The Genetic Basis of Morphological Diversity in Domesticated Goldfish

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Carotenogenesis in Phycomyces

Time course studies of carotenoid production and of mycelial growth in liquid cultures of Phycomyces blakesleeanus wild type [NRRL 1555 (?)], red mutants C9, C10 and C13 and the heterokaryon C2 * C9 are reported. The ratios of the concentrations of lycopene, γ-carotene and β-carotene in the red mutant C13 and in the heterokaryon C2 * C9 during the growth periods were measured. In these strains the concentration of lycopene is close to its final value after 2 days of growth, at a time at which β-carotene is just beginning to be produced. It is suggested that the β-carotene produced late is possibly synthesized via β-zeacarotene.     

Sugarcane mosaic virus in plantlets regenerated from diseased leaf tissue

Plantlets produced from sugarcane leaf tissue were examined to determine the effect of propagation on the frequency of occurrence of sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV).Explants from immature leaf tissues of the sugarcane variety CP 72-356 (Saccharum interspecific hybrid), healthy or SCMV-infected, were cultured on Murashige-Skoog medium to which a combination of cytokinin and auxin had been added. Plantlets developed on healthy and infected leaf tissue within 6 weeks. The juice from plantlets was assayed for SCMV on Rio sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, var. Rio) seedlings and on sugarcane varieties CP 31-294 and CO 31-588 for SCMV-strain identification. Results indicated that SCMV strain H was transmitted from the donor tissue to the regenerated plantlets. Observation on plantlets reared in the greenhouse showed that 23% had symptoms of SCMV. In a second replicated experiment, the leaf tissue from plants of POJ 234 free of mosaic or infected with SCMV strain A, B, D, H, or I was cultured. Each of the five strains was transmitted from donor to plantlet as indicated by assays on sorghum and sugarcane varieties. From 11 to 88% of the plantlets had mosaic symptoms, depending on the strain infecting the donor plant. In this experiment, SCMV-strain M was transmitted from an unidentified donor variety to 23% of the regenerated plantlets.Portions of this paper have been presented to the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, at the meeting in Clearwater, Florida in June, 1984.     

Intraspecific Variation in Cryptocaryon irritans

ABSTRACT. Intraspecific variation in the ciliate Cryptocaryon irritans was examined using sequences of the first internal transcribed spacer region (ITS-1) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) combined with developmental and morphological characters. Amplified rDNA sequences consisting of 151 bases of the flanking 18 S and 5.8 S regions, and the entire ITS-1 region (169 or 170 bases), were determined and compared for 16 isolates of C. irritans from Australia, Israela and the USA. There was one variable base between isolates in the 18 S region nd 11 variables indicate that Australian C. irritans isolates from estuarine (Moreton Bay) and coral reef (Heron Island) environments are distinct. The Heron Island isolate was genetically closer to morphologically dissimilar isolates from Israel (1.8% divergence) and USA (2.3 % divergence) than it was to the Moreton Bay isolates. Three isolates maintained in our laboratory since February 1994 originated from the same source. During this time the sequence of the isolates from wild fish in Moreton Bay remained unchanged. These genetic differences indicate the existence of a founder effects in laboratorty populations of C. irritans . The genetic variation found here, combined with known morphological and developmental differences, is used to characterise four strains of C. irritans .     

A Microfluidic Device for Studying Multiple Distinct Strains

The study of cell responses to environmental changes poses many experimental challenges: cells need to be imaged under changing conditions, often in a comparative manner. Multiwell plates are routinely used to compare many different strains or cell lines, but allow limited control over the environment dynamics. Microfluidic devices, on the other hand, allow exquisite dynamic control over the surrounding conditions, but it is challenging to image and distinguish more than a few strains in them. Here we describe a method to easily and rapidly manufacture a microfluidic device capable of applying dynamically changing conditions to multiple distinct yeast strains in one channel. The device is designed and manufactured by simple means without the need for soft lithography. It is composed of a Y-shaped flow channel attached to a second layer harboring microwells. The strains are placed in separate microwells, and imaged under the exact same dynamic conditions. We demonstrate the use of the device for measuring protein localization responses to pulses of nutrient changes in different yeast strains.     

Ice‐‐bacteria as antagonists in biological frost protection

Investigated was the efficacy of 4 ice nucleation‐inactive (ice^‐) bacterial strains (A506, GSPB 1147, 1181, 2357) at 4 ice nucleation active (ice⁺) strains (553, 554, GSPB 1139, 2035) on the surface of 4 culture crops (corn, tomato, bush‐ and field bean). Examinated was the reduction of frost damage at the used culture crops by inoculation with ice⁺ and ice^‐ strains at 4 different variants (A‐D) under laboratory conditions. The ice nucleation activity was determined by the tube‐freezing‐assay. An effective reduction of ice⁺ bacteria was possible, when plant surfaces were preinoculated (3days) with ice^‐bacteria before ice⁺ bacterial strains colonized the surfaces of plants. A statistical comparison of mean values of obtained results showed, the ice crystallization (INT) by inoculation started at ‐3°C and in mean (MNT) below ‐5°C independent of the used ice⁺ and ice^‐ strains. Obtained differences were not significant. As untreated as colonized plants with antagonists started to freeze at ‐5 and ‐6°C and in average at ‐7°C. However, the preinoculation resulted in 1.38 K differences for the temperatures, at which 50% of leaves were frozen (PROZ 50) in favour of preinoculated plants. This difference in freeze temperatures by preinoculation with ice^‐ bacteria was discussed as a possible method of frost protection.     

Behavioural variations among strains of Trichogramma spp.: Adaptability to field-temperature conditions

In order to select a candidate strain of Trichogramma sp. for inundative releases against lepidopteran pests in cabbage field-crops in the Netherlands, the parasitization activity of a collection of 60 different Trichogramma spp. strains was studied during 2 h and 24 h exposures at 12°C. Activity and parasitism varied significantly among strains and the two characteristics were not correlated, suggesting the action of two differentially temperature-dependent mechanisms influencing both characteristics. Native strains were characterized by a low activity at 12°C, making their usefulness for inundative releases doubtful. In three strains tested at 12, 17, 20, 25 and 30°C, activity increased linearly with temperature, until nearly all females parasitized at 20 or 25°C. Parasitism increased with increasing temperature to a maximum at 20–25°C and declined at 30°C. Handling time decreased asymptotically with increasing temperature. The results of this study suggest that Trichogramma strains vary in adaptability to low temperature, making this characteristic a useful criterion for evaluation of candidate strains.

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Résumé Afin de sélectionner une souche de Trichogramma sp. (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae) candidate pour des lâchés inondatifs contre les Lépidoptères pestes de chou aux Pays-Bas, l'activité de parasitisation d'une collection de 60 souches différentes de Trichogramma spp. a été étudiée à 12°C pendant des durées d'exposition de 2 h et 24 h. L'activité proportionnelle et le degré de parasitisation des femelles varient significativement selon des souches et ne sont par corrélés. Ceci suggère l'action des deux mécanismes distincts, dépendant de la température et contrôlant independamment chacun de ces processus. Les souches indigènes sont caractérisées par une faible activité à 12°C, mettant en doute leur utilisation pour les lâchés inondatifs. Dans 3 souches testées à 12, 17, 20, 25 et 30°C, l'activité augmente linéairement avec la température, jusqu'a ce que quasi toutes les femelles parasitent les oeufs hôtes à 20°C et 25°C. Le taux de parasitisation augmente avec la température atteignant un maximum à 20–25°C puis diminue à 30°C. Le temps de manipulation d'un oeuf hôte diminue asymptotiquement lorsque la température croît. Les résultats de cette étude suggèrent que la capacité d'adaptation aux températures basses varie selon les souches de Trichogramma. Cette caractéristique constitue un critère utile pour l'évaluation de souches candidates potentielles.

     

石油降解菌的分离鉴定及石油污染土壤的细菌多样性

从石油污染的土壤中分离筛选到28株石油降解菌,经鉴定分别为短杆菌属、假单胞菌属、邻单胞菌属和微球菌属;对4个石油不同程度污染的土壤样品中嗜油微生物分布状况进行分析,发现污染严重的土壤样品中嗜油菌的数量相对较多;用聚合酶链式反应(PCR)、变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)和切胶测序相结合的方法对4个土壤样品中的细菌多样性进行分析,结果显示在受污染的土壤中,My cobacterium和B acillus在污染程度较低的样品中分布的较为集中,F lavobacterium和A zosp ira在污染程度较高的样品中丰度较高。属于B eta p roteobacterium类群的细菌在受污染的土壤中占有优势,同时还有一些不可培养的菌群存在。气质联用(GC-M S)分析结果表明石油污染程度及污染物中芳香烃类的含量对细菌多样性有着显著影响。在石油污染程度高,芳香烃类含量高的样品中细菌的多样性相对较低。     

重组Rhodobacter sphaeroides hemA表达的调控

RhodobactersphaeroideshemA编码5氨基乙酰丙酸合酶(ALAS),催化磷酸吡哆醛依赖性琥珀酰CoA和甘氨酸缩合成ALA.将R.spaeroideshemA导入E.coli进行表达,当hemA具有与lac启动子相同的转录方向时,ALAS有活性.lac启动子与hemA之间的距离会影响ALAS在不同培养基上的表达.E.coli宿主菌对ALAS表达、ALA产量有显著影响,在实验所用6种菌株中,E.coliDH1是最佳宿主菌(P<0.05).ALAS表达还与碳源有关,琥珀酸为碳源时,重组ALAS活性最高(P<0.05),以乳酸为碳源时,ALAS活性很低.重组ALAS活性也受培养基pH值影响,pH6.5时,活性最高(P<0.05).     

Involvement of the serotonergic cerebral system in microwave-induced analgesia in mice of different genotypes

Under conditions of the formalin test, we studied changes in the level of analgesia induced by the action of low-intensity microwaves on the antinociceptive acupuncture point (AP) E36 in mice of strains CBA/CaLac (CBA) and C57BL/6j (C57) and in albino mongrel mice. Measurements were performed under control conditions and with experimentally induced decrease in the serotonin level in the brain (by injections of DL-parachlorophenylalanine, p-CPA). In the latter cases, the duration of the pain behavioral reaction increased despite irradiation of the AP E36. In mongrel, CBA, and C57 mice, the intensity of pain manifestations was 114.4, 29.0, and 21.1% greater, respectively, than in mice of these groups with no injections of p-CPA. These facts show that the serotonergic brain system is profoundly involved in the formation of analgesia after irradiation of the AP by low-intensity microwaves, and this involvement significantly depends on the genotype of the animals. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 38, Nos. 5/6, pp. 495–497, September–December, 2006.