Changes with time in the distribution of virus and PR protein around single local lesions of TMV infected tobacco

Summary ELISA was used to determine PR la protein and TMV accumulation in local necrotic lesions produced on salicylic acid and water sprayed Nicotiana tabacum cv Xanthi-nc leaves. The amount of PR la protein produced is the result of an interaction between the salicylic acid treatment and lesion growth. The implication of these observations for experiments investigating the relationship between PR proteins and resistance are discussed.The distribution of TMV and PR la protein in and around single local necrotic lesions up to 14 days after inoculation was measured by ELISA. The highest concentration of TMV was in the centre of the lesion and decreased rapidly with distance from the centre. In contrast there was very little PR la protein in the centre of the lesion, the largest amounts were just outside the centre, and the concentration then decreased with distance from the centre. This is the distribution that might be expected for a substance closely associated with the restriction of virus spread.     

Entropy in evolution

Daniel R. Brooks and E. O. Wiley have proposed a theory of evolution in which fitness is merely a rate determining factor. Evolution is driven by non-equilibrium processes which increase the entropy and information content of species together. Evolution can occur without environmental selection, since increased complexity and organization result from the likely capture at the species level of random variations produced at the chemical level. Speciation can occur as the result of variation within the species which decreases the probability of sharing genetic information. Critics of the Brooks-Wiley theory argue that they have abused terminology from information theory and t thermodynamics. In this paper I review the essentials of the theory, and give an account of hierarchical physical information systems within which the theory can be interpreted. I then show how the major conceptual objections can be answered.     

Seasonal reproduction,moult and their endocrine correlates in two tropical Ploceidae species

Summary Populations of Reichenow's weavers and rufous sparrows living at the equator were investigated and compared for seasonality in breeding, moulting and fluctuations in the plasma titers of LH, testosterone (in males) and estradiol (in females). These species did not breed during the dry season and they commenced breeding at the onset of the heavy rains (April). In both species, the change from the dry season to the rainy season was accompanied by dramatic increases in gonadal size and steroidogenesis. Surprisingly, plasma titers of the hypophysial hormone LH were not affected.Differences were found in the length of the breeding season: in the weavers it was terminated in September whereas the sparrows bred through January, the end of the study. The differences between the two species in the absence of a pronounced dry season are assumed to be related to the sparrow's ability to interrupt moult and renest in fall when environmental conditions are favourable. in the weavers, no differences in the seasonal changes in gonadal size and plasma titers of LH, T (males) and E2 (females) were found between wet and dry post-heavy rain periods (October–January) whereas differences were found in the sparrows.Abbreviations E2 estradiol - T testosterone - LH luteinizing hormone     

Column cellulose hydrolysis reactor: Cellulase adsorption profile

Summary A column cellulose hydrolysis reactor was set up using a single passage of cellulase enzyme which was followed with a continuous percolation of buffer. Hydrolysis rates were found to decline precipitously upon the removal of the non-adsorbed cellulase components. By comparing specific activities of the cellulase before and after adsorption on the cellulose column, it was concluded that the adsorption efficiencies for the cellulase components decreased from exoglucanase (1,4--d-glucan cellobiohydrolase EC 3.2.1.91) to endoglucanase [1,4-(1,3;1,4)--d-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.4] to -glucosidase (-d-glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.21). Of the adsorbed cellulase components, the rate of endoglucanase leaching from the cellulose column was 20 times that for the exoglucanase despite the greater adsorption efficiency of the latter. By analysing the cellulase components which were bound and not bound by the cellulose column and comparing them with a purified exoglucanase enzyme on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels, it was confirmed that the major cellulase component adsorbed to the cellulose column was an exoglucanase component. The resultant loss of other cellulase components from the reactor was probably the cause for the much reduced rate of cellulose hydrolysis when these components were flushed out of the column.     

Column cellulose hydrolysis reactor: An efficient cellulose hydrolysis reactor with continuous cellulase recycling

Summary The use of a column cellulose hydrolysis reactor with continuous enzyme recycling was demonstrated by incorporating a continuous ultrafiltration apparatus at the effluent end of the column reactor. Using this setup, over 90% (w/v) cellulose hydrolysis was achieved, resulting in an average sugar concentration of 6.8% (w/v) in the effluent stream. The output of the system was 1.98 g of reducing sugar/l/h with a ratio of 87% (w/v) of the reducing sugars being monomeric sugars. Batch hydrolysis reactors were less effective, resulting in 57% (w/v) of the cellulose being hydrolyzed. The output of the batch reactor was 1.33 g of reducing sugar/l/h with similar product concentrations and percentage of monomeric sugars. The ratio of reducing sugar/filter paper unit of cellulase activity for the column method was 69.1 mg/U as compared to only 21.2 mg/U for the batch reactor.     

水蒸汽蒸馏巴柑檬叶和果皮精油化学成分的研究

巴柑檬是我们第一次从国外引种成功的一种名贵香料植物。用色谱-质谱-计算机联用技术、毛细管气相色谱保留指数法和标准品叠加法分析了水蒸汽蒸馏巴柑檬叶和果皮精油的化学成分。从叶和果皮精油分离出来的220个和200个成分中,分别鉴定出48个和57个成分。鉴定组分的含量分别占叶和果皮精油的99.80％和98.54％。叶精油与果皮精油在化学成分方面的主要区别是叶油中萜烃化合物含量较低,而萜醇类化合物含量较高。     

A fatal poisoning from an amatoxin containing Lepiota

The mushroom Lepiota josserandii Bon and Boif. has been identified as the cause of an unintentional, fatal intoxication in New York. The course of the symptoms, beginning with a 9 h latent period, was similar to what would be expected in a case of Amanita phalloides-type intoxication. Despite supportive medical care the victim expired 110 h after ingestion. Thin layer chromatography detected the presence of alpha- and gamma-amanitin and radioimmunoassay confirmed a level of 3.5 mg/gm dry weight of amatoxins in mushrooms from the same location.Published as New York State Museum Journal Series No. 440.     

Nitrospira marina gen. nov. sp. nov.: a chemolithotrophic nitrite-oxidizing bacterium

A new chemolithotrophic nitrite-oxidizing bacterium, for which the name Nitrospira marina is proposed, was isolated from the Gulf of Maine. N. marina is a Gramnegative curved rod which may form spirals with 1 to 12 turns. Cells have a unique periplasmic space and lack intracytoplasmic membranes and carboxysomes. N. marina is an obligate chemolithotroph, but best growth is obtained in a mixotrophic medium. N. marina may be one of the most prevalent nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in some oceanic environments. Type strain is field with American Type Culture Collection (ATCC 43039).     

Correlation of tumor specific delayed type hypersensitivity reaction and tumor protection to SV40-induced mKSA fibrosarcoma

Summary Mice immunized by excision of a primary, subcutaneously growing SV₄₀-induced mKSA solid tumor which resisted challenge of homologous tumor cells administered at a contralateral site, were found to develop a specific DTH response to SV₄₀ tumor associated transplantation antigens (TATA).In a two-way criss-cross experiment, this DTH response (assessed by direct challenge) was found to be one-way SV₄₀ specific in that chemically induced, non SV₄₀, MCA tumor failed to elicit a DTH response in mice primed by excision of mKSA tumor.These mice also showed a corresponding one-way specific protection against challenge with live homologous mKSA sarcoma cells. In contrast immunization and challenge of MCA-excised mice with either MCA or mKSA tumor cells, exhibited cross-reactivity in both DTH response and protection against either tumor.Unlike this cross-immunity by the direct challenge method, transfer of immune spleen cells from mKSA or MCA excision-primed mice demonstrated a specific DTH response and protection to the original immunizing, homologous but not heterologous tumor. Tumor resistant, DTH-primed mice remained DTH reactive to the primary tumor cells over a period of 4 weeks. Characterization of the splenic T-DTH cells in mice primed by excision of mKSA tumor, indicated a Lyt 1⁺2⁺ phenotype of cells conferring both the DTH response and the immune protection against mKSA sarcoma in a local (Winn) adoptive transfer assay, thus reinforcing the correlation between the DTH response and the antitumor protection.     

The innervation of the pyloric region of the crab,Cancer borealis: Homologous muscles in decapod species are differently innervated

Summary The muscles of the pyloric region of the stomach of the crab,Cancer borealis, are innervated by motorneurons found in the stomatogastric ganglion (STG). Electrophysiological recording and stimulating techniques were used to study the detailed pattern of innervation of the pyloric region muscles. Although there are two Pyloric Dilator (PD) motorneurons in lobsters, previous work reported four PD motorneurons in the crab STG (Dando et al. 1974; Hermann 1979a, b). We now find that only two of the crab PD neurons innervate muscles homologous to those innervated by the PD neurons in the lobster,Panulirus interrruptus. The remaining two PD neurons innervate muscles that are innervated by pyloric (PY) neurons inP. interruptus. The innervation patterns of the Lateral Pyloric (LP), Ventricular Dilator (VD), Inferior Cardiac (IC), and PY neurons were also determined and compared with those previously reported in lobsters. Responses of the muscles of the pyloric region to the neurotransmitters, acetylcholine (ACh) and glutamate, were determined by application of exogenous cholinergic agonists and glutamate. The effect of the cholinergic antagonist, curare, on the amplitude of the excitatory junctional potentials (EJPs) evoked by stimulation of the pyloric motor nerves was measured. These experiments suggest that the differences in innervation pattern of the pyloric muscles seen in crab and lobsters are also associated with a change in the neurotransmitter active on these muscles. Possible implications of these findings for phylogenetic relations of decapod crustaceans and for the evolution of neural circuits are discussed.Abbreviations ACh acetylcholine - Carb carbamylcholine - cpv muscles of the cardio-pyloric valve - cpv7n nerve innervating muscle cpv7 - cv muscles of the ventral cardiac ossicles - cv1n nerve innervating muscle cvl - cv2n nerve innervating muscle cv2 - EJP excitatory junctional potential - IC inferior cardiac neuron - IV inferior ventricular neuron - IVN inferior ventricular nerve - LP lateral pyloric neuron - LPG lateral posterior gastric neuron - lvn lateral ventricular nerve - mvn medial ventricular nerve - p muscles of the pylorus - PD pyloric dilator neuron - PD _in intrinsic PD neuron - PD _ex extrinsic PD neuron - pdn pyloric dilator nerve - PY pyloric neuron - pyn pyloric nerve - STG stomatogastric ganglion - VD ventricular dilator neuron