Biosynthesis of methylphosphomannosyl residues in the oligosaccharides of Dictyostelium discoideum glycoproteins. Evidence that the methyl group is derived from methionine

The phosphorylated oligosaccharides of Dictyostelium discoideum contain methylphosphomannosyl residues which are stable to mild-acid and base hydrolysis (Gabel, C. A., Costello, C. E., Reinhold, V. N., Kurtz, L., and Kornfeld, S. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 13762-13769). Here we present evidence that these methyl groups are derived from [methyl-3H]methionine, in vivo and [methyl-3H]S-adenosylmethionine in vitro. About 18% of the macromolecules secreted from vegetative cells labeled with [methyl-3H]methionine are released by digestion with preparations of endoglycosidase/peptide N-glycosidase F. The majority of the released molecules are sulfated, anionic high mannose-type oligosaccharides. Strong acid hydrolysis of the [3H]methyl-labeled molecules yields [3H]methanol with kinetics of release similar to those found for the generation of Man-6-P from chemically synthesized methylphosphomannose methylglycoside. Treatment of the [3H]methyl-labeled molecules with a phosphodiesterase from Aspergillus niger which is known to cleave this phosphodiester also releases [3H]methanol from a portion of the oligosaccharides. In vitro incorporation of [methyl-3H]S-adenosylmethionine into endogenous acceptors found in membrane preparations shows that the [3H]methyl group of the methylphosphomannose residues can be derived from this molecule.     

Fever in rats during normal and dehydrated conditions

The effect of endogenous pyrogen (EP, from rabbit) and endotoxin (Salmonella typhosa) on rectal temperature (Tre) was investigated in normal and dehydrated rats of both sexes. Intraperitoneal injection of either EP or endotoxin did not affect body temperature. In addition, no changes in Tre were observed when endotoxin was injected intravenously in normally hydrated male rats, but significant falls in Tre occurred in normal female rats. However, intravenous injection of EP produced fever in both sexes, but females generally showed smaller responses. A second intravenous injection of endotoxin, given 3 days after the first injection, always produced fever in normally hydrated rats. The pattern of this febrile response was monophasic. In contrast to the response in normal rats, intravenous endotoxin produced significant fevers with a biphasic pattern in dehydrated rats of either sex, but the febrile responses of male rats were greater than those of female rats. On the other hand, there were no significant differences between febrile responses to intravenous EP exhibited by normal and dehydrated animals. These results show that rats of both sexes possess physiological mechanisms capable of producing a fever following intravenous injections of EP.     

A two-sample test sensitive to crossing hazards in uncensored and singly censored data

Savage score statistics are employed to develop a test for comparing survival distributions with right-hand singly censored data. The procedure is motivated by the interest in developing a powerful method for determining differences when true survival distributions cross. Examination of small-sample characteristics under the null hypothesis indicate that asymptotic critical values yield a slightly conservative test. Power of the test compares favorably with other criteria, including the modified Smirnov procedure, particularly if there is a single crossing of the survival curves.     

Theoretical analysis of the relation between the cell state and pathways of carbon isotope fractionation in metabolic processes

On a dynamic model of fractionation of carbon isotopes in the living cell there are considered relationships between the distribution of carbon isotopes in the structures approximating basic biochemical fractions, their isotopic composition and parameters characterizing the dynamics of carbon metabolism, i.e. efficient carbon isotope separation factor in pyruvate enzymic decarboxylation, degree of its transformation at primary and secondary decarboxylation and ratios between the currents of carbon substrates. A wide range of variations of cell isotope parameters resulting from the change of its functional states was revealed. Possible applications of the relationships observed for studying biological systems are shown.     

Seed survival and seasonal pattern of seedling emergence in some Leguminosae

Seeds of 11 species of Leguminosae were collected, usually in each of 3 years, and mixed with the top 7·5 cm of sterilised soil confined in cylinders sunk in the ground outdoors and cultivated three times yearly. Emergence was recorded for at least 3 yr. Some seedlings of all species emerged soon after sowing but their numbers varied both within and between species, a probable reflection of the percentage of ‘hard’ seeds in the samples. Appreciable numbers of seedlings appeared in the following 3 yr but few seeds remained viable and dormant after 5 yr. The annual weed Vicia hirsuta was an exception, with an average of 11% of the seeds sown still viable at this time. Most seedlings of Lotus corniculatus, Medicago lupulina, Melilotus altissima, Trifolium repens and Vicia cracca emerged in spring, V. cracca rather later than the others. In contrast, maximum emergence of Trifolium arvense, T. campestre and T. dubium took place from June to September. Limited data indicated a similar pattern for T. striatum and Lathyrus pratensis. Seedlings of Vicia hirsuta emerged from October to May but scarcely at all in summer. Although variation in the percentage of hard seeds influenced the extent of immediate germination and seed persistence, the seasonal patterns in seedling emergence of most species were found to be very consistent.     

Discrepancies among published amino acid sequences of soybean leghemoglobins: experimental evidence against cultivar differences as the sources of the discrepancies

Despite discrepancies among charged amino acid residues in published amino acid sequences, isoelectric focusing experiments failed to detect varietal differences in soybean leghemoglobins a, c1, c2, or c3. Leghemoglobins from 69 domesticated soybean (Glycine max) cultivars and plant introductions and 18 wild soybean (Glycine soja) plant introductions were compared; the sources included soybean cultivars used by research groups in obtaining amino acid sequences and most of the ancestors of North American soybean cultivars. Thus, at least some of the discrepancies among published amino acid sequences of soybean leghemoglobins are due to sequencing difficulties rather than structural differences among the leghemoglobins used by different research groups.     

Inheritance of a vestigial wing mutation in the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica

Alfalfa weevils (Hypera postica (Gyllenhal)) with vestigial hind wings were discovered in a population from Wageningen, the Netherlands, and two populations from the United States—an eastern weevil strain from Beltsville, Maryland and an Egyptian weevil strain from Atascadero, California. Such a mutant was absent from 23 other populations surveyed in the United States—three from eastern, seven from western, and 13 from Egyptian weevil strains. This mutation is due to a dominant autosomal gene with normal-wing individuals as recessive. The mutant gene can be transferred from eastern weevil to the western weevil strain. The short-wing trait may be useful for genetic manipulation to control the alfalfa weevil.

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Résumé Des H. postica aux ailes postérieures vestigiales ont été découverts dans une population de Wageningen (Pays Bas) et deux des USA—une lignée orientale de Beltsville (Maryland) et une lignée de H. brunneipennis d'Atascadero (Californie). Ce mutant était absent de 23 autres populations examinées aux USA: 3 de l'est, 7 de l'ouest et 13 de H. brunneipennis. Cette mutation est due à un gène dominant antosomal avec aile normale comme récessif. Le gêne mutant peut être transféré des lignées orientales aux lignées occidentales. Le caractère aile courte peut être pratique pour les manipulations génétiques destinées à maîtriser les populations d'H. postica.

     

A new species of the lichen genusDiploschistes from Australia

Diploschistes hensseniae Lumbsch & Elix is described as new to science. It is characterized by its terricolous habitat, perithecioid closed ascomata, relatively small spores, cylindrical asci, and the presence of diploschistesic and orsellinic acids in addition to lecanoric acid. It occurs on soil in arid regions of Australia.     

Determination of correction factors of 3H-β-self-absorption for quantitative evaluation of grain number in autoradiographic studies

Summary Deparaffinized and Feulgen-stained sagittal sections of the mouse brain were studied interferometrically in order to measure optical path differences of euchromatin and heterochromatin of various cell types. Furthermore, the ratio eu-: heterochromatin of each cell type was determined. From these data mass densities of karyoplasm and, finally, correction factors of ³H--self-absorption were calculated for comparing grain numbers of different cell types in quantitative autoradiographic studies after application of tritium-labelled substances. Remarkable differences of correction factors up to a factor of 2.18 were found. Furthermore, the actual section thickness was determined interferometrically. A reduction to about 0.60 of the microtome setting was measured in two different areas of the brain. Using mass densities together with actual section thickness correction factors for a thickness of 1 m were calculated. This was done also for cell types outside the brain the data of which were taken from literature. Thus, differences in correction factors up to about a factor of 4 were found pointing out the importance of considering ³H--self-absorption in quantitative autoradiographic studies.Dedicated to the sixtieth birthday of Prof. Dr. Brigitte Maurer-Schultze, Würzburg.