Dynamics of soil microbial biomass N under zero and shallow tillage for spring wheat,using15N urea

Summary Field studies to determine the effect of zero and shallow (10 cm) cultivation on microbial biomass were conducted on several Chernozemic soils in western Canada. Using the CHCl₃ fumigation method, the distribution of microbial biomass N and the immobilization and subsequent release of added¹⁵N (¹⁵N-urea) from the microbial biomass were determined in the A horizon, at the 0 to 5 and 5 to 10 cm depth, during the growing season for spring wheat.Temporal variation in microbial biomass N, associated with the development of the rhizosphere, was characterized by an increase between Feekes stage 1 and 5 or 10 and decrease at Feekes stage 11.4. Over the long term, the variation in biomass N between tillage systems corresponded with crop residue distribution. Immobilization of fertilizer N was related to the increase in biomass N from Feekes stage 1, which in turn, was associated with the incorporation of recent crop residues or levels of labile organic matter in the surface soil. The study demonstrated the relatively rapid remineralization of immobilized fertilizer N under field conditions and emphasized the role of the microbial biomass N as both a sink and source of mineral N.     

Target antigens in malaria transmission blocking immunity

Malaria transmission blocking immunity has been found to operate against two distinct phases of development of malaria parasites in the mosquito midgut: (i) against the extracellular gametes and newly fertilized zygotes shortly after ingestion by a mosquito of parasitized blood and (ii) against the zygotes during their subsequent development into ookinetes. Immunity is antibody-mediated and stage-specific. A set of three proteins, synthesized in the gametocytes, expressed on the surface of the gametes and newly fertilized zygotes and subsequently shed during later transformation of the zygotes, has been identified as the target antigens of anti-gamete fertilization blocking antibodies. A single protein, synthesized and expressed on the zygote surface during its development to ookinetes, has been identified as the target of antibodies which block the development of the fertilized parasites in the mosquito. Immunization of human populations against gamete or zygote antigens, while not directly protecting an immunized individual from inflection, would reduce the transfer of malaria within the population. Such immunity, in addition to reducing the overall rate of malaria transmission, would, if combined with a vaccine against the asexual (disease-causing) stages, reduce the chance of selection of parasites that are resistant to the asexual vaccine by preventing their entry into the mosquito population.     

Sexual preferences of male hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) for conspecifics in different endocrine conditions

The behavioral responses of sexually experienced male hamsters toward a pair of anesthetized conspecifics were investigated. Males spent significantly more time licking, sniffing, and mounting neonatally and adult castrated males than intact males. Adult castrated males receiving oil injections were preferred over castrates receiving exogenous testosterone propionate (TP). Ovariectomized females were preferred over intact males, adult castrated males, or spayed females receiving exogenous TP. It was concluded that the absence of an androgen-dependent factor(s) renders an animal more sexually attractive.     

Cell surface changes in diabetic rats. Studies of lectin binding to liver cell plasma membranes.

We have previously reported changes in the chemical composition of cell surface membranes in diabetic rats (Chandramoulis, V. and Carter, Jr., J. R. (1975) Diabetes 24, 257-262 [1]). To examine the possible implications of these changes for cell surface structures, we have measured the binding of labeled lectins and desialylated glycoproteins to plasma membranes prepared from the livers of streptozotocin--diabetic and control rats. Lectins were chosen which have affinities for different carbohydrate moieties. The binding of ricin and concanavalin A to liver cell membranes from the diabetic rats was significantly reduced, but no change in the binding of wheat germ agglutinin was noted. Binding of desialylated thyrozine--binding globulin, previously shown to be dependent on membrane sialic acid residues, ws strongly suggest that insulin deficiency leads to generalized changes in cell surfaced glycoproteins, at least in this animal model of diabetes.     

Physical and kinetic distinction of two ornithine decarboxylase forms in Physarum

Two forms of ornithine decarboxylase (L-ornithine carboxy-lyase, EC 4.1.1.17) can be isolated from crude plasmodial homogenates of Physarum polycephalum. Both forms catalyze the stoichiometric production of putrescine and CO2 from ornithine, yet they are distinguished by (a) a large difference in their affinity for coenzyme (apparent Km values of 0.13 and 33 muM); (b) a differential stability to extended dialysis of crude homogenates at 4 degrees C; and (c) the tendency of the low affinity form to polymerize when suspended in low ionic strength borate and phosphate buffers. These forms appear to be alternate states of a basic catalytic subunit in that (a) they both demonstrate monomer and dimer molecular forms of 80 000 and 160 000 daltons, respectively, depending on the buffer content; (b) they coelute from DEAE-Cellulose ion-exchange columns; and (c) they vary in activity in approximately equivalent yet opposite directions in response to factors which alter this organism's growth or metabolism. These data suggest that ornithine decarboxylase activity may be modulated by the control of the transition of this enzyme between the active and the relatively less active form.     

Biochemical identification of rat ART-1 and Ly-1 alloantigens

The results of this study indicate that the ART-1 and Ly-1 rat alloantigens are synonymous with each other and also with the leukocyte-common (L-C) antigen which has been previously identified as a major glycoprotein of rat thymocytes and T and B lymphocytes. This conclusion is supported by the following observations: (i) when labeling of rat lymphoid cells was studied with a fluorescence-activated cell sorter, the profiles obtained were similar for labeling with ART-1 and Ly-1 alloantibodies and a monoclonal antibody to L-C antigen: (ii) this labeling was almost completely inhibited by purified L-C antigen: (iii) preincubation with L-C antigen completely inhibited binding of the alloantibodies in a cellular radioimmunoassay; (iv) the cytotoxic effect of the alloantibodies was completely abolished by preincubation with purified L-C antigen; (v) the strain distribution of the ART-1 and Ly-1 alloantigens was identical for 11 rat strains and in linkage analysis the ART-1 and Ly-1 alloantigens were found to cosegregate. Genetic linkage studies have shown that the L-C antigen locus is unlinked to the major histocompatibility antigen (RT1), the immunoglobulin light chain (1k) and to the coat color gene (C) loci.