Composition and Distribution of Free Amino Acids in Flatpea (Lathyrus sylvestris L.) as Influenced by Water Deficit and Plant Age

Drought-stressed flatpea (Lathyrus sylvestris L.) plants from8 to 22 weeks old were analysed for nitrogen, soluble proteinand free amino acids. An increase in nitrogen and free aminoacid concentrations and a decrease in soluble protein levelwere observed in roots of plants up to 16 weeks old. The cumulativeconcentration of free amino acids increased with drought stress.Tissue concentrations of 2, 4-diaminobutyric acid (1.6–2.6%of the dry weight) were highest in leaves. Levels increasedsteadily, nearly doubling, in leaves and stems between weeks10 and 16. Levels in drought-stressed leaves were, on average,11.9% higher than those of controls. Estimated concentrationsof a mixture of 4-aminobutyric acid and an unknown amino acidwere highest in stems, increased in this tissue with age andtended to increase in stems and leaves and decrease in rootsin response to water deficit. Levels of the mixture of homoserineand another unidentified amino acid were not influenced by ageor water status of the plants. Root concentrations of asparagine,arginine, glutamine, aspartate, and another prominent, unidentifiedamino acid increased with plant age and reached a peak at thetime of flowering (14 to 18 weeks). Only the concentration ofthe unknown compound was elevated following drought stress.Concentrations of valine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine,and methionine also increased during this period and were elevatedin drought-stressed plants. Proline levels increased with plantage and drought stress, but proline accounted for only about10% of the total free amino acids in the drought-stressed plants. Key words: 2, 4-Diaminobutyric acid, drought, flatpea     

Fatal perinatal sarcocystosis in a lamb

A 3-wk-old lamb died because of neurological disease. The predominant microscopic lesions were in the brain and spinal cord and consisted of nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis with severe gliosis throughout the gray and white matter. Immature and mature schizonts, 15.7 x 10.6 microns (8-30 x 6-18 microns), occurred in capillaries and were structurally similar to those of Sarcocystis tenella.     

Biochemical applications of a synchronously pumped krypton ion dye laser fluorescence system.

A synchronously pumped krypton ion dye laser fluorescence system is shown to provide tunable, polarized, subnanosecond pulses at high repetition rates, modest peak powers, and low energy. Such a source is uniquely suited to fluorescence investigations of biochemical mechanisms. Applications of this fluorescence excitation source to analysis, life-time determination, and depolarization effects are discussed.     

The effects of androgens on the β-glands of the tokay (Gekko gecko): Modification of an hypothesis

Study of the posterior abdominal epidermis in hypophysectomized/thyroidectomized male and female tokays following surgery, and subsequent androgen therapy, indicates that, contrary to a previous model, all aspects of β-gland differentiation are under direct androgenic control. On the other hand, another epidermal specialization, the digital foot-pad, shows a pattern of histogenesis directly comparable to that of β-glands, but is unaffected by androgens. These data are discussed with respect to the evolution of glandular epidermal specializations in gekkonid lizards and the possible role of androgens in modifying the control of cell differentiation in lizard epidermis.     

Use of a radioimmunoassay technique to measure the titer of anti-cow-zona antibodies in marmoset monkeys

A double antibody radioimmunoassay technique is described for the measurement of anti-zona antibodies in the peripheral plasma of marmosets actively immunized against intact cow zonae pellucidae. The method has been shown to be a reliable, repeatable indicator of antibody titer, enabling direct comparison of the response obtained between marmosets. This is the first report of a procedure describing the active immunization of a primate against zona antigens, and the first time a radioimmunoassay technique has been used to monitor profiles of anti-cow zona antibody production following active immunization. The method should prove to be a useful tool in the evaluation of zona antigens as agents for immunocontraception.     

Comparison of whole-cell protein electrophoretic profiles of Haemophilus influenzae: implementation of a microcomputer mainframe linked system and description of a new similarity coefficient

A microcomputer mainframe linked system is described which allows video camera data capture and storage of one-dimensional whole-cell protein electrophoresis gel images, processing of normalized traces to produce a similarity matrix, and analysis of the matrix using the commercial cluster analysis program CLUSTAN. A new similarity coefficient is introduced which takes into account both band position and intensity. Forty-five strains of Haemophilus influenzae, including the eight biotypes and six serotypes, were analyzed using this system. Results demonstrated groupings which are consistent with known genetic relationships.