Intra- and inter-specific variations in Lens revealed by RAPD markers

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to estimate intra- and interspecific variations in the genus Lens (lentil). Twenty cultivars of L. culinaris ssp. culinaris, including 11 microsperma (small-seeded) and nine macrosperma (large-seeded) types, and 16 wild relatives (four accessions each of L. culinaris ssp. orientalis, L. odemensis, L. nigricans and L. ervoides), were evaluated for genetic variability using a set of 40 random 10-mer primers. Fifty reproducibly scorable DNA bands were observed from ten of the primers, 90% of which were polymorphic. Genetic distances between each of the accessions were calculated from simple matching coefficients. A dendrogram showing genetic relationships between them was constructed by an unweighted pair-group method with arithmetical averages (UPGMA). This study revealed that (1) expect for L. ervoides, the level of intraspecific variation in cultivated lentil is lower than that in wild species, (2) L. culinaris ssp. orientalis is the most likely candidate for a progenitor of the cultivated species, and (3) microsperma and macrosperma cultivars were indistinguishable by the RAPD markers identified here.     

Freemartinism among singleton bovine females born from multiple embryo transfer

Heterosexual chimerism among singleton females produced by multiple nonsexed embryo transfer (MNET singleton females) was investigated using chromosome typing and PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-amplification of male-specific DNA (msDNA). Of the 22 animals tested, 21 were classified as normal by both methods (i.e., showing no male cells among 100 metaphase spreads in chromosome typing and being msDNA negative in PCR). No morphological abnormalities of the genital organs were observed among 19 MNET single females. One MNET singleton female was, however, classified as a freemartin by PCR (male-specific DNA positive), but it was classified as normal cytogenetically. This individual probably had a low degree of heterosexual chimerism, and it seems that the chimerism derived from MNET was difficult to diagnose by chromosome typing, although it was detectable by PCR. The genital organs of this individual (15-mo-old Aberdeen Angus) were normal in form (both external and internal) and size. However, a very small structure, resembling seminiferous tubule, was found in the left ovary. It may be concluded that most MNET singleton females are expected to have normal reproductive function.     

Cytoplasmic Hydration Triggers a Transient Increase in Cytoplasmic Ca2+ Concentration in Nitella flexilis

Cells of Nitella flexilis were made inexcitable by treatmentwith 10 mM KCl for more than 24 h. A Ca²⁺-sensitive photoproteinaequorin was injected into the cytoplasm of such cells. Forvacuolar per fusion, the central part of an aequorin-loadedcell was immersed in silicone oil, and both cell ends bathedin the perfusion medium were cut off. A large light emissionfrom aequorin was observed when the vacuole was perfused witha hypotonic medium whose osmotic pressure was adjusted to halfof the osmotic pressure of the cell sap. This shows that hydrationof the cytoplasm triggers release of Ca²⁺ from internal stores,since influx of Ca²⁺ from silicone oil is excluded. Hydration of cells was induced in another way. Cells were firstdehydrated by transferring them from 10 mM KCl solution to thatwith 250 mM sorbitol added. This procedure did not affect thecytoplasmic streaming. When cells were rehydrated by transferringthem to 10 mM KCl solution, cytoplasmic streaming was eitherstopped or slowed down in a few seconds. A quick light emissionfrom aequorin was observed in the rehydration, evidence thatcytoplasmic streaming was inhibited by an increase in the cytoplasmicCa²⁺ concentration. Both streaming cessation and aequorin lightemission were observed even in KCl-treated cells which werefurther treated with 5 mM EGTA. Thus, the increase in Ca²⁺ isconcluded to be caused by the release of Ca²⁺ from internalstores. These results support our previous hypothesis [Tazawa et al.(1994) Plant Cell Physiol. 35:63] that, in Nitella flexilis,the increase in the concentration of Ca²⁺ in the cytoplasm whichoccurs on the endoosmotic side of the cell during transcellularosmosis is caused by hydration of the cytoplasm. (Received June 6, 1994; Accepted December 26, 1994)     

Photoperiodic induction of larval diapause and temperature-dependent termination in a wild multivoltine bruchid,Kytorhinus sharpianus

A wild bean weevil,Kytorhinus sharpianus Bridwell (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), has a multivoltine life cycle and enters a hibernal larval diapause at the fourth instar under a short daylength (Shimada & Ishihara, 1991). Here, we investigated their diapause incidence under different photoperiods at 24°C and 27°C. The critical photoperiods for diapause induction were 14.5 h at 24°C and 14 h at 27°C. The stages susceptible to diapause-inducing stimuli were estimated by transferring larvae of various instars from long days to short days and vice versa. Then we investigated the incidence of larval diapause. The sensitive stage was estimated to be from the third to early fourth instar. Though larval diapause, which was induced under a short daylength, was terminated only by increasing the daylength, the termination was more synchronized by an exposure to a low temperature followed by increasing temperature, irrespective of photoperiod.     

Hepatic dysfunction in primary hypothyroidism

Twenty-seven patients with primary hypothyroidism were studied to evaluate the relationship between hepatic function and thyroid hormone deficiency in this disorder. In hypothyroidism, hypergammaglobulinemia was found in 71%, elevated glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) in 48%, high lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in 58%, hypercholesteremia in 52% and low elimination rate constant of indocyanin green (KICG) in 44%. In each criterion of liver function, these patients were divided into two groups, normal level and abnormal level group, respectively. T3 and T4 in patients with abnormal levels of GOT, glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and 45 minutes retention rate of bromsulphalein (BSP) were not different from those in the normal level group. However, T3 and T4 in patients with abnormal levels of LDH, cholesterol, cholinesterase (ChE) and KICG were lower than those in the normal level group. The abnormal KICG group had a statistically higher cardio-thoracic ratio (CTR) than the normal group (65.7 +/- 18.8% vs 50.4 +/- 8.3%, p less than 0.05). In patients with pericardial effusion, CTR was 65.9 +/- 14.6%, while that in patients without pericardial effusion was 49.9 +/- 7.5% (p less than 0.05). These abnormalities of liver function were normalized in all cases after hormone replacement therapy. Liver biopsy in three cases disclosed normal liver in two cases and mild infiltration of monocyte into Glisson's capsule in one case.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Production of D-phenylglycine-related amino acids by immobilized microbial cells

Bacterial dihydropyrimidinase was shown to catalyze the hydrolytic cleavage of various 5-substituted hydantoins to the corresponding N-carbamyl-D-amino acids under alkaline conditions. Therefore, an enzymatic method for preparing the D-forms of phenylglycine-related amino acids was developed using immobilized bacterial cells with high enzyme activity. Alkalophilic bacteria were a good enzyme source for this process. The process is simple and economical for use in the production of various amino acids with the D-configuration.     

Troponin in embryonic chick skeletal muscle cells in vitro. An immunoelectron microscope study

The fine structurel distribution of troponin on thin filaments in developing myofibrils was investigated by the use of immunoelectron microscopy. Embryonic chick skeletal muscle cells grown in vitro were treated with antibodies against each of the troponin components (troponin T, I, and C) from adult chicken muscles. Each antibody was distributed along the thin filaments with a period of 38 nm. It is concluded that these newly synthesized regulatory proteins are assembled at their characteristic position from the initial phases of myofibrillogenesis.