Aliphatic hydrocarbons obtained from iron carbides: Possible stellar and meteoritic implications

Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres -     

Binding of a pancreatic nuclear protein is correlated with amylase enhancer activity.

The mouse amylase gene Amy-2.2 is expressed at high levels specifically in the acinar cells of the pancreas. The region between -172 and -110 of this gene includes sequence elements common to pancreas-specific genes. Nuclear proteins with specific affinity for this region were partially purified from rat pancreas. The consensus element of another pancreas-specific gene, elastase 1, competes for protein binding to the amylase sequences. Binding was localized by DNase I protection to the sequence -156 to -122. Site-directed mutagenesis of this sequence resulted in concomitant loss of protein binding and enhancer activity. Photo-affinity labelling of pancreatic nuclear extracts identified one predominant binding protein with a molecular weight of approximately 75 kDa. The data indicate that binding of this nuclear protein is essential for the enhancer activity of this pancreas-specific element.     

The Caenorhabditis elegans genome contains monomorphic minisatellites and simple sequences.

Many species have been shown to contain tandemly repeated short sequence DNA known as minisatellites and simple sequence motifs. Due to allelic variation in the copy number of the repeat unit these loci are usually highly polymorphic. Here we demonstrate the presence of sequences in the genome of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans which are homologous to two sets of short sequence DNA. However, when two independent strains were compared no polymorphism for these sequences could be detected.     

Trophoblast/leukocyte-common antigen is expressed by human testicular germ cells and appears on the surface of acrosome-reacted sperm

The murine monoclonal antibody H316 reacts with a cell-surface antigen of human trophoblast, leukocytes, certain epithelia, and several malignant cell types. We have found that the H316 antibody also recognizes an antigen synthesized by pre- and post-meiotic human testicular germ cells and is expressed in the acrosomal region of methanol-fixed testicular, epididymal, and ejaculated sperm. The antigen is poorly expressed on the surface of fresh ejaculated motile sperm, but is detectable on most viable sperm after a 6-h incubation in medium containing human serum albumin (HSA), or 60-min incubation with the calcium ionophore A23187 (both treatments induce sperm acrosomal changes termed capacitation and acrosome reaction). We found that antigen recognized by H316 is immunoprecipitated as a single, broad 50 kDa band from radiolabeled ionophore-treated sperm extracts and that preincubation of HSA-capacitated sperm with this antibody causes a moderate, but significant, inhibition of hamster egg penetration. These data indicate that the antigen recognized by the H316 monoclonal antibody is synthesized by testicular germ cells and is surface-expressed on capacitated/acrosome-reacted sperm populations. Its potential as a human sperm acrosome reaction marker, and possible biological role in sperm-egg or sperm-lymphocyte interactions, warrants further investigation.     

An endogenous 'hypertensive factor' enhances the voltage-dependent calcium current

The effects of an immunoaffinity-purified putative endogenous hypertensive factor (HF) on voltage-dependent calcium current in frog cardiac myocytes were assessed. In 9 out of 10 cells, HF reversibly increased the peak amplitude of the calcium current. HF increased peak calcium current density at -5 mV from a control level of 1.8 +/- 1.3 pA/pF (mean +/- SD) to 4.4 +/- 2.0 pA/pF. HF shifted the peak of the calcium current-voltage relationship in the hyperpolarizing direction. HF shifted the voltage dependence of the inactivation of the calcium current to more negative potentials with prepulses from -80 to 0 mV, but the inactivation was not affected with prepulses more positive than 0 mV. Modulation of the voltage-dependent calcium current by HF may be the mechanism underlying its pressor effects.     

Characterization of a Lactobacillus strain producing white crystals on cheddar cheese.

From an enrichment culture of white-crystal deposits from aged Cheddar cheese, an atypical Lactobacillus strain was characterized. The new isolate is facultatively heterofermentative, has a G + C content of 40 mol%, and produces D and L isomers of lactic acid. The strain had a limited ability to ferment carbohydrates. It utilized fructose, galactose, glucose, lactose, maltose, mannose, and ribose but was negative for esculin, gluconate, citrate, and several other carbon sources. The isolate also had low DNA-DNA homologies with strains of Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum. Cheese prepared with milk containing the isolate developed white crystals during curing. Formation of copious D-lactate from unknown substrates during curing probably caused the white-crystal deposits. The strain has been deposited in the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC 49178).     

Structural adaptations of the femur and humerus to arboreal and terrestrial environments in three species of macaque

One reason to measure cross-sectional structural properties of primate long bones is to define mechanically relevant complexes of traits that describe the adaptation of bone to different biomechanical environments. This can be effectively accomplished when congeneric species having different postural and locomotor behaviors are compared. This paper compares the cross-sectional geometry of the femur and humerus in three behaviorally different macaque species as a basis for defining such patterns. Cross-sectional moments of inertia in the standard anatomical planes were calculated at five locations along the diaphyses of the femur and humerus in Macaca fascicularis, M. nemestrina, and M. mulatta. The data suggest that the "barrel-shaped" femur is associated with behaviors for which long limbs and small body size are an asset. This may be associated with, but is not restricted to, leaping behaviors. The data also suggest that structural rigidity of the femur and humerus is greater per unit body weight in primates that spend significant amounts of time in terrestrial environments than in those that are more restricted to climbing in arboreal environments.