Human dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) maps to chromosome 5p15.3 and displays a VNTR.

The human dopamine transporter (DAT1) gene is localized to chromosome 5p15.3 by in situ hybridization and PCR amplification of rodent somatic cell hybrid DNA. Analysis of a 40-bp repeat in the 3' untranslated region of the message revealed variable numbers of the repeat ranging from 3 to 11 copies. These results will aid in the investigation of a role for this gene in genetic disorders of the dopaminergic system in humans.     

Climate‐driven rampant speciation of the Cape flora

Aim To test whether the radiation of the extremely rich Cape flora is correlated with marine‐driven climate change. Location Middle to Late Miocene in the south‐east Atlantic and the Benguela Upwelling System (BUS) off the west coast of South Africa. Methods We studied the palynology of the thoroughly dated Middle to Late Miocene sediments of Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 1085 retrieved from the Atlantic off the mouth of the Orange River. Both marine upwelling and terrestrial input are recorded at this site, which allows a direct correlation between changes in the terrestrial flora and the marine BUS in the south‐east Atlantic. Results Pollen types from plants of tropical affinity disappeared, and those from the Cape flora gradually increased, between 10 and 6 Ma. Our data corroborate the inferred dating of the diversification in Aizoaceae c. 8 Ma. Main conclusions Inferred vegetation changes for the Late Miocene south‐western African coast are the disappearance of Podocarpus‐dominated Afromontane forests, and a change in the vegetation of the coastal plain from tropical grassland and thicket to semi‐arid succulent vegetation. These changes are indicative of an increased summer drought, and are in step with the development of the southern BUS. They pre‐date the Pliocene uplift of the East African escarpment, suggesting that this did not play a role in stimulating vegetation change. Some Fynbos elements were present throughout the recorded period (from 11 Ma), suggesting that at least some elements of this vegetation were already in place during the onset of the BUS. This is consistent with a marine‐driven climate change in south‐western Africa triggering substantial radiation in the terrestrial flora, especially in the Aizoaceae.     

Comparison of the mutagenic activity of N-ethyl- N-nitrosourea and N-methyl- N’- nitro- N- nitrosoguanidine inLens esculenta

Mutagenic activity of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) and of N-methyl-N’-nitro-N--nitrosoguanidine (MNG) in lentil was studied. The highest proportion of segregating progenies with chlorophyll mutants and chimeric plants was 34.8% from the total number of analysed offsprings, ENU being applied in this case in the concentration of 0.005% for 20 h at 18 to 19 °C. When MNG was applied in the concentration of 0.001 % for 10h at 22 to 23 °C the proportion was 5.1%. Progenies segregating two or more chlorophyll mutants originated with ENU only; their relative frequencies varied from 1.4% to 7.1%. The number of different types of mutants or of their combinations segregating at the same time in the same progeny was shown to be dependent with the two agent tested on the mutagenic activity of the concentration used. The most efficient concentration of ENU induced the total of 8 different mutants at the same time, together with a combination of two or three mutant types in the same progeny. With MNG no combination of chlorophyll mutants in the same progeny was ever found simultaneously. The greatest number of mutants corresponding to 1 progeny M₁ was 0.53 when ENU was applied; with MNG the maximum values were approximately ten times lower. The maximum number M₂ of chlorophyll mutants and chimeric plants was 3.58% with ENU and 0.23 with MNG.     

Interaction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species with albumin- and methemoglobin-bound dinitrosyl-iron complexes.

Destructive effect of superoxide anions O2- derived from KO(2) or xanthine-xanthine oxidase system on dinitrosyl-iron complexes bound with bovine albumin or methemoglobin (DNIC-BSA or DNIC-MetHb) was demonstrated. The sensitivity of DNIC-BSA synthesized by the addition of DNIC with cysteine, thiosulfate or phosphate (DNIC-BSA-1, DNIC-BSA-2 or DNIC-BSA-3, respectively) to destructive action of O2- decreased in row: DNIC-BSA-1>DNIC-BSA-3>DNIC-BSA-2. The estimated rate constant for the reaction between O2- and DNIC-BSA-3 was equal to approximately 10(7)M(-1)s(-1). However, hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydrogenperoxide (t-BOOH) did not induce any noticeable degradation of DNIC-BSA-3 even when used at concentrations exceeding by one order of magnitude those of the complex. As to their action on DNIC-MetHb both hydrogen peroxide and t-BOOH-induced rapid degradation of the complex. Both agents could induce the process due to the effect of alkylperoxyl or protein-derived free radicals formed at the interaction of the agents with ferri-heme groups of MetHb. Peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) could also initiate protein-bound DNIC degradation more efficiently in the reaction with DNIC-BSA-3. Higher resistance of DNIC-MetHb to peroxynitrite was most probably due to the protective action of heme groups on ONOO(-). However, the analysis allows to suggest that the interaction of protein-bound DNICs with O2- is the only factor responsible for the degradation of the complexes in cells and tissues.     

Aspartic proteinase genes in the Brassicaceae Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica napus

Active aspartic proteinase is isolated from Brassica napus seeds and the peptide sequence is used to generate primers for PCR. We present here cDNA and genomic clones for aspartic proteinases from the closely related Brassicaceae Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica napus. The Arabidopsis cDNA represents a single gene, while Brassica has at least 4 genes. Like other plant aspartic proteases, the two Brassicaceae enzymes contain an extra protein domain of about 100 amino acids relative to the mammalian forms. The intron/exon arrangement in the Brassica genomic clone is significantly different from that in mammalian genes. As the proteinase is isolated from seeds, the same tissue where 2S albumins are processed, this implies expression of one of the aspartic proteinase genes there.     

CHROMOSOMES OF GRAPTOPETALUM AND THOMPSONELLA (CRASSULACEAE)

Chromosome numbers are reported for probably all 11 species of Graptopetalum (x = 30–35) and for both species of Thompsonella (x = 26). Plants of two species of Graptopetalum have gametic numbers from about 240–275, more than have been reported in any other seed plants. In hybrids the 30–35 chromosomes in the basic genome of Graptopetalum and likewise the 26 in Thompsonella apparently do not pair among themselves, and the genomes seem to be no more potent genetically than those of other species in their subfamily having as few as 12 chromosomes. Species with these gametic numbers are therefore considered to be diploid. On the other hand, in hybrids between a diploid and a plant with a very high chromosome number the phenotype of the latter predominates, and most of its chromosomes pair with each other. Many such hybrids are fertile. These facts suggest that the high polyploids arose by autoploidy rather than by alloploidy. Nevertheless, they may store heterozygosity at some gene loci and release it in various dosages and proportions each generation.     

Die Wirkung von SO2 und Bisulfitverbindungen auf Photosynthese,Ionentransport und Spaltöffnungsregulation bei Blättern von höheren Pflanzen

Das als Verbrennungsprodukt entstehende Schwefeldioxid belastet unsere Atmosphäre als Schadgas in zunehmendem Maße. Begasung von Blättern höherer Pflanzen mit SO₂ führt zu akuten (Wasseraustritt aus den Zellen in die Interzellularräume) und chronischen (Chlorophyllabbau, Nekrosen) Schädigungen. SO₂ hemmt die Photosynthese und beeinträchtigt den Mechanismus der Spaltöffnungsregulation: die Rate der Wasserdampfabgabe, CO₂-Aufnahme und SO₂-Aufnahme verläuft nach SO₂-Beimischung zur Atmosphäre in Form einer gedämpften Schwingung Bisulfitverbindungen (Bildung bei Lösung von SO₂ in Waser) wirken schon in geringen Konzentrationen (ab 0,5 mM) auf 0,5 mm dicke Blattstreifen, bevor äußerlich sichtbare Schädigungen auftreten: Die Wirkung der Bisulfitverbindungen wird als unspezifischer Membraneffekt diskutiert, dem bei höheren Konzentrationen spezifischere Enzymeffekte überlagert sein können

• a ) Hemmung der ¹⁴CO₂-Fixierung bei C₃- und C₄-Pflanzen;
• b ) Hemmung des ¹⁴C-Einbaus in die CO₂-Kurzzeit-Fixierungsprodukte, d. h. Hemmung der Synthese von 3-Phosphoglycerinsäure (3-PGS) bei C₃-Pflanzen und von Malat und Aspartat bei C₄-Pflanzen;
• c ) Steigerung der Synthese von 3-PGS bei Amaranthus durch 5 mM Glyoxal-Na-bisulfit, da CO₂ wohl direkt — nach Hemmung der Phosphoenolpyruvat-Carboxylase im Mesophyll — in den Leitbündelscheiden fixiert wird;
• d ) Verminderung des ATP-Spiegels im Licht und im Dunkeln;
• e ) Hemmung der lichtinduzierten pH-Änderungen von Blattgewebe in ungepuffertem Medium;
• f ) Hemmung der Chloridaufnahme bei C₃- und C₄-Pflanzen im Licht wie im Dunkeln

Die Wirkung der Bisulfitverbindungen wird als unspzifischer Membraneffket diskutiert, dem bei höheren Konzentrationen spzifischere Enzymeffekte überlagert sein können.