Callus culture ofPterocladia capillacea (Rhodophyta) and analysis of cell wall polysaccharides

Calluses induced fromPterocladia capillacea have been kept in culture for more than three years. They exhibit a fast growth rate, owing to the release of single cells, which in turn develop into new callus. The effect of various media and culture conditions upon growth was investigated. In order to confirm the identity of the callus cells, a 0,45 mg incoculum was grown that yielded 15 g dried callus within six weeks. Polysaccharides from this material (5.5 g) were analysed by¹³C NMR spectroscopy. This produced a spectrum typical of agar and very similar to the one obtained for agar extracted fromP. capillacea plants. However, the callus agar displayed no gel-forming properties, even after alkali modification.author for correspondence     

The secondary structure of ribonuclease P RNA, the catalytic element of a ribonucleoprotein enzyme

Secondary structure models for the ribonuclease (RNAase) P RNAs of Bacillus subtilis and E. coli were derived by a phylogenetic comparative analysis of published sequences as well as four novel ones. The RNAase P RNA genes from Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus brevis, Bacillus stearothermophilus, and Pseudomonas fluorescens were cloned, sequenced, and compared with the other available sequences. Regions of pairing were identified by the occurrence of homologous complementary sequences that vary among the compared molecules. A common core of primary and secondary structure can be identified in all these RNAase P RNAs. The previously noted striking differences between the Bacillus and the enteric RNAase P RNAs arise not only from point mutations, but from the addition or deletion of structural domains. The primary and secondary structural features that are common to all of the RNAase P RNAs are likely to be the elements involved in the binding and cleavage of tRNA precursors, and in the interaction with the RNAase P protein.     

Zero-stress states of arteries

The no-load configuration of a living organ is, in general, not the zero-stress state. The difference can be revealed by cutting up an unloaded organ to such an extent that the stress becomes zero in the tissue everywhere. For the aorta, it is shown that the configuration of the zero-stress state differs considerably from being a cylindrical tube. It is, in fact, an open sector with opening angles varying along the arterial tree. This article presents data on the zero-stress state in the arteries of the rat in normal condition.     

神农架金丝猴的生态学观察

金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellanae)仅产于我国,属国家Ⅰ级保护动物,自然分布于四川、陕西、甘肃的部分地区和湖北省神农架自然保护区。1983年以来,笔者对神农架金丝猴生存环境生态习性等作了长期观察研究,结果报道如下。     

The three-dimensional structure of the aspartyl protease from the HIV-1 isolate BRU.

The crystal structure of the aspartyl protease encoded by the gene pol of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1, isolate BRU) has been determined to 2.7 A resolution. The enzyme, expressed as an insoluble denatured polypeptide in inclusion bodies of Escherichia coli has been renatured and crystallized. It differs by several amino acid replacements from the homologous enzymes of other HIV-1 isolates. A superposition of the C alpha-backbone of the BRU protease with that of the SF2 protease gives a roots mean square positional difference of 0.45 A. Thus, neither the denaturation/renaturation process nor the amino acid replacements have a noticeable effect on the three-dimensional structure of the BRU protease or on the detailed conformation of the catalytic site, which is very similar to that of other aspartyl proteases.     

Normal human neutrophils are a source of a specific interleukin 1 inhibitor

In the course of our study on neutrophil production of an interleukin 1 (IL-1)-like factor, we found that the addition of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) to monocytes cultured in the presence of zymosan resulted in decreased IL 1 activity of the resultant supernatant, suggesting that PMN may contain an inhibitor of IL 1. The objective of this investigation was to study this IL 1 inhibitor which normal human PMN contain. The inhibitor is constitutively present in the PMN because 0 hr PMN lysates and unstimulated PMN supernatants also show inhibitory activity. The PMN inhibitor inhibits IL 1 (crude and partially purified) in a dose-response manner and does not affect basal [3H]thymidine incorporation in the presence or absence of PHA-P. The PMN inhibitor does not have any effect on interleukin 2 (IL 2)-induced proliferation of the IL 2-dependent CTLL cells. The inhibitor can be generated in the absence of serum and is not produced as a result of proteolytic activity from PMN enzymes. The inhibitor is heat-labile and is most stable at neutral pH. Gel filtration studies on Sephadex G-200 indicate that the inhibitor is heterogeneous in size. Two inhibitory peaks, at 45,000 to 70,000 m.w. and at greater than 160,000 m.w., were observed. When zymosan-stimulated PMN supernatant was chromatographed, there was separation of inhibitory factor from a 17,000 m.w. proliferating factor. Presence of this PMN inhibitor may be important in negative regulation of IL 1.     

Aspects of the numerical and functional respones of the aphid parasite, Aphidius sonchi, in the laboratory

The fecundity, reproductive rates, and adult survival of Aphidius sonchi Marshall (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) parasitizing second and third instar nymphs of the sowthistle aphid, Hyperomyzus lactucae (L.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) were measured at six different host densities under constant laboratory conditions. At host densities of less than 50 aphids per flowering shoot per female per day, oviposition constraints resulting from the lack of hosts reduced the number of eggs laid, enhanced the extent of superparasitization and, as a result, effectively lowered the fecundity and reproductive rates of the parasites. Above this host density the parasites laid on average 220–230 eggs, but the effective fecundity and reproductive rates continued to increase with the host density. By contrast, the survivorship of the parasites seemed unaffected by host density, with an average adult life span of 4–5 days at all densities. Analysis of the data showed that the intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) of the parasite varied with the host density and could reach values higher than that of the host under identical conditions. The response of r_m to changes in host density and parasite sex ratio is illustrated.Overall, A. sonchi showed a typical convex functional response, to host density. However, the response showed obvious changes through the parasite's adult life and, furthermore, the rates of changes were not consistent at all host densities. The frequency distributions of parasite eggs were generally indistinguishable from random, and the number of hosts parasitized were predicted satisfactorily by the random oviposition equation.

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Résumé L'étude a porté sure l'influence de 6 densités différentes d'Hyperomyzus lactucae (L.) (Homoptera: Aphididae), en conditions constantes de laboratoire, sur la fécondité, le taux de reproduction et la survie des adultes d'Aphidius sonchi Marshall (Hym. Aphidiidae, parasite des larves de 2e et 3e stades. A des densités inférieures à 50 pucerons par tige fleurie de Sonchus oleraceus L, par femelle et par jour, la limitation de la ponte due à l'absence d'hôtes a réduit le nombre d'oeufs émis, élevé le taux de superparasitisme et, en conséquence, diminué la fécondité et le taux de reproduction des parasites. Aux densités d'hôtes supérieures, les parasites ont pondu, en moyenne, 220 à 230 oeufs, mais la fécondité réelle et les taux de reproduction ont continué à augmenter avec la densité des pucerons. Par contre, la longévité des parasites n'a pas été affectée par la densité des hôtes, avec une durée moyenne de vie de 4 à 6 jours. L'analyse des données a montré que le taux d'accroissement intrinsèque (r_m) du parasite a changé avec la densité des hôtes, et pourrait atteindre des valeurs supérieures à celles de l'ôte sous des conditions identiques. Les réponses de r_m aux changements de densité des hôtes et au taux sexuel du parasite sont expliquées.Globalement, A. sonchi a présenté une réponse fonctionnelle convexe typique à la densité des hôtes. Cependant, cette réponse a changé au cours de la vie des images et, de plus, les taux de changement ne sont pas logiques à toutes les densités d'hôtes La fréquence de distribution des oeufs n'est généralement pas séparable d'une distribution au hasard, et le nombre d'hôtes parasites peut être prédit d'une façon satisfaisante en utilisant une équation de ponte au hasard.