Factor interactions with the simian virus 40 early pre-mRNA influence branch site selection and alternative splicing.

To study the interaction of splicing factors with the simian virus 40 early-region pre-RNA, which can be alternatively spliced to produce large T and small t mRNAs, we used an in vitro RNase protection assay that defines the 5' boundaries of factor-RNA interactions. Protection products reflecting factor interactions with the large T and small t 5' splice sites and with the multiple lariat branch site region were characterized. All protection products were detected very early in the splicing reaction, before the appearance of spliced RNAs. However, protection of the large T 5' splice site was detected well before small t 5' splice site and branch site protection products, which appeared simultaneously. Oligonucleotide-targeted degradation of small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) revealed that protection of the branch site region, which occurred at multiple sites, required intact U2 snRNA and was enhanced by U1 snRNA, while protection of the large T and small t 5' splice sites required both U1 and U2 snRNAs. Analysis of several pre-RNAs containing mutations in the branch site region suggests that factor interactions involving the multiple copies of the branch site consensus determine the selection of branch points, which is an important factor in the selection of alternative splicing pathways.     

Influence of sucrose concentration and phosphate limitation on citric acid production by immobilized cells of Aspergillus niger

Summary Immobilized cells of Aspergillus niger needed a lower initial sucrose concentration than free cells in order to obtain maximal yields of citric acid production. High sucrose concentrations led to reduced yields and increased polyol formation (glycerol, erythritol, arabitol). Continuous fermentation with media containing low sugar concentrations prevented the formation of polyols. The change from nitrogen-limited to phosphate-limited precultivation of immobilized spores significantly increased the productivity of the mycelium. The ratio of citric acid to residual sugar in the effluent distinctly lay in the direction of citric acid. Inside the alginate beads mainly large bulbous cells were observed.     

IgG from antiserum against endogenous mammalian FMRF-NH2-related peptides augments morphine- and stress-induced analgesia in mice

Two mammalian FMRF-NH2-like peptides have been isolated from bovine brain; an octapeptide with the structure Phe-Leu-Phe-Gln-Pro-Gln-Arg-Phe-NH2 (F-8-F-NH2) and an octadecapeptide, Ala-Gly-Glu-Gly-Leu-Ser-Ser-Pro-Phe-Trp-Ser-Leu-Ala-Ala-Pro-Gln-Arg-Phe- NH2 (A-18-F-NH2). In the present study determinations were made of the effects of intracerebroventricular administration of IgG prepared from antisera raised against these peptides on nociception and morphine- and immobilization-induced opioid analgesia in mice. Both F-8-F-NH2-IgG and A-18-F-NH2-IgG antisera increased nociception (thermal response latency) and significantly augmented morphine- and immobilization-induced analgesia in a naloxone reversible manner, with F-8-F-NH2-IgG antisera having a greater effect than A-18-F-NH2-IgG antisera. These results provide further evidence that mammalian FMRF-NH2-like peptides function as endogenous opiate antagonists and have a role in the mediation of antinociception.     

草芍药,野牡丹和黄牡丹的核型研究

本文报道了国产芍药属(Paeonia L.)植物草芍药、野牡丹和黄牡丹的染色体数目及核型,均为2n=10=6m 2sm 2st,它们分别具2、3和4对次缢痕,所具次缢痕的数目和位置可以作三种核型的区别特征。     

仙茅属三个国产种的核型研究

本文报道了中国产三种仙茅植物的核型。1.绒叶仙茅Curculigo crassifolia (Baker) Hook. f., 2n=2x=18=10m(4SAT) 8 sm;2.大叶仙茅C.capitulata(Lour.)O. Kuntze,2n=2x=18=10(2SAT) 8sm;3.中华仙茅C.sinensis S.C.Chen,2n=2x=18=8m(3SAT) 10sm(2SAT)。其中中华仙茅的核型为首次报道。虽然三种仙茅的核型都是“2B”型,但中华仙茅的核型不对称性比绒叶仙茅和大叶仙茅强。     

普通小麦栽培品种丰抗13的4B—1D染色体易位的鉴定

通过细胞学观察,在普通小麦栽培品种“丰抗13”和“京红1号”的杂交后代中,发现有多价体出现,这就表明有染色体易位发生。为进一步弄清究竟是哪条染色体发生了易位,我们采用单体测交方法,观察鉴定所有各单体系F_1的花粉母细胞第一次减数分裂中期Ⅰ(以下简称PMCs中Ⅰ)染色体构型。从鉴定结果发现,凡2n=42的F_1 PMCs中Ⅰ出现19~Ⅱ 1~Ⅳ,而2n=41的F_1PMCs中Ⅰ的染色体构型不同,单体与易位有关的两个单体系4B和1D F_1 PMCs中的Ⅰ构型中有部分呈现为19个二价体加1个三价体,即19~Ⅱ 1~Ⅲ,没有单价体,而其余各单体系F_1 PMCs中Ⅰ构型则表现为18个二价体,1个四价体和1个单价体,即18~Ⅱ 1~Ⅰ 1~Ⅳ。因此,可以肯定“丰抗13”存在1个染色体易位,其有关染色体就是4B和1D。     

眼镜蛇科蛇毒对S180,EAC腹水癌治疗作用研究

本文报道金环蛇、扁颈蛇、眼镜蛇、银环蛇蛇毒及其细胞毒对小鼠S180,EAC腹水癌的治疗作用。结果表明,蛇毒及其细胞毒在体外有明显杀灭癌细胞作用,体内有较明显的治疗作用,动物存活时间延长,接种率降低。肿瘤细胞呈现不同程度形态变化,主要为膜破裂,坏死等。治疗效应由强到弱为金环蛇毒,扁颈蛇毒,金环蛇细胞毒,眼镜蛇毒,眼镜蛇细胞毒。银环蛇毒无作用。     

Higher order structure is present in the yeast nucleus: autoantibody probes demonstrate that the nucleolus lies opposite the spindle pole body

A panel of sera from 892 autoimmune patients was screened by indirect immunofluorescence on mammalian cells. Seventy-three sera were identified that recognize the nucleolus. Three of these sera appear to stain the nucleolus in yeast, suggesting that they recognize highly conserved antigens. These three sera also immunoprecipitate mammalian U3 snRNA-containing particles, which reside in the nucleolus and have been implicated in rRNA processing. Double immunofluorescence experiments with anti-nucleolus and anti-tubulin antibodies revealed a novel form of non-random nuclear organization in yeast. The spindle pole body and the nucleolus — both of which are associated with the nuclear envelope — preferentially localize at opposite ends of the nucleus. Organization of these and other components into specific regions of the nucleus may be important for optimizing their proper function.     

Nonparametric confidence interval estimators for heritability and expected selection response

Statistical methods have not been described for comparing estimates of family-mean heritability (H) or expected selection response (R), nor have consistently valid methods been described for estimating R intervals. Nonparametric methods, e.g., delete-one jackknifing, may be used to estimate variances, intervals, and hypothesis test statistics in estimation problems where parametric methods are unsuitable, nonrobust, or undefinable. Our objective was to evaluate normal-approximation jackknife interval estimators for H and R using Monte Carlo simulation. Simulations were done using normally distributed within-family effects and normally, uniformly, and exponentially distributed between-family effects. Realized coverage probabilities for jackknife interval (2) and parametric interval (5) for H were not significantly different from stated probabilities when between-family effects were normally distributed. Coverages for jackknife intervals (3) and (4) for R were not significantly different from stated coverages when between-family effects were normally distributed. Coverages for interval (3) for R were occasionally significantly less than stated when between-family effects were uniformly or exponentially distributed. Coverages for interval (2) for H were occasionally significantly less than stated when between-family effects were exponentially distributed. Thus, intervals (3) and (4) for R and (2) for H were robust. Means of analysis of variance estimates of R were often significantly less than parametric values when the number of families evaluated was 60 or less. Means of analysis of variance estimates of H were consistently significantly less than parametric values. Means of jackknife estimates of H calculated from log transformed point estimates and R calculated from untransformed or log transformed point estimates were not significantly different from parametric values. Thus, jackknife estimators of H and R were unbiased. Delete-one jackknifing is a robust, versatile, and effective statistical method when applied to estimation problems involving variance functions. Jackknifing is especially valuable in hypothesis test estimation problems where the objective is comparing estimates from different populations.