Structural and functional properties of proteasome activator PA28

The proteasome activator PA28 or 11S regulator is a protein complex composed of two different but homologous polypeptides, termed PA28 and PA28. The purified activator protein (_200 kDa) is a ring-shaped heteromultimer containing the two polypeptides, possibly with an _{3 3} stoichiometry. The activator, which by itself shows no hydrolytic activity elicits activation of the proteasome's multiple peptidase activities by binding to the terminal rings of the proteinase. In vitro, active PA28 can be reconstituted from isolated and subunits, yielding two different oligomers: with the single subunit, PA28 homomultimers with moderate stimulatory activity toward 20S proteasomes are obtained whereas isolated -subunits are unable to form oligomers and are devoid of stimulatory activity. However, in the presence of both subunits, heteromultimers form, concomitant with restoration of full stimulatory activity. The recent finding that PA28 modulates the proteasome-catalyzed production of antigenic peptides presented to the immune system on MHC class I molecules indicates a cellular function of the activator in antigen processing. Abbreviations: IFN – interferon; LMP – low molecular weight peptide; MHC – major histocompatibility complex.     

Influence of core histone acetylation on SV40 minichromosome replication in vitro

We have used the SV40 in vitro replication system to analyze the replication efficiencies of SV40 minichromosomes associated with normal or hyperacetylated histones. We found that elongation of replication occurs with higher efficiency in hyperacetylated minichromosomes in comparison with normal minichromosomes. Our results indicate that the movement of the replication machinery through nucleosomal DNA is facilitated by charge neutralization due to acetylation of the histone tails. Edited by: A. Wolffe     

Synthesis and secretion of the mouse whey acidic protein in transgenic sheep

The synthesis of foreign proteins can be targeted to the mammary gland of transgenic animals, thus permitting commercial purification of otherwise unavailable proteins from milk. Genetic regulatory elements from the mouse whey acidic protein (WAP) gene have been used successfully to direct expression of transgenes to the mammary gland of mice, goats and pigs. To extend the practical usefulness of WAP promoter-driven fusion genes and further characterize WAP expression in heterologous species, we introduced a 6.8 kb DNA fragment containing the genomic form of the mouse WAP gene into sheep zygotes. Two lines of transgenic sheep were produced. The transgene was expressed in mammary tissue of both lines and intact WAP was secreted into milk at concentrations estimated to range from 100 to 500 mg/litre. Ectopic WAP gene expression was found in salivary gland, spleen, liver, lung, heart muscle, kidney and bone marrow of one founder ewe. WAP RNA was not detected in skeletal muscle and intestine. These data suggest that unlike pigs, sheep may possess nuclear factors in a variety of tissues that interact with WAP regulatory sequences. Though the data presented are based on only two lines, these findings suggest WAP regulatory sequences may not be suitable as control elements for transgenes in sheep bioreactors.     

Kontinuierliche Atmungsmessungen an Azotobacter chroococcum Beij. in Montmorillonit unter chronischer Röntgenbestrahlung

Zusammenfassung An zwei Stämmen Azotobacter chroococcum Beij. wurden in Montmorillonit als Bodenmodell Atmungsmessungen unter Röntgenbestrahlung durchgeführt. Durch die Bestrahlung wurde bei beiden Stämmen die Atmungsintensität erniedrigt. Aus dem Beginn der Atmungsdepression nach Einsetzen der Bestrahlung lassen sich Rückschlüsse auf die Strahlenresistenz der verschiedenen Stämme ziehen. Die Strahlenresistenz der beiden untersuchten Bakterien-Stämme war im Montmorillonit im Vergleich zu Suspensionen wesentlich erhöht.     

Die ChlorococcalenDictyochloris undDictyochloropsis nov. gen.

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine atmophytische Chlorococcale neu beschrieben, die unter anderem durch den Bau ihres Chromatophors merkwürdig ist. Sie bildet im Freiland manchmal an der Membran eigenartige Körper unbekannter Natur. — Zur Kenntnis vonDictyochloris werden ergänzende Beobachtungen mitgeteilt.     

Resolution des VIII. Internationalen Pflanzenschutzkongresses

Abstract

In Anbetracht der weitreichenden Bedeutung des VIII. Internationalen Pflanzenschutzkongresses, der in der Zeit vom 22. bis 26. August 1975 in Moskau stattfand, hält es die Redaktion für erforderlich, die anläßlich des Kongresses verabschiedete Resolution im Wortlaut wiederzugeben.     

Botrydina — keine Symbiose einer Alge mit einem Moosprotonema

Zusammenfassung In Bestätigung älterer AngabenActons ergibt sich, daßBotrydina vulgaris eine Halbflechte, d. h. die regelmäßige Verbindung einer Chlorophycee mit einem steril bleibenden Eumyzeten, nicht aber, zufolge neuerer Angaben, mit dem Protonema des LaubmoosesGeorgia pellucida ist.Es bestehen zwingende Gründe, die ausschließen, daß es zweierleiBotrydina gibt und daß etwa die Pflanzen, die zu der Auffassung der Symbiose zwischen. Alge und Protonema führten, von den hier untersuchten abwichen (Anastomosenbildung in dem vermeintlichen Protonema, völlige Übereinstimmung der morphologischen und anatomischen Verhältnisse). Beweisend für die Pilznatur des Myzels, mit dem dieBotrydina-Kugeln zusammenhängen, ist, abgesehen von der allgemeinen Morphologie und dem Verhalten bei der Umspinnung, die Bildung von Anastomosen. Daß die pseudoparenchymatische Rinde vonBotrydina samt dem freien Myzel nicht das Protonema vonGeorgia sein kann, ergibt sich außerdem eindeutig aus den Bauunterschieden der Zellkerne beider, ferner aus dem Fehlen bzw. Vorhandensein von Zellulose in den Membranen und von Stärkekörnern und vermutlich Leukoplasten im Plasma sowie aus sonstigen Anzeichen.     

Über die Variabilität von Stephanodiscus hantzschii GRUN

A new variety, striatior, of the diatom Stephanodiscus hantzschii Grun. (S.h.) with denser striae was described (Kalbe 1971). The legality of S.h. var. pusillus is confirmed by specimens from freshwaters of the north of Mecklenburg. The species S.h. probably consists in this region of several races with different peaks of valve diameter variation. The planctonic mass changing of S.h. and its forms in the three rivers Warnow, Malchiner Peene and Neukalener Peene and in the Lake Kummerow is represented. The differences of the average valve sizes in these waters are remarkable. Var. pusillus Grun. appears to be a benthic mass form, too. High cell numbers and high cell volume sums are not developing ever simultaneously. Var. pusillus is not a suitable form for evaluating the saprobiological status, for it is adaptable to different ecological conditions. The species S.h. itself is a beta- to alphamesosaprobic organism, being able to produce high cell numbers within this range of saprobity.      

Historical Invasion Records Can Be Misleading: Genetic Evidence for Multiple Introductions of Invasive Raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Germany

Biological invasions provide excellent study systems to understand evolutionary, genetic and ecological processes during range expansions. There is strong evidence for positive effects of high propagule pressure and the associated higher genetic diversity on invasion success, but some species have become invasive despite small founder numbers. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is often considered as a typical example for such a successful invasion resulting from a small number of founders. The species’ largest non-native population in Germany is commonly assumed to stem from a small number of founders and two separate founding events in the 1930s and 1940s. In the present study we analyzed 407 raccoons at 20 microsatellite loci sampled from the invasive range in Western Europe to test if these assumptions are correct. Contrary to the expectations, different genetic clustering methods detected evidence for at least four independent introduction events that gave rise to genetically differentiated subpopulations. Further smaller clusters were either artifacts or resulted from founder events at the range margin and recent release of captive individuals. We also found genetic evidence for on-going introductions of individuals. Furthermore a novel randomization process was used to determine the potential range of founder population size that would suffice to capture all the alleles present in a cluster. Our results falsify the assumption that this species has become widespread and abundant despite being genetically depauperate and show that historical records of species introductions may be misleading.     

Identification of human-pathogenic strains of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli from food by a combination of serotyping and molecular typing of Shiga toxin genes

We examined 219 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains from meat, milk, and cheese samples collected in Germany between 2005 and 2006. All strains were investigated for their serotypes and for genetic variants of Shiga toxins 1 and 2 (Stx1 and Stx2). stx(1) or variant genes were detected in 88 (40.2%) strains and stx(2) and variants in 177 (80.8%) strains. Typing of stx genes was performed by stx-specific PCRs and by analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of PCR products. Major genotypes of the Stx1 (stx(1), stx(1c), and stx(1d)) and the Stx2 (stx(2), stx(2d), stx(2-O118), stx(2e), and stx(2g)) families were detected, and multiple types of stx genes coexisted frequently in STEC strains. Only 1.8% of the STEC strains from food belonged to the classical enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) types O26:H11, O103:H2, and O157:H7, and only 5.0% of the STEC strains from food were positive for the eae gene, which is a virulence trait of classical EHEC. In contrast, 95 (43.4%) of the food-borne STEC strains carried stx(2) and/or mucus-activatable stx(2d) genes, an indicator for potential high virulence of STEC for humans. Most of these strains belonged to serotypes associated with severe illness in humans, such as O22:H8, O91:H21, O113:H21, O174:H2, and O174:H21. stx(2) and stx(2d) STEC strains were found frequently in milk and beef products. Other stx types were associated more frequently with pork (stx(2e)), lamb, and wildlife meat (stx(1c)). The combination of serotyping and stx genotyping was found useful for identification and for assignment of food-borne STEC to groups with potential lower and higher levels of virulence for humans.