rho Mutations restore lamB expression in E. coli K12 strains with an inactive malB region

Summary lamB, the structural gene for receptor, is the second gene of the malK-lamB operon in the malB region of the Escherichia coli K12 chromosome. lamB is essentially not expressed in the absence of an active malT gene product, the activator or the maltose regulon. A malT strain is resistant to phage . We show that: (i) Introduction of rho mutations in malT mutants restores lamB expression to a level sufficient to render the strain sensitive to phage ; (ii) This restoration is not dependent on the main promoter of the malK lamB operon. It depends on the distal part of the malK gene.We propose that rho inactivation unmasks the activity of a promoter located near the distal end of malK. Experiments with Mu insertions in gene malK suggest that in the (-) orientation a Mu promoter is also able to allow lamB expression in a rho background.     

Effect of desiccation on the light reactions of Carpophilus dimidiatus and Tribolium castaneum

The effect of desiccation on the light reactions of Carpophilus dimidiatus and Tribolium castaneum was studied. The results indicated that in C. dimidiatus the light reactions of normal adults of either sex were unaffected by humidity conditions. After desiccation, light responses were found to vary according to humidity conditions and also with respect to the sex of adults examined. In T. castaneum normal adults showed different light reactions according to the humidity test conditions. However at one condition only, i.e. high humidity, the sexes responded differently. After desiccation light responses were still found to vary according to humidity but in both high and low humidities the response varied according to sex.

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Résumé On a étudié l'action de la dessiccation sur les réactions à la lumière de Carpophilus dimidiatus et Tribolium castaneum. Les résultats indiquent que les réactions à la lumière des adultes normaux de C. dimidiatus des deux sexes sont indépendantes des conditions d'humidité. Après dessiccation, les réponses à la lumière ont varié suivant les conditions d'humidité et aussi selon le sexe des adultes examinés. Chez Tribolium castaneum, les adultes normaux ont manifesté des réactions différentes à la lumière en fonction des conditions d'humidité. Cependant dans une condition unique, c'est à dire une humidité élevée, les sexes ont répondu différemment. Après dessiccation, les réactions à la lumière ont toujours été trouvées variables selon l'humidité, mais pour les deux humidités élevée et basse la réponse a varié suivant le sexe de l'adulte.

     

A DNA sequence containing the control sites for gene malT and for the malPQ operon

Summary The order of 802 base pairs was established in a DNA segment containing the promoter for malPQ which is one of the three maltose operons, and the promoter for malT, the positive regulator gene of the maltose regulon. The determination of the amino-terminal sequence of the MalT protein allowed us to identify the beginning of the malT gene on the sequence. The position of the malP gene was deduced from the published amino-terminal sequence of maltodextrin phosphorylase. A total of 611 base pairs separate the initiation codons for these two genes, which are transcribed in opposite directions. This large intergenic region does not code for any polypeptide of significant size. The main features of this sequence are discussed in terms of the regulation known to operate on malT and malPQ expression.     

RifR mutations in the beginning of the Escherichia coli rpoB gene

In Escherichia coli, mutations conferring rifampicin (Rif) resistance map to the rpoB gene, which encodes the 1342-amino acid subunit of RNA polymerase. Almost all sequenced RifR mutations occur within the Rif region, encompassing rpoB codons 500–575. A strong Rif^R mutation lying outside the Rif region, which changed Val¹⁴⁶ to Phe was previously reported, but was not recovered in subsequent studies. Here, we used site-directed mutagenesis followed by selection on Rif to search for Rif^R mutations in the evolutionarily conserved segment of rpoB around codon 146. Strong Rif^R mutations were obtained when Val¹⁴⁶ was mutated, and several weak Rif^R mutations were also isolated near position 146. The results define a new, N-terminal cluster of Rif^R mutations, in addition to the classical central Rif region.     

A study of integrative transformation in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Summary Organ-specific and constitutive expression of the Arabidosis HSP18.2 gene under normal growth conditions (22° C) was observed in transgenic A. thaliana, which carried a fusion gene composed of the promoter region of HSP18.2, one of the genes for low molecular weight heat-shock proteins in Arabidopsis, and the gene for -glucuronidase (GUS) from Escherichia coli. In order to clarify the organ-specific nature of promoter expression, various mutations that affect flower morphology were introduced into the transgenic Arabidopsis line, AHS9. The results show that the pattern of expression observed in sepals, filaments, and styles is regulated in a structure-dependent manner, and suggest that the HSP18.2 gene might have an important role in the process of differentiation of flower buds, as do several other stress-related genes.     

Mobilization of the transposable element mdg4 by hybrid dysgenesis generates a family of unstable cut mutations in Drosophila melanogaster

Summary A family of unstable mutations at the cut locus in Drosophila melanogaster was obtained under the conditions of hybrid dysgenesis (Gerasimova 1981, 1982). The in situ hybridization experiments have shown that, in the original unstable ct ^MR2 mutation, the 7B region of the X chromosome (where cut is located) contains a mobile dispersed genetic element, mdg4. All other unstable ct mutations derived from ct ^MR2 including visible and lethal alleles and unstable ct ⁺ reversions, also contain mdg4 in the 7B region. The X chromosomes of the parent strain (wild type) do not contain mdg4 at all. All stable revertants derived from ct ^MR2, from other unstable ct mutations, or from ct lethals lost mdg4 from the 7B region. The ct ^MR2 X chromosome does not contain P-elements, although a few copies are present in the autosomes. The instability of the ct ^MR2./ct ^MR2 strain remained at a high level for 50 generations (1.5 years) and then rapidly decreased. A new cross with an MRh12/Cy strain (originally used for dysgenesis induction and containing a number of P-elements) increased the instability to a level exceeding the original one. The data strongly suggest that unstable ct mutations in our system are induced by transpositions of mdg4, possibly activated by P-elements.     

An Escherichia coli plasmid-based, mutational system in which supF mutants are selectable: Insertion elements dominate the spontaneous spectra

A new system is described to determine the mutational spectra of mutagens and carcinogens in Escherichia coli; data on a limited number (142) of spontaneous mutants is presented. The mutational assay employs a method to select (rather than screen) for mutations in a supF target gene carried on a plasmid. The E. coli host cells (ES87) are lacI⁻ (am26), and carry the lacZΔM15 marker for α-complementation in β-galactosidase. When these cells also carry a plasmid, such as pUB3, which contains a wild-type copy of supF and lacZ-α, the lactose operon is repressed (off). Furthermore, supF suppression of lacl^um26 results in a lactose repressor that has an uninducible, lacl^S genotype, which makes the cells unable to grow on lactose minimal plates. In contrast, spontaneous or mutagen-induced supF⁻ mutations in pUB3 prevent suppresion of lacl^am26 and result in constitutive expression of the lactose operon, which permits growth on lactose minimal plates. The spontaneous mutation frequency in the supF gene is 0.7 and 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ without and with SOS induction, respectively. Spontaneous mutations are dominated by large insertions (67% in SOS-uninduced and 56% in SOS-induced cells), and their frequency of appearance is largely unaffected by SOS induction. These are identified by DNA sequencing to be Insertion Element: IS1 dominates, but IS4, IS5, gamma-delta and IS10 are also obtained. Large deletions also contribute significantly (19% and 15% for - SOS and +SOS, respectively), where a specific deletion between a 10 base pair direct repeat dominates; the frequency of appearance of these mutations also appears to be unaffected by SOS induction. In contrast, SOS induction increases base pairing mutations (13% and 27% for -SOS and +SOS, respectively), The ES87/pUB3 system has many advantages for determining mutational spectra, including the fact that mutant isolation is fast and simple, and the determination of mutational changes is rapid because of the small size of supF.     

Lactose- and galactose-utilizing strains of poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid)-accumulating Alcaligenes eutrophus and Pseudomonas saccharophila obtained by recombinant DNA technology

Summary Transposon Tn 951-encoded -galactosidase was expressed in Pseudomonas saccharophila and enabled this bacterium to grow on lactose as sole carbon source. In contrast, -galactosidase was not expressed in Alcaligenes eutrophus even if the lacZ gene of Tn 951 was separated from the lacI gene. However, -galactosidase was expressed in A. eutrophus, if a DNA fragment, which was suspected to harbour the promoter of the A. eutrophus poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid)-synthetic genes, was ligated to the promoter probe vector pMC1403, which employs lac Z, Y as reporter genes. Plasmid pPL76, which harboured one of the promoter-lac fusions, enabled A. eutrophus not only to express -galactosidase but also to grow slowly on lactose (doubling time = 25–30 h). Subsequently, the promoter-lac fusion was ligated to Tn5 in pSUP5011 and was inserted into the genome of A. eutrophus H16 and of the glucose-utilizing mutant H16-G⁺1 by applying the suicide plasmid technique. Two recombinant strains, H16-cPL and H16-G⁺1-cPL, which grow with a doubling time of 16–23 h on lactose, were investigated in detail. The cells only utilized the glucose residue of lactose as a carbon source for grouth and excreted galactose into the medium. Only after the Escherichia coli gal operon had been cloned in vector pVK101 and had been mobilized to H16-cPL or H16-G⁺1-cPL, was lactose completely utilized; no galactose was detected in the medium and the growth yields increased twofold. Depending on the orientation of the gal operon in pVK101, the expression of galactokinase seems to be dependent either on the promoter of aminoglycoside phosphotransferase gene (kan) or on the promoter of the tetR gene. Offprint requests to: A. Steinbüchel     

Ivermectin as a possible control agent for the tsetse fly,Glossina morsitans

Ivermectin produced 100% mortality in adult teneral males, mature males and fertile females ofGlossina morsitans morsitans following a single meal of defibrinated pig blood containing concentrations of 0.1, 1.6 or >1.6 g ml^–1 respectively. The lethal concentration was reduced to <0.04 g ml^–1 for teneral males when fed repeatedly on treated blood. When pregnant females were fed a single blood meal containing ivermectin (0.08 g ml^–1) on the day after their first larviposition, followed by normal blood meals, no offspring were produced in the subsequent reproductive cycle but full recovery occurred thereafter. A dose dependent decline in fecundity was measured and data were subjected to Probit analysis. Thus estimates were made of ivermectin concentrations in the peripheral blood of treated animals by measuring the reduction in fecundity induced in flies fed on such blood. Indications are that with subcutaneous injections at least, amounts greatly in excess of the recommended clinical dose would be required to achieve levels lethal to feeding flies following a single blood meal. Oral treatment of a horse with twice the anthelmintic dose of ivermectin (0.4 mg kg^–1) produced a maximum concentration in the blood of about 0.14 g ml^–1 within 24 h and this was adequate to reduce tsetse fecundity to zero following a single meal. Such levels in a single blood meal were also sufficient to shorten the life expectancy of teneral male flies. The half-life of ivermectin in the horse was approximately 5–6 days with a maximum of 2.4% of ingested material entering the peripheral circulation. A cow treated with injectable ivermectin (0.2 mg kg^–1) produced maximum blood levels of about 0.005 g ml^–1 after one week; this was only 0.17% of the administered dose and sufficient to reduce fecundity in female flies to 50% of normal following a single blood meal. Such levels in a single blood meal had no effect on the longevity of flies. However, at least half the maximum activity was present in the circulation between 3 and 14 days following injection. Repeated feeding on the blood of a treated animal reduced considerably the dose of ivermectin required to produce a given effect. The fecundity of female flies was reduced to zero by repeated feeding on blood taken from the horse 8 days after treatment, and even after 15 days the blood of the horse contained sufficient drug to reduce fly fecundity to 50% of normal. Thus where domestic animals constitute major hosts of tsetse, treatment with ivermectin can be expected to achieve some measure of fly population reduction.

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L'invermectine comme moyen de lutte utilisable contre la mouche tsé-tsé,Glossina morsitans

Résumé Après un repas unique de sang de porc défibrillé contenant 0,1; 1,6 ou plus de 1,6 g ml^–1 d'ivermectine, tous les mâles jeunes non encore alimentes, tous les mâles adultes et toutes les femelles fécondes deGlossina morsitans morsitans sont tués. Les concentrations léthales ont été réduites à moins de 0,04 g ml^–1 pour les jeunes mâles quand on les a alimentés régulièrement sur du sang traité. Quand des femelles en gestation ont été alimentées, le jour après leur première parturition, avec un seul repas de sang contenant 0,08 g ml^–1 d'ivermectine, et ensuite avec des repas de sang normal, il n'y a pas eu production de descendants pendant le cycle suivant, bien qu'une restauration totale ait eu lieu par la suite. Une diminution de la fécondité en relation avec la dose a été enregistrée, et les données soumisses à un test Probit. Ainsi des estimations de la concentration en ivermectine du sang périphérique des animaux traités ont été obtenues en mesurant la réduction de la fécondité induite chez les mouches ayant consommé ce sang. Ceci montre qu'une dose absorbée de 4 mg kg^–1, ou une injection souscutanée de 16 mg kg^–1, seraient nécessaires pour obtenir le seuil létal chez des mouches alimentées après un repas de sang unique, c'est-à-dire 20 fois la dose absorbée et 80 fois la dose subcutanée nécessaires contre les nématodes gastrointestinaux. Le traitement par voie buccale d'un cheval avec 2 fois la dose vermifuge d'ivermectine (0,4 mg kg^–1) provoque dans les 24 heures des taux sanguins suffisants pour réduire la fécondité jusqu'à zéro après un seul repas de sang. La demi-vie dans le cheval a été approximativement de 5 à 6 jours avec une pénétration dans la circulation périphérique d'une quantité maximale de 2,4% de l'ivermectine absorbée. Une vache traitée avec de l'ivermectine injectable (0,2 mg kg^–1) atteint la teneur sanguine maximale au bout d'une semain; celle-ci, correspondant seulement à 0,17% de la quantité administrée, était suffisante pour réduire de 50% la fécondité des mouches après un repas unique de sang. Cependant, entre les 3ème et 14ème jours suivant l'injection, la circulation sanguine présente au moins la moitié de l'activité maximale. Des repas répétés sur le sang des animaux traités réduisent considérablement la dose d'ivermectine nécessaire pour produire un effet donné. La fécondité des mouches devient nulle après des repas répétés sur le sang d'un cheval 8 jours après le traitement; et même après 15 jours, le sang de ce cheval contient suffisamment de produits pour abaisser la fécondité des mouches de 50%. Ainsi, à où les animaux domestiques constituent les principaux hôtes de la mouche tsé-tsé, avec le traitement à l'ivermectine, on peut espérer réduire d'une façon efficace la population de mouches.

     

Hydrogen peroxide induces G:C to TA and G:C to C:G transversions in the supF gene of Escherichia coli

A vector plasmid, pZ189, carrying an Escherichia coli supF gene as a target for mutations, was treated with a combination of hydrogen peroxide and Fe³⁺/EDTA complex and propagated in E. coli host cells that had been induced for SOS functions by ultraviolet irradiation. The mutations frequency increased by up to 30-fold over spontaneous background levels with increasing concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. The increase in mutation frequency correlated with an increase in the formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in the pZ189 DNA. Sequence analysis of 82 independent supF mutant plasmids revealed that 70 mutants contained base substitutions, with 63 of the 70 involving a G:C base pair, and with G:CC:G (28 cases) and G:CT:A (26 cases) transversions predominating. Investigation of the influence of the local DNA sequence on the transversions revealed that the guanine at the center of the triplet 5-PuGA-3 was five times more likely to mutate after treatment with hydrogen peroxide than that at the center of 5PyGN3. G:CT:A transversions presumably resulted from mispairing of an altered G (probably 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine) with deoxyadenosine. The origin of the G:CC:G transversions may be an as yet unidentified lesion generated by hydrogen peroxide. Mutagenic hotspots for base substitutions were found at positions 133, 160 and 168. Mutation spectra and the positions of mutagenic hotspots, when compared with a previously determined spontaneous mutagenesis spectrum, also provide information on the mechanism of spontaneous mutagenesis.     

Mapping of mutations affecting synthesis of exocellular enzymes in Bacillus subtilis

Summary The sacU ^h , amyB and pap mutations are identical with respect to their pleiotropic phenotype and their genetic location. Strains bearing these mutations overproduce several exocellular enzymes: -amylase, lavansucrase and proteases, they are poorly or not at all transformable and most of them are devoid of flagella. These mutations are tightly linked to the sacU ^- mutations by transformation and therefore lie between the hisA1 and gtaB290 markers. It is possible that the sacU ^h , amyB and pap mutations on one hand and the sacU ^- mutations on the other are two different classes of alterations of the same regulatory gene controlling the synthesis of some exocellular enzymes and several other cellular functions. Furthermore an amy ^- mutation, leading to the lack of -amylase activity, was mapped between the lin2 and aroI906 markers which are not linked to the sacU locus.     

Damage to DNA induces expression of the ruv gene of Escherichia coli

Summary Regulation of the ruv gene of E. coli was studied using phage Mud (Ap lac) to obtain a fusion of the lac genes to the ruv promoter. -galactosidase synthesis in the ruv-lac fusion strain was induced by mitomycin C and other agents that damage DNA. The induction of -galactosidase could be altered by mutations either in lexA or recA from which it is concluded that ruv is regulated by lexA repressor. A possible function of ruv in promoting cell recovery following damage to DNA is discussed.     

Observations on adult weight and wing area in Plusia gamma L. and Pieris brassicae L. In relation to larval population density

Crowding of lepidopterous larvae can influence adult morphology and physiology. With P. gamma and P. brassicae increasing emergence weight was not accompanied by proportionately as great increases in wing area. Larval crowding decreases both weight and wing area and accentuates thedisproportion in the relation between wing area and weight. In the two species fore- and hind-wings are differently affected and the sexes were also affected differently. A warmer season also decreases fore- and hind-wing areas but distinct differences exist in the relative extent of the decreases. To obtain adequate data, both fore- and hind-wings must be measured.

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Résumé Le groupement chez les larves de lépidoptères provoque la réduction du poids et des dimensions des ailes chez les adultes, et il est possible qu'elle contribue à provoquer la migration par son effet sur la morphologie et la fonction. Le rapport entre le poids total et la surface des ailes est souvent appelé wing loading et on sait que ce rapport croît avec l'accroissement de poids des différentes espèces animales qui volent.L'effet du groupement larvaire sur le poids du corps et le wing loading chez Plusia gamma L. et Pieris brassicae L. a été étudié en comparant les adultes nouvellement éclos d'élevage de larves solitaires et de larves groupées. Le groupement réduit le poids et la surface des ailes d'une façon non proportionnelle, mais toutefois décroissante, wing loading. Pour chaque espèce et chaque sexe, le wing loading décroît pour un poids à l'éclosion décroissant, et ceci explique partiellement l'effet du groupement sur le wing loading.Chez P. gamma l'aile antériure était plus grande que l'aile postérieure. Toutefois l'aile antérieure était la plus réduite en dimensions par le groupement, l'effet étant le plus marqué chez la femelle. La température affectait aussi le poids et la surface des ailes. Dans les élevages d'individus isolés, des températures plus élevées réduisaient principalement le poids des mâles, et la surface de leurs ailes postérieures, tandis que les surfaces des ailes antérieures et postérieures des femelles étaient plus affectées, de sorte que le wing loading décroissait chez les mâles et augmentait chez les femelles.Chez P. brassicae l'aile postérieure est la plus grande et décroissait davantage avec le groupement. Le groupement ne paraissait pas affecter différemment les deux sexes, mais les résultats semblaient indiquer que l'effet pouvait être accentué chez les mâles et diminué chez les femelles quand les températures baissaient. Comme chez P. gamma des températures plus élevées diminuaient le poids et la surface des ailes chez P. brassicae mais du fait que la surface des ailes était la plus affectée, le wing loading augmentait chez les deux sexes. Le groupement, cependant, accentuait l'effet de la température sur le poids tandis qu'elle réduisait le wing loading. ainsi chez les deux espèces, les réductions du poids et de la surface des ailes dûes à l'élévation de la température ne sont pas identiques avec les réductions dûes au groupement.Les expériences ont montré également que, alors que les mesures directes de certaines dimensions pouvaient présenter une précision adéquate, les renseignements sur les ailes antérieures et postérieures devaient être groupés.

     

Reversion of the gal3 mutation of Escherichia coli: Partial deletion of the insertion sequence

Summary The gal3 mutation of E. coli is an insertion of a DNA sequence, 1,100 base pairs in length, into the operator-promoter region of the galactose operon. This mutation reverts spontaneously to gal⁺ by excision of the insertion to produce stable, inducible revertants, or by tandem duplications of the gal operon to produce unstable, constitutive revertants. The nature of a third class of revertants, which are stable and constitutive, is the subject of the present study.The stable, constitutive class of revertants included approximately 30% of all gal⁺ revertants obtained from a gal3() strain. Although the constitutive reversions could be transduced by , the efficiency was found to be extremely poor and the rare transductants which did appear seemed to originate from abnormal transducing particles. It was concluded that these reversions were not normally packaged by .In order to facilitate the packaging of these reversions, the chlD-pgl region was deleted from the parent gal3() strain. Unexpectedly, the gal3 mutation in the majority of these deletions reverted to produce stable, constitutive reversions exclusively. The explanation proposed was that the chlD-pgl deletions had also removed part of the gal operator-promoter up to the gal3 insertion, so that simple excisions of the insertion yielded stable, constitutive revertants by connecting the gal structural genes to a different promoter. These revertants were not considered to be true representatives of the stable, constitutive class. The specificity of deletion end-points at the insertion was found only in the gal3() strain, and not in gal ⁺, gal ⁺(), or gal3 strains. Moreover, the frequency of spontaneous chlD-pgl deletions increased 10- to 15-fold in presence of the gal3 insertion.A gal phage bearing a true stable, constitutive reversion (gal ^c 200) was isolated from the revertant strain by subsequent deletion of the chlD-pgl segment (31). Electron micrographs of gal ⁺ and gal ^c 200 31(chlD pgl) DNA heteroduplexes were interpreted to indicate that the stable, constitutive reversion had arisen by a deletion of 3/4 of the gal3 insertion sequence.The main conclusions are: (i) the stable, constitutive reversions of gal3 can arise by partial deletions of the insertion sequence, apparently by elimination of the nucleotide sequence which causes polarity; (ii) the chlD-pgl deletions may exhibit preferential termination at the right extremity of the gal3 insertion in presence of prophage ; and (iii) the gal3 insertion appears to inhibit the production of gal particles by providing a nucleotide sequence which is recognized and degraded by a specific endonuclease. It is suggested that inhibition of transducing particle formation by gal3 and the preferred termination of deletions at gal3 might represent related phenomena.     

Hemocytic defense response to the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana in the migratory grasshopper Melanoplus sanguinipes

Hemocytic defense response of the migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes (Fab.), to conidia of the white muscardine fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill., was studied using phase-contrast photomicroscopy, hemocyte counting and hemocyte aggregation or nodule formation. Grasshoppers were injected with an aqueous suspension of conidia. Adherence of B. bassiana conidia to granulocytes occurred within 10 min and the conidia were encapsulated by these hemocytes 6 h postinjection. Hemocytopenia was accompanied by nodule formation after injection of B. bassiana conidia into grasshoppers. The conidia germinated within the nodules and grew into hyphal forms within the hemolymph 12 to 24 h postinjection. We conclude that B. bassiana competes well with nodule formation by hemocytes of M. sanguinipes and often escapes complete encapsulation.

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Résumé Le mécanisme de défense du hémocyte de la sauterelle migratrice Melanoplus sanguinipes envers le champignon pathogène Beauveria bassiana a été etudié a l'aide du photomicroscope a contrase de phase, par dénombrement des hemocytes, ainsi que des nodules formées par l'agrégation des hémocytes. L'adhérence des conidies de B. bassiana aux hemocytes a été observée 10 min après l'injection et leur encapsulement après 1 h. Une baisse des taux d'hémocytes a fait suite a la formation de nodules apres l'injection de conidies dans les sauterelles. Après le déclin initial du taux des hémocytes, une hausse s'est produite dans les sauterelles auquelles on a injecté 10⁶ conidies. Les conidies ont germé dans les nodules et la croissance du mycélium s'est produite dans l'hémolymphe 24 h après avoir injecté. Cette étude a revelé que M. sanguinipes peut exercer temporairement un mécanisme de défense cellulaire contre des conidies fongiques a une concentration de 10⁶ conidies.

     

Behavioural variation among strains ofTrichogramma spp.: host-species selection

The host-selection behaviour of nine strains ofTrichogramma spp., towards eggs ofMamestra brassicae, Pieris brassicae andP. rapae, was investigated in laboratory experiments in order to select candidate strains for inundative releases against these species. Experiments were carried out by continuously observing the behaviour of individual females, which were offered equal numbers of eggs of two host species arranged in a grid.M. brassicae was a highly acceptable host species for all strains, whereas the acceptability of the twoPieris species was similar within strains, but varied between strains. Considering the variation in acceptance ofPieris eggs, strains either showed: (1) no preference betweenMamestra andPieris (High PierisAcceptance = HPA strains), (2) a preference forMamestra (Variable PierisAcceptance = VPA strains), or (3) an aversion forPieris (Low PierisAcceptance = LPA strains). Females of VPA strains showed a high acceptance ofPieris eggs if the preferredMamestra eggs were absent. They contacted comparatively fewerPieris eggs in presence ofMamestra eggs, which indicates selection of hosts at a distance. HPA strains probably are the best candidates for inundative releases.

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Sélection hôte-espèce par différences souches de l'æuf-parasiteTrichogramma spp.

Résumé Le comportement de sélection de l'hôte par neuf souches deTrichogrammes, vis-à-vis d'ufs deMamestra brassicae, Pieris brassicae etP. rapae a été étudié au laboratoire afin de sélectioner des souches candidates pour des lâchers inondatifs contre ses espèces. Des expériences ont été menées par observations en continu du comportement de femelles auxquelles était offert un nombre égal d'ufs de deux espèces d'hôtes, disposés selon un grille.M. brassicae est un espèce-hôte fortement acceptée par toutes les souches. Au contraire, l'acceptabilité des deux espèces dePieris, semblable pour chaque souche, varie entre les souches. En tenant compte de la variation d'acceptance des ufs dePieris les souches (1) ne montrent aucune préférence entreMamestra etPieris, (2) montrent une préférence pourMamestra, ou(3) une aversion pourPieris. Des femelles des souches du second groupe acceptent fortement les ufs dePieris si les ufs deMamestra, préférés, sont absents. Comparativement, elles rentrent en contact avec moins d'ufs dePieris en présence d'ufs deMamestra. Ceci indique une sélection des hôtes à distance. Les souches du premier groupe sont probablement les meilleures candidates pour des lâchers inondatifs.

     

The physiology of the woodlouse, Porcellio laevis (Porcellionidae: Peracarida)

The histological structure of the glandula intestini in Porcellio laevis adults is described, and some of the characteristics of the caecal -glucosidase of this isopod are discussed. Evidence is presented to show that the vesiculated cells of the glandular caecum are true extrusion cells. The number of these cells in the caecal epithelium, under conditions of prolonged starvation, is shown to vary with the enzyme activity of the gland. The significance of these findings is discussed.

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La physiologie du cloporte Porcellio laevis (Porcellionidae, Peracarida)

Résumé La structure et la fonction des glandula intestini de Porcellio laevis sont décrites. Le rôle de l'épithélium coecal dans la sécrétion de l' -glucosidase est mis en évidence.L'épithélium uni-stratifié qui forme les parois de chaque coecum glandulaire se subdivise en une région antérieure non sécrétrice et une région postérieure sécrétrice. La région non sécrétrice est formé uniquement de cellules de forme cuboïdale, tandis que la région sécrétrice comporte quatre types distincts de cellules: des cellules columnaires, des cellules transitoires, des cellules de régénération et des cellules cupuliformes. La sécrétion d' -glucosidase est rythmique et de nature mérocrine. Une phase cyclique de transformations se manifeste dans les cellules de type columnaire, en rapport avec la sécrétion.Quelques-unes des caractéristiques biochimiques de l' -glucosidase des coeca glandulaires sont discutées et des faits sont exposés, qui montrent que les cellules columnaires de type vésiculé de l'épithélium coecal sont les véritables cellules responsables de la sécrétion. Le nombre de ces cellules dans l'épithélium coecal, sous des conditions de jeûne prolongé, se révèle varier parallèlement avec l'activité enzymatique de la glande. La signification de ces observations est discutée.

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Contribution No. 4 from the Biology Department of the Laurentian University at Sudbury.     

Oo mutations in the galactose operon in E. coli

Summary Eleven mutants lacking the three enzymes of galactose fermentation were investigated.Eight of the mutants revert spontaneously to the Gal ⁺ phenotype. These cannot be deletions. Six of these spontaneously reverting mutants do not respond to the mutagens 2-aminopurine, ethyl-methanesulfonate and N-Methyl-N-Nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. It is concluded that these o ^o mutations cannot be reverted by base substitution.The eleven o ^o mutants are not of the amber or ochre type as shown by their behaviour towards suppressor genes.The possible nature of the mutations is discussed.     

Detrimental effects of 2,5-Dihydroxymethyl-3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine in some tropical legume seeds on larvae of the bruchid Callosobruchus maculatus

The secondary plant compound 2,5-Dihydroxymethyl-3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine (DMDP), an analogue of -D-fructofuranose, is lethal to the larvae of the bruchid beetle Callosobruchus maculatus F. when incorporated into artificial diets at levels greater than 0.03%. In the range 0.003% to 0.03% the compound reduces larval survival in a dose-dependent manner. The -D-glucosidase digestive enzyme demonstrated in homogenates of the alimentary tract of the larvae is strongly inhibited by the compound in a competitive manner.

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Résumé La substance secondaire 2,5-dihydroxyméthyl-3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine (DMDP), analogue du -fructofuranose, est létale pour les larves de C. maculatus lorsqu'elle est incorporée dans des régimes alimentaires à des taux supérieurs à 0.03%. Entre 0.003% et 0.03%, la substance réduit la survie larvaire proportionnellement à la dose. L'enzyme digestive -D-glucosidase observée dans les homogénats du tube digestif de la larve est fortement inhibée par la substance d'une façon compétitive.