Adenovirus serotype determines association and localization of the large E1B tumor antigen with cellular tumor antigen p53 in transformed cells.

The distribution and stability of the cellular tumor antigen p53 were studied in baby rat kidney cells transformed by region E1 sequences of nononcogenic adenovirus (Ad) type 5 (Ad5) or oncogenic type 12 (Ad12). In transformed cells expressing the large E1B T antigen of Ad5, p53 was associated with this T antigen. The complexed proteins were concentrated in a cytoplasmic body, which has been shown to consist of a cluster of 8-nm filaments (A. Zantema et al., Virology 142:44-58, 1985). In transformed cells expressing the E1B region of Ad12, however, no association between the viral large T antigen and p53 was detectable. In the latter case, both proteins were found almost exclusively in the nucleus. The stability of p53 in both Ad5- and Ad12-transformed cells was increased relative to that in primary cells or cells immortalized by the E1A region only. Thus, the increased stability of p53 in Ad-transformed cells is not caused by association with a viral T antigen, but it correlates with expression of E1B and with morphological transformation.     

STING Millennium Suite: integrated software for extensive analyses of 3d structures of proteins and their complexes

Background  

The integration of many aspects of protein/DNA structure analysis is an important requirement for software products in general area of structural bioinformatics. In fact, there are too few software packages on the internet which can be described as successful in this respect. We might say that what is still missing is publicly available, web based software for interactive analysis of the sequence/structure/function of proteins and their complexes with DNA and ligands. Some of existing software packages do have certain level of integration and do offer analysis of several structure related parameters, however not to the extent generally demanded by a user.     

DETECTION AND ENUMERATION OF H2S+ BACTERIA: APPLICATION TO SHEWANELLA PUTREFACIENS (CIP)

H₂S⁺ bacteria responsible for the degradation of sulfur-containing amino acids of fish muscle are currently little used to evaluate the microbiological pal quality of fish. Shewanella putrefaciens greatly predominates in this flora, and was therefore used to define a suitable culture method and medium. Inoculations by the Spiral surface method at 25C, with an incubation of 72h, gave the best counts on a medium containing two sources of sulfur (organic and inorganic) for H₂S⁺ bacteria. The culture medium and the NaCl concentration were determinant in the evaluation of this flora. At present there is no standard medium which meets these requirements.     

New data on the enigmatic Ocruranus–Eohalobia group of Early Cambrian small skeletal fossils

Abstract: The Ocruranus–Eohalobia group, whose members were variously considered to be brachiopods, bivalves, chitons, tommotiids and coeloscleritophorans, are difficult to classify because of lack of morphological detail and evidence for skeletal reconstruction. New specimens from South China reveal more information about Ocruranus–Eohalobia and allow progress towards deciphering the skeletal reconstruction and phylogenetic affinity of this enigmatic group. Many specimens have a phosphatic inner and outer coat (mould) with empty space in between that resulted from dissolution of the original shell. Moreover, many of the internal moulds show a previously unknown type of shell microstructure that consisted of stacked layers of highly organized, acicular crystallites that radiated from the apex of the shell towards the aperture. The dissolved shell and needle‐like crystals suggest an original calcareous, probably aragonitic, shell mineralogy. A few specimens also show a polygonal texture in regions that suggests the shell had a thin, prismatic inner shell microstructure. Ocruranus and Eohalobia belong to the same skeleton, and we herein synonymize Eohalobia with the older Ocruranus. Moreover, new specimens from Meishucun reveal a third type of shell plate, similar in form and inferred placement to intermediate valves of chitons. Ocruranus is likely a mollusc, and possibly a member of the chiton stem lineage. If so, then the beginning of the known record of chitons would be extended back from late Cambrian (Saukia Zone; Furongian) to early Cambrian (Meishucunian; Series 1).     

A comparison of direct and indirect methods for measuring leaf and surface areas of individual bushes

Indirect estimates of leaf area from measurements with three commercially available instruments (DEMON, LAI-2000 and Sunfleck Ceptometer) were compared with directly measured areas of individual Retama sphaerocarpa bushes. The three indirect methods gave good estimates of the total surface area of individual bushes. For the DEMON, the method of log-linear averaging of transmitted radiation gave estimates closer to directly measured surface area than the method of averaging transmission linearly. For the LAI-2000, estimated surface area index multiplied by canopy projected area gave the best agreement with directly measured values. For measurements with the Sunfleck Ceptometer, values of surface area estimated from the transmission of photosynthetic quantum flux density, without correcting for diffuse radiation, gave the best agreement with directly measured values. Surface areas estimated by the three instruments were not significantly different from directly measured total (leaf + branch + stem) surface areas. Leaf surface area could be calculated from estimated total surface area minus directly measured branch surface area. Measured branch surface area was linearly related to canopy projected area.     

Morphological and Anatomical Studies of Linaria species from South-west Spain: Fruits

A morphological and anatomical study of fruits of 24 taxa ofLinaria Miller from south-west Spain has been made. Followingexamination of these species, by scanning electron and lightmicroscopy, five morphological types are established relatingto hair types, symmetry and dehiscence of capsules. A key tothe different species or groups of species is provided. Finally,dehiscence mechanisms are discussed briefly. Copyright 1999Annals of Botany Company Pericarp, hairs, dehiscence, SEM, Antirrhineae.