Evaluation of the binding constants,bound chemical shifts,and equilibrium stoichiometry for the association of lanthanide shift reagents with carbohydrate derivatives

The molecular associations of tris(dipivalomethanato)europium(III) (1) and of tris(2,2-dimethyl-6,6,7,7,8,8,8,-heptafluoro-3,5-octanedionato)europium(III) (2) with six carbohydrate derivatives have been studied. The interactions of 2 in deuterochloroform solution appear to be “normal”, i.e., the plot of [sugar concentration] versus [induced chemical-shift change]^?1 is linear and can be interpreted in terms of the equilibrium binding constant (K_B) and the bound chemical shifts (°_B). Similar results are found for 1 in carbon tetrachloride solutions. However, in chloroform solutions, non-linear plots are obtained that cannot be simply interpreted. Possible reasons for this behaviour are given.     

Gonosomale Mosaike

With an incidence of approximately 0.2?% in newborns gonosomal chromosome aberrations are of major relevance for clinical genetics. They frequently occur as numerical and/or structural gonosomal mosaicism. The correlation between genotype and phenotype is poor most probably due to different levels of mosaicism in different tissues and they represent a great challenge especially in prenatal diagnostics, requiring genetic counseling by an experienced clinical geneticist. Postnatally, gonosomal mosaicism in females often leads to the clinical symptoms of Turner’s syndrome (especially short stature and infertility) with an potentially increased risk for gonadoblastoma if an XY cell line is present. In males with Klinefelter’s syndrome mosaicism is also frequent (up to 20?%). Mosaicism in 47,XYY and 47,XXX karyotypes is rarely reported perhaps due to the innocuous phenotype seldom being an indication for chromosome analysis.     

Chemotactic signalling in Rhodobacter sphaeroides requires metabolism of attractants.

Rhodobacter sphaeroides showed chemotaxis towards L-alanine but not towards the analog 2-aminoisobutyrate. 2-Aminoisobutyrate and alanine were shown to share a common transport system, but 2-aminoisobutyrate was not metabolized. Chemotaxis towards alanine was inhibited by structurally unrelated metabolites, suggesting cross-inhibition by common metabolic intermediates.     

Hematological values for free-ranging yellow-bellied marmots

1. Hemoglobin, packed cell volume, erythrocytes, leucocytes, MCV, MCH and MCHC were determined for a population of Marmota flaviventris over a period of seven years. 2. There was no significant difference in hematology among years, between sexes, or between seasons for adults and yearlings. 3. Early season juveniles had significantly lower PCV, Hb and erythrocyte counts than did late season juveniles. There were no significant differences in hematological values among adults, yearlings and late season juveniles. 4. Juveniles had significantly lower leucocycte counts than adults and yearlings. 5. PCV of marmots responds to acclimatization. 6. Hematological values of scuirids are adaptive to environmental factors such as hypoxia of burrows and high altitude, temperature and metabolic rate. 7. PCV of yellow-bellied marmots evidences an adaptive response to high altitude when compared to the closely-related woodchuck, M. monax.     

Heredit?re Fiebersyndrome

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD), and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-1-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) are monogenic disorders included under the term??hereditary fever syndromes??. These diseases are characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and inflammation and arise from mutations of genes regulating the innate immune system. The present review describes the clinical and genetic spectrum of hereditary fever syndromes, which are of importance for genetic counseling.