Larval development of Diploptera punctata reared alone and in groups

Larvae of the cockroach Diploptera punctata were reared in isolation, in pairs, or in groups of 8–10. Duration of larval development, age at each ecdysis, weights at birth and ecdyses, and adult head-capsule width were measured. Duration of larval development was longer and adult size was larger in isolated animals than in animals reared in pairs and groups. The effect of isolation on development was more pronounced in males. All females had 4 larval instars, whereas males had 3 or 4 instars. The proportion of males with 4 larval instars was higher among animals reared in isolation. There was no difference in the duration of larval development or adult size between pair- and group-reared animals. The sex of animals in the group did not affect adult size or the duration of larval development. Males which underwent 3 or 4 larval instars had different schedules of moulting. Rates of growth of males of both instar types reared in isolation and pairs were similar. Greater adult weight of isolated animals and 4-instar-type males was a result of their longer duration of larval development. Both a higher rate of growth and longer duration of larval development contribute to the larger adult size of females than males.     

A further study on the dietary-regulated biosynthesis of high-sulphur wool proteins

When the diet of sheep is supplemented by the infusion of sulphur-containing amino acids or casein into the abomasum, the newly synthesized wool shows characteristic changes in its amino acid composition, with significant increases in cystine, proline and serine and decreases in aspartic acid and phenylalanine. This modification seems to be due entirely to an alteration in the overall composition of the high-sulphur proteins and to an increase in their proportion in the fibre. These variations are not the result of a change in the composition of individual proteins, but are due to alterations in their relative proportions and to the initiation of the synthesis of `new' proteins, many of which are extremely rich in cystine. It is suggested that the heterogeneity of the high-sulphur proteins may be due, in part, to similar changes in composition caused by natural variations in the nutrition of sheep.     

Pulsed-field gel analysis of human immunoglobulin heavy-chain constant region gene deletions reveals the extent of unmapped regions within the locus

The human immunoglobulin heavy-chain constant region gene locus is organized in three main gene groups, the physical distances of which are unknown. Different types of gene deletions, originated by unequal crossingover, have been found to encompass one or more genes in the locus. We have analyzed some of these deletions by means of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, which allows resolution of large DNA fragments. By identifying a fragment containing two of the main gene groups and by observing the size reduction of this fragment in subjects with deletions, we were able to estimate the distance between the two groups and better locate the pseudogene in-between.     

Isolation and Biochemical Characterization of a Neural Proteoglycan Expressing the L5 Carbohydrate Epitope

The monoclonal L5 antibody reacts with an N-glycosidically linked carbohydrate structure which is present on the neural cell adhesion molecule L1, neural chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, and other not yet identified glycosylated proteins. Using this antibody, we isolated and characterized proteoglycans from adult mouse brain and cultured astrocytes biosynthetically labeled with Na2 35SO4 and a 3H-amino acid mixture. Our data suggest that the L5 proteoglycans of both sources are identical in their biochemical properties. The apparent molecular mass of the L5 proteoglycan is approximately 500 kDa. Digestion of the iodinated L5 proteoglycan from mouse brain and of the [35S]methionine-labeled L5 proteoglycan from cultured astrocytes with proteinase-free chondroitinases ABC and AC revealed three major core proteins with apparent molecular masses of approximately 380, 360, and 260 kDa. These represent molecularly distinct protein cores.     

[3H]Tyramine binding: A comparison with neuronal [3H]-dopamine uptake and [3H]mazindol binding processes

[³H]Spiperone ([³H]SPI) binding sites in rat or bovine striata have been solubilized using CHAPS or digitonin detergents. Solubilized sites retained the binding characteristics of those in native membrane preparations. The same solubilized material, however, did not bind [³H]tyramine ([³H]PTA), thus indicating that [³H]PTA binding sites and DA receptors are different chemico-physical entities. In membrane preparations or crude synaptosomes obtained from the c.striatum of neonatally-rendered hypothyroid rats, when central DA-pathways are impaired, both [³H]PTA binding and [³H]DA uptake processes were markedly decreased, with no effect on [³H]mazindol ([³H]MAZ) binding, compared to euthyroids. Reserpine, a well-known inhibitor of DA-uptake into a variety of secretory vesicles, and a potent in vivo andin vitro inhibitor of [³H]PTA binding, did not affect the [³H]MAZ binding process. This further supported the suggestion that while [³H]PTA binding sites are almost totally associated with the vesicular transporter for DA, [³H]MAZ does label a site involved in the DA-translocation across the neuronal membrane. The latter process seems to be rather insensitive to thyroid hypofunction, when however the intracellular storage of DA might be consistently impaired. In conclusion, PTA might be well exploited as a marker of the DA vesicular transporter through its molecular characterization, whenever possible.Special issue dedicated to Dr. Paola S. Timiras     

Uptake and metabolism of clomazone in tolerant-soybean and susceptible-cotton photomixotrophic cell suspension cultures

Studies were conducted to determine the uptake and metabolism of the pigment synthesis inhibiting herbicide clomazone in tolerant-soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr. cv Corsoy) and susceptible-cotton (Gossypium hirsutum [L.] cv Stoneville 825) photomixotrophic cell suspensions. Soybean and cotton on a whole plant level are tolerant and susceptible to clomazone, respectively. Preliminary studies indicated that I₅₀ values for growth, chlorophyll (Chl), β-carotene, and lutein were, respectively, >22, 14, 19, and 23 times greater for the soybean cell line (SB-M) 8 days after treatment (DAT) compared to the cotton cell line (COT-M) 16 DAT. Differences in [¹⁴C]clomazone uptake cannot account for selectivity since there were significantly greater levels of clomazone absorbed by the SB-M cells compared to the COT-M cells for each treatment. The percentage of absorbed clomazone converted to more polar metabolite(s) was significantly greater by the SB-M cells relative to COT-M cells at 6 and 24 hours after treatment, however, only small differences existed between the cell lines by 48 hours after treatment. Nearly identical levels of parental clomazone was recovered from both cell lines for all treatments. A pooled metabolite fraction isolated from SB-M cells had no effect on the leaf pigment content of susceptible velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.) or soybean seedlings. Conversely, a pooled metabolite fraction from COT-M cells reduced the leaf Chl content of velvetleaf. Soybean tolerance to clomazone appears to be due to differential metabolism (bioactivation) and/or differences at the site of action.     

Site of clomazone action in tolerant-soybean and susceptible-cotton photomixotrophic cell suspension cultures

Studies were conducted to determine the herbicidal site of clomazone action in tolerant-soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr. cv Corsoy) (SB-M) and susceptible-cotton (Gossypium hirsutum [L.] cv Stoneville 825) (COT-M) photomixotrophic cell suspension cultures. Although a 10 micromolar clomazone treatment did not significantly reduce the terpene or mixed terpenoid content (microgram per gram fresh weight) of the SB-M cell line, there was over a 70% reduction in the chlorophyll (Chl), carotenoid (CAR), and plastoquinone (PQ) content of the COT-M cell line. The tocopherol (TOC) content was reduced only 35.6%. Reductions in the levels of Chl, CAR, TOC, and PQ indicate that the site of clomazone action in COT-M cells is prior to geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP). The clomazone treatment did not significantly reduce the flow of [¹⁴C]mevalonate ([¹⁴C]MEV) (nanocuries per gram fresh weight) into CAR and the three mixed terpenoid compounds of SB-M cells. Conversely, [¹⁴C]MEV incorporation into CAR and the terpene moieties of Chl, PQ, and TOC in COT-M cells was reduced at least 73%, indicating that the site of clomazone action must be after MEV. Sequestration of clomazone away from the chloroplast cannot account for soybean tolerance to clomazone since chloroplasts isolated from both cell lines incubated with [¹⁴C]clomazone contained a similar amount of radioactivity (disintegrations per minute per microgram of Chl). The possible site(s) of clomazone inhibition include mevalonate kinase, phosphomevalonate kinase, pyrophosphomevalonate decarboxylase, isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase, and/or a prenyl transferase.     

Mapping in the mouse of the region homologous to the rat growth and reproduction complex (grc)

Offprint requests: J. Klein.     

Hemolysis of rabbit erythrocytes in the presence of copper ions

The hemolysis of red blood cells (RBC) induced by Cu(II) is modified by ceruloplasmin (Cp) and albumin. The time course of hemolysis for rabbit RBC by Cu(II) consisted of two parts, an induction period followed by a catastrophic lysis period. The induction period decreased and the lysis rate increased with increasing Cu(II) concentration. Cp or albumin, modified Cu(II) induced hemolysis, by increasing the duration of the induction period and decreasing the overall rate of hemolysis of RBC. The catastrophic lysis period coincided with a sharp increase in the formation of metHb within the cell and in a rapid uptake of Cu(II). The presence of Cp led to an increase in the induction period prior to the rapid increase in metHb formation and in Cu(II) uptake. Porcine Cp was prepared with either two or three nonprosthetic copper binding sites (sites where Cu(II) is easily removed by passing over Chelex-100). Cp with three nonprosthetic binding sites gave more protection than Cp with two. Likewise, albumin can be prepared with three and five nonprosthetic copper binding sites. The albumin with five sites gave more protection than the albumin with three sites.