Surface biochemical changes accompanying primary infection with Rous sarcoma virus. II. Proteolytic and glycosidase activity and sublethal autolysis

Changes in the cellular adenine nucleotide contents of larval salivary glands of Drosophila hydei as a result of treatments affecting the respiratory metabolism were established and correlated with changes in the activity of four genome loci. The results demonstrate that the activation of the genome loci is not a necessary consequence of a reduction in the ATP level or changes in ADP or AMP levels. Other regulatory mechanisms for the activation of these genome loci are discussed.     

Oxidation of Isomaltose by Pseudomonas taetrolens

Pseudomonas taetrolens NRRL B14 oxidized isomaltose without hydrolysis of the 1–6 glycosidic linkage. The resulting isomaltobionic acid was identified by chromatographic studies of acid hydrolysates and reconversion to isomaltose.     

Dietary constraints on encephalization in primates

Encephalization, and its relationship to potential selective forces, have been a focus of many studies of primate adaptation. It has been argued that gut size may constrain brain mass because these two types of "expensive tissue" (among others) compete in their metabolic requirements (Aiello and Wheeler [1995] Curr. Anthropol. 36:199-221). Following from the inverse correlation of gut size with diet quality, the expensive tissue hypothesis predicts that differences in diet quality are positively correlated with differences in brain mass, once the correlation of each variable with body mass is taken into account. We tested this prediction using both nonphylogenetic and phylogenetic methods. The results of both methods are consistent with predictions made by the expensive tissue hypothesis. We also discuss several examples of independent contrasts that are consistent with the hypothesis (e.g., Colobinae vs. Cercopithecinae), as well as some that are not (e.g., Tarsius vs. anthropoidea). Overall, the results indicate that improved diet quality, by allowing reduction in relative gut mass, is one mechanism involved in increased encephalization.