Chydorus arcticus n.sp., a new cladoceran crustacean (Chydoridae: Chydorinae) from the North Atlantic arctic and Subarctic areas

Chydorus arcticus n.sp. (Cladocera: Chydoridae: Chydorinae) is described, figured, and differentiated from the closely relatedC. sphaericus (O.F. Müller, 1785). The known distribution of the species is given, and some aspects of speciation of arctic crustaceans are pointed out.     

Crystallization and preliminary x-ray diffraction studies of recombinant human interleukin-1 beta

Recombinant human interleukin-1 beta has been crystallized into a tetragonal cell. The unit cell constants are a = b = 54.9 A, c = 76.8 A, and alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees. The crystals diffract to better than 1.9 A and are suitable for high resolution data collection. The crystallization conditions and general crystal data are presented.     

Isotype concentrations of human antibodies to Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide (Hib) in young adults immunized with the polysaccharide as such or conjugated to a protein (diphtheria toxoid)

Antibody responses of young adults to Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide (Hib) or its protein conjugate were studied with special attention to the isotype composition of the antibodies. Three conclusions of interest can be made: 1) Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in polysaccharide-immunized volunteers displayed the subclass pattern previously found in antibodies to meningococcal type A polysaccharide. IgG1 was the predominant subclass in IgG antibodies of some individuals, IgG2 in others. Still others had the two subclasses in varying but more even proportions. 2) The conjugate vaccine induced a geometric mean response 2 to 3 times higher and an IgG response 4 times higher to Hib than the polysaccharide vaccine. 3) Anti-Hib antibodies induced by the conjugate vaccine still had essentially the same IgG subclass composition as anti-Hib antibodies induced by the polysaccharide. This composition was strikingly different from the composition of the anti-diphtheria toxoid response induced by the same conjugate vaccine.     

Macromolecules in the receptor lymph of campaniform sensilla

Summary The receptor lymph of campaniform sensilla on the halteres of the blowfly, Calliphora vicina, was analyzed histochemically. Acid mucopolysaccharides were demonstrated by a test for iron-binding capacity (Hale-reaction). Further characterization by enzyme treatment showed that the receptor lymph contains hyaluronic acid and/or chondroitin sulfate. Ultrahistochemical studies gave evidence for glycoproteins in the inner and outer receptor lymph space. The significance of acid mucopolysaccharides for arthropod sensilla is discussed.     

Osmoregulation in Escherichia coli by accumulation of organic osmolytes: betaines,glutamic acid,and trehalose

Like other cyanobacteria, Chlorogloeopsis fritschii contained as major lipid classes monogalactosyldiacyl-glycerols, digalactosyldiacylglycerols, sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerols and diacylglycerophosphoglycerols. In addition to these lipid classes this cyanobacterium also contained small amounts of diacylglycerophosphocholines and sterols, predominantly lanosterol, thus showing similarity to photosynthetic eukaryotes. Dark incubated cells contained larger proportions of the latter two lipid classes than light grown cells. Like other prokaryotes, C. fritschii lacked linolenic acid (18:3) in its lipids. Lipids from the thylakoids were richer in palmitoleic acid (16:1) than those of whole cells. There was no effect of light on the patterns of constituent fatty acids of lipids from C. fritschii, in contrast to photosynthetic eukaryotes.Abbreviations MGDG Monogalactosyldiacylglycerols - PA Phosphatidic acids - PE Diacylglycerophosphoethanolamines - PG Diacylglycerophosphoethanolamines - DGDG Digalactosyldiacylglycerols - SQDG Sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerols - PC Diacylglycerophosphocholines     

An acridine-linked oligodeoxynucleotide targeted to the common 5' end of trypanosome mRNAs kills cultured parasites

Anti-messenger oligodeoxynucleotides covalently linked to an intercalating agent were tested for their ability to inhibit translation of Trypanosoma brucei mRNAs in a cell-free system. The sequence of these oligodeoxynucleotides was complementary to part of the 35-nucleotide (nt) sequence which is present at the 5' end of all trypanosome mRNAs (the so-called mini-exon sequence). In a rabbit reticulocyte lysate, a nonadeoxynucleotide linked to an acridine derivative, specifically inhibited protein synthesis from T. brucei mRNAs much more efficiently than unmodified oligodeoxynucleotides of similar length. These oligodeoxynucleotides were tested on cultured trypanosomes. The acridine-linked nonadeoxynucleotide had a lethal effect on the parasites. No effect was observed with the homologous unmodified 9-mer nor with those 9-mers linked to the acridine derivative which were not complementary to the mini-exon sequence. These effects are probably a result of hybrid formation between the anti-messenger and mini-exon sequence. Trypanocidal activity of the acridine-modified nonadeoxynucleotide is most likely due to (i) increased affinity for its target, (ii) improved resistance to 3' exonucleases, and (iii) promoted membrane penetration of living parasites.     

Phleomycin resistance as a dominant selectable marker for plant cell transformation

Tobacco cells are sensitive to bleomycin and phleomycin. The Tn5 and the Streptoalloteichus hindustanus (Sh) bleomycin resistance (Ble) genes conferring resistance to these antibiotics have each been inserted into two plant expression vectors. They are flanked by the nopaline synthase (nos) or the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoters on one side, and by the nos polyadenylation signal on the other. These four chimaeric genes were introduced into the binary transformation vector pGA 492, which were thereafter mobilized into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA 4404. The resulting strains were used to transform Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi nc using the leaf disc transformation procedure. In all cases, phleomycin- and bleomycin-resistant tobacco plants were regenerated from transformed cells under selective conditions; however the highest frequency of rooted plants was obtained when transformation was carried out with the Sh Ble gene under the control of the 35S promoter. Phleomycin resistance was stably transmitted to sexual offspring as a dominant nuclear trait as confirmed by Southern blotting.     

Regeneration of plants from hypocotyl protoplasts of rapessed (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera) cultivars

Protoplast cultures were prepared from hypocotyls of ten spring rapeseed cultivars. Protoplasts from all genotypes tested formed calli, and shoots were regenerated from calli of nine of the genotypes at frequencies varying from 15 to 76%. The regenerating cultivars fell into a high regenerating group (>60% and a low regenerating group <25%).     

Production of alkaline phosphatase by immobilized growing cells of Escherichia coli excretory mutants

Summary In continuous cultures, alkaline phosphatase was synthesised and excreted for more than 250 h by immobilized growing cells in contrast to free cells for which the excretion decreased after 150 h of culture. This observed increase in alkaline phosphatase synthesis and excretion by immobilized cells may have resulted from growing conditions within the gel beads.Offprint requests to: C. Manin     

Extracellular and cell-bound lipase activity in relation to growth of Geotrichum candidum

Summary The imperfect fungus Geotrichum candidum produced extracellular lipase in a basic peptone-salt medium. By adding olive oil or Tween 80 to the basic medium the lipase yields could be enhanced and the maximal yields were found with Tween 80, which resulted in a sixfold increase in extracellular lipase activity as compared with basic medium. During the early phase of growth in medium with olive oil the proportion of cell-bound activity was higher than that of extracellular activity, and a delay in the secretion of extracellular lipase was found. The proportion of cell-bound activity from growth in basic medium and in basic medium with Tween 80 was lower than that of extracellular activity during the entire growth phase. Analyses by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the lipase activity from growth in all three media could be ascribed to equivalent protein bands at 57 000 and 61 000 daltons. Immunodiffusion showed that the cell-bound preparation contained lipase that was immunologically identical with purified extracellular lipase from G. candidum.