Revision of the Genus Scopelogadus (Melamphaidae). 3. S. bispinosus and S. perplexus sp. n.

Journal of Ichthyology - Scopelogadus bispinosus has been redescribed, its species status has been restored. It has long been considered a subspecies of S. mizolepis. The species inhabits mainly...     

Sphagnum divinum (sp. nov.) and S. medium Limpr. and their relationship to S. magellanicum Brid.

Sphagnum magellanicum has been viewed as being a predominantly circumpolar species in the northern hemisphere, but it occurs in the southern hemisphere and was originally described from the southern parts of Chile. It is an ecologically important species in mire ecosystems and has been extensively used as a model to study processes of growth, carbon sequestration and peat decomposition. Molecular and experimental studies have, however, revealed genetic structure within S. magellanicum, and morphological differences associated with these genetic groups. Here we describe Sphagnum divinum in Sphagnum subgenus Sphagnum (Sphagnaceae, Bryophyta) as a new species, based on molecular and morphological evidence. Sphagnum medium is reinstated as a distinct species and is epitypified. Consequently, a new species concept of S. magellanicum is presented including an epitypification. Important morphological characters to separate these three species in the field and under the microscope are presented. Ecology and distribution differ among the species; S. divinium has a wide habitat range including mire margin, forested peatlands and moist heaths, and a circumpolar distribution around the northern hemisphere. Sphagnum medium seems to be more restricted to ombrotrophic mire expanse habitats and shows an amphi-Atlantic distribution in the northern hemisphere. Sphagnum magellanicum has a very broad ecological niche in peatlands and is found in most mire habitats in Tierra del Fuego on the southern tip of South America.     

A novel oligoribonuclease of Escherichia coli. I. Isolation and properties.

A new ribonuclease has been isolated from Escherichia coli. The enzyme is present in the 100,000 times g supernatant fraction and has been purified over 200-fold. Studies of the enzyme reveal that: 1. The enzyme shows a marked preference for oligoribonucleotides; indeed, the reaction rate is inversely proportional to the chain length of the substrate. The enzyme does not attack polynucleotides even at high concentrations of enzyme and has no detectable DNase activity. 2. The enzyme is stimulated strongly by Mn2+, less strongly by Mg2+, and not at all by Ca2+ and monovalent cations. 3. The enzyme is purified free of RNase I, RNase II, RNase III, polynucleotide phosphorylase, and other known ribonucleases of E. coli. The enzyme displays identical properties when isolated from mutants of E. coli that are deficient in the above ribonucleases. 4. The enzyme has a marked thermostability, a point of further distinction from RNase II.     

The relationship between genetic and cytogenetic maps of pea. I. Standard and translocation karyotypes.

A detailed cytogenetical study of inbred lines of pea and their F1 hybrids has been undertaken to study the relationship between the cytogenetic map and the molecular linkage map. The mitotic karyotypes of a standard pea line, JI15, a translocation line, JI61, and line JI281, a line used in the production of a mapping population, are given. A chromosome rearrangement detected by cytogenetic analysis of mitotic chromosomes has been further defined by synaptonemal complex (SC) analysis and the study of metaphase I chromosome behaviour. This meiotic analysis has allowed a comparison of SC physical lengths, observed chiasma frequencies, and recombination frequencies, as estimated from the genetic map, as a means of comparing physical and genetic distances.     

Revision of the Genus Scopelogadus (Melamphaidae). 4. S. multilamellatus sp. n. and S. unispinis

Journal of Ichthyology - A new species Scopelogadus multilamellatus sp. n. has been described from the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean. The new species has a large number of pseudobranchial...     

Mitochondrial GTP-AMP phosphotransferase. 1. Purification and properties.

GTP-AMP phosphotransferase has been purified 116-fold with a yield of 24% from beef heart mitochondria using freeze-thawing, alkali and acid treatment and successive column chromatography on phosphocellulose, Sephadex G-100 and blue-dextran--Sepharose. It has crystallized from poly-(ethylene glycol) and is essential homogeneous by sodium dodecylsulfate electrophoresis and isoelectrofocusing. The specific activity of the crystalline preparation was 290 U/mg. The molecular weight was found to be 26000 and the isoelectric point to be 9.8. Amino acid analysis showed 21 aspartic acid or asparagine, 19 threonine, 12 serine, 26 glutamic acid or glutamine, 15 proline, 16 glycine, 14 alanine, 15 valine, 4 methionine, 12 isoleucine, 28 leucine, 7 tyrosine, 7 phenylalanine, 5 histidine, 14 lysine, 16 arginine, 2 tryptophan, no --SS-- bonds or free --SH. Guanosine(5')pentaphospho(5')adenosine is a very strong inhibitor similar to adenosine(5')pentaphospho(5')adenosine as an inhibitor of cytosolic adenylate kinase.     

DNases and apoptosis.

Here we review the different apoptotic DNases. From a functional point of view, DNases implicated in apoptosis may be classified into three groups: the Ca2+/Mg2+ endonucleases, the Mg2+-endonucleases, and the cation-independent endonucleases. The first group includes DNase I which has no specificity for the linker region, DNase gamma which has some homology with DNase I, and other DNases which cleave DNA in the linker region. Both DNase I and DNase gamma have been cloned. The other nucleases of this category have dispersed molecular weights. Their sequences are unknown and it is difficult to determine their role(s) in apoptosis. It seems that different pathways are present and that these nucleases may be activated either by caspases or serine proteases. The caspase 3 activated DNase (CAD, CPAN, or DFF40) belongs to the Mg2+-dependent endonucleases. DNase II belongs to the third group of acid endonucleases or cation-independent DNases. We have shown the involvement of DNase II in lens cell differentiation. Recently, the molecular structure of two different enzymes has been elucidated, one of which has a signal peptide and appears to be secreted. The other, called L-DNase II, is an intracellular protein having two enzymatic activities; in its native form, it is an anti-protease, and after posttranslational modification, it becomes a nuclease.     

Guanylate cyclase in E. coli. III. Purification and possible physiological role of GTPase]

A phosphohydrolase with a preferential activity for GTP has been isolated and partially purified from E. coli extracts. The enzyme purification has been achieved through precipitation by ammonium sulfate and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, DEAE-Sephadex, Ultragel and a second DEAE-cellulose column. The phosphohydrolase activity is poly (C) dependent. The chromatographic analysis on PEI-cellulose has shown that the main product of GTP hydrolysis is GDP. The possibility that the enzyme partially purified in this work has an important role in the control of GTP availability as substrate for guanylate cyclase into the cells has been discussed.     

Objectives and Program of the A.M.A. Committee on Nursing

The continued achievement of high standards of patient care in the preventive, curative, and restorative aspects of illness depends upon a harmonious, collaborative relationship between medicine and nursing. In an effort to protect and foster an enduring alliance of understanding and cooperation between these 2 major health professions, the Committee on Nursing has instituted a continuing program of liaison, communication, education, and research. The Committee has authorized publication of the following report on its objectives and program.     

Eating disorders. A review and update.

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are prevalent illnesses affecting between 1% and 10% of adolescent and college age women. Developmental, family dynamic, and biologic factors are all important in the cause of this disorder. Anorexia nervosa is diagnosed when a person refuses to maintain his or her body weight over a minimal normal weight for age and height, such as 15% below that expected, has an intense fear of gaining weight, has a disturbed body image, and, in women, has primary or secondary amenorrhea. A diagnosis of bulimia nervosa is made when a person has recurrent episodes of binge eating, a feeling of lack of control over behavior during binges, regular use of self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, strict dieting, or vigorous exercise to prevent weight gain, a minimum of 2 binge episodes a week for at least 3 months, and persistent overconcern with body shape and weight. Patients with eating disorders are usually secretive and often come to the attention of physicians only at the insistence of others. Practitioners also should be alert for medical complications including hypothermia, edema, hypotension, bradycardia, infertility, and osteoporosis in patients with anorexia nervosa and fluid or electrolyte imbalance, hyperamylasemia, gastritis, esophagitis, gastric dilation, edema, dental erosion, swollen parotid glands, and gingivitis in patients with bulimia nervosa. Treatment involves combining individual, behavioral, group, and family therapy with, possibly, psychopharmaceuticals. Primary care professionals are frequently the first to evaluate these patients, and their encouragement and support may help patients accept treatment. The treatment proceeds most smoothly if the primary care physician and psychiatrist work collaboratively with clear and frequent communication.     

Retraction: Open and closed conformations reveal induced fit movements in butyrate kinase 2 activation. J. Diao,Y. D. Ma,and M. S. Hasson.

The following article from Proteins: Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics, “Open and closed conformations reveal induced fit movements in butyrate kinase 2 activation,” by Jiasheng Diao, Yunglin D. Ma, and Miriam S. Hasson, published online on 21 October 2010 in Wiley Online Library (onlinelibrary.wiley.com), has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editor in Chief, Bertrand Garcia‐Moreno, and Wiley Periodicals. The retraction has been agreed because it was established by internal investigation performed by Purdue University that the authors of this article are not the owners of the data and have no right to publication.     

Introducing W.A.T.E.R.S.: a Workflow for the Alignment,Taxonomy, and Ecology of Ribosomal Sequences

Background  

For more than two decades microbiologists have used a highly conserved microbial gene as a phylogenetic marker for bacteria and archaea. The small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene, also known as 16 S rRNA, is encoded by ribosomal DNA, 16 S rDNA, and has provided a powerful comparative tool to microbial ecologists. Over time, the microbial ecology field has matured from small-scale studies in a select number of environments to massive collections of sequence data that are paired with dozens of corresponding collection variables. As the complexity of data and tool sets have grown, the need for flexible automation and maintenance of the core processes of 16 S rDNA sequence analysis has increased correspondingly.     

A deoxyribonuclease from Chlamydomonas reinhardii. 1. Purification and properties.

A deoxyribonuclease has been purified more than 2000-fold from the green algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardii. The enzyme is most active on denatured DNA. Optimum activity is at pH 8.5, in 80 mM Tris-HCl buffer and 2 mM CaCl2. Other divalent cations can replace Ca2+ with varying lower efficiency. EDTA and inorganic phosphate are strongly inhibitory, while ATP and high concentrations of 2-mercaptoethanol are slightly inhibitory. The molecular weight is approximately 35 000, the Stokes radius is 2.7 nm, and the sedimentation coefficient 2.8 S. It is a single polypeptide chain, and the frictional ratio of 1.27 suggests it is only slightly asymetrical. The isoelectric point is 9.5. This enzyme has been termed exonuclease 1.     

The tung industry. II. Processing and utilization

Processing of tung fruit to produce high quality tung oil has been subjected to continuous modification, improvement, and mechanization. Domestic tung oil is high in eleostearate content and normally meets all recognized specifications. The basic chemistry of the major components of tung oil, the eleostearic acids, has been well established. Although the major industrial use of tung oil continues to be in the drying oil field, research is under way to take advantage of the unique chemical character of the eleostearic acids. Progress is being made in the utilization of the by-products, tung hulls and tung press cake.     

Cobalt-cytochrome c. I. Preparation, properties, and enzymic activity.

An improved procedure for the preparation of cobalt-cytochrome c has been developed. Various factors influencing the cobalt insertion process are discussed. The optical spectra of cobalt-cytochrome c suggest a six-coordinated species. The spectral shifts occurring with oxidation-reduction are compared with those observed for deoxy-cobaltohemoglobin and ferrocytochrome c and attributed to the effect of d(z2) electron on stereoelectronic interactions between the axial ligands and the porphyrin pi systems. Cobalt-cytochrome c has Em,7 = -140 +/- 20 mV as compared to an Em,7 of +250mV for ferrocytochrome c. An explanation for this negative Em,7 is offered. Cobaltocytochrome c is oxidized by cytochrome oxidase at about 45% of the rate for native cytochrome c. On the other hand cobalticytochrome c was not reduced by microsomal NADH or NADPH cytochrome c reductase nor by mitochondrial NADH or succinate cytochrome c reductase. It appears that the integrity of the reductase binding site is destroyed and the oxidase binding site has been modified by cobalt substitution.     

Extracellular and protease-released pullulanases.

The extracellular form of pullulanase (EC 3.2.1.41) from Klebsiella aerogenes has been purified to homogeneity by successive chromatography through diethylaminoethyl-cellulose, Sephadex G-200, and 1,6-diaminohexane-Sepharose. In addition, the cell-bound form of pullulanase has been released by the action of a serine endopeptidase obtained from Pronase and purified to apparent homogeneity. Protease-released pullulanase has a slightly larger molecular weight and a specific activity over twice that of the extracellular protein. The properties of each of these forms of pullulanase have been compared with those reported for the detergent-released form. Each form has different features as examined by amino acid composition, specific activity, molecular weight, or inhibition pattern, which distinguish it from the other pullulanases. It is hypothesized that a single gene product consisting of a single polypeptide chain generates these different enzyme forms after selective cleavages by endogenous or applied proteases.     

Standardized Viral Hemagglutination and Hemagglutination-Inhibition Tests. II. Description and Statistical Evaluation

Standardized hemagglutination and hemagglutination-inhibition procedures are described and statistically evaluated for all animal viruses where applicable, except for rubella and the arbovirus group. The standardized tests employ a constant phosphate-buffered saline diluent and constant volumes of serum, antigen, and standardized erythrocyte suspension. The standardized hemagglutination test has a reproducibility of 84 to 96% with adenoviruses, rubeola, and the myxoviruses, and 78 to 93% with reoviruses; the standardized hemagglutination-inhibition test has a reproducibility of 95 to 100% with all viruses tested.     

Cytokines and reproduction.

Cytokines are important in reproduction. Interleukin-1, an established immune mediator, is one of the best-characterized members of the cytokine family. We describe what is known about the interactions between the interleukin-1 system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal, the hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axes. We also review the ovarian role of the interleukin-1 system. This cytokine has an immense and, as yet, imperfectly understood effect on the human reproductive tract. Clearly the immune system has a potential autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine role in regulating human reproductive events such as ovulation, luteinization, and implantation.