Genetic structure of natural populations of the red-spotted newt,Notophthalmus viridescens

Genetic variation is described at 15 loci in 2 neotenic and 12 nonneotenic populations of red-spotted newts. Though high levels of genetic similarity (I=0.990) were found among all populations, allele frequencies at six of the eight most polymorphic loci show significant heterogeneity across populations. Change in allele frequencies at two of these loci (Pep-2 and Ldh-1) is significantly correlated with latitude. Interspecific homologies are established for newt peptidases based on substrate specificities and lactate dehydrogenases based on tissue distribution, thermal stability, and kinetic properties. Nonneotenic populations are highly variable (H=0.157) and neotenic populations are only slightly, but significantly, less variable (H=0.120). The high levels of heterozygosity detected in nonneotenic populations may result from large effective population size and/or environmental heterogeneity. The unexpectedly high heterozygosity values obtained for the neotenic populations may indicate adult dispersal or the presence of some previously undetected red efts at these localities. In any case, a major change in life history has apparently had little effect on the genetic structure of these populations.This research was supported by grants from the Blakeslee Fund of Smith College.     

Wall shear stress during pulsatile flow distal to a normal porcine aortic valve

The shear stress at the wall has been of interest as one of the possible fluid dynamic factors that may be damaging in the region of prosthetic valves. The purpose of this study was to measure the axial wall shear stresses in the region of a 29 mm tissue annulus diameter porcine stent mounted prosthetic aortic valve (Hancock, Model 242). Studies were performed in an in vitro pulse duplicating system. The axial wall shear stress was calculated from velocities obtained near the wall with a laser Doppler anemometer. The largest axial wall shear stress was 29 dyn cm-2 and it occurred at the highest stroke volume used (80 ml). At a stroke volume of 50 ml, the largest axial wall shear stress was 17 dyn cm-2 and at a stroke volume of 35 ml, it was 15 dyn cm-2. Stresses of these magnitudes are far below those reported to be damaging to the endothelial surface. These stresses may be high enough, however, to affect platelet function.     

Frequency distribution studies of epipelic diatoms along an intertidal shore

Live and dead cell counts of epipelic diatoms were analysed at 16 sites along a transect crossing a saltmarsh, sandflat, and mudflat at Berrow Flats, Somerset, U.K. Replicate monthly samples were taken from January 1982 to June 1984. The ratio of dead to live cells varied according to position along the transect. Temporal changes of the ratios did not display a cyclic seasonal pattern. The clustered mosaic of live cells and empty frustules on surface sediments was quantitatively assessed. Graphing variance against seasonal mean cell counts showed that the variance was proportional to the square of the mean. The Neyman Type A equation is suggested as a possible model to explain this relationship.     

Beneficial effects of activated charcoal on bulblet production in tissue cultures of Muscari armeniacum

Production of bulblets of Muscari armeniacum through tissue culture is enhanced when 1 g/l activated charcoal is added to a modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Bulblet regeneration is direct from bulb scale explants with no intermediate callus growth. Bulblets can be transferred successfully to a greenhouse environment directly from aseptic culture.     

Brain insulin binding is decreased in Wistar Kyoto rats carrying the 'fa' gene

We have previously reported that insulin binding is decreased in the olfactory bulb of both heterozygous (Fa/fa) and obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats. In the present study, we measured insulin binding in membranes prepared from the olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, and hypothalamus of control (Fa/Fa) Wistar Kyoto rats; "fatty" (fa/fa) Wistar Kyoto rats; and phenotypically lean (Fa/?) Wistar Kyoto rats. Insulin binding was decreased in all brain regions, as well as the liver of the obese Wistar Kyoto fa/fa rats. Additionally, insulin binding was decreased in the liver and brain membranes from the Fa/? Wistar Kyoto rats. As most of the Fa/? rats were probably carriers of one 'fa' gene, but the population was only slightly hyperinsulinemic, we conclude that--as in the Zucker rat--it is the presence and expression of the 'fa' gene rather than downregulation which results in the decreased insulin binding. Thus, regulation of the brain insulin receptor appears to be independent of plasma or cerebrospinal fluid insulin levels.     

Methylammonium uptake by Rhodobacter capsulatus

The ammonium uptake system of Rhodobacter capsulatus B100 was examined using the ammonium analog methylammonium. This analog was not transported when cells were grown aerobically on ammonium. When cultured on glutamate as a nitrogen source, or when nitrogen-starved, cells would take up methylammonium. Therefore, in cells grown under nitrogen-limiting conditions, a second system of ammonium uptake (or a modified form of the first) is present which is distinguished by its capacity for transporting the analog in addition to ammonium. The methylammonium uptake system exhibited saturation kinetics with a K _m of 22 M and a V _max of about 3 nmol per min · mg protein. Ammonium completely inhibited analog transport with a K _i in the range of 1 M. Once inside the cell methylammonium was rapidly converted to -N-methylglutamine; however, a small concentration gradient of methylammonium could still be observed. Kinetic parameters reflect the effects of assimilation.The methylammonium uptake system was temperature and pH dependent, and inhibition studies indicated that energy was required for the system to be operative. A glutamine auxotroph (G29) lacking the structural gene for glutanime synthetase did not accumulate the analog, even when nitrogen starved. The Nif^- mutant J61, which is unable to express nitrogenase structural genes, also did not transport methylammonium, regardless of the nitrogen source for growth. However, the mutant exhibited wild-type ammonium uptake and glutamine synthetase activity. These data suggest that transport of ammonium is required for growth on limited nitrogen and is under the control of the Ntr system in R. capsulatus.Abbreviations CCCP carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenyl hydrazone - CHES cyclohexylaminoethanesulfonic acid - DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide - GMAD -N-methylglutamine - GS glutamine synthetase - MES 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid - MSX methionine-Dl-sulfoximine - pCMB p-chloromercuribenzoate - Tricine N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methylglycine     

Serial circulating immune complex values and development of metastatic disease in breast cancer and malignant melanoma patients

Summary A polyethylene glycol precipitation technique was used to determine the levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC) in breast cancer and melanoma patients. All patients in the study had undergone surgery and were free of distant metastatic disease. CIC were measured at two to four time intervals, of 3 to 6 months each, over an average follow-up period of 13.5 months (range 7–20 months). In both groups of patients, metastatic disease developed with a higher frequency in patients who had undetectable CIC levels throughout the follow-up period or had become negative at the time metastases were discovered.     

Crosslinking of chromosomal proteins to DNA in HeLa cells by UV gamma radiation and some antitumor drugs

Immunochemical techniques were used to investigate the protein-DNA crosslinking by ultraviolet (UV) and gamma radiation as well as 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) or cis- and trans-diamminedichloroplatinum II (cis-DDP and trans-DDP). Antisera to 0.35 M NaCl extract and 0.35 M NaCl residue of HeLa nuclei were employed. Both gamma and UV irradiation, exposure to cis- or trans-DDP and, to a lesser extent, BCNU, resulted in crosslinking of various antigens to the DNA. Although several antigens were crosslinked by all the employed agents, other exhibited agent-specific crosslinking patterns.