Studies with Hydroxyurea VII. Hydroxyurea and the Synthesis of Functional Proteins

Hydroxyurea affected neither the synthesis nor the degradation of bacterial messenger-ribonucleic acid. The proteins made by hydroxyurea-treated cells were structurally intact and fully functional. Since the expression of the lethal action of hydroxyurea requires active protein production, the data indicate that treated cells do not die as the result of the synthesis of abnormal proteins.     

Untersuchung der Morphogenese der Blätter anOenothera hookeri de Vries und Einigen Ihrer Mutanten

The phenotype and the morphogenesis of the leaves in the early rosettestage ofOenothera hookeri and some mutants with abnormal leafform are described. The mutantsb andgi-2 do not show any visible differences compared with the normal form during the stages of the meristematic growth. The five narrow-leaved mutants in this stage already show clearly visible differences in the size of the vegetation point and the morphogenesis of the young leaves. The asymmetry of the sicle-leaves in the mutantsi is already determined in the leaf-primordium. Experiments inducing phenocopies indicate, that there is in the mutantssm-4 andsm-7 a genetically determined disturbance of the polar transport of auxins.     

GROWTH OF SOMATIC TOBACCO CELLS IN MICROCULTURE

Jones , L. E. (Oregon State Coll., Corvallis), A. C. Hildebrandt , A. J. Riker , and J. H. Wu. Growth of somatic tobacco cells in microculture. Amer. Jour. Bot. 47(6): 468–475. Illus. 1960.—Somatic cells of hybrid tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum × N. glutinosa) grew more than 4 mo. in microcultures in which critical microscopic observations could be made. Microchambers were made aseptically by placing cells in a droplet of medium on a cover slip that was inverted onto a standard microscope slide with a ring of paraffin oil (U. S. P. Heavy Mineral Oil) and 2 coverslip risers. Growth of single cells was good in a medium previously “conditioned” by a mass of growing cells. The cells divided, enlarged, differentiated, and became senescent. Mitosis was timed in somatic cells in microcultures. During prophase the streaming cytoplasm formed distinctive strands suspending the nucleus and then entered a state of “fixed-tension” in which there was no massflow of organelles. Reversion of the cytoplasm to the usual fluid-flow condition followed cytokinesis.Senescence and impending death in undisturbed, mature, parenchyma cells were preceded by concatenation of the discrete round-oval mitochondria into filiform aggregates. A few “giant” parenchyma cells rejuvenated by forming discrete, free-floating, endogenous cells. When placed in microcultures, the endogenous cells grew into daughter populations that appeared normal.Tobacco cells in microcultures provided a unique experimental material for cytological and cytochemical studies of growth, differentiation, senescence, and rejuvenation in living, somatic, angiosperm cells that were free of artifacts and protected from reactions to shock.     

Spatial and seasonal reef calcification in corals and calcareous crusts in the central Red Sea

The existence of coral reef ecosystems critically relies on the reef carbonate framework produced by scleractinian corals and calcareous crusts (i.e., crustose coralline algae). While the Red Sea harbors one of the longest connected reef systems in the world, detailed calcification data are only available from the northernmost part. To fill this knowledge gap, we measured in situ calcification rates of primary and secondary reef builders in the central Red Sea. We collected data on the major habitat-forming coral genera Porites, Acropora, and Pocillopora and also on calcareous crusts (CC) in a spatio-seasonal framework. The scope of the study comprised sheltered and exposed sites of three reefs along a cross-shelf gradient and over four seasons of the year. Calcification of all coral genera was consistent across the shelf and highest in spring. In addition, Pocillopora showed increased calcification at exposed reef sites. In contrast, CC calcification increased from nearshore, sheltered to offshore, exposed reef sites, but also varied over seasons. Comparing our data to other reef locations, calcification in the Red Sea was in the range of data collected from reefs in the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific; however, Acropora calcification estimates were at the lower end of worldwide rates. Our study shows that the increasing coral cover from nearshore to offshore environments aligned with CC calcification but not coral calcification, highlighting the potentially important role of CC in structuring reef cover and habitats. While coral calcification maxima have been typically observed during summer in many reef locations worldwide, calcification maxima during spring in the central Red Sea indicate that summer temperatures exceed the optima of reef calcifiers in this region. This study provides a foundation for comparative efforts and sets a baseline to quantify impact of future environmental change in the central Red Sea.

     

Therapy of calcium oxalate urolithiasis in a rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta)

A rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) was presented for anuria. Examination revealed calcium oxalate concrements in the bladder. A cystotomy was performed, and a therapy with alfuzosin was conducted. Over 1 year after the treatment, the rhesus macaque had not shown any more signs of stranguria. This is the first case reporting the successful treatment of urolithiasis in a rhesus macaque.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fgf9</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">Y162C</Emphasis></Superscript> Mutation Alters Information Processing and Social Memory in Mice

In neuropsychiatric diseases, such as major depression and anxiety, pathogenic vulnerability is partially dictated by a genetic predisposition. The search continues to define this genetic susceptibility and establish new genetic elements as potential therapeutic targets. The fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) could be interesting in this regard. This family of signaling molecules plays important roles in development while also functioning within the adult. This includes effects on aspects of brain function such as neurogenesis and synapse formation. Of this family, Fgf9 is expressed in the adult brain, but its functional role is less well defined. In this study, we examined the role of Fgf9 in different brain functions by analyzing the behavior of Fgf9 ^Y162C mutant mice, an Fgf9 allele without the confounding systemic effects of other Fgf9 genetic models. Here, we show that this mutation caused altered locomotor and exploratory reactivity to novel, mildly stressful environments. In addition, mutants showed heightened acoustic startle reactivity as well as impaired social discrimination memory. Notably, there was a substantial decrease in the level of adult olfactory bulb neurogenesis with no difference in hippocampal neurogenesis. Collectively, our findings indicate a role for the Fgf9 ^Y162C mutation in information processing and perception of aversive situations as well as in social memory. Thus, genetic alterations in Fgf9 could increase vulnerability to developing neuropsychiatric disease, and we propose the Fgf9 ^Y162C mutant mice as a valuable tool to study the predictive etiological aspects.     

Tyrosine hydrogen-bonding and environmental effects in proteins probed by ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy

Ultraviolet resonance Raman spectra with 229-nm excitation are reported for aqueous tyrosine and for ovomucoid third domain proteins from chicken [OMCHI3(-)] and from chachalaca [OMCHA(-)], as well as alpha 1-, alpha 2-, and beta-purothionin. At this excitation wavelength interference from phenylalanine is minimized, and it is possible to determine the frequencies of the Tyr ring modes nu 8a and nu 8b. The nu 8b frequency decreases with the degree of Tyr H-bond donation, reaching a limiting value for deprotonated tyrosine. This spectroscopic indicator of H-bond strength was calibrated by using the model compound p-cresol in H-bond acceptor solutions for which the enthalpy of H-bond formation can be obtained from the literature. With this calibration it is possible to estimate Tyr H-bond enthalpies in proteins for which Tyr is a H-bond donor; values of 13.7, 9.6, and 11.2 kcal/mol were found for OMCHA3(-) and for alpha 1- (or alpha 2-) and beta-purothionin, respectively. The intensity of the 1176-cm-1 nu 9a band of Tyr excited at 229 nm and also the intensity ratio of the Tyr 830/850-cm-1 Fermi doublet excited at 200 nm both correlate strongly with the estimated H-bond enthalpies, but large deviations are seen for the purothionins, reflecting a special environment for the Tyr residue of these proteins, which is believed to be constrained in a hydrophobic pocket. The molar intensity of the strong approximately 1000-cm-1 nu 12 band of phenylalanine in aqueous solution is about half the value observed in most proteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)