The vertical leap ofCercopithecus aethiops sabaeus: Biomechanics and anatomy

In this study, one positional mode, the vertical leap, is selected from the larger repertoire of habitual behaviors of whichCercopithecus aethiops sabaeus is capable, and is quantitatively analyzed. A cinematographic biomechanical analysis of the vertical leap provides a view of the kinematics (time-space properties of the leap) as well as the kinetics (or force properties) of the leap. These are then discussed with regard to anatomical potential. The analysis elucidates three distinct phases of motion during which the moving body segments linked via their connecting joints, affect one another in the production of the leap. The total positional adaptation ofC. a. sabaeus may only be determined after similar analyses are performed for all postural and locomotor modes. The present detailed analysis of vertical leaping is intended to present data for this one positional mode found to be of primary importance in the arboreal environment and in moving from the ground into the trees. In addition a methodology is illustrated for application in similar primate positional studies. A version of this paper was presented at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists (March, 1974). This research was partially supported by Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research, Behavioral Science Foundation Fellowship.     

The phosphorus efficiency of three annual legumes

Summary Trifolium subterraneum, Trifolium glomeratum andOrnithopus compressus were grown in soil and solution culture at varying P concentrations. Efficiency of P utilization was determined using the following criteria: (1) The ability to produce tops dry matter with a given amount of applied P, (2) Tops dry matter produced per unit of P taken up, (3) Tops dry matter produced at a constant plant P level and (4) Phosphorus uptake per unit root weight. The order of efficiency varied according to the crieteria used. Using the agronomic definition (1), Serradella was the most efficient species at 70 days. The need to clearly define what is meant by an efficient species is demonstrated.     

The Bacillus subtilis spo0J gene: evidence for involvement in catabolite repression of sporulation.

Previous observations concerning the ability of the Bacillus subtilis bacteriophages SP10 and PMB12 to suppress mutations in spo0J and to make wild-type sporulation catabolite resistant suggested that spo0J had a role in catabolite repression of sporulation. This suggestion was supported in the present report by the ability of the catabolite-resistant sporulation mutation crsF4 to suppress a Tn917 insertion mutation of the B. subtilis spo0J locus (spo0J::Tn917 omega HU261) in medium without glucose. Although crsF4 and SP10 made wild-type B. subtilis sporulation catabolite resistant, neither crsF4 nor SP10 caused a mutant with spo0J::Tn917 omega HU261 to sporulate in medium with glucose. Sequencing the spo0J locus revealed an open reading frame that was 179 codons in length. Disruption of the open reading frame resulted in a sporulation-negative (Spo-) phenotype that was similar to those of other spo0J mutations. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of the spo0J locus indicated that the spo0J gene product contains an alpha-helix-turn-alpha-helix unit similar to the motif found in lambda Cro-like DNA-binding proteins.     

Robustness of G Proteins in Alzheimer''s Disease: An Immunoblot Study

Many of the neurotransmitter systems that are altered in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type are known to mediate their effects via G proteins, yet the integrity of guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) in Alzheimer's diseased brains has received minimal investigation. The aim of this study was to establish whether the level of G alpha subunits of five G proteins was altered in Alzheimer's disease. We used immunoblotting (Western blotting) to compare the amounts of Gi1, Gi2, GsH (heavy molecular weight), GsL (light molecular weight), and Go in the frontal cortex and hippocampus, two regions severely affected by the disease, and the cerebellum, which is less severely affected. The number of senile plaques was also quantified. We report that there was no significant difference in the level of these G alpha subunits between Alzheimer's diseased and age-matched postmortem brains. These results suggest that alterations in the amount of G protein alpha subunits are not a feature of Alzheimer's disease.     

Monitoring hairy-root growth by image analysis

Hairy roots, incited byAgrobacterium rhizogenes, form a useful system for analysing the expression and phenotypic effects of foreign genes in plant root tissue. Image analysis offers a non-invasive method of describing their growth in culture. Images of pea (coarse) andBrassica (fine) hairy roots were captured, processed and analysed without difficulty using a commercially available image analysis system. The value of this method in monitoring intermediate changes in growth pattern was illustrated by following the changes in five putatively chlorsulfuron-resistantBrassicc hairy-root lines cultured with and without a selective level of chlorsulfuron. Areas of hairy-root research where this technique will be particularly useful are discussed.     

Isolation and characterization of mutations in the gene encoding an endogenous Bacillus subtilis beta-galactosidase and its regulator.

We have isolated mutations that appear to inactivate the gene (lacA) encoding an endogenous beta-galactosidase activity in Bacillus subtilis and in a closely linked negative regulatory element (lacR). Both genes map to the hisA-thrA region. The lacA mutations may help to avoid some of the problems arising from the use of the Escherichia coli lacZ gene as a reporter gene in B. subtilis.     

The insecticidal activity of some norditerpene dilactones

The effects on housefly (Musca domestica) of six norditerpene lactones (nagilactones B, D, E, podolide, hallactone B and 14-epi-ponalactone A) in a defined diet were tested. Nagilactone D was the most active, with an LD₅₀ of 0.7 ppm. Nagilactones C and D were also toxic to light-brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana) and codling moth (Laspeyresia pomonella).The relationship between lactone structure and toxicity to housefly is discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Viele aus Podocarpus-Arten isolierte Norditerpenlactone sind für Stubenfliegen toxisch. Es wird über die Resultate der Fütterung von sechs Lactonen an die Stubenfliege in einem definierten Nährboden berichtet und die LD₅₀ von zwölf Verbindungen werden verglichen. Der aktivste Stoff ist Nagilacton mit einer LD₅₀ von 0,7 ppm. Nagilacton C und D sind auch toxisch für Epiphyas postvittana und für den Apfelwickler. Die wirksamsten Verbindungen haben eine kurze nichtpolare Seitenkette und eine elektronenreiche, funktionelle Gruppe bei C-8, ferner sind sie Epoxyalkohole in Ring-A. Diese in der Natur vorkommenden Lactone spielen wahrscheinlich eine Schutzrolle in der Pflanze.

     

Characterization and phenotypic control of the cytochrome content of Escherichia coli

1. Electron-transport particles derived from Escherichia coli grown aerobically contain three b-type cytochromes with mid-point oxidation-reduction potentials at pH7 of +260mV, +80mV and -50mV, with n=1 for each. The variation of these values with pH was determined. 2. E. coli develops a different set of b-type cytochromes when grown anaerobically on glycerol with fumarate or nitrate as terminal electron acceptor. Electron-transport particles of fumarate-grown cells contain b-type cytochromes with mid-point potentials at pH7 of +140mV and +250mV (n=1). These two cytochromes are also present in cells grown with nitrate as terminal acceptor, where an additional cytochrome b with a mid-point potential of +10mV (n=1) is developed. 3. The wavelengths of the alpha-absorption-band maxima of the b-type cytochromes at 77K were: (a) for aerobically grown cells, cytochrome b (E(m7) +260mV), 556nm and 563nm, cytochrome b (E(m7) +80mV), 556nm and cytochrome b (E(m7)-50mV), 558nm; (b) for anaerobically grown cells, cytochrome b (E(m7) +250mV), 558nm, cytochrome b (E(m7) +40mV), 555nm and cytochrome b (E(m7) +10mV), 556nm. 4. Cytochrome d was found to have a mid-point potential at pH7 of +280mV (n=1). 5. Cytochrome a(1) was resolved as two components of equal magnitude with mid-point potentials of +260mV and +160mV (n=1). 6. Redox titrations performed in the presence of CO showed that one of the b-type cytochromes in the aerobically grown cultures was reduced, even at the upper limits of our range of electrode potentials (above +400mV). Cytochrome d was also not oxidizable in the presence of CO. Neither of the cytochromes a(1) was affected by the presence of CO.