Molecular structure of an A-DNA decamer d(ACCGGCCGGT)

The molecular structure of the DNA decamer d(ACCGGCCGGT) has been solved and refined by single-crystal X-ray-diffraction analysis at 0.20 nm to a final R-factor of 18.0%. The decamer crystallizes as an A-DNA double helical fragment with unit-cell dimensions of a = b = 3.923 nm and c = 7.80 nm in the space group P6(1)22. The overall conformation of this A-DNA decamer is very similar to that of the fiber model for A-DNA which has a large average base-pair tilt and hence a wide and shallow minor groove. This structure is in contrast to that of several A-DNA octamers in which the molecules all have low base-pair-tilt angles (8-12 degrees) resulting in an appearance intermediate between B-DNA and A-DNA. The average helical parameters of this decamer are typical of A-DNA with 10.9 base pairs/turn of helix, an average helical twist angle of 33.1 degrees, and a base-pair-tilt angle of 18.2 degrees. However, the CpG step in this molecule has a low local-twist angle of 24.5 degrees, similar to that seen in other A-DNA oligomers, and therefore appears to be an intrinsic stacking pattern for this step. The molecules pack in the crystal using a recurring binding motif, namely, the terminal base pair of one helix abuts the surface of the shallow minor groove of another helix. In addition, the GC base pairs have large propeller-twist angles, unlike those found most other A-DNA structures.     

Enzymes from seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris L.: Hydroxylation of gibberellins A20 and A1 and 2,3-dehydrogenation of gibberellin A20

A time-course study is described relating the enzyme activities for GA₂₀ metabolism with seed development in Phaseolus vulgaris L. Enzyme activity for the 3-hydroxylation of GA₂₀ to GA₁, and for the 2,3-desaturation of GA₂₀ to GA₅, was confined to the cotyledons and showed maximal specific activity at 21 d after anthesis. These enzyme activities co-occurred, together with a much lower level of activity for the 2-hydroxylation of GA₂₀ to GA₂₉. The observed rates of GA₁, GA₅ and GA₂₉ formation from GA₂₀ were constant under a range of incubation conditions. Enzyme activity for the conversion of GA₁ to GA₈ was detected only in embryos of seed from 40 d after anthesis. By deuterium-labelling and analysis of the products by gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring it was shown that 2-hydroxylation of GA₁ to GA₈ and 3-hydroxylation of GA₂₀ to GA₁ occur with retention of configuration and that the conversion of GA₂₀ to GA₅ occurs with loss of the 2- and 3-hydrogens. These results establish that GA₁ is not formed from GA₂₀ via GA₅.Abbreviations GA_n Gibberellin A_n - GC gas chromatography - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - MS mass spectrometry - SIM selected-ion monitoring - THO tritiated water     

X-ray-induced specific-locus mutations in the ad-3 region of two-component heterokaryons of Neurospora crassa. II. More extensive genetic tests reveal an unexpectedly high frequency of multiple-locus mutations

More extensive genetic tests have been performed on a series of 832 X-ray-induced specific-locus mutations in the ad-3 region of a 2-component heterokaryon (H-12) of Neurospora crassa, reported earlier (Webber and de Serres 1965). Using a new tester strains and techniques for performing large-scale genetic tests (heterokaryon, dikaryon and trikaryon) to characterize ad-3 mutants induced in 2-component heterokaryons, new data have been obtained on this sample of X-ray-induced ad-3 mutants. These new data show that unexpectedly high frequencies of both single-locus (gene/point) mutations and multilocus deletions in the ad-3 region have additional, but separate, sites of resessive lethal (RL^CL) damage in the immediately adjacent genetic regions. The frequencies of these X-ray-induced multiple-locus mutants in the ad-3 region are orders of magnitude higher than expected on the basis of target theory and classical models of chromosome structure during interphase. Current models of interphase chromosome structure in higher eukaryotes as revealed by chromosome “painting” offer a possible explanation of the Neurospora data.     

Matric water potential as an ecological determinant in compost,a substrate dense system

Water is a critical ecological factor in substrate dense matric ecosystems, of which composting systems are an example. Excessive moisture inhibits aerobic metabolism because of oxygen diffusion limitations. How a lack of water impedes composting activity has not been previously considered. An investigation of the relationship of matric water potential (water held by physical attractions) to gravimetric water content was carried out in a laboratory composting system using a sewage sludge and wood chip substrate. The gravimetric-matric water relationship was best fit by a 2 polynomial regression of y=64.049–0.142 x, andR= 0.95. It is proposed that the commonly observed failure of composting to occur under drier conditions is a physical limitation, that is bacteria progressively fail to physically colonize the substrate as matric potential decreases below approximately -20 kPa. In physically mixed systems, agitation and introduction of inoculum may promote colonization, permitting composting to be initiated and proceed at lower moisture contents. In nonmixed systems, promotion of thorough initial colonization may permit composting to continue in the presence of significant drying.     

Ternary interactions of spermine with DNA: 4''-epiadriamycin and other DNA: anthracycline complexes.

The recently developed anthracycline 4'-epiadriamycin, an anti-cancer drug with improved activity, differs from adriamycin by inversion of the stereochemistry at the 4'-position. We have cocrystallized 4'-epiadriamycin with the DNA hexamer d(CGATCG) and solved the structure to 1.5 A resolution using x-ray crystallography. One drug molecule binds at each d(CG) step of the hexamer duplex. The anthracycline sugar binds in the minor groove. A feature of this complex which distinguishes it from the earlier DNA:adriamycin complex is a direct hydrogen bond from the 4'-hydroxyl group of the anthracycline sugar to the adenine N3 on the floor of the DNA minor groove. This hydrogen bond results directly from inversion of the stereochemistry at the 4'-position. Spermine molecules bind in the major groove of this complex. In anthracycline complexes with d(CGATCG) a spermine molecule binds to a continuous hydrophobic zone formed by the 5-methyl and C6 of a thymidine, C5 and C6 of a cytidine and the chromophore of the anthracycline. This report discusses three anthracycline complexes with d(CGATCG) in which the spermine molecules have different conformations yet form extensive van der Waals contacts with the same hydrophobic zone. Our results suggest that these hydrophobic interactions of spermine are DNA sequence specific and provide insight into the question of whether DNA:spermine complexes are delocalized and dynamic or site-specific and static.     

Detection of 98% of DMD/BMD gene deletions by polymerase chain reaction

Summary We describe oligonucleotide primer sequences that can be used to amplify eight exons plus the muscle promoter of the dystrophin gene in a single multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). When used in conjunction with an existing primer set, these two multiplex reactions detect about 98% of deletions in patients with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD, BMD). Furthermore, these primers amplify most of the exons in the deletion prone hot spot region around exons 44 to 53, allowing determination of deletion endpoints and prediction of mutational effects on the translational reading frame. Thus, use of these PCR-based assays will allow deletion detection and prenatal diagnosis for most DMD/BMD patients in a fraction of the time required for Southern blot analysis.     

Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions alter the dynamics and distribution of Mn(II) in cultured chick glial cells

Previous studies revealed that Mn(II) is accumulated in cultured glial cells to concentrations far above those present in whole brain or in culture medium. The data indicated that Mn(II) moves across the plasma membrane into the cytoplasm by facilitated diffusion or counter-ion transport with Ca(II), then into mitochondria by active transport. The fact that 1–10 M Mn(II) ions activate brain glutamine synthetase makes important the regulation of Mn(II) transport in the CNS. Since Cu(II) and Zn(II) caused significant changes in the accumulation of Mn(II) by glia, the mechanisms by which these ions alter the uptake and efflux of Mn(II) ions has been investigated systematically under chemically defined conditions. The kinetics of [⁵⁴MN]-Mn(II) uptake and efflux were determined and compared under four different sets of conditions: no adducts, Cu(II) or Zn(II) added externally, and with cells preloaded with Cu(II) or Zn(II) in the presence and absence of external added metal ions. Zn(II) ions inhibit the initial velocity of Mn(II) uptake, increase total Mn(II) accumulated, but do not alter the rate or extent Mn(II) efflux. Cu(II) ions increase both the initial velocity and the net Mn(II) accumulated by glia, with little effect on rate or extent of Mn(II) efflux. These results predict that increases in Cu(II) or Zn(II) levels may also increase the steady-state levels of Mn(II) in the cytoplasmic fraction of glial cells, which may in turn alter the activity of Mn(II)-sensitive enzymes in this cell compartment.     

Purification and partial characterization of a gibberellin 2β-hydroxylase fromPhaseolus vulgaris

A gibberellin 2β-hydroxylase has been purified from mature seeds ofPhaseolus vulgaris. The enzyme is of molecular weight 36,000 and has the characteristics of a dioxygenase; the cofactors areα-ketoglu-tarate, Fe²⁺ and ascorbate, and activity is stimulated by catalase. The V_max of the enzyme is 6.86 nmole h^?1 mg^?1, and the Km values for [1,2-³H₂]GA₁ andα-ketoglutarate are 0.085 μM and 21 μM, respectively. The purified enzyme preparation catalyzes hydroxylation of GA₁, GA₄, GA₉, and GA₂₀ but exhibits a marked preference for the 3-hydroxylated gibberellins as substrate.     

Marker features for malignancy in ectocervical cells

Marker features for malignancy have recently been observed in ectocervical cells, even in cells that are visually normal in appearance. This study assessed the statistical significance of these marker features using a mixed-model nested-design analysis of variance (ANOVA). Features in blue intermediate cells from patients with normal cytology, moderate dysplasia, and severe dysplasia/carcinomain situ, nonkeratinizing cells from patients with moderate dysplasia, severe dysplasia/carcinomain situ, and invasive cancer, and dysplastic cells from areas of metaplasia from patients with moderate dysplasia, severe dysplasia/carcinomain situ, and invasive cancer were tested. ANOVA clearly demonstrated that the marker features differentiate between cells of the same cell type originating from patients in different diagnostic categories. In every instance, the differences owing to the diagnostic category were statistically significantly greater than those caused by patient-to-patient variability. Although the discriminating marker features in the intermediate cells were almost exclusively spectral features reflecting staining differences, morphometric features were also marker features in the dysplastic cells.     

Spectral characteristics of the bioluminescence induced in the marine fish,Porichthys notatus,byCypridina (ostracod) luciferin

Summary Specimens ofPorichthys notatus, which are naturally luminous along the coast of California, are non-luminous in Puget Sound. However, luminescence capability may be induced in the adult Puget SoundPorichthys by the administration of purifiedCypridina (ostracod) luciferin, syntheticCypridina luciferin, orCypridina organisms. The bioluminescence emission spectra produced by the Puget Sound fish following induction is similar, if not identical, to that of the naturally luminousPorichthys notatus from California waters (maxima: 485 and 507 nm).