Copper retention by a strain ofBacillus

Summary A survey has been made of the copper accumulation by resting cells of bacteria selected as copper-resistant, isolated from activated sludges. The best selected strain, classified asBacillus, retained copper at up to 3.8% of its cell dry weight. These values were lower in the presence of glucose, unlike a type culture ofBacillus cereus, in which the retention of copper was higher when glucose was present. Possible reasons for these changes in uptake of both strains are suggested.     

Influence of HLA genotype on birth weight of patients with Turner syndrome

Summary Growth failure starting before birth is a common characteristic in Turner syndrome, and its pathogenesis is still not completely explained. Experiments performed in mice and rats to test whether a genetic disparity between mothers and offspring and maternal immunological status have any influence on litter size have demonstrated that allogenic litters are significantly larger in size than genetically compatible ones. Studies in humans have given contrasting results, but some authors have found that heterozygosity at enzyme loci and in blood groups is positively correlated with intrauterine growth. HLA class I and II polymorphisms were defined in 53 patients with Turner syndrome and in their parents, and lymphocytotoxic antibody detection was performed in 36 mothers. These data were related to the patients' birth weight. The frequency of the HLA-B16 allele in patients with a birth weight > 10th centile was significantly higher in comparison with those < 10th centile. HLA antigen sharing was present in 43 couples (81.1%). Mean birth weight was 2934 ± 472 g in patients without HLA antigen parental sharing and 2721 ± 529 g in those whose parents shared HLA antigens. The mean birth weight of the 10 patients whose parents do not share HLA antigens was significantly higher than that of the patients with parental HLA–B+DR sharing (P < 0.05) and not significantly higher than in those patients with parental HLA sharing at other HLA loci. Patients whose parents shared B+DR antigens also had significantly smaller birth weights than those with B and A+B+DR sharing (P < 0.025 and P < 0.025). No significant difference in mean birth weight was found in relation to other parameters, such as mother-child histocompatibility, HLA homozygosity and lymphocytotoxic production in the mothers.     

Storage mites sensitivity and allergic respiratory disease

Summary In order to evaluate the frequency of skin sensitivity to Storage Mites and the role of such sensitization in respiratory allergic disease in workers with occupational exposure to stored items we studied 217 dock workers, 93 farmers and 104 white collars.From the results of skin prick tests the sensitization to sole Storage Mites appears significantly higher among people working in docks or farms, compared with a control group. This confirms the role of the working environment in inducing sensitization to Storage Mites. Rhinitis and asthma however affect nearly always (27/29 cases) people with an associated sensitization to House Dust Mites. Further studies are needed to define the allergenic importance of Storage Mites in working environments.     

Effect of potassium humate on apple cv. ‘Golden Delicious’ cultured in vitro

The effects of humic substances on in vitro culture of Golden Delicious apple are reported. Potassium humate (KH) when used in proliferation showed a negative interaction with BA while it enhanced rooting when IBA was not present in the culture medium. In the presence of IBA, KH increased root number and reduced root growth. The highest concentration tested, 500 mg l^-1, caused a drastic reduction in root system development. 50 mg l^-1 KH hastened rooting and plants grew more rapidly when transferred to soil.     

The role of the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid-directed cellular binding to type I collagen and rat mesenchymal cells in colorectal tumour differentiation

The relationship between the adhesion of five human colorectal carcinoma cell lines to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, namely type I collagen, type IV collagen, fibronectin, laminin and basement membrane extract (Matrigel), and the ability of these cells to express morphological differentiation when grown in a basement membrane extract (Matrigel) or on normal rat mesenchymal cells has been examined. Two cell lines, SW1222 and HRA-19, organised into glandular structures, with well-defined polarity when cultured on both substrata as well as in three-dimensional (3D) collagen gel culture as previously shown. The remaining three cell lines (SW620, SW480 and HT29) grew as loose aggregates or as they would normally grow on tissue culture plastic. Addition to the culture medium of a hexapeptide, containing the cell-matrix recognition sequence arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD), inhibited attachment and glandular formation of SW1222 and HRA-19 when these cells were grown on living mesenchymal cells, but not in Matrigel. The morphological differentiation of HRA-19 cells in 3D-collagen was also inhibited by the same RGD-containing peptide, as previously shown for SW1222 cells. Attachment of the remaining three cell lines was inhibited on mesenchyme but not in Matrigel, further supporting the specificity of the peptide effect on epithelial-mesenchymal binding. In conclusion we have shown that colorectal tumour cells are able to bind ECM proteins and that the cellular binding is an essential step in the induction of the morphological differentiation seen on living mesenchymal cells, in basement membrane extracts and in type I collagen gel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Prochymosin expression in Bacillus subtilis

Prochymosin (PC) sequence was cloned in Bacillus subtilis using two kinds of plasmid constructions. In plasmid pSM316 the cDNA was inserted to obtain the intracellular expression of the enzyme. The enzyme turned out to be expressed in an insoluble form which could be converted to native enzyme under proper denaturing and refolding conditions. The levels of intracellular expression of PC were further enhanced by modifying the 5' region of the gene in a way that a two-cistron expression system was created. For the PC secretion, the cDNA was fused to the subtilisin leader sequence and expressed under the control of the B. subtilis neutral protease promoter. A properly folded PC was secreted by the cells, although to low levels.     

Leaf water potential and leaf conductance during the growing season in almond trees under different irrigation regimes

Seasonal changes in leaf water potential (Φ) and leaf conductance (g₁) were determined in almond trees under different irrigation regimes. The development of water stress in the rainfed treatment induced a specific seasonal dynamics of Φ values and an important reduction in g₁ values. A decrease in g₁ values occurred independently of the irrigation treatment through the growing season. No statistically significant differences were obtained in g₁ values within the drip irrigated treatments.     

The Mr 17500 region of the A chain of urokinase is required for interaction with a specific receptor in A431 cells

We have found the existence of specific receptors for the plasminogen activator, urokinase, in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells, cultures in plasminogen-free conditions. Two subsets of receptors have been recognized on the basis of 125I-labelled urokinase binding analysis: about 1 X 10(3) high-affinity (Kd = 5.0 X 10(-11) M) and 1 X 10(5) low-affinity (Kd = 9 X 10(-9) M) receptors per cell. The electron microscopic observation of a urokinase: ferritin conjugate has shown single and clustered receptors at the cell surface. Down-regulation of the receptors (T1/2 = 3.77 h) follows the binding of urokinase. The binding does not involve an intact catalytic site and is inhibited by a monoclonal antibody against the Mr 17500 proteolytic fragment of the A chain of urokinase.     

Cytogenetics of the European plethodontid salamanders of the genus Hydromantes (Amphibia,Urodela)

A karyological analysis was carried out on different European species of the genus Hydromantes (Plethodontidae). All the species examined share the same chromosome number (2n=28) and, with the exception represented by pair XIV, morphologically similar karyotypes. While the karyotypes display a similar distribution — mainly centromeric and pericentric — of C-heterochromatin, quantitative variations in pericentric heterochromatin are observed among species. In the continental species Hydromantes italicus and ambrosii as well as in the eastern Sardinian species imperialis, flavus and specie nova, pair XIV consists of heteromorphic sex chromosomes of the XX/XY type. It is proposed that the differentiation of the Y might have taken place through the occurrence of a structural rearrangement, such as a pericentric inversion, starting from a hypothetical, homomorphic pair XIV. A sex-related heteromorphism is not found in the western Sardinian species H. genei. A further karyological differentiation among these species concerns the position of the nucleolus organizing region (NOR), which is located on chromosome XII (H. italicus and ambrosii) or on chromosome X, close to the centromere (H. genei, H. imperialis and H. specie nova), or in an intercalary position (H. flavus). The location and the number of the 5 S DNA sites have been conserved during species divergence. On the basis of these karyological data, as well as of results obtained through a preliminary restriction enzyme analysis of the ribosomal and genomic DNAs, the phyletic relationships among the European Hydromantes species are discussed.     

Structural aspects and orientation mechanism of mitochondrial F1 adenosinetriphosphatase. Evidence for a negative electric birefringence due to a permanent moment perpendicular to the long axes of the particle

The electric birefringence technique was used to investigate the steady-state birefringence, the orientational relaxation time, and the orientation mechanism of pig heart mitochondrial F1 adenosine-5'-triphosphatase (F1-ATPase). The electrooptical properties of this enzyme in solution were studied as functions of pH, protein concentration, and applied electric field. The F1-ATPase exhibits a surprising negative electric birefringence with a specific Kerr constant of -1.5 X 10(-3) esu cgs. The field-independent relaxation time was found to be 0.65 +/- 0.05 microseconds, corresponding to a rotational diffusion constant of 2.55 X 10(5) s-1. The overall size and shape of F1-ATPase have been calculated from both translational and rotational diffusion constants. The enzyme may be assumed to be an oblate ellipsoid of revolution with dimensions of about 170 X 170 X 70 A. The orientation mechanism of F1-ATPase was analyzed by fitting experimental birefringence rising curves with theoretical rising functions. The ratio of the permanent to induced dipole moment is found to be very high; therefore, the birefringence of F1-ATPase is due to a strong permanent dipole moment in a direction perpendicular to the long axes of the particle. These particular electric properties can be explained by the oligomeric structure of the protein and seem likely to play a role in its mechanism of functioning.