Human carcinoma-associated and salivary mucins detected by anti-bovine submaxillary mucin antibodies

Polyclonal rabbit anti-bovine submaxillary mucin antibodies, anti-BSM IgG, were analyzed by autoradiography and densitometry (after SDS electrophoresis and blotting), ELISA, and IRMA assays for reactivity against native antigen BSM, deglycosylated and desialylated BSM, and human salivary and carcinoma-associated mucins. Known human tumor marker CA19-9 antigen reacted with rabbit anti-BSM IgG under different conditions, either soluble or immobilized. As soluble antigen, in IRMA it reacted with anti-BSM antibodies used both as a catcher and a tracer, as well as in combination with monoclonal anti-CA19-9 antibodies as a catcher. MUC1 mucin is a carrier of this carbohydrate antigen, CA19-9, or sialyl-Lewis^a, as well as of CA15-3 antigen, a known breast tumor marker. Autoradiography and densitometry demonstrated binding of anti-BSM IgG to intact MUC1 in a sample of commercial standard preparation of CA19-9 antigen. The same method and analysis demonstrated binding of anti-BSM IgG to MUC1 and to smaller antigens of 85–120 kD in samples containing CA15-3 antigen: commercial standard preparation, human breast tissue, and human milk. In a sample of whole human saliva, reactions of both isoforms of MUC7 were detected by autoradiography, as bands of 85 and 115 kD, and densitogram analysis also demonstrated reaction with MUC5B. Chemical modifications performed as periodate oxidation and desialylation of the BSM demonstrated carbohydrate (i.e., sialic acid) epitope sensitivity for anti-BSM IgG. The results presented in this work indicate that polyclonal anti-BSM antibodies are specific for sialylated carbohydrate structure on mucins and could serve as a tool for investigation of human carcinoma-associated and salivary mucins.     

Transients of delayed fluorescence induction signal and photosynthetic antennas: A possible relationship. Mathematical modeling approach

A mathematical model was developed for resolved temporal transients of experimentally recorded delayed fluorescence (DF) induction signal. During an intermittent light regime, antennas of the photosynthetic apparatus were treated as targets, repeatedly hit by potentially absorbable photons within a series of consecutive light flashes. Formulas were derived for the number of antennas, cumulatively hit by a specific number of photons, as a function of the flash serial number (time). Model parameters included number of absorbable photons in one flash, antenna sizes, and their number. A series of induction curves were analyzed, obtained from a Zea mays leaf segment and differing in the previous dark period (t _d). Each curve, consisting of the two most prominent DF transients (C and D), was fitted with several model types, differing in the number of absorbed photons. For both transients, the best fitting result was achieved when DF induction was linked to the second absorbed photon. As expected, model parameters related to antenna sizes showed weaker dependence on t _d than those referring to antenna number. With restrictions applied to this model, the two DF induction transients may be related to two classes of photosynthetic antennas. Their different sizes may have a predominant influence on the efficiency of photon absorption and possibly time-dependent appearance of DF transients. Published in Russian in Fiziologiya Rastenii, 2006, Vol. 53, No. 3, pp. 325–335. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Spatial autocorrelation in two Iris pumila populations estimated on morphological data from natural clones and their samples grown in two different habitats

Morphological data from two Iris pumila populations (measured on native clones, on their replants into the same habitat, and on their transplants into alternative habitat) were combined with native clones spatial position and spatial autocorrelations (SA) were calculated. Naturally growing I. pumila clones revealed significant SA that were positive on small distances and negative on medium ones in both open Hillock and shaded Woodland populations. No significant SA were detected when calculated with original clone positions, but with morphometric data from replants into the experimental plot in the same habitat. Some significant SA were, however, detected when morphometric data from transplants to alternative habitat were used. Detected SA on I. pumila clones were primarily a consequence of spatial structuring of environmental factors but also, in a lesser degree, a result of genetic spatial arrangements (most probably due to patterns of gene flow). The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Die Vegetationsregionen der Rila-Planina

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UeberCrocus vittatus Schloss. et Vukot

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Beiträge zur Flora Kroatiens

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