Methylated poly(L-lysine): conformational effects and interactions with polynucleotides

Methylated lysine, arginine and histidine residues are found in a number of proteins (for example, histones, non-histone chromosomal proteins, ribosomal proteins, calmodulin, cytochrome C, etc.). We are studying the effects of methylation on the conformations of poly(lysine) and of the effects of methylation of poly(lysine) and poly(arginine) on interactions with polynucleotides. The conformational properties of epsilon-amino-methylated poly(lysine) differ from those of unmodified poly(lysine). Methylation increases resistance to thermally-induced and NaCl-induced changes in the CD spectrum. Guanidinium chloride increases (proportional to the degree of methylation) the extent of approach to the conformation in dispute as to its being a random coil or an extended helix. Methylation enhances aggregation in the helix-inducing solvent 0.5 M Ca(ClO4)2. With increasing methylation of poly(lysine), the conformation in dodecyl sulfate changes from beta, to 50% alpha, to random coil at the maximum methylation. Increasing methylation of poly(lysine) weakens the interaction with polynucleotides in respect to dissociation by salt, linearly with methyl content. Complexes of (dAdT)n.(dAdT)n with the polypeptides are increasingly stabilized to heat denaturation by progressive methylation. However, with a series of synthetic double-stranded RNA's and DNA's a more complex situation exists, Tm increasing or decreasing, depending on the base composition, sequence and type of sugar. Methylation of poly(lysine) and poly(arginine) can have opposite effects on Tm based on results with complexes with (dI)n.(dC)n. Methylated poly(lysine) affects the CD spectrum of polynucleotides, in a manner dependent on base composition and sequence. In some cases large positive or negative psi-spectra are induced, which, in the case of (dGdC)n.(dGdC)n, can be positive or negative depending on the degree of methylation of the polypeptide and the salt concentration. It is suggested that the biological effects of methylation proteins may be evoke by salt changes in the cell cycle, and that methylation can affect local interactions with nucleic acids and larger scale structure, and interactions with lipids.     

Tidal flows and sediment budgets for a salt-marsh system,Essex, England

Studies of tidal flows in salt-marsh creeks in Essex, England, show large variations in water velocity during different tidal cycles, particularly between tides below, at, and above marsh level. Water level, velocity and suspended sediment concentration have been monitored at 5-min intervals during 700 tidal cycles during the year March 1982–March 1983, and the data are being used to calculate sediment budgets for the creek system studied. Completed analyses for two of the tidal cycles show a large positive sediment flux. Because of the importance of velocity in controlling total discharge through a creek cross-section, and hence its effect on total sediment movement, we cannot extrapolate from these two below-marsh tides to any general conclusions about marsh erosion or accretion. We use these preliminary data both to demonstrate our methods and to indicate some of the complexities involved in the analysis.Acknowledgements: This work has been supported by the Natural Environment Research Council. We thank the Philip Lake Fund for financial assistance and the Department of Geography, Cambridge University, for much material support. Mr D. J. Fisher kindly gave access to his land, and Mr W. Bailey helped us greatly. We also thank Mr A. St Joseph for his help, Mr M. Diver for practical support, and Dr J. S. Pethick for discussion.     

3. Control of sex expression in conifers

Despite considerable progress in recent years in the promotion of flowering in conifers, relatively little is known about the endogenous control of sex expression or its practical manipulation to aid pollen and crop management in seed orchards. Well defined patterns of sexual zonation exist within the tree crown and shoot, and these appear to be associated with hormonal and possibly nutritional gradients. No firm conclusions, however, are possible regarding the specific role(s) of different PGRs in sex expression, this being as much as a problem of lack of critical study as the complexity of the process itself. Whether a PGR such as gibberellins or auxins, or a cultural treatment that itself may influence endogenous hormone levels, primarily promotes female or male flowering often depends on the position within the crown of the shoot being treated, and its timing in relation to stage of primordia development. Photoperiod also may be involved- short days favoring females and long days males, at least in some species- although its role in controlling sex expression is by no means clear. Practical manipulation of sex expression may be possible through selective crown pruning, different PGR combinations, treatment timing and/or photoperiod control, but the development of such techniques for operational use will require a better basic understanding of the endogenous regulatory mechanisms involved.     

Partial trisomy 20p resulting from a recombination of a familial pericentric inversion

Summary Recombination of an inherited pericentric inversion of chromosome 20 has given rise to a child with partial trisomy 20p. To our knowledge no previous familial inversions of this chromosome have been described in the literature.     

Solid-state 15N NMR of oriented lipid bilayer bound gramicidin A'

Highly oriented samples of lipid and gramicidin A' (8:1 molar ratio) have been prepared with the samples extensively hydrated (approximately 70% water v/w). These preparations have been shown to be completely in a bilayer phase with a transition temperature of 28 degrees C, and evidence is presented indicating that the gramicidin is in the channel conformation. An estimate of the disorder in the alignment of the bilayers parallel with the glass plates used to align the bilayers can be made from the asymmetry of the nuclear magnetic resonances (NMR). Such an analysis indicates a maximal range of disorder of +/- 3 degrees. Uniformly 15N-labeled gramicidin has been biosynthesized by Bacillus brevis grown in a media containing 15N-labeled Escherichia coli cells as the only nitrogen source. When prepared with labeled gramicidin, the oriented samples result in high-resolution 15N NMR spectra showing 12 resonances for the 20 nitrogen sites of the polypeptide. The frequency of the three major multiple resonance peaks has been interpreted to yield the approximate orientation of the N-H bonds in the peptide linkages with respect to the magnetic field. These bond orientations are only partially consistent with the extant structural models of gramicidin.     

Low-pressure microwave-induced helium plasma emission spectrometry: Vaporization characteristics of metal chlorides,nitrates, and sulfates

A low-pressure microwave-induced helium plasma serves as an excitation source for metal chlorides, nitrates, and sulfates vaporized from a filament, resulting in fractional vaporization and differential sensitivities of detection of the elements depending on the vapor pressures of their salts. The shapes of the single emission peaks, which are simple in the presence of potassium chloride, become complex and may double in number.