Observations on the fine structure of the cercaria of Notocotylus attenuatus and formation of the cyst wall of the metacercaria

Summary The dorsal tegument of the mature cercaria of Notocotylus attenuatus is a syncytial, cytoplasmic layer, containing two types of secretory granule which are identifiable ultrastructurally. The type 1 secretory bodies are electron lucid, whereas most type 2 granules have a banded appearance. The ventral tegument contains granules which are secreted from the type 3 cells; the type 3 granules are membrane bound, electron dense, and consist of both an amorphous and a finely striated zone. The type 4 cells mainly contain cigar-shaped granules consisting of an amorphous core surrounded by concentric striations. The granules exhibit structural variability in shape and content. The type 4 cells undergo a cellular migration to the tegument during encystment. The structure of the posterior-lateral glands and mode of secretion of the granules are described. Possible functions of microtubules are discussed for each cell type. Details of some secretory processes involved in the formation of the hemispherical cyst wall are described. The layers of the cyst wall may be related to the granular contents of the various parenchymal cells of the cercaria. The tegument of the metacercaria originates primarily from the cytoplasm of the type 1, type 2, type 3 and type 4 cells.     

Purification and characterization of α(2-6)-sialyltransferase from human liver

A Gal1-4GlcNAc (2-6)-sialyltransferase from human liver was purified 34 340-fold with 18% yield by dye chromatography on Cibacron Blue F3GA and cation exchange FPLC. The enzyme preparation was free of other sialyltransferases. It did not contain CMP-NeuAc hydrolase, protease, or sialidase activity, and was stable at –20°C for at least eight months. The donor substrate specificity was examined with CMP-NeuAc analogues modified at C-5 or C-9 of theN-acetylneuraminic acid moiety. Affinity of the human enzyme for parent CMP-NeuAc and each CMP-NeuAc analogue was substantially higher than the corresponding Gal1-4GlcNAc (2-6)-sialyltransferase from rat liver.Abbreviations FPLC fast protein liquid chromatography - NeuAc 5-N-acetyl-d-neuraminic acid - 9-amino-NeuAc 5-acetamido-9-amino-3,5,9-trideoxy-d-glycero-2-nonulosonic acid - 9-acetamido-NeuAc 5,9-diacetamido-3,5,9-trideoxy-d-glycero--d-2-nonulosonic acid - 9-benzamido-NeuAc 5-acetamido-9-benzamido-3,5,9-trideoxy-d-glycero--d-galacto-2-nonulosonic acid - 9-fluoresceinyl-NeuAc 9-fluoresceinylthioureido-NeuAc - 5-formyl-Neu 5-formyl--d-neuraminic acid - 5-aminoacetyl-Neu 5-aminoacetyl--d-neuraminic acid - CMP-NeuAc cytidine-5-monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid - G_M1 Gal1-3GalNAc1-4(NeuAc2-3)Gal1-4Glc-ceramide - ST sialyltransferase - DTE 1,4-dithioerythritol Enzyme: Gal1-4GlcNAc (2-6)-sialyltransferase, EC 2.4.99.1.     

The hypothalamo-hypophysial system in acipenseridae

Summary The neurohypophysis of sexually mature male and female Acipenser güldenstädti Brandt and Acipenser stellatus Pallas was studied light and electron microscopically. The recessus hypophysei lined with ependymal cells of two main types, narrow and wide, are in the center of the neurohypophysial roots. Processes from both cell types run radially to the basement membrane of the connective tissue layers abutting on the hypophysial intermediate lobe. Protrusions penetrating deep into the recessus hypophyseus are found in the apical parts of the wide cells. Pituicytes are rare in the neurohypophysis. The ultrastructure of both ependymal cell types and of the pituicytes is described. Nonmyelinated Gomori-positive (peptidergic) neurosecretory A₁ and A₂ type fibres and their terminals containing elementary neurosecretory granules (1400–1800 Å and 1000–1400 Å respectively) are the main structural elements of the neurohypophysis. Some dark and single myelinated neurosecretory fibres have been found. The adrenergic fibres (type B) were described earlier (Polenov et al., 1972a). The structural peculiarities of the neurohypophysis are discussed in functional and comparative-morphological terms.     

Pancreatic glucagon cells contain endorphin-like immunoreactivity

Summary On the basis of the histochemical activity of succinic dehydrogenase, only two fibre-types are distinguished in pigeon pectoralis major muscle. These are narrow Red and broad White. The histochemical activity of myofibrillar ATPase was studied in these two distinct fibre-types. Both fibre-types showed high activity for the ATPase. Red fibres of pigeon pectoralis were not alkali-labile, at incubation pH 9.4, as were the Type I fibres of both avian and mammalian muscles. Again unlike Type I fibres, the Red fibres of pigeon pectoralis lacked the characteristic activation of acid-preincubated ATPase reaction. Pigeon pectoralis Red fibres are known to posses some characteristics of fast-twitch fibres (e.g. high fat, considerable phosphorylase, fibrillenstruktur myofibrillar arrangement, focal en plaque pattern of nerve endings). It is emphasized, therefore, that the pigeon pectoralis Red fibres are not equivalent to Type I or slow-twitch, muscle fibres, but they are possibly fast-twitch fatigue resistent or Type II Red muscle fibres.     

Gibberellins play a role in the interaction between imidazole fungicides and cytokinins in Araceae

Imidazole fungicides such as imazalil, prochloraz, and triflurnizole and the triazole growth retardant paclobutrazol promote the shoot-inducing effect of exogenous cytokinins in Araceae, such as Spathiphyllum floribundum Schott and Anthurium andreanum Schott. The mechanism of their action could partially be based on the inhibition of gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis, because administration of GA₃ inhibits the phenomenon completely in S. floribundum. Not only is the suppression of GA biosynthesis involved, but also the metabolism of endogenous cytokinins is significantly altered. Although the balance between isopentenyladenine, zeatin, dihydrozeatin, and their derivatives was shifted to distinguished directions by administration of BA and/or imazalil and/or GA₃, no correlation between these changes in metabolic pathways and the number of shoots could be found. The metabolism of BA was not significantly altered by adding imazalil to the micropropagation medium of S. floribundum.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - [9R-5P]DHZ 9--d-ribofuranosyl-dihydrozeatin-monophosphate - [9R-5P]iP 6-isopentenyl-9--d-ribofuranosyladenine-monophosphate - [9R-5P]Z 9--d-ribofuranosyl-zeatin-monophosphate - [9G]BA 6-benzyl-9--d-glucopyranosyladenine - [9G]DHZ 9--d-glucopyranosyl-dihydrozeatin - [9G]iP 6-isopentenyl-9--d-glucopyranosyladenine - [9G]Z 9--d-glucopyranosyl-zeatin - [9R]BA 6-benzyl-9--d-ribofuranosyladenine - [9R]DHZ 9--d-ribofuranosyl-dihydrozeatin - [9R]iP 6-isopentenyl-9--d-ribofuranosyladenine - [9R]Z 9--d-ribofuranosyl-zeatin - BA 6-benzyladenine - DHZ dihydrozeatin - ES⁺ LC-MS/MS HPLC coupled Electrospray Tandem Mass Spectrometry - f.m. fresh mass - mT 6-(3-hydroxybenzyl)adenine - IMA imazalil - iP isopentenyladenine - NAA 1-naphthalene acetic acid - NFT Nutrient Film Technique - (OG)[9R]DHZ O--glucopyranosyl-9--d-ribofuranosyl-dihydrozeatin - (OG)[9R]Z O--d-glucopyranosyl-9--d-ribofuranosyl-zeatin - (OG)DHZ O--d-glucopyranosyl-dihydrozeatin - (OG)Z O--d-glucopyranosyl-zeatin - PAR Photosynthetic Active Radiation - PBZ paclobutrazol - PRO prochloraz - TDZ thidiazuron - TRI triflurnizole - Z zeatin     

Intranuclear inclusions in pericytes of the hypothalamus of the rat

Summary This paper deals with the ultrastructure of two types of intranuclear inclusions, nuclear bodies and membranous lamellar bodies, present in hypothalamic pericytes of intact adult rats. The nuclear bodies exhibited simple and granular forms, whereas the membranous lamellar bodies were entirely made up of myelin-like membrane whorls.The occurrence of these bodies in nuclei of pericytes has never been previously reported. The origin and functional meaning of such structures is discussed in the light of recent ultrastructural and biochemical studies on nuclear inclusions.     

Displacement of excitatory amino acid receptor ligands by acidic oligopeptides

A number ofD-glutamyl andL-aspartyl dipeptides, glutathione, -D-glutamylglycine and -D-glutamyltaurine, were tested for their efficacy to displace ligands specific for different subtypes of excitatory amino acid receptors from rat brain synaptic membranes. In general, theL enanthiomorphs of -glutamyl peptides were more potent displacers than -D-glutamylglycine and-taurine but the latter were more specific for the quisqualate type of receptors. -L-glutamyl-L-glutamate was the most effective dipeptide in displacing the binding of glutamate, 2-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-proprionate (AMPA) and 2-amino-5-phosphonoheptanoate (APH), whereas -L-glutamyl-L-aspartate was the most effective in the binding of kainate. Both oxidized and reduced glutathione were inhibitory, being most potent in the binding of AMPA. -L-Glutamylaminomethylsulphonate was most effective in the binding of APH. The most potent -L-glutamyl peptides (glutathione, -L-glutamyl-L-glutamate,-L-aspartate, and-glycine) may act as endogenous modulators of excitatory aminoacidergic neurotransmission.     

Properties of Aspergillus japonicus β-fructofuranosidase immobilized on porous silica

-Fructofuranosidase from Aspergillus japonicus MU-2, which produces fructo-oligosaccharides (1-kestose: O--D-fructofuranosyl-(2 1)--D-fructofuranosyl -D-glucopyranoside); and nystose: O--D-fructofuranosyl-(2 1)--D-fructofuranosyl-(2 1)--D-fructofuranosyl -D-glucopyranoside) from sucrose, was immobilized, covalently with glutaraldehyde onto alkylamine porous silica, at high efficiency (64%). Optimum pore diameter of porous silica for immobilization of the enzyme was 91.7 nm. After immobilization, the enzyme's stabilities to temperature, metal ions and proteolysis were improved, while its optimum pH and temperature were unchanged. The highest efficiency of continuous production of fructo-oligosaccharides (more than 60%), using a column packed with the immobilized enzyme, was obtained at 40% to 50% (w/v) sucrose. The half-life of the column during long-term continuous operation at 55°C was 29 days.     

Location by fluorescence microscopy of glycosidases and a xylanase in the anaerobic gut fungi Caecomyces communis,Neocallimastix frontalis,and Piromyces rhizinflata

-d-Glucosidase, -d-fucosidase -d-xylosidase, and -cellobiopyranosidase activities in Caecomyces communis, Neocallimastix frontalis, and Piromyces rhizinflata, located with fluorescent conjugates, occur throughout the whole thallus as from zoospore germination and disappear before sporulation. -d-Galactosidase and -l-arabinopyranosidase activities are low or nonexistent. A xylanase, detected by indirect immunofluorescence, was observed at the surface of the vegetative cells, vesicles, or rhizoids. Cross-reactions prove the existence of analogies in structure among the enzymes of these anaerobic gut fungi.     

Preparation of a series of sulfated tetrasaccharides from shark cartilage chondroitin sulfate D using testicular hyaluronidase and structure determination by 500 MHz1H NMR spectroscopy

Six tetrasaccharide fractions were isolated from shark cartilage chondroitin sulfate D by gel filtration chromatography followed by HPLC on an amine-bound silica column after exhaustive digestion with testicular hyaluronidase. Their structures were determined unambiguously by one- and two-dimensional 500 MHz¹H NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with HPLC analysis of chondroitinase AC-II digests of the tetrasaccharides. One fraction was found to contain two tetrasaccharide components. All the seven tetrasaccharides shared the common core structure GlcA1-3GalNAc1-4GlcA1-3GalNAc with various sulfation profiles. Four were disulfated comprising of two monosulfated disaccharide units GlcA1-3GalNAc(4-sulfate) and/or GlcA1-3GalNAc(6-sulfate), whereas the other three were hitherto unreported trisulfated tetrasaccharides containing a disulfated disaccharide unit GlcA(2-sulfate)1-3GalNAc(6-sulfate) and a monosulfated disaccharide unit GlcA1-3GalNAc(4-or 6-sulfate). These sulfated tetrasaccharides were demonstrated to serve as appropriate acceptor substrates for serum -N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase, indicating their usefulness as authentic oligosaccharide substrates or probes for the glycobiology of sulfated glycosaminoglycans.Abbreviations NFU National formulary unit - COSY correlation spectroscopy - HOHAHA homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn - 1D or 2D one- or two-dimensional - IdoA l-iduronic acid - GlcA d-gluco-4-enepyranosyluronic acid - Di-0S GlcA1-3GalNAc - Di-4S GlcA1-3GalNAc(4-sulfate) - Di-4S GlcA1-3GalNAc(4-sulfate) - Di-6S GlcA1-3GalNAc(6-sulfate) - Di-6S GlcA1-3GalNAc(6-sulfate) - Di-diS _d GlcA(2-sulfate)1-3GalNAc(6-sulfate) - Di-diS_E GlcA1-3GalNAc(4, 6-disulfate) - U G, U, 2S, 4S, and 6S represent GlcA, GalNAc, GlcA, 2-O-sulfate, 4-O-sulfate, and 6-O-sulfate, respectively     

Synaptische Strukturen und Elementargranula in der Neurohypophyse des Meerschweinchens

Zusammenfassung Die Ultrastruktur des Nucleus infundibularis tuberis, der Zona interna, der Zona externa und des Hypophysenhinterlappens von Meerschweinchen wird beschrieben. Vergleichende Beobachtungen an den Nervenfasern der genannten Gebiete zeitigen folgende Ergebnisse:Die Axone der Zona interna und des Hypophysenhinterlappens enthalten gleichgeartete, große neurosekretorische Elementargranula (1,400 Å). Die Axonquerschnitte im Bereich des Nucleus infundibularis tuberis und der Zona externa weisen Granula gleichen Kalibers (800 Å) auf und lassen damit auf einen funktionell-morphologischen Zusammenhang des Nucleus infundiburis und der Zona externa schließen. Ob die kleinen Elementargranula das morphologische Substrat der sogenannten releasing factors darstellen oder ob es sich um adrenerge Axone und Endigungen mit typischen Katecholamingranula handelt, ist nicht zu klären.Es wird unterschieden zwischen echten Synapsen und synapsenähnlichen Kontakten. Nur erstere zeigen alle klassischen Synapsenmerkmale. Ihnen sind im Bereich der Neurohypophyse axosomatische und interaxonale Synapsen zuzuordnen. Zona externa und Hypophysenhinterlappen stellen neurohämale Kontaktzonen dar und zeichnen sich durch gleichartig konstruierte Synapsen aus. Neben interaxonalen Synapsen treten vor allem neurokapilläre Kontakte in den Vordergrund. In der Zona externa sind die Tanyzyten synaptisch mit Axonen verknüpft, so wie im Hypophysenhinterlappen die Pituizyten synaptische Verbindungen mit Nervenfasern eingehen. Die synapsenähnlichen Bildungen im Verlauf und an den Enden der Axone können somit neurokapillärer, neurotanyzytärer und neuropituizytärer Natur sein. Sie enthalten neben den synaptischen Vesikeln auch meist kleine oder große Elementargranula. Die ähnliche Morphologie der synaptischen Bildungen in der Zona externa und im Hinterlappen läßt einen gleichgearteten Inkretionsmechanismus beider neurohypophysärer Abschnitte vermuten. Tanyzyten und Pituizyten könnten dabei eine Überträgerfunktion ausüben. Eine rezeptorische Funktion der Tanyzyten wird gleichfalls diskutiert.Die Drüsenzellen der Pars intermedia der Hypophyse sind durch direkte neuroglanduläre Kontakte mit den Neuronen des Hypothalamus verknüpft. Die Axone stülpen sich hierbei tief in das Zytoplasma der Drüsenzellen ein. Es entstehen dadurch beim Meerschweinchen drei nervöse Endigungsformen, die Synapsen ausbilden: 1. Endigungen, die nur synaptische Vesikel enthalten; 2. Endigungen mit synaptischen Vesikeln und kleinen Granula; 3. Endigungen mit synaptischen Vesikeln und großen Granula.Zwischen den Drüsenzellen der Pars infundibularis der Adenohypophyse sind ebenfalls Axonquerschnitte zu beobachten. Es handelt sich dabei entweder um vegetative Faserbündel oder Nervenfasern mit kleinen Granula wie in der Zona externa (800 Å).

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Summary The ultrastructure of the nucleus infundibularis tuberis, the inner and outer layer of the median eminence and the posterior lobe of the guinea pig are described. Comparative studies on the nerve fibres of these regions lead to the following conclusions:The axons of the inner layer of the median eminence and of the posterior lobe contain similar types of large, neurosecretory elementary granules (Diameter 1400 Å).The cross-sections of the axons in the area of the nucleus infundibularis tuberis and of the outer layer of the median eminence exhibit the same sized granules (Diameter 800 Å), which points to a functional-morphological relationship between the two. Whether the small elementary granules represent the morphological substrate of the so-called releasing factors, or whether it is a question of adrenergic axons and terminations with typical catecholamine granules, is undecided.A distinction is made between true synapses and synapse-like contacts. Only the former display all the classical characteristics of synapses. To this sort must be classed the axosomatic and interaxonal synapses in the neurohypophysis. The external layer of the median eminence and the posterior lobe are distinguished by neurohaemal contact areas and show similarly constructed synapses. Of particular prominence, besides interaxonal synapses, are neurocapillary contiguities. Just as in the posterior lobe the pituicytes show synaptic connections with nerve fibres, so are the tanycytes in the outer layer of the median eminence in synaptical contact with axons. Thus the synapse-like formations along and at the endings of the axons can be of a neurocapillary, neurotanycytial and neuropituicytial nature. They contain, apart from the synaptic vesicles, mainly small but also large elementary granules. The similar morphology of the synaptic formations in the outer layer of the median eminence and the posterior lobe suggests the existence of a similar mechanism of internal secretion in both these neurohypophysial areas. Tanycytes and pituicytes could exercise a carrier function. A possible receptor-function of the tanycytes is considered.The glandular cells of the pars intermedia of the hypophysis are linked by means of direct neuroglandular contacts with the neurons of the hypothalamus, whereby the axons make deep incursions into the cytoplasm of the glandular cells. In the guinea pig three types of termination can be observed that form synapses: 1. terminations that contain only synaptic vesicles; 2. terminations with small granules; 3. terminations with large granules.Cross-sections of axons can also be observed between the glandular cells of the pars infundibularis of the adenohypophysis. Here they can be identified either as vegetative fibre-bundles or as nerve fibres with small granules, such as occur in the outer layer of the median eminence (Diameter 800 Å).

     

The innervation of the myometrium of the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

Summary The autonomic innervation of the myometrium of Macaca fascicularis consists of bundles of unmyelinated nerve fibres running between the smooth muscle cells, and is therefore considered to be of the fascicular (= unitary) type. Close contacts between nerve fibres and smooth muscle fibres were not found. Modification of the chromaffin method according to Tranzer and Richards made it possible to visualize the heterogeneity of the nerve fibres in a single bundle. The following fibre types were found to coexist: (1) noradrenergic fibres containing synaptic vesicles with a dense granule, (2) cholinergic fibres containing empty synaptic vesicles, and (3) non-adrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) fibres containing only or predominantly large dense-cored vesicles, which do not react with this method. Noradrenergic fibres are the most numerous (around 60%), followed by NANC fibres (30%) and cholinergic elements (around 10%). The distribution of these three types is similar in the cervix, the isthmus and the body of the uterus in pregnant and non-pregnant females.     

A morphometric analysis of the subcellular distribution of LHβ and FSHβ in secretory granules in the pituitary gonadotrophs of the frog (Rana japonica)

Immunohistochemical localization of lutropin (LH) and follitropin (FSH) in the pituitary gland of the frog Rana japonica was studied by the peroxidase-anti-peroxidase method and the two-face, double-labeling method with different-sized gold particles at the light-and electron-microscopic levels, respectively, using monoclonal antibodies against bullfrog LH and FSH. Light-microscopic immunohistochemistry indicated that approximately 66.0% of all the gonadotrophs in the pituitary contained both LH and FSH, whereas 33.4% of gonadotrophs contained only LH, and 0.6% contained only FSH. The staining intensity of LH and FSH varied from cell to cell. The gonadotrophs were classified into four types (Types I–IV) in terms of their ultrastructural and immunolabeling characteristics. Moreover, several secretory granule types were recognized according to differences in their shape and electron density. In all the cell types, both LH and FSH were often seen in the same secretory granules, but the proportion of granules bearing both hormones ranged from 5.5% in Type I to 32.7% in Type IV. Most secretory granules in Types I and II were immunolabeled with LH alone, whereas a small number of granules were immunolabeled with FSH alone. More immunolabeled FSH granules were present in Types III and IV than in Types I and II.     

Electron microscopy of taste buds of the rat

Summary The taste buds of the circumvallate papillae have been examined by electron microscopy in OsO₄-fixed, PTA stained material or after KMnO₄ fixation. The microvilli of the receptor cells have terminal dilatations which presumably give an increased surface area for transduction. The extracellular spaces at the necks of the receptor cells near the bases of the microvilli are interrupted by closed contacts.The synapses have a well defined synaptic cleft suggesting a chemical rather than an electrical mode of transmission. Synaptic membrane specialisations differ from the membrane thickenings of other types of synapse. Presynaptic dense projections are present but there is no well define postsynaptic thickening. Vesicles occur in both pre- and postsynaptic components, but it is debatable whether or not they should be termed synaptic vesicles. Acknowledgements. We are indebted to Professor J. Z. Young, F. R. S., for his stimulating support, and to Mr. S. Waterman for skilled photography.     

Substrate specificity and inhibition of UDP-GlcNAc:GlcNAcβ1-2Manα1-6R β1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V using synthetic substrate analogues

UDP-GlcNAc:GlcNAc 1-2Man1-6R (GlcNAc to Man) 1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (GlcNAc-T V) adds a GlcNAc1-6 branch to bi- and triantennaryN-glycans. An increase in this activity has been associated with cellular transformation, metastasis and differentiation. We have used synthetic substrate analogues to study the substrate specificity and inhibition of the partially purified enzyme from hamster kidney and of extracts from hen oviduct membranes and acute myeloid leukaemia leukocytes. All compounds with the minimum structure GlcNAc1-2Man1-6Glc/Man-R were good substrates for GlcNAc-T V. The presence of structural elements other than the minimum trisaccharide structure affected GlcNAc-T V activity without being an absolute requirement for activity. Substrates with a biantennary structure were preferred over linear fragments of biantennary structures. Kinetic analysis showed that the 3-hydroxyl of the Man1-3 residue and the 4-hydroxyl of the Man- residue of the Man1-6(Man1-3)Man-RN-glycan core are not essential for catalysis but influence substrate binding. GlcNAc1-2(4,6-di-O-methyl-)Man1-6Glc-pnp was found to be an inhibitor of GlcNAc-T V from hamster kidney, hen oviduct microsomes and acute and chronic myeloid leukaemia leukocytes.Abbreviations all allyl - AML acute myeloid leukaemia - BSA bovine serum albumin - CML chronic myelogenous leukaemia - Gal G,d-galactose - Glc d-glucose - GlcNAc Gn,N-acetyl-d-glucosamine - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - Man M,d-mannose - mco 8-methoxycarbonyl-octyl, (CH₂)₈COOCH₃ - Me methyl - MES 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonate - oct octyl - pnp p-nitrophenyl - T transferase     

Die Lebensformen der Laubmoose

Zusammenfassung Im Gegensatz zu dem morphologischen Begriff Wuchsform wird der ökologische Begriff Lebensform definiert als der Habitus einer Pflanze in Einklang mit ihren Lebensbedingungen. Es werden 10 Lebensformen der Laubmoose unterschieden, ihr Anteil an verschiedenen Pflanzenformationen und Moosgesellschaften dargelegt und ihre Abhängigkeit von den ökologischen Bedingungen erörtert.

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Summary In opposition to the morphological term growth-form the ecological term life-form is defined as the organization of a plant in correspondence with its life conditions. Ten life-forms of mosses are discerned, their part within various plant-formations and moss-associations is explained, and their dependence on ecological conditions is discussed.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. Carl Troll in herzlicher Verehrung zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Design of superactive and selective integrin receptor antagonists containing the RGD sequence

Summary Integrins play a major role in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. The majority of the different types of integrins recognize the tripeptide sequence arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD). To explore the spatial requirements of the pharmacophore for receptor selectivity and high activity, a new procedure, spatial screening, was used. The procedure is based on the experience that the conformation of small cyclic peptides is mainly determined by the chirality of the amino acids (and glycine or proline). For example, cyclic pentapeptides with one d and four l amino acids prefer a II'/ conformation. The sequence RGDFV was shifted around this spatial II'/ template by synthesis of five peptides in which one of the amino acids was used in d-configuration. It turned out that cyclo(-RGDfV-) is a selective inhibitor for the _v3 integrin, which is strongly expressed in cancer cells. Systematic variations with different turn mimetics, retro-inverso structures, modified peptide bonds and sugar amino acids are discussed.     

Comments on specific categories in flowering plants

The paper offers comments arising from the author's experience as a practising taxonomist on two aspects of what is often called the species problem: the reality of species and species as individuals. Three different meanings of reality are distinguished and discussed in this context: mental reality, biological reality and evolutionary reality. The author holds the view that, on all three definitions, species must be judged to be real. On the argument concerning species as individuals, the opinions ofHull, Ghiselin and others are carefully presented but rejected by the author, who retains the belief that species are classes and not individuals.Dedicated to the memory of JohnS. L. Gilmour.     

Callus induction and plant regeneration in Vetiveria zizanioides

Callus induction was obtained from basal parts of Vetiveria zizanioides Stapf. leaves cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 9.0 M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-d), 5.7 M indoleacetic acid (IAA) and 4.6 M kinetin. Calli were maintained on MS medium with the addition of 0.9 M 2,4-d and 2.3 M kinetin. Shoot formation was obtained from fast growing 14-day-old callus on the same basal medium supplemented with 0.9 M 2,4-d and 9.3 M kinetin. Embryo-like structures were observed. When transferred to basal medium, shoots readily developed roots. Fully developed regenerated plants were then successfully established in soil.     

Sialidase of swine influenza A viruses: variation of the recognition specificities for sialyl linkages and for the molecular species of sialic acid with the year of isolation

The sialidase of swine influenza A viruses of N1 and N2 subtypes, isolated from 1930 to 1992, was studied for substrate specificity with ganglio-series, lacto-series type II and GM3 gangliosides containing Neu5Ac2-3Gal, Neu5Gc2-3Gal and Neu5Ac2-6Gal linkages. All viral sialidases tested showed that the activity for hydrolysing substrates with Neu5Ac2-3Gal was higher than the activities with Neu5Gc2-3Gal and Neu5Ac2-6Gal linkages. When GM1b, GM3 and sialylparagloboside were used as substrates, the earliest strain (A/Wisconsin/15/30 H1N1, isolated in 1930) showed the activity ratio of Neu5Ac2-6Gal to Neu5Ac2-3Gal to be 0.13:0.2, and the ratio Neu5Gc2-3Gal/Neu5Ac2-3Gal to be 0.19:0.37, while those strains isolated from 1978 to 1992 exhibited ratios of 0.29:0.58 for Neu5Ac2-6Gal/Neu5Ac2-3Gal and 0.51:0.76 for Neu5Gc2-3Gal/Neu5Ac2-3Gal. The above results indicate that the substrate specificities of sialidases from swine influenza A viruses towards sialyl linkages and the molecular species of sialic acid are related to the year of isolation, i.e. strains isolated after 1978 exhibited higher activity towards Neu5Ac2-6Gal and Neu5Gc2-3Gal linkages when compared with strains isolated in an earlier year, 1930.Abbreviation Neu5Ac 5-N-acetylneuraminic acid - Neu5Gc 5-N-glycolyneuraminic acid - Gal d-galactose - Glc d-glucose - Cer Ceramide - II³(Neu5Ac)Lac Neu5Ac2-3Gal1-4Glc - GM3(Neu5Ac2-3Gal) Neu5Ac2-3Gal1-4Glc1-Cer - GM3(Neu5Gc2-3Gal) Neu5Gc2-3Gal1-4Glc1-Cer - GM1b(Neu5Ac2-3Gal) Neu5Ac2-3Gal1-3GalNac1-4Gal1-4Glc1-Cer - GMlb(Neu5Gc2-3Gal) Neu5Gc2-3Gal1-3GalNAc1-4Gal1-4Glc1-Cer - IV³(Neu5Ac)nLc4Cer Neu5Ac2-3Gal1-3GlcNAc1-4Gal1-4Glc1-Cer - IV³(Neu5Gc)nLc4Cer Neu5Gc2-3Gal1-3GlcNAc1-4Gal1-4Glc1-Cer - IV⁶(Neu5Ac)nLc4Cer Neu5Ac2-6Gal1-3GlcNAc1-4Gal1-4Glc1-Cer - TDC taurodeoxycholate.