New Gene Crt(Curly Roots) Controlling Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Root Development

Using ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) treatment of the seeds ofline SGE, a new mutant of pea (Pisum sativum L.) with alterationsin root development was obtained. The mutant phenotype dependson the density of the growth substrate: on sand (a high densitysubstrate) the mutant forms a small compact curly root systemwhereas on vermiculite (a low density substrate) differencesbetween the root systems of the mutant and wild type plantsare less pronounced. Genetic analysis revealed that the mutantcarries a mutation in a new pea gene designedcrt (curly roots).Gene crt has been localized in pea linkage group V. The mutantline named SGEcrt showed increased sensitivity to exogenousauxin and an increased concentration of endogenous indole-3-aceticacid (IAA) in comparison with the wild type line SGE. Copyright2000 Annals of Botany Company Pisum sativum L., root development, garden pea mutant, curly roots, auxin, environmental stimulus response     

Effect of precursors on biosynthesis of monensins A and B

Precursors of monensins (acetate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate) affect the total production and the relative proportion of monensins A and B. Addition of propionate into the fermentation medium causes a prevalence of monensin B whereas butyrate and isobutyrate stimulate the production of monensin A and suppress the production of monensin B.     

Profile of the alpha-bungarotoxin-binding regions on the extracellular part of the alpha-chain of Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor.

The continuous alpha-neurotoxin-binding regions on the extracellular part (residues 1-210) of the alpha-chain of Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor were localized by reaction of 125I-labelled alpha-bungarotoxin with synthetic overlapping peptides spanning this entire part of the chain. The specificity of the binding was confirmed by inhibition with unlabelled toxin and, for appropriate peptides, with unlabelled anti-(acetylcholine receptor) antibodies. Five toxin-binding regions were localized within residues 1-10, 32-41, 100-115, 122-150 and 182-198. The third, fourth and fifth (and to a lesser extent the first and second) toxin-binding regions overlapped with regions recognized by anti-(acetylcholine receptor) antibodies. The five toxin-binding regions may be distinct sites or, alternatively, different 'faces' in one (or more) sites.     

Stimulation of phagocytic function by factors inhibiting leukocyte and macrophage migration in humans

Fractions containing macrophage migration inhibition factor (MIF) and leucocyte migration inhibition factor (LIF) were obtained using Sephadex G-200 filtration from supernatant fluids of human lymphocyte cultures stimulated by PHA. The fractions were tested for the ability to affect migration and phagocytic activity of target cells. Peripheral blood leucocyte migration capacity was inhibited by the fraction with the molecular mass of 60,000-70,000 D (LIF), while migration activity of mouse peritoneal exudate cells was suppressed by the fraction with the molecular mass of 20,000-30,000 D (MIF). MIF- and LIF-containing fractions increased almost three-fold Fc-receptor-mediated phagocytic activity of neutrophils.     

Venography in the evaluation of the results of surgical treatment of varicocele in children]

The paper is concerned with analysis of the results of intraoperative phlebotesticulography, performed in 50 patients with varicocele of degree I-II during Ivanissevich's operation. The effect of surgical intervention was shown to depend upon the quality of ligation of the testicular vein, some parts of which are anastomosed between themselves. The localization of this anastomosis is revealed by means of intraoperative phlebotesticulography, which permits increasing the results of surgical treatment and predicting a course of a postoperative period.     

Selection of HLA compatible donors for patients with HLA antibodies

A strain of 1,507 typised donors enables 15.97 average donors to be selected for a thrombocyte transfusion in one of 75 patients selected at random with HLA antibodies being previously determined (1 to 66 donors per patient). HLA compatible donors were found for 72 patients (97.33 per cent). More than 5 HLA compatible donors could be found for 58 patients. The high number of compatible donors is based on the fact that among 1,507 donors there were 156 HLA homozygotes and 556 donors with 3 HLA-A or B-antigens respectively. Compatibility in the ABO-system was not taken into account.     

Massive deformation of the scrotal wall by idiopathic calcinosis of the scrotum

Idiopathic calcinosis of the scrotum is a rare disease that may cause massive deformation of the scrotal wall. The first patient we present was also known to have neurofibromatosis. In the second patient we describe, nodules of idiopathic calcinosis of the scrotum were seen with walls that evidenced no epithelial lining, as well as calcification in epithelial cysts. At present, the only possible treatment is excision, and we excised the afflicted skin without problems in primary wound closure.     

Losing the last feather: feather loss as an antipredator adaptation in birds

Birds often lose feathers during predation attempts, and thisability has evolved as a means of escape. Because predatorsare more likely to grab feathers on the rump and the back thanon the ventral side of an escaping bird, we predicted that theformer feathers would have evolved to be relatively looselyattached as an antipredator strategy in species that frequentlydie from predation. We estimated the force required to removefeathers from the rump, back, and breast by pulling featherswith a spring balance from a range of European bird speciesin an attempt to investigate ecological factors associated withease of feather loss during predation attempts. The force requiredto loosen a feather from the rump was less than that requiredto loosen a feather from back, which in turn was less than thatrequired to loosen a feather from the breast. The relative forceneeded to loosen rump feathers compared with feathers from theback and the breast was smaller for prey species preferred bythe most common predator of small passerine birds, the sparrowhawkAccipiter nisus. Likewise, the relative force was also smallerin species with a high frequency of complete tail loss amongfree-living birds, which we used as an index of the frequencyof failed predation attempts. The relative force required toremove feathers from the rump was smaller in species with ahigh frequency of fear screams, another measure of the relativeimportance of predation as a cause of death. Feather loss requiredparticularly little force among solitarily breeding bird speciesthat suffer the highest degree of predation. Antipredator defensein terms of force required to remove feathers from the rumpwas larger in species with a strong antiparasite defense interms of T-cell–mediated immune response. These findingsare consistent with the hypothesis that different defenses areantagonistic and that they are traded off against each other.