Gametogenesis in the Monothalamous Agglutinated Foraminifer Cribrothalammina alba

Gametogenesis in the foraminifer Cribrothalammina alba involves changes in both the gamontic test and cytoplasm. As gametes begin to differentiate and gametic flagella emerge, pores form in a regular array over the gamontic test, constituting the only avenue for gamete release. The spherical, biflagellated gametes average 1.5μ in diameter and are released in rapidly moving swarms along with flagellated “spherical masses” that probably result from incomplete gametic differentiation. Gametogenesis occurs entirely within the test and utilizes the entire cytoplast. After gamete release is complete, the agglutinated test collapses and disaggregates within a fairly short time. Similar modifications of the gamontic test occur during gametogenesis in Ovammina opaca Dahlgren, but are otherwise unknown among monothalamous agglutinated foraminifera at present.     

Properties and relationships of broad bean stain virus and Echtes Ackerbohnenmosaik-Virus

The sedimentation coefficients (^s0₂₀, w) of the two sedimenting nucleoprotein components of broad bean stain virus (BBSV) were 92 S and 113 S, and of Echtes Ackerbohnenmosaik-Virus (EAMV) were 93 S and 114 S. Particles from each of these sedimenting components contained a single RNA species and two polypeptides. Estimates of the molecular weights of these constituents obtained by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels were: 42000 and 22200 (BBSV) and 41400 and 21800 (EAMV) for the polypeptides; and 2–64 and 1·62 × 10⁶ (BBSV) and 271 and 175 × 10⁶ (EAMV) for the RNAs. In mixtures, the protein and RNA components of BBSV and EAMV were indistinguishable from those obtained from particles of the yellow strain of cowpea mosaic virus. In freshly made virus preparations each of the sedimenting components of BBSV contained two, and those of EAMV contained three electrophoretic components. After storage for 7–10 days, BBSV preparations contained only the component migrating fastest towards the anode. Both BBSV and EAMV are distantly related serologically to cowpea mosaic but, whereas BBSV reacted only with antiserum to the severe strain, EAMV reacted only with antiserum to the yellow strain.     

RNA and protein components of maize streak and cassava latent viruses

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that maize streak (MSV) and cassava latent (CLV) viruses each contain one species of protein and two of RNA. The estimated protein mol. wt is 28000 for MSV and 34000 for CLV. The mol. wts obtained for the two RNA species using formamide-containing gels were the same for the two viruses: 17×10⁸ and 1–3 × 10⁶. It is suggested that the viruses have a two-part genome and that the tendency of their nucleoprotein particles to form pairs favours the delivery of complete genomes to sites of infection.