A model of the complex cell based on recent neurophysiological findings

A neural network model is proposed for the understanding of the receptive field properties of the complex cell. The model is based on recent neurophysiological findings on the visual cortical network. The model is proved to be functionally identical with Hubel's and Wiesel's hierarchy model though the two models are structurally quite different.     

A simple procedure for the isolation of pure nuclei from carrot embryos in synchronized cultures

A simple method is presented for the isolation of nuclei from somatic embryos of carrot (Daucus carota L.), which is applicable to small amounts of material in synchronized culture. The method employs buffers containing a high concentration of glycerol to stabilize the structure of the nuclei. Purification was carried out by centrifugation using preformed Percoll gradients. Treatment with cell wall-degrading enzymes prior to homogenization improved the efficiency of isolation and permitted a reproducible yield of nuclei. The pure preparations were obtained with an efficiency of approximately 60%. The isolated nuclei retained their morphological characteristics as demonstrated by phase — contrast and electron microscopy. Nuclear proteins displayed the expected species of histones by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The isolated nuclei showed high RNA polymerase activity.     

Localization in situ of c-myc mRNA and c-myc protein in adult mouse testis

Summary It has been suggested that c-myc, one of the proto-oncogenes, plays a role in normal somatic cell proliferation and differentiation. To define whether c-myc is only expressed during somatic cell division or is also expressed during meiotic cell division, the production of c-myc mRNA and protein were investigated in the mouse testis by usingin situ hybridization with non-radioactive DNA probes and enzyme immunohistochemistry respectively. Forin situ hybridization, T-T dimerized DNA probes were used and DNAs hybridizedin situ were detected immunohistochemically using specific antibody against T-T dimer. The results indicate that c-myc mRNA and protein are expressed in a cell-cycle-dependent manner only in spermatogonia and not in spermatocytes and spermatids.     

Dielectric analysis of mitochondria isolated from rat liver I. Swollen mitoplasts as simulated by a single-shell model

A re-evaluation of the dielectric studies on isolated mitochondria (Pauly, H., Packer L., and Schwan, H.P. (1960) J. Biophys. Biochem. Cytol. 7, 589–601, and ibid. 7, 603–612) is presented. The suspensions of ‘mitoplasts’ prepared from rat liver mitochondria by a hyposmotic (10 mM KCI) treatment showed a dielectric dispersion with its characteristic frequency lying in the 1–100 MHz range. In the analysis of data special emphasis was put on the choice of the theoretical models to employ after serutiny of their applicability to the suspensions tested. As such we adopted the theory of Hanai et al. (Hanai, T., Asami, K., and Koizumi, N. (1979) Bull. Inst. Chem. Res., Kyoto Univ. 57, 297–305) that was advanced to include concentrated suspensions of shelled spheres. Curve fittings based on that theory resulted in a better agreement with experiment than the fittings based on a conventional theory for dilute suspensions. Major findings from our analyses on the swollen mitoplasts are that: (i) the limiting membrane of the mitoplasts has a specific electrical capacity of 1 μF/cm², (ii) the ratio of permittivity (or dielectric constant) for the mitoplast interior and permittivity for the external medium is 0.6–0.7, and (iii) the conductivity ratio between the interior phase and the medium is approx. 0.6. Reasons for discrepancy between the results of Pauly et al. and ours are discussed.     

Towards a classification ofE. coli ribosomal proteins: A hypothetical ‘small ribosome’ as a primitive protein-synthesizing apparatus

Homologies were searched among the published primary sequences of 51E. coli ribosomal proteins, partly by eye and partly by computer-assisted methods. By employing Moore and Goodman's alignment statistics for evaluating homology levels, 33 out of these 51 ribosomal proteins has been classified into 9 homology groups, some of which being yet tentative and remaining to be further analyzed. Taking it into consideration that most ribosomal protein genes are clustered atstr-stc region,rif region and several other regions, these results strongly suggest that most or all of the contemporary ribosomal proteins must have evolved by repeated gene duplications ofvery few (oronly one) primitive ancestral ribosomal protein gene(s). Thus it is most reasonable to propose that a small ribosome consisting of very few (or only one) ribosomal protein(s) must have existed as a primitive protein-synthesizing apparatus.     

Phytophthora chrysanthemi sp. nov., a new species causing root rot of chrysanthemum in Japan

A new species of Phytophthora was isolated from stem and root rot of chrysanthemum in the Gifu and Toyama prefectures of Japan. The species differs from other Phytophthora species morphologically, and is characterized by nonpapillate, noncaducous sporangia with internal proliferation, formation of both hyphal swellings and chlamydospores, homothallic nature, distinctive intercalary antheridia, and funnel-shaped oogonia. The new species can grow even at 35°C, with an optimum growth temperature of 30°C in V8 juice agar medium. In phylogenetic analyses based on five nuclear regions (LSU rDNA; genes for translation elongation factor 1α, β-tubulin, 60 S ribosomal protein L10, and heat shock protein 90), the isolates formed a monophyletic clade. Although the rDNA ITS region shows a high resolution and has proven particularly useful for the separation of Phytophthora species, it was difficult to align the sequences for phylogenetic analysis. Therefore, ITS region analysis using related species as defined by the multigene phylogeny was performed, and the topology of the resulting tree also revealed a monophyletic clade formed by the isolates of the species. The morphological characteristics and phylogenetic relationships indicate that the isolates represent a new species, Phytophthora chrysanthemi sp. nov. In pathogenicity tests, chrysanthemum plants inoculated with the isolates developed lesions on stems and roots within 3 days, and the symptoms resembled the ones originally observed. Finally, the pathogen’s identity was confirmed by re-isolation from lesions of infected plants.     

Molecular pathogenesis of lipoid adrenal hyperplasia and adrenal hypoplasia congenita

Congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia (lipoid CAH) is the most severe form of CAH in which the synthesis of all gonadal and adrenal cortical steroids is markedly impaired. Lipoid CAH may be caused by the defect in either the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein or the P450scc. More than 34 different mutations in StAR gene have been identified. Clinically, most of the patients manifest adrenal insufficiency from 1 day to 2 months of age, but some patient show delayed onset of adrenal insufficiency. Affected 46, XY subjects do not show pubertal development, whereas affected 46, XX subjects undergo spontaneous feminization, breast development and cyclical vaginal bleeding at the usual age of puberty.

X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenital (AHC) is a rare congenital adrenal disorder characterized by severe adrenal insufficiency and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. More than 80 different several intragenic mutations of DAX-1 have been identified. The failure of pubertal development may be caused by either abnormal hypothalamic or pituitary regulation of gonadotropin secretion. In addition, although the testicular steroidogenesis is largely intact, the functional maturity of Sertoli cells and also spermatogenesis are impaired. The type of mutation does not predict clinical phenotype. Thus, unified mechanism how DAX-1 gene defect gives rise to adrenal insufficiency, hypothalamic/pituitary hypogonadism and impaired spermatogenesis remains established.     

Characterization of Edenia gomezpompae Isolated from a Patient with Keratitis

Edenia gomezpompae, isolated from a patient suffering from keratitis, who was an agricultural worker with a 4-year history of diabetes mellitus, is described. Fungal hyphae were detected in corneal scrapings after microscopic examination and repeated culture. Isolates were identified by morphology and by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA. Chlamydospore characteristics of E. gomezpompae are described for the first time. The in vitro antifungal susceptibilities of the isolate were tested using five antifungal agents. With the exception of fluconazole, the other drugs (natamycin, amphotericin B, itraconazole, and voriconazole) assayed were highly effective against this fungus. The keratitis was cured after debridement of the corneal ulcer and treatment with 5 % natamycin. After 3 months, when the patient was reexamined, the corneal ulcer showed signs of healing, with no recurrence. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of keratitis caused by E. gomezpompae, as well as being the first known case of disease in humans caused by this species.