Environmentally-induced changes in the neutral lipids and intracellular vesicles of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces fragilis

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, grown aerobically or anaerobically under conditions which induce a requirement for a sterol and an unsaturated fatty acid, synthesized approximately the same amounts of neutral lipid and intracellular low-density vesicles, although the neutral lipids in aerobically-grown cells contained more esterified sterol and less triacylglycerol than those in anaerobically-grown cells. Kluyveromyces fragilis synthesized much less neutral lipid and a smaller quantity of low-density vesicles than S. cerevisiae whether grown at 30°C (generation time 1.1 h) or 20°C (generation time 2.1 h). Both yeasts synthesized highly saturated triacylglycerols, relatively unsaturated phospholipids, and esterified sterols with an intermediate degree of unsaturation irrespective of the conditions under which they were grown. Free sterols in the yeasts were rich in ergosterol and 22(24)-dehydroergosterol, while the esterified sterol fractions were richer in zymosterol.     

Heat-transfer relations of avian nestlings

1. 1.|To determine the thermoregulatory prowess of altricial nestlings, we conducted both equilibrium and transient analyses of white-crowned sparrow nestings, a representative fringillid.

2. 2.|For an individual nestling at thermal equilibrium, feather development is the major factor reducing heat loss after 2 days of age; tissue- and boundary-layer resistances are of minor importance.

3. 3.|The nest substantially reduces wind speeds near the nestlings. Heat transfer through the nest material is of only moderate importance. Evaporation also appears to be a small proportion of total heat loss during hypothermia in natural environments.

4. 4.|Net long-wave radiant exchange is also minor, but short-wave radiation is potentially a major component of the nestling's energy budget, approaching the magnitude of maximal metabolic heat production.

5. 5.|When nestlings cool, their body mass and metabolic rate are also major importance in determining the rate of cooling, and (for metabolism) the equilibrium temperature as well.

6. 6.|The huddling together of nestlings is perhaps the single most important factor affecting heat transfer.

7. 7.|An older brood actually has more insulation than does an adult in the same microclimate.

Effect of physiological concentrations of insulin and antidiabetic drugs on RNA release from isolated liver nuclei

The addition of 10(-11) M insulin to a cell-free system from rat liver promotes the release of messengerlike RNA from isolated prelabeled nuclei. The stimulation was similar whether the nuclei were preincubated with insulin, or if insulin was added directly to the cell-free system with or without a protease inhibitor. Dot blot hybridization using cloned cDNA for alpha 2u-globulin mRNA showed that this was one of the messages whose release was enhanced by insulin. Nuclei isolated from rats treated with either of the antidiabetics tolbutamide or tolazamide showed no increase in RNA release in the presence of insulin over the concentration range 10(-5) - 10(-14) M. Furthermore, these nuclei did not release detectable levels of alpha 2u-globulin mRNA.     

Immunosuppressive properties of leukotriene D4 and E4 in vitro

Leukotrienes D₄ and E₄ whose physiological function has been associated with smooth muscle contraction, are demonstrated to be potent suppressors of immunocompetent cell function. In concentrations as low as 10^?12 M both leukotriene D₄ and E₄ can inhibit mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformation. Higher concentrations of leukotrienes E₄ and D₄ will inhibit appearance of antibody-forming cells in tissue culture. These data suggest another role for the leukotrienes in addition to their function as slow-reacting substances.     

Suppression of B-cell and T-cell responses by the prostaglandin-induced T-cell-derived suppressor (PITS). I. Analysis of the PITS beta factor

Within populations of mitogenically (PWM) stimulated normal human lymphocytes, the proliferation of B lymphocytes is terminated by T cells. In contrast, T cells limit their own proliferation. T cells thus apparently measure and terminate the proliferation of B cells as well as themselves, suggesting an important role for them in limiting amplification during immune response. Under the culture conditions employed, PWM-induced B- and T-cell proliferation was uncoupled from B-cell differentiation into plasmacytes. Termination of B-cell proliferation in this in vitro model of humoral immune response is independent of B-cell differentiation.     

Opportunities for natural selection on DNA and protein at the Adh locus in Drosophila melanogaster

A study was made of environmental and genetic factors affecting the quantity and disposition of the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) protein in Drosophila melanogaster. It was found that the amount of enzyme per fly is greatly influenced by the environmental conditions in which it develops. A critical factor is the concentration of yeast in the medium. A high concentration of yeast can double the quantity of ADH. The yeast appears to act through the provision of protein, and the protein to act through the provision of threonine, which is already known to induce ADH in fungi. Various genetic factors affect the quantity of enzyme. Males have more ADH than females. Files homozygous for the Fast allele have more ADH than those homozygous for the slow allele, and the difference is greater in females than in males. One particular line (ve), homozygous for Slow, has approximately half the normal quantity of enzyme, and the quantity segregates with the electrophoretic allele. Lines differ in the relative amounts of ADH in the gut (including Malpighian tubules) and the fat body. In general it seems that slow lines have relatively more enzyme in the fat body. In a cross between ve and a line homozygous to Fast, the difference in tissue distribution segregated with the electrophoretic allele. It is argued, but not demonstrated, that the differences in quantity and tissue distribution are due to nucleotide substitutions in noncoding regions close to, or within, the structural gene. It seems likely that the observed environmental and genetic differences in the quantity and disposition of ADH will influence the relative selective values of the electrophoretic genotypes.     

An improved medium for the detection of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus

An effective selective medium for the enumeration of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus has been developed by modification of Bothast and Fennell's Aspergillus Differential Medium. Results can be obtained with the new medium, Aspergillus flavus and parasiticus Agar (AFPA), after 42 h incubation at 30°C. The medium is thus suitable for use in quality control as a guide to the presence of A. flavus and, potentially, of aflatoxins. AFPA has been extensively tested on peanuts and soils. Results were reproducible and comparable with those on standard fungal enumeration media incubated for much longer periods. A very low percentage of false positives or negatives was found.     

Involvement of two distinct regulatory T cell populations in the antigen-specific suppression of cytolytic T cell generation.

Alloantigen-specific, radiation-resistant T cells generated in mixed-lymphocyte cultures inhibited the generation of allospecific CTL responses in vitro. This regulatory T cell population was studied using mAb generated to Ag-specific suppressor factors that regulate the response to the synthetic terpolymer L-glutamic acid60-L-alanine30-L-tyrosine10 (GAT). Both monoclonal 984 D4.6.5 and a pool of four mAb 2441, when added in the presence of complement, eliminated alloantigen-specific inhibition of the CTL response. When separate cell cultures treated with mAb 984 or 2441 plus complement were recombined, inhibition was reestablished, suggesting that two or more populations of cells are required for active inhibition. Furthermore, neither the mAb 984 nor the mAb 2441 plus complement had any effect on any stage of CTL development. This suggests that the inhibition of the CTL response was not the result of cytolytic activity via the regulatory T cells. Experiments in which these antibodies were added without complement treatment showed that the mAb 2441 neutralized the inhibitory activity, whereas mAb 984 augmented inhibition. It is concluded from these studies that regulatory T cells originally identified in humoral immune responses also regulate cell-mediated immune responses. Suppressor epitopes are displayed on the surface of these cells that allow them to be distinguished from other T cells. These data also show the utility of the mAb 984 and 2441 raised against specific suppressor T cell products in different experimental models of immunity. These studies suggest that phenotypically distinct Ts cell populations can play a normal regulatory role in both cell-mediated and humoral immunity.