Nucleotide sequence and evolution of a mammalian α-Tubulin messenger RNA

Bacterial clones containing complementary DNA sequences specific for rat brain α-tubulin messenger RNA were constructed. One plasmid, pILαTl, contains >95% of the sequences found in the mRNA: the entire coding sequence as well as extensive 5′ and 3′ untranslated sequences. Comparison of the rat amino acid sequence with the known chicken α-tubulin sequence (Valenzuela et al., 1981) reveals the extraordinary evolutionary stability of α-tubulin protein. The presence of only two interspecies amino acid differences within analogous 411 amino acid sequences predicts that amino acid substitutions in this protein are fixed with a unit evolutionary period (Wilson et al., 1977) of 550 million years (i.e. the time required for a 1% difference to arise within a specific protein in two diverging evolutionary lineages). An analysis of the silent nucleotide differences, permissible because of the degeneracy of the genetic code, demonstrates that these might not occur in a random fashion. The high guanine-cytosine bias in silent codon positions within the chicken α-tubulin sequence, previously noted by Valenzuela et al. (1981), is not conserved within the rat sequence. This decrease in guanine-cytosine bias is accompanied by a selective loss of CpG dinucleotides in the rat sequence.     

Effect in neonatal thymectomy on experimental autoimmune thyroiditis in guinea pigs.

These studies examined the effect of neonatal thymectomy on the induction of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) in the guinea pigs. Thymectomy was found to result in a consistent and profound inhibition of the development of lesions of EAT in both strain 2 and strain 13 guinea pigs. Thymectomized guinea pigs also had reduced antibody titers to guinea pig thyroglobulin (GPTG), while delayed hypersensitivity reactions to GPTG were less markedly affected by thymectomy. Thymectomized guinea pigs had significant functional peripheral T cells as evidenced by normal responses of lymph node cells to T cell mitogens. These results indicate that a T cell subpopulation which is sensitive to neonatal thymectomy is required for the development of EAT and antithyroglobulin antibody in the guinea pig.     

Concentrations of progesterone in milk as a monitor of early pregnancy diagnosis in dairy cows

The objectives of the experiment were to evaluate the efficacy of using progesterone concentrations in milk and palpation per rectum on days 21 or 22 postbreeding to estimate pregnancy and evaluate management practices; and to investigate physiological occurrences leading to incorrect diagnosis of pregnancy when serial samples of milk were collected. Of particular interest were indications of early embyronic death and insemination of cows not in estrus. Milk samples were collected at the afternoon milking of days 0 or 1 (day 0 = day of estrus), 9 or 10, 21 or 22 and 27 or 28 following breeding in 200 lactating dairy cows. Tentative diagnosis of pregnancy was made based on concentrations of progesterone in milk on days 21 and 22 alone and on days 21 or 22 and 27 or 28. In addition all cows were palpated per rectum on days 21 or 22 postbreeding and a tentative pregnancy diagnosis was made. Pregnancy was confirmed by examination of the genital tract per rectum between 35 and 50 days after breeding. Values of 4 ng/ml or greater and/or the presence of a mature corpus luteum were considered positive signs of pregnancy. Progesterone in milk ranged from 0.1 to 18 ng/ml. On days 0 or 1, 9 or 10, 21 or 22 and 27 or 28 concentrations of progesterone in milk averaged 1.5 +/- 0.3, 11.1 +/- 0.5, 12.0 +/- 0.4 12.5 +/- 0.5 ng/ml for pregnant cows. Corresponding samples from nonpregnant cows averaged 1.2 +/- 0.2, 10.3 +/- 0.4, 3.0 +/- 0.4, 6.8 +/- 0.6 ng/ml, respectively. Ninety-six and 104 cows were classified as pregnant and nonpregnant on days 21 or 22 as compared to 78 and 118 cows diagnosed as pregnant and nonpregnant on days 21 or 22 and 27 or 28 combined. Pregnancy detection by progesterone in milk on days 21 or 22 with pregnancy determined via rectal palpation 35 to 50 days postbreeding was 77 and 100% accurate for positive and negative diagnosis, respectively. The percent agreement using progesterone in milk on days 21 or 22 and 27 or 28 combined was 95 and 100%, respectively, for positive and negative diagnosis. Diagnosis based on rectal palpation 21 or 22 days postbreeding was 63 92 (69%) and 76 88 (87%) for pregnant and nonpregnant cows, respectively. Ten of the 200 cows had progesterone concentratins in milk of > 4 ng/ml at the time of breeding. Six of these cows were pregnant from a previous insemination. The other four cows were nonpregnant and were inseminated during the luteal phase of the cycle. In conclusion, measurement of progesterone in milk is a useful tool in early detection of pregnant and nonpregnant cows and may be useful in detecting reproductive problems in a dairy herd. It will probably be most useful when used in combination with later pregnancy diagnosis per rectum .     

A phytosociological study of weed communities on the southwestern Coastal Plain of North Carolina

Summary The vegetation of cultivated, fallow and ‘old’ fields of Scotland County, N.C. was both randomly and subjectively sampled throughout the growing season of 1973. Relevés were placed in each of the above management units, and the data collected in this relevé analysis were sorted into phytosociological charts, with the aid of the digital computer. Weed associations delimited in the charts reflected the importance of edaphic factors, time (aspect), and man's agricultural activities as causal factors in the determination of characteristic assemblages of weeds. Several character and differential species were denoted, in a tentative classification of the weed associations. The cultivated and fallow stands in the spring aspect were noted to be dominated by a group of spring annuals. Summer annuals were more prevalent in homologous situations in the summer. It was determined that perennials, appearing mainly as seedlings in cultivated and fallow fields, attained dominance in ‘old’ fields, one to five years in age. Within each of the major spheres of management, and in each season, associations of weeds mainly reflected differences in edaphic factors. Many character species were noted to maintain affinities to an assortment of soil types that ranged from moist loams to xeric, sterile sands. A study of roadsides, hedgerows, field margins and other ecotonal areas inhabited by weeds was carried throughout the growing season of 1973, also. Species presence was documented in each of these habitat types and reported in Sharp (1974). The weed flora of Scotland County was found to be rich in species. A total of 506 species representing 248 genera and 80 families were encountered throughout the study. Of the total number of species listed, approximately 25 percent were of foreign origin, and 28 percent represented additions to the flora of Scotland County. This paper is the short version of a masters thesis for the Department of Botany, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The author would like to extend his appreciation and gratitude to Professors H. Lieth, A. E. Radford and J. Hardin for their generous advice and encouragement extended through the duration of the study.     

The location of the genes coding for hexon and fiber proteins in adenovirus DNA.

A serological analysis has been made of the capsid antigens hexon and fiber from 17 Ad5-Ad2+ND1 recombinants that enables us to determine the phenotype of the recombinants. By correlation of this data with the genetic and physical maps of the adenovirus genome, obtained by recombination and restriction endonuclease analysis, the genes coding for the hexon and fiber have been assigned to specific locations on the adenovirus DNA.     

The soluble components of chromaffin granules a carbon-13 NMR survey

Carbon-13 NMR spectra of the reconcentrated chromaffin granule lysate have been obtained at 50 MHz and 62.9 MHz. The spectrum contains a number of assignable resonances in addition to those of the main soluble components (catecholamines, adenine nucleotides and chromogranin). Guanine and uridine nucleotides are present at levels of 0.13 and 0.08 mol/mol adenine nucleotides, respectively. Concentrations of cytidine nucleotides and NAD⁺ are below the detection limit (0.02 mol/mol adenine nucleotides). An unidentified low molecular weight species, thought to be an adenine-containing oligonucleotide, is also present. Ascorbic acid was observed at a concentration of 0.14 mol/mol adenine nucleotides, but both dopamine and dehydroascorbic acid were below the detection limit. Protein resonances agree well with the reported amino acid composition of chromogranin A, with the exception of tryptophan and glutamine which have not previously been measured. The concentrations of these residues are estimated to be 12 ± 3 and 39 ± 5 residues per 77 000 dalton unit of chromogranin A. Substantial intensity due to unsaturated fatty acid side-chains in solubilized lipid is seen in the olefinic carbon region and in the methylene region, suggesting the presence of lipoprotein. Unassigned carbohydrate resonances are also present, but are largely obscured by sucrose in the isolation medium.     

The P2X7 receptor antagonist JNJ-47965567 administered thrice weekly from disease onset does not alter progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in SOD1G93A mice

Purinergic Signalling - The ATP-gated P2X7 ion channel has emerging roles in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progression. Pharmacological blockade of P2X7 with Brilliant Blue G can ameliorate...