Effect of 2-deoxy-D-glucose on herpesvirus-induced inhibition of cellular DNA synthesis.

In pseudorabies virus-infected cells host DNA synthesis is turned off 4 to 5 h postinfection. In the presence of 0.5 mM 2-deoxy-D-glucose, however, synthesis of both cellular and viral DNA proceeds unimpaired throughout the virus replication cycle. The uptake of radioactive thymidine into mock-infected cells is not altered in the presence of 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Virus-specific protein synthesis and particle formation also proceed in medium containing the deoxy sugar, but the virus particles produced are noninfectious and cell fusion is inhibited.     

The form of the talus in some higher primates: a multivariate study

Sixteen measurements of the talus have been taken on 334 tali of a total of eleven primate groups and several additional single individual specimens. Multivariate morphometric (canonical and generalized distance) analyses of these data in extant higher primates are presented and used to define the relative morphological positions of fossils of the genera Proconsul and Limnopithecus, of individual specimens from Kromdraai, Olduvai and Kiik-Koba (Homo neanderthalensis), and a group of specimens of Bronze Age man from Jericho. Following preliminary studies the ultimate analysis suggests that the various extant arboreal primates examined fall within an envelope that is defined by Macaca together with various other Old World monkeys and extending in different directions to the extreme genera (a) Pongo, (b) Hylobates and (c) Ateles. This separation is thus one which defines generally quadrupedal monkeys and separates the various extreme arboreal locomotor modes of (a) acrobatic climbing and hanging, (b) richochetal brachiation and (c) prehensile-tailed arm-swinging and hanging, respectively. Man and the African apes are well separated both from each other and from this spectrum of arboreally adapted genera. Bronze Age man from Jericho and Neandertal man from Kiik-Koba lie relatively close to the position for modern man although significantly separated from him. Limnopithecus, Proconsul, and the specimens from Kromdraai and Olduvai all lie within the envelope of arboreal species and specifically rather close to, although significantly different from, the orang-utan; they differ markedly from both man and the African apes. The possibility exists that the resemblances of Proconsul and Limnopithecus relate to arboreal habitus in these species. The findings for the specimens from Kromdraai and Olduvai suggest either that the morphological resemblances to arboreal forms relate to a previous arboreal history for these species, or that bipedality is much less advanced or uniquely different from that displayed by Homo. It is not inconceivable that both conditions might apply.     

Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen über Bildung und Struktur der Zygotenwand beiMicrasterias papillifera (Desmidiaceae)

Zusammenfassung Die Feinstruktur von Mesospor und Endospor reifer Zygoten vonMicrasterias papillifera wurde untersucht. Das für die Resistenz der Zygoten gegenüber ungünstigen Umweltbedingungen wichtige Mesospor besteht aus vier Schichten von unterschiedlicher Elektronendichte. Es ist insgesamt 460–500 nm dick. Die Schichten Mes a und Mes c bestehen aus akkrustierten, dicht gepackten globulären Elementen eines Stoffes, der dem Sporopollenin ähnlich ist. Die Schicht Mes b zeigt ein fibrilläres Grundgerüst, wahrscheinlich aus Zellulose, in das Stoffe inkrustiert sind, die nicht mit denen der Schichten Mes a und Mes c identisch, aber gegen Abbauversuche ähnlich résistent sind.Die Schicht Mes d ist eine Übergangsschicht zum Endospor. Zwischen die Zellulose-Mikrofibrillen in Streutextur sind isolierte Partikel des Materials der Schicht Mes c eingestreut. Das etwa 650 nm dicke Endospor ist eine Zelluloseschicht mit Streutextur. Es wird als Wand der sogenannten Keimblase bei der Zygotenkeimung nach Sprengung von Exospor und Mesospor stark gedehnt.

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Electron microscopical investigations on the structure and formation of the zygote wall inMicrasterias papillifera (Desmidiaceae) II. The structure of the mesospore and the endospore

Summary The mesospore (460–500 nm thick) which is responsible for the resistance of the zygote against desiccation during its resting period, consists of four layers of different electron density. The layers Mes a and Mes c are composed of densely packed amorphous globular elements of a substance resembling sporopollenine. The layer Mes b has a fibrillar, probably cellulosic frame. It is incrusted by a substance which is not identical with that of Mes a or Mes c but which shows a comparable resistance against degradation.The layer Mes d contains isolated particles such as in Mes c and cellulose microfibrils of the endospore. The endospore (650 nm thick) has foliate texture. This layer surrounds the protoplast after it has escaped from the ruptured exospore and mesospore during zygospore germination.

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Der Deutschen Forchungsgemeinschaft dank ich f:ur Sachbeihilfe.     

Genetic polymorphism of C′3 (β1C-globulin) component of complement in a German and a Spanish population

Summary The polymorphism of the major component of human complement (C3 or -globulin) at that time is interpreted formally by the genetic model 5 codominant alleles at one autosomal locus. Examination of this hypothesis has been performed examinating a sample of 482 unrelated persons in the two populations, 71 families with 127 children and 115 mother/child combinations in a German population. It could be stated that 4 alleles or more are involved in this polymorphism.     

An initiation factor causing dissociation of E. coli ribosomes

Purification of crude initiation factors, essential for polypeptide synthesis in cell-free systems of E. coli, yielded a fraction DF which causes dissociation of 70 S ribosomes. Its stoichiometric action on 70 S ribosomes is antagonized by increasing Mg(2+) concentrations but not by the addition of 30 S and 50 S subunits washed with high salt concentration. GTP did not stimulate this dissociating action. 2 &mgr;g of our most purified preparation caused 100% dissociation of 100 &mgr;g of 70 S ribosomes without added GTP. DF-induced dissociation is a very rapid process at 37 degrees C and is temperature-dependent in the range of 0 degrees -37 degrees C. DF, which is thermolabile factor, is much less or not effective with complexed 70 S ribosomes bearing peptidyl-tRNA and mRNA.     

Stimulation of cellular DNA synthesis by human cytomegalovirus

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is able to induce cellular DNA synthesis in both permissive (human embryonic lung) and nonpermissive (Vero) cells. The induction of cell DNA synthesis was assayed by the incorporation of [methyl-³H]thymidine into macromolecules having the buoyant density characteristics of cell DNA. The DNA synthesis induced by CMV infection appears to represent normal semiconservative replication as opposed to repair synthesis. Both strains of CMV tested were capable of inducing cell DNA synthesis. Virus exposed to heat or UV light prior to infection lost the ability to induce DNA synthesis, indicating that a virus-coded function expressed after infection is responsible for stimulation of cell DNA synthesis.     

Synergistische Wirkung von Säuger-Prolaktin und Androgen beim Schaumnestbau des Paradiesfisches,Macropodus opercularis L. (Anabantidae)*

• 1 Baustimmung läßt sich bei Macropodus opercularis-♂♂ durch Chorion-Gonadotropin- oder Methyl-Testosteron-Gaben hervorrufen. Sie äußert sich in erhöhter Luftholfrequenz und Bauappetenz. Die Gonadotropinwirkung tritt verzögert ein, was auf einen sekundären Einfluß von Androgen hinweist. Beide Hormone regen weder die Schleimbildung in der Epidermis an, noch lösen sie allein vollständiges Nestbauen aus. Jedoch bewirkt Androgen die Ausschüttung von Sekret aus den gefüllten Vakuolen der Becherzellen.

Chorion-Gonadotropin und Androgen steigern gleichsinnig die Kampfbereitschaft und die gesamte Aktivität.

• 2 Säuger-Prolaktin regt die Schleimbildung in der Epidermis an. Die Zunahme der Schleimvakuolen ist von der Dosis als auch von der Vakuolenzahl vor der Behandlung abhängig. ♂♂ reagieren empfindlicher auf Prolaktingaben als ♀♀, die normalerweise nicht bauen.
• 3 Gleichzeitige Verabreichung von Methyl-Testosteron und Prolaktin ruft bei Makropoden-♂♂ und ♀♀ Schaumnestbau hervor. Dagegen erzeugt gleichzeitige Chorion-Gonadotropin- und Prolaktin-Gabe kein vollständiges Bauen.
• 4 Mit Prolaktin behandelte Makropoden benehmen sich auffallend ruhig. Ihre gesamte Aktivität ist gedämpft. Im Kampfbereich ist das Breitseitimponieren vermindert, da es teilweise sexuell motiviert ist. Die Zahl der Angriffshandlungen (Schnappen, Stoßen) wird durch Prolaktin nicht verringert. Dagegen unterdrückt es bei gleichzeitiger Gabe von Chorion-Gonadotropin dessen kampfsteigernde Wirkung, was für einen Antagonismus dieser Hormone spricht. Anderseits beeinträchtigen sich Methyl-Testosteron und Prolaktin in ihrer Wirkung auf das Kampfverhalten nicht.
• 5 Für die Existenz eines ?Makropoden-Prolaktins” spricht, daß Reserpin, das bei Säugetieren bekanntlich Prolaktin freisetzt, genau wie Säuger-Prolaktin Schleimvermehrung in der Epidermis hervorruft.
• 6 Wahrscheinlich sind der schleimvermehrende und der Brutpflegefaktor des Makropoden identisch. Hierin ist wohl die Ursache für die unterschiedlichen Verhaltensphasen im Fortpflanzungszyklus des ?Fremdmaterialbauer-” und des ?Schaumnestbauer-Typus” zu suchen.

     

Delay of Poliovirus Plaque Formation with Use of Fresh Bovine Serum in the Growth Medium of Host Cellsd

The plaque formation of poliovirus in HeLa cell monolayers was decreased upto 95% when the host cells were subcultured several times in a growth medium containing fresh bovine serum prior to their inoculation with virus. Extended incubation of infected cell monolayers indicated that the inhibition was in the form of a delay in plaque formation rather than a permanent inhibition of it. The inhibitory factor, which was found in most bovine sera, was very unstable and disappeared after storage of the serum at -20 C for a few weeks or at 36 C within a few days. In HeLa-cell monolayers, the fresh serum brought about a decrease in the plaque formation of all three poliovirus types as well as that of poliovirus ribonucleic acid. The plaque formation of poliovirus in monkey heart and HEp-2-cell monolayers was decreased irregularly by the use of fresh serum in the growth medium of these cells. Speculations were made as to the possible mode of action of the bovine serum inhibitor.