The three-dimensional structure of supercoiled deoxyribonucleic acid in solution. Evidence obtained from the angular distribution of scattered light

1. The size and shape of superhelical double-stranded circular DNA from bacteriophage ØX174 were investigated by light-scattering. The molecular weight of the DNA is 3.17×10⁶ and the root-mean-square radius is 103.5nm. 2. The light-scattering envelopes of various theoretical three-dimensional models for such DNA molecules were calculated by repetitive computational techniques, and the results were compared with the experimental findings. 3. It is concluded that the structure of supercoiled DNA containing −12 superhelical turns in buffer of I0.2 corresponds best to one of the more compact models for superhelix structure such as the branched model, and the commonly employed straight interwound superhelix model is incompatible with the experimental results, at the superhelix density found.     

Variable stability of a selectable provirus after retroviral vector gene transfer into human cells.

Human lymphoblasts deficient in the enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) were infected with an amphotropic helper-free retroviral vector expressing human HPRT cDNA. The stability and expression of the HPRT provirus in five cell lines with different proviral integration sites were examined by determining HPRT mutation and reversion frequencies and by blot hybridization studies. Mutation to the HPRT-negative phenotype occurred at frequencies of approximately 4 X 10(-5) to 3 X 10(-6) per generation. Most mutations in each of the five cell lines were associated with partial or complete deletions or rearrangements of the provirus. Several mutants retained a grossly intact HPRT provirus, and in one such mutant HPRT shutdown resulted from a revertible epigenetic mechanism that was not associated with global changes in proviral methylation. Therefore, mutation and shutdown of the HPRT provirus in human lymphoblasts result from mechanisms similar to those reported for several other avian and mammalian replication-competent retroviruses.     

Pollen-based biome reconstruction for southern Europe and Africa 18,000 yr bp

Pollen data from 18,000 ¹⁴C yr bp were compiled in order to reconstruct biome distributions at the last glacial maximum in southern Europe and Africa. Biome reconstructions were made using the objective biomization method applied to pollen counts using a complete list of dryland taxa wherever possible. Consistent and major differences from present‐day biomes are shown. Forest and xerophytic woods/scrub were replaced by steppe, both in the Mediterranean region and in southern Africa, except in south‐western Cape Province where fynbos (xerophytic scrub) persisted. Sites in the tropical highlands, characterized today by evergreen forest, were dominated by steppe and/or xerophytic vegetation (cf. today’s Ericaceous belt and Afroalpine grassland) at the last glacial maximum. Available data from the tropical lowlands are sparse but suggest that the modern tropical rain forest was largely replaced by tropical seasonal forest while the modern seasonal or dry forests were encroached on by savanna or steppe. Montane forest elements descended to lower elevations than today.     

Astrogliosis during acute and chronic cuprizone demyelination and implications for remyelination

In multiple sclerosis, microglia/macrophage activation and astrocyte reactivity are important components of the lesion environment that can impact remyelination. The current study characterizes these glial populations relative to expression of candidate regulatory molecules in cuprizone demyelinated corpus callosum. Importantly, periods of recovery after acute or chronic cuprizone demyelination are examined to compare conditions of efficient versus limited remyelination, respectively. Microglial activation attenuates after early demyelination. In contrast, astrocyte reactivity persists throughout demyelination and a 6-week recovery period following either acute or chronic demyelination. This astrocyte reaction is characterized by (a) early proliferation, (b) increased expression of GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein), Vim (vimentin), Fn1 (fibronectin) and CSPGs (chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans) and (c) elaboration of a dense network of processes. Glial processes elongated in the axonal plane persist throughout lesion areas during both the robust remyelination that follows acute demyelination and the partial remyelination that follows chronic demyelination. However, prolonged astrocyte reactivity with chronic cuprizone treatment does not progress to barrier formation, i.e. dense compaction of astrocyte processes to wall off the lesion area. Multiple candidate growth factors and inflammatory signals in the lesion environment show strong correlations with GFAP across the acute cuprizone demyelination and recovery time course, yet there is more divergence across the progression of chronic cuprizone demyelination and recovery. However, differential glial scar formation does not appear to be responsible for differential remyelination during recovery in the cuprizone model. The astrocyte phenotype and lesion characteristics in this demyelination model inform studies to identify triggers of non-remyelinating sclerosis in chronic multiple sclerosis lesions.     

Alveolar bone loss in wild baboons

Radiograph-based methods were used to assess alveolar bone loss in 12 juvenile and 18 adult baboons (Papio hamadryas, sensu lato) living in the Awash National Park, Ethiopia. Alveolar bone loss, as measured from the cementoenamel junction to the alveolar crest, averaged about 1 mm in juveniles and about 1.5 mm in adults. Densitometry of alveolar bone from the radiographs provides a baseline for comparisons with other adult baboons. Periodontal disease surveys of baboon populations using such methods may identify potential etiological agents. Such knowledge may contribute to a better understanding of periodontal disease etiology in humans. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Protein variations and primatology

We summarize work based on electrophoretic screening for protein variation within and between primate species. We consider serum proteins—albumins, haptoglobins, transferrins—and red cell proteins—carbonic anhydrases, hemoglobins. Using hemoglobin, cytochrome-c, and fibrinopeptides as examples, we discuss the value of using molecular data, i.e. protein structures, in evolutionary studies and in primatology.