Chromosomenzahlen einiger Arten der GattungBiscutella L.

Summary The chromosome numbers of 11 species ofBiscutella were counted, in 5 species they were found out for the first time.Biscutella laevigata proved to be diploid in some places of Baveria, which are accordingly Submediterranean not Dealpin relicts. Chromosome numbers of n=8, 9 and 18 were counted in Spanish species of the Ser. Laevigatae. By these investigations it was shown that The problem ofBiscutella laevigata (Manton, 1934, 1937) and its allied species is not yet solved, but further cytotaxonomical research may bring forth fundamental results.     

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Heterogeneous production of laccase by mycelium of white-rot fungi

Mycelium of white-rot fungi secretes laccase into the medium. It was found by cultivation on malt-agar plates that the mycelium does not produce laccase equally in all its parts. The youngest hyphae at the margins of the colony represent usually the maximum producers, whereas older hyphae produce less or none at all. An exception here isCollybia velutipes which is the weakest producer of laccase of all the fungi studied and where only the older hyphae begin to secrete it. Manometric estimation of laccase showed that maximum specific activity of laccase is achieved at the boundary between the phases of initial and linear growth and i₁₁ some cases during the first half of linear growth. Ageing of the mycelium characterized by certain changes in its metabolism is reflected in changes of enzyme production by fungal hypha of different age.     

Das endoplasmatische Retikulum subletal bestrahlter Hühnerherzmyoblasten im Dienste des Stofftransportes

Zusammenfassung Durch eine kombinierte elektronenmikroskopisch-histochemische Methode nach Komnick wurden Natrium- und Chloridionen im proximalen Tubulusepithel der Rattenniere dargestellt. Während die als Natriumanimonat gefällten Natriumionen intrazellulär — d. h. intracytoplasmatisch, intramitochondrial, intranukleär — und extracellulär in den zwischenzelligen Faltenräumen vorkommen, beschränkt sich die Lokalisation der als AgCl gefällten Chloridionen weitgehend auf die Räume zwischen den einzelnen Tubulusepithelien.Die Möglichkeit einer passiven interzellulären Diffusion des Chloridions und eines aktiven transzellulären Transports des Natriumions wird diskutiert.

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Summary Sodium and chloride ions are localized in the proximal tubule cells of the rat kidney by a combined electron-microscopic-histochemical method after Komnick. Sodium ions, precipitated as sodium-antimonate, are found in the cytoplasm, the mitochondrial matrix, and the nucleoplasm as well as extracellularly.Chloride ions, precipitated as AgCl, are mainly localized between adjacent tubule cells.The possibility of a passive intercellular diffusion of chloride ions and an active transcellular transport of sodium ions is discussed.

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Mit Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

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Auszugsweise vorgetragen auf dem 3. Symposium der Gesellschaft für Nephrologie, Berlin 1964.     

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Incidence of peptic ulcer disease in Gothenburg, 1985.

OBJECTIVE--To determine the incidence and age distribution of peptic ulcer disease in adults in Gothenburg. DESIGN--Retrospective study of patients with symptoms over one year. SETTING--All gastroenterology and x ray departments. PATIENTS--Any patient found to have an active ulcer crater during 1985. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Sex, age, past history of gastrointestinal ulcers, and smoking habit. RESULTS--In 1985, 1402 peptic ulcers were diagnosed in 1137 adults. Over half (403; 54%) of the ulcers in men and 393 (60%) ulcers in women were in patients aged over 60. All types of ulcer showed increasing incidence with age. The sex ratio of patients aged 40-50 with peptic ulcers was 1:1. Nearly half (109; 48%) of ulcers diagnosed for the first time in men and 129 (57%) of such ulcers in women were in patients aged over 60. Elderly men and women were also more likely to develop haemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS--In Gothenburg there is a surprisingly high incidence of peptic ulcer disease, which increases considerably with age, possibly explained by the availability of modern diagnostic techniques as 1121 (80%) ulcers had been diagnosed by gastroscopy. Compared with earlier studies there was no difference in the incidence between men and women aged 40-50.     

Use of DNA sequence and mutant analyses and antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to examine the molecular basis of nonmuscle myosin light chain kinase autoinhibition, calmodulin recognition, and activity

The first primary structure for a nonmuscle myosin light chain kinase (nmMLCK) has been determined by elucidation of the cDNA sequence encoding the protein kinase from chicken embryo fibroblasts, and insight into the molecular mechanism of calmodulin (CaM) recognition and activation has been obtained by the use of site-specific mutagenesis and suppressor mutant analysis. Treatment of chicken and mouse fibroblasts with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides based on the cDNA sequence results in an apparent decrease in MLCK levels, an altered morphology reminiscent of that seen in v-src-transformed cells, and a possible effect on cell proliferation. nmMLCK is distinct from and larger than smooth muscle MLCK (smMLCK), although their extended DNA sequence identity is suggestive of a close genetic relationship not found with skeletal muscle MLCK. The analysis of 20 mutant MLCKs indicates that the autoinhibitory and CaM recognition activities are centered in distinct but functionally coupled amino acid sequences (residues 1,068-1,080 and 1,082-1,101, respectively). Analysis of enzyme chimeras, random mutations, inverted sequences, and point mutations in the 1,082-1,101 region demonstrates its functional importance for CaM recognition but not autoinhibition. In contrast, certain mutations in the 1,068-1,080 region result in a constitutively active MLCK that still binds CaM. These results suggest that CaM/protein kinase complexes use similar structural themes to transduce calcium signals into selective biological responses, demonstrate a direct link between nmMLCK and non-muscle cell function, and provide a firm basis for genetic studies and analyses of how nmMLCK is involved in development and cell proliferation.     

The perennial taxa ofCrucianella (Rubiaceae) in SW. Asia and their eco-geographical differentiation

The perennial taxa ofCrucianella in Asia form a coherent group, apparently diploid (x = 11) and outbreeding throughout, and should be placed into sect.Roseae. This Irano-Turanian group has its centre of diversity in the mountain systems south of the Caspian Sea and reaches with outposts NE. and E. Anatolia, NE. Iraq, S. Iran and C. Asia. Four species and 13 subspecies (within the polymorphicC. gilanica) are recognized, described (partly as new), and illustrated (Figs. 1–6). Conspectus, keys and distribution maps (Figs. 7 and 8) as well as plesio- and apomorphic character states and data on size of areas are provided (Table 1). There is an obvious correlation between more plesiomorphic taxa with smaller areas in the distribution centre of the group, and more apomorphic taxa with larger areas towards its periphery (Fig. 9). These findings are linked to a working hypothesis on the evolution of the group.Dedicated to Prof. DrLothar Geitler on the occasion of his 90th birthday.