Glycine decarboxylase is confined to the bundle-sheath cells of leaves of C3−C4 intermediate species

Immunogold labelling has been used to determine the cellular distribution of glycine decarboxylase in leaves of C₃, C₃–C₄ intermediate and C₄ species in the genera Moricandia, Panicum, Flaveria and Mollugo. In the C₃ species Moricandia foleyi and Panicum laxum, glycine decarboxylase was present in the mitochondria of both mesophyll and bundle-sheath cells. However, in all the C₃–C₄ intermediate (M. arvensis var. garamatum, M. nitens, M. sinaica, M. spinosa, M. suffruticosa, P. milioides, Flaveria floridana, F. linearis, Mollugo verticillata) and C₄ (P. prionitis, F. trinervia) species studied glycine decarboxylase was present in the mitochondria of only the bundle-sheath cells. The bundle-sheath cells of all the C₃–C₄ intermediate species have on their centripetal faces numerous mitochondria which are larger in profile area than those in mesophyll cells and are in close association with chloroplasts and peroxisomes. Confinement of glycine decarboxylase to the bundle-sheath cells is likely to improve the potential for recapture of photorespired CO₂ via the Calvin cycle and could account for the low rate of photorespiration in all C₃–C₄ intermediate species.Abbreviation and symbol kDa kilodaltons - CO₂ compensation point     

Analysis of β-globin gene haplotypes in Asian Indians: origin and spread of β-thalassaemia on the Indian subcontinent

-globin gene haplotypes were determined for 196 normal (-A) and 419 thalassaemia (-Th) chromosomes of individuals from four different regions of the Indian subcontinent; North-west Pakistan, Gujarat, Punjab and Sindh. Analysis of -A and -Th haplotypes and haplotype-mutation associations in each regional group along with a consideration of Indian history provided information about the origin and spread of -thalassaemia mutations on the Indian subcontinent. The data are consistent with relatively recent and local origins for most -thalassaemia mutations. The frequencies of particular alleles differ markedly in various regions and these may be useful population markers. Of the high frequency alleles, intervening sequence 1 (IVS-1) nucleotide 5 (G-C) and codons 41/42 (-CTTT) appear to be older as suggested by multiple haplotype associations and a widespread geographical distribution. The microepidemiology of -thalassaemia in this region reflects considerable ethnic diversity, gene flow from population migration and natural selection by malaria infection.     

A molecular dynamics simulation of a polyamine-induced conformational change of DNA. A possible mechanism for the B to Z transition.

A 75ps molecular dynamics simulation has been performed on a fully solvated complex of spermine with the B DNA decamer (dGdC)5.(dGdC)5. The simulation indicates a possible mechanism by which polyamines might induce the formation of a left-handed helix, the B to Z transition. Spermine was initially located in the major groove, hydrogen bonded to the helix. During the simulation the ligand migrates deeper into the DNA, maintaining strong hydrogen bonding to the central guanine bases and destroying the Watson-Crick base pairing with their respective cytosines. Significant rotation of these and other cytosine bases was observed, in part due to interactions of the helix with the aminopropyl chains of spermine. An intermediate BII conformation might be of importance in this process.     

Mapping of the structural gene for S-adenosyl homocysteine hydrolase to mouse Chromosome 2, and related sequences to Chromosomes 8 and X

Comparative mapping studies in human and mouse have shown that, to date, human Chromosome (Chr) 20 is completely syntenic with distal mouse Chr 2. The structural locus for S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine hydrolase (EC 3.3.1.1) in human, AHCY, maps to 20 qterq13.1, and we report here that the homologous locus in the mouse, Ahcy, maps to distal mouse Chr 2 with gene order Pcna-Ahcy-Ada. Analysis of 123 progeny of an interspecific backcross between a laboratory stock, AN, and Mus spretus using a rat cDNA probe revealed the presence of at least two other Ahcy-related sequences segregating independently in the mouse genome. One, Ahcy-rs1, was mapped to Chr 8 in the BXH recombinant inbred strains, and the other, Ahcy-rs2, shows a pattern of inheritance consistent with X-linkage.     

Survival and development of Pieris brassicae larvae upon application of sublethal doses of chlordimeform

Larvae of the large cabbage white butterfly, Pieris brassicae L. are important pests of cruciferous crops. Third and fifth instars were treated topically with sublethal doses of the formamidine pesticide chlordimeform. A number of excitable actions were induced but they did not persist beyond 24 hours. Following the initial period, however, subsequent development was delayed and mortality increased, particularly when third instars were treated. Dosing fifth-instar larvae caused few further deaths. A link is suggested between these results and the nutritional status of the insects, and they are discussed in terms of how they might contribute towards control.

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Résumé Les chenilles de troisième et cinquième stades de P. brassicae L. ont reçu une application superficielle de chlordiméforme, insecticide à la formamidine. Les doses inférieures à 335 g/g ont été sublétales, provoquant plusieurs formes d'excitation. Bien que leur comportement soit redevenu normal en 24 heures, les troisièmes stades traités ont eu leur développement retardé et une mortalité accrue. Le traitement des chenilles plus âgées a eu moins d'effets. Une relation est suggérée entre ces observations et le régime alimentaire de cet insecte; une réduction de l'alimentation, plus importante chez les chenilles de troisième que de cinquième stade de P. brassicae, accompagne le début des altérations du comportement provoquées par le chlordiméforme. La discussion porte sur le mécanisme de contrôle sublétal du chlordiméforme, impliquant des effects immédiats et retardés.

     

The dependence of airway smooth muscle on extracellular Ca2+ for contraction is influenced by the presence of cartilage

Isolated guinea-pig and rabbit airway smooth muscle preparations lacking cartilage are less able to contract, in response to methacholine, histamine and K+, in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ than cartilage-containing preparations removed from the same animal. Cartilage apparently provides utilizable Ca2+ for contraction of airway smooth muscle. The presence of cartilage, therefore, affects the apparent dependence of the isolated smooth muscle on extracellular Ca2+ for contraction.     

Observations on 6-mercaptopurine activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract Hydrogen fluoride treatment of [¹⁴C-glycerol]lipoteichoic acid synthesized by growing Streptococcus faecium ATCC9790 in the presence of 1,3[¹⁴C]glycerol produced five radioactive, water-soluble products which were identified by chromatographic and analytical techniques to be tetraglucosyl glycerol, triglucosyl glycerol, diglucosyl glycerol, monoglucosyl glycerol and unsubstituted glycerol. The percent composition of each varied modestly from culture to culture and ranged between 7 and 8% for the tetra-, 20.5 and 31.2% for the tri-, 11.3 to 23.5% for the di-, 20.9 to 26.8% for the mono-, and 23.1 to 34.8% for the unsubstituted glycerol. The same glucosylated glycerol compounds could be obtained in an in vitro reaction in which a 30 000 × g particulate enzyme catalyzed the incorporation of [³H]glucose from UDP [³H]glucose into lipoteichoic acid.     

Growth of Escherichia coli in the presence of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole facilitates detection of Shiga-like toxin producing strains by colony blot assay

Abstract Subinhibitory concentrations of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole increased the total yield of Shiga-like toxin (SLT), produced by Shigella dysenteria 1 and by enterophathogenic and enterohemorrhagic strains of Escherichia coli . Stimulation of SLT synthesis by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was demonstrated by an increase in cytotoxic activity for HeLa cells and the diameter of the zone formed around bacterial colonies probed with monoclonal antibodies to SLT. Thus, supplementation of culture media with trimetroprimsulfamethoxazol will facilitate SLT purification and detection of SLT-producing bacteria.     

Assay methodology for prednisolone, prednisolone acetate and prednisolone sodium phosphate in rabbit aqueous humor and ocular physiological solutions

Prednisolone, prednisolone acetate and prednisolone sodium phosphate are glucocorticoids used for ocular, anti-inflammatory therapy. A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic assay using ultraviolet detection has been developed that affords baseline resolution of the above analytes in balanced salt solutions and rabbit aqueous humor. The drugs can be quantified at 0.025–0.05 μg/ml in the above matrices; 6α-methylprednisolone is used as the internal standard. Both esters of prednisolone are vulnerable to chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis giving prednisolone. Analysis of aqueous humor samples shows prednisolone acetate penetrating/metabolizing primarly to prednisolone; prednisolone sodium phosphate penetrates the cornea giving the ester and alcohol.