N-banding in polytene chromosomes of Chironomus and Drosophila

The N-banding patterns of the polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster, Chironomus melanotus, Ch. th. thummi and Ch. th. thummi x Ch. th. piger were studied. In Chironomus the polytene N-banding patterns correspond to the polytene puffing patterns. This is revealed by comparison of the puffing and N-banding patterns of identical chromosomes. Size and staining intensity of the N-bands reflect the size of the puffs as shown by puff induction. There is no evidence that the N-bands are also located in Chironomus heterochromatin or are restricted to the nucleolar organizer regions. In Drosophila the -heterochromatin is strongly N-positive, whereas the -heterochromatin, as well as the Chironomus heterochromatin is not N-banded. Contrary to Chironomus, the puffs in Drosophila polytene chromosomes do not give rise selectively to well stained N-bands. — The N-banding method is interpreted to stain specifically non-histone protein which is (1) accumulated in genetically active chromosome regions and (2) present in a specific type of heterochromatin (-heterochromatin of Drosophila).     

Imitieren Buchfinken(Fringilla coelebs) auf Bornholm den Alarmruf des Sprossers(Luscinia luscinia)?

Zusammenfassung 1979 und 1980 wurde in Ostbornholm ein einheitlicher Regenrufdialekt des Buchfinken gefunden, der dem Alarmruf des Sprossers sehr ähnlich klingt. Auch im Sonagramm zeigen sich morphologische Entsprechungen. Nach demMann-Whitney-Test sind die Mittelwerte der Frequenzen und Impulsdauer hochsignifikant verschieden, was jedoch im felde ohne direkten Vergleich nicht wahrnehmbar ist. Trotz der Differenzen wird Fremdimitaton für sehr wahrscheinlich gehalten, Zufallskonvergenz jedoch nicht ganz ausgeschlossen.

---

A case of vocal appropriation in the Chaffinch to the alarm-call of the Thrush Nightingale at Bornholm?

Summary In 1979 and 1980 in the east of Bornholm (Baltic Sea, Danmark), an uniform dialect of the rain-call was found in the Chaffinch, which resembles the alarm call of the Thrush Nightingale(Luscinia luscinia). The sonagrams of the two calls are very similar in structure. The frequency and duration differ significantly. In the field, however, one can hardly take apart the two calls without direct comparison. Despite these differences, it is speculated, that the rain-call is an imitation, but convergence by chance can not be excluded.

     

Studies on polytene chromosomes of Smittia parthenogenetica (Chironomidae,Diptera)

In polytene chromosome II of Smittia parthenogenetica a heterochromatin insertion has been studied which is derived from a germ-line limited chromosome section (Bauer, 1970). This insertion is C-banding positive, late replicating, inactive in RNA synthesis, fluoresces brightly with quinacrine and is polytenized. After N-banding a major part of the heterochromatin insertion is N-banding negative, whereas in the centre of the insertion a N-banding positive body is present. The properties of the N-positive and N-negative parts of the inserted heterochromatin section are compared with the properties of the heterochromatin of Chironomus melanotus and Drosophila melanogaster. It is concluded that the heterochromatin insertion consists of two different heterochromatin types and it is discussed whether the N-banding positive part within the insertion represents a heterochromatin type which is underreplicated during polytenization.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Hans Bauer in honour of his 75th birthday on September 27, 1979     

Monophagie und „subsequent evolution“ in ihrer theoretischen Bedeutung für die Insekt-Pflanze-Beziehung

The term monophagy is applied to animal species which are linked to a single plant-reprospecies at least during part of their ontogeny. Aspects of subsequent evolution of monophagous animal species and their plant host species are discussed.     

Modifying effects of ultraviolet irradiation on the development of abnormal body patterns in centrifuged insect embryos (Smittia sp., Chironomidae,Diptera)

In Smittia and other chironomid embryos, both anterior and posterior egg halves can give rise to either anterior or posterior segments. Upon various types of experimental interference, eggs may develop one of four basic body patterns: normal embryos, double cephalons, double abdomens, or inverted embryos. From a previous model of anteroposterior determination, we derive four sets of predictions for the results of combined ultraviolet irradiation and centrifugation experiments. While most of the actual results are in agreement with the predictions, some are not. Most of the discrepancies are resolved in a modified version of the model. According to the new model, anterior and posterior egg halves contain both anterior and posterior cytoplasmic determinants. These are thought to be mutually repressive, and to control an overall determination for either anterior or posterior development. Centrifugation and ultraviolet irradiation appear to affect the relative strength of anterior determinants in one or both of the egg halves, thus modifying the probabilities for the four basic body patterns to develop. Different frequencies of these patterns, which have been obtained after similar experimental treatment of different chironomid species, can be ascribed to species-specific variation in the ultraviolet sensitivity of anterior and posterior determinants.     

Synthesis of type IV collagen and laminin in cultures of skeletal muscle cells and their assembly on the surface of myotubes

The synthesis of two components of the basal lamina, laminin and type IV collagen, and their extracellular deposition on the surface of myotubes was studied in cultures of embryonic mouse and quail skeletal muscle cells and in the rat myoblast cell line L6. Production of type IV collagen and laminin by myoblasts and muscle fibroblasts was demonstrated by incorporation of radioactive amino acids into proteins and by immunoprecipitation with specific antibodies and electrophoretic analysis of labeled proteins. Immunofluorescence staining experiments revealed strong intracellular reactions with antibodies to laminin and type IV collagen in mononucleated myogenic and fibrogenic cells. Cells of fibroblast-like morphology showed a more intense staining than bipolar, spindle-shaped cells which perhaps represented postmitotic myoblasts. Myotubes did not show detectable intracellular staining. The formation of a basal lamina on myotubes was indicated by the deposition of laminin and type IV collagen on the surface of myotubes as viewed by immunofluorescence examination of unfixed cells. Staining for extracellular laminin was stronger in mass cultures than in myogenic clones, suggesting that secretion and deposition of components of the basal lamina on the myotube surface are complex processes which may involve cooperation between myogenic and fibrogenic cells.     

Engineering of lactose metabolism inE. coli by introducing β-galactosidase/galactokinase fusion enzymes

Summary A series of plasmids encoding -galactosidase/galactokinase fusion proteins with connecting linkers of different lengths and properties separating the enzyme moieties were made.E. coli cells harbouring the genes for these bifunctional enzymes were grown on minimal media with lactose as carbon source in order to asses possible metabolic effects. Differences in growth rates were observed when the cells contained a scavenger enzyme, galactose dehydrogenase, competing with galactokinase for the galactose formed by -galactosidase.E. coli cells coding for fusion proteins with long linkers then reflected markedly slower growth rates.     

Regeneration of NADH with immobilized systems of alanine dehydrogenase and hydrogen dehydrogenase

Summary An alternative approach to the regeneration of coenzymes using immobilized hydrogen dehydrogenase (hydrogenase) is described. Hydrogenase isolated from Alcaligenes Eutrophus was immobilized to porous glass particles and used in combination with alanine dehydrogenase for formation of alanine, while the NADH consumed was regenerated by molecular hydrogen. Different physical arrangements of the two enzymes were compared. Alanine was conveniently assayed with a specially designed enzyme thermistor method.