PUROMYCIN RESISTANCE IN HAPLOID AND HETEROPLOID FROG CELLS: GENE OR MEMBRANE DETERMINED?

The frequency of colony formation in monolayers of cultured frog cell lines treated with puromycin was compared in (a) haploid and heteroploid lines and (b) mutagen-treated and nontreated haploid lines. Evidence that resistant colonies result from gene mutation was negative, since the colony frequency is independent of both ploidy and mutagen treatment. A study of five frog cell lines showed that colony formation in puromycin depends on (a) the concentration of puromycin, (b) preselection of the population with puromycin, and, particularly, (c) the capacity of the treated population to survive some exposure to puromycin. One haploid and one heteroploid strain showing stable resistance to puromycin have been isolated; comparison of those variants with sensitive populations has shown that resistance to puromycin is correlated with the cells' capacity to exclude the drug. The evidence for different levels of membrane permeability, combined with evidence for many degrees of resistance among and within cell populations, suggests a model of self-determining membrane units. The evolution of a resistant phenotype may result from changes in the proportion of specific units in the membrane population.     

CATECHOLAMINES AND β2-ADRENOCEPTOR GENE EXPRESSION BEFORE AND AFTER MAXIMAL INCREMENTAL CYCLE TEST IN YOUNG ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS: RELATION TO WORK PERFORMED

The aim of this study was to assess the plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations as well as whole blood β₂-adrenoceptor gene (ADRB2) expression in young ice hockey players before and immediately after exercise in relation to performed work. Nineteen Youth National Team ice hockey players were subjected to the maximal incremental cycloergometer exercise. The test was done in the pre-competitive phase of training. Among many parameters the plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations and ADRB2 gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were determined before and after exercise. The average performed work was 3261.3 ± 558.3 J · kg⁻¹ and maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max) for all players was 53.85 ± 3.91 mL · kg⁻¹ min⁻¹. The geometric mean of the ADRB2 gene expression was statistically significantly different before and after exercise (P ≤ 0.05), while adrenaline and noradrenaline levels in plasma significantly increased after exercise. In the analysed group of athletes we found that initial level of plasma noradrenaline correlated with the performed work (r = - 0.55, P < 0.014) and normalized ADRB2 expression before the exercise correlated with the work done by them (r = 0.48, P<0.039). However, no statistically significant correlations were found between the plasma adrenaline or noradrenaline concentrations and ADRB2 gene expression in peripheral blood of the players. The performed work in the maximal incremental exercise test of regularly training young ice hockey players depends on the initial levels of noradrenaline in plasma and ADRB2 mRNA in PBMC.     

RAMARIA SUBGENERA RAMARIA AND LAETICOLORA IN YUNNAN

15.红柄丛枝瑚 Ramaria sanguinipes Petersen et Zang. Acta Bot. Yunnan 1986. 8: 289. Fruitbodies up to 6×5 cm, curved-obovate to generally circular in outline. Stipe up to 3×3 cm, single or fasciculate, stout, smooth to Somewhat marbled, off-white to ivory-colored, not canescent, often with aborted branchlets, rounded at base, tapering sharply downward, watery brunnescent, stained maroon ("Vandyke red," "madder red") at base, and suffused in this color upward; flesh solid, dry,     

APOMIXIS AND POLYEMBRYONY IN HIEROCHLOË ODORATA

Norstog , Knut . (Wittenberg U., Springfield, Ohio.) Apomixis and polyembryony in Hierochloe odorata. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(8): 815–821. Illus. 1963.—Hierochloë odorata from Michigan, having 2n = 56 chromosomes, was found to reproduce by pseudogamous fertilization of diploid aposporous embryo sacs. Diploid embryos, 2n= 56, and 5n = 140 ± endosperm occurred together. Megasporogenesis was incomplete, and aposporous embryo sac initials developed directly into 8-nucleate Polygonum type embryo sacs. Microsporogenesis was irregular with univalent, bivalent and multivalent chromosomes in meiosis-I. Dyads and microspores varied between n = 24 and n = 32, and less than 50% of the pollen grains stained with acetocarmine. Two other races of H. odorata are known to occur in North America. They are an apparently infertile type in Canada with 2n = 28, and a perfectly fertile race from coastal Connecticut also with 2n = 28. It is suggested that the H. odorata with 2n = 56 is a derivative of the sterile Canadian race.     

DOES GENE FLOW CONSTRAIN ADAPTIVE DIVERGENCE OR VICE VERSA? A TEST USING ECOMORPHOLOGY AND SEXUAL ISOLATION IN TIMEMA CRISTINAE WALKING‐STICKS

Population differentiation often reflects a balance between divergent natural selection and the opportunity for homogenizing gene flow to erode the effects of selection. However, during ecological speciation, trait divergence results in reproductive isolation and becomes a cause, rather than a consequence, of reductions in gene flow. To assess both the causes and the reproductive consequences of morphological differentiation, we examined morphological divergence and sexual isolation among 17 populations of Timema cristinae walking-sticks. Individuals from populations adapted to using Adenostoma as a host plant tended to exhibit smaller overall body size, wide heads, and short legs relative to individuals using Ceonothus as a host. However, there was also significant variation in morphology among populations within host-plant species. Mean trait values for each single population could be reliably predicted based upon host-plant used and the potential for homogenizing gene flow, inferred from the size of the neighboring population using the alternate host and mitochondrial DNA estimates of gene flow. Morphology did not influence the probability of copulation in between-population mating trials. Thus, morphological divergence is facilitated by reductions in gene flow, but does not cause reductions in gene flow via the evolution of sexual isolation. Combined with rearing data indicating that size and shape have a partial genetic basis, evidence for parallel origins of the host-associated forms, and inferences from functional morphology, these results indicate that morphological divergence in T. cristinae reflects a balance between the effects of host-specific natural selection and gene flow. Our findings illustrate how data on mating preferences can help determine the causal associations between trait divergence and levels of gene flow.