The flea ovary: ultrastructure and analysis of cell clusters

Panoistic ovarioles are found in the order of fleas (Siphonaptera). Only in some species of the Hystrichopsylloidea do polytrophic meroistic ovaries occur. No stem cells and no dividing cystocytes are found in female imagines of Hystrichopsylla talpae. However, each germ cell cluster consists of 32 cells which are generated by five mitotic cycles during the pupal stage. One of the cells containing five intercellular bridges becomes the oocyte, the others serve as nurse cells. Thus, germ cell cluster formation follows the 2(n)-rule. However, no polyfusome is found and nurse cells do not form a rosette. Furthermore, nurse cells remain small and show the same ultrastructural characters as the oocytes, which became distinguishable from nurse cells only by their enhanced growth during pre-vitellogenesis. The first phase of pre-vitellogenesis is dominated by the production of an unknown cytoplasmatic component, consisting of spherical particles, clearly distinguishable from ribosomes by diameter and contrast. The next phase is characterized by a tremendous increase in the production of ribosomes. During this second phase another cytoplasmic component consisting of ball-like structures becomes prominent. During pre-vitellogenesis, germ cell nuclei undergo a pronounced structural change in which, finally, numerous extranucleolar particles predominate. Thus, H. talpae has a polytrophic meroistic ovary, but its oocyte genomes behave panoistically.     

The effect of a single colony of the red wood ant,Formica polyctena,on the spider fauna (Araneae) of a beech forest floor

Summary The predation on spiders in a forest ecosystem by a colony of red wood ants, Formica polyctena, was estimated using a barrier to isolate the colony. Of the ants' total prey, 4.6% were spiders. In order to estimate the effect of F. polyctena within their hunting area on the spider population, the spiders' population density was studied inside and outside the hunting area. Samples of the forest floor were taken, spider webs were counted and pitfall traps were used. No significant difference was found in density or composition of the spider fauna inside and outside the hunting area.     

Blood osmolality in vitro: dependence on PCO2, lactic acid concentration, and O2 saturation

Changes of osmolality (Osm) were measured by freezing-point determination in true plasma of 10 healthy subjects. This was done after equilibration with CO2 (0.5-10.0%), after the addition of lactic acid (10 and 20 mmol/l), and after deoxygenation. The graph for the dependence of Osm on CO2 partial pressure (PCO2) in oxygenated blood resembles the classical CO2 absorption curve. The increase of Osm with PCO2 (approximately 0.2 mosmol . kg H2O-1 . Torr-1) is almost as great as the increase in dissolved CO2 plus bicarbonate (HCO-3). Addition of lactic acid shifts the curve upward by only 0.6 mosmol/mmol because of displacement of HCO-3. Deoxygenation has no significant effect at constant PCO2 despite an increase in [HCO-3]. This is probably due to the binding of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate to hemoglobin. It can be seen in the Osm-pH diagram that differences between CO2 and lactic acid titration largely disappear. For each lactic acid concentration there is a linear dependence corresponding to the linear [HCO-3]-pH relation in plasma. At constant pH, Osm increases after deoxygenation. The observed in vitro relation might explain part of the osmolality increase during physical exercise.     

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The tyrosine-based lysosomal targeting signal in lamp-1 mediates sorting into Golgi-derived clathrin-coated vesicles.

Diversion of membrane proteins from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) or the plasma membrane into the endosomal system occurs via clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs). These sorting events may require the interaction of cytosolic domain signals with clathrin adaptor proteins (APs) at the TGN (AP-1) or the plasma membrane (AP-2). While tyrosine- and di-leucine-based signals in several proteins mediate endocytosis via cell surface CCVs, segregation into Golgi-derived CCVs has so far only been documented for the mannose 6-phosphate receptors, where it is thought to require a casein kinase II phosphorylation site adjacent to a di-leucine motif. Although recently tyrosine-based signals have also been shown to interact with the mu chain of AP-1 in vitro, it is not clear if these signals also bind intact AP-1 adaptors, nor if they can mediate sorting of proteins into AP-1 CCVs. Here we show that the cytosolic domain of the lysosomal membrane glycoprotein lamp-1 binds AP-1 and AP-2. Furthermore, lamp-1 is present in AP-1-positive vesicles and tubules in the trans-region on the Golgi complex. AP-1 binding as well as localization to AP-1 CCVs require the presence of the functional tyrosine-based lysosomal targeting signal of lamp-1. These results indicate that lamp-1 can exit the TGN in CCVs and that tyrosine signals can mediate these sorting events.     

EFFECTS OF NITRATE CONCENTRATION ON THE GROWTH AND PHYSIOLOGY OF LAMINARIA SACCHARINA (PHAEOPHYTA) IN CULTURE1,2

Laminaria saccharina Lamour. sporophytes were grown in enriched and synthetic media through a range of nitrate concentrations, There was an approximately linear relationship between growth and nutrient concentration up to 10 μ substrate concentration. The half-saturation constant (K_{2) was ca. 1.4 μ NO3-. The internal levels of NO3- increased at substrate concentrations above 10 μM b>3- and reached levels several thousand times higher than the surrounding medium. Thus there is evidence for luxury consumption of NOsb>3}^-. The chlorophyll content and photosynthetic capacities of plants also increased with increasing external NO₃^- The ecological implications of this work are considered.     

Growth performance ofAlaria esculenta off helgoland

Alaria esculenta (L.) Grev. sporophytes, raised in culture and originating from the North of Iceland were immersed in the sea near Helgoland (North Sea) for the period from February to August. Notable growth of the thalli was found between February and May, when the water temperature was similar to that of their original habitat in Iceland. Less conspicuous growth but development of sporophylls took place between May and July. The temperature rose to 16.8° C during the first half of July and remained on the same level during August, when the plants deteriorated. The present experiments yield additional evidence that the regional distribution ofA. esculenta is temperature controlled.     

Genetic and biochemical characterization of a new chymotrypsin isozyme of the house mouse,CTRA-1

Genetic variation of a codominantly inherited pancreas protease, designated CTRA-1, was discovered in the house mouse by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels. Phenotype CTRA-1A was found in MOLH/Fre and in the majority of common laboratory mouse strains. Phenotype CTRA-1B was found in PWD/Ph. It was characterized by the absence of a corresponding protease band. A third phenotype, CTRA-1C, was observed in IS/Cam and a fourth phenotype, CTRA-1D, was detected in SEG/1. CTRA-1 was found only in the pancreas and may represent the A form of chymotrypsin. The enzyme was shown to be controlled by the presumed structural locus Ctra-1 located on chromosome 8. From two backcross series, including a total of 274 animals, the gene order (Es-1, Es-9)-3.9 +/- 1.7%-Got-2-3.9 +/- 1.7%-(Es-2, Es-7, Es-23)-0.7 +/- 0.5%- Ctra-1-6.3 +/- 2.2%-Prt-2 was established.