Widespread occurrence of calicin, a basic cytoskeletal protein of sperm cells, in diverse mammalian species

A novel cytoskeletal element consisting of dense webs of thin (3-14 nm) filaments surrounding the nucleus of the sperm head has recently been isolated and shown to be associated with certain major basic proteins. Using antibodies specific for calicin, a prominent Mr-60,000 cytoskeletal protein of the posterior calyx of bull sperm heads detected in immunoblotting on gel electrophoretically separated polypeptides as well as in immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy, we show that the same--or an immunologically related--polypeptide occurs in sperm heads of other species with greatly different morphology, including human, boar, guinea pig, hamster, rat and mouse. The calicin localization in the various species is described and discussed in relation to the specific sperm morphology.     

A plant protein kinase and plant microsomal H+ transport are stimulated by the ether phospholipid platelet-activating factor

ATP-dependent H⁺ transport in microsomes from zucchini hypocotyls is stimulated by the ether lipid 1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (platelet-activating factor = PAF) known as a hormone-like substance from mammals. The stimulation can only be observed when soluble cytosolic proteins are present. A soluble protein mediating the PAF-dependent H⁺ transport and a PAF-stimulated protein kinase are coeluted by DEAE-Sephacel chromatography. Stimulation of phosphorylation by PAF of a 55 kDa polypeptide without Ca²⁺ and, additionally, of a 35 kDa polypeptide in the presence of Ca²⁺ is observed in zucchini microsomal membranes. This is evidence for a novel phospholipid-stimulated protein kinase in plants. Phosphorylation of regulatory proteins may be involved in the stimulation of in vitro H⁺ transport by PAF.Abbreviations BTP 1,3-bis (tris(hydroxymethyl)-methylamino) propane - DTT dithiotreitol - EGTA ethylene glycol-bis (ß-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N,N,-tetraacetic acid - Mes 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid - PAF platelet-activating factor = 1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine - SDS sodium dodecylsulfate - TCA trichloroacetic acid     

Degradation of 1,4-dichlorobenzene by enriched and constructed bacteria

Summary Three strains, RHO1, R3 and B1, tentatively identified as a Pseudomonas sp., an Alcaligenes sp. and a Pseudomonas sp. which were able to use 1,4-dichlorobenzene as the sole carbon and energy source were isolated from water of the Rhine river and from the sewage plant at Leverkusen-Bürrig. A hybrid strain, WR1313, which uses chlorobenzene as the growth substrate, was obtained by mating the benzene-growing Pseudomonas putida strain F1 with strain B13, a Pseudomonas sp. degrading chlorocatechols. Further selection of this strain for growth on 1,4-dichlorobenzene allowed the isolation of strain WR1323. During growth on 1,4-dichlorobenzene the strains released stoichiometric amounts of chloride. The affinity of the organisms to 1,4-dichlorobenzene was measured with strain R3 showing a K_s value of 1.2 mg/l. Respiration data and enzyme activities in cell extracts as well as the isolation of 3,6-dichlorocatechol from the culture fluid are consistent with the degradation of 1,4-dichlorobenzene via 3,6-dichlorocatechol, 2,5-dichloro-cis,cis-muconate, 2-chloro-4-carboxymethylenebut-2-en-4-olide.     

Rapid detection of bacterial hygromycin B phosphotransferase in Aspergillus niger transformants

Summary A rapid method is presented for determining in vitro the activity of bacterial hygromycin B phosphotransferase expressed in Aspergillus niger transformants. Even low amounts of this enzyme can be detected with this assay. In addition, there is evidence for a correlation between phosphotransferase activity and the level of resistance to high concentrations of the antibiotic hygromycin B in A. niger transformants.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Karl Esser on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Presynaptic K-Opioid Receptors on Noradrenergic Nerve Terminals Couple to G Proteins and Interact with the α2-Adrenoceptors

Stimulation-induced noradrenaline (NA) release in rabbit hippocampus is inhibited by activation of presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptors and kappa-opioid receptors. The purpose of the present study was to investigate (a) an interference between the alpha 2- and kappa-mechanisms, and (b) a coupling of the opioid receptors to pertussis toxin (PT)-sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins), as has been previously shown for the alpha 2-receptors. [3H]NA release from hippocampal slices was evoked by electrical field stimulation (360 pulses/3 Hz). Inhibition of stimulation-evoked NA release by the preferential kappa-receptor agonist ethylketocyclazocine (EKC) was increased in the presence of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine (0.1 or 1.0 microM). When autoinhibition was completely removed, EKC (1 microM) almost abolished transmitter release. Pretreatment of hippocampal tissue with either PT (8 micrograms/ml; 18 h) or N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) (30 microM; 30 min), which has been shown to alkylate PT substrates, diminished the EKC-produced inhibition of NA release. The kappa-mechanism was still impaired by these compounds when the alpha 2-receptors were blocked with yohimbine. An effect of NEM on the active site of the kappa-receptor seems to be unlikely, because NEM diminished the EKC-induced inhibition of release irrespective of whether or not the opioid receptor was occupied by EKC during exposure to NEM. The present results suggest an interference of both alpha 2- and kappa-opioid receptor-coupled signal transduction possibly through competition for a common pool of G proteins.     

Autotrophic synthesis of activated acetic acid from two CO2 inMethanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

An in vitro system of autotropic synthesis of activated acetic acid from¹⁴CO₂ inMethanobacterium thermoautotrophicum was developed.

1. A recognized¹⁴CO₂-fixation product in vitro was activated [¹⁴C] acetic acid. It could be trapped enzymatically into citrate and released again as [¹⁴C] acetate by citrate synthase and citrate lyase, respectively.
2. The synthesis of both activated acetic acid and methane from CO₂ proceeded in parallel under a variety of conditions. Both of these processes were stimulated greatly and to the same extent by the addition of methyl coenzyme M to the assay.
3. Various inhibitors of methanogenesis tested also inhibited acetate synthesis, e.g. CH₂Cl₂, CHCl₃, CCl₄, N₂O, and bromoethane sulfonic acid. Cyanide specifically inhibited the synthesis of activated acetic acid, whereas methane formation was unaffected. Cyanide inhibition was relieved by adding CO, whereas the inhibition by the other compounds was not.

The data suggest: The product studied in vitro was acetyl CoA. Its synthesis involves intermediates of CO₂ reduction to methane. In addition, a cyanide-sensitive reaction is required which does not participate in CO₂ reduction to methane.     

Studies on the dehydration of (R)-2-hydroxyglutarate in Acidaminococcus fermentans. A radical mechanism?

The dehydration of (R)-2-hydroxyglutarate to glutaconate is catalysed by a soluble enzyme system found in extracts of Acidaminococcus fermentans. The enzyme has to be activated by ATP, NADH and MgCl₂ prior to the reaction which requires dithioerythritol, acetylphosphate and CoASH. Activity and stability of the enzyme depend on anaerobic conditions. Experiments with ATP labelled at different atoms indicated an adenylation or adenylphosphorylation during the activation. However, only the activity but not the label was removed by inactivators such as 0.1 mM 2,4-dinitrophenol or 1 mM hydroxylamine. In the presence of ATP, MgCl₂ and dithioerythritol the dehydratase was purified 2-fold by chromatography on Sephacryl S-300, but on DEAE-Sephacel all activity was lost. ESR-spectra and chemical considerations led to the conclusion that a hydroxyradical plays a central role in the mechanism of the dehydration.Abbreviations Pipes 1,4-piperazineethanesulfonic acid - DTE dithiothritol - ESR electron spin resonance     

Phylogeography and cryptic variation within the Lacerta viridis complex (Lacertidae, Reptilia)

It is well known that the current genetic pattern of many European species has been highly influenced by climatic changes during the Pleistocene. While there are many well known vertebrate examples, knowledge about squamate reptiles is sparse. To obtain more data, a range‐wide sampling of Lacerta viridis was conducted and phylogenetic relations within the L. viridis complex were analysed using an mtDNA fragment encompassing part of cytochrome b, the adjacent tRNA genes and the noncoding control region. Most genetic divergence was found in the south of the distribution range. The Carpathian Basin and the regions north of the Carpathians and Alps are inhabited by the same mitochondrial lineage, corresponding to Lacerta viridis viridis. Three distinct lineages occurred in the south‐eastern Balkans — corresponding to L. v. viridis, L. v. meridionalis, L. v. guentherpetersi— as well as a fourth lineage for which no subspecies name is available. This distribution pattern suggests a rapid range expansion of L. v. viridis after the Holocene warming, leading to a colonization of the northern part of the species range. An unexpected finding was that a highly distinct genetic lineage occurs along the western Balkan coast. Phylogenetic analyses (Bayesian, maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony) suggested that this west Balkan lineage could represent the sister taxon of Lacerta bilineata. Due to the morphological similarity of taxa within the L. viridis complex this cryptic taxon was previously assigned to L. v. viridis. The distribution pattern of several parapatric, in part highly, distinct genetic lineages suggested the existence of several refuges in close proximity on the southern Balkans. Within L. bilineata sensu stricto a generally similar pattern emerged, with a high genetic diversity on the Apennine peninsula, arguing for two distinct refuges there, and a low genetic diversity in the northern part of the range. Close to the south‐eastern Alps, three distinct lineages (L. b. bilineata, L. v. viridis, west Balkan taxon) occurred within close proximity. We suggest that the west Balkan lineage represents an early offshoot of L. bilineata that was isolated during a previous Pleistocene glacial from the more western L. bilineata populations, which survived in refuges on the Apennine peninsula.