Zur Mauser spanischer Weiden- und Haussperlinge (Passer hispaniolensis unddomesticus)

Zusammenfassung Die Mauserperiode westspanischer Weidensperlinge(Passer hispaniolensis) und Haussperlinge(P. domesticus) reicht von Ende Juli bis Ende September/Anfang Oktober. Beim Weidensperling endet der Federwechsel im Durchschnitt etwa fünf Tage früher als beim Haussperling. Es gibt keine Geschlechtsunterschiede in der Chronologie der Mauser beim Weidensperling. Ad. beider Arten mausern schneller und synchronisierter als juv., die ihr Gefieder um so rascher erneuern, je später sie mit der Mauser begonnen haben. Die Handschwingenmauser dauert etwa 66 Tage beim Weidensperling und 69 Tage beim Haussperling. Beide Arten brauchen ca. 3 weitere Tage für die Verhornung der 5. und 6. Armschwingen. Die ad. beider Arten und die juv. Weidensperlinge beginnen die Mauser im Durchschnitt am selben Tag (24. Juli), die juv. Haussperlinge später (29. Juli). Der Mauserverlauf und die Beziehungen zwischen den verschiedenen Federreihen sind bei beiden Arten identisch. Die Synchronisation der Mauser ist beim Weidensperling höher. Brut und Mauserperiode überschneiden sich beim Haussperling; beim Weidensperling, bei dem noch kurze Wanderungen gleich nach der Fortpflanzungsperiode und vor der Mauser erfolgen, nicht. Das frühere und höher synchronisierte Mauserende beim Weidensperling scheint eine Anpassung an die stärkere Zugtendenz zu sein.

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On the moult of Spanish Sparrows(Passer hispaniolensis) and House Sparrows(Passer domesticus) in Iberia

Summary The moulting period of Spanish sparrows(Passer hispaniolensis) and House Sparrows(Passer domesticus) in Western Spain extends from late July to late September/early October. House Sparrows finish moulting on average some five days later than Spanish Sparrows. There are no sexual differences in the moulting chronology of adult Spanish Sparrows. Ad. of both species moult faster and better synchronized. The speed of moulting is also higher in later moulting juveniles. The estimated durations of wing feather replacement were 66 days for the Spanish Sparrow and 69 days for the House Sparrow. Some three more days are needed to complete the growth of the 5th and 6th secondary remiges in both species. Adults of both species and juvenile Spanish Sparrows start moulting on average on the same date: 24th July; juvenile House Sparrows start moulting on 29th July. The sequence of moult and the relations between different feather tracts are identical in both species. The synchronization of the moult is higher in the Spanish Sparrow. Breeding and moulting seasons slightly overlap in the House Sparrow, but not in the Spanish Sparrow. In this species the time lapse between both periods allows the birds to wander to suitable areas, where they moult. The earlier ending and higher synchronization of the moult in the Spanish Sparrow is related to its higher migratory tendency.

     

Short term regulation by lysine of ornithine decarboxylase activity in Dictyostelium discoideum

A transitory increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity has been observed soon after food removal from Dictyostelium discoideum amoeba. This increase can be prevented by supplementation of the differentiation buffer with the 11 amino acids known for their ability to retard the development of this slime mold. Lysine can replace the amino acid mixture with an apparent inhibition constant of 50 micromolar. This inhibition by lysine, which was only observed in vivo, took place within 5 min and was readily reversed upon lysine removal.     

Biochemical properties of alcohol dehydrogenase from Drosophila lebanonensis.

Purified Drosophila lebanonensis alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) revealed one enzymically active zone in starch gel electrophoresis at pH 8.5. This zone was located on the cathode side of the origin. Incubation of D. lebanonensis Adh with NAD+ and acetone altered the electrophoretic pattern to more anodal migrating zones. D. lebanonensis Adh has an Mr of 56,000, a subunit of Mr of 28 000 and is a dimer with two active sites per enzyme molecule. This agrees with a polypeptide chain of 247 residues. Metal analysis by plasma emission spectroscopy indicated that this insect alcohol dehydrogenase is not a metalloenzyme. In studies of the substrate specificity and stereospecificity, D. lebanonensis Adh was more active with secondary than with primary alcohols. Both alkyl groups in the secondary alcohols interacted hydrophobically with the alcohol binding region of the active site. The catalytic centre activity for propan-2-ol was 7.4 s-1 and the maximum velocity of most secondary alcohols was approximately the same and indicative of rate-limiting enzyme-coenzyme dissociation. For primary alcohols the maximum velocity varied and was much lower than for secondary alcohols. The catalytic centre activity for ethanol was 2.4 s-1. With [2H6]ethanol a primary kinetic 2H isotope effect of 2.8 indicated that the interconversion of the ternary complexes was rate-limiting. Pyrazole was an ethanol-competitive inhibitor of the enzyme. The difference spectra of the enzyme-NAD+-pyrazole complex gave an absorption peak at 305 nm with epsilon 305 14.5 X 10(3) M-1 X cm-1. Concentrations and amounts of active enzyme can thus be determined. A kinetic rate assay to determine the concentration of enzyme active sites is also presented. This has been developed from active site concentrations established by titration at 305 nm of the enzyme and pyrazole with NAD+. In contrast with the amino acid composition, which indicated that D. lebanonensis Adh and the D. melanogaster alleloenzymes were not closely related, the enzymological studies showed that their active sites were similar although differing markedly from those of zinc alcohol dehydrogenases.     

In vitro modification of Candida albicans invasiveness

Candida albicans produces germ-tubes (GT) when it is incubated in animal or human serum. This dimorphism is responsible for its invasive ability.The purpose of the present paper is (1) to evaluate the ability of rat peritoneal macrophages to inhibit GT production of ingested Candida albicans, obtained from immunized rats and then activated in vitro with Candida-induced lymphokines; (2) to determinate any possible alteration of phagocytic and candidacidal activities.The phagocytes were obtained from rats immunized with viable C. albicans. Some of them were exposed to Candida-induced lymphokines in order to activate the macrophages in vitro. The monolayers of activated, immune and normal macrophages were infected with a C. albicans suspension during 4 hr.Activated macrophages presented not only the highest phagocytic and candidacidal activities but a noticeable inhibition of GT formation and incremented candidacidal activity.     

Sensory projections to the nucleus basalis prosencephali of the pigeon

Summary The afferent pathways to the nucleus basalis prosencephali of the pigeon were studied by use of the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) technique. It was confirmed that this nucleus receives a direct pathway from the nucleus sensorius principalis nervi trigemini and that, as in the starling, it receives a direct input from the nucleus lemnisci lateralis, pars ventralis, an auditory relay. Totally novel is the finding that the nucleus basalis prosencephali is the target of a direct pathway originating in the medullary nucleus vestibularis superior. All three pathways bypass the thalamus. From within the telencephalon the nucleus basalis prosencephali also receives fibres from the tuberculum olfactorium and the peri-ectostriatal belt, suggestive of olfactory and visual input. Marked cell bodies were also found in the neostriatum frontolaterale. It is assumed that these arose from HRP uptake by axons of the tractus fronto-archistriatalis that course through the nucleus basalis prosencephali to the anterodorsal archistriatum. Marked fibres and bouton-like formations were observed in the latter structure. The afferents to the nucleus basalis prosencephali are discussed in conjunction with the probable role of the nucleus as a sensorimotor coordinator of the pecking/feeding behaviour of the pigeon.     

Accumulation and secretion of exoglucanase activity in yeast secretory mutants

Representative conditional yeast secretory mutants, blocked in transport of secretory and plasma membrane proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum (sec 18), from the Golgi body (sec 7) and in transport of secretory vesicles (sec 1), accumulated exoglucanase, a constitutive yeast activity, when incubated at the restrictive temperature (37°C). Different proportions of the accumulated activity were released by mutant cells under permissive conditions. The presence or absence of cycloheximide during the secretion period made no differences in the results. More than 90% of the internal activity was bound to membrane in wild type cells. However, only the soluble pool underwent changes during the accumulation or secretion periods. The bulk of secretory invertase accumulated by sec 1 was also soluble. By contrast sec 7 and sec 18 accumulated membrane-bound as well as soluble invertase forms and both were secreted in similar proportions in each mutant. More than 90% of the accumulated invertase was secreted at the permissive temperature in sec 18 cells. That percentage was significantly lower for exoglucanase (<65%). Concomitantly, invertase accumulated by this mutant exited from the cells with a lower half time (t 1/2=150 min). These results may be interpreted assuming that exoglucanase is exported by a passive flow of the soluble pool.Non-standard abbreviations p-NPG p-nitrophenyl--d-glucopyranoside - Con A concanavalin A - Tris tris(hydroxymethyl)-amino-methane     

Oxo fatty acid esters from Cryptocoryne spiralis rhizomes

Two new compounds, isolated from the rhizomes of Cryptocoryne spiralis, have been characterized as ethyl 14-oxotetracosanoate and 15-oxoeicosanyl 14-oxoheptadecanoate by spectral data and chemical studies. Hentriacontane and sitosterol have also been isolated and identified.     

Guaianolides from Saussurea affinis

Cynaropicrin, 11βH-11,13-dihydrodesacylcynaropicrin, aguerins A and B, isoamberboin and the new guaianolides saussureolide and 11βH-11,13-dihydrodesacylcynaropicrin 8-β-d-glucoside were isolated from Saussurea affinis.     

Monoclonal antibodies to neurospora adenylate cyclase

A monoclonal antibody against $\text{Neurospora}$ soluble adenylate cyclase was obtained. The antibody inhibits cyclase activities from several lower eucaryotic organisms but not activities associated to testicular cytosol or turkey erythrocyte membranes.