Ribosomal DNA and ITS-2 sequence comparisons as a tool for predicting genetic relatedness

The determination of the secondary structure of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions separating nuclear ribosomal RNA genes of Chlorophytes has improved the fidelity of alignment of nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences from related organisms. Application of this information to sequences from green algae and plants suggested that a subset of the ITS-2 positions is relatively conserved. Organisms that can mate are identical at all of these 116 positions, or differ by at most, one nucleotide change. Here we sequenced and compared the ITS-1 and ITS-2 of 40 green flagellates in search of the nearest relative to Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The analysis clearly revealed one unique candidate, C. incerta. Several ancillary benefits of the analysis included the identification of mislabelled cultures, the resolution of confusion concerning C. smithii, the discovery of misidentified sequences in GenBank derived from a green algal contaminant, and an overview of evolutionary relationships among the Volvocales, which is congruent with that derived from rDNA gene sequence comparisons but improves upon its resolution. The study further delineates the taxonomic level at which ITS sequences, in comparison to ribosomal gene sequences, are most useful in systematic and other studies. Received: 14 February 1997 / Accepted: 28 March 1997     

Synthesis of [17,18-3H] trans-13-azaprostanoic acid. A labeled probe for the PGH2/TXA2 receptor

Because of its highly unstable nature, TXA2, produced by platelet metabolism of arachidonic acid, does not lend itself to use as a receptor probe for its own receptor. As such, the stable TXA2/PGH2 antagonist, trans-13-azaprostanoic acid (trans-13-APA, 12b), was prepared as the [17, 18 3H] derivative [( 3H] trans-13-APA, 12c) to study this receptor and to better evaluate the mechanism of action of these azaprostanoids. Tritiated trans-13-APA, 12c, was prepared in nearly theoretical specific activity (57 Ci/mmole) from (17Z)-trans-13-azaprost-17-enoic acid (11b) by catalytic tritiation. The unsaturated 11b was prepared by condensation of cis-7-amino-3-heptene (8) with 2-(6-carboxyhexyl) cyclopentanone (9), NaBH4 reduction, chromatography, and hydrolysis of the trans isomer so isolated. The olefins 11a and b were also of biochemical interest because of the unsaturation in the lower side chain. The presence of similar unsaturation in PGH3(4) and TXA3 (3) renders these prostaglandins inactive as proaggregatory agents. Evaluation of the antiaggregatory activity of 11a and b indicated it to be about the same potency in inhibiting human platelet aggregation as the parent cis and trans-13-APAs, suggesting that introduction of a double bond at the 17 position in platelet prostaglandin antagonists is unlikely to result in enhanced antiplatelet activity.     

Cell attachment and spreading on extracellular matrix-coated beads

Parietal yolk sac cells M1536-B3 grown on cytodex 2 beads deposited an extracellular matrix on the surface of the beads. Cell-free matrix-coated beads were isolated by treatment of the cell monolayer with cytochalasin B (CB) at a concentration of 10 μg/ml of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The matrix when analysed by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels (PAGE) revealed that the major components were laminin and entactin. The matrix-coated beads were used to study the attachment, spreading, and growth of African Green monkey BSC-40, human mammary MCF-7, mouse fibroblast L929, rat liver clone 9, and rat hepatoma H-4-II-E cells in defined serum-free growth medium. The different cell lines exhibited varying responses to matrix-coated vs uncoated beads with respect to rate of attachment, spreading, and growth. One of the most consistent responses observed was the enhancement of cell spreading on matrix-coated beads. The results suggested that the matrix-coated beads will provide a readily available and valuable tool for studies on cell surface-extracellular matrix interactions and the physiological consequences of those interactions.     

State of water in extremely halophilic bacteria: Heat of dilution ofHalobacterium halobium

Summary Heat of dilution ofHalobacterium halobium was measured when thick pastes of the bacteria, harvested throughout a complete growth cycle, were lysed by mixing with 40 times their volume of water in a microcalorimeter. A series of comparative measurements was made with pastes of bacteria previously disrupted by freezing and thawing but otherwise identical to the pastes of whole bacteria. The frozen-thawed pastes gave endothermic values some 18% greater than those obtained with intact bacteria; the difference was highly significant. Evidence was obtained that the mechanical component of bursting did not contribute to the difference between whole and lysed bacteria. On the other hand, when a correction was applied for heat of mixing of intracellular salts with extracellular NaCl, such as occurs when the bacteria lyse, the difference between whole and disrupted organisms was largely eliminated from exponential phase halobacteria but not from those harvested in stationary phase. It is concluded that there is no evidence, as reflected in heat of dilution, of abnormal solution properties of the cytosol of young halobacteria, which are rich in potassium. On the other hand, and paradoxically, some doubt remains about stationary phase organisms whose cytosol has a much higher Na⁺ content (and Na/K⁺ ratio) than the cytosol of exponential phase bacteria.     

Spin-label studies of membrane-associated denatured hemoglobin in normal and sickle cells

A maleimide spin label (N-(1-oxyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidinyl)-maleimide) was reacted with oxyhemoglobin-free cell stromata of normal and sickle cells. The EPR spectrum of spin-labeled red cell membranes showed that the spin labels are attached to at least two different binding sites. There was a major signal, A, which characterized a strongly immobilized environment and a minor signal, B, which characterized a weakly immobilized environment. Quantitative EPR measurements using equal amounts of Hb AA and Hb SS red blood cells demonstrated that Hb SS red cell membranes had an approximately four times higher EPR signal intensity than Hb AA red cell membranes ((7.98 ± 1.14) · 10⁵ and (2.2 ± 1.2) · 10⁵ spin labels/cell, respectively). Moreover, the ratio of signal intensities A and B are different in these cells. Comparative spectrophotometric studies of membrane-associated denatured hemoglobins of Hb AA and Hb SS red cell membranes suggested that the EPR signal A is derived from spin labels attached to membrane-associated denatured hemoglobin, while signal B is mainly from spin labels attached to membrane-associated denatured hemoglobin, while signal B is mainly from spin labels attached to membranes. The combination of EPR spectrum of Hb AA membranes pretreated with N-ethyl-maleimide and that of spin-labeled precipitated hemoglobin further strengthened this conclusion.     

几种常用杀虫剂对蚜虫天敌——瓢虫的影响

作者等就11种常用杀虫剂对蚜虫的重要天敌——瓢虫进行了毒性测定,观察了它们对瓢虫的各个虫态的影响。 供试药剂 20％乐果乳剂、50％敌敌畏乳剂、50％对硫磷乳剂、50％内吸磷乳剂、25％三硫磷乳剂、50％杀螟硫磷乳剂、50％磷胺液剂、20％酚开普敦乳剂、6％丙体六六六乳剂、6％丙体六六六可湿性粉(W、P)、2.5％鱼籐精乳剂。 供试瓢虫 异色瓢虫Leis axyridis,室内饲养;龟纹瓢虫Propylaea japonica,田间采回。     

Vascularization of plexus myentericus (Auerbach) in the large intestine of the cat

1. Coincidental preparation of the intramuscular vascular bed and the plexus myentericus (Auerbach) of the cat's large intestine by India-ink method and silverimpregnation allowed to demonstrate independent vascularisation of ganglia and nerve-branches of the plexus Auerbach. 2. Each ganglion is surrounded by a capillary network widely independently existing of the intramuscular capillary bed. The preferred innervated terminal arterioles and especially the sphincteric capillaries opening into the periganglionic capillary network and the numerous arterio-venous short-circuits in its marginal area suggest to conclude a differentiated regulation of blood supply.     

1,25-双羟胆钙化醇及其受体含量检测的实验研究

 建立了一种改良的血清1,25-双羟胆钙化醇(1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol,DHCC)超微量放射受体检测(RRA)技术。完成了灵敏度、精密度、准确度、稳定性及特异性等技术指标。报告了我国健康青年血清DHCC正常值;检测了先天性佝偻病、青春期佝偻病病人及患肾性骨病奶牛等血清DHCC水平。 根据配体与受体相互结合的定量关系,建立了DHCCR(DHCC受体)检测技术。在游离与结合配基分离方面,除建立与比较了DCC(葡聚糖包埋的活性炭)及HAP(羟基磷灰石)方法外,还首次将IEF(等电聚焦电泳)应用于DHCCR分离技术。对佝偻病鸡小肠粘膜上皮细胞受体含量进行了检测并比较了鸡小肠、输卵管壳腺及肝组织DHCCR含量。     

Establishment of bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T): An in vitro model for bovine lactation

The hallmark of differentiated mammary epithelial cells is a copious secretion of milk-specific components regulated by lactogenic hormones. We describe an established clonal cell line produced from primary bovine mammary alveolar cells (MAC-T) by stable transfection with SV-40 large T-antigen. MAC-T cells show a population doubling time of approximately 17 h and have been cultured more than 350 passages without showing any sign of senescence. They show the characteristic “cobblestone” morphology of epithelial cells when grown on plastic substratum. Differentiation was induced by augmenting cell-cell interaction on a floating collagen gel in the presence of prolactin. The differentiated phenotype was characterized to include (1) increased abundance in β-casein mRNA, (2) increased number and size of indirect immunofluorescent casein secretory vesicles in each cell and (3) α_s- and β-casein protein secretion. The clonal nature of the cells, their immortality, and their ability to uniformly differentiate and secrete casein proteins make this cell line unique.