Elevated CO2 Levels do not Affect the Shell Structure of the Bivalve Arctica islandica from the Western Baltic

Shells of the bivalve Arctica islandica are used to reconstruct paleo-environmental conditions (e.g. temperature) via biogeochemical proxies, i.e. biogenic components that are related closely to environmental parameters at the time of shell formation. Several studies have shown that proxies like element and isotope-ratios can be affected by shell growth and microstructure. Thus it is essential to evaluate the impact of changing environmental parameters such as high pCO₂ and consequent changes in carbonate chemistry on shell properties to validate these biogeochemical proxies for a wider range of environmental conditions. Growth experiments with Arctica islandica from the Western Baltic Sea kept under different pCO₂ levels (from 380 to 1120 µatm) indicate no affect of elevated pCO₂ on shell growth or crystal microstructure, indicating that A. islandica shows an adaptation to a wider range of pCO₂ levels than reported for other species. Accordingly, proxy information derived from A. islandica shells of this region contains no pCO₂ related bias.     

Studies on the protolytic reactions coupled with water cleavage in photosystem II membrane fragments from spinach

The protolytic reactions of PSII membrane fragments were analyzed by measurements of absorption changes of the water soluble indicator dye bromocresol purple induced by a train of 10 s flashes in dark-adapted samples. It was found that: a) in the first flash a rapid H⁺-release takes place followed by a slower H⁺-uptake. The deprotonation is insensitive to DCMU but is completely eliminated by linolenic acid treatment of the samples; b) the extent of the H⁺-uptake in the first flash depends on the redox potential of the suspension. In this time domain no H⁺-uptake is observed in the subsequent flashes; c) the extent of the H⁺-release as a function of the flash number in the sequence exhibits a characteristic oscillation pattern. Multiphasic release kinetics are observed. The oscillation pattern can be satisfactorily described by a 1, 0, 1, 2 stoichiometry for the redox transitions S_i S_i+1 (i=0, 1, 2, 3) in the water oxidizing enzyme system Y. The H⁺-uptake after the first flash is assumed to be a consequence of the very fast reduction of oxidized Q₄₀₀(Fe³⁺) formed due to dark incubation with K₃[Fe(CN)₆]. The possible participation of component Z in the deprotonation reactions at the PSII donor side is discussed.Abbreviations A protonizable group at the PSII acceptor side - BCP Bromocresol Purple - DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea - FWHM Full Width at Half Maximum - Q_A, Q_B primary and secondary plastoquinone at PSII acceptor side - Q₄₀₀ redox group at PSII-acceptor side (high spin Fe²⁺) - P680 Photoactive chlorophyll of PSII reaction center - S_i redox states of the catalytic site of water oxidation - Z redox component connecting the catalytic site of water oxidation with the reaction center     

Ferritin enhances production of DNA strand breaks by 6-hydroxydopamine,ascorbic acid and H2O2 in CCC PM2 bacteriophage DNA

Damage of CCC PM2 DNA by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and ascorbic acid (AA), compounds that are both able to release iron from ferritin, was significantly enhanced in the presence of ferritin. H₂O₂, a product of 6-OHDA autoxidation, did not induce DNA strand breaks in the absence of ferritin and only to a minor extent in the presence of ferritin. DNA damage by 6-OHDA and AA could be reduced by the hydroxyl radical scavenger mannitol, the iron chelator desferrioxamine, and, partly, by a combination of superoxide dismutase and catalase. These inhibitory effects were clearly less pronounced in the presence of ferritin. Ferritin obviously played an important role as a source of iron in the pro-oxidative processes of 6-OHDA and AA. These features might be of importance in cancer therapy since many tumor cells contain elevated ferritin levels.     

The course control system of beetles walking in an air-current field

The wind-orientated walk of carrion beetles Necrophorus humator F. was analysed under closed-loop conditions with a walking compensator and under openloop conditions with a paired tread wheel (Fig. 1).

Cytokeratin expression in simple epithelia

To study the regulation of the expression of cytokeratins characteristic of simple epithelia, i.e., human cytokeratins nos. 7, 8, 18, and 19, we prepared several cDNA clones coding for these proteins and their bovine counterparts. In the present study, we describe a cDNA clone of the mRNA coding for human cytokeratin no. 18, which was isolated from an expression library using the monoclonal antibody, KG 8.13. This clone (756 nucleotides, excluding the polyA portion), encodes approximately one-half of the mRNA (approximately 1.4 kb), identifies one mRNA band in Northern-hybridization blots, and specifically selects one mRNA species coding for cytokeratin no. 18, as demonstrated by translation in vitro. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence--confirmed by direct amino-acid-sequence analyses of some polypeptide fragments produced by cleavage with cyanogen bromide--indicated that cytokeratin no. 18 is a member of the acidic (type I) subfamily of cytokeratins. It has only limited sequence homologies in common with other intermediate-sized filament proteins, and these are essentially restricted to certain domains of the alpha-helical rod portion. The carboxyterminal tail sequence does not contain glycine-rich elements, thus distinguishing this cytokeratin from those acidic (type I) cytokeratins that are characterized by this feature. The similarities and differences between cytokeratin no. 18 and previously described epidermal cytokeratins are discussed in relation to the differences in the stability of the complexes which this cytokeratin forms with basic (type II) cytokeratins, as well as in relation to possible functional differences of cytokeratins in simple and stratified epithelia.     

Zur Funktion der Mikrotubuli beim Wachstum der Myofibrillen von Insektenflugmuskeln

Zusammenfassung In der indirekten Flugmuskulatur von Phormia terrae-novae kann die Entwicklung der Myofibrillen deutlich in eine Anlage- und eine Wachstums-Phase unterteilt werden. Zu Beginn der Wachstumsphase wurde Puppen eine Lösung von Colchicin in die rechte Metathoraxhälfte injiziert. Als Folge dieser Behandlung lösten sich zunächst die Mikrotubuli in der Flugmuskulatur auf. In späteren Entwicklungsstadien bildeten sich atypische Verzweigungen der Myofibrillen, die zu einer partiellen Desorientierung der kontraktilen Strukturen führten. Ein Mechanismus, der solche Störungen des Orientierungmusters in der Normalentwicklung möglicherweise verhindert, wird diskutiert.

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On the function of microtubules during the growth period of myofibrils in insect flight muscles

Summary In the blowfly Phormia terrae-novae the development of myofibrils of indirect flight muscles can be divided into periods of predisposition (anlage) and of growth. At the beginning of the growth period microtubules are disrupted by injection of colchicine. This disruption is followed by the formation of atypical ramifications of myofibrils at Z-discs leading to numerous disoriented myofibrils in late developmental stages. A possible mechanism preventing these alterations during normal development is discussed.

Herrn Prof. Dr. H. Brettschneider bin ich für den in großzügiger Weise überlassenen Arbeitsplatz am Elektronenmikroskop zu Dank verpflichtet. Fräulein H. Bock danke ich für ausgezeichnete Hilfe.     

Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen über die Differenzierung von Insektenmuskeln während der Metamorphose

Zusammenfassung Bildung und Entwicklung der Darmmuskulatur und der dorsoventralen und longitudinalen, indirekten Flugmuskeln der Fleischfliege Phormia regina während der Metamorphose wurden elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Dabei wurden in der Anlage der myofibrillären Strukturen zwischen neugebildeten dorsoventralen Flugmuskeln einerseits und transformierten Darm- und longitudinalen Flugmuskeln andererseits deutliche Unterschiede festgestellt.Beim dorsoventralen Flugmuskel lösen sich die Z-Scheibenvorläufer als elektronendichte Bezirke von den beiden Differenzierungsfronten ab, die sich gleichzeitig von der Mitte einer Faser zu deren Ansatzstellen am Außenskelet verschieben. Den transformierten Muskeln fehlen diese Fronten. Hier entstehen Z-Scheibenvorläufer zwar ebenfalls in Form dichter Bezirke, jedoch im Innern der Fasern.Zu Beginn der Wachstumsphase sind in allen drei untersuchten Muskeln Fibrillenvorläufer mit dense-body-ähnlichen Z-Elementen vorhanden. In beiden Flugmuskeltypen vergrößern sie ihren Durchmesser gleichmäßig nach allen Richtungen. Bei der Darmmuskulatur dagegen wachsen die Z-Elemente, indem nur an einer oder zwei sich gegenüberliegenden Stellen des Umfangs zusätzliches Z-Scheibenmaterial aufgelagert wird. Die Differenzierung wird hier durch die Ausbildung einer perforierten Z-Scheibe abgeschlossen, die durch Fusion zahlreicher Z-Elemente entsteht. Die bei dieser Entwicklung auftretenden Zwischenstadien werden mit glatten, schräggestreiften und quergestreiften Muskeln anderer wirbelloser Tiere verglichen und im Hinblick auf die Evolution perforierter und solider Z-Scheiben diskutiert.

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On the differentiation of insect muscles during metamorphosis

Summary The formation and development of three types of imaginai muscle fibres in the blow-fly Phormia regina were investigated by electronmicroscopy. With this technique distinct differences were found in the predisposition (anlage) of myofibrillar structures in newly formed dorsoventral flight muscles on the one side and transformed longitudinal flight muscles and visceral muscles on the other.In dorsoventral flight muscles the precursors of Z-disks were detached as dense bodies from two fronts of differentiation activity (Differenzierungsfronten) which advanced from the centre of the fibres to their ends at insertion spots on the external skeleton. In transformed muscles the precursors of Z-disks developed likewise from dense bodies. These were, however, formed in the interior of the fibre, since differenzierungsfronten were absent.At the beginning of the growth period the three types of muscles contained precursors of fibrils with Z-elements, the latter of which resembled dense bodies. In both types of flight muscles these elements grew uniformly in all directions thus forming solid Z-disks. The Z-elements of visceral muscles, on the other hand, grew by accumulating additional material merely at one spot or at two opposite spots. In these muslces the process of differentiation was completed by the fusion of numerous dense bodies which resulted in the formation of perforated Z-disks.The described intermediate stages in development were compared with the final structure in smooth, obliquely and cross-striated muscles of various invertebrates. This confrontation allows certain conclusions regarding the evolution of perforated and solid Z-disks.

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Für die Anregung zu dieser Arbeit und für wertvolle Ratschläge sowie die Durchsicht des Manuskripts bin ich Herrn Prof. Dr. E. Zebe zu außerordentlichem Dank verpflichtet.

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Auszugsweise vorgetragen auf der 61. Tagung der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft, Heidelberg 1967.

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Stipendiat der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Inheritance of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase: genotyping in Chinese,Japanese and South Korean families reveals dominance of the mutant allele

Summary Genotyping of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH I) was performed in enzymatically amplified DNA of 20 Chinese, Japanese and South Korean families (85 individuals) and in 113 unrelated persons by employing allele-specific oligonucleotide probes and dot blot hybridization. Genotyping individuals with phenotypic deficiency of ALDH I activity always showed the presence of at least one mutant allele. The data are compatible with a model assuming dominant inheritance of the mutant allele, which we have previously suggested on the basis of a population study.     

Induction of accessory cell function of human alveolar macrophages by inhalation of human natural interleukin-2

 Accessory function allows antigen-presenting cells to produce sufficient secondary signals for optimum T cell proliferation and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production. Alveolar macrophages are inferior accessory cells compared to monocytes (PBM). We report here that the accessory index (AI) of alveolar macrophages and PBM of patients with lung metastases of solid tumors treated with inhalations of human natural IL-2 (hnIL-2) increased following its administration (P<0.005). The accessory index was significantly elevated from baseline values after 2 weeks of inhalation of 300 000 IU hnIL-2/day (8.2±10.2 compared to 1.1±1; P<0.001). The inhalation of 150 000 IU also induced increases in the index (AI = 2.3±1.9), however, without reaching statistical significance. In addition at 300 000 IU IL-2/day a significant increase in the accessory index was observed for PBM (4±2.5; P<0.05). The indices of PBM and alveolar macrophages prior to inhalation showed a significant negative correlation with the age of the patients (r _s =  – 0.5; r _s =  – 0.8, respectively; P<0.03 for all comparisons). Our data demonstrate that the inhalational application of hnIL-2 enhances the accessory function of alveolar macrophages and, to lesser extent, the accessory index of PBM, indicating the occurrence of pharmacological immunostimulation. Received: 16 August 1995 / Accepted: 4 January 1996     

Recruitment of helper T cells for induction of tumour rejection by cytolytic T lymphocytes

Immunotherapy of cancer could be possible in cases in which competent effector T cells can be induced. Such an approach depends on expression of tumour-specific antigens by the tumour cells and on the availability of sufficient costimulatory support for activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Here, a strategy for helper T cell recruitment for induction of tumour-specific cytotoxic immune responses is presented. Allogenic MHC class II molecules were introduced into tumour cells by cell fusion. These hybrid cells, when injected into mice, induced rejection of an established tumour. The contribution of CD4-expressing helper T cells in the induction phase and of CD8-expressing T cells in the effector phase of the immune response was demonstrated. The approach described could be applicable to cases in which a suitable tumour antigen is present but not identified; it employs regulatory interactions that govern physiological immune responses and is designed to be minimally invasive.