventitious bud development (from approximately the 4th to the 8th week). This system may be used for further studies on bud differentiation.     

Initiation and development of wound tissue and roots on hypocotyl cuttings of Pinus sylvestris in vitro

The rooting of hypocotyl cuttings from 20-day-old seedlings of Pinus sylvestris L. cultured in vitro is discussed. About 40% of the cuttings cultured on medium lacking activated charcoal produced roots during the first two months. When activated charcoal was added to the medium, either root formation (75% formed roots) or wound tissue growth (95% formed large wound tissues) was stimulated in different experiments. These large wound tissues did not develop any roots. The anatomical changes in the basal part of the cuttings were similar during the first two weeks in all the cuttings studied. A vascular cylinder composed of short tracheids with many pores developed. Thereafter the differentiation process became varied. The amount of wound tissue produced and the time for rooting differed among the cuttings. Tracheid nests which were in contact with the vascular system in the hypocotyl via short tracheids were observed after three weeks. Subsequently, roots developed from the tracheid nests. The longer root formation was delayed, the larger the wound tissue became.
Short tracheids were found close to the wound tissue surface. Their ability to adsorb nutrients and water is discussed.     

Transient enhancement of serum somatomedin levels prior to weaning of growth-impaired vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro rats

Somatomedin serum levels of congenitally vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro rats were determined postnatally between day 1 and 55, and compared with heterozygous control values. Assays were performed with a radioimmunoassay of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). A transient enhancement of immunoreactive IGF-1 levels between day 8 and 21 of age and a reduction in adulthood was found. This observation shows that the early growth impairments of the Brattleboro mutant are not due to a deficiency of IGF-1.