Characterization of receptors for thyrotropin-releasing hormone-potentiating peptide on rat anterior pituitary membranes.

Previous studies (Bulant, M., Delfour, A., Vaudry, H., and Nicolas, P. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 17189-17196; Bulant, M., Roussel, J. P., Astier, H., Nicolas, P., and Vaudry, H. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 4439-4443) have shown that post-translational processing of rat thyrotropin-releasing hormone prohormone (pro-TRH) generates, besides thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), a connecting decapeptide corresponding to prepro-TRH-(160-169), i.e. Ser-Phe-Pro-Trp-Met-Glu-Ser-Asp-Val-Thr. This peptide, which is named TRH-potentiating peptide (Ps4), is co-localized with TRH in the median eminence nerve endings and is involved in potentiation of the action of TRH on thyrotropin hormone release by pituitary in vitro and in vivo. To characterize the receptor(s) for TRH-potentiating peptide in the pituitary, a highly potent and metabolically stable derivative of Ps4, [I-Tyr0]Ps4, was radioiodinated. Binding of [125I-Tyr-0]Ps4 to rat pituitary membrane homogenates was specific, saturable, reversible, and linear with membrane protein concentration. Equilibrium measurements performed over a large range of concentrations revealed a single homogeneous population of high affinity binding sites (Kd = 0.22 nM; Bmax = 517 fmol/mg of membrane proteins). Several naturally occurring neuropeptides and hormones, including TRH, did not compete with [125I-Tyr0]Ps4 in the binding, which suggests the binding sites are specific to Ps4. Using C-terminal deletion analogs of [Tyr0]Ps4, we further showed the critical role the C-terminal residues Thr10, Val9, and Asp8 play in conferring high binding affinity and selectivity. Binding site tissue distribution and cross-reactivity binding studies suggest that the action of TRH-potentiating peptide is mediated through interaction with a specific pituitary cell-surface receptor which differ from those for TRH. [I-Tyr0]Ps4 reported in this paper, through its high binding affinity and specificity, its very low nonspecific binding, its high resistance to enzymatic degradation, and its high potentiating action in vitro should allow further progress in understanding the in vivo physiological function of Ps4.     

Comparative study on the effectiveness of modified Kato's cellophane thick smear and Stoll's dilution egg counting technique for quantitative fecal examination of helminth eggs]

A total of 197 fecal specimens was prepared for quantitative examination of helminth eggs by modified Kato's cellophane thick smear (M.C.T.S.) and Stoll's dilution egg counting technique (D.E.C.T.). The comparative effectiveness of two techniques was evaluated and conversion function was deduced. The average time required for the microscopic examination on one slide by M.C.T.S. was 12.6 minutes and that of D.E.C.T. was 14.6 minutes. M.C.T.S. showed lower false negative rate than D.E.C.T. in light worm burden cases. Functions to convert the counts obtained by M.C.T.S. to E.P.G. by Stoll's dilution egg counting technique were 47.86 x 10(0.87) logM.C.T.S. in A. lumbricoides, 41.69 x 10(0.82) logM.C.T.S. in T. trichiura and 63.10 x 10(0.85) logM.C.T.S. in C. sinensis. It was suggested M.C.T.S. be better than D.E.C.T. for the quantitative examination of intestinal helminthiases such as A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, and C. sinensis infections even in the cases with low worm burden.     

Immunochemical examination of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa glycocalyx: a monoclonal antibody which recognizes L-guluronic acid residues of alginic acid

Mice immunized with Formalin-fixed mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells developed an immune response directed, in part, towards the P. aeruginosa glycocalyx. The polyclonal mouse sera produced good immunofluorescent staining of the P. aeruginosa glycocalyx and cell surface. A library of 250 hybridoma cell lines which produced monoclonal antibodies directed against P. aeruginosa was established. Twelve clones (4.8%) produced antibody which reacted with alginate in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clone Ps 53 was chosen for further study, cloned, and an ascites tumor established. Clone Ps 53 was chosen for further study because the antibody produced demonstrated a specificity similar to that of a recently isolated heparin--rat-lung lectin which recognizes alginates of the Homma nontypable P. aeruginosa strains. The Ps 53 clone produced an immunoglobulin M which reacted with P. aeruginosa alginate and produced good immunofluorescent staining of the P. aeruginosa glycocalyx. The Ps 53 monoclonal antibody has an apparent specificity for L-guluronic residues in ELISA. Competitive binding studies with various alginates and monosaccharides suggest that the C6 carboxyl group of uronic acids are recognized by the antibody and that the antigen-binding site is fairly large and may recognize a particular sequence or epitope of alginic acid which is rich in L-guluronic acid. The Ps 53 monoclonal antibody did not react uniformily with all P. aeruginosa alginates but did react with all of the alginates of the Homma nontypable strains tested, suggesting that acetylation or various modifications found in P. aeruginosa alginates may interfere with antibody binding and define specific epitopes. The Ps 53 antibody also reacted with purified outer membrane, indicating that some alginate or L-guluronic acid is intimately associated with outer membrane.     

First steps towards a Zn/Co(III)sep-driven P450 BM3 reactor

Cytochrome P450s are synthetically attractive hydroxylation catalysts. For cell-free applications, a constant supply of NAD(P)H can be very costly. Mediators such as Zn/Co(III)sep can be an alternative cofactor system to NAD(P)H. Several mutants of cytochrome P450 BM3 with improved electron transfer rate to Zn/Co(III)sep have been obtained in our group. P450 BM3 M7 (F87A V281G M354S R471C A1011T S1016G Q1022R) was immobilized on DEAE-650S, further entrapped with k-carrageenan together with zinc dust which function as electron source and catalase which removes produced hydrogen peroxide instantly. Immobilized P450 BM3 M7 were treated with 0.05% (v/v) glutaraldehyde to enhance operational stability. P450 BM3 M7 retained around 76% of its activity and conversions stayed above 80% in 10 batch cycles, indicating a high stability of immobilized P450 BM3 M7. To explore the synthetic potential, a small-scale bioreactor was developed to investigate the stability and efficiencies of P450 BM3 M9 (R47F F87A M238K V281G M354S D363H W575C A595T). P450 BM3 M9 was used for the continuous conversion of 3-phenoxytoluene in a plug flow reactor (PFR) since P450 BM3 M9 has a 3-fold higher activity for 3-phenoxytoluene compared to P450 BM3 M7 which was used for optimizing immobilization conditions with the highest activity for 12-pNCA assay. The reactor could be operated for 5 days with total turnover numbers (TTNs) over 2,000.     

Book Reviews

Visualizing Statistical Models and Concepts (R. W. Farebrother) C. B. Borkowf Statistical Consulting (J. Cabrera and A. McDougall) A. Cowling Data Monitoring Committees in Clinical Trials: A Practical Perspective (S. S. Ellenberg, T. R. Fleming, and D. L. DeMets) B. Freidlin Combined Survey Sampling Inference: Weighing Basu's Elephants (K. Brewer) Y. G. Berger Visualising Categorical Data (M. Friendly) R. J. Marshall Estimating Animal Abundance: Closed Populations (D. L. Borchers, S. T. Buckland, and W. Zucchini) A. Chao Likelihood, Bayesian, and MCMC Methods in Quantitative Genetics (D. Sorensen and D. Gianola) J. Whittaker Block Designs: A Randomization Approach, Volumes I and II (T. Caliński and S. Kageyama) G. M. Clarke Computational Statistics Handbook with Matlab (W. L. Martinez and A. R. Martinez) P. K. Dunn Spatial Cluster Modelling (A. B. Lawson and D. G. T. Denison, eds.) D. Allard Elements of Computational Statistics (J. E. Gentle) D. M. Smith Brief Reports by the Editor A First Course in Linear Model Theory (N. Ravishanker and D. K. Dey) Statistical Inference, 2nd edition (P. H. Garthwaite, I. T. Jolliffe, and B. Jones) Statistical Analysis of Designed Experiments, 2nd edition (H. Toutenburg) Logistic Regression: A Self‐Learning Text, 2nd edition (D. G. Kleinbaum and M. Klein) American Series in Mathematical and Management Sciences, Volume 47. USA‐II, Forum for Interdisciplinary Mathematics Proceedings on Statistics, Combinatorics, and Related Areas, Volume II of Proceedings of the University of South Alabama (U.S.A.) Conference (Mobile, Alabama, U.S.A., December 1999) (S. N. Mishra, ed.)     

A peptide from the eel pancreas with structural similarity to human pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor

The primary structure of a 61-amino-acid residue peptide from the pancreas of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has been established as E E K S G(5)L Y R K P(10)S C G E M(15)S A M H A(20)C P M N F(25)A P V C G(30)T D G N T(35)Y P N E C(40)S L C F Q(45)R Q N T K(50)T D I L I(55)T K D D R(60)C. There was no indication of microheterogeneity. This peptide shows structural similarity to pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitors from several mammalian species and to a cholecystokinin-releasing peptide isolated from rat pancreatic juice. A comparison of the amino acid sequences of the peptides has identified a domain in the central region of the molecules that has been strongly conserved during evolution. In contrast, the amino acid sequence in the region corresponding to the reactive centre of the mammalian trypsin inhibitors is very poorly conserved in the eel peptide. The P1-P1' reactive site lysine-isoleucine (or arginine-isoleucine) bond in the mammalian trypsin inhibitors is replaced by a methionine-asparagine bond. This region does, however, show limited homology to the reactive centre of human alpha 1-protease inhibitor suggesting that the eel peptide may function as an inhibitor of other proteolytic enzymes in the pancreas.     

REVIEWS

Plant Communities of the Scottish Highlands. A Study of Scottish Mountain, Moorland and Forest Vegetation . (Monographs of the Nature Conservancy, No. 1.) By D onald McV ean and D erek A. R atcliffe .
* L unde , T. (1962). An investigation into the pH-amplitudes of some mountain plants in the county of Trorns. Acta borealia. A: Scientia , Nr. 20.
Physiology and Biochemistry of Algae . Edited by R alph A. L ewin .
Fungal Genetics . By J. R. S. F incham and P. R. D ay .
The Young Botanist . By C. T. P rime .
Organization in Plants . By W. M. M. B aron .
Chromosome Marker . By K. R. L ewis and B. J ohn .
Symbiotic Associations . Thirteenth Symposium of the Society for General Microbiology. Edited by P. S. N utman and B arbara M osse .
The Developmental Anatomy of Isoetes. By D ominick J. P aolillo , Jr.
Cucurbits: Botany, Cultivation and Utilization . By T homas W. W hitaker and G len N. D avis .
Common Malayan Plants . By H. B. Gilliland.
Sierra Nevada Natural History . By T racey L. S torer and R obert R. U singer .
Croissance et Développement des Plantes . By L ucie K ofler .
Modern Methods of Plant Analysis , vol. VI. Founded by K. P aech and M. V. T racey , continued by H. F. L inskens and M. V. T racey in co-operation with B. D. S anwal .
Enzyme Chemistry of Phenolic Compounds . Edited by J. B. P ridham .     

Notes on mosses from Ceylon and India, 7. Some species of Trichostomum

Abstract

Trichostomum bombayense C.M. is typified and T. cylindrotheca Mitt. reduced to synonymy under it. The records of Trichostomum species from Ceylon are critically examined and T. tenuirostre (Hook. & Tayl.) Lindb. removed from the Ceylon moss flora. Records of T. orthodontum (C.M.) Broth. and T. cuspidatum (D. & M.) D. & M. hitherto published are based on misidentifications, but new records are given of both. Differences between T. cuspidatum and T. stenophyllum (Mitt.) Broth., which latter binomial is not a homonym as Index Muscorum states, are dealt with and illustrated by S.E.M. photographs. T. stenophyllum is a good species which has been relegated to extraordinary synonymy in the past.     

Immunochemical characterization and taxonomic evaluation of the O polysaccharides of the lipopolysaccharides of Pseudomonas syringae serogroup O1 strains

The O polysaccharide (OPS) of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Pseudomonas syringae pv. atrofaciens IMV 7836 and some other strains that are classified in serogroup O1 was shown to be a novel linear alpha-D-rhamnan with the tetrasaccharide O repeat -->3)-alpha-D-Rhap-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Rhap-(1-->2)-alpha-D-R hap-(1-->2)- alpha-D-Rhap-(1--> (chemotype 1A). The same alpha-D-rhamnan serves as the backbone in branched OPSs with lateral (alpha1-->3)-linked D-Rhap, (beta1-->4)-linked D-GlcpNAc, and (alpha1-->4)-linked D-Fucf residues (chemotypes 1B, 1C, and 1D, respectively). Strains of chemotype 1C demonstrated variations resulting in a decrease of the degree of substitution of the backbone 1A with the lateral D-GlcNAc residue (chemotype 1C-1A), which may be described as branched regular left arrow over right arrow branched irregular --> linear OPS structure alterations (1Cleft arrow over right arrow 1C-1A --> 1A). Based on serological data, chemotype 1D was suggested to undergo a 1D left arrow over right arrow 1D-1A alteration, whereas chemotype 1B showed no alteration. A number of OPS backbone-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), Ps(1-2)a, Ps(1-2)a(1), Ps1a, Ps1a(1), and Ps1a(2), as well as MAbs Ps1b, Ps1c, Ps1c(1), Ps1d, Ps(1-2)d, and Ps(1-2)d(1) specific to epitopes related to the lateral sugar substituents of the OPSs, were produced against P. syringae serogroup O1 strains. By using MAbs, some specific epitopes were inferred, serogroup O1 strains were serotyped in more detail, and thus, the serological classification scheme of P. syringae was improved. Screening with MAbs of about 800 strains representing all 56 known P. syringae pathovars showed that the strains classified in serogroup O1 were found among 15 pathovars and the strains with the linear OPSs of chemotype 1A were found among 9 of the 15 pathovars. A possible role for the LPS of P. syringae and related pseudomonads as a phylogenetic marker is discussed.     

Also received

Alcock , J. 1988. The Kookaburra's Song, Exploring Animal Behaviour in Australia. Atwood , J.L. 1988. Speciation and Geographic Variation in Black-tailed Gnatcatchers. Ornithological Monographs no. 42. Brazil , M. 1988. A Birdwatcher's Guide to Japan. Breslina , I.P. 1987. Plants and Waterfowl of Marine Islands in the Kola Subarctic. (Russian.) Brown , V., Weston , H. JR. & Buzzell , J. 1986. Handbook of Californian Birds. Darlington , D. 1987. In Condor Country. A Portrait of a Landscape, its Denizens, and its Defenders. Dunne , P., Sibley , D. & Sutton , C. 1988. Hawks in Flight. Gerrard J.M. & Bortolotti , G.R. 1988. The Bald Eagle; Haunts and Habits of a Wilderness Monarch. Hale , W.G. & Margham , J.P. 1988. Dictionary of Biology. Hovel , H. 1987. Check-list of the Birds of Israel. Ilyichev , V.D., Butiev , V.T. & Konstantinov , V.M. 1987. The Birds of Moscow and the Moscow Area. (Russian.) Ilyichev , V.D. & Fomin , V.E. 1988. The Fauna and Environmental Changes. (Russian.) In eight chapters, the authors attempt to describe and analyse the development (over about 200 years) of the present-day avifauna of the southern Urals, an area of considerable industrial and agricultural importance. Irisov , E.A. (ed.) 1987. Endangered, Rare and Little-known Plants and Animals of the Altai Territory and Associated Conservation Problems. (Russian.) Jennings , M.C., Salama , M.I. & Felemban , H.M. 1988. Report on an Ornithological Survey of the Asir National Park, Saudi Arabia, 29 June to 18 July 1987. Johnston , R.F. (ed.) 1988. Current Ornithology Volume 5. Lint , K.C. & Lint , A.M. 1988. Feeding Cage Birds. A Manual of Diets for Aviculture. Litvinenko , N.M. (ed.) 1987. Distribution and Biology of Seabirds of the Far East. (Russian.) Mineev , Yu . N. 1987. Waterfowl of the Bol ‘shezemel’ skaya Tundra. (Russian.) Ecological study of two Gaviidae and 20 Anatidae in the extreme northeast of the European USSR, an area bounded roughly by the Pechora river in the west and Vorkuta and the Kara river in the east. Pendleton , B.A.G., Millsap , B.A., Cline , K.W. & Bird , D.M. (eds) 1987. Raptor Management Techniques Manual. Porter , R.D., Jenkins , M.A. & Gaski , A.L. 1987. Working Bibliography of the Peregrine Falcon. Scientific & Technical Series no. 9. Pulich , W.M. 1988. The Birds of North Central Texas. The W.L. Moody Jr. Natural History Series no. 9. Robinson , J.W. 1987. A Birder's Guide to Japan Shvetsov , Yu .G. (ed.) 1988. Rare Terrestrial Vertebrates of Siberia. (Russian.) Silvius , M.J., Djuharsa , E., Taufix , A.W., Steeman , A.P.J.M. & Berczy , E.T. 1987. The Indonesian Wetland Inventory. Sitters , H.P. 1988. Tetrad Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Devon. Slater , P., Slater , P. & Slater , R. 1986. The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds. Soper , T. with the British Trust for Ornithology. 1988. Go Birding. Soule , M.E. 1986. Conservation Biology. Steadman , D.W. & Zousmer , S. 1988. Galapagos. Telleria , J.L. (ed.) 1988. Invernada de Aves en la Peninsula Iberica. Monograph no. 1. Toups , J.A. & Jackson , J.A. 1987. Birds and Birding on the Mississippi Coast. Vasil'chenko , A.A. 1987. The Birds of Khamar-Daban. (Russian.) Wilbur , S.R. 1987. Birds of Baja California. Williams , L.E. & Austin , D.H. 1988. Studies of the Wild Turkey in Florida. Woolham , F. 1987. The Handbook of Aviculture. Zaboeva , I.V. (ed.) 1986. Distribution and Numbers of Animals in the European North. ?alakevi?ius , M. (ed.) 1987. Study of Nocturnal Autumn Bird Migration by the Electric Light of Hothouses. (Russian.) Zimmerman , J.L. & Patti , S.T. 1988. A Guide to Bird Finding in Kansas and Western Missouri.     

Books

Book reviewed in this article:
A ndrle , R.F. & C arroll , J.R. (eds) 1988. The Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State.
B ergerud , A.T. & G ratson , M.W. (eds) 1988. Adaptive Strategies and Population Ecology of Northern Grouse.
C ooper , M.E. 1987. An Introduction to Animal Law.
G oriup , P.D. (ed.) 1988. Ecology and Conservation of Grassland Birds.
H udson , P.J. & R ands , M.R. 1988. Ecology and Management of Gamebirds.
J anssen , R.B. 1987. Birds in Minnesota.
J ones , P.H. 1988. The Natural History of Bardsey.
K ondratiev , A. YA. (ed.) 1988. Bulletin of the Working Group on Waders.
L ardelli , R. 1988. Atlante degli Uccelli Nidificanti net Mendrisiotto.
M arle , J.G. van & V oous , K.H. 1988. The Birds of Sumatra. B.O.U. Check-list No. 10.
P almer , R.S. (ed.) 1988. Handbook of North American Birds; Volumes 4 & 5: Diurnal Raptors.
R ose , M.R. 1987. Quantitative Ecological Theory: an Introduction to Basic Models.
S chleidt , V.M. (ed.) 1988. Der Kreis urn Konrad Lorenz.
S ick , H. 1985. Ornitologia Brasileira. 3rd edition. Vols I and II.
S ummers -S mith , J.D. 1988. The Sparrows.
S iokhin , V.D., C hernichko , I.I., A rdamatskaya , T.B. et al. 1988. Colonial Waterbirds in the Southern Ukraine: Charadriiformes.
T emple , S.A. & C ary , J.R. 1987. Wisconsin Birds: A Seasonal and Geographical Guide.
T rounson , D. & T rounson , M. 1987. Australia Land of Birds.
W oods , R.W. 1988. Guide to Birds of the Falkland Islands.     

Antimicrobial activity of Pseudomonas spp. against food poisoning bacteria and moulds

M.H. LAINE, M.T. KARWOSKI, L.B. RAASKA AND T.-M. MATTILA-SANDHOLM. 1996. The present study demonstrates the siderophore production of two strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens and two of Ps. chlororaphis . The antimicrobial activities of these strains were studied against Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Fusarium culmorum, F. oxysporum and Aspergillus niger . Despite equal siderophore activities with various Pseudomonas spp. as measured by the chrome azurol S assay, the study shows how siderophore activity does not correlate with the antibacterial activity against food pathogens or with the antimould activity against pathogenic moulds. Furthermore, the results illustrate how siderophores are able to act both as growth inhibitors and stimulators.     

The role of antibiotic production by a strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens in the suppression of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides, the causal agent of eyespot disease of cereals

Pseudomonas fluorescens strain 220 is an effective antagonist of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides , the eyespot pathogen of cereals. Culture filtrates of Ps. fluorescens 220 were inhibitory to spore germination and hyphal growth of P. herpotrichoides and at least two compounds with antifungal and antibacterial activity were identified in cultures grown in nutrient broth. In plant tests, both a culture broth of Ps. fluorescens 220 and a crude antibiotic extract reduced eyespot disease, whereas a mutant strain of 220 deficient in antibiotic production had no effect. Production of antibiotics would therefore appear to be a major factor in the suppression of P. herpotrichoides infection. A loss of disease control when Ps. fluorescens 220 was applied to plants in water was not due to lack of survival, as populations of a marked strain of Ps. fluorescens 220 applied to the stem base of wheat plants were similar whether applied in water or culture broth.     

Books

Book reviews in this article:
C ommunication and B ehavior of W hales . R. Payne (ed.).
S trandings : W ays T o S ave W hales . F. D. r obson .
O rders and F amilies of R ecent M ammals of T he W orld . S. Anderson and J. Knox Jones, Jr. (eds.).
S oviet -A merican C ooperative R esearch on M arine M ammals . V olume l—P innipeds . F. H. Fay and G. A. Fedoseev (eds.).
P athobiology of M arine M ammal D iseases . E. B. Howard (ed.).
S eals of T he W orld . (Second Edition.) J. E. Ring. British Museum and Cornell University Press.
T he G ray W hale : E schrichtius R obustus . M. L. Jones, S. L. Swartt and S. Leatherwood.
T he S ierra C lub H andbook of W hales and D olphins . S. Leatherwood and R. R. Reeves.     

Properties of a unique form of the murine amphotropic leukemia virus receptor expressed on hamster cells.

Identification and cloning of the receptors for amphotropic murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV) and gibbon ape leukemia virus (GaLV) have both enabled the determination of the normal function of these virus receptors in cells and initiated experimental examination of how these receptors interact with their respective viruses. GaLV and A-MuLV have distinct host ranges and use different receptors to infect human cells. It was therefore surprising to find that the human GaLV and A-MuLV receptors were not only structurally similar but performed similar cellular functions (B. O'Hara, S. V. Johann, H. P. Klinger, D. G. Blair, H. Rubinson, K. J. Dunn, P. Sass, S. M. Vitek, and T. Robbins, Cell Growth Differ. 1:119-127, 1990; M. van Zeijl, S. V. Johann, E. Closs, J. Cunningham, R. Eddy, T. B. Shows, and B. O'Hara, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:1168-1172, 1994; M. P. Kavanaugh, D. G. Miller, W. Zhang, W. Law, S. L. Kozak, D. Kabat, and A. D. Miller, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:7071-7075, 1994; and Z. Olah, C. Lehel, W. B. Anderson, M. V. Eiden, and C. A. Wilson, J. Biol. Chem., in press). We have now determined that the murine retrovirus 10A1 can use both the human GaLV receptor and the human A-MuLV receptor to infect cells. Furthermore, we have cloned and functionally characterized a unique form of the amphotropic receptor homolog expressed in E36 hamster cells. This receptor (EAR) can serve as both a GaLV receptor and an A-MuLV receptor, and it therefore differs from the receptors expressed in human cells, which function exclusively as either GaLV or A-MuLV receptors.     

A re-evaluation of Melanospora Gorda and similar Pyrenomycetes, with a revision of the British species

A re-evaluation of Melanospora Corda and similar genera is presented, based mainly on new data obtained by SEM examination of the ascospores. Eight genera are accepted: Melanospora (nine British species, including M. longisetosa P. Cannon & D. Hawksw.), Persiciospora P. Cannon & D. Hawksw. (including P. moreaui P. Cannon & D. Hawsksw. and P. masonii (Kirschst.) P. Cannon & D. Hawksw.), Phaeostoma (one species), Scopinella (four species; two in the British Isles), Sphaerodes (six species, including S. beatonii (D. Hawksw.) P. Cannon & D. Hawksw., 5. compressa (Udagawa & Cain) P. Cannon & D. Hawksw., S.fimicola (Hansen) P. Cannon & D. Hawksw., S. perplexa (D. Hawksw.) P. Cannon & D. Hawksw., S. retispora (Udagawa & Cain) P. Cannon & D. Hawksw., 5. retispora var. inferior (Udagawa & Cain) P. Cannon & D. Hawksw.; two in the British Isles), Sphaeronaemella (one species, not known in Britain), Syspastospora P. Cannon & D. Hawksw. (one species, S. parasitica (Tul.) P. Cannon & D. Hawksw.) and Viennotidea P. Cannon & D. Hawksw. (four species, including V.fmicola (Marchal) P. Cannon & D. Hawksw., V. humicola (Samson & W. Gams) P. Cannon & D. Hawksw., V. spermosphaerici (Malloch) P. Cannon & D. Hawksw., and V. raphani (Malloch) P. Cannon & D. Hawksw.; one in the British Isles).     

REVIEWS

Atlas of Mapped Distributions of Dominance and Modern Pollen Percentages for Important Tree Taxa of Eastern North America . By P. A. D elcourt , H. R. D elcourt and T. W ebb III.
New Manual of Bryology. Volume 1. Edited by R. M. S chuster .
The Ecology and Physiology of the Fungal Mycelium. Edited by D. H. J ennings and A. D. M. R ayner .
Isotopes and Radiation in Agricultural Sciences. Edited by M. E. L'A nnunziata and J. O. L egg .
The Physiology of Flowering Plants : their growth and development . Third edition. By H. E. S treet and H. Ö pik .
Reconstructing Quaternary Environments. By J. J. L owe and M. J. C. W alker .
European Mires. Edited by P. M oore .
Compartments in Algal Cells and Their Interaction. (Proceedings in Life Sciences Series.) Edited by W. W iessner , D. G. R obinson and R. C. S tarr .
Chloroplast Metabolism. By B arry H alliwell .
Flooding and Plant Growth. Ed. by T. T. K ozlowski .
Mode of Action of Antifungal Agents. Ed. by A. P. J. T rinci and J. F. R yley .
Disease Resistance in Plants. By J. E. V anderplank .     

BUCHBESPRECHUNGEN

S tephan , H.; B aron , G.; F rahm , H. D.: Comparative Brain Research in Mammals.
S uzuki , D. T.; G riffiths , A. J. F.; M iller , J. H.; L ewontin , R. C.: G enetik. Übersetzt von S. A chten und P. B öhm .
K ämpfe , L othar (ed.): Evolution und Stammesgeschichte der Organismen. Bearbeitet von 5 Fachwissenschaftlem. 3., neubearbeitete und erweiterte Auflage.     

Enhanced synthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) in recombinant Escherichia coli by means of error-prone PCR mutagenesis,saturation mutagenesis,and in vitro recombination of the type II polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase gene

Type II synthase (PhaC1(Ps)) for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) from Pseudomonas sp. 61-3 was subjected to an in vitro evolution system including PCR-mediated mutagenesis in order to improve the function of PhaC1(Ps) in terms of its ability to produce poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] in recombinant Escherichia coli. Based on our established in vivo assay system, two positions (Ser325 and Gln481) where mutations provided remarkable increases in P(3HB) synthesis were identified. Saturation mutagenesis at these positions was carried out to explore whether there might be more beneficial sequences for P(3HB) synthesis than those identified in the point mutation library. As a result, five single mutants [S325C (T) and Q481M (K, R)] gave rise to highly enhanced P(3HB) synthesis. Drastically enhanced P(3HB) synthesis (up to 340- to 400-fold the amount of that of the wild type) was further achieved by generation of all five variants of the double mutants combining the codons for residues 325/481. It is feasible that the replacement of Ser (specific for type II synthase) by Thr (specific for type I synthase) at position 325 resulted in acquiring greater P(3HB) synthesis ability as exhibited by type I synthases. The other hot spot, 481, that positively contributes to enhanced P(3HB) synthesis is located adjacent to a His479, a residue that forms a putative catalytic diad that can be inferred by sequence alignment.     

Malaria and ovalocytosis — molecular mimicry?

Two recently published reports have described findings which will have a profound impact on the understanding of molecular mechanisms of human resistance to malaria infection. In Melanesian ovalocytosis, a genetic polymorphism found in Papua New Guinea and parts of South East Asia, the red cells are highly resistant to invasion by various species of malaria parasite. The molecular nature of the defect in ovalocytic erythrocytes was not known. Recent reports by Liu et al., (Liu, S.-C., Zhai, S., Palek, J., Golan, D., Amato, D., Hassan, K., Nurse, G., Babona, D., Coetzer, T., Jarolim, P. Zaik, M. and Borwein, S. (1990) N. Engl. J. Med. 323, 1530–1538.) and Jones et al. (Jones, G.L., Edmundson, H.M., Wesche, D. and Saul, A. (1991) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1096, 33–40.) have now identified the abnormality in the band 3 protein of ovalocytic red cell membranes. A major discovery in the Jones et al, study is the presence of an extended peptide at the N-terminus of ovalocyte band 3 protein. This novel 13 amino acid extended sequence is not found in the primary structure of normal band 3 protein and was suggested to be the cause of band 3 defect in ovalocytes. We have analyzed this extended sequence through Genbank using SWISS-PROT database and found that an almost identical sequence exists in a malaria parasite protein called RESA.