Physical anthropological approaches to aging

The field of gerontology is remarkably diverse; yet there has been relatively little investigation of physical anthropological issues in aging research. This review explores gerontologic topics of actual and/or potential interest to physical anthropologists. The evolution of aging presents a theoretical dilemma in that postreproductively expressed traits may be outside the influence of natural selection. The physiological changes of aging comprise a diversified mosaic of physical deterioration as would be expected from an evolutionary model. Studies of prehistoric aging are limited to estimating lifespan, which may not be indicative of rate of aging. Considerable attention has been devoted to body composition and aging, and notable findings include a loss of lean tissue with age and relatively constant (though redistributing) fat mass. Osteoporosis is a major problem of aging in females, as is tooth loss in both sexes. The study of variation in rates of aging is only beginning, and a number of approaches to measuring biological age in adulthood are presented. Determining the associations of lifestyle, economic, and nutritional status with biological age may reveal sources of variation in rates of aging and may be of practical importance.     

Entwicklungsgeschichtliche Studien an Loasaceen-Blüten

Zusammenfassung Die Blüten vonLoasa triphylla, Blumenbachia hieronymi undCajophora lateritia sind sich in ihrer Ontogenese sehr ähnlich. Das Androeceum besitzt zehn Bildungszentren, fünf episepale und fünf epipetale: Die episepalen Bildungszentren liefern drei Primordien, die später gemeinsam zu einer Nektarschuppe hochwachsen; die epipetalen bestehen aus zwei sich zentrifugal entwickelnden Doppelreihen von zickzackförmig angeordneten Primordien, von denen das Anfangsglied jeweils zu einem Staminodium wird (Diagramm, Abb. 38).Ein völlig anderes Bild bietet das Androeceum vonMentzelia arborescens. Das Androeceum weist fünf episepale nicht gegeneinander abgrenzbare Bildungszentren auf. Alle Stamina sind fertil und werden in zentripetaler Folge angelegt (Diagramm, Abb. 18). Aus diesen und anderen Gründen wird vorgeschlagen, die Mentzelien aus den Loasaceae auszuschließen.

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Developmental studies on flowers of loasaceae

Summary The flowers ofLoasa triphylla, Blumenbachia hieronymi andCajophora lateritia have a very similar ontogeny. The androecium consists of ten complex organs, five in episepalous and five in epipetalous position. The episepalous organs are composed of three primodia, which later become a nectary; in the epipetalous complexes numerous primordia originate centrifugally in two zigzag-like double rows, in which the first member develops to a staminode, while the others become fertile stamens (see diagram Fig. 38).InMentzelia arborescens we can assume five episepalous complex organs, which are fused laterally. All stamens are fertile and originate in a centripetal sequence (see diagram Fig. 18). It is proposed to excludeMentzelia from the Loasaceae.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. L.Brauner zum 75. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Inactivation of glutamine synthetase by adenylylation in intact cells of E. coli

Summary The adenine pool of a purineless mutant of E. coli was radioactively labelled by short incubation with ¹⁴C-adenine.The glutamine synthetase was inactivated in vivo by incubation of the cell suspension with 2x10^-3 M NH₄ ⁺ for 2 min. The inactivated glutamine synthetase was extracted from the cells and purified 20-fold.Incubation of the purified glutamine synthetase with phosphodiesterase regenerated the biosynthetic activity of the enzyme paralleled by the liberation of ¹⁴C-adenine and ¹⁴C-adenosine. ¹⁴C-adenine and ¹⁴C-adenosine were also obtained when inactivated glutamine synthetase, prepared in vitro by use of ¹⁴C-ATP and purified adenylylating enzyme, was incubated with phosphodiesterase under the same conditions.The similar liberation of adenine derivatives by phosphodiesterase from glutamine synthetase inactivated in a cell-free system as well as in intact cells, demonstrates that in both cases the inactivation consists in an adenylylation of the enzyme.