Ecological aspects of a silicified bivalve fauna from the Silurian of Gotland

The silicified Wenlockian (Silurian) bivalve fauna from MÖllbos, Gotland, is part of a life assemblage. The vast number of shells show unusual phenomena, e.g. shell repair, pearl and tumour formation, etc. A number of shells contain epibionts and bored, round holes. Presumptive predators of the bivalve community are discussed. Size-frequency distribution of the two most abundant species possibly reflects age classes. The fauna, comprising eleven species, is dominated by deposit-feeders (90 %). They exhibit niche diversification, including at least three different feeding levels within the sediment.     

Effects of irradiation level on leaf growth of sunflower

Sunflower, Helianthus annuus L. cv. INRA 6501, plants were grown in a gravel culture subirrigated with Hoagland nutrient solution, at photosynthetically active radiation levels of 15, 30 and 60 W m^-2 at a daylength of 16 h, a temperature of 20°C and a relative humidity of 60% throughout. Development of the plant and growth of the leaves were measured. High irradiance accelerated development proportionally in all phases from germination, through leaf initiation, primordial flower formation and the maturation of all plant organs until anthesis. High irradiance levels stimulated the expansion of the growing shoot, which produced more and larger primordia. Under constant conditions the ratio between leaf initiation rate and mature length of a leaf remained constant, although the growth patterns [relationship between relative growth rate (RGR) and organ age] of successive leaves were not similar. Consequently, it may be assumed that, as in poplar, the increasing size of the growing shoot reflects the increase of the vascular system of sunflower. The growth patterns of the leaves depend on the developmental stage of the plant and, in the young primordial stage, also on irradiance level. In the linear phase of growth the growth pattern is independent of irradiance level.     

Changes in synthetic activity of cell walls during the cell cycle in a synchronous culture of Catharanthus roseus

The incorporation rates of [¹⁴C] glucose into various fractions of the cell walls and into the sugar constituent of each fraction were investigated in a synchronous culture of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don in order to elucidate the synthetic aspects of the cell walls during the cell cycle. Changes in the incorporation of radioactivity were closely correlated with changes in the amount of each cell wall fraction as well as with those in sugar composition as reported previously (S. Amino et al. Physiol. Plant. 60: 326–332, 1984). The specific activity of galactose was higher than that of other sugars throughout the cell cycle, and a temporary increase in the incorporation of radioactivity into all cell wall fractions except cellulose was observed just before the increase in cell numbers. The synthetic activities may play key roles in the regulation of cell wall polysaccharide dynamics during the cell cycle.     

Glucocorticoids Potentiate the Prostaglandin E1-Mediated Cyclic AMP Formation by a Cultured Murine Neuroblastoma Clone

The effect of steroid hormones on the prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)-mediated cyclic AMP formation by murine neuroblastoma clone N1E-115 was studied. Dexamethasone at submicromolar concentrations and corticosterone at micromolar concentrations (steroids with glucocorticoid activity) were able to modify the PGE1-mediated response whereas testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol each at 10 microM had no effect. Glucocorticoids added to the culture medium of N1E-115 cells produced an increase in the maximal response to PGE1 only after long-term (greater than or equal to 4 h) incubation with the hormone. Inhibitors of protein and RNA synthesis blocked this effect of glucocorticoids. Basal activity of adenylate cyclase in treated cells was twofold higher than that in control cells, and this enzyme seemed to be the primary target for the hormone action, since the activity of 3':5'-cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase and the binding of [3H]PGE1 to its receptors were not altered by glucocorticoid treatment. Our results indicate that glucocorticoids modulate receptor-mediated responses in cells of neural origin through a mechanism that involves induction of protein synthesis.     

Formation of autophagosomes in the pinealocytes of the rat and Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus): A lysosome wrapping mechanism?

Summary Autophagosome formation in rat and gerbil pinealocytes is described. It starts with the setting up of a tubular acid phosphatase-rich cisterna which gradually wraps around cytoplasmic areas to be catabolized. In light of obtained findings, it seems that the autophagosome formation in pinealocytes is a type of lysosome wrapping mechanism.     

Stereospecific formation of 1,2-epoxypropane, 1,2-epoxybutane and 1-chloro-2,3-epoxypropane by alkene-utilizing bacteria

Resting cells of ethene grown Mycobacterium 2W produced 1,2-epoxypropane stereospecifically from propene as revealed by optical rotation, ¹H n.m.r. using a chiral shift reagent, and also by complexation gas chromatography involving a glass capillary column coated with an optically active metal chelate. The gas-liquid chromatography method allowed the rapid screening of 11 strains with regard to stereospecific formation of 1,2-epoxypropane, 1,2-epoxybutane and 1-chloro-2,3-epoxypropane. Bacteria grown on either ethene, propene or butadiene all predominantly produced the R form of 1,2-epoxypropane from propene and 1,2-epoxybutane from 1-butene while the strains tested for 1-chloro-2,3-epoxypropane production from 3-chloro-1-propene predominantly accumulated the S enantiomer.     

Pollenfertility and seed formation in theOrnithogalum umbellatum/angustifolium complex (Liliaceae/Scilloideae)

The pollen fertility and seed formation of six species of theOrnithogalum umbellatum/angustifolium complex and of seven related species were studied. Four types of pollen grains could be recognized. The pollen fertility varied greatly in this complex and is not related to the ploidy level. The seed formation ofO. umbellatum showed an adaptation to a subcontinental-Mediterranean climate, that ofO. angustifolium to an Atlantic climate. In both cases raindrops seem to be important for pollination, in view of the absence of insect pollinators. After open pollination 113 seedlings were obtained in four species. Their chromosome numbers were determined. Nearly all the cultivated seedlings were aneuploid, which points to a positive selection of euploids in nature, because aneuploid individuals are rare in the wild.Biosystematic Studies on theOrnithogalum umbellatum/angustifolium Complex III.—Previous parts of this series are Part I: Taxonomy. Proceeding Kon. Ned. Acad. Wet. series C,85 (4), 563–574 (1982) andvan Raamsdonk (1984).     

Gap junction reductions precede tissue hyperplasia following temperature-upshift in theDrosophila ts-mutantl(3)c43 hs1

Summary The wing discs of the temperature-sensitiveDrosophila mutantl(3)c43 ^hs1 become hyperplastic when larvae are reared at the restrictive temperature of 25° C or above (Martin et al. 1977). We have previously shown that reductions in gap junctions are correlated with the hyperplasia (Ryerse and Nagel 1984a). We report here that reductions in gap junction surface density, number and percent of the lateral plasma membrane area precede the onset of tissue hyperplasia as defined by the gross appearance of tissue overgrowth in the wing pouch and an increase in cell number. Gap junction reductions begin soon after temperature upshift and become significantly different from non-shifted controls by 16 h. Direct cell counts indicate that there is no difference in the total number of cells in experimental vs control discs until after 16 h when the 28° C discs begin to grow rapidly with a cell doubling time of about 6 h as compared with about 13 h for the 20°C controls. The finding that gap junction reductions precede the onset of tissue hyperplasia is consistent with the idea that gap junctions play a regulatory role in growth control and pattern formation and strengthens our hypothesis (Ryerse and Nagel 1984b) that a minimum number and a specific distribution of gap junctions are required for normal development.     

Isolation of tetraploid clones with high efficiency from diploid 3Y1 rat fibroblasts treated with sodium butyrate

Summary Sodium butyrate causes proliferation arrest with a G2 (4C) DNA content and induces formation of tetraploid cells upon removal of the inhibitor, in rat 3Y1 diploid fibroblasts. We isolated tetraploid clones from the butyrate-treated 3Y1 cells with high efficiency; among 21 clones randomly isolated, 5 were pure diploid, 7 were mainly tetraploid with a small contaminating diploid population, and 7 were pure tetraploid. Among the pure tetraploid clones, two showed doubled chromosome numbers with slightly broader distributions than that seen in parental 3Y1 cells. Butyrate further induced polyploid formation in the tetraploid cells thus produced, but octaploid cells that resulted could not be maintained for prolongeed, cultivation. We found no difference between the tetraploid and the (parental and parallel isolated) diploid clones in terms of colony-forming ability, proliferation rate, and sensitivity to density-dependent inhibition of proliferation. These results suggest that doubling of chromosome number by itself does not cause a change in proliferation property. The tetraploid clones had lower average saturation densities possibly due to enlargement of cell size represented by higher cellular protein content.     

In vitro alkylation of calf thymus DNA by acrylonitrile. Isolation of cyanoethyl-adducts of guanine and thymine and carboxyethyl-adducts of adenine and cytosine

Reaction of the rodent carcinogen acrylonitrile (AN) at pH 5.0 and/or pH 7.0 for 10 and/or 40 days with 2'-deoxyadenosine (dAdo), 2'-deoxycytidine (dCyd), 2'-deoxyguanosine (dGuo), 2'-deoxyinosine (dIno), N6-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine (N6-Me-dAdo) and thymidine (dThd) resulted in the formation of cyanoethyl and carboxyethyl adducts. Adducts were not detected after 4 h. The adducts isolated were 1-(2-carboxyethyl)-dAdo (1-CE-dAdo), N6-CE-dAdo, 3-CE-dCyd, 7-(2-cyanoethyl)-Gua (7-CNE-Gua), 7,9-bis-CNE-Gua, imidazole ring-opened 7,9-bis-CNE-Gua, 1-CNE-dIno, 1-CE-N6-Me-dAdo and 3-CNE-dThd. Structures were assigned on the basis of UV spectra and electron impact (EI), chemical ionization (CI), desorption chemical ionization (DCI) and Californium-252 fission fragment ionization mass spectra. Evidence is presented which strongly suggests that N6-CE-dAdo was formed by Dimroth rearrangement of 1-CE-dAdo during the reaction between AN and dAdo. The carboxyethyl adducts resulted from initial cyanoethylation (by Michael addition) at a ring nitrogen adjacent to an exocyclic nitrogen atom followed by rapid hydrolysis of the nitrile moiety to a carboxylic acid. It was postulated that the facile hydrolysis is an autocatalyzed reaction resulting from the formation of a cyclic intermediate between nitrile carbon and exocyclic nitrogen. AN was reacted with calf thymus DNA (pH 7.0, 37 degrees C, 40 days) and the relative amounts of adducts isolated were 1-CE-Ade (26%), N6-CE-Ade (8%), 3-CE-Cyt (1%), 7-CNE-Gua (26%), 7,9-bis-CNE-Gua (4%), imidazole ring-opened 7,9-bis-CNE-Gua (19%) and 3-CNE-Thy (16%). Thus a carcinogen once adducted to a base in DNA was shown to be subsequently modified resulting in a mixed pattern of cyanoethylated and carboxyethylated AN-DNA adducts. Three of the adducts (1-CE-Ade, N6-CE-Ade and 3-CE-Cyt) were identical to adducts previously reported by us to be formed following in vitro reaction of the carcinogen beta-propiolactone (BPL) and calf thymus DNA. The results demonstrate that AN can directly alkylate DNA in vitro at a physiological pH and temperature.