Growth and production kinetics of human x mouse and mouse hybridoma cells at reduced temperature and serum content.

The growth and production kinetics of a mouse hybridoma cell line and a human-mouse heterohybridoma were analyzed under conditions of reduced temperature and serum content. The mouse hybridoma P24 had a constant cell specific production rate and RNA content, while the heterohybridoma 3D6-LC4 showed growth associated production kinetics and an increased RNA content at higher growth rates. This behaviour of 3D6-LC4 cells can be explained by the unusual cell cycle kinetics of this line, which can be arrested in any phase under growth limiting conditions, so that a low growth rate does not result in a greater portion of high producing G1-phase cells. Substrate limitation changes the cell cycle distribution of this cell line to a greater extent than low temperature or serum content, which indicates that this stress factor exerts a greater physiological control than assumed.     

Einiges über die Vegetationsverhältnisse Pamphyliens

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

DNA-based watermarks using the DNA-Crypt algorithm

Background  

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the application of watermarks based on DNA sequences to identify the unauthorized use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) protected by patents. Predicted mutations in the genome can be corrected by the DNA-Crypt program leaving the encrypted information intact. Existing DNA cryptographic and steganographic algorithms use synthetic DNA sequences to store binary information however, although these sequences can be used for authentication, they may change the target DNA sequence when introduced into living organisms.     

Metabolite database for root,tuber, and banana crops to facilitate modern breeding in understudied crops

Roots, tubers, and bananas (RTB) are vital staples for food security in the world's poorest nations. A major constraint to current RTB breeding programmes is limited knowledge on the available diversity due to lack of efficient germplasm characterization and structure. In recent years large‐scale efforts have begun to elucidate the genetic and phenotypic diversity of germplasm collections and populations and, yet, biochemical measurements have often been overlooked despite metabolite composition being directly associated with agronomic and consumer traits. Here we present a compound database and concentration range for metabolites detected in the major RTB crops: banana (Musa spp.), cassava (Manihot esculenta), potato (Solanum tuberosum), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), and yam (Dioscorea spp.), following metabolomics‐based diversity screening of global collections held within the CGIAR institutes. The dataset including 711 chemical features provides a valuable resource regarding the comparative biochemical composition of each RTB crop and highlights the potential diversity available for incorporation into crop improvement programmes. Particularly, the tropical crops cassava, sweet potato and banana displayed more complex compositional metabolite profiles with representations of up to 22 chemical classes (unknowns excluded) than that of potato, for which only metabolites from 10 chemical classes were detected. Additionally, over 20% of biochemical signatures remained unidentified for every crop analyzed. Integration of metabolomics with the on‐going genomic and phenotypic studies will enhance ’omics‐wide associations of molecular signatures with agronomic and consumer traits via easily quantifiable biochemical markers to aid gene discovery and functional characterization.     

Anthropological Models of Incest Laws in the United States

The incest laws of the fifty states are esoteric folk models or norms. The fifty state laws seem haphazard in their prohibitions and do not scale. However, using two different approaches, anthropological models may be constructed to explain the data.     

Role of acyl CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase in cholesterol absorption and its inhibition by 57-118 in the rabbit

Esterification of cholesterol in rabbit small intestine mucosal microsomes by acyl CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT, Ec 2.3.1.26) and mucosal cytosol by cholesterol esterase (EC 3.1.1.13) was studied. Compound 57-118. N-(1-oxo-9-octadecenyl)-DL-tryptophan(Z)ethyl ester, an inhibitor of cholesterol absorption, was found to inhibit in vitro ACAT in mucosal microsomes at concentrations of 2-20 nmol/0.5 ml incubation mixture, but had no effect on cholesterol esterase in the cytosol at similar concentrations. A kinetic analysis using a Lineweaver-Burk plot indicates that 57-118 acts as a competitive inhibitor of ACAT. An ex vivo study in the rabbit where 57-118 was given by gavage at a dose of 200 mg/kg also showed inhibition of ACAT but not of cholesterol esterase. High performance liquid chromatography determination of 57-118 in various subcellular fractions demonstrated the presence of this substance after oral administration in concentrations in mucosal microsomes equivalent to those required to show inhibition of ACAT in vitro. These data support the work of Norum et al. (1979, Eur. J. Clin. Invest. 9: 55-62) indicating mucosal ACAT plays a significant role in cholesterol absorption.