A scanning device for the double beam leitz interference microscope

Summary The Leitz double beam interference microscope and its microscope photometer attachment have been rebuilt to a scanning instrument. The wide separation between the reference and object beam enables measurements of optical path differences (opd) in relatively large microscopic objects or in closely packed smaller objects without difficulties caused by the lack of free space for the reference beam. This advantage can now be combined with that of a scanning device. Using the system developed integrated values of the opd and hence the dry mass content of heterogeneous microscopic objects can be determined.Scanning in interference contrast is carried out in the image plane with a 0.1 mm diaphragm driven by two direct current motors. The intensity of the light passing the diaphragm is kept constant by adjustment of the glass wedge in the reference beam by means of a servo system. The displacement of the wedge, being proportional to the opd between the microscopic object and the free background, is recorded and integrated. The final value given by the integrator is proportional to the dry mass of the microscopic object.     

Chimpanzee foetal haemoglobin: structure and heterogeneity of the gamma chain

The amino acid compositions of soluble tryptic and chymotryptic peptides of the gamma chain of chimpanzee foetal haemoglobin have been determined. The peptides, accounting for all 146 residues of the gamma chain, were found to be identical in composition to the corresponding human gamma chain peptides. As in man, position gamma 136 can be occupied by glycine (G gamma chain) as well as alanine (A gamma chain). The ratio of G gamma to A gamma chains in the infant chimpanzee is approx. 2:1, and in the adult approx. 1:2.     

Mechanismen der Farbstoffaufnahme. I

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Studies on seasonal dynamics of soil-higher fungal communities in Mongolian oak-dominant Gwangneung forest in Korea

We surveyed macrofungi biweekly at defined plots from April to December in 2014, in the Mongolian oak-dominant forest, Gwangneung Forest, Pochen-si, Korea, and analyzed a soilhigher fungal diversity during four seasons (represented by April, August, October, and December). Based on morphological observation of collected specimens, the collected macrofungi were classified into 2 phyla 3 classes 7 orders, 14 families, 21 genera, and 33 species (36 specimens). DNA-based community analyses indicated that soil-higher fungi were classified into 2 phyla, 18 classes, 49 orders, 101 families, and 155 genera (83,360 sequence reads), defined herein as 155 genus-level operational taxonomic units (GOTUs). In the present study, we evaluated and discussed the fungal diversity in seasonal dynamics and soil layers based on collected macrofungi and pyrosequencing data while considering environmental parameters (pH, exchangeable K, T-P, NH ₄ ⁺ , NO ₃ ^- , OM, WR, TOC, and T-N). Moreover, principal components analysis (PCA) showed distinct clusters of the GOTU assemblage associated with the seasons.     

Prohibitin deficiency causes opposing lipid metabolism between 3T3-L1 adipocytes and Clone 9 hepatocytes

Prohibitin (PHB) is a highly conserved protein in eukaryotic cells that are present in multiple cellular compartments and has potential roles as a tumor suppressor, an anti-proliferative protein, a regulator of cell-cycle progression and in apoptosis. In the present study, we generated PHB-deficient 3T3-L1 adipocytes and Clone 9 (C9) hepatocytes by oligonucleotide siRNA and investigated whether PHB affect lipid metabolism. It was revealed that PHB deficiency caused opposing lipid metabolism between the two cell models. PHB deficiency increased expression of adipogenic, lipogenic, and other lipid metabolic proteins in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, whereas significantly decreased the levels of those proteins in C9 cells. Collectively, PHB deficiency promoted lipid metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes while it aggravated lipid metabolism in C9 hepatocytes.     

DLC-1, a GTPase-activating protein for Rho, is associated with cell proliferation, morphology, and migration in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), an isoprenoid compound, is an anti-ulcer drug developed in Japan. In our previous study, GGA was shown to inhibit ovarian cancer invasion by attenuating Rho activation [K. Hashimoto, K. Morishige, K. Sawada, M. Tahara, S. Shimizu, M. Sakata, K. Tasaka, Y. Murata, Geranylgeranylacetone inhibits lysophosphatidic acid-induced invasion of human ovarian carcinoma cells in vitro. Cancer 103 (2005) 1529-1536.]. In the present study, GGA treatment inhibited ovarian cancer progression in vitro and suppressed the tumor growth and ascites in the in vivo ovarian cancer model. In vitro analysis, treatment of cancer cells by GGA resulted in the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, the inactivation of Ras, and the suppression of tyrosine phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). In conclusion, this is the first report that GGA inhibited ovarian cancer progression and the anti-tumor effect by GGA is, at least in part, derived not only from the suppression of Rho activation but also Ras-MAPK activation.