Studies on mitotic and salivary chromosomes of Dacus cucurbitae Coquillett (Diptera: Trypetidae)

Dacus cucurbitae is a serious pest of various types of fleshy fruits and vegetables. The mitotic and salivary chromosomes were reinvestigated using the air-drying and different (C-and H-) banding techniques with a view to rectify the existing controversy regarding the Indian populations of this species. A standard map of its salivary chromosomes was constructed and some important identifiable landmarks were recognized in each arm.     

DNA sequence organization in the genomes of three related millet plant species

Summary A major portion of the genomes of three millet species, namely, barn yard millet, fox tail millet and little millet has been shown to consist of interspersed repeat and single copy DNA sequences. The interspersed repetitive DNA sequences are both short (0.15–1.0 kilo base pairs, 62–64% and long (>1.5 kilo base pairs, 36–38%) in barn yard millet and little millet while in fox tail millet, only long interspersed repeats (>1.5 kilo base pairs) are present. The length of the interspersed single copy DNA sequences varies in the range of 1.6–2.6 kilo base pairs in all the three species. The repetitive duplexes isolated after renaturation of 1.5 kilo base pairs and 20 kilo base pairs long DNA fragments exhibit a high thermal stability with Tms either equal to or greater than the corresponding native DNAs. The S1 nuclease resistant repetitive DNA duplexes also are thermally stable and reveal the presence of only 1–2% sequence divergence.The present data on the modes of sequence arrangement in millets substantiates the proposed trend in plants, namely, plants with 1C nuclear DNA content of less than 5 picograms have diverse patterns of sequence organization while those with 1C nuclear DNA content greater than 5 picograms have predominantly a short period interspersion pattern.Abbreviations kbp kilobase pairs NCL Communication No. 3606.     

Hydrogen peroxide formation and lipid peroxidation in rat uterus—effect of hormones and vitamin E

The effect of estradiol-17β and progesterone given separately as well as in combination on the rate of hydrogen peroxide formation and lipid peroxidation in the uteri of ovariectomized rats was studied. Estradiol in 3μg dose per day per animal elicited maximum stimulatory response and progesterone (100μg), on the other hand, was without any such effect. However, progesterone given along with estradiol completely prevented the effect due to the latter. In the same way, vitamin E, a well known antioxidant was found to be extremelv effective in protecting the uterus from the highly peroxidative action of estradiol-17β.     

Mobilization of cloned luciferase genes into Vibrio harveyi luminescence mutants

A recombinant plasmid which carried a 5 kb fragment of Vibrio harveyi DNA containing the luxA and luxB genes was mobilized from Escherichia coli into luminescence-deficient mutants of V. harveyi. The cloned genes complemented a temperature sensitive luciferase mutation, but failed to complement lesions in two different aldehyde deficient mutants. Expression of the cloned genes was not subject to autoinduction in either E. coli or in V. harveyi.     

Separation of hemoglobin types by cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography

The use of a recently developed cation-exchange HPLC packing material for the separation of hemoglobin types in human blood has been investigated. Adult and newborn hemolysates from normal individuals and from subjects with hemoglobin disorders were analyzed using a weak cation carboxymethyl-bonded phase on 5-micron-particle-size silica. Elution was accomplished using a Bistris (2-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1, 3-propanediol) gradient. Seven well-resolved HbA1 fractions eluted before the major HbA peak. Hbs A1a, A1b, A1c and an HbA1 fraction that increased with aging of the hemolysates were separately eluted. HbF when present or when added to the hemolysates eluted as a distinct peak. HbA was followed by Hbs A2, S, and C when present. An early-eluting peak corresponding to Hb Bart's was identified in newborn hemolysates. It is concluded that cation-exchange HPLC provides a new tool for the reliable separation of minor hemoglobin components.     

Genomic and copy-back 3'' termini in Sendai virus defective interfering RNA species

Direct sequencing of nine Sendai virus defective interfering RNA species revealed two kinds of 3'-terminal sequences. Six RNA species had 3' termini identical to the virus genome (negative strand), confirming that internal deletions are a frequent cause of Sendai virus defectiveness. The other three RNA species had 3'-terminal sequences identical to that described as the complement of the 5' terminus of the virus genome (R. A. Lazzarini, J. D. Keene, and M. Schubert, Cell 26:145-154, 1981), indicating that they are of the copy-back type. Extensive homology between these two types of 3' sequences evidently accounts for the ability of the copy-back sequence to function as an initiation signal for viral RNA replication. There may not be a selective advantage of one type of terminus over the other, since one defective interfering strain possessed two RNA species, one of which had the genomic 3' terminus and the other copy-back type.     

Studies in antifertility agents — Part XLI: Secosteroids — X: Syntheses of various stereoisomers of (±) 2,6β-diethyl-7α-ethynyl-3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-trans-bicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-7β-ol

The syntheses of (±) 2α,6β-diethyl-7α-ethynyl-3α-($\text{p}$-hydroxyphenyl)-$\text{trans}$-bicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-7β-ol ($\text{8}$), (±)2β,6β-diethyl-7α-ethynyl-3β-($\text{p}$-methoxyphenyl)-$\text{trans}$-bicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-7β-ol ($\text{12}$) and (±) 2α,6β-diethyl-7α-ethynyl-3β-($\text{p}$-hydroxyphenyl)-$\text{trans}$-bicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-7β-ol ($\text{18}$) and their derivatives, which are essentially B-seco-steroids having $\text{cis-anti-trans}\text{,}\text{cis-syn-trans}$ and $\text{trans-anti-trans}$ geometries have been carried out. A study of their antiimplantation activities (AI) and receptor binding affinities (RBA) show that $\text{trans-anti-trans}$ compounds are biologically most potent, followed by the corresponding $\text{cis-anti-trans}$ and $\text{cis-syn-trans}$ compounds. The most potent compound $\text{18}$ is active at 1 mg/kg in rats. Introduction of 7α-ethynyl group increases their AI activity; however, no significant effect on their RBA is observed.     

A late devonian ammonoid faunula from himachal pradesh,india

From the uppermost parts of the Muth Quartzite Formation the following ammonoids are described which here are reponed from the Himalayas for the first time:Discoclymenia cucullata (v. Buch);Prionoceras (Imitoceras) intermedium Schindewolf;Pr. (I.) cf.rotundum Petter;Cyrtodymenia sp.; andDiscoclymenia striata (Münster). The levels containing ammonoids appear in the Famennian V(Clymenia zone). Their extension up to the earliest Tournaisian(Gattendorfia zone) is not likely although theoretically it cannot be excluded.     

Oxo fatty acid esters from Cryptocoryne spiralis rhizomes

Two new compounds, isolated from the rhizomes of Cryptocoryne spiralis, have been characterized as ethyl 14-oxotetracosanoate and 15-oxoeicosanyl 14-oxoheptadecanoate by spectral data and chemical studies. Hentriacontane and sitosterol have also been isolated and identified.