Peritoneal cavity is dominated by IFNγ-secreting CXCR3+ Th1 cells

The chemokine receptor CXCR3, which was shown to take part in many inflammatory processes, is considered as a Th1 specific marker. Here, we show in a mouse model that CXCR3 expressing CD4(+) cells preferentially migrate to the peritoneal cavity under steady-state conditions. The peritoneal cavity milieu leads to an up-regulated expression of CXCR3. However, blocking of known ligands of this chemokine receptor did not alter the preferential migration. The peritoneal cavity environment also results in an increased percentage of memory cells producing cytokines. Up-regulation of IFNγ production occurs mostly in CXCR3(+) cells considered as Th1, whereas the up-regulation of IL-4 affects mostly in CXCR3(-) cells which are considered as Th2. We conclude that the peritoneal cavity does not change the Th-lineage of the cells, but that domination of this anatomic niche by Th1 cells rather results from preferential migration to this compartment.     

Localization and organization of phenol degradation genes ofPseudomonas putida strain H

The genetic organization of the DNA region encoding the phenol degradation pathway ofPseudomonas putida H has been investigated. This strain can utilize phenol or some of its methylated derivatives as its sole source of carbon and energy. The first step in this process is the conversion of phenol into catechol. Catechol is then further metabolized via themeta-cleavage pathway into TCA cycle intermediates. Genes encoding these enzymes are clustered on the plasmid pPGH1. A region of contiguous DNA spanning about 16 kb contains all of the genetic information necessary for inducible phenol degradation. The analysis of mutants generated by insertion of transposons and cassettes indicates that all of the catabolic genes are contained in a single operon. This codes for a multicomponent phenol hydroxylase andmeta-cleavage pathway enzymes. Catabolic genes are subject to positive control by the gene product(s) of a second locus.     

Chroococcopsis epiphytica n. sp., eine neue Cyanophycee aus dem Gebiet des Neusiedler Sees

The morphology and life history ofChroococcopsis epiphytica nova spec. is described, a German and Latin diagnosis is added. Cultivated plants display some differences in comparison with plants in their natural habitat: calcification occurs only in the natural medium, endosporangia are developed only by cultivated plants. At the basis, where single cells and thalli are attached, a special sort of jelly is produced; it is discernible only by elective staining with methylene blue. The systematic position of the new species is discussed.

     

Beeinflussung des Wachstums durch im Thymus enthaltene Stoffe

Ohne ZusammenfassungXII. Mitteilung zu Steuerung von Wachstum und Formbildung durch Wirkstoffe der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Prof. Dr. H.Wurmbach u. Mitarb. Reihe A: Morphogenetische Untersuchungen an Kaulquappen.Mit Unterstützung des Battelle-Memorial-Institutes für Deutschland e. V. und der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bad Godesberg.     

Characterisation of estrogenic 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) activity in the human brain

Estrogens play a crucial role in multiple functions of the brain and the proper balance of inactive estrone and active estradiol-17beta might be very important for their cerebral effects. The interconversion of estrone and estradiol-17beta in target tissues is known to be catalysed by a number of human 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) isoforms. The present study shows that enzyme catalysed interconversion of estrone and estradiol-17beta occurs in the human temporal lobe. The oxidative cerebral pathway preferred estradiol-17beta to Delta(5)-androstenediol and testosterone, whereas the reductive pathway preferred dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to Delta(4)-androstenedione and estrone. An allosteric Hill kinetic for NAD-dependent oxidation of estradiol-17beta was observed, whereas a typical Michaelis-Menten kinetic was shown for NADPH-dependent reduction of estrone. Investigations of the interconversion of estrogens in cerebral neocortex (CX) and subcortical white matter (SC) preparations of brain tissue from 12 women and 10 men revealed no sex-differences, but provide striking evidence for the presence of at least one oxidative membrane-associated 17beta-HSD and one cytosolic enzyme that catalyses both the reductive and the oxidative pathway. Membrane-associated oxidation of estradiol-17beta was shown to be significantly higher in CX than in SC (P<0.05), whereas the cytosolic enzyme activities were significantly higher in SC than in CX (P<0.0005). Finally, real-time RT-PCR analyses revealed that besides 17beta-HSD types 4 and 5 also the isozymes type 7, 8, 10 and 11 show substantial expression in the human temporal lobe. The characteristics of the isozymes lead us to the conclusion that cytosolic 17beta-HSD type 5 is the best candidate for the observed cytosolic enzyme activities, whereas the data gave no clear answer to the question, which enzyme is responsible for the membrane-associated oxidation of estradiol-17beta. In conclusion, the study strongly suggests that different cell types and different isozymes are involved in the cerebral interconversion of estrogens, which might play a pivotal role in maintaining the functions of the central nervous system.     

Botrydina — keine Symbiose einer Alge mit einem Moosprotonema

Zusammenfassung In Bestätigung älterer AngabenActons ergibt sich, daßBotrydina vulgaris eine Halbflechte, d. h. die regelmäßige Verbindung einer Chlorophycee mit einem steril bleibenden Eumyzeten, nicht aber, zufolge neuerer Angaben, mit dem Protonema des LaubmoosesGeorgia pellucida ist.Es bestehen zwingende Gründe, die ausschließen, daß es zweierleiBotrydina gibt und daß etwa die Pflanzen, die zu der Auffassung der Symbiose zwischen. Alge und Protonema führten, von den hier untersuchten abwichen (Anastomosenbildung in dem vermeintlichen Protonema, völlige Übereinstimmung der morphologischen und anatomischen Verhältnisse). Beweisend für die Pilznatur des Myzels, mit dem dieBotrydina-Kugeln zusammenhängen, ist, abgesehen von der allgemeinen Morphologie und dem Verhalten bei der Umspinnung, die Bildung von Anastomosen. Daß die pseudoparenchymatische Rinde vonBotrydina samt dem freien Myzel nicht das Protonema vonGeorgia sein kann, ergibt sich außerdem eindeutig aus den Bauunterschieden der Zellkerne beider, ferner aus dem Fehlen bzw. Vorhandensein von Zellulose in den Membranen und von Stärkekörnern und vermutlich Leukoplasten im Plasma sowie aus sonstigen Anzeichen.     

Tuber-specific cytosolic expression of a bacterial phosphoglucomutase in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) dramatically alters carbon partitioning

Constitutive antisense inhibition of the cytosolic isoform of phosphoglucomutase in the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) results in restriction of photosynthesis, growth inhibition and modified tuber morphology, and a severe restriction of tuber starch synthesis. Here we describe the consequences of the tuber-specific expression of an Escherichia coli phosphoglucomutase in the cytosol. Analysis of [14C]glucose metabolism by tuber discs isolated from wild type and transformants revealed that the rates of sucrose and starch synthesis were unaltered but that the rate of glycolysis was depressed in the transgenics. The transformant tubers also contained dramatically reduced amino acid content and significantly higher levels of ADP, but were characterized by elevated levels of Krebs cycle intermediates and an unaltered rate of respiration. In addition to these metabolic consequences of the overexpression of the E. coli enzyme, we observed morphological changes in tubers, with the transformants having a smaller number of larger tubers which exhibited delayed rates of sprouting with respect to the wild type. These results are discussed with respect to current models of the regulation of central plant metabolism and tuber dormancy.     

Über die Variabilität von Stephanodiscus hantzschii GRUN

A new variety, striatior, of the diatom Stephanodiscus hantzschii Grun. (S.h.) with denser striae was described (Kalbe 1971). The legality of S.h. var. pusillus is confirmed by specimens from freshwaters of the north of Mecklenburg. The species S.h. probably consists in this region of several races with different peaks of valve diameter variation. The planctonic mass changing of S.h. and its forms in the three rivers Warnow, Malchiner Peene and Neukalener Peene and in the Lake Kummerow is represented. The differences of the average valve sizes in these waters are remarkable. Var. pusillus Grun. appears to be a benthic mass form, too. High cell numbers and high cell volume sums are not developing ever simultaneously. Var. pusillus is not a suitable form for evaluating the saprobiological status, for it is adaptable to different ecological conditions. The species S.h. itself is a beta- to alphamesosaprobic organism, being able to produce high cell numbers within this range of saprobity.      

Dynein light chain 1 and a spindle-associated adaptor promote dynein asymmetry and spindle orientation

The cytoplasmic dynein motor generates pulling forces to center and orient the mitotic spindle within the cell. During this positioning process, dynein oscillates from one pole of the cell cortex to the other but only accumulates at the pole farthest from the spindle. Here, we show that dynein light chain 1 (DYNLL1) is required for this asymmetric cortical localization of dynein and has a specific function defining spindle orientation. DYNLL1 interacted with a spindle-microtubule–associated adaptor formed by CHICA and HMMR via TQT motifs in CHICA. In cells depleted of CHICA or HMMR, the mitotic spindle failed to orient correctly in relation to the growth surface. Furthermore, CHICA TQT motif mutants localized to the mitotic spindle but failed to recruit DYNLL1 to spindle microtubules and did not correct the spindle orientation or dynein localization defects. These findings support a model where DYNLL1 and CHICA-HMMR form part of the regulatory system feeding back spindle position to dynein at the cell cortex.