Transition from somatic to meiotic pairing and progressional changes of the synaptonemal complex in spermatocytes of Aedes aegypti

Aedes aegypti spermatocytes were reconstructed from electron micrographs. The species has tight somatic pairing of the chromosomes, and there are therefore no classical leptotene and zygotene stages, but rather a gradual transition from somatic pairing to meiotic pairing (= pachytene). The term prepachytene has been used for the transitory stage. The first visible sign of impending meiosis was a reorganization of the chromatin, which resulted in the formation of spaces (synaptic spaces) in the chromatin, about the width of the synaptonemal complexes (SCs). Diffuse material, possibly precursor material for the SC, was present in the spaces. Later short pieces of complex were formed throughout the nucleus. Late prepachytene, pachytene, and diplotene complexes were reconstructed. Each chromosome occupied a separate region of the nucleus. The complexes became progressively shorter from prepachytene (maximum complement length 289 m) to diplotene (175 m). The thickness of the SCs increased from prepachytene to pachytene and probably decreased again during diplotene. At the beginning of diplotene the lateral elements (LEs) separated, and the single LEs became two to three times thicker than the LEs of the SC. The centromeres were at all stages attached to the nuclear membrane, whereas the telomeres were free in the nucleoplasm during pachytene and diplotene. A heterochromatic marker was present on chromosome 1 near the sex determining locus, and a diffuse marker on chromosome 3 near the nucleolus organizer region. After breakdown of the complexes, polycomplexes were present in the nucleus.     

Ultrastructural studies of late meiotic prophase nuclei of spermatocytes in Ascaris suum

Post pachytene stages of meiotic prophase in males of Ascaris suum have been analyzed with the electron microscope. No synaptonemal-like polycomplexes (PCs) have been observed in the nucleoplasm or cytoplasm during the period from pachytene to diakinesis. From Serially sectioned diplotene nuclei it was found that the bivalents are located near the periphery of the nuclei, the central part of the nuclei being vacant. Each nucleus contains one nucleolus. Up to 1 m long stretches of unpaired lateral elements (LEs) are found in some of the diplotene bivalents. These LEs are morphologically similar to unpaired LEs in early zygotene nuclei. Partial 3-dimensional reconstruction of two nuclei shows that the bivalents contain some small stretches of synaptonemal complex (SC) up to 1.9 m long. Some bivalents at diakinesis show remnants of SCs. At this stage chromosomes are fibrous, condensed, attached to the nuclear envelope and mostly with a rounded profile in cross section. The synchronous development of the spermatocytes and small bivalents at diplotene in A. suum make this system a good object for the study of localization of SC remnants.     

Development of the synaptonemal complex and the “recombination nodules” during meiotic prophase in the seven bivalents of the fungus Sordaria macrospora Auersw

Complete reconstruction of seven leptotene, six zygotene, three pachytene and three diplotene nuclei has permitted to follow the pairing process in the Ascomycete Sordaria macrospora. The seven bivalents in Sordaria can be identified by their length. The lateral components of the synaptonemal complexes (SC) are formed just after karyogamy but are discontinuous at early leptotene. Their ends are evenly distributed on the nuclear envelope. The homologous chromosomes alignment occurs at late leptotene before SC formation. The precise pairing starts when a distance of 200–300 nm is reached. Each bivalent has several independent central component initiation sites with preferentially pairing starting near the nuclear envelope. These sites are located in a constant position along the different bivalents in the 6 observed nuclei. The seven bivalents are not synchronous either in the process of alignment or in SC formation: the small chromosomes are paired first. At pachytene the SC is completed in each of the 7 bivalents. Six bivalents have one fixed and one randomly attached telomeres. The fixed end of the nucleolar organizer is the nucleolus anchored end. At diffuse stage and diplotene, only small stretches of the SC are preserved. The lateral components increase in length is approximately 34% between leptotene and pachytene. Their lengths remain constant during pachytene. From zygotene to diplotene the central components contain local thickenings (nodules). At late zygotene and pachytene each bivalent has 1 to 4 nodules and the location of at least one is constant. The total number of nodules remains constant from pachytene to diplotene and is equal to the mean total number of chiasmata. The observations provide additional insight into meiotic processes such as chromosome movements, initiation and development of the pairing sites during zygotene, the existence of fixed telomeres, the variations in SC length. The correspondence between nodules and chiasmata are discussed.     

A fresh look at meiosis and centromeric heterochromatin in the red-backed salamander,Plethodon cinereus cinereus (Green)

Male meiosis, with special regard to the centromeric heterochromatin and to centromeric structure, has been studied in the salamander, Plethodon cinereus cinereus. In this salamander, n = 14. Early meiotic prophase proceeds as described by other authors. Pachytene is followed by a diffuse stage in which much of the chromosomal DNA becomes reorganized into fine lateral loops which spring from the bivalent axes. These loops can be seen along the bivalent axes as early as zygotene. Loops are maximally extended in the diffuse stage. The formation of diplotene bivalents involves a return of this extended DNA into the axes of the bivalents. — At leptotone, centromeric heterochromatin is in one or a few large masses. These masses break up during zygotene. At pachytene there is one mass of heterochromatin at the centromeric region of each bivalent. The heterochromatin remains condensed in the diffuse stage. During diplotene, centromeric heterochromatin becomes less conspicuous, and it is possible to see 4 centromere granules in each diplotene bivalent. These observations support the view that centromeres replicate at pre-meiotic S-phase when the associated hetero-chromatin is replicated. In the interphase before the 2nd division, the hetero-chromatin often forms a broken ring corresponding to the positions of the centromeres at the end of anaphase 1. There are 14 masses of heterochromatin in nuclei at prophase of the 2nd division. In spermatids, the heterochromatin appears as a single solid mass or a broken ring.     

Evaluation of the neurotoxic activity of typical and atypical neuroleptics: relevance to iatrogenic extrapyramidal symptoms

Typical neuroleptic therapy often results in extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and tardive dyskinesia (TD). Recent reports reveal neurotoxic activity in some neuroleptics. We hypothesized that neurotoxicity might be implicated in EPS. This study aims to evaluate the neurotoxic activity of typical and atypical neuroleptics and to determine the possible role of neurotoxicity in neuroleptic-induced EPS. Perphenazine, haloperidol, clozapine, sulpiride, and risperidone (10–100 M) were administered, either alone or combined with dopamine, to primary mouse neuronal or intact brain culture and to a human neuroblastoma (NB) cell line (SK-N-SH). Cell viability (measured by neutral red and alamar blue), DNA fragmentation (flow cytometry–NB) were determined. Neuroblastoma: perphenazine, clozapine, and haloperidol (100 M) decreased viability by 87, 43, and 34% respectively. Sulpiride and risperidone were not toxic. At 10 M, toxicity decreased markedly. Dopamine (125 M) potentiated the perphenazine-induced toxicity. Flow cytometry of NB cells treated with perphenazine (2.5–40 M) showed an increase (perphenazine 20 M, 40 M, 48 h) in fragmented DNA (74.7% and 95.0% vs. 8.7% in controls). Lower concentrations increased the G1 phase and decreased S phase in the cell cycle. In primary neurons, perphenazine, haloperidol, and clozapine, but not risperidone and sulpiride, induced a significant neurotoxic effect, which, in intact brain culture, was absent (haloperidol and clozapine) or lowered (perphenazine). Dopamine (0.5 mM) did not modify the effect of the drugs in the primary cultures. Neuroleptics possess differential neurotoxic activity with higher sensitivity of neoplasm tissue (NB compared to primary cultures). The order of toxicity was perphenazine > haloperidol = clozapine; sulpiride and risperidone were not toxic. Neurotoxicity is independent of dopamine and is associated with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. With the exception of clozapine, neurotoxicity seems relevant to neuroleptic-induced EPS and TD.     

Ultrastructural analysis of the sperm cells of mature pollen of maize,Zea mays

Summary Ultrastructural analysis of the mature viable unhydrated pollen of maize,Zea mays from dehiscent anthers shows that the sperm cells are physically distant, each bounded by an envelope comprising their own plasma membrane and the inner plasma membrane of the vegetative cell. The chondriome is unusual in containing one or more filamentous complexes, up to 12m in length appressed to the side of the sperm nucleus. The extensions at each end of the elongate sperm cells contain longitudinally-oriented arrays of endoplasmic lamellae. In a three-dimensional reconstruction of serial thin sections, there is a long J-shaped sperm, c. 35 × 5m and up to 1m in thickness, sited within pointed evaginations of the vegetative nucleus and a second shorter sperm c. 20 × 5m and up to 3.5m in thickness.Abbreviations PA-TCH-SP periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazide-silver proteinate - DAPI 4,6-diamino-2-phenylindole - SC sperm cell - Sn sperm nucleus - Ua-Pb Uranyl acetate-lead citrate staining - ER endoplasmic reticulum     

Synapsis,desynapsis, and formation of polycomplex-like aggregates in male meiosis of Pales ferruginea (diptera,tipulidae)

Meiotic prophase in Pales ferruginea spermatocytes was studied by means of 3D electron microscopical reconstruction. Chromosomes in early prophase nuclei from freshly hatched IVth instar larvae were found to be partially synapsed at several sites along the genome. The synaptic regions are distributed more or less homogeneously throughout the nucleus, i.e., they are not preferentially located. The average lengths of the synaptic regions (length of synaptonemal complex fragments, SC) were 0.62, 0.73, 0.86, and 1.0 m in four different nuclei. Unpaired axial cores were not observed, neither in nuclei with partially synapsed chromosomes nor in nuclei devoid of SC fragments. — Chromosomes in diplotene nuclei from 7–8 days old IVth instar larvae were also found to be partially synapsed, revealing SC fragments with average lengths of 1.6 and 1.95 m in two nuclei analysed. The longest SC fragments observed in diplotene were 3–6.5 m. Diplotene SCs show signs of disintegration. Unpaired axial cores do not occur. The number and the average length of SC fragments decreases towards early diakinesis. During this stage the formation of polycomplex-like aggregates (PC) begins. In later diakinesis each nucleus contains one (occasionally two) PC, while SC fragments are absent. — The observations were interpreted as follows: 1. Due to the absence of unpaired cores early prophase in Pales is difficult to relate to the typical stages of lepto- and zygotene as observed in other organisms. Synapsis seems to begin at many sites along the chromosomes. Since zipper-like alignment of cores does not occur, the entire SC structure evidently becomes assembled de novo during synapsis. 2. During desynapsis in diplotene the SCs seem to become gradually distintegrated into molecular subunits up to diakinesis. 3. The integration of SC material into PCs in diakinesis may be understood as a crystallization process from a pool of molecular subunits.     

An electron microscopic study of synaptonemal complex formation at zygotene in rye

A spreading technique was used to allow ultrastructural analysis of seventeen zygotene nuclei of rye (Secale cereale). Twenty pachytene nuclei were also examined. Lateral element lengths of the haploid complements decreased from 742 m at the beginning of zygotene to 451 m at the end of zygotene. Variation in pachytene synaptonemal complex lengths was also noted. Zygotene synaptonemal complex formation in rye is characterised by: (1) existence of a bouquet, with telomeric pairing initiation earliest; (2) multiple sites of initiation in each bivalent (maximum of 76 synaptonemal complex segments seen in one nucleus); (3) the potential number of pairing initiation sites may be higher (the average spacing of 4.42 m would allow approximately 160 sites per nucleus); (4) new pairing initiations occur almost until the end of zygotene; (5) initiation of new synaptonemal complexes and extension of existing synaptonemal complexes occur simultaneously. A simple zipping up of a few initiation sites is not the case in rye. Pairing in different bivalents of a nucleus is not completely synchronised, and the NOR in particular is often late to pair. Interlocking of lateral elements and synaptonemal complexes may lead to delayed completion of pairing in portions of bivalents, but interlocks are ultimately resolved. This resolution may involve breakage and rejoining of lateral elements.     

Gamete Structure and Fertilization in the Barents Sea Sponge Leucosolenia complicata

The ultrastructure of male and female gametes of asconoid sponge Leucosolenia complicata(Calcispongiae, Calcaronea), a hermaphrodite species that reproduces in autumn, is described. The mature sponge's oocytes were up to 70 m in diameter, had no coatings, and contained a nucleus about 31 m in diameter with large nucleoli (up to 6.6 m). There were vacuoles with fibrillar contents typical of calcareous sponges in ooplasm. During vitellogenesis, a cluster of a great number of nurse cells developed above each oocyte from transformed choanocytes. Mature spermia of L. complicatalooked like orbicular cells about 2.5 m in diameter, with no acrosome or tail. The spermium nucleus (diameter about 2.2 m) was formed by incompletely condensed chromatin and was surrounded with a thin layer of cytoplasm of nonuniform thickness. In the thick layer of cytoplasm beyond the ribosomes, there were two or three mitochondria, dictyosomes, and electron-dense protein bodies lying freely under the nucleus. Fertilization occurred with the aid of a carrier cell. During spawning (mass release of spermia), any nurse cell complex can seize a spermium and transform into a carrier cell in situ. The transformation of a seized spermium into a spermiocyst was connected with the rapid isolation of the spermium nucleus from the protein body. Fertilization began with the penetration of the protein body into the oocyte cytoplasm. Only after this did the spermium's nucleus penetrate into the oocyte.     

Fine structure of the spermatozoon of the sea cucumber,Leptosynapta clarki (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea)

Summary The spermatozoon of the holothurian Leptosynapta clarki has a small circular head measuring about 3.0 at the greatest diameter, a midpiece containing a single mitochondrion and a tail flagellum measuring between 35 and 45 in length. The acrosomal region contains a granule measuring 0.7 in diameter which consists of electron dense material arranged in concentric lamellae. Five concentric very electron dense lamellae alternate with areas of much less electron dense material in the central region of the granule. This granule rests in an anterior nuclear depression.The nucleus is circular in shape and contains one or two unbound vacuoles which frequently contain a fine granular material. Posteriorly the nucleus is bounded by a large mitochondrion and an occasional Golgi complex. The proximal centriole which contains a lateral arm of dense material lies in a deep fossa projecting into the nucleus. The distal centriole lies posteriorly in the mitochondrial mass and gives rise to nine satellite projections and their Y-shaped connective extensions.The tail contains the 9 + 2 tubule arrangement and tapers at its distal end.This investigation was supported by a National Research Council grant to F. S. Chia.     

The contribution of size-fractionated plankton to biomass and primary production of phytoplankton in saline–alkaline ponds

Primary productivity, biomass and chlorophyll-a of size fractionated phytoplankton (<0.22 m, <3 m, <8 m, <10 m, <40 m, <64 m, <112 m and <200 m) were estimated in 6 ponds and 5 experimental enclosures. The results showed that the planktonic algae less than 10 m are important in the biomass and production of phytoplankton in saline–alkaline ponds. The production of size fractionated phytoplankton corresponding to <112 m, <10 m and <3 m in saline–alkaline ponds were 10.5 ± 6.6 , 8.6 ± 5.4 and 0.33 ± 0.1 mgC l^–1 d^–1, respectively. Mean community respiration rate was 1.80 ± 0.73, 1.69 ± 0.90 and 1.38 ± 1.12 mgC l^–1 d^–1, respectively. The average production of phytoplankton corresponding to micro- (10–112 m), nano- (3–10 m) and pico- (<3 m) were 1.61, 8.30 and 0.33 mgC l^–1 d^–1, respectively. The ratio of those to the total phytoplankton production was 15%, 79% and 3%, respectively. The mean respiration rate of the different size groups was 0.11, 0.31 and 1.38 mgC l^–1 d^–1; the ratio of those to total respiration of phytoplankton was 6%, 17% and 77%, respectively. The production of size-fractionated phytoplankton corresponding to <200 m, <10 m and <3 m in enclosures was 2.19 ± 1.63, 2.08 ± 1.75 and 0.22 ± 0.08 mgC l^–1 d^-1, respectively. Mean community respiration rates were 1.25 ± 1.55, 1.17 ± 1.42 and 0.47 ± 0.32 mgC l^–1 d^–1, respectively. The average production of phytoplankton corresponding to micro- (10–200 m), nano- (3–10 m) and pico- (<3 m) plankton was 0.11, 1.86 and 0.22 mgC l^–1 d^–1, respectively. The ratio of those to the total production of phytoplankton was 5%, 85% and 10%, respectively. The mean respiration rate of different size groups were 0.08, 0.72 and 0.46 mgC l^–1 d^–1, the ratio of those to total respiration of phytoplankton was 6%, 57% and 37%, respectively. The concentrations of chlorophyll-a of the phytoplankton in the corresponding size of micro- (10–112 m), nano- (3–10 m) and pico- (<3 m) plankton in the experimental ponds were 19.3, 98.2 and 11. 9 g l^–1, respectively. The ratio of those to the total chlorophyll-a was 15%, 76% and 9%, respectively. The concentrations of chlorophyll-a of phytoplankton micro- (10–200 m), nano- (3–10 m) and pico- (<3 m) plankton in enclosures were 1.7, 34.3 and 3.0 g l^–1, respectively. The ratio of those to the total chlorophyll-a was 4%, 88% and 8%, respectively.     

The fine structure of the olfactory tract in the teleost Carassius carassius L.

Summary Electronmicrographic montages of the olfactory tract at two levels in each of two fish (Carassius carassius L.) were constructed and fibre diameters measured using a Zeiss TGZ 3 particle size analyzer. Medial and lateral tract divisions, rhinocele and dorsal tela were identified. Ciliated ependymal cells line the rhinocele. Meninges form the outer covering of both tract divisions and the tela roofing the central canal.The lateral tract consists of 10–14 fasciculi in which myelinated nerve fibres are prominent. These fibres range in diameter between 0.2 and 1.8 (mean 0.7 ) consistent with conduction velocities averaging 0.6 m/sec recorded in the carp lateral olfactory tract.The medial division of the olfactory tract contains two larger fasciculi within which are numerous fine unmyelinated nerve fibres (mean diameter 0.17 ) arranged in bundles partly enveloped by glial cell processes. Myelinated nerve fibres are unevenly distributed within both fasciculi and have mean diameters of 0.6 .An interesting observation is the consistent presence of synapses within the largest bundle of the medial tract at all levels.Supported by Grant 5 Ro5 TW00154-03 from the National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health Service.The authors are indebted to the Fisheries and Wildlife Department who generously provided the fish from Snob's Creek Fish Hatchery, and gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Mr. T. Armitage, Mr. J. Simmons and Miss D. Harrison.     

The endogenous development of three new intranuclear species of Isospora (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from agamid lizards

Three new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 are described from agamid lizards, Isospora cannoni n. sp. in Diporiphora australis from northern Queensland, Australia, I. choochotei n. sp. in Calotes mystaceus from northern Thailand, and I. deserti n. sp. in Agama pallida from Israel. I. cannoni oöcysts are subspherical, 20–25 × 22.5–27.5 m with two ovoid sporocysts, 14–15.5 × 10–11.5 m. I. choochotei oöcysts are spherical to subspherical, 24–32 × 28–32.5 m with two ovoid sporocysts, 11 × 15.5–18 m. I. deserti oöcysts are spherical, 25–28 m in diameter with two ovoid sporocysts, 10–11 × 14–17.5 m. All species had sporocysts with Stieda bodies and underwent endogenous development in the nucleus of the host gut epithelial cells. At completion of merogony and gamogony, the host nucleus was reduced to a thin envelope. The significance of endogenous stage characteristics in Isospora taxonomy is discussed.     

Effects of random motility on growth of bacterial populations

A spatially distributed mathematical model is developed to elucidate the effects of chemical diffusion and cell motility as well as cell growth, death, and substrate uptake on steady-state bacterial population growth in a finite, one-dimensional, nonmixed region. The situation considered is growth limited by a diffusing substrate from an adjacent phase not accessible to the bacteria. Chemotactic movement is not considered in this paper; we consider only randomwalk-type random motility behavior here. The following important general concepts are suggested by the results of our theoretical analysis: (a) The significance of random motility effects depends on the magnitude of the ratio/kL ², where is the bacterial random motility coefficient,k is the growth rate constant, andL is the linear dimension of the confined growth region. (b) In steady-state growth in a confined region, the bacterial population size decreases as increases. (c) The effect of on population size can be great; in fact, sometimes relative population sizes of two species can be governed primarily by the relative values of rather than by the relative values ofk.     

Intestinal microflora in the deep-sea isopodBathynomus giganteus

Observations with the scanning electron microscope showed that the deep-sea isopodBathynomus giganteus harbors a dense microflora within the digestive tract. The gut microflora is composed of a diversity of microorganisms, including an unusually large bacterial morphotype that predominates almost exclusively in the anterior end of the hindgut. The majority of these large bacteria measured 1.9 m×8.5 m and many reached a size of 2.0 m×10.0 m.     

Cell aggregates in wheat suspension cultures and their effects on isolation and culture of protoplasts

Fine embryogenic suspension cultures of wheat (Triticum aestivum cv Hartog and Timmo, and T. durum cv D6962) tend to grow into large cell clumps (1–3 mm), resulting in the formation of mixed suspension cultures consisting of both fine and large cell clumps. The cell clumps were separated according to their sizes and cultured as new lines to investigate their growth rate and differentiation potential and the effects of cell aggregate size on protoplast culture. The results showed that the fine clusters (<310 m) had a higher growth rate but a lower differentiation frequency than the large cell aggregates (310–2000 m). After 2–4 weeks incubation, all the new lines reformed mixed suspension cultures again. The large clumps (>1100 m) released fine cell clusters into the medium so it was possible to initiate fine embryogenic suspension cultures from the large clumps. With regard to the isolation and culture of protoplasts, although the highest yield of protoplasts was obtained from the fine cell clusters, the protoplasts isolated from different sized cell aggregates all had similar potential for sustained cell division and plant regeneration.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - PCV packed cell volume     

Regeneration of Elaeagnus angustifolia from leaf segments of in vitro-derived shoots

Shoot regeneration was achieved from in vitro-produced leaves of Elaeagnus angustifolia L. Half-leaf explants from the terminal part of the shoot produced more shoots than explants from the basal part of the in vitro-derived shoots on agar-solidified WPM medium supplemented with 1 M benzyladenine (BA). In liquid medium of the same formulation, compact shoots that did not elongate were formed on the explants. Leaf cross-section explants (1 mm thick) produced shoots both on solid and liquid medium with 1 M BA, whereas again compact shoots were formed with 10 M BA. Further shoot development on these explants was promoted by their transfer to fresh solid medium containing 1 M BA and 1 M gibberellic acid (GA₃).Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - GA₃ gibberellic acid - WPM woody plant medium     

The detection and characterization of bacteria-sized protists in “Protist-free” filtrates and their potential impact on experimental marine ecology

Nuclepore filters of 0.6–1.0m pore size have been used to prepare protist-free water for a number of studies in microbial ecology. This procedure has been called into question by a recent study claiming that a significant portion of bacterial loss in filtrates could be due to uncharacterized predators passing through 0.6m filters. We were unable to directly observe protists in 0.6m filtrates using phase contrast, epifluorescence, or transmission electron microscopy. Using the culture techniques of rice grain enrichment and most probable number, however, we were able to observe and quantify several species of bacterivorous nanoflagellates that developed not only in 0.6m, but also in 0.4m seawater filtrates. The ability of predacious nanoflagellates to squeeze through bacteria-sized pores questions studies of bacterial production and chemical cycling that have assumed protist-free filtrates.     

Reversal of cerulenin inhibition ofMycobacterium avium by octanoate

Mycobacterium avium is an opportunistic pathogen that may cause either localized or, in persons with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), disseminated disease. Under certain conditionsM. avium exhibits a requirement for fatty acid for maximum production of colony-forming units (CFU). However, cerulenin, a drug that inhibits fatty acid synthetase, inhibited the growth ofM. avium LM1 (serovar 1) with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 10 g/ml regardless of oleic acid supplementation at 50 g/ml. Cerulenin at 10 g/ml also inhibited the growth of five other strains ofM. avium isolated from AIDS patients. Octanoate, oleate, and palmitate, individually or in two-way combinations, were tested for ability to reverse the effect of cerulenin. Octanoate at 50 g/ml could reverse the bactericidal effect of cerulenin at 10 g/ml and the bacteriostatic effect of the drug at 5 g/ml. Because cerulenin when effectively inhibiting production of CFU also prevented cell elongation, the data suggest that octanoate, or a metabolic product, is critical to cell division ofM. avium.     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae 2-mum DNA. An analysis of the monomer and its multimers by electron microscopy.

Summary The non-tandem inverted duplication in the 2-m DNA of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has a length of 0.19 m and is located asymmetrically along the molecule. The majority of the dumb-bell structures that are formed upon denaturation and selfannealing of the 2-m monomer consists of the renatured inverted duplication sequences as double stranded stem and two single stranded loops of 0.67 m±0.06 m (S-loop) and 0.86 m±0.05 m (L-loop) length. Two additional size classes which comprised 5–10% of the measured molecules had contour lengths of around 1.7 m and 2.1 m. The smaller dumb-bells contained two S-loops and the larger dumb-bells contained two L-loops as was shown by heteroduplex mapping with an HindIII fragment from the L-loop. Two models which assume illegitimate or site specific recombination, are presented to explain the generation of double S-loop and double L-loop molecules. At least part of the 4-m and 6- circular molecules present in the yeast supercoiled DNA fraction are shown to be dimers and trimers of 2-m monomers, but often with inverted loop segments most probably due to intramolecular recombination between sequences of the inverted duplication.2-m DNA is used to indicate the supercoiled DNA fraction although in our measurements the average monomeric length is 1.9 mPart of this work has been presented at the Conference: The Genetics and Biogenesis of Chloroplasts and Mitochondria, Munich, August, 1976