Glutamate oxalate transaminase (GOT) genetics in Mus musculus: Linkage,polymorphism, and phenotypes of the Got-2 and Got-1 loci

A comparison of electrophoretic patterns of F₁ and backcross progeny of two inbred strains of mice has revealed a new autosomal variant of the mitochondrial form of GOT. The loci controlling the production of the soluble and mitochondrial forms of GOT have been designated Got-1 and Got-2, respectively. The two alleles of the Got-2 locus have been designated Got-2 ^a and Got-2 ^b, which represent the slow- and fast-migrating electrophoretic forms. Twenty-seven inbred strains of mice have been classified for Got-2 ^a and Got-2 ^b. It has been demonstrated that the polymorphism of Got-2 is widely distributed in feral mice. Got-2 was shown to be linked to Es-1, and evidence is also presented for linkage between Got-2 and Es-2, Es-5, and oligosyndactyly (Os). The absence of linkage of Got-2 to seven other loci has also been demonstrated. GOT was expressed in vitro in cell lines derived from human and mouse tissues.     

Thermal transitions in mixtures of polydeoxyribodinucleotides

Oligo d(C-A) and oligo d(T-G) of known average lengths, prepared by a combination of chemical and enzymatic procedures, have been mixed in 0.02 M and 0.07 M Na⁺, and absorbance has been studied as a function of increasing temperature. The transitions have been analyzed for the temperature of maximum slope T_m, the breadth of the transition, the value of the slope at T_m, and the maximum hyperchromicity. Linear expressions have been found relating the inverse of the length in nucleotide units (n^?1) of the shorter oligomer, irrespective of its identity, to T_m and also to the transition breadth. From a difference in slope between the T_m versus n^?1 expressions for the two molarities, the entropy and enthalpy of melting have been calculated as a function of n^?1.     

Ecology of Testate Amoebae from Oligotrophic Peatlands: Specific Features of Polytypic and Polymorphic Species

Relationships between species abundance and water table depth and soil moisture have been modeled using weighted averaging and species niches have been calculated as optima and tolerance for these parameters. Niche separation of closely related taxa has been examined in detail and it has been shown that there is often a gradient of hydrological preference within each taxon. Wet to dry gradients include those found in the Trigonopyxis arcula group (T. arcula var. major > T. arcula > T. minuta), Assulina–Valkanovia group (A. seminulum > A. muscorum > V. elegans), and Trinema lineare group (T. lineare var. truncatum > T. lineare > T. lineare var. terricola), all of which are associated with a large to small size gradient. In addition, spined forms within the Euglypha and Placocista genera have been shown to consistently occur in wetter habitats than glabrous forms of those with shorter spines. A conclusion has been drawn that palaeoecological studies should cover the lowest taxa possible within these groups to maximize the ecological indicator value of the assemblages recorded.     

Quantitative analysis of the redox states of cytochromes in a living L929 (NCTC) cell by resonance Raman microspectroscopy

Raman spectra and images of a living L929 (NCTC) cell have been measured with 532 nm excitation. Both reduced and oxidized forms of cytochromes b and c (cyt b and cyt c) have been observed in situ without any pretreatment. The redox states of cyts b and c have been assessed quantitatively with a spectral analysis. It has been found that reduced cyt c is more abundant than oxidized cyt c, while oxidized cyt b is slightly more abundant than reduced cyt b in a living cell. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Alcuni Aspetti Della Variabilità Del Legno Secondario Di Un Esemplare Di Prunus Persica Stokes

Abstract

Some aspects of the variability in wood structure of a specimen of PRUNUS PERSICA Stokes. — The secondary xylem of a young stem of Prunus persica Stokes has been investigated under three main headings: 1) vessel and fibre length; 2) intrusive fibre growth; 3) relative amount of libriform fibres, fibretracheids and tracheids.

Vessel members and fibres have been reckoned from single rings and from the whole wood body.

The relation between the above mentioned dimensions and the position within the wood body and the width of the growth layers has been calculated.

No remarkable variation has been found along the axis of the stem; on the contrary there is a decrease in both fibres and vessels length along the radius of the stem from inside outwards. Such behaviour having never been recorded before, the possible causes are suggested.

A positive correlation has been found between the width of the growth layers and 1) vessel members and fibres length, 2) fibre intrusive growth, 3) percentage of libriform fibres. In addition a relative correlation between percentage of libriform fibres and age of the cambium has been put in evidence.     

Two new genes involved in signalling ambient pH in Aspergillus nidulans

Two new genes, palH and palI, where mutations mimic the effects of acidic growth pH have been identified in Aspergillus nidulans. A palH mutation is phenotypically indistinguishable from mutations in the palA, palB, palC, and palF genes, whereas palI mutations differ only in that they allow some growth at pH 8. Mutations in palA, B, C, F, and H are epistatic to a palI mutation and the significance of this epistasis is discussed. Additionally, palE and palB mutations have been shown to be allelic. Thus, a total of six genes where mutations mimic acidic growth conditions has been identified.     

Genetic control of two electrophoretic variants of glucosephosphate isomerase in the mouse (Mus musculus)

The autosomal variation and the genetic control of GPI has been determined by a comparison of electrophoretic patterns of F₁ and backcross progeny of three inbred strains of mice. The locus controlling the production of GPI in the mouse has been designated Gpi-1. Two alleles at this locus have been described and designated Gpi-1 ^a and Gpi-1 ^b, which represent, respectively, the slow and fast electrophoretic forms. Twenty-seven inbred strains of mice have been classified for these two alleles. The absence of close linkage of Gpi-1 to seven other genetic loci has been determined. It has been demonstrated that the polymorphism of Gpi-1 is widely distributed in feral mice. GPI was expressed in vitro and in four types of malignant tumors.Supported by U.S. Public Health Service Grants GM-09966, from General Medical Sciences, and GY 4193.     

Fouling Communities of Hydrotechnical Constructions in Nakhodka Bay (Sea of Japan)

The fouling of mooring facilities in Nakhodka Bay, Sea of Japan, has been studied. The main fouling communities have been distinguished dominated by green algae Enteromorpha linza and Ulva fenestrata, brown algae Laminaria japonica and Costaria costata, a hydroid Obelia longissima, a polychaete Pseudopotamilla occelata, cirripede barnacles Balanus crenatus and Semibalanus cariosus, a bivalve mollusk Mytilus trossulus, and an ascidian Halocynthia aurantium. The naturalization of some species-invaders in the fouling of mooring facilities in Nakhodka Bay has been registered, namely hydroids Laomedea flexuosa and Clytia languida, a polychaete Pseudopotamilla occelata, and a bryozoan Bowerbankia gracilis.     

Identification of the allelic state of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lr34</Emphasis> leaf rust resistance gene in soft winter wheat cultivars developed in Ukraine

The distribution of alleles at the Lr34 locus associated with leaf rust resistance has been studied in soft winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars developed in Ukraine. To determine the allelic state of the Lr34 locus, codominant molecular marker cssfr5 has been used. Cultivars with the revealed Lr34(+) and Lr34(−) alleles have been identified as potentially resistant or susceptible, respectively. A collection of 81 cultivars from the main breeding centers of Ukraine has been examined; the Lr34(+) allele has been revealed in 44% of the tested cultivars. The obtained results have been compared with general data on the leaf rust resistance of wheat cultivars from different countries.     

Estimation of Finite Population Variance Using Ratio and Product Methods of Estimation

For estimating finite population variance σ_y² of a character y under our study, estimators using auxiliary information on a character x in the form of ratio, product, ratio-type or product-type estimators have been suggested, and their comparative study with the conventional unbiased estimator s_y² of σ_y² has been made in simple random sampling with replacement. A generalized estimator representing a class of estimators for the finite populations variance, has also been studied.     

Ricerche Embriologiche Sul Genere Thalictrum. II. Embriologia e Cariologia Di Thalictrum Lucidum L. e di Thalictrum Minus L. Subsp. Minus

Abstract

Embryological researches in the «Thalictrum» genus. II. Embryology and caryology of «Thalictrum lucidum» L. and «Thalictrum minus» L. ssp. «minus». — In their development the female gametophytes of Thalictrum lucidum L. and Thalictrum minus L. ssp. minus follow the Normal type. In the female gametophytes of these species several types of antipodal cells occurs such as: their considerable enlargement, formation of many antipodals polyploid or polinucleated antipodal cells. In these various types, however, a rapid regression of the antipodals occurs. In T. lucidum some tendency to a disposition of the tetrapolarized type has been verified. The chromosome number has been confirmed to ben 2n=28 in besides, in the pollen development, many cases of regression of the microspores has been verified. The chromosome number has been confirmed to ben 2n=28 in Thalictrum lucidum L., and has been found to ben 2n=14 in Thalictrum minus L. ssp. minus, a new number in this species, which was earlier reported to have 2n=42.     

The expression of genes encoding the voltage-dependent L-type Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> channels in proliferating and differentiating C2C12 myoblasts of mice

Voltage-dependent L-type Ca⁺ channels of the C2C12 line myoblasts of mice have been studied at the stage of proliferation and 24 h after the beginning of differentiation. The expression of genesCacna1s, Cacna1c, Cacna1d, and Cacna1f, which encode channel forming subunits α₁S, α₁C, α₁D, and α₁F, respectively, has been assessed. The expression of genes Cacna2d and Cacn1g, which encode the α₂, δ, and γ regulatory subunits, has been studied as well. For the first time, the expression of Cacna1d, which is typical for nerve cells, has been revealed in proliferating myoblasts, whereas in differentiating mononuclear myoblasts the expression of this gene was significantly decreased. On the contrary, the low level of expression of Cacna1S, which encodes the specific α1S channel forming subunit of skeletal muscles, has been observed in proliferating myoblasts, whereas in differentiating mononuclear myoblasts it has been shown to increase multifold. No considerable changes in expression of Cacna2d and Cacn1g have been revealed in proliferating and differentiating myoblasts. No traces of expression of Cacna1c and Cacna1f have been revealed in myoblasts.     

Thiamin biosynthesis in prokaryotes

Twelve genes involved in thiamin biosynthesis in prokaryotes have been identified and overexpressed. Of these, six are required for the thiazole biosynthesis (thiFSGH, thiI, and dxs), one is involved in the pyrimidine biosynthesis (thiC), one is required for the linking of the thiazole and the pyrimidine (thiE), and four are kinase genes (thiD, thiM, thiL, and pdxK). The specific reactions catalyzed by ThiEF, Dxs, ThiDM, ThiL, and PdxK have been reconstituted in vitro and ThiS thiocarboxylate has been identified as the sulfur source. The X-ray structures of thiamin phosphate synthase and 5-hydroxyethyl-4-methylthiazole kinase have been completed. The genes coding for the thiamin transport system (thiBPQ) have also been identified. Remaining problems include the cloning and characterization of thiK (thiamin kinase) and the gene(s) involved in the regulation of thiamin biosynthesis. The specific reactions catalyzed by ThiC (pyrimidine formation), and ThiGH and ThiI (thiazole formation) have not yet been identified. Received: 23 August 1998 / Accepted: 16 January 1999     

Review of dermatophytoses in Galicia from 1951 to 1987, and comparison with other areas of Spain

We have reviewed all the dermatophytoses diagnosed in Galicia during four consecutive 9-year periods 1951–86 and 1987. From 4571 patients, we isolated 3351 fungal strains belonging, in decreasing order of frequency, to the following dermatophyte species: Microsporum canis (25.5%), Trichophyton rubrum (24.6%), T. mentagrophytes (21.4%), Epidermophyton floccosum (11.8%), M. gypseum (5.2%), T. tonsurans (3.9%), T. verrucosum (3.1%), T. schoenleinii (2.5%), T. violaceum (1.2%), T. mengninii (0.3%), M. audouinii (0.2%), T. equinum (0.1%) and T. soudanense (0.1%). Tinea capitis has diminished in frequency since 1951, though there was been a slight increase since 1978; M. canis has always been the most common agent, and between 1951 and 1959 T. schoenleinii was also very frequent but is no longer found. The frequency of tinea corporis, on the other hand, has experienced a considerable increase. Its most common causal agents in the last few years have been T. mentagrophytes, M. canis and T. rubrum. Until 1977 the most common tinea cruris dermatophyte was E. floccosum, but since then it has been T. rubrum. The commonest tinea pedis dermatophytes have been T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes. Tinea unguium and tinea barbae have been the most frequent dermatophytoses, and their commonest causal agents T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes respectively. We have documented the distribution of the various causal agents by location of the lesions, age and source of the patients (private or National Health Service patients), and we have compared the results with those obtained in other regions of Spain.     

Kinetics of batch-wise enzymatic cycling system for mass production of chiral compound

Kinetics of batch-wise enzymatic cycling system (oxidoreductase-catalyzed reaction system involving enzyme-coupled cofactor regeneration) has been studied covering a broad range of the conserved total cofactor concentration, [C]₀ (=NAD(P)⁺?+?NAD(P)H), based on reasonable several assumptions. It is composed of two elementary reactions, i.e. product synthesis reaction and cofactor regeneration reaction, both of which have been expressed by Michaelis–Menten type rate equations. A novel dimensionless variable, r, has been introduced, which is defined as the concentration of one of the two cofactor components, [X] (NADH⁺ or NADPH⁺), divided by [C]₀, i.e. r .e[X]/[C]₀. The following results have been obtained. (1) The fundamental equation of the batch-wise enzymatic cycling system has been transformed to a differential equation whose formula is: dr/dT?=?N(r)/D(r) (N(r) and D(r) are quadratic equations of r having different coefficients). (2) It has been elucidated that the batch-wise enzymatic cycling system has two phases, an early short transient phase followed by a long phase in quasi-steady state (QSS). (3) In the enzymatic cycling system, r converges to a definite level regardless of any initial value of r. (4) In QSS, the definite level of r nearly equals the singular solution, r_singular, of the differential equation. (5) The actual rate of the targeted product (chiral compound) formation can be calculated by Michaelis–Menten equation in which the cofactor concentration is [C]₀×r_singular instead of [C]₀. r_singular has been proposed to name “redistribution factor”. (6) It is recommended that the “unit” of the cofactor regeneration enzyme be 2–3 times more used than the “unit” of the synthesis enzyme and that [C]₀ be 15–25 times more than the K_m value. Four special cases relating to the batch-wise enzymatic cycling system have been discussed.     

Synthesis and Antiviral Evaluation of Adenosine-N1-Oxide and 1-(Benzyloxy) Adenosines

Abstract

The antiviral activity of adenosine-N¹-oxide (1) and a variety of substituted 1-(benzyloxy) adenosines (2) has been re-investigated and significant in vitro activity vs. Vaccinia virus has been shown. In vivo activity in mice has also been demonstrated.     

Comparative organic growth factor requirements of nine Candida species

Nine Candida species isolated from fleshy fruits have been examined for their organic growth factor requirements. Complete or partial deficiencies for thiamine, biotin, pyridoxine, inositol, pantothenic acid, ascorbic acid and xanthine have been reported in C. catenuclta, C. curiosa, C. curvata, C. humicola, C. rhagii, C. steatolytica and C. tropicalis. Only two species, namely, C. fragicola and C. ishiwadea were prototrophic for the growth factors. Concentrations of essential growth factors higher than the optimum have been found inhibitory for the growth of yeasts.     

Expression and function of the bHLH genes ALCATRAZ and SPATULA in selected Solanaceae species

The genetic mechanisms underlying fruit development have been identified in Arabidopsis and have been comparatively studied in tomato as a representative of fleshy fruits. However, comparative expression and functional analyses on the bHLH genes downstream the genetic network, ALCATRAZ (ALC) and SPATULA (SPT), which are involved in the formation of the dehiscence zone in Arabidopsis, have not been functionally studied in the Solanaceae. Here, we perform detailed expression and functional studies of ALC/SPT homologs in Nicotiana obtusifolia with capsules, and in Capsicum annuum and Solanum lycopersicum with berries. In Solanaceae, ALC and SPT genes are expressed in leaves, and all floral organs, especially in petal margins, stamens and carpels; however, their expression changes during fruit maturation according to the fruit type. Functional analyses show that downregulation of ALC/SPT genes does not have an effect on gynoecium patterning; however, they have acquired opposite roles in petal expansion and have been co‐opted in leaf pigmentation in Solanaceae. In addition, ALC/SPT genes repress lignification in time and space during fruit development in Solanaceae. Altogether, some roles of ALC and SPT genes are different between Brassicaceae and Solanaceae; while the paralogs have undergone some subfunctionalization in the former they are mostly redundant in the latter.     

Synthesis,Physicochemical Properties,and in vitro Antibacterial Screening of Palladium(II) Complexes Derived from Thiosemicarbazone

A new series of Pd^II complexes derived from thiosemicarbazone has been synthesized. The synthesized Pd^II complexes have been characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, FT‐IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, UV/VIS, and thermal studies. A square‐planar geometry has been assigned around Pd^II ions on the basis of results obtained from UV/VIS studies. The thiosemicarbazone ligand and its Pd^II complexes have been screened against Gram‐positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram‐negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria in vitro as growth‐inhibiting agents, and the results revealed significant antibacterial activities.