Two atypical ANGUSTIFOLIA without a plant-specific C-terminus regulate gametophore and sporophyte shapes in the moss Physcomitrium (Physcomitrella) patens

ANGUSTIFOLIA (AN) is a plant-specific subfamily of the CtBP/BARS/AN family, characterized by a plant-specific C-terminal domain of approximately 200 amino acids. Previously, we revealed that double knockout (DKO) lines of Physcomitrium (Physcomitrella) patens ANGUSTIFOLIA genes (PpAN1-1 and PpAN1-2) show defects in gametophore height and the lengths of the seta and foot region of sporophytes, by reduced cell elongation. In addition to two canonical ANs, the genome of P. patens has two atypical ANs without a coding region for a plant-specific C-terminus (PpAN2-1 and PpAN2-2); these were investigated in this study. Similar to PpAN1s, both promoters of the PpAN2 genes were highly active in the stems of haploid gametophores and in the middle-to-basal region of young diploid sporophytes that develop into the seta and foot. Analyses of PpAN2-1/2-2 DKO and PpAN quadruple knockout (QKO) lines implied that these four AN genes have partially redundant functions to regulate cell elongation in their expression regions. Transgenic strains harboring P. patens α-tubulin fused to green fluorescent protein, which were generated from a QKO line, showed that the orientation of the microtubules in the gametophore tips in the PpAN QKO lines was unchanged from the wild-type and PpAN1-1/1-2 DKO plants. In addition to both PpAN2-1 and PpAN2-2, short Arabidopsis AN without the C-terminus of 200 amino acids could rescue the Arabidopsis thaliana an-1 phenotypes, implying AN activity is dependent on the N-terminal regions.     

Biotransformation of digitoxigenin by cell suspension cultures of Digitalis purpurea

Digitoxigenin was oxidized to digitoxigenone which was reduced to epidigitoxigenin and then glucosylated to epidigitoxigenin glucoside by cell cultures of Digitalis purpurea. The epidigitoxigenin glucoside, together with digitoxigenone and epidigitoxigenin, was isolated in considerable amounts, whereas digitoxigenin glucoside could only be detected in low concentration. Furthermore, it was confirmed by TLC and HPLC that digitoxigenin was hydroxylated to periplogenin.     

Microbiological contamination in genetically modified animals and proposals for a microbiological test standard for national universities in Japan.

The Biosafety Committee of the Japanese Association of Laboratory Animal Facilities of National Universities (JALAN) investigated recent episodes of microbiological contamination in genetically modified mice (GMM), and the countermeasures taken when the contaminated GMM were introduced into animal facilities, by questionnaires addressed to 53 animal facilities belonging to JALAN and serological tests. Although almost all of the contaminated GMM were accepted with conditions such as rederivation after or before reception and housing in designated rooms, contamination with a spectrum of microorganisms was demonstrated in GMM transferred domestically and from abroad. In serological tests, Mycoplasma pulmonis, mouse parvovirus, and mouse encephalomylitis virus were detected in GMM transferred from domestic facilities and from abroad. The present results of the questionnaires and serological tests suggest that GMM are highly and widely contaminated with microorganisms compared with mice from commercial breeders. Thus, we propose a microbiological requirement, including microbiological status--excellent, common, and minimum--as a guide for the transfer and procurement of mice and rats in Japan.     

Purification and properties of sterol: UDPG glucosyltransferase in cell culture of Digitalis purpurea

Sterol: UDPG glucosyltransferase was isolated for the first time from cell culture. Digitalis purpurea cultured cells had 2–5 times higher activity than that of the original plant. The enzyme in the particulate fraction was purified 70.2-fold from cell culture and 76-fold from the plant by cellular fractionation and column chromatography. The properties of purified enzyme from cultured cells were similar to those of the enzyme from the intact plant. The substrate specificity was the highest for a phytosterol.     

Action spectrum of phototaxis in a cryptomonad alga, Cryptomonas sp.

The action spectrum of the positive topo-phototaxis in Cryptomonaswas determined by photometry in the region of 400 to 680 nmat a stimulus intensity of 8.3 ? 10^–11 Einsteins cm^–2sec^–1. The action spectrum had a main peak at about 560nm unlike peaks for most other flagellated algae. Blue lightwas not very effective and red light above 640 nm had not effect. Swimming rates of individual organisms were measured by darkfield photomicrography. We concluded that the photokinetic effectwas negligible. Among the component pigments of this alga, phycoerythrin hadan absorption spectrum whose main peak appeared to coincidewith that of the phototactic action spectrum. (Received October 31, 1973; )     

Isolation of a naturally occurring inhibitor for dark Pfr reversion from etiolated Pisum epicotyls

The in vitro reversion of Pfr to Pr in the dark was preventedby adding the low molecular weight fraction obtained from aSephadex G-50 column chromatogram to the crude homogenate ofetiolated pea epicotyl tissues, and by the methanolic and boilingaquous extracts of the tissue. The degree of inhibition of darkPfr reversion was related to the logarithmic concentrationsof the methanol-extractable material. The active substance washighly soluble in water-saturated n-butanol; but not in chloroform,ethyl acetate, n-hexane, benzene and pure n-butanol. Thus, alow molecular substance(s) which can inhibit dark Pfr reversionwas indicated to be contained in pea epicotyl tissues. (Received January 28, 1975; )