On the complexity of fundamental computational problems in pedigree analysis.

Pedigree analysis is a central component of many current efforts to locate genes that contribute to diseases or to valuable traits. The analysis usually involves solving one of two very computation-intense problems. We analyze the complexity of these two problems. Surprisingly, we show that both problems are NP-hard even for pedigrees that contain no inbreeding loops.     

Gene mapping on maize pachytene chromosomes by in situ hybridization

A sensitive in situ hybridization technique which was effective for mapping genes of low copy number on human metaphase chromosomes was used for gene mapping on maize pachytene chromosomes. A cloned genomic EcoR1 fragment of 10.8 kb, containing most or all of the sequence encoding the Waxy locus mRNA, was used as the probe. Southern DNA blotting analyses performed by Shure et al. (1983) indicated that the Waxy locus was a single copy sequence. In our in situ hybridization experiment, the probe hybridized to a specific site on chromosome 9. Labeling at this site was detected in 48.6% of 154 randomly selected copies of chromosome 9. To test the sensitivity of the method, subclones of the fragment with insert sizes of 6.6, 4.7, 3.5, 2.3, 1.9 and 0.8 kb were used for in situ hybridizations. Labeling efficiency for each probe was determined. The data showed that a single copy probe of 1.9 kb could be detected at the correct position in 18% of 183 randomly selected number 9 chromosomes.     

Mapping of antibody specificities to V H gene families

V _H gene segments represent the products of the repeated duplication and subsequent diversification of a primordial V gene element. It is widely assumed that natural selection, operating via pathogens, has played the dominant role in this process. Here, we screen some 3.7 × 10⁴ C ⁺ colonies of mitogen-activated B cells for the production of antibodies specific for phosphorylcholine or hen egg lysozyme and expression of the V _H X-24, S107, Q52, or J558 gene families. These gene families were expressed at frequencies proportional to their genomic complexity among both unselected and antigen-specific C ⁺ colonies. Thus, the capacity to encode equivalent antibody-combining sites is dispersed uniformly among V _Hfamilies. This result suggests that individual V _H genes have not evolved to address specific antigens.     

An empirical analysis of the factors contributing to 20-year decrease in soil pH in an old-field plantation of loblolly pine

The pH of weak-acid solutions is controlled by acid concentration (HA + A^–), the degree of acid dissociation (A^–/HA), and the strength of the acids present (pK_a). We developed an empirical approach that allows the relative importance of each of these factors to be estimated for soils. This empirical model was applied to soils collected from an old-field plantation of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) at 5 and 25 years of age. During this period, soil pH dropped by 0.3 to 0.8 units, and extractable calcium, magnesium and potassium declined by 20 to 80%. The empirical model indicates that the decline in pH resulted largely from the reduction in base saturation of the exchange complex. However, the average acid strength of the exchange complex decreased during the 20 years, preventing a greater decline of perhaps 0.1 to 0.2 units in the observed pH. The rate of decrease in the acid neutralizing capacity to pH 3.5 was about 1.3 kmol_c/ha annually, while the increase in base neutralizing capacity was about 2.7 and 1.6 kmol_c/ha annually to pH 5.5 and 8.2, respectively. Extractable alkali and alkaline earth cations declined by about 2.2 kmol_c/ha annually, matched by the rate of increase in aluminium. These changes demonstrated the dynamic nature of poorly buffered soils, and indicated that changes in soil acidity may be expected over a period of decades (especially following changes in land-use).     

苦绳的一个新甾体成分

从苦绳(Dregea sinensis Hemsl.),和分出一新的甾体成分,Dresigenin A(I),经化学反应及光谱分析证明其结构为12-O-乙酰基-20-O-(2-甲基丁酰基)二氢肉珊瑚甙元[12-O-acetyl-20-O-(2-methylbutyryl)dihydrosarcostin]。     

Substitution of an invariant nucleotide at the base of the highly conserved ''530-loop'' of 15S rRNA causes suppression of yeast mitochondrial ochre mutations.

We have determined the nucleotide sequence alteration in the 15S rRNA gene of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain carrying the previously described mitochondrial ochre suppressor, MSUI. The suppressor contains an A residue at position 633 of the yeast mitochondrial sequence, in place of the wild-type G. This position, located in the highly conserved region forming the stem of the '530-loop', corresponds to G517 of the Escherichia coli 16S rRNA and is occupied by G in all other known small rRNA sequences. This finding strongly supports the previous conclusions of others that the 530-loop region plays an important role in enhancing translational accuracy.     

Polarization states of diffracted light. Changes accompanying fiber activation.

Measurement of the state of optical polarization of light diffracted from single, skinned and intact fibers of anterior tibialis muscle from Rana pipiens revealed a dependence upon rigor, activation, and sarcomere length (SL) change. Changes in total birefringence, delta nT, and differential field ratio value, rT, were determined. In a relaxed, skinned fiber the total birefringence value, delta nT, decreases as sarcomere length is increased from 2.1 microns to approximately 2.8-3.0 microns. From there it increases significantly to a value of approximately 1.8 x 10(-3) at a sarcomere length of 3.6 microns. The differential field ratio, rT, also shows a biphasic response to increasing sarcomere length, first exhibiting a rapid decrease over shorter SL and leveling out after the SL is beyond 3.0 microns. In comparison, relaxed intact fibers change substantially less upon sarcomere length change, showing little change in birefringence and a small bi-phasic change in rT. Skinned fibers were activated using a solution that has the same ionic strength as the relaxing solution and allows repeatable, and sustained activation. A decrease in both delta nT and rT was observed upon fiber activation. The decrease in delta nT and rT was slightly larger at shorter sarcomere lengths than at longer lengths. Relaxed fibers placed in rigor showed changes in delta nT and rT similar to those observed in activated fibers. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that, after activation, a significant portion of the thick filament cross-bridges rotate towards the actin filament resulting in redistribution of the interfilament mass content. They are also consistent with an average orientation of crossbridges in the overlap region different from that in the nonoverlap region.     

A specific, photolabile and irreversible antagonist (L662,025) of the PAF-receptor

PAF (0.2 microM) induced maximal platelet aggregation in human PRP and [3H]-PAF (1-5 nM) binding to platelet membrane preparations had Kd value of 3.8 nM and Bmax of 200 fmoles/mg of protein. Without UV irradiation, a synthetic azido tetrahydrofuran derivative L662,025 was a reversible and competitive PAF-receptor antagonist with IC50 values of 5.6 +/- 0.3 microM (platelet aggregation) and 1.0 +/- 0.25 microM (receptor binding). Photolysis of L662,025 in the presence of PRP produced an irreversible inhibition of platelet aggregation and specific binding of [3H]-PAF (1 nM). L662,025 did not affect collagen- or ADP-induced human platelet aggregation before or after photolysis. It is a new probe that can be used to identify and characterize the PAF-receptor.     

香薷中的化学成分

从香[Eltholtzia ciliata(Thund.)Hyland]中分出14个化合物,用波谱和化学等方法确定为6-甲基三十三烷(Ⅰ),13-环己基二十六烷(Ⅱ),β-谷甾醇(Ⅲ),棕榈酸(Ⅳ_a),亚油酸(Ⅳ_b),亚麻酸(Ⅳ_c),熊果酸(Ⅴ),5-羟基-6、7-二甲氧基黄酮(Ⅵ),5-羟基-7、8-二甲氧基黄酮(Ⅶ),5、7-二羟基-4′-甲氧基黄酮(Ⅷ),5-羟基-7、4′-二甲氧基双氢黄酮醇(Ⅸ),β-谷甾醇-3-β-D-葡萄糖甙(Ⅹ),5-羟基-6-甲基-7-O-α-D-半乳吡喃糖双氢黄酮甙(Ⅺ),刺槐素-7-O-β-D-葡萄糖甙(Ⅻ)。其中化合物Ⅺ为新化合物,除(Ⅳ_b)和(Ⅳ_c)外,其余为首次从该属植物中得到。