Cryocrystalglobulinemia.

A 40-year-old woman had cryocrystalglobulinemia with IgG2(K1). To date, 27 other cases of spontaneous crystallization of a plasma protein have been reported. In all, the protein, a cryoglobulin, has been found to be an IgG molecule. The disease most commonly associated with this phenomenon has been multiple myeloma. None of the patients have had Raynaud''s phenomenon, but many have had purpuric skin lesions made worse by exposure to cold. In the two cases of essential cryocrystalglobulinemia, crystals were found in the peripheral blood film. Immunologic, biochemical and ultrastructural studies have so far not demonstrated any property common to all cryocrystalglobulins.     

Scanning electron-microscopical and other observations of sperm fertilization reactions in Limulus polyphemus L. (Merostomata: Xiphosura).

Sperm fertilization reactions of Limulus polyphemus were examined by scanning electron and/or light microscopy. The following were considered: sperm motility, attachment of sperm to egg, acrosome reaction, and penetration of the acrosomal filament. The spermatozoa after semination are non-motile and become active only in close proximity to a defined region surrounding the egg. Egg materials diffusing into this region induce sperm motility and stimulate large numbers of spermatozoa to move towards the egg surface. Each sperm initially attaches by the apical tip and undergoes the acrosome reaction which causes a more permanent secondary attachment by the adhesion of acrosomal contents to the egg surface. The acrosome reaction also initiates the penetration of the acrosomal filament through the egg envelope, an event occurring in 70-80% of the attached spermatozoa (about 10(6). Shortly after this penetration, a secondary reaction occurs which involves a spiralling of the flagellum and an incorporation into the sperm body of the flagellar fibrous components, which then become closely apposed to the sperm nucleus. These sperm fertilization reactions were performed or initiated with 0-34 M CaCl2 in whole eggs, egg sections, excised egg envelopes and/or the outer basement lamina of the egg envelope. The Limulus fertilization system is very valuable since sperm reactions can be examined biochemically, which may lead to a better understanding of the chemical mechanisms involved in sperm-egg interactions in all animal species.     

Immunohistochemical localization of melatonin in the rat Harderian gland.

Using fluorescence and double antibody techniques, melatonin was localized immunohistologically in the secretory cells of the Harderian gland of mature male rats. The presence and quantity of melatonin in the acinar cells seem to correlate with the amount of porphyrins inside the lumen. The specificity was proven by disappearance of yellow fluorescence after saturation of antibody with melatonin or after use of nonspecific antibody only.     

Reversibility of cell surface label rearrangement

Cell surface labeling can cause rearrangements of randomly distributed membrane components. Removal of the label bound to the cell surface allows the membrane components to return to their original random distribution, demonstrating that label is necessary to maintain as well as to induce rearrangements. With scanning electron microscopy, the rearrangement of concanavalin A (con A) and ricin binding sites on LA-9 cells has been followed by means of hemocyanin, a visual label. The removal of con A from its binding sites at the cell surface with alpha-methyl mannoside, and the return of these sites to their original distribution are also followed in this manner. There are labeling differences with con A and ricin. Under some conditions, however, the same rearrangements are seen with both lectins. The disappearance of labeled sites from areas of ruffling activity is a major feature of the rearrangements seen. Both this ruffling activity and the rearrangement of label are sensitive to cytochalasin B, and ruffling activity, perhaps along with other cytochalasin-sensitive structure, may play a role in the rearrangements of labeled sites.     

Isolation and characterization of indole-3-acetaldehyde reductases from Cucumis sativus.

In a continuing study of the biosynthetic pathway and regulatory mechanisms governing indole-3-acetic acid (auxin) formation, we report the isolation and initial characterization of three distinct indole-3-acetaldehyde reductases from cucumber seedlings. These enzymes catalyze the reduction of indole-3-acetaldehyde to indole-3-ethanol with the concomitant oxidation of NAD(P)H to NAD(P)+. Two of the reductases are specific for NADPH as second substrate, while the third is specific for NADH. The enzymes show a strong specificity for indoleacetaldehyde, with apparent Km values of 73mum, 130mum, and 400mum being calculated for the two NADPH-specific reductases and the NADH-specific reductase, respectively. Under no conditions of substrate concentration, incubation time, or assay method could the reverse reaction be observed. Chromatography on a calibrated Sephadex gel column led to estimated molecualr weights of 52,000 and 17,000 for the NADPH-specific reductases, while a value of 33,000 was obtained for the NADH-specific reductase. Both NADPH-specific reductases showed a pH optimum of 5.2 with a secondary optimum at 7.0, and both enzymes were activated by increasing ionic strength. The NADH-specific reductase showed a pH optimum of 7.0 with a secondary optimum at 6.1 and was slightly inhibited by increasing ionic strength.     

Patterns of ribosomal DNA spacer lengths are inherited

The non-transcribed spacer regions in Xenopus laevis ribosomal DNA vary in length, even within a single nucleolar organizer. The pattern of spacer lengths is sufficiently different from one nucleolar organizer to another to allow the pattern to be used as a genetic marker. We have analyzed the spacer patterns of rDNA² from a total of 50 progeny from three separate matings. Spacer patterns were inherited with no detectable change in all but two cases. The reproducibility of the patterns among siblings and their stable inheritance between generations rule out sudden mechanisms for gene evolution, such as the master-slave model, and support more gradual mechanisms.Two animals out of 50 showed marked changes in their rDNA spacer patterns. It is not possible at present to decide which of several possible mechanisms were responsible for the observed changes.     

Homing behavior of pigeons not disturbed by application of an olfactory stimulus

Summary In a second attempt to repeat recently published experiments that appear to support an hypothesis that olfactory cues play an important role in pigeon navigation, we have conducted 15 experiments in which-pinene in vaseline was applied to the birds' beak and nostrils prior to release, a procedure reported by Benvenutiet al. (1973) to cause a decrement in homing performance. Our results show no consistent difference between the experimental and control birds in any of the three parameters (initial orientation, rapidity of orientation, homing speed) measured by Benvenutiet al. We thank our colleagues Timothy Larkin, Marilyn Yodlowski, and Lindsay Goodloe for their help in conducting the releases. This research was supported by Grant BMS 72-02198-AO2 from the National Science Foundation.