The sequence of the gene for cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, a frameshift containing gene for cytochrome c oxidase subunit II and seven unassigned reading frames in Trypanosoma brucei mitochrondrial maxi-circle DNA.

A 9.2 kb segment of the maxi-circle of Trypanosoma brucei mitochondrial DNA contains the genes for cytochrome c oxidase subunits I and II (coxI and coxII) and seven Unassigned Reading Frames ("URFs"). The genes for coxI and coxII display considerable homology at the aminoacid level (38 and 25%, respectively) to the corresponding genes in fungal and mammalian mtDNA, the only striking point of divergence being an unusually high cysteine content (about 4.5%). The reading frame coding for cytochrome c oxidase subunit II is discontinuous: the C-terminal portion of about 40 aminoacids, is present in the DNA-sequence in a -1 reading frame with respect to the N-terminal moiety. URF5, 8 and 10, show a low but distinct homology (about 20%) to mammalian mitochondrial URF-1, 4 and 5, respectively. In URF5, the first AUG is found at codon 145, whereas extensive homology to mammalian URF-1 sequences occurs upstream of this position. The possibility exists that UUG can serve as an initiator codon. URF7 and URF9 have a highly unusual aminoacid composition and do not possess AUG or UUG initiator codons. These URFs probably do not have a protein-coding function. The segment does not contain conventional tRNA genes.     

Ultrastructure of dynamic and static skeletofusimotor endings in a cat muscle spindle

Summary Endings of four skeletofusimotor axons in a spindle of the cat tenuissimus muscle were examined in semithin (1-m thick) and ultrathin transverse serial sections. Two (dynamic) axons terminated on the nuclear bag₁ intrafusal muscle fiber and on extrafusal fibers of the dark type. Two (static) axons terminated on the nuclear chain intrafusal fibers and extrafusal fibers of the intermediate type. The degree of indentation of axon terminals into the muscle surface, thickness of the sole plate and extent of folding of subjunctional membranes differed among intrafusal and extrafusal terminations of the same axon. Endings of axons on the bag₁ and chain fibers were also morphologically dissimilar. Motor axons may not determine ending morphology. Rather the form and structure of a bag₁ or chain ending may be determined by the type of intrafusal fiber on which the ending lies and the ending's distance from the primary sensory axon.     

The nucleotide sequences of the 5 S rRNAs of seven molds and a yeast and their use in studying ascomycete phylogeny.

The sequences of the 5 S rRNAs isolated from 8 ascomycete species belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Acremonium and Candida are reported. Two of the examined strains each yielded a mixture of 3 slightly different 5 S RNAs, which were individually sequenced after fractionation. A previously published sequence for Aspergillus nidulans 5 S RNA was found to contain errors. Reconstruction of an evolutionary tree based on 5 S RNA sequences showed that the 16 presently examined ascomycetes form three clusters. The same threefold partition can be observed in the secondary structure pattern, each cluster showing a slightly different variant of the general 5-helix model for 5 S rRNA (De Wachter, Chen and Vandenberghe (1982) Biochimie 64, 311-329), and different sets of secondary structure equilibrium forms in helices C and E of the aforementioned model.     

An aetiological study of 290 XXY males,with special reference to the role of paternal age

Summary Data on 290 non-mosaic 47,XXY males have been analysed for possible associations with parental ages at birth, season of birth, sex ratio among sibs, and twinning. Comparison with matched population controls revealed a highly significant association with parental age, which was fully explained by dependence on maternal age and maternal age alone. The maternal age effect was determined with greater precision than in an earlier study of the same material, in which siblings were used as controls, and was estimated to result in an increased risk of between 5% and 10% per annum (p.a.). The estimated independent effect of paternal age, after fitting maternal age, was marginally (but not significantly) negative, and excluded an increased risk in excess of 3% p.a. Paternal age therefore appears to have little if any independent significance in the aetiology of 47,XXY. After correcting for seasonal variations in the population birth rate and smoothing, there was a peak of XXY births in March and a trough in November. Though not statistically significant, the pattern resembled that reported in previous studies, and was similar for both younger and older mothers. The twinning rate for both the XXYs and their sibs, and the sex ratio among the latter, were close to the corresponding population values.     

G6PD Cagliari: A new low activity glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase variant characterized by enhanced intracellular lability

Summary A new variant of human erythrocyte glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), designated G6PD Cagliari, has been characterized. It is associated with severe enzyme deficiency and can be placed in Class 2 of the usual tabulation of G6PD variants. The specific activity of this variant is near normal, while its decay within the circulating erythrocytes is very rapid compared with normals. Genetic analysis of the family of the propositus indicated that the two available females are heterozygotes characterized by extremely unbalanced mosaic phenotypes.     

Human C4 polymorphism: Pedigree analysis of qualitative,quantiative, and functional parameters as a basis for phenotype interpretations

Summary Ten families with 82 members were investigated for C4A- and B polymorphism in a blind trial. Phenotyping was done on neuraminidase treated sera by immunofixation and simulataneously by hemolytic overlay electrophoresis. In addition Rg, Ch, BF, C2, HLA-A, B, C, DR, and GLO were determined. After decoding the samples the reliability of blind typing was found to be 84.4% according to segregation patters. Inconsistencies occurred mostly when A 4, A 2, or A 92 were present. The detection of silent A*Q0 and B*Q0 alleles was more critical than that of difficult allotypes. The quantitation of the C4A/B ratio by densitometry of stained gels or by conventional immunochemical measurements of serum C4 level could not substantially improve the identification of A*Q0 or B*Q0. C4 dependent activity in radial diffusion hemolysis showed satisfactory correspondence with the number of expressed C4B alleles. At least three haplotypes with two C4A genes (duplicated A genes) were observed as ascertained from offspring analysis in accordance with the MHC segregation pattern. Individuals with the duplicated C4A gene (C4A*3. A*2. in the absence of any other expressed A allele or together with C4A*92) showed only partial inhibition of Rodgers antisera. Partial inhibition of Chido antisera was seen in individuals with C4B 2 (in the absence of other B allotypes). The findings support the hypothesis of at least two structural C4 loci. The also demonstrate the inconsistency of quantitative data in the recognition of silent alleles.     

Aspects of the biology of the euryhaline Asian cichlid,Etroplus suratensis

Synopsis Aspects of the biology of the euryhaline Asian cichlid Etroplus suratensis in a coastal lagoon of Sri Lanka were studied for a period of 15 months. Comparisons are made from the catches from the fishery of manmade, inland freshwater reservoirs. Changes in the stock structure in the sublittoral region of the lagoon indicate that recruitment takes place twice a year, during the high rainfall/low salinity periods. The feeding habits of E. suratensis were different in the two habitats. In the lagoon it fed mainly on molluscs and in the freshwater reservoirs on macrophytes. Feeding chronology based on diurnal surveys indicate that it feeds mainly during the daylight hours. The dentition of E. suratensis is adapted for both tearing and crushing (pharyngeal teeth). Distinct differences in the mean relative intestinal length between populations from the coastal lagoon and inland reservoirs were evident and these differences are correlated to their respective feeding habits. Diurnal changes in feeding activity are associated with changes in the stomach pH. The egg-diameter distribution of mature fish indicate that E. suratensis is a single spawner, that it sheds its mature eggs all at once. It is inferred that E. suratensis breeds twice a year but that an individual female is capable of spawning only once a year.     

Anatomical and physiological effects of silver thiosulfate on ethylene-induced abscission inColeus

Petioles of expiants ofColeus blumei Benth. exposed to 20 l/l ethylene abscised within 36 h. Pretreatment of expiants with 4 mM silver thiosulfate (STS) inhibited ethylene-induced abscission. Delaying treatment with STS reduced its effectiveness in retarding ethylene-promoted abscission, suggesting that some events leading to abscission are initiated during the first hours of ethylene treatment. Microscopic study of abscission zones of ethylene-treated expiants showed greatly increased amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum, disruptions of the plasma membrane, and some cell separation in the region of the middle lamella. Pretreatment with STS prevented ethylene-induced reorganization of the endomembrane system and the subsequent middle lamellar dissolution.     

The fine structure of HNK-1 (Leu7) positive cells

Summary The ultrastructural characteristics of HNK-1 (Leu7) positive cells, visualized with a peroxidase labelled anti-mouse IgM serum, were analysed. Our investigation demonstrates: 1) the majority of Leu7 positive cells has a low nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio (N/C), an irregular outline, a well developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum, parallel tubular arrays (PTA) and electron dense granules; 2) the minority of Leu7 positive cells has a high N/C, regular profiles and lacks electron dense granules. The presence of two distinct ultrastructural patterns within Leu7 positive cells may represent: 1) the expression of subsequent stages of cell differentiation; 2) two distinct Leu7 positive cell subpopulations.     

β-Glucuronidase activity in human T and B lymphocytes and the Tμ and Tγ subpopulations

Summary The -glucuronidase staining characteristics of isolated T cell populations and the T and T enriched fractions derived of them were studied. T lymphocytes were obtained from purified T lymphocytes by ox-IgG rosette sedimentation. The rosette-forming cells in the pellet were referred to as T lymphocytes, whereas the lymphocytes in the interface were referred to as T depleted or T lymphocytes. B cells were studied on rosetted mononuclear cells with either mouse erythrocytes or with Staphylococcus Aureus (Cowan I) bacteria, after a preceeding polyvalent anti-human Ig treatment of the cells. While B cells showed mostly no reactivity, T and T cells were respectively characterised by a dot-like and granular pattern of reactivity. These findings are in agreement with those observed by others after -naphthyl-acetate esterase or acid phosphatase staining. Within the T lymphocyte fraction, the T non-, non lymphocytes seemed to have a granular pattern of reactivity. The same staining pattern was found in non-B, non-T lymphocytes.