Simple and efficient cell disruption of extremely small quantities of mycelium of phytopathogenic mycotoxin-producing moulds for quantitative extraction of genomic DNA

DNA was efficiently and quantitatively isolated from extremely small quantities of mycelia (0.1–10 mg) of different phytopathogenic moulds by grinding freeze-dried mycelia with glass beads and then using a commercial DNA extraction kit. The efficiency of disruption of the mycelia and the quantitative DNA extraction was proved by microscopy and the quantification of isolated DNA by real time PCR. Presented at the 27^th Mykotoxin-Workshop, Dortmund, Germany, June 13–15, 2005 Financial support: German Research Foundation (DFG grant Pr 708/2). J.M. thanks the Cusanuswerk for a doctoral scholarship     

1H, 13C and 15N resonance assignment of phage T4 endoribonuclease RegB

RegB is involved in the control of the phage T4 life cycle. It inactivates the phage early mRNAs when their translation is no more required. We determined its structure and identified residues involved in substrate binding. For this, all backbone and 90% of side-chain resonance frequencies were assigned.     

Hereditary retinoblastoma: can balanced insertion entirely explain the differences of expressivity among families?

Summary Although the retinoblastoma gene has been isolated and sequenced, the difference in penetrance and expressivity among families has not yet been fully explained. Balanced chromosomal insertion involving the 13q14 regions has been shown to account for some families with several unaffected carriers. Since there could be cases with karyotypically undetectable insertions, we tested whether this mechanism was general enough to explain the whole difference in expressivity among families. Using 166 pedigrees, reported in nine series available in the literature (including our own), we conclude that balanced insertion cannot entirely explain the familial data, even if we allow for a reduced viability of unbalanced gametes. Other mechanisms are proposed and discussed in this paper.     

Disentangling invasion processes in a dynamic shipping-boating network

The relative importance of multiple vectors to the initial establishment, spread and population dynamics of invasive species remains poorly understood. This study used molecular methods to clarify the roles of commercial shipping and recreational boating in the invasion by the cosmopolitan tunicate, Botryllus schlosseri. We evaluated (i) single vs. multiple introduction scenarios, (ii) the relative importance of shipping and boating to primary introductions, (iii) the interaction between these vectors for spread (i.e. the presence of a shipping-boating network) and (iv) the role of boating in determining population similarity. Tunicates were sampled from 26 populations along the Nova Scotia, Canada, coast that were exposed to either shipping (i.e. ports) or boating (i.e. marinas) activities. A total of 874 individuals (c. 30 per population) from five ports and 21 marinas was collected and analysed using both mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) and 10 nuclear microsatellite markers. The geographical location of multiple hotspot populations indicates that multiple invasions have occurred in Nova Scotia. A loss of genetic diversity from port to marina populations suggests a stronger influence of ships than recreational boats on primary coastal introductions. Population genetic similarity analysis reveals a dependence of marina populations on those that had been previously established in ports. Empirical data on marina connectivity because of boating better explains patterns in population similarities than does natural spread. We conclude that frequent primary introductions arise by ships and that secondary spread occurs gradually thereafter around individual ports, facilitated by recreational boating.     

Structure and growth pattern of the bizarre hemispheric prominence on the rostrum of the fossil beaked whale Globicetus hiberus (Mammalia,Cetacea, Ziphiidae)

The rostrum of most ziphiids (beaked whales) displays bizarre swollen regions, accompanied with extreme hypermineralisation and an alteration of the collagenous mesh of the bone. The functional significance of this specialization remains obscure. With the voluminous and dense hemispheric excrescence protruding from the premaxillae, the recently described fossil ziphiid Globicetus hiberus is the most spectacular case. This study describes the histological structure and interprets the growth pattern of this unique feature. Histologically, the prominence in Globicetus is made up of an atypical fibro‐lamellar complex displaying an irregular laminar organization and extreme compactness (osteosclerosis). Its development is suggested to have resulted from a protraction of periosteal accretion over the premaxillae, long after the end of somatic growth. Complex shifts in the geometry of this tissue are likely to have occurred during its accretion and no indication of Haversian remodeling could be found. X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy indicate that the bone matrix in the premaxillary prominence of Globicetus closely resembles that of the rostrum of the extant beaked whale Mesoplodon densirostris: apatite crystals are of common size and strongly oriented, but the collagenous meshwork within bone matrix seems to be extremely sparse. These morphological and structural data are discussed in the light of functional interpretations proposed for the highly unusual and diverse ziphiid rostrum. J. Morphol. 277:1292–1308, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Goldston syndrome: report of a case.

Cerebrohepatorenal malformation is a rare familial disorder characterized by typical renal lesions combined with Dandy-Walker malformation, and congenital hepatic fibrosis. In this case report, a male premie with the diagnosis of cerebrorenal syndrome or so called Goldston syndrome is presented. Besides the rarity of this syndrome, this case is the second reported patient diagnosed prenatally.     

Molecular characterization of human platelet glycoproteins IIIa and IIb and the subunits of the latter

Sedimentation equilibrium and low-angle laser-light scattering were used to determine the molar mass of the glycoprotein moieties in the complexes of sodium dodecyl sulphate with the human platelet membrane glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb), IIIa (GPIIIa), and the (GPIIb) and (GPIIb) subunits of GPIIb. The values obtained by both procedures, except those for GPIIb, agree within experimental error with those calculated from their chemical composition: GPIIb (114,000 g mol^-1), GPIIb (22,200 g mol^-1), and GPIIIa (91,500 g mol^-1). The molar mass of GPIIb determined by light scattering (142,000 g mol^-1) and sedimentation equilibrium at different solvent densities (134,000 g mol^-1) also agree, within experimental error, with the values calculated either from its chemical composition (136,500 g mol^-1) or from the sum of the molar masses of its subunits. However the molar mass determined by sedimentation equilibrium at constant solvent density, is consistently underestimated (116,000 g mol^-1).High-performance size-exclusion chromatography in sodium dodecyl sulphate solutions overestimates the molar mass of these glycoproteins and their Stokes radii, and therefore the maximal frictional ratios derived from them.Abbreviations GPIIb glycoprotein IIb - GPIIIa glycoprotein IIIa - GPIIb and GPIIb and subunits of GPIIb, respectively - CM-GPIIb CM-GPIIb, and CM-GPIIIa, totally reduced and carboxymethylated forms of GPIIb, GPIIb, and GPIIIa, respectively - SDS sodium dodecyl sulphate - eosin-ITC eosin-5-isothiocyanate     

Characterization of the Ss sialoglycoprotein and its antigens in Rhnull erythrocytes

The Ss sialoglycoprotein (glycophorin B) and its antigens in Rhnull erythrocytes, which lack the Rhesus blood group antigens, due to apparently silent (amorphic type) or independent suppressor (regulator type) genes, were investigated. The quantity of the molecule in amorphic and in regulator type red cell membranes was found to be decreased by about 60%-70%, as judged from sodium-dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The Ss glycoprotein content in the erythrocytes from heterozygotes (regulator type) was diminished to an extent of about 30%. Confirming and extending previous studies, the S, s, Ux, Uz and 'N' antigens were slightly weakened in Rhnull erythrocytes. The U and Duclos receptors were only slightly or not depressed in amorphic Rhnull cells, but almost absent from or not detectable in those of the regulator type. This demonstrates that an additional alteration, apart from the decreased Ss glycoprotein content of the membranes, accounts for the weakness of these receptors in regulator type cells. We propose the hypothesis that (a) protein(s) encoded by the Rhesus locus form(s) a complex with the Ss glycoprotein. Thus, it (they) might facilitate the incorporation of the Ss glycoprotein into the membrane and also contribute to the complete expression of the U and Duclos antigens in normal cells.     

Improved embryo yield and condition of donor ovaries in cows after PMSG superovulation with monoclonal anti-PMSG administered shortly after the preovulatory LH peak

Nonlactating Dutch-Friesian cows were selected from a local slaughterhouse and synchronized with Syncro-Mate B. Cows with a normal progesterone pattern were treated with PMSG (3,000 I.U. i.m.) on Day 10 followed by PG (Prosolvin 22.5 mg) 48 h later. Blood samples were collected daily and at hourly intervals from 30 h after PG. Monoclonal anti-PMSG (Neutra-PMSG) was administered i.v. at 5.8 h after the LH peak in 16 cows; controls (n = 16) did not receive Neutra-PMSG. For comparison, 16 additional cows were superovulated with FSH-P in decreasing doses, twice a day (total 32 mg), starting at Day 10. All cows were inseminated at 10 h after the LH peak. Embryos were evaluated on Days 6 and 7 after flushing upon slaughter (recovery 87%). The number of corpora lutea and follicles on the donor ovaries were counted. No significant differences in the concentrations of progesterone and LH were observed between the three superovulation groups. Upon Neutra-PMSG, PMSG in blood was completely neutralized, it was decreased to < 0.5 ug/l at AI from 7.0 ug/l at the LH peak. The number of transferable embryos was significantly higher after Neutra-PMSG (9.1 per cow) than without Neutra-PMSG (5.3). or upon FSH-superovulation (4.6). The number of cysts on the ovaries of Neutra-PMSG-treated cows was reduced similarly to that after FSH-superovulation. Treatment with Neutra-PMSG shortly after the LH peak positively affects final follicular maturation in PMSG-superovulated cows and results in a nearly two-fold increase of transferable embryos.