Influence of very low doses of ionizing radiation on Synechococcus lividus metabolism during the initial growth phase

Previous results from this laboratory have shown that very low chronic doses of gamma radiation can stimulate proliferation of the Cyanobacterium Synechococcus lividus. This modification of cell proliferation occurred during the first doubling. In this paper, we have compared the metabolism of cells cultivated in a normal environment or under chronic irradiation. Incubation of the cells in a new medium induced a high superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1, SOD) activity at the 18th hour and a degradation of phycocyanin, thus demonstrating that cells were submitted to a photooxidative stress. This increase in superoxide dismutase activity was followed by concomittant peaks of glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2, GR) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49, G6P-DH) at the 24th hour. Irradiated cultures at a dose of 53.5 mGray/year show an earlier and higher peak of SOD, GR, and G6P-DH. In a second stage, cultures showed an earlier onset of photosynthesis under irradiation, as evidenced by an increase in pigment content and an enhancement of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.13, GAP-DH). These results show that the radiostimulation is related to the activation of enzymes protecting against peroxides that were induced under oxidative circumstances and to the activation of a glucose catabolism via the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway.Abbreviations mGy milli-Gray - SOD superoxide dismutase - G6P-DH glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase - GAP-DH glycer-aldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase - GSSG oxidized glutathione     

Larvae of Euphausia superba in the Scotia Sea and Bransfield Strait in March 1984 — Development and abundance compared with 1981 larvae

Summary Larvae of Euphausia superba in the Atlantic sector of the Antarctic in March 1984 averaged 580 per 1000 m³ of water. This is 100 times less than we observed in March 1981, but more than the average of 250 larvae per 1000 m³ found in January–February 1981. There was one 1984 high-abundance sample, accounting for 85% of all larvae caught, from the eastern area of confluence of Drake Passage and Weddell Sea waters. Abundances in 1984 near the South Shetland Islands were commonly 5 to 10 larvae per 1000 m³, and younger by 2 to 4 developmental stages than in March 1981. Body lengths of given stages were generally less in 1984 than in 1981. Advanced furcilia stages, particularly, in the 1984 samples tended to be smaller than the same stages in March 1981, indicating relatively poor growth during February 1984. However, the 1984 younger larvae (calyptopes and the developmental forms of furcilia stages 1 and 2) indicated that, in 1984, recent (March) growth had been good — probably better than in February. Dierct observation of the development of calyptopis stage 3 to furcilia stage yielded a development time of 7.7 days, which compares favorably to the 8-day period estimated from field samples. Reduced food availability did not affect the development rate nor give rise to a clearly higher incidence of indirect pathways of development. It is postulated that recruitment was about of month later in 1984 than in 1981 in most of the area studied and was probably going to be less successful.     

Effect of thyrotropin on glycosaminoglycans synthesized by primocultured thyroid cells

The synthesis of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) was investigated in porcine thyroid cells under the influence or not of thyrotropin. After labelling with [³H] glucosamine and [³⁵S] $\text{SO}{}_4{}^{\mathrm{2?}}$, enriched GAG-fractions prepared from culture media, cells, and eventually substrate adhering materials, were analyzed by cellulose acetate electrophoresis combined with specific degradations. They comprised heparan sulfate and hyaluronic acid together with an unknown sulfated component labile to endo-β-galactosidase. Whereas global labellings of newly made GAGs were not significantly modified by thyrotropin, we reproducibly observed with the hormone a substantial increase in the proportion of hyaluronic acid [³H] label and, when cells organized into follicles, of the proportion of cell-associated [³H] GAGs. This system thus offers an interesting model to study how the responsiveness to an hormone and the reorganization that follows might implicate specific glycoconjugates.     

Isolation,purification and chemical composition of maize root cap slime

Summary The total root exudate isolated axenically from roots is shown to constitute an extremely heterogenous population of particulate and soluble material. Differences in protein and total sugars contents, and neutral sugar composition throughout stages of total root exudate purification are reported. The importance of controlled collection and purification conditions to ensure valid analysis and composition of purified maize root cap slime are discussed.     

Une triple translocation chez le Triton Pleurodeles waltlii

A cytogenetic study has lead us to a stock of fertile heterozygotes for a triple translocation. The chromosomal rearrangement has first been detected in a female resulting from a cross between a normal female and a male submitted to X ray-irradiation. The aberration consists of rearrangements between a chromosome 3, a chromosome 6 and a chromosome 7. Abnormal chromosomes have the following constitution: 7q?: the terminal portion of the long arm is lost and replaced by the end of the short arm of the chromosome 3. 6 q+: the terminal portion of the long arm is lost and replaced by the end of the long arm of the chromosome 7. 3p+: the terminal portion of the short arm is lost and replaced by the end of the long arm of the chromosome 6. On the analogy of the human chromosome standardization, the formula of heterozygotes is 24, t (3p+, 6q+, 7q?). The first meiotic division shows both in the female and in the male 9 bivalents and one hexavalent. The formulae of the gametes are the same in both sexes. When a heterozygote is bred with a normal individual the offspring is composed of phenotypically normal or abnormal animals, depending on their karyotypes. The unbalanced karyotypes are lethal or semilethal. The importance of the malformations depends on the temperature of the water where the animals grow. The study of the meiotic slides brings a cytological confirmation of the results obtained from the study of the phenotypes and karyotypes which appear in the offspring.     

在被小泡参与突触前后膜特化增厚的形态学研究

Our object was to characterize the morphological changes of coated vesicles and synaptic membranes during synaptogenesis. Neurons from spinal cords of fetal mice were established as isolated cells in primary culture. After a few days in vitro, the neurons extended their neurites and started their interaction. At timed intervals thereafter, cultures were fixed for electron microscopic observation. Coated vesicles were prominent in the neuronal cytoplasm at the time of synaptogenesis (about 7-10 days in vitro). Similar vesicles were seen in continuity with some cisternae in the Golgi regions and there was an increase in number during the synaptogenic period. Indeed it is not established whether the coated vesicles were exocytotic or pinocytotic in nature, but the cisternae which were in continuity with coated vesicles could be labelled by glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) but not by thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPPase). Such vesicles were also seen in continuity with the neuronal plasmalemma near the closest contact site and contributed their undercoating to pre- and postsynaptic densities. The formation of bilateral membrane specialization was described as being structurally similar to synaptic active zones and appeared to be the first definitive sign of synapseformation. It has been suggested that the synaptic dense material may derive wholly or in part from the exocytic coated vesicles which apparently budding off from endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. This incorporation could provide the mechanism for confining specific characteristics of neuronal membrane to the synaptic region.     

Detection of a protein encoded by a class II mitochondrial intron of Podospora anserina

Summary In the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina, the amplification as circular DNA molecules of the first intron (intron ) of the CO1 mitochondrial gene, encoding the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1, is known to be strongly associated with aging of strains. In this study we have attempted to detect the protein potentially encoded by the open reading frame (ORF) contained in this intron. This was done by the Western blot technique using specific antisera raised against three polypeptides encoded by three non-overlapping fragments of this ORF adapted to the universal code and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. We examined about thirty independent subclones of Podospora derived from two different geographic races (A, s), using wild-type and mutant strains, young and senescent cultures. A 100 kDa polypeptide, encoded by the class II intron , was detected in five senescent subclones which all showed strong amplification of the intronic sequence (Sen DNA ).     

Deposition of type and voucher material from the helminthological collection of Elon E. Byrd

Elon E. Byrd was a prominent helminth taxonomist who published between 1930–1965. After his death in 1974, his collection was put in storage at the University of Georgia School of Veterinary Medicine. A recent examination of his collection yielded a number of taxonomically valuable specimens that should be available to research workers worldwide. This paper enumerates the specimens recovered and their deposition. Digenean families and genera represented are: Brachycoeliidae (Brachycoelium), Dicrocoeliidae (Paradistomum), Lecithodendriidae (Prosthodendrium, Pseudosonsinotrema), Microphallidae (Levinseniella), Ochetosomatidae (Dasymetra, Pneumatophilus, Renifer, Neorenifer), Plagiorchiidae (Leptophyllum, Paurophyllum, Stomatrema, Styphlodora), Proterodiplostomidae (Pseudoneodiplostomum, Pseudocrocodilicola), Spirorchiidae (Spirorchis, Henotosoma, Vasotrema, Unicaecum, Hapalorhynchus), Telorchiidae (Cercorchis); the Nematoda are represented by the Diaphanocephalidae (Kalicephalus). No attempt was made to determine current generic status or synonymies.     

Production of a membrane-bound proteins,the human gamma-glutamyl transferase,by CHO cells cultivated on microcarriers,in aggregates and in suspension

Recombinant Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, engineered for the production of human gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), have been grown on Cytodex 1 microcarriers, as aggregates, or as single cells in suspension after adaptation. GGT is a membrane bound enzyme which was not secreted during the culture period. The maximal enzyme activity was found to be directly related to the achieved maximal cell density. Culture of CHO on microcarriers yielded the fastest growth, with a specific growth rate of 0.04 h^–1, the highest cell density (near 1.3×10⁶ cells ml^–1), and the highest enzyme activity around 300 mU ml^–1, which corresponded to a specific cellular level of 20 mU 10^–5 cells. GGT could also be produced by growing CHO cells in suspension as single cells or as aggregates. Under these conditions, however, the specific CHO growth rate was significantly slower and the GGT level per cell was divided by a factor 6. Growing CHO cells without microcarriers also resulted in differences in cell metabolism, with a higher conversion yield of glutamine into ammonia, and a higher cell lysis. The catalytic kinetic constants of the enzyme were found identical for the three culture systems.