Inheritance of resistance to potato viruses Y and A in progeny obtained from potato cultivars containing gene Ry:evidence for a new gene for extreme resistance to PVA

Extreme resistance in cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) to potato viruses Y and A (PVY and PVA) conditioned by the presence of Ry genes introduced from Solanum stoloniferum was described by Cockerham (1970). Cockerham detailed a number of genes which controlled a variety of reactions, including extreme resistance to both viruses (i.e. little or no visible reaction of plants and no viral replication following graft and manual inoculation) controlled by gene Ry _sto. In the present study, cvs Pirola and Barbara, which contain a Ry gene, were found to have extreme resistance to PVY isolates from the ordinary (PVY°), veinal necrosis (PVY^N) and potato tuber necrotic ringspot (PVY^NTN) subgroups, and PVA. The inheritance of this phenotype was examined in seedling progenies obtained by crossing Barbara and Pirola with susceptible cultivars. Segregation data for resistance to PVY and PVA in a progeny involving cv Pirola best fitted a genetical model of one gene controlling extreme resistance to both PVY and PVA, although the possibility that there are two genes, each controlling resistance to one virus but closely linked, cannot be excluded. Segregation data from progenies involving cv Barbara best fitted a genetical model in which there are two independent genes, one controlling extreme resistance to PVA and PVY and a second gene controlling extreme resistance to PVA but not to PVY. This previously unrecognised gene conferring extreme resistance to PVA only, should be given the notation Ra in keeping with nomenclature used for other resistance genes.     

Screening of white-rot fungi for biological pretreatment of wheat straw for biogas production

Summary Twenty two basidiomycetes, mostly white rot fungi, were grown on wheat straw. Lignin-, cellulose-, and hemicellulose-degradation was recorded in order to find a species growing on lignin preferably. The oyster-mushroomPleurotus sp. florida showed fastest delignification of all tested fungi.Straw pretreated by this fungus was fermented anaerobically to biogas. The gas yield produced from myco-straw is twice the amount from untreated straw.     

Preliminary studies on the genetic variability of six Hungarian common carp strains using microsatellite DNA markers

Genetic variation in six Hungarian common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) strains was evaluated using 12 microsatellite loci. The domesticated (Tatai, Biharugrai and Szarvasi) strains were derived from fish farms. Two of wild strains (Tiszai and Dunai) were sampled from brood stocks maintained at fish farms for breeding, and Kis-Balatoni wild carp were sampled from the Small Balaton Lake. Pairwise Fst-values (0.013–0.161) were highly significant (p<0.0001), demonstrating differentiation among strains. The mean number of alleles ranged between 3.9 and 8.2. Overall mean observed heterozygosity was lower (0.557) than the mean expected heterozygosity (0.700). By strain, the only exception to this trend was the Dunai (Danubian), which showed higher mean observed heterozygosity (0.764) than expected (0.602). For five loci the Dunai strain showed extremely high levels of heterozygosity (1.00). Two wild strains exhibited a number of loci (Tiszai, 4; Dunai, 6) that were not in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. A relatively high number of private alleles overall (n=26), as well as differences in allele frequencies supported our ability to assign most individual fish (over 90%) to each strain.     

Structural Features of Pregna-D′-pentaranes Determining Their Interaction with Three Rat Proteins

Competition of a number of progesterone 16,17-cycloalkane derivatives with ³H-labeled ligands for the binding sites of rat uterine progesterone receptor, uterine pentaranophilin, and blood serum pentaranophilin was studied. We found that the selective ligands for the progesterone receptor are progesterone, 16,17-cyclopropanoprogesterone, and 16,17-cyclopent-3-enoprogesterone and the selective ligands for serum pentaranophilin are 6-methyl-16,17-cyclohexanopregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione and 3-hydroxy-16,17-cyclohexanopregn-5-en-20-one. No selective ligands for the uterine pentaranophilin were found. The majority of substituents in rings A, B, and D we studied decreased the affinity of ligands for all the three proteins. The substitution of the ⁵-3-hydroxy grouping for the ⁴-3-keto grouping exerted the strongest negative effect in the case of the progesterone receptor and the uterine pentaranophilin, whereas the introduction of the 3,4-dimethyl grouping strongly inhibited the ligand affinity for the uterine pentaranophilin. The extent and even the direction of the effect of a substituent on the affinity of ligands for the proteins substantially depended on the presence of other substituents in the steroid molecules. We hypothesized that a certain similarity exists between three proteins studied in respect to the structures of their ligand-binding pockets.     

Growth vigour of some Egyptian cotton variety seedlings in relation to selected rhizospheric microflora antagonistic toRhizoctonia solani Kuhn

Summary Growth responses of Ashmouni and Karnak cotton variety seedlings toRhizoctonia solani, the damping-off fungus, or toBacillus subtilis (two different strains),Aspergillus terreus andAspergillus flavus isolated from the rhizosphere of cotton, and all antagonistic to the pathogen, were expressed in terms of growth-vigour criteria.The presence ofR. solani in the soil inhibited the growth vigour of both cotton variety seedlings. However, Karnak seedlings were more sensitive to the pathogen than Ashmouni seedlings. One of the strains ofB. subtilis andA. terreus generally increased the vigour of both cotton variety seedlings.A. flavus lowered most of the growth criteria of Karnak or Ashmouni cotton seedlings.

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Zusammenfassung Rhizoctonia solani, der Parasiet von Baumwolle-Keimlingen, wurde isoliert.Sowohl Bacillus subtilis als auchAspergillus terreus und Aspergillus flavus wurden von der Rhizosphere der Baumwolle-Pflanzen isoliert. Diese Organismen wurden als antagonistisch gegenRhizoctonia solani erkannt. Die Wirkung dieser Organismen auf das Wachstum von Keimlingen der Baumwolle sorten Ashmouni und Karnak wurde untersucht. R. solani hemmt das Wachstum der Keimlinge beider Baumwolle-Sorten. Es wurde festgestellt, dass Karnak empfindlicher ist als Ashmouni. Einer der Stämme vonB. subtilis undA. terreus erwiesen sich als Wachstum förderend bei beiden Baumwolle-Sorten.A. flavus dagegen vermindert das Wachstum von Karnak und Ashmouni.

     

The taxonomic significance of the trunk limbs of the chydoridae (Cladocera)

Summary The differences in the structure of the trunk limbs allow to outline three sections of Chydoridae (see table I and fig. 1), coinciding with the sections distinguished according to the structure of the head pores.

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Chydoridae (Cladocera)

Chydoridae (. ), , .

     

Microbial transformations in a cyclodextrin medium. Part 3. Cholesterol oxidation by Rhodococcus erythropolis

An intensive and systematic investigation of the oxidation of cholesterol (CL) to cholest-4-en-3-one (CN) by Rhodococcus erythropolis was undertaken in the presence of natural and chemically modified cyclodextrins (CDs) in a stirred bioreactor. The biotransformation was found to be strongly affected by the mode of addition of the natural CDs. While simultaneous addition of CL with either - or -CD led to a limited enhancement effect, the microbial oxidation of - and -CD complexes of CL was totally inhibited. In contrast, the alkylated CDs- dimethyl-, trimethyl- and hydroxypropyl--CD exhibited a remarkable enhancement of the microbial oxidation, irrespective of their mode of addition. The performance of the alkylated CDs was interpreted in the light of the measured phase solubility diagrams of CL and CN. It was thus shown that unlike the low solubilising power of hydroxypropyl--CD, dimethyl- and trimethyl--CD at 90 mm each, dissolved 9.3 and 8.7 g/l of CL and CN, respectively. Further investigation focused on the formation of CD complexes with CL and CN, analysed by X-ray powder diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry and ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance. It was thus shown that -CD forms a 2:1 CD:CL and CD:CN water-insoluble complexes. A mechanism of the biotransformation in homogeneous and heterogeneous CD media was presented while suggesting a direct interaction of the CD-substrate complex with microbial cells. Correspondence to: R. Bar     

Polymerization of nucleotide analogues I: Reaction of nucleoside 5′-phosphorimidazolides with 2′-amino-2′-deoxyuridine

Summary 2-Amino-2-deoxyuridine reacts efficiently with nucleoside 5-phosphorimidazolides in aqueous solution. The dinucleoside monophosphate analogues were obtained in yields exceeding 80% under conditions in which little reaction occurs with the natural nucleosides.In a similar way, the 5-phosphorimidazolide of 2-amino-2-deoxyuridine undergoes self-condensation in aqueous solution to give a complex mixture of oligomers.The phosphoramidate bond in the dinucleoside monophosphate analogues is stable for several days at room temperature and pH 7. The mechanisms of their hydrolysis under acidic and alkaline conditions are described.Abbreviations A adenosine - C cytidine - G guanosine - U uridine - T thymidine - U_{N 3} 2-azido-2-deoxyuridine - U_{NH 2} 2-amino-2-deoxyuridine - ImpA adenosine 5-phosphorimidazolide - ImpU uridine 5-phosphorimidazolide - ImpU_{N 3} 2-azido-2-deoxyuridine 5-phosphorimidazolide - ImpU_{NH 2} 2-amino-2-deoxyuridine 5-phosphorimidazolide - pA adenosine 5-phosphate - pU uridine 5-phosphate - pU_{N 3} 2-azido-2-deoxyuridine 5-phosphate - pU_{NH 2} 2-amino-2-deoxyuridine 5-phosphate - UpA uridylyl-[35]-adenosine - UpU uridylyl-[35]-uridine - U_NpA adenylyl-[52]-2-amino-2-deoxy-uridine - U_NpU uridylyl-[52]-2-amino-2-deoxyuridine (pU_N)_n n=2,3,4 [25]-linked oligomers of pU_{NH 2} poly(A) polyadenylic acid - Im imidazole - MeIm l-methylimidazole     

Beiträge zur Züchtungsforschung an Pflaumen

Zusammenfassung 1. In den Wintern 1960/61, 1961/62 und 1962/63 wurde mit künstlicher Kälte (–13 bis –25 °C), die ein fahrbares Kälteaggregat erzeugte, die Frostresistenz von Pflaumenzuchtmaterial und einer Reihe von Pflaumenunterlagen im Freiland geprüft. Besondere Berücksichtigung fand dabei der natürliche Temperaturverlauf.2. Von den geprüften Pflaumengehölzen zeigte die geringste Frostresistenz eine Auslese von Prunus insititia und die Auslesen von Prunus cerasifera, besonders der tetraploide Klon B IV, 19,13, die diploiden Klone B IV, 20,6 und B IV, 17,15. Diese Typen erfroren nach einer zweitägigen, natürlichen Abhärtung im Dezember bei –20 °C; erst nach einer längeren Abhärtungszeit von 4 Tagen und mehr war ihre Frostresistenz gesteigert worden, so daß sie –20 °C schadlos überlebten. Nach kurzfristigen, witterungsbedingten Erwärmungen im Mittwinter wurden diese Formen derart schnell enthärtet, so daß sie bei Temperaturen um –15 °C erfroren. Nach längerem Tauwetter im Mittwinter erlangten sie nur sehr langsam eine erneute Frostresistenz.3. Insgesamt etwas besser zu beurteilen waren einige hexaploide Unterlagensorten, wie Ackermann, Brünker und Schwamborn 103. Sie tolerierten nach ztägiger Abhärtung –20 °C; Naundorf 102 und Brompton jedoch erst nach 4 Tagen. Ebenso stellt sich nach einer kurzfristig erfolgten Erwärmung nach ztägiger, erneuter Abhärtung wieder eine hohe Frostresistenz ein. Die relative Frostempfindlichkeit der geprüften Unterlagen kam darin zum Ausdruck, daß sie nach einer eintägigen Erwärmung im Mittwinter bei –24 °C total erfroren.4. Die beste Frostresistenz zeigten Vertreter der nordamerikanischen Pflaumen, wie Prunus americana und Assiniboine. Bereits nach einer zweitägigen Abkühlung Anfang Dezember überlebten sie schadlos –20 °C; nach 4 Tagen –25 °C. Ihre erreichte Frostresistenz war auch bedeutend stabiler als die der geprüften Auslesen von Prunus cerasifera und der hexaploiden Unterlagen.5. Es wurde der Versuch unternommen, einige der geprüften Pflaumentypen nach ihrer Frostverträglichkeit zu gruppieren, wobei die Merkmale Abhärtung und Enthärtung Berücksichtigung fanden.6. Zur Verbesserung der Frostresistenz der Pflaumen werden der Züchtung zwei Wege vorgeschlagen: 1. Herstellung von Nachkommenschaften aus genügend frostresistenten hexaploiden Formen; 2. Artbastardierungen mit bekannt frostresistenten Arten nordamerikanischer Herkunft.7. Neue Wege müssen auch in der Unterlagenzüchtung beschritten werden. Es wäre sinnvoll, dafür besonders diploide frostharte Arten als Kreuzungspartner zu berücksichtigen.

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Contributions to breeding research on plumsIV. Experiments on frost resistance of plum clones and rootstocks

Summary 1. During the winters of 1960/61, 1961/62 and 1962/63 a number of plum clones and stocks were tested outdoors for frost resistance. Artificial cold (–13 to –25 °C) was produced by means of a portable cooling system, taking natural temperature conditions into account.2. Of the plum woods tested, the lowest frost resistance was found in Prunus insititia and Prunus cerasifera, particularly in the tetraploid clone B IV, 19.13 and the diploid clones B IV, 20.6 and B IV, 17.15. These types froze in December after 2 days of hardening at –20 °C; only after 4 or more days of hardening was their frost resistance increased sufficiently to allow survival at –20 °C. After short warm spells in mid winter they became less hardy rapidly and froze at –15 °C. Prolonged thaw delayed their ability to acquire renewed frost resistance.3. The hexaploid plum rootstocks Ackermann, Brünker and Schwamborn 103 survived a temperature of –20 °C after a two day period of hardening; Naundorf 102 and Brompton required four days. A short warm spell followed by two days of hardening reinstated their high frost resistance, but the relatively high sensitivity of these plums to frost made them lose this resistance again after only one day's exposure to warm weather: they froze at 24 °C.4. Representatives of North American plum varieties such as Prunus americana and Assiniboine showed the highest resistance to frost. After two days of hardening they survived –20 °C undamaged, a temperature of –25 °C after four days. Their resistance to cold was more stable than that of Prunus cerasifera and of the hexaploid strains.5. An attempt was made to group the plums tested, using the characteristics hardening and loss of hardening as criteria.6. Two methods for improving frost resistance in plums are suggested to breeders: 1. The production of progeny from hexaploid forms that show adequate resistance to frost; 2. Interspecific hybridization with North American species known to be frost resistant.7. New means for the breeding of plum rootstocks must be used, and hardy diploid species are particularly suitable for this purpose.

     

Research on streptococci in the UK

Pleurotus florida produced high amounts of laccase (4.60 U/ml) in malt extract broth after 12 days' growth under stationary conditions. The production of laccase was semi-constitutive. Hyperlaccase mutants ofP. florida were obtained through mutagenesis of mycelial protoplasts usingN-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (50 g/ml) for 2 min. Three hyperlaccase mutants were selected showing growth and enzyme production responses similar to the parent.     

Variant MoFe proteins of Azotobacter vinelandii: effects of carbon monoxide on electron paramagnetic resonance spectra generated during enzyme turnover

The resting state of wild-type nitrogenase MoFe protein exhibits an S=3/2 electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal originating from the FeMo cofactor, the enzymes active site. When nitrogenase turns over under CO, this signal disappears and one (sometimes two) of three new EPR signals, which also arise from the FeMo cofactor, appears, depending on the CO concentration. The appearance and properties of these CO-inducible EPR signals, which were also generated with variant MoFe proteins (R96Q, R96K, Q191K, R359K, R96K/R359K, R277C, R277H, and nifV) that are impacted around the FeMo cofactor, have been investigated. No new CO-induced EPR signals arise from any variant, suggesting that no new CO-binding sites are produced by the substitutions. All variant proteins, except R277H, produce the lo-CO signal; all, except Q191K, produce the hi(5)-CO signal; but only two (R96Q and nifV) exhibit the hi-CO signal. FeMo cofactors environment clearly dictates which CO-induced EPR signals are generated; however, none of these EPR signals correlate with CO inhibition of H₂ evolution observed with some of these variants. CO inhibition of H₂ evolution is, therefore, due to CO binding to a different site(s) from those responsible for the CO-induced EPR signals. Some resting-state variants have overlapping S=3/2 EPR signals, whose intensities simultaneously decrease under turnover conditions, indicating that all FeMo cofactor conformations are catalytically active. Moreover, these variants produce a similar number of hi(5)-CO signals after turnover under CO to the number of resting-state S=3/2 signals. The FeMo cofactor associated with the hi(5)-CO signal likely contains two bridging CO molecules.     

Phylogeny of immunoglobulin heavy chain isotypes: structure of the constant region of Ambystoma mexicanum υ chain deduced from cDNA sequence

An RNA polymerase chain reaction strategy was used to amplify and clone a cDNA segment encoding for the complete constant part of the axolotl IgY heavy (C) chain. C is 433 amino acids long and organized into four domains (C1–C4); each has the typical internal disulfide bond and invariant tryptophane residues. Axolotl C is most closely related to Xenopus C (40% identical amino acid residues) and C1 shares 46.4% amino acid residues among these species. The presence of additional cysteines in C1 and C2 domains is consistent with an additional intra-domain S-S bond similar to that suggested for Xenopus C and C, and for the avian C and the human C. C4 ends with the Gly-Lys dipeptide characteristic of secreted mammalian C3, human C4, and avian and anuran C4, and contains the consensus [G/GT(AA)] nucleotide splice signal sequence for joining C4 to the transmembrane region. These results are consistent with the hypothesis of an ancestral structural relationship between amphibian, avian chains, and mammalian chains. However, these molecules have different biological properties: axolotl IgY is secretory Ig, anuran and avian IgY behave like mammalian IgG, and mammalian IgE is implicated in anaphylactic reactions.The nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper have been submitted to the EMBL/GenBank nucleotide sequence database and have been assigned the accession number X69492. Correspondence to: J. S. Fellah.     

Lysine Dendrimers and Their Starburst Polymer Derivatives: Possible Application for DNA Compaction and in vitro Delivery of Genetic Constructs

We attempted to find some compounds for the effective delivery of gene constructs into cells and obtained two trispherical dendrimers on the basis of lysine, (Lys)₈-(,-Lys)₄-(,-Lys)₂-(,-Lys)-Ala-NH₂ (D1) and ((Lys)₈-(,-Lys)₄-(,-Lys)₂-,-Lys)-Ala-[Lys(Plm)]₂-Ala-NH₂ (D2), as well as the starburst polymeric derivatives of D1, (pVIm) ₈ -D1 and (pLys) _n -D1, containing poly(N-vinylimidazole) and polylysine chains single-point bound to the dendrimer amino groups. The conditions of dendrimer–plasmid DNA complex formation were studied. The intracellular localization of these complexes and the expression of gene constructs delivered with their help were analyzed in transfection experiments on the HeLa cell cultures of human epithelial carcinoma and on mouse C2C12 myoblasts. It was found that the chemical structure of dendrimer D1 and its derivatives significantly affected the structure and properties of complex.     

Analysis of sex determination in the monogenic blowfly Chrysomya rufifacies by pole cell transplantation

Summary Sex determination in the monogenic blowfly Chrysomya rufifacies is controlled by a dominant or epistatic female sex realizer (F) having sex predetermining properties (F/f=female-producing female; f/f=male-producing female or male, respectively). To determine (1) the cell type in which the maternal effect gene F is expressed. and (2) the autonomous or nonautonomous sexual differentiation of the germ cells germ-line mosaics were constructed in C. rufifacies by pole-cell transplantations. The production of bisexual progeny by germ-line mosaics generated by transplanting pole cells between both types of female embryos shows that the F gene product is synthesized by germ-line cells themselves, not by maternal (intra- or extraovarian) somatic cells. Pole cell transplantations between male and female embryos yielded completely fertile heterosexual germ-line mosaics thus demonstrating phenotypic sex reversal of donor germ cells in a host of the opposite sex. Consequently, the sexual differentiation of a germ cell in C. rufifacies is not determined by its own genotypic constitution but is induced by the surrounding somatic cells.The male sex of F/f individuals generated by fertilization with F-bearing sperm from a heterosexual germ-line mosaic indicates that the F gene is either not expressed during spermatogenesis and early embryogenesis or is expressed too late or in not sufficient amounts to direct differentiation into the female sex. This finding is consistent with the assumption that progamic expression of F is found exclusively during oogenesis in F/f females.     

Quantitation of RNA polymerase subunits in Escherichia coli during exponential growth and after bacteriophage T4 infection

Summary A method was developed to measure the amounts of RNA polymerase subunits, , , and in crude extracts of Escherichia coli. The proteins were labelled by growing the cells in ³⁵S-sulphate containing media. For measuring and , the cell lysate was electrophoresed on 6% polyacrylamide gels containing SDS and the and bands cut out and counted. For measuring and , the cell lysate was co-electrophoresed with dansylated RNA polymerase on 8% polyacrylamide gels containing SDS. The fluorescent bands were cut out, the proteins eluted, and the and subunits further purified on polyacrylamide gels containing 8 molar urea.The results are: (1) is the subunit of the core RNA polymerase which is present in limiting amount. (2) The core enzyme, as measured by , constitutes a constant fraction of total cellular protein (0.9%), independent of the bacterial growth rate. (3) The subunit is made in excess and is probably regulated independently. (4) The subunit is present in 0.3–0.4 times the amount of the core enzyme. (5) All four subunits are fully conserved after bacteriophage T4 infection.     

Carotenoid pigments of Sorangium compositum (Myxobacterales) including two new carotenoid glucoside esters and two new carotenoid rhamnosides

Summary The carotenoid pigments of the myxobacterium Sorangium compositum were analyzed by chromatographical and chemical techniques and by visible, infra red, and mass spectroscopy. Besides -carotene, neurosporene, torulene, lycopene, and 1,2-dihydro-1-hydroxy--carotene, four new carotenoid glycosides were found. These pigments were identified as 1,2-dihydro-1-hydroxy-torulene glucoside ester (I), 1,2-dihydro-3,1-dihydroxy-torulene glucoside ester (III), 1,2-dihydro-1-hydroxy-torulene rhamnoside (II), and 1,2-dihydro-3,1-dihydroxytorulene rhamnoside (IV).Fifth communication on the carotenoids of myxobacteria. Fourth communication see Arch. Mikrobiol. 76, 364–380 (1971).     

Metabolism of a phenylcoumaran substructure lignin model compound in ligninolytic cultures of Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The degradation of the phenylcoumaran substructure model compound methyl dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol by the white-rot wood decay fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium was investigated using culture conditions optimized for lignin oxidation. Initial attack was in the cinnamyl alcohol side chain, which was oxidized to a glycerol structure. This was subsequently converted by loss of the two terminal carbon atoms, C and C, to yield a C-aldehyde structure, which was further oxidized to the C-acid compound. The next detected intermediate, a phenylcoumarone, was produced by double bond formation between C and C, and oxidation of the C-alcohol to an aldehyde group. Further oxidation of C to an acid yielded the next intermediate. The final identified degradation product was veratric acid. No products from the 5-substituted aromatic ring, and no phenolic products, were found. The initial glycerol-containing intermediate was a mixture of the threo and erythro forms, and no optical activity could be found, suggesting that its formation might have involved nonstereospecific C-C epoxidation followed by non-enzymatic hydrolysis of the epoxide.Abbreviations TLC thin layer chromatography - LDA lithium diisopropyl amide - DDQ 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone - MS mass spectrometry - UV ultraviolet spectroscopy     

The effect of the methyl substituent on the bioconversion of cyclohexene derivatives

Summary The absence of the methyl substituent at the 2position of the cyclohexene ring of TCHP enhances the conversion rate as well as the yields of the 3-hydroxy product obtained byStreptomyces natalensis and the 3-keto product obtained byMycobacterium smegmatis.Abbreviations TCHP 1-(2-thienyl)-3-(1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-1-propanone - TCHP-OH 1-(2-thienyl)-3-(3-hydroxyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-1-propanone - TCHP-ketone 1-(2-thienyl)-3-(1-cyclohexen-1-yl-3-one)-1-propane - TMCHP 1-(2-thienyl)-3-(2-methyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-propanone