Cytokinin stress changes the developmental regulation of several defence-related genes in tobacco

Tobacco shoots exposed to elevated endogenous or exogenous cytokinin levels are unable to develop roots and lack apical dominance. We have isolated cDNA copies of five mRNA species that accumulate to elevated levels in such cytokinin-stressed shoots via differential screening of a cDNA library of transgenic shoots which contain an active T-DNA cytokinin gene (T-cyt gene) from Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Four of the cDNA clones were found to correspond to plant defence-related mRNAs, encoding extensin, chitinase, PR-1 and a PR-1-like protein, respectively. In normal tobacco plants PR-1 mRNA is relatively rare in all organs. The other four mRNAs occur at relatively low levels in shoots, especially in leaves, but are very prevalent in roots. Extensin mRNA, for example, is not detectable in leaves, while it is an abundant mRNA in roots and stems. In normal shoots cultured on cytokinin-containing medium all five mRNAs accumulate to elevated levels, similar to those found in transgenic T-cyt shoots. We conclude that the imposed cytokinin stress causes changes in the tissue-specific control of the levels of several defence-related mRNA species in tobacco.     

Cyclin synthesis, modification and destruction during meiotic maturation of the starfish oocyte

The pattern of protein synthesis in oocytes of starfish Marthasterias glacialis changes during 1-methyladenine-induced meiotic maturation. One of the newly synthesized proteins, a major 54-kDa polypeptide, was synthesized continuously after activation but was destroyed abruptly just before appearance of the polar bodies at each meiotic division. This protein thus resembles the cyclin proteins identified in cleaving sea urchin and clam embryos. RNA extracted from oocytes before and after maturation encoded virtually identical polypeptides when translated in the reticulocyte lysate. However, there was poor correspondence between the in vitro translation products and the labelling pattern of intact cells. There was no exact in vitro counterpart to the in vivo-labelled cyclin. Instead, a major polypeptide of 52 kDa was seen which appears to be a precursor of the 54-kDa form of cyclin. The 52-kDa polypeptide was identified as cyclin by hybrid arrest of translation. Cyclin mRNA is ot translated to a significant extent before oocyte activation and is present in oocytes as nonadenylated form. It becomes polyadenylated when the oocytes mature. This behavior is also seen in the case of the mRNA for the small subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, another abundant maternal mRNA whose translation is activated at maturation.     

Galactose and lactose transport inKluyveromyces lactis

Transport of lactose intoKluyveromyces lactis was accomplished by a highly specific system inducible by lactose and galactose. The biosynthesis of the transport enzyme was strongly repressed by glucose. For non-induced cells, lactose penetrated by passive transport, like galactose in any type of cells. The lactose transport showed aK _m 1.2 –4 mm, was temperature-dependent (76 kJ/mol) and was blocked by metabolic inhibitors.     

一株D型肉毒梭菌的分离和鉴定

从我国东海地区的海泥培养物中,分离出一株厌氧性芽孢杆菌。经细菌学、毒素血清学．细菌代谢产物的气相色谱分析及DNA中G+ct001％测定,鉴定为D型肉毒梭菌,编号为D85501。与国际参考菌株D359对照,D85 501菌株具有D型肉毒梭菌的总特性,还有自身的特点,是D型肉毒梭菌中的一新株,是我国分离的首株D型肉毒梭菌。     

西藏北部中、晚侏罗世海娥螺类

一、前言本文记述的中侏罗世海娥螺类系采自西藏北部双湖县达尔沃错、阿木岗日以及索县以南的雁石坪群,而晚侏罗世的海娥螺类则采自拉萨附近的多底沟群(插图1)。双湖地区的标本是西藏地质科学研究所板块专题组于1983年8月采集的,索县及拉萨附近的标本是夏金宝、毛力等于1982年9月和1983年8月两次采集的。上述地区的海娥螺动物群经研究,共9属11种,其中2个新种。这一研究成果增添了我国侏罗纪海娥螺动物群新资料,并且对藏北和