Temperaturadaptation der Sauerstoffbindung des Blutes von Rana esculenta L.

Zusammenfassung Bei einer raschen Temperatursteigerung wird die Leistungsfähigkeit des Blutes hinsichtlich der Sauerstoffaufladung durch eine Rechtsverschiebung der Dissotiationskurve herabgesetzt. Rana esculenta besitzt 2 Regulationen, um diesen Effekt zum Teil zu kompensieren. Überführt man kalt-angepaßte Tiere in mittlere Temperaturen und beläßt sie in diesen, so steigert sich durch einen langsam einsetzenden Anpassungsvorgang der Hämoglobingehalt des Blutes. Nach Umsetzen der Frösche in noch höhere Temperaturen wird durch einen weiteren Regulationsvorgang die Sauerstoffaffinität, d. h. der Sauerstoffgehalt, bezogen auf gleiche Hämoglobinmengen, gesteigert, wodurch die Rechtsverschiebung der Dissoziationskurve teilweise wieder rückgängig gemacht wird. Beide Regulationen sind reversibel.Dissertation bei der Philosophischen Fakultät der Universität Kiel, Teil II (Anregung und Anleitung: Prof. Dr. H. Precht). Die photometrischen Messungen wurden mit einem Pulfrich-Photometer ausgeführt, welches die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Herrn Prof. Precht zur Verfügung stellte.     

Inhibition by S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine of dopamine dependent adenylate cyclase in rat retina

S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (S-AH), a potent inhibitor of biological transmethylation, decreased the response of rat retina adenylate cyclase to dopamine and to 2-amino-6, 7-dihydroxytetrahydronaphtalene (ADTN). This effect appeared for 10^?7M of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine and was linear for concentration ranging to 10^?4M. S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine did not decrease the cyclic AMP accumulation with sodium fluoride, a non specific adenylate cyclase activator. On the other hand, the incorporation of methyl group was reduced in rat retina homogenates by S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine. These findings suggest that the activity of the dopamine dependent adenylate cyclase is linked to a methylation process.     

Detection of genetic variants affecting cattle behaviour and their impact on milk production: a genome‐wide association study

Behaviour traits of cattle have been reported to affect important production traits, such as meat quality and milk performance as well as reproduction and health. Genetic predisposition is, together with environmental stimuli, undoubtedly involved in the development of behaviour phenotypes. Underlying molecular mechanisms affecting behaviour in general and behaviour and productions traits in particular still have to be studied in detail. Therefore, we performed a genome‐wide association study in an F₂ Charolais × German Holstein cross‐breed population to identify genetic variants that affect behaviour‐related traits assessed in an open‐field and novel‐object test and analysed their putative impact on milk performance. Of 37 201 tested single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs), four showed a genome‐wide and 37 a chromosome‐wide significant association with behaviour traits assessed in both tests. Nine of the SNPs that were associated with behaviour traits likewise showed a nominal significant association with milk performance traits. On chromosomes 14 and 29, six SNPs were identified to be associated with exploratory behaviour and inactivity during the novel‐object test as well as with milk yield traits. Least squares means for behaviour and milk performance traits for these SNPs revealed that genotypes associated with higher inactivity and less exploratory behaviour promote higher milk yields. Whether these results are due to molecular mechanisms simultaneously affecting behaviour and milk performance or due to a behaviour predisposition, which causes indirect effects on milk performance by influencing individual reactivity, needs further investigation.     

Frequency of sister chromatid exchanges in a balanced reciprocal whole-arm translocation

Summary The frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in the centromere of chromosomes involved in a whole-arm translocation t(1;19) was evaluated in altogether 911 metaphases of translocation carriers (n=5) and of normal controls (n=6). Comparison of the two groups reveals no significant differences in the SCE rate (x ²=3.06, n _f =1). The question as to whether the possible increase of the SCE rate at the translocation point could be detected by light microscopy is discussed. Parameters included in the discussion are the ratio of the SCE frequency at the translocation point to the SCE frequency at any of the possible breakage points in the centromeric region and the number of possible breakage points in the centromeric region.     

Action of phospholipases on the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli. Stimulation by melittin

The emission maximum of the single tryptophan residue of melittin was measured in the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine liposomes and Escherichia coli cytoplasmic membranes. In both cases, the fluorescence maximum was shifted to shorter wavelengths indicating a transfer of the indole ring to an apolar environment. E. coli membranes were labelled in position 2 of their phospholipids with [¹⁴C]oleic acid. These membranes were used for measuring the activity of an endogenous phospholipase A₂. A slow hydrolysis is observed, which can be accelerated by adding melittin. The extent of the stimulation depends on the molar ratio of melittin to membrane phospholipid. Under suitable conditions, the initial rate of hydrolysis is six to seven times higher in the presence than in the absence of melittin. The action of the phospholipase A₂ from bee venom is also stimulated by melittin. An identical stimulation was observed with either E. coli membranes or pure phosphatidylethanolamine liposomes as substrate.     

Nitrogenase activity in composting horse bedding and leaves

To date little or no nitrogen fixation has been found in composting materials. However, some materials have high C:N ratios and thus might be expected to support nitrogen fixation. We examined windrows of composting horse bedding and leaves for nitrogenase activity via acetylene reduction and used carbon monoxide controls to differentiate ethylene evolved by nitrogenase from that evolved by endogenous processes. In both piles temperatures were substantially elevated and partial pressures of oxygen greatly reduced thus indicating vigorous microbial activity. In the horse bedding, there were only low rates of ethylene evolution and little of this was due to nitrogen fixation. In contrast, much higher rates of ethylene evolution were measured in the leaf pile and 94% of this was due to nitrogenase activity. We estimate that the leaf pile fixed approximately 0.062 mg N/g leaves during a 5-week period.