Equine connective tissue tumors contain unintegrated bovine papilloma virus DNA

Bovine papilloma virus (BPV) appears to be the etiological agent of common equine connective tissue tumors. We investigated the physical state of the viral DNA within such tumors and found no indication for integration into the host genome. The BPV genomes were present as free circular episomes. Two equine sarcoids were shown to contain multiple copies of free circular BPV type 1 (BPV-1) DNA. When the tumors were digested with several single-cut restriction enzymes, there were only form III BPV-1 DNA sequences could be revealed. One of the sarcoids contained, apart from wild-type BPV-1 DNA, a class of smaller BPV-1 circular DNA molecules bearing a deletion of approximately 9% of the BPV-1 genome. This deletion is located in the physical map between the relative units 0 and 0.32.     

Comparative analysis of the sequences of the three collagen chains α1(I), α2 and α1(III): Functional and genetic aspects

The amino acid sequences of type I collagen containing α1(I) and α2 chains at a ratio of 2:1, and of type III collagen consisting of α1 (III) chains are known. A statistical analysis of the sequences of these α chains is presented. The inter-chain comparison showed a high level of homology between the three α chains. The interactive amino acids, such as the polar charged and part of the hydrophobic residues responsible for the assembly of the molecules, are strongly conserved. The intra-chain analysis revealed that the α chains are divided into four related D units, each with a length of 234 residues. Between the D units within a chain the polar residues show a higher variability than the hydrophobic amino acids.Besides the D units, other periodicities such as $\text{D}\text{3}$ (78 residues), $\text{D}\text{6}$ (39 residues), $\text{solD}\text{11}$ (21 residues) and $\text{solD}\text{13}$ (18 residues) were observed, particularly in α1 (I) and α1 (III). The D unit is a functional repeat that is formed by the interactive polar charged and hydrophobic residues and which determines the aggregation of the molecules. The $\text{solD}\text{3}$ unit is mainly pronounced by the non-interactive residues such as proline and alanine and appears to be a reminiscence of a primordial gene. The smaller periodic repeating units may be considered as additional genetic units or as structural units, which determine the triplehelical pitch and thus the lateral aggregation of the molecules.In contrast to α1 (I) and α1 (III), the α2 chain shows less regularity in its internal structure.     

Seven furanoeremophilanes from three Senecio species

The investigation of two further Senecio species and the re-investigation of S. inaequidens afforded, in addition to known compounds, seven new furanoeremophilane derivatives. Six of these are closely related to cacalol, a sesquiterpene type which predominates in the species investigated.     

Mineral salt requirements of Bacillus globisporus subsp. marinus strains

The mineral salt requirements of four isolates of Bacillus globisporus subsp. marinus and of two terrestrial strains of B. globisporus were investigated. In contrast to the terrestrial reference strains the marine isolates showed an obligate requirement for sodium and potassium. The sodium ion could not be replaced by potassium or by osmotically equivalent concentrations of mannitol. None of the strains proved to be dependent upon Mg²⁺ or Ca²⁺. The B. globisporus subsp. marinus strains are considered true marine bacteria. The criteria used to distinguish between marine and terrestrial Gram-negative bacteria can also be applied for Gram-positive bacteria.     

Function of laccase in the white-rot fungus Fomes annosus

1. Thioglycolic acid, a Cu-chelating agent, totally inhibited extracellular laccase activity without affecting growth and morphology of Fomes annosus.
2. In the presence of thioglycolic acid Fomes annosus cleaved high molecular weight lignosulfonate with a molecular weight range of 2×10⁶ to 1000. In the absence of thioglycolic acid the polymerizing activity of laccase prevented the detection of lignosulfonate breakdown products.
3. Oxidative polymerization of a lignin monomer, coniferyl alcohol, occurred in the presence but not in the absence of laccase activity.
4. Catechol and guaiacol added to the medium at a concentration of 2 mmol, are normally oxidized by fungal laccase and strongly inhibit growth. Presence of thioglycolic acid prevented the oxidation of these phenols and simultaneously permitted normal growth.

     

Body movements and retinal pattern displacements while approaching a stationary object in the walking fly,Calliphora erythrocephala

When a walking fly approaches a stationary object two types of body movements are distinguishable. Type I body movements are characterized by low frequencies (0.4–1.3 Hz) and large amplitudes (28–65°). Superimposed on these movements are type II body movements which are characterized by high frequencies (7.3–10.6 Hz) and small amplitudes (5.9–8.2°) (Figs. 3–6; Table 1). Type II movements occur no matter whether the fly is fixating a pattern or orientating itself in homogeneous surroundings without any pattern. In contrast, only 72% of the flies with immobilized heads and 62% of the flies with movable heads make type I body movements. The amplitude of type I and type II body movements increases slightly after immobilization of the head. Binocular as well as monocular pattern projection occurs for the whole walking trajectory (Fig. 7–9). Monocular pattern projection seems to be more frequent in flies with immobilized heads than in those with movable heads. The degree of pattern fluctuations in the visual field of the flies increases slightly along the walking trajectory. Near the starting point in the centre of the arena it amounts to 5–7°, while at the end of the walking trajectory it amounts to 8–10° (Table 2). The following conclusions and hypothesis can be drawn from these experiments. 1. The graph BT for the direction of the fly's logitudinal axis can be approximated by the first derivative of the walking trajectory WT, that means, dWT(x)/dxBT(x) (Fig. 11). 2. The amplitudes of type II body movements are caused by the alternating movements of the legs during forward motion, while type I body movements are classified as exploring movements. During evolution of visually guided behaviour it is possible that blowflies have adapted their elementary movement detector system to type II body movements. 3. The types of pattern projection into the visual field of the fly while approaching an object can be explained by a simple neuronal network characterized by either inhibitory and/or excitatory influences of the visually activated neurones on the motor neurones generating the propulsive forces, that means the forward motion. In addition it is postulated that the large frontal and antero-lateral receptive fields of these neurones are not coupled with the motor centres on the same side of the body (Fig. 12).     

EEG differences in neurotic as compared with normal twin pairs

Summary The resting EEGs of 17 twin pairs originally traced through one neurotic co-twin (10 monozygotic and 7 dizygotic pairs aged between 18 and 63 years) have been described and compared with the neuroticism scores (Schepank, 1974) of these twins. EEG comparison according to the customary visual criteria failed to show any consistent EEG differences between monozygotic co-twins, whereas dizygotic pairs often showed EEG discordance. Computerized time-domain (interval-amplitude) analysis failed to show a higher degree of EEG discordance between neurotic MZ cotwins than between co-twins in 25 adult nonneurotic male MZ pairs (age range 18–33; mean age 22.9 years). There were no significant correlations between EEG differences and differences in the neuroticism score among ten MZ pairs traced through a neurotic co-twin. It is concluded that the individual and genetically determined EEG pattern is manifest even in the face of the long-lasting psychological alterations observed in neurotics.     

Relationship of ploidy and chromatin condensation in the rat liver,moreover a comparison of the nuclear texture in sections and touch preparations

Summary In touch preparations and tissue sections from normal rat hepatocytes and -amanitine- and actinomycind-poisoned liver cells the extent of chromatin condensation relatively to the degree of ploidy and the chromatin distribution were studied by means of computer aided cytophotometry. It could be found, that the relationship of the condensed and decondensed chromatin is independent of the degree of ploidy and first of all dependent upon the intoxicant. Therefore, the extent of chromatin condensation can be utilized also in sections as additional parameter for automated cell screening.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Sonderforschungsbereich 105