Shoot-bud regeneration in subcultured callus of engelmann spruce

Summary Callus cultures ofPicea engelmannii (Parry, Engelmann spruce) were initiated and established from mature embryos cultured on von Arnold and Eriksson’s medium (AE) supplemented with N⁶-benzyladenine (10μM) and naphthalene acetic acid (10 μM). Cultures were maintained by subculture at 3-to-4-wk intervals. After three subcultures, callus was transferred to AE medium with only N⁶-benzyladenine (25 μM). Adventitious buds appeared on the surface of the callus after 2-to 4-wk and grew to adventitious shoots on AE medium without growth hormones or on AE medium with kinetin (0.1 μM). Shoot-forming capacity was maintained through 7 further subcultures. This study was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada grant G1438 to T. A. Thorpe and D. I. Dunstan.     

Protein synthesis in the hippocampus associated with memory facilitation by corticotropin-releasing factor in rats.

The present study used pharmacological, biochemical, and behavioral methods to examine the role of protein synthesis in the hippocampus in memory processes of a passive avoidance learning in rats. Results indicated that corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) significantly improved memory retention in rats. Both cycloheximide (CHX) and actinomycin-D (ACT-D) impaired memory at high doses. At doses of CHX and ACT-D that did not affect memory alone, they both antagonized the memory-enhancing effect of CRF. Biochemically, there were specific increases in the optical density of three protein bands in the cytosolic fraction of hippocampal cells in rats showing good memory. There were also marked increases in the optical density of two protein bands in the nucleus fraction of the same animals. Similar results were observed in animals injected with CRF. However, no significant protein alteration was observed in animals receiving stress. These results together suggest that there are new protein syntheses in the hippocampus that are specifically associated with passive avoidance learning in rats.     

Targeting of Sp1 to a non-Sp1 site in the human neurofilament (H) promoter via an intermediary DNA-binding protein.

The human neurofilament (H) promoter contains multiple binding sites for nuclear proteins including a Proximal (Prox) site centered around the sequence GGTTGGACC and an adjacent pyrimidine (Pyr) tract site centered around the sequence CCCTCCTCCCC. Surprisingly binding to a probe containing the Prox/Pyr region of the NF(H) promoter was competed in gel shifts by an oligonucleotide containing only an Sp1 binding site (GGGGCGGGG). Supershift assays with a polyclonal anti-Sp1 antisera confirmed that Sp1 was part of the complex formed with the Prox/Pyr probe. However neither bacterially expressed Sp1 516C or vaccinia virus expressed full-length Sp1 778C bound to the Prox or Pyr sequences in DNase I footprints or gel shift assays. Gel shift competitions and supershift assays with probes containing either Prox or Pyr tract sites alone demonstrated targeting of Sp1 to the Prox binding site and identified a non-Sp1 containing complex which contains a Prox binding protein. Adding exogenous Sp1 to a HeLa nuclear extract enhanced the Sp1-containing complex but had no effect on the Prox complex. These studies show that Sp1 can be targeted to a non-Sp1 site in the human NF(H) promoter through protein/protein interactions with a distinct sequence specific DNA-binding protein.     

热应激时大鼠肺组织中β—肾上腺素受体的变化与膜磷...

To explore the relationship between the change of beta-adrenoceptor and the metabolism of phospholipids in lung tissue from acute heat stressed rats, the Bmax of beta-adrenoceptors, the activity of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), the content of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylserine (PS), and membrane fluidity in lung tissue of normal and heat stressed rats were investigated. The relevant parameter values mentioned above were 479 +/- 94 fmol/mg protein, 78.5 +/- 8.2 U, 53.5 +/- 1.7 mg/g.wet. w. and 425.1 +/- 68.1 micrograms/g.wet. w. respectively. Whereas in the heat stressed rats with rectal temperature raised to 42 degrees C for 15 min, the Bmax of beta-adrenoceptor was decreased by 43% (P less than 0.01), the activity of PLA2 increased by 83% (P less than 0.01), the contents of PC and PS decreased by 50% and 47% (P less than 0.01) respectively. A lower membrane fluidity in lung tissue for heat stressed rats was also demonstrated. The results suggest that the decreased binding sites of beta-adrenoceptor in lung tissue of rat during hyperthermia may be contributed to the activation of PLA2, which then accelerated the catabolism of phospholipids such as PC and PS in the cell plasma membrane, with a consequent alteration of membrane fluidity.     

头端延髓腹外侧区注射5—羟色胺对应激性高血粘度...

Experiments were carried out on 62 wistar rats. The hyperviscosity and elevation of blood pressure were induced by hanging and restraining the rats with their four limbs tied on a frame. It was found that microinjection of 5-HT (25 micrograms/10 microliters) into the 4th ventricle of the brain or bilateral microinjection of 5-HT (4 micrograms/0.5 microliters/site) into rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) reduced stress-induced hyperviscosity (p < 0.01) and elevation of blood pressure (p < 0.01). The effect of 5-HT injected into the 4th ventricle or rVLM was blocked by bilateral microinjection of cinanserine (4 micrograms/0.5 microliter/site) into rVLM. These results suggest that microinjection of 5-HT into 4th ventricle and rVLM could reduce stress-induced hyperviscosity and elevation of blood pressure and these effects were probably mediated via 5-HT receptors in the rVLM.     

Genomic groups,morphology, and sectional delimitation in EurasianElymus (Poaceae,Triticeae)

Seven tetraploid species ofElymus, viz.E. sibiricus, E. caninus, E. gmelinii, E. semicostatus, E. caucasicus, E. parviglume, andE. longearistatus subsp.canaliculatus, representing five sections were studied morphologically and used in interspecific hybridizations. The aim was to investigate whether the present sectional delimitation of the genus was in agreement with genomic data and if there was a correlation between genome constitution and morphology. The study revealed: (i) further information on the genomic affinities between the different species, (ii) that there is no congruence between genome constitution of the species and current sectional delimitation, and (iii) that there is a correlation between genome constitution and morphology in the palea apex shape and in the size of cilia of the palea.     

Pseudorabies virus gIII and bovine herpesvirus 1 gIII share complementary functions.

The gIII glycoproteins of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) and of pseudorabies virus (PRV) are structurally homologous. Both proteins also play preeminent roles in mediating virus attachment to permissive cells. To directly compare the functional relation between these glycoproteins, we constructed a recombinant BHV-1 in which the BHV-1 gIII coding sequence was replaced by the PRV gene homolog. The resultant recombinant virus efficiently expressed PRV gIII and then incorporated it into its envelope. The levels of PRV gIII expression and incorporation were equivalent to those achieved by the wild-type virus for BHV-1 gIII. The recombinant virus was fully susceptible to neutralization by anti-PRV gIII neutralizing antibody. In addition, the virus attachment and penetration functions, as well as the virus replication efficiency, which were lost by deleting the BHV-1 gIII gene, were restored by expressing the PRV gIII homolog in its place. These results demonstrated that PRV gIII and BHV-1 gIII share complementary functions.     

Cytogenetic studies of the intergeneric hybrids between Secale cereale and Elymus caninus,E. brevipes,and E. tsukushiensis (Triticeae: Poaceae)

Summary Integeneric hybridizations were carried out between Secale cereale L. (2n = 14, RR) and three Elymus species, namely, E. caninus (L.) L. (2n = 28, SSHH), E. brevipes (Keng) Löve (2n = 28, SSYY) and E. tsukushiensis Honda (2n = 42, SSHHYY). Chromosome pairing was studied at metaphase I in the parental species and the hybrids. Meiotic configurations of the hybrids were 20.74 1+0.14 II for E. caninus x S. cereale (SHR), 16.35 I+2.17 II+0.09 III for E. brevipes x S. cereale (SYR) and 25.84 I+1.10 II+0.02 III for E. tsukushiensis x S. cereale (SHYR), in addition to some secondary associations in the different hybrids. It is concluded from the study that (1) a certain, different homoeologous relationship exists among S, H and Y genomes in the investigated Elymus species; (2) low homoeology is present between genomes of Elymus (S or H or Y) and rye (R); (3) the Secale genome affects homoeologous chromosome pairing between different genomes in E. brevipes and E. tsukushiensis.     

Intergeneric crosses of Psathyrostachys huashanica with Elymus spp. and cytogenetic studies of the hybrids with E. tsukushiensis (Poaceae, Triticeae)

Intergeneric crosses have been made between Psathyrostachys huashanica (2x= 14, NN) and three Elymus species, namely, E. pendulinus (2n = 4x = 28, SSYY), E. ciliaris (2n = 4x = 28, SSYY), and E. tsukushiensis (2n = 6x = 42, SSHHYY). Three accessions of E. tsukushiensis from different localities crossed with P. huashanica produced adult hybrid plants. Although completely sterile, the hybrid plants developed rather vigorously, and were morphologically intermediate between the two parents. Chromosome configuration of 24.62I + 1.51II + 0.03III per cell characterized meioses of the hybrids, but there existed slight variations among different combinations. These results indicate that there is little or no chromosome homoeology between "N" genome of P. huashanica and "S", "H" or "Y" genomes of E. tsukushiensis.     

Oxidation of dimethyl sulfide byPseudomonas acidovorans DMR-11 isolated from peat biofilter

Summary Pseudomonas acidovorans DMR-11, capable of oxidizing dimethyl sulfide (DMS), was isolated from peat biofilter. DMS as a sole carbon or energy source was not degraded, but it was co-degraded in the medium containing organic carbon sources. The removal rate of DMS in heat-treated glucose medium was 1.12×10^–17 mole/h cell at 30 °C. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was the only product of DMS oxidation and was formed stoichiometrically. DMS was reversibly evolved in excess of DMSO. The cell free extract of strain DMR-11 oxidized DMS in presence of NADPH.