Comparison of content with synthesis,uptake and breakdown of GABA in substantia nigra of unoperated,hemitransected and kainate-treated rats

The synthesis, high affinity uptake and degradation of GABA were compared with GABA content measured simultaneously in the nigras of unoperated, hemitransected and kainate-treated rats. In intact animals nigral GABA concentration was linearly related to glutamate decarboxylase activity, but not to GABA aminotransferase (GABA-T) or GABA uptake. One week after hemitransection all three parameters showed a linear reduction with GABA content, suggesting striatonigral GABA neurones may account for as much as 90% of the GABA and GAD, 31% of the GABA-T and 58% of GABA uptake sites in whole nigra. Nigral kainate treatment unexpectedly reduced all four parameters in parallel by as much as 50%, consistent with the formation of an unselective lesion.     

Presence of two forms of fumarase (fumarate hydratase E.C. 4.2.1.2) in mammalian cells: Immunological characterization and genetic analysis in somatic cell hybrids. Confirmation of the assignment of a gene necessary for the enzyme expression to human chromosome 1

Two major forms of fumarate hydratase have been resolved in extracts prepared from a wide variety of mammalian cells by electrophoresis. Fractionation experiments with human and mouse cells suggest that one form (the slower migrating) is localized in the mitochondria, whereas the other form is predominant in the cytoplasm. Analysis of the segregation of the enzyme forms in human-mouse somatic cell hybrids indicates that a gene(s) necessary for the expression of both forms can be assigned to human chromosome 1 (confirmation of a previous assignment by van Someren et al., 1974). Electrophoretic analysis suggests that the two forms may be interrelated. Furthermore, they both exhibit identical reactivity toward anti-fumarate hydratase antiserum. It is suggested that a modification of one form may occur in vivo and that the modification may be important in determining the intracellular localization of the enzyme.     

Incorporation of methionine-[methyl-2H3] and mevalonic acid-[2-14C,(4R)-4-3H1] into Phycomyces blakesleeanus sterols

Ergosterol, episterol, 4α-methyl-5α-ergosta-8,24(28)-dien-3β-ol and 24-methylene-24,25-dihydrolanosterol, isolated from Phycomyces blakesleeanus grown in the presence of methionine-[methyl-²H₃], each contained two deuterium atoms; lanosterol, however, was unlabelled. The ¹⁴C:³H atomic ratio of the following sterols isolated from P. blakesleeanus grown in the presence of mevalonic acid-[2-¹⁴C,(4R)-4-³H₁], was: ergosterol, 5:3; episterol, 5:4; ergosta-5,7,24(28)-trien-3β-ol, 5:3; 4α-methyl-5α-ergosta-8,24(28)-dien-3β-ol, 5:4; 24-methylene-24,25-dihydrolanosterol, 6:5; lanosterol, 6:5. The significance of these results in terms of ergosterol biosynthesis is discussed.     

Global biogeography of warning coloration in the butterfly Danaus chrysippus

Warning coloration provides a textbook example of natural selection, but the frequent observation of polymorphism in aposematic species presents an evolutionary puzzle. We investigated biogeography and polymorphism of warning patterns in the widespread butterfly Danaus chrysippus using records from citizen science (n = 5467), museums (n = 8864) and fieldwork (n = 2586). We find that polymorphism in three traits controlled by known mendelian loci is extensive. Broad allele frequency clines, hundreds of kilometres wide, suggest a balance between long-range dispersal and predation of unfamiliar morphs. Mismatched clines for the white hindwing and forewing tip in East Africa are consistent with a previous finding that the black wingtip allele has spread recently in the region through hitchhiking with a heritable endosymbiont. Light/dark background coloration shows more extensive polymorphism. The darker genotype is more common in cooler regions, possibly reflecting a trade-off between thermoregulation and predator warning. Overall, our findings show how studying local adaptation at the global scale provides a more complete picture of the evolutionary forces involved.