Sequence-specific endonuclease Bgl I. Modification of lysine and arginine residues of the homogeneous enzyme.

The sequence-specific endonuclease Bgl I from Bacillus globigii (RUB561) has been purified to homogeneity as determined by denaturing polyacrylamide gel analysis. The active form of the enzyme is a single polypeptide with a molecular weight of 32,000. The enzyme requires Mg2+ in the reaction mixture and displays a broad pH and monovalent cation requirement. Bgl I is not sensitive to sulfhydryl reagents but was affected by reagents that modify lysine and arginine residues. When lysine residues were modified by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, both binding and catalysis were diminished while modification of arginine residues by 2,3-butanedione inhibited the enzyme activity but had no effect on its binding properties.     

The function of mucous secretions in the cushion star Pteraster tesselatus Ives

In all previous studies involving the behavior of the cushion star Pteraster tesselatus Ives, the possibility that this asteroid's copious secretions of mucus are defensive in nature has been suggested, but never studied to any degree.

Our research shows that discharge of mucus from Pteraster was triggered not only by physical stimulation, but also from contact with the asteroid-consuming sea stars Solaster dawsoni Verrill and Pycnopodia helianthoides (Brandt). It was also found that mucus repelled these two asteroids so effectively that it provided Pteraster tesselatus with protection from predation for essentially 100% of the time.

Pteraster specimens were easily and harmlessly rendered defenseless by removing their mucous-cell-containing supradorsal membranes by dissection. Without the mucous secretions available for discharge, it was shown that P. tesselatus was easily preyed upon by both Solaster dawsoni and Pycnopodia helianthoides.     

The effect of reserpine, oestradiol and in-vitro perfusion on oviduct calcium levels in the mouse during egg transport.

Mouse oviduct calcium content, determined by atomic absorbance after ashing of the tissue, showed a significant fall on Day 2 of pregnancy followed by a significant rise on Day 3. This pattern was altered by administration of reserpine and oestradiol in doses which were shown to alter the rate of egg transport. In-vitro perfusion of the oviduct, capable of maintaining muscular activity and back and forth movement of eggs for 24 h, was associated with lack of forward progressive motion of eggs and by a more rapid increase in tissue calcium levels during incubation than occurred in vivo.     

Isolation, Complementation, and Initial Characterization of Temperature-Sensitive Mutants of the Baculovirus Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus

Sixteen temperature-sensitive mutants of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus were isolated. Several interesting phenotypes were observed. A large proportion of the mutants were unable to form polyhedral occlusion bodies (polyhedra) at the nonpermissive temperature (32.5°C). At 32.5°C, one mutant formed plaques in which the cells lacked polyhedra. Another mutant type was defective in the production of progeny extracellular nonoccluded virus and produced a “plaque” consisting of only a single cell containing polyhedra at 32.5°C. One mutant was defective in plaque formation, progeny nonoccluded virus formation, and polyhedra formation at 32.5°C. Several mutants produced nonoccluded virus but failed to produce plaques or polyhedra at 32.5°C. Other phenotypes were also distinguished. Complementation analyses, performed by either measuring the increase in extracellular nonoccluded virus formation or by observing polyhedra formation in mixed infections at 32.5°C, indicated the presence of 15 complementation groups. A high frequency of recombination was observed. Four of the mutants were found to be host dependent in their temperature sensitivity for polyhedra formation.     

Influence of temperature on ionic sparing effect and cell-associated cations in the moderate halophile, Micrococcus varians var. halophilus

Cells of the moderately halophilic Micrococcus varians var. halophilus grew well in a chemically defined medium containing 1 to 3 M NaCl and 0.0103 M K+. The requirement for NaCl could be partially replaced by K+,:Li+ and Cs+. The efficiency of the sparing effect of these cations for NaCl was in order of K+ GReater than Li+ greater than Cs+. Increase in growth temperature was found to enchance the sparing effect of Li+ and Cs+ but not that of K+. Over the range of NaCl concentrations in which the cells grew well, cell-Na+ concentrations were similar to the medium NaCl concentrations while cellK+ concentrations were several-fold that in the medium. Cell-bound Na+ and K+ concentrations increased proportionally with medium NaCl concentration and growth temperature. The temperature-dependent cation accumulation was more obvious with K+ than Na+. The cell-associated Na+ + K+ concentrations were almost as high as or slightly higher than the external media which contained appropriate levels of NaCl regardless of the growth temperature.     

Nodulation ofTrifolium subterraneum byRhizobium leguminosarum

Summary Four cultivars ofTrifolium subterraneum were nodulated by five strains ofRhizobium leguminosarum; all combinations except one gave 100% nodulation. Rates of nodule formation and total nodule numbers were similar to those with an effectiveR. trifolii strain. The nodules were more commonly associated with lateral roots and were ineffective in nitrogen fixation.     

Ring chromosome 16

Summary Ring chromosome 16 was found in a 33-year-old woman with mental, motor, and growth defects. Apart from a low percentage of monosomy 16 cell lines, the patient appears to have virtually all of the normal chromosome 16 genetic material at the microscopic level. Her impressive problems highlight the limitation of our ability to detect small deletions and the profound importance of the integrity of chromosome 16 in normal human development.