Linear oligopeptides: 65′. Conformational analysis of the N-protected aromatic α-amino acid N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-l-phenylalanine by X-ray diffraction and infrared absorption

The X-ray diffraction and i.r. absorption conformational analysis of $\text{N}\text{-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-}\text{l}\text{-phenylalanine}$ has showed the absence of intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded peptide conformations in the solid state. The molecules are held together in rows of ‘cyclic dimer’ motifs through intermolecular NH … OC (acid) and OH … OC {urethane} hydrogen bonds, the secondary amide-like group of the urethane moiety being in the unusual cis conformation, whereas the carboxylic acid group in the common syn conformation. The two molecules in the unit cell present a centrosymmetric set of ?, ψ¹, and ψ² values. In polar solvents solvated species largely predominate. In saturated hydrocarbon solution non-associated and associated (mostly involving the carboxylic acid CO as the proton acceptor) species simultaneously occur. The extent of association decreases with dilution. The amount of intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded oxy-C₇ and C₅ forms if any, should be extremely small. The type of association at saturation seems to differ from that found in the crystalline compound obtained by precipitation with saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons (from a diethyl ether solution).     

Double helical arrangement of spread dinoflagellate chromosomes

Dinoflagellate chromosomes observed in thin section show regular patterns which have been shown to correspond to a liquid crystalline helicoidal arrangement of DNA. Peripheral DNA filaments form a system of loops in the surrounding nucleoplasm. When such chromosomes (studied in Prorocentrum micans) are in presence of water, they extend considerably and form a double helical bundle. At the periphery of these bundles, one observes numerous filaments, which are smooth and devoid of nucleosomes; their diameter is constant.This study, in phase contrast and in electron microscopy, allows statistical measurements. A geometrical model is proposed and shows the simplest way to pass from the intact to the extended form. The liquid crystalline character of the chromosome is probably involved in the extension mechanisms.     

Sialyl-transferase mitochondriale

A sialyl transferase activity is found in purified mitochondria. It is not due to residual contamination and this enzymatic system is located in the outer mitochondrial membrane. This proves mitochondrial autonomy in regard to glycoconjugate sialylation.     

Occurrence of subcutaneous zygomycosis (Entomophthoromycosis Basidiobolae) caused by Basidiobolus haptosporus with pulmonary involvement

A case of a two-year-old boy with multiple subcutaneous lesions caused by Basidiobolus haptosporus is presented.The child had also a non-toxic familial goiter and clinical and radiological features of a pulmonary illness. The pulmonary manifestations only disappeared with the treatment with potassium iodide. The authors think that the pulmonary lesions must have arisen by direct spread of the fungus from the subcutaneous lesions of the chest.     

Triplex gene dosage effect for β-glucronidase and possible assignment to band q22 in a partial duplication 7q

Summary A 2-year-old girl had a de novo duplication in the long arm of one chromosome 7 and an increased level of the enzyme -glucuronidase in cultured fibroblasts. The phenotype of the girl partly overlaps those of two presumptive syndromes due to secondary partial trisomies 7q. The ratio of the enzyme activity was 1.43 to the controls, and 1.37 to her parent's values. We could not define the abnormality but suggest two alternatives: either the patient is trisomic for region q112 to q22 or for the region q22 to q34. If the second alternative is correct the locus for -glucuronidase is possibly assigned to band 7q22.     

A Romanian-American dialogue

Conclusion These American anthropological studies both reflect and distort our own Romanian-conceptions. Paradoxically, this gives both Romanian and American researchers an opportunity to verify their validity and reliability. The studies are notable for their multiplicity of theoretical approaches to Romanian reality: each author brings in something new by way of interpretation and, at the same time, maintains a dialectical conception as a methodological frame of reference.The authors are certainly conversant with present and future strategies of development in Romania. But their main problem is that they do not always understand the spirit of the latter and consequently fail to interpret contemporary Romanian realities in a deeply humanistic way.And now, some proposals. For a more active dialogue between Romanian and American scientists I suggest a more comprehensive use of the Romanian sources of information, including historical, beletristic, sociological, and political works. With reference to their reflections on history, the American anthropologists could have discussions with Romanian historians, and could use Romanian historical periodization, especially for the contemporary period. For us, the following sequence is basic: the moment of the armed insurrection as the beginning of the popular democratic revolution (August 23, 1944); proclamation of a Peoples' Republic of Romania (December 30, 1947); unification of Social Democratic Party with the Communist Party to form the Romanian Workers Party (Spring 1948); at this time it is possible to speak of a socialist revolution. The analysis of the Americans should take into consideration these important dates in Romanian history and structure their studies accordingly. Sometimes they must pay more attention to the affective connotation of words, especially for a Romanian reader. Such words would be, for example, their use of elite, rather than leaders, bureaucracy rather than administration, pressure rather than social necessities with the consciousness of development, patronclient instead of using interpersonal relations with mutual benefit, etc.I would also urge that substantive discussions between Romanians and Americans begin, built around specific topics of mutual interest, rather than ceremonial meetings which occur when the parties have neither the language skills, data nor social conceptions to interact fruitfully.I suggest to the American researchers that they maintain and strengthen their contacts with Romanian administrators at local, regional and national levels, so that their studies may contribute to our social praxis.Finally, the Americans should always take into account the economic constraints that shape political, juridical, moral, and philosophical phenomena, and try also to grasp more fully the interaction between elements of the superstructure and between superstructure and base in contemporary Romanian socialist society.Above all, along with Professor Cole , I hope that the scientific effort at interpreting Romanian reality, with its lights and shadows, will be used only for reciprocal knowledge and cooperation.Maria Cobianu-Bacanu is Scientific Researcher at the Center for Sociology, Academy of Social and Political Sciences, Bucharest, Romania.

---

     

Effects of Chlorine Concentration on the Structure of Poliovirus

Chlorine concentrations below 0.8 mg/liter inactivated poliovirus without causing separation of the viral components. These results indicate that the release of RNA from the capsids is the result, not the cause, of virus inactivation by chlorine.     

Mitochondrial DNA evolution in lagomorphs: Origin of systematic heteroplasmy and organization of diversity in European rabbits

Summary A characterization was conducted on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecules extracted separately from 107 European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) both wild and domestic, 13 European hares (Lepus capensis), and 1 eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus). Experimentally this study took into account restriction site polymorphism, overall length variation of the noncoding region, and numbers of repeated sequences. Nucleotide divergences indicate that the mtDNAs from the three species derived from a common ancestor some 6–8 million years (Myr) ago. Every animal appeared heteroplasmic for a set of molecules with various lengths of the noncoding region and variable numbers of repeated sequences that contribute to them. This systematic heteroplasmy, most probably generated by a rate of localized mtDNA rearrangements high enough to counterbalance the cellular segregation of rearranged molecules, is a shared derived character of leporids.The geographic distribution of mtDNA polymorphism among wild rabbit populations over the western European basin shows that two molecular lineages are represented, one in southern Spain, the second over northern Spain, France, and Tunisia. These two lineages derived from a common ancestor some 2 Myr ago. Their present geographical distribution may be correlated to the separation of rabbits into two stocks at the time of Mindel glaciation.Finally the distribution of mtDNA diversity exhibits a mosaic pattern both at inter- and intrapopulation levels.     

A repetitive DNA element,associated with telomeric sequences in Drosophila melanogaster,contains open reading frames

He-T sequences are a complex repetitive family of DNA sequences in Drosophila that are associated with telomeric regions, pericentromeric heterochromatin, and the Y chromosome. A component of the He-T family containing open reading frames (ORFs) is described. These ORF-containing elements within the He-T family are designated T-elements, since hybridization in situ with the polytene salivary gland chromosomes results in detectable signal exclusively at the chromosome tips. One T-element that has been sequenced includes ORFs of 1,428 and 1,614 bp. The ORFs are overlapping but one nucleotide out of frame with respect to each other. The longer ORF contains cysteine-histidine motifs strongly resembling nucleic acid binding domains of gag-like proteins, and the overall organization of the T-element ORFs is reminiscent of LINE elements. The T-elements are transcribed and appear to be conserved in Drosophila species related to D. melanogaster. The results suggest that T-elements may play a role in the structure and/or function of telomeres.by W. Hennig