Porphyran primary structure. An investigation using beta-agarase I from Pseudomonas atlantica and 13C-NMR spectroscopy

Porphyran, a highly substituted agarose from Porphyra umbilicalis was degraded by highly purified beta-agarase I from Pseudomonas atlantica. This enzyme cleaved at the reducing side of units of beta-neoagarobiose (3,6-anhydro-alpha-L-galactopyranosyl-(1 leads to 3)-beta-D-galactopyranose). The oligosaccharides were divided into fractions of low and high molecular weight by dialysis. The permeate (23% of total starting carbohydrate) was separated by ion-exchange into neutral and anionic fractions. Gel filtration of the neutral fraction (19%) resolved two major oligosaccharides. These were shown by 13C-NMR spectroscopy to be 6(3)-O-methyl-neoagarotetraose and 6(3),6(5)-di-O-methyl-neoagarohexaose. Gel filtration of the anionic oligosaccharides (3.3%) revealed two novel monosulphated tetrasaccharides, 6-O-sulphato-alpha-L-galacto-pyranosyl-(1 leads to 3)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 leads to 4)-3,6-anhydro-alpha-L-galactopyranosyl-(1 leads to 3)-D-galactopyranose and its 6(3)-O-methylated derivative. The 13C-NMR data from the sulphated tetrasaccharides provided a novel reference which was used to characterise higher, partially sulphated fragments in the dialysis permeate. The fraction retained on dialysis (77%) had an average degree of polymerisation of 40 and was homologous with the high-molecular-weight anionic permeate. From 13C-NMR spectroscopy porphyran was found to comprise 49% sulphated disaccharide units and these were calculated to occur in stretches averaging 2.0-2.5 contiguous units.     

Rat apolipoprotein E mRNA. Cloning and sequencing of double-stranded cDNA

A 900-base pair clone corresponding to rat liver apolipoprotein E (apo-E) mRNA, and containing a 3'-terminal poly(A) segment, was identified from a library of rat liver cDNA clones in the plasmid pBR322 by specific hybrid selection and translation of mRNA. A restriction endonuclease DNA fragment from this recombinant plasmid was used to clone the 5'-terminal region of the apo-E mRNA by primed synthesis of cDNA. A portion of the double-stranded cDNA corresponding to the 3'-terminal region of apo-E mRNA was subcloned into the bacteriophage M13mp7 and employed as a template for the synthesis of a radioactively labeled, cDNA hybridization probe. This cDNA probe was used in a RNA-blot hybridization assay that showed the length of the apo-E mRNA to be about 1200 nucleotides. The hybridization assay also demonstrated that apo-E mRNA is present in rat intestine, but at about a 100-fold lower level than that of the rat liver. The nucleotide sequence of rat liver apo-E mRNA was determined from the cloned, double-stranded cDNAs. The amino acid sequence of rat liver apo-E was inferred from the nucleotide sequence, which showed that the mRNA codes for a precursor protein of 311 amino acids. A comparison to the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of rat plasma apo-E indicated that the first 18 amino acids of the primary translation product are not present in the mature protein and are probably removed during co-translational processing. The coding region was flanked by a 3'-untranslated region of 109 nucleotides, which contained a characteristic AAUAAA sequence that ended 13 nucleotides from a 3'-terminal poly(A) segment. At the 5'-terminal region of the mRNA, 23 nucleotides of an untranslated region were also determined. The inferred amino acid sequence of mature rat apo-E, which contains 293 amino acids, was compared to the amino acid sequence of human apo-E, which contains 299 amino acids. Using an alignment that permitted a maximum homology of amino acids, it was found that overall, 69% of the amino acid positions are identical in both proteins. The amino acid identities are clustered in two broad domains separated by a short region of nonhomology, an NH2-terminal domain of 173 residues where 80% are identical, and a COOH-terminal domain of 84 residues where 70% are identical. These two domains may be associated with specific functional roles in the protein.     

Chain length dependence of phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis catalyzed by lipoprotein lipase. Effect of apolipoprotein C-II

The effect of apolipoprotein C-II (apoC-II) on the bovine milk lipoprotein lipase (LpL)-catalyzed hydrolysis of a homologous series of saturated phosphatidylcholines was examined with respect to the fatty acyl chain length of the substrates. Dilauryl-, dimyristoyl-, dipalmitoyl-, and distearoylphosphatidylcholine solubilized by Triton X-100 and sonicated vesicles of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine were used as substrates. The maximal rate of the LpL-catalyzed hydrolysis of each of these lipids was determined in the absence and presence of apoC-II. The activation factor (the ratio of enzyme activity with apoC-II to that without the activator protein) increased with increasing mol ratios of apoC-II to LpL and was maximal at a ratio of approximately 50. At all apoC-II/LpL mole ratios tested, the activation factor increased as a function of fatty acyl chain length. A quantitative relationship between fatty acyl chain length and the extent of maximal activation of LpL by apoC-II was observed: the logarithm of the activation factor is a linear function of the number of carbon atoms of a single fatty acyl chain of the substrates.     

Gastropod shells: A dynamic resource that helps shape benthic community structure

Empty gastropod shells are an important resource for many animals in shallow benthic marine communities. Shells provide shelter for hermit crabs, octopuses, and fishes, provide attachment substratum for hermit crab symbionts, and directly or indirectly modify hermit crab predation. Creation of an empty shell due to predation of one gastropod on another and acquisition of that shell by a hermit crab are two key events in the subsequent use of that shell. Shells of different gastropod species and the species of hermit crab acquiring them affect the symbiont complement that attaches to the shell, which in turn may affect future shell use by other symbionts. Certain shell types worn by the hermit crab, Pagurus pollicaris Say, are positively associated with the symbiotic sea anemone, Calliactis tricolor (Lesueur), which protects the hermit crab from predation by the crab, Calappa flammea (Herbst), and possibly from the octopus, Octopus joubini Robson. Shells of other species of gastropods are resistant to being crushed by the spiny lobster, Panulirusargus (Latreille). The inter-and intraspecific interactions centered on the gastropod shell are termed a “habitat web.” The potential of the shell to limit the size and distribution of animal populations demonstrates how this resource helps shape community structure.     

Biophysical and Biochemical Studies on Rhinovirus and Poliovirus II. Chemical and Hydrodynamic Analysis of the Rhinovirion

Chemical analysis of rhinovirus 14 revealed a ribonucleic acid (RNA) content of 29.8% and a high adenylic acid content (35%). A partial specific volume of 0.682 cm³/g was obtained for the rhinovirion. Rhinovirus and poliovirus had identical sedimentation coefficients of 158S. A diffusion coefficient of 1.71 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/sec was consistent with a hydrated diameter of 25 nm for the rhinovirion. The calculated molecular weights of the rhinovirion and its genome were 7.1 × 10⁶ and 2.1 × 10⁶ daltons, respectively. Sedimentation analysis of infectious RNA confirmed the similarity of the molecular size of the poliovirus and rhinovirus genomes.     

The Behaviour of Dasyuroides byrnei (Marsupialia) in Captivity

Das Verhalten des Beuteltiers Dasyuroides byrnei in Gefangenschaft wurde untersucht. Dasyuroides ist nachtaktiv und verbirgt sich tagsüber in einem Bau oder Schlupfwinkel. Körperhaltung, Fortbewegungsarten, Höhlengraben, Beutefang und andere Verhaltensweisen sind beschrieben. Das Duftmarkieren hat Mitteilungswert. Beide Geschlechter setzen Duftstoff ab, indem sie ihre Sternaldrüsen und Kloakengegend an Gegenständen reiben. Freundschaftliche, kämpferische, sexuelle und mütterliche Verhaltensweisen werden beschrieben. Dasyuroides scheint kein geselliges Tier zu sein; Angriffe gegen Artgenossen führen selten zu Verletzungen, weil das Angriffsverhalten stark stilisiert ist. Wachstum und Entwicklung der Jungen wurden verfolgt. Die durchschnittliche Wurfgröße beträgt fünf oder sechs; die Jungen bleiben an den Zitzen des ♀ bis zum 56. Lebenstag. Mit 100 Tagen können sie entwöhnt werden. Das Verhalten dieser Art wird mit anderen Arten der Familie Dasyuridae verglichen, auch mit Plazentaliern.     

Deoxyribonucleic Acid of Adeno-associated Satellite Virus

Staining patterns suggest that in the adeno-associated satellite virion there exist quasi single-stranded regions which are renatured after extraction to exhibit double strandedness.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF SPONGIOCHLORIS TYPICA DURING SENESCENCE12

The ultrastructural changes which occurred during senescence in the stationary phase of growth of the unicellular green alga Spongiochloris typica were observed. The cell wall consists of a membrane like primary wall and an inner secondary wall which becomes progressively thickened with age of the culture. During senescence the lamellae become more compact within the chloroplast. The major feature of aging is the appearance of lipid bodies which eventually come to occupy a major portion of the cell lumen. The ultrastructural changes observed to occur during senescence are discussed in relation to physiological data.     

NEW TAXONOMIC CRITERIA IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF CHLOROCOCCUM SPECIES. I. PIGMENTATION12

Eighteen isolates of Chlorococcum were incubated under defined culture conditions for 6-7 weeks. At that time, isolates were separated into green, yellow-green, orange, or red color groups according to the color of the cultures. Total chlorophyll, carotenoid concentration, and percentage of carotenoids in relation to total pigment content were measured for each species. Individual carotenoids of each isolate were identified and quantified. Each color group had pigment characteristics which were distinctive. Other studies on Chlorococcum are discussed in relation to this work. It is proposed that pigmentation of old cultures be used as the first criterion for distinguishing species of Chlorococcum.