Implications of the placental structure compatibility for interspecies embryo transfer

Comparative histological features of the chorionic villi in placental cotyledons of the common eland (Taurotragus oryx ) and bongo (Boocercus euryceros ) antelopes and okapi (Okapia johnstoni ) and giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis ) were examined. The chorionic villi in both antelope species showed only moderate branching and/or surface corrugation and their cross-sections were polygonal to oval. The close similarity in the structure of cotyledons has been apparently a contributing factor for success in mutual interspecies embryo transfer. The chorionic villi in okapi and giraffe had very different structures. In okapi the villi on cross-section were round and filled with thin connective tissue. They showed minimal branching and surface corrugation. In giraffe the villi showed extensive surface corrugation, had multiple fine branches, and were filled with a more dense connective tissue. Prospect for materno-fetal compatibility in mutual embryo transfer between these species is guarded.     

Transformation of sensory organs by mutations of the cut locus of D. melanogaster

The identities of two types of sensory organs in the body wall of Drosophila, namely the external sensory organs and the chordotonal organs, are under genetic control. Embryonic lethal mutations in the cut gene complex transform the external sensory organs into chordotonal organs. The neurons, as well as the support cells forming the external sensory structures, change their morphological and antigenic characteristics to those of chordotonal organs, providing genetic evidence that these two types of sensory organs are homologous. Similar transformations of external sensory organs are observed in adult mosaic flies. Analysis of mosaic larvae and flies suggests that the cut gene function is required either in or near external sensory organs in order for them to acquire their correct identity.     

Attraction ofCarpoglyphus lactis (Acarina: Acaridae) to selected organic compounds

Various chemicals commonly found in food (twelve monosaccharides, nine sugar alcohols, twenty triglycerides, eleven unsaturated fatty acids and nine saturated fatty acids) were tested in different concentrations for their ability to attract and sustain feeding by the dried-fruit mite,Carpoglyphus lactis (L.). Oleic acid, -d-glucose and some triglycerides act as phagoincitants and phagostimulants, whiled-fucose and trilaurin are phagodeterrents.     

Denitrification with methanol in the presence of high salt concentrations and at high pH levels

Summary In the combined ion exchange/biological denitrification process for nitrate removal from ground water, in which nitrate is removed by ion exchange, the resins are regenerated in a closed circuit by a biological denitrification reactor. This denitrification reactor eliminates nitrate from the regenerant. Methanol is used as electron donor for biological denitrification. To obtain sufficient regeneration of the resins within a reasonable time, high NaCl or NaHCO₃ concentrations (10–30 g/l) in the regenerant are necessary. High NaHCO₃ concentrations affected the biological denitrification in three ways: a) a slight decrease in denitrification capacity (30%) was observed; b) the yield coefficient and CH₃OH/NO₃ ^-–N ratio decreased. When high NaHCO₃ concentrations (above 10g NaHCO₃/l) were used, the yield coefficient was 0.10–0.13 g VSS/g NO₃ ^-–N and the CH₃OH/NO₃ ^-–N ratio was 2.00–2.03 g/g; c) high NaHCO₃ concentrations influenced nitrite production. Nitrite is an intermediate product of biological denitrification and with rising NaHCO₃ concentrations nitrite accumulation was suppressed. This was explained by the effect of high NaHCO₃ concentrations on the pH in the microenvironment of the denitrifying organisms. High NaCl concentrations also resulted in a slight decrease in denitrification capacity, but the second and third effects were not observed in the presence of high NaCl concentrations.Although the pH in the regenerant will rise as a result of biological denitrification, the capacity of a denitrification reactor did not decrease significantly when a pH of 8.8–9.2 was reached.     

Release of dormancy during after-ripening of Agrostemma githago seeds

Freshly harvested seeds of Agrostemma githago L. do not germinate when they are imbibed at 20°C. The block is located in the embryo and is relased by dry storage at 20°C (after-ripening). Freshly harvested seeds complete only a small part of the processes that occur in after-ripened seeds during the lag phase prior to germination (radicle protrusion). After-ripening removed the block on lag phase processes much faster than the block on germination. This was shown both by direct determinations of the completion of lag phase processes and by measurements of the rate of axial protein synthesis, which approximately doubles when seeds are progressing through the lag phase. It is concluded that the percentage germination does not adequately reflect the extent to which the dormancy mechanism has been overcome.     

Comparison of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry,radioimmunoassay and bioassay for the quantification of gibberellin A9 in norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.)

Quantitative estimates of gibberellin A₉ in Norway spruce extracts obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, radioimmunoassay (RIA_ and bioassay were compared after successive purifications of the extracts. The extracts were assayed in several dilutions with and without the addition of standard gibberellin A₉, thus showing the effect of extract components on the response of the assays. Radioimmunoassay produced estimates comparable to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after one purification step by high-performance liquid chromatography. Extracts purified by polyvinylpyrrolidone-column chromatography and solvent partitioning but not high-performance liquid chromatography resulted in inaccurate RIA estimates. The performance of the RIA could be monitored by logit-log transformations of the standard curve and extract dilution curve and by calculating the slope of the standard addition curve. It was, however, not possible to correct for the interference caused by extract components by the standard addition procedure. Quantifications by Tan-ginbozu dwarf-rice bioassay were accurate, but a large and unpredictable variation makes it unsuitable for quantitative determinations.Abbreviations FW fresh weight - GA₉ gibberellin A₉ - GA₉–Me methylated GA₉ - GC-MS gas chromatography-mass spectrometry - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - MID multiple-ion detection - RIA radioimmunoassay     

Chromosomal location of isozyme and seed storage protein genes in Dasypyrum villosum (L.) Candargy

Summary The zymogram phenotypes of glucose-phosphate isomerase (GPI), alcohol dehydrogenase-1 (ADH-1), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipoxygenase (LPX), esterase (EST) and the banding patterns of gliadin and glutenin seed storage proteins were determined for Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Spring (CS), Dasypyrum villosum, the octoploid amphiploid T. aestivum cv. Chinese Spring D. villosum (CS × v) (2n=8x=56; AABBDDVV), and for five CS-D. villosum disomic addition lines. The genes Gpi-V1, Adh-V1, Got-V2, and Sod-V2 coding for GPI-1, ADH-1, GOT-2, and SOD-2 isozymes were located in D. villosum on chromosome 1V, 4V, 6V, and 7V, respectively. Genes coding for gliadin- and glutenin-like subunits are located in D. villosum chromosomes 1V. There are no direct evidence for chromosomal location of genes coding for GOT-3, EST-1 and LPX-2 isozymes. The linkage between genes coding for glutenin-like proteins and GPI-1 isozymes in chromosome 1V is evidence of homoeology between chromosome 1V and the chromosomes of homoeologous group 1 in wheat.Research supported by the National Research Council (Italy) and National Science Foundation (USA). International cooperative project, Grant No. 85.01504.06 (CNR)     

Selective regeneration ofBacillus subtilis protoplasts transformed to kanamycin resistance

An HTY medium osmotically stabilized with 0.5 M D-glucitol was used for regeneration ofBacillus subtilis protoplasts. The application of glucitol as osmotic stabilizer allows simultaneous selection of cells resistant to kanamycin to be made since this antibiotic is not inactivated by glucitol when added to the regeneration medium.