The morphology and anatomy ofHydrastis (Ranunculales): Systematic reevaluation of the genus

Evidence from morphology and anatomy (including embryology), as well as from palynology, chemistry and cytology, indicates thatHydrastis is quite divergent from Ranunculaceae (in which the genus has been most often included) as well as from both Glaucidiaceae and Berberidaceae. Distinctive features ofHydrastis, which demarcate it from Ranunculaceae but which are sometimes shared by Berberidaceae, are: the unique mode of origin of the vascular supply to stamens and carpels; the micropyle being formed by both integuments; the xylem not V-shaped in cross section; scalariform vessel perforations present; haploid chromosome number 13; pollen tectum consisting of a compound layer of striae; leaf mesophyll not differentiated; the unique course of stem medullary bundles; D-galactose present. Its distinctive higher haploid chromosome number, as well as its many less-specialized character states (in floral structure, leaf anatomy, and xylem and vessel morphology), suggest thatHydrastis is a relictual primitive group which diverged early from a common ancestral stock of Ranunculaceae, Berberidaceae and probably of Circaeasteraceae; at least some of the features shared byHydrastis and one or another of the families concerned seem to be a heritage from their common ancestor. We propose a reestablishment of a monotypic family, Hydrastidaceae.     

Spontaneous Mutations Modifying the Activity of Alcohol Dehydrogenase (Adh) in DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

In a marked-inversion balanced lethal system of the second chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster, mutations were accumulated under minimum pressure of natural selection in 1000 individual lines that originated essentially from two individuals. After about 300 generations, the specific activities of alcohol dehydrogenase of 69 randomly selected individual lines were measured with replications using four replicated vials (on 2 days—two replications per day) by observing the reduction of NAD⁺ to NADH at 340 nm. Total soluble protein as the basis of standardization of enzyme activity was measured by the Lowry method for each vial. A control experiment was made immediately after the establishment of 20 individual lines from a single genotype. A significant increase in genetic variance was observed among the mutation-accumulating lines but was not detected in the control experiment. The statistical analysis of the data on the basis of the one-band/one-gene hypothesis suggests that many mutations controlling the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase occurred in regions different from the alcohol dehydrogenase locus itself, mainly in the noncoding DNA. Furthermore, it is suggested that transposon-like elements are related to the induction of these changes in alcohol dehydrogenase specific activities. Additional experimental evidence supporting this conclusion is also given.     

Distribution of Leu 7 (HNK-1) antigen in human digestive organs: an immunohistochemical study with monoclonal antibody

Summary Leu 7 immunoreactivity was demonstrated with the indirect peroxidase-labelled antibody method on frozen and paraffin-embedded tissue sections of human digestive organs. Anti-Leu 7 monoclonal antibody, which allegedly detects mononuclear cells with natural killer or killer activity, recognized lymphoid cells among intestinal epithelial cells and in the germinal centres of solitary lymphoid follicles of small and large intestine, and a few in gallbladder, liver and the lamina propria of the intestine. In addition, peripheral nerve fibres, endocrine cells in the gut and pancreas and carcinoid and islet cell tumours were also positively stained. At the ultrastructural level, Leu 7 antigen was localized on the plasma membrane of granulated lymphoid cells in the gut mucosa and on the secretory granules of intestinal endocrine cells. In normal pancreas, Leu 7 immunoreactivity was demonstrated in most cells containing pancreatic polypeptide and in many cells containing somatostatin or glicentin. Insulin-containing cells, however, lacked Leu 7 immunoreactant. These findings were obtained in both frozen sections and paraffin-embedded sections. The possible cross-reactivities of monoclonal antibodies are discussed as they raise an important caveat in immunohistochemical studies using these antibodies.     

Studies on cation-induced membrane vesicle aggregation of porcine intestinal brush borders

Protein alterations during the development of the mouse brain were studied by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. A protein spot with a molecular weight (MW) of 68,000 and pI value of 5.6 was found in the brain of the 11th day of gestation. Between the 12th and the 14th day of gestation, spots with the same MW and lower pI values appeared progressively. Neuraminidase digestion converted the pI of these acidic spots to 5.6. Thus, increased sialylation appeared to occur during this period. This class of molecules became hardly detectable on the 15th day, and disappeared completely after the 16th day. Analogous spots were present in the heart, liver, and stomach of the embryos, although the increased sialylation was not observed in the liver. No adult organs so far examined showed these spots. On the other hand, two polypeptides (MW 55,000, pI 4.7, and 53,000, pI 4.6) appeared in the brain on the 13th day of gestation and persisted throughout the fetal period. After birth, they became hardly detectable. Furthermore, a spot (MW 48,000, pI 4.8) became newly detectable in the brain 4-5 weeks after the birth.     

Differences in Ca2+ mobilization induced by alpha-adrenergic agonist and phosphatidic acid in cultured hepatocytes

In an attempt to elucidate the relationship between phosphatidylinositol breakdown and alpha-adrenergic responses, effects of phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol related metabolites on Ca²⁺ mobilization and glucose output in cultured hepatocytes were examined. Norepinephrine induced the net ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ efflux from preloaded cells and stimulated glucose output via alpha-adrenergic receptor stimulation, whereas phosphatidic acid caused ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake to cells and did not stimulate glucose output. Myo-inositol-monophosphate, diglyceride and arachidonic acid, which are released by phosphatidylinositol breakdown, had no effect on ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ efflux and glucose output in cells. These results suggest that phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol related metabolites can not mimic the alpha-adrenergic actions in cultured hepatocytes.     

Influence of predation on species coexistence in Volterra models

The possibility of predator-mediated coexistence of all species in model ecosystems of the Volterra type is discussed, that is, asymptotic behaviors of systems of two competing species are analyzed when one or two predators are added. All species in the communities can coexist in two distinct ways mathematically, that is, the species may coexist at equilibrium or may coexist in persistent oscillations. The stability of all species at equilibrium increases when one or two predators are added. The conditions for oscillatory coexistence in limit cycles or in chaotic behaviors of two-predator systems are more complicated than in those of one-predator systems. It is concluded that predator-mediated coexistence can be promoted by an intimate relationship between the competitive ability of the prey and the diet preference of the predators.     

Chromosomal location of the Escherichia coli cytochrome b556 gene, cybA

Summary The amounts of cytochrome b556 in the cytoplasmic membranes of several Escherichia coli K12 strains having F-prime factors and a lambda transducing phage were determined. The amount was amplified about two-fold in strains having F100-12 and F152, but not in strains having F100-11, F8 and psu ⁺ 2glnS ⁺. The strain TK3D11, which lacks the kdp-gltA region (deletion D-01) of the E. coli chromosome, did not synthesize cytochrome b556 at all. From these results, the gene cybA encoding cytochrome b556 was located in the kdp-gltA region.In the cytochrome b556-deficient mutant, a novel b type cytochrome, cytochrome b561 which is a product of the gene cybB, was identified. It seems to function as a physiological electron transferring cytochrome in place of cytochrome b556 in this mutant.Abbeviations HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - EDTA ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - NADH reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide     

Changes in the activity of enzymes involved in purine "salvage" and nucleic acid degradation during the growth of Catharanthus roseus cells in suspension culture

Changes during growth in the activity of several enzymes involved in purine "salvage", adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.7), guanine phosphoribosyl-transferase (EC 2.4.2.8), hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.8) and adenosine kinase (EC 2.7.1.20), the enzymes which catalyze the conversion of nucleoside monophosphate to triphosphate, nucleoside monophosphate kinase (EC 2.7.4.4) and nucleoside diphosphate kinase (EC 2.7.4.6), and several degradation enzymes, deoxyribonucleae(s), ribonuclease(s). phosphatase(s), nucleosidase (EC 3.2.2.1), 3'-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.6) and 5'-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5) were examined in cells of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don cultured in suspension. In addition, the incorporation of [8-¹⁴C] adenine, [8-¹⁴C] adenine, [8-¹⁴C]hypoxanthine. [8-¹⁴C] adenosine and [8-¹⁴C]inosine into nucleotides and nucleic acids was also determined using intact cells.
The activities of all purine "salvage" enzymes examined and those of nucleoside monophosphate and diphosphate kinases increased rapidly during the lag phase and decreased during the following cell division and cell expansion phases. The rate of incorporation of adenine, guanine, hypoxanthine, and adenosine into nucleotides and nucleic acids was higher in the lag phase cells than during the following three phases. The highest rate of [8-¹⁴C]inosine incorporation was observed in the stationary phase cells. The activity of all degradation enzymes examined decreased when the stationary phase cells were transferred to a new medium.
These results indicated that the increased activity of purine "salvage" enzymes observed in the lag phase cells may contribute to an active purine "salvage" which is required to initiate a subsequent cell division.     

Anti-idiotypic antibodies in a patient with monoclonal rheumatoid factor after pneumococcal bacteremia

A 51-yr-old Japanese female patient with monoclonal IgM gammopathy with rheumatoid factor activity was admitted because of pneumococcal bacteremia. About 2 wk after admission, her rheumatoid factor activity became undetectable by RAHA test and radioimmunoassay, subsequent to the initial marked elevation. The suppressive capacity of the patient's IgG fraction on the rheumatoid activity of her monoclonal IgM on January 11 was determined. The IgG fraction obtained on February 22 blocked the binding of the rheumatoid factor to rabbit IgG. The suppressive activity in the IgG fraction of February 22 was shown to be localized within the F(ab')2 fragment. Furthermore, the specificity of the suppressive serum factor was shown by the inability to block the binding of SRBC coupled with diazotized phosphorylcholine to anti-pneumococcal antibody. Thus, the marked reduction of rheumatoid factor activity was considered to result from anti-idiotypic antibody transiently appearing in her serum after pneumococcal bacteremia.