Region-Specific Cis- and Trans-Acting Factors Contribute to Genetic Variability in Meiotic Recombination in Maize

Understanding the genetic basis for variability in recombination rates is important for general genetic studies and plant-breeding efforts. Earlier studies had suggested increased recombination frequencies in particular F(2) populations derived from the maize inbred A188. A detailed phenotypic and molecular analysis was undertaken to extend these observations and dissect the responsible factors. A heritable increase in recombination in the sh1-bz1 interval was observed in these populations. A factor causing an approximate twofold increase mapped to the A188 Sh1-Bz1 region, behaved as a dominant, cis-acting factor, affected recombination equally in male and female sporogenesis and did not reduce the wellstudied complete interference in the adjacent bz1-wx interval. This factor also did not increase recombination frequencies in the c1-sh1 and bz1-wx intervals, demonstrating independent control of recombination in adjacent intervals. Additional phenotypic analysis of recombination in the c1-sh1 and bz1-wx intervals and RFLP analysis of recombination along chromosomes 7 and 5 suggested that heritable factors controlling recombination in these intervals act largely independently and in trans. Our results show that recombination in these populations, and possibly maize in general, is controlled by both cis- and transacting factors that affect specific chromosomal regions.     

Open-loop simulations of the primate saccadic system using burst cell discharge from the superior colliculus

 Saccade-related burst neurons (SRBNs) in the monkey superior colliculus (SC) have been hypothesized to provide the brainstem saccadic burst generator with the dynamic error signal and the movement initiating trigger signal. To test this claim, we performed two sets of open-loop simulations on a burst generator model with the local feedback disconnected using experimentally obtained SRBN activity as both the driving and trigger signal inputs to the model. First, using neural data obtained from cells located near the middle of the rostral to caudal extent of the SC, the internal parameters of the model were optimized by means of a stochastic hill-climbing algorithm to produce an intermediate-sized saccade. The parameter values obtained from the optimization were then fixed and additional simulations were done using the experimental data from rostral collicular neurons (small saccades) and from more caudal neurons (large saccades); the model generated realistic saccades, matching both position and velocity profiles of real saccades to the centers of the movement fields of all these cells. Second, the model was driven by SRBN activity affiliated with interrupted saccades, the resumed eye movements observed following electrical stimulation of the omnipause region. Once again, the model produced eye movements that closely resembled the interrupted saccades produced by such simulations, but minor readjustment of parameters reflecting the weight of the projection of the trigger signal was required. Our study demonstrates that a model of the burst generator produces reasonably realistic saccades when driven with actual samples of SRBN discharges. Received: 25 October 1994/Accepted in revised form: 20 June 1995     

Abdominal pigmentation in Drosophila melanogaster females from natural Indian populations

Females of Drosophila melanogaster collected from five geographically distant populations in India were analysed for the intensity of pigmentation in the 5th, 6th and 7th segments of the abdomen. In all three segments, this intensity was found to vary among individuals of any given population, and, furthermore, different populations differ with respect to this phenotypic trait. Statistical analysis revealed significant intra- and interpopulational variation. A clinical pattern was detected: females from populations closer to the equator tended to have lighter cuticle, in which case differences between the three segments could not be detected and all three segments responded both independently and jointly to latitudinal variation, as indicated by a statistically significant positive correlation between latitude and pigmentation score. This is the first report on abdominal pigmentation analysis in natural populations of D. melanogaster that provides evidence that phenotypic flexibility reflects temperature differences, as a result of which abdominal pigmentation shows geographic differentiation.     

Isozyme Profile During Somatic Embryogenesis and In Vitro Flowering of Bambusa vulgaris

Peroxidase and esterase isozymes were investigated during plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis in Bambusa vulgaris, The transition of non-embryogenic calli to embryogenic calli, somatic embryo development, germination and subsequent flowering of somatic embryo derived shoots were associated with selective expression or repression of isoforms of peroxidase and esterase. Non-embryogenic callus showed six peroxidase and four esterase bands. During somatic embryogenesis and germination of somatic embryos, some bands were suppressed and new isoforms of peroxidase and esterase appeared. During flowering, in addition to four peroxidase bands, a new unique esterase band ‘a’ appeared. Each developmental stage was thus associated with a definite isozyme profile.     

Evidence that neutral spingomyelinase of cultured murine neuroblastoma cells is oriented externally on the plasma membrane

The activity of the neutral, Mg²⁺-stimulated sphingomyelinase of cultured neuroblastoma cells (N1E-115) is enriched in the plasma membrane fraction and is reduced following treatment of intact or broken cells with trypsin, α-chymotrypsin, papain, and protease. Two protease-sensitive enzymes of the cell interior (lactate dehydrogenase and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase) are not affected by protease treatment of intact cells. These results indicate that the neutral, Mg²⁺-stimulated sphingomyelinase is oriented externally on the plasma membrane of the cultured neuroblastoma cell.     

Effects of a placental hormone, human chorionic somatomammotropin on normal and malignant cells

Studies were made on the effects of human chorionic somatomammotropin (HCS) on normal and malignant cells and tissues in Swiss mice. HCS was found to produce a significant increase in the fresh weight of normal liver, kidney, spleen, testis, ovary and uterus. Total cell counts of leukocytes and erythrocytes were elevated. The percentage of granulocytes in blood was found to be increased and the percentage of lymphocytes was decreased following HCS treatment. HCS stimulated the growth of ascitic Ehrlich's carcinoma and Sarcoma 180, and nucleic acid synthesis by these tumor cells. A depression in the mitogen induced blastogenesis of lymphocytes was also noted following HCS treatment.     

Aerotolerant growth inAzospirillum brasilense induced by dihydroxyphenyl iron-binding compound

High concentrations of phosphate drastically inhibited the aerobic growth ofAzospirillum brasilense in liquid medium having a limiting concentration of combined nitrogen. No growth inhibition occurred if a high concentration of combined nitrogen was present. Aerobic growth occurred only in the presence of a very low amount of phosphate and this could be enhanced by adding norepinephrine. Addition of norepinephrine enhanced the O₂ uptake by cell suspensions by almost a factor of 3. All of the intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid metabolic cycle were actively oxidized in cell-free extracts and their rate of oxidation increased in the presence of norepinephrine.     

Erythrocyte choline concentrations and cluster headache.

Erythrocyte choline concentrations were measured in patients with cluster headache and age related control subjects. Concentrations were significantly reduced in the patients with headache both during a cluster period and between clusters, being 58% and 55% of the control value, respectively. After two weeks'' treatment with lithium, choline concentrations in the patients with cluster headache increased to 78 times the control value (mean 369.2 mumol/l (3840 micrograms/100 ml) compared with 4.7 mumol/l (49 micrograms/100 ml]. The presence of depressed erythrocyte choline concentrations during and between cluster attacks indicates that this may be a predisposing condition which results in a cluster attack only when associated with a trigger factor.     

Further studies on the structural requirements of agents for immunotherapy of the guinea pig line-10 tumor

Summary We made a comparative study of the in vivo binding of immunoglobulins (Ig) to a polyoma virus-induced ascitic tumor propagated in syngeneic or allogeneic mice. The Ig coat was found to appear more rapidly and to be denser in H 2-incompatible than in H 2-compatible mice. This suggests that antibodies were fixed specifically on strong normal transplantation antigens (H-2) recognized as non-self by allogeneic mice. Experiments with mice in which immunosuppression had been achieved by means of X-irradiation confirmed that the Ig fixed on SEWA cells are actively bound antibodies. The only mice that could fix Ig on tumor cells were those that had been specifically immunized against cell surface antigens shared by SEWA cells before irradiation, while mice hyperimmunized against nonrelated antigens could not.In partial fulfilment of doctorate thesis requirements