Reciprocal translocation and the Philadelphia chromosome

Summary We examined metaphases from three patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia and a typical Philadelphia chromosome with one chromosome 9 as the recipient to determine whether the 9q+ 22q- translocation is reciprocal. Good quality G-banded photographs of the chromosomes concerned were subjected to light absorption density analysis. This provided enlarged tracings corresponding to the relevant chromosome regions and so facilitated accurate measurement. This technique has unambiguously shown that the typical Philadelphia chromosome results from a reciprocal translocation and that probably no material is gained or lost in the exchange. Furthermore, in a total of six patients for whom sequential G and C banding was performed, the chromosome 9 with the largest block of centromeric heterochromatin received the translocated material. We offer tentative explanations for this curious observation.     

The growth and nutrient uptake of winter wheat

Summary Measurements with an ion selective electrode under winter wheat and in adjacent fallow soil, from April to July 1976, showed that nitrate concentrations were high in the 0–25 cm zone and correspondingly lower at 50 cm, because of the extreme drying conditions. Maximum differences in nitrate concentrations between cropped and fallow soil occurred at Feekes' stages 6, 10, and 11.1 indicating periods of maximum uptake by the crop (cf Ref.⁴).Dry matter weight of wheat, sampled biweekly, was maximum 15 days before maturity. The foliage senesced and lost weight from Feekes' stage 10.1 onwards. Nutrient concentrations in the foliage decreased from Feekes' stage 4, but N, P and Mg concentrations in the ears increased during Feekes' stage 11. N, P and Mg accumulated in the ears at the expense of the foliage during stage 11, maximum uptake occurring at stages 11.3, 11.1 and 11.2 respectively. In contrast, K and Ca uptake ceased at stages 10.1 and 10.5 respectively and then both were lost from the foliage in heavy showers.Rates of N uptake and soil nitrate depletion correlated significantly, enabling N uptake to be deduced approximately from thesein situ soil nitrate measurements.     

Mutational analysis of antigen receptor regulation of B lymphocyte growth. Evidence for involvement of the phosphoinositide signaling pathway.

Stimulation of the antigen receptor of WEHI-231 B lymphoma cells with anti-receptor antibodies (anti-IgM) induces irreversible growth arrest. Anti-IgM stimulates two kinds of transmembrane signaling events, phosphorylation of proteins on tyrosyl residues and breakdown of inositol phospholipids, which results in increases of inositol phosphates, diacylglycerol, and calcium. The roles of these reactions in mediating the growth arrest of the B lymphoma cells have not been established. To examine this issue, we took a genetic approach. Mutants of WEHI-231 cells were isolated that were resistant to anti-IgM-induced growth arrest. Five out of seven independent mutants analyzed had normal cell-surface expression of antigen receptors. Although each of these five mutants had tyrosine protein phosphorylation patterns comparable to wild-type cells, they exhibited alterations in the phosphoinositide signaling pathway. Four of the mutants had decreased phosphoinositide breakdown, probably due to an alteration in phospholipase C. Decreased second messenger production may be responsible for the growth-resistant phenotype. Full growth arrest was restored upon addition of the calcium ionophore ionomycin, suggesting that the limiting second messenger was intracellular free calcium. The final mutant appeared to be altered in a component(s) that responds to diacylglycerol and calcium. Taken together, these results provide further evidence that the phosphoinositide pathway is at least partly responsible for mediating antigen receptor regulation of B lymphoma cell growth.     

Physiological factors affecting transformation of Azotobacter vinelandii.

Cells of Azotobacter vinelandii (ATCC 12837) can be transformed by exogenous deoxyribonucleic acid towards the end of exponential growth. Transformation occurs at very low frequencies when the deoxyribonucleic acid is purified or when the transformation is carried out in liquid medium. Optimal transformation occurs on plates of Burk nitrogen-free glucose medium containing either high phosphate (10 mM) or low calcium (0 to 0.29 mM) content. Higher levels of calcium are inhibitory, whereas magnesium ions are essential for transformation and growth. Extracellular polymer and capsule are increasingly inhibitory to transformation and are most abundant when the calcium content of the medium is high. Transformation is optimal at pH 7.0 to 7.1 and at 30 C, conditions which also coincide with minimal extracellular polymer production. Nonencapsulated strains are excellent transformation recipients. Glycine-induced pleomorphism reduces the transformation frequency and the degree of inhibition is dependent on the phosphate concentration of the medium. Rifampin resistance and shifts from adenine, hypoxanthine, uracil, and nitrogenase auxotrophy to prototrophy can be achieved. Although single marker transfer is always greater than double marker transfer, the data suggest that rifampin resistance is linked to hypoxanthine, adenine and uracil protorophy at intervals of increasing distance. Rifampin resistance did not appear to be linked to nitrogenase.