Binding of a nuclear factor to a consensus sequence in the 5' flanking region of zein genes from maize

The genomic organization of the zein structural genes and of regulatory loci influencing their expression suggests that control of zein gene expression will involve interactions between cis elements in the flanking DNA sequences and products from trans-acting genes. The interaction between fragments from the 5' flanking region of a zein gene and specific, double-stranded oligonucleotides with crude nuclear extracts from maize endosperm have been studied by nitrocellulose filter binding, gel retention and DNase I footprinting assays. Specific binding of a nuclear factor was observed and the exact position of the protein binding site was determined. The 22-nt binding site included 14 bp of a 15-bp sequence conserved in all zein genes.     

Cytokinin stress changes the developmental regulation of several defence-related genes in tobacco

Tobacco shoots exposed to elevated endogenous or exogenous cytokinin levels are unable to develop roots and lack apical dominance. We have isolated cDNA copies of five mRNA species that accumulate to elevated levels in such cytokinin-stressed shoots via differential screening of a cDNA library of transgenic shoots which contain an active T-DNA cytokinin gene (T-cyt gene) from Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Four of the cDNA clones were found to correspond to plant defence-related mRNAs, encoding extensin, chitinase, PR-1 and a PR-1-like protein, respectively. In normal tobacco plants PR-1 mRNA is relatively rare in all organs. The other four mRNAs occur at relatively low levels in shoots, especially in leaves, but are very prevalent in roots. Extensin mRNA, for example, is not detectable in leaves, while it is an abundant mRNA in roots and stems. In normal shoots cultured on cytokinin-containing medium all five mRNAs accumulate to elevated levels, similar to those found in transgenic T-cyt shoots. We conclude that the imposed cytokinin stress causes changes in the tissue-specific control of the levels of several defence-related mRNA species in tobacco.     

Cyclin synthesis, modification and destruction during meiotic maturation of the starfish oocyte

The pattern of protein synthesis in oocytes of starfish Marthasterias glacialis changes during 1-methyladenine-induced meiotic maturation. One of the newly synthesized proteins, a major 54-kDa polypeptide, was synthesized continuously after activation but was destroyed abruptly just before appearance of the polar bodies at each meiotic division. This protein thus resembles the cyclin proteins identified in cleaving sea urchin and clam embryos. RNA extracted from oocytes before and after maturation encoded virtually identical polypeptides when translated in the reticulocyte lysate. However, there was poor correspondence between the in vitro translation products and the labelling pattern of intact cells. There was no exact in vitro counterpart to the in vivo-labelled cyclin. Instead, a major polypeptide of 52 kDa was seen which appears to be a precursor of the 54-kDa form of cyclin. The 52-kDa polypeptide was identified as cyclin by hybrid arrest of translation. Cyclin mRNA is ot translated to a significant extent before oocyte activation and is present in oocytes as nonadenylated form. It becomes polyadenylated when the oocytes mature. This behavior is also seen in the case of the mRNA for the small subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, another abundant maternal mRNA whose translation is activated at maturation.     

Galactose and lactose transport inKluyveromyces lactis

Transport of lactose intoKluyveromyces lactis was accomplished by a highly specific system inducible by lactose and galactose. The biosynthesis of the transport enzyme was strongly repressed by glucose. For non-induced cells, lactose penetrated by passive transport, like galactose in any type of cells. The lactose transport showed aK _m 1.2 –4 mm, was temperature-dependent (76 kJ/mol) and was blocked by metabolic inhibitors.     

西藏北部中、晚侏罗世海娥螺类

一、前言本文记述的中侏罗世海娥螺类系采自西藏北部双湖县达尔沃错、阿木岗日以及索县以南的雁石坪群,而晚侏罗世的海娥螺类则采自拉萨附近的多底沟群(插图1)。双湖地区的标本是西藏地质科学研究所板块专题组于1983年8月采集的,索县及拉萨附近的标本是夏金宝、毛力等于1982年9月和1983年8月两次采集的。上述地区的海娥螺动物群经研究,共9属11种,其中2个新种。这一研究成果增添了我国侏罗纪海娥螺动物群新资料,并且对藏北和     

黑龙江省三江平原丹顶鹤的数量分布

在地面调查的基础上,我们使用Y-11轻型飞机对黑龙江省三江平原地区的丹顶鹤的数量分布近行了调查,调查时飞行高度80米,航速140公里/小时,续航里程共3748公里。调查结果表明,丹顶鹤在三江平原主要分布在8个地区,其中嘟噜河下游、洪河自然保护区、七星河流域和兴凯湖低地是主要繁殖地,总数量共309只。