Seasonally of adult male japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata): Androgens and behavior in a confined troop

Seasonal variations in levels of serum testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), reproductive behavior, and social behavior were investigated in 12 adult males (5 to 20 + years of age) of the Oregon troop of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Blood samples were collected at 2- to 4-month intervals, and behaviors were monitored twice weekly over a 15-month period. Significant seasonal variations in levels of testosterone and DHT, and in frequencies of mount series, ejaculations, number of female partners, displays, courtship, and aggression were observed. Seasonal variations in reproductive and social behaviors did not correlate with seasonal variations in androgen levels because seasonal increases in these behaviors followed seasonal increases in the androgens with a 1- to 2-month delay. However, significant correlations between increased androgen levels and the onset of mating activity occur when mean monthly frequencies of mount series are shifted 1 to 2 months earlier to coincide with the rise in serum androgen levels. The frequency of adult male play and male-male mounting increased significantly when androgen levels were low. We suggest that photoperiod changes may function as a proximate cue in male Japanese macaques which induces a state of biological readiness for mating, and the behavioral consequences (i.e., mating) are then dependent upon the presence of receptive females.     

Binding of Germanium to Pseudomonas putida Cells

The binding of germanium to Pseudomonas putida ATCC 33015 was investigated by using whole intact cells grown in a medium supplemented with GeO₂ and catechol or acetate. Electron-microscopic examination of the control and metal-loaded samples revealed that germanium was bound within the cell envelope. A certain number of small electron-dense deposits of the bound element were found in the cytoplasm when the cells were grown in the presence of GeO₂ and catechol. The study of germanium distribution in cellular fractions revealed that catechol facilitated the intracellular accumulation of this element.     

DNA sequence evidence for polymorphic forms of human serum amyloid A (SAA)

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is an acute-phase reactant and precursor to amyloid A protein, the major constituent of the fibril deposits of reactive amyloidosis. The factors determining whether the 104-amino acid SAA molecule is converted into the 76-amino acid amyloid A protein and deposited as fibrils are not known. As an initial step toward investigating the possibility that a particular primary structure of SAA is involved in amyloid formation, we have cloned and determined the nucleotide sequence of human SAA-specific cDNAs. The first clone, selected using an oligonucleotide probe, was shown to encode the signal peptide and amino-terminal region of SAA. The cDNA of this clone served as probe in the selection of two distinct, full-length SAA cDNAs, initially differentiated by the presence (pSAA21) or absence (pSAA82) of a PstI site in the coding sequence. The complete nucleotide sequence of pSAA82 cDNA was determined. Since there appear to be multiple human SAA alleles, it is conceivable that their differential expression is important to amyloid formation.     

Complementation analysis of the inorganic carbon concentrating mechanism of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Summary Six independently isolated mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii that require elevated CO₂ for photoautotrophic growth were tested by complementation analysis. These mutants are likely to be defective in some aspect of the algal concentrating mechanism for inorganic carbon as they exhibit CO₂ fixation and inorganic carbon accumulation properties different from the wild-type. Four of the six mutants defined a single complementation group and appear to be defective in an intracellular carbonic anhydrase. The other two mutations represent two additional complementation groups.Abbreviations HS high salt medium which has 13 mM phosphate at pH 6.8 - HSA high salt plus 36 mM acetate medium - YA high salt medium with 4 g yeast extract per L and 36mM acetate - Arg arginine - cia^- CO₂ accumulation mutants that cannot grow on low CO₂ - C_i inorganic carbon (CO₂+HCO _- ³ ) - CA carbonic anhydrase - mt mating type Supported in part by the McKnight Foundation and by NSF grant PCM 8005917 and published as journal article 11924 from the Michigan State Agriculatural Experiment Station     

Enhancement of Oxygen-Evolution in Photosystem II-Phycobilisome Particles from Porphyridium cruentum

Oxygen-evolving photosystem II-phycobilisome particles froma red alga were inhibited 50–80% by aging, dilution, lowpH and salt-washing. Bovine serum albumin, and dithiothreitolwere found to stimulate activity in all but salt-washed particles.CaCl₂ and MnCl₂ partially restored activity lost after agingor dilution. ¹Current address: Waksman Institute of Microbiology, RutgersUniversity, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854-0759, U.S.A. (Received October 5, 1985; Accepted March 31, 1986)     

Three related centromere proteins are absent from the inactive centromere of a stable isodicentric chromosome

We developed an aqueous spreading procedure that permits simultaneous analysis of human chromosomes by Q-banding and indirect immunofluorescence. Using this methodology and anticentromere antibodies from an autoimmune patient we compared the active and inactive centromeres of an isodicentric X chromosome. We show that a family of structurally related human centromere proteins (CENP-A, CENP-B, and CENP-C) is detectable only at the active centromere. These antigens therefore may be regarded both as morphological and functional markers for active centromeres.     

Coassimilation of dietary fat and benzo(a)pyrene in the small intestine: an absorption model using the killifish

Benzo(a)pyrene (BP) was dissolved in dietary fat and fed in a single dose to killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus). Fluorescence microscopic examinations of small intestinal content and frozen sections of whole small intestine revealed that during fat digestion BP was codispersed in liquid crystalline product phases produced during lipolysis (1979. Patton, J. S., and M. C. Carey, Science. 204: 145-148) and then coabsorbed with dietary lipid followed by its reappearance in intracellular fat droplets. During the time that the absorbed fat remained in the enterocytes, BP fluorescence was initially concentrated in the intracellular fat droplets and then spread throughout the cytosol of the enterocytes. Tissue analyses showed that BP was rapidly metabolized in the intestine and transported to the gallbladder. These studies show that separation of a dissolved hydrophobic carcinogen from dietary fat occurs primarily after the fat has been digested, dispersed, absorbed, and reassembled in the enterocyte. The inability of the enterocyte to discriminate between dietary fat and dissolved carcinogenic compounds may be a partial explanation of the observed link between high fat diets and the incidence of some cancers. In vertebrates, the intestine and not the liver, appears to be the major site of metabolism of dietary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).     

Green-backed herons (Butorides striatus) possibly using a lure and using apparent bait

Zusammenfassung In Burkina Faso ließ ein Mangrovereiher offensichtlich gezielt eine Asclepiadaceen-Blüte aus 20 cm Höhe auf die Wasseroberfläche fallen und verharrte danach einige Sekunden mit halb-gestrecktem Hals. Bei einer weiteren Beobachtung in Niger plazierte ein Mangrovereiher einen kleinen Gegenstand auf der Wasseroberfläche. Bevor der Gegenstand mit dem Wind außer Reichweite trieb, holte ihn der Reiher und legte ihn auf der Luvseite wieder auf der Wasseroberfläche ab. Der Vorgang wiederholte sich mehrere Male, dabei gelang es dem Reiher, einen Fisch zu erbeuten, der allerdings wieder entkam. Anderntags setzte an derselben Stelle ein Mangrovereiher in gleicher Weise offensichtlich einen Käfer ein. Ähnliche Beobachtungen werden kurz diskutiert.