Pre‐copulation intervals,copulation frequencies,and initial progeny sex ratios in two biotypes of whitefly,Bemisia tabaci

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) is a species complex, and its systematic classification requires controlled crossing experiments among its genetic groups. Accurate information on pre‐copulation intervals, copulation frequencies, and initial frequency of egg fertilization of newly emerged adults is critical for designing procedures for collecting the virgin adults necessary for these experiments. In the literature, considerable variation is reported between B. tabaci populations, with respect to the length of the pre‐copulation interval and the initial frequency of egg fertilization. Here, we used a video‐recording method to observe continuously the copulation behaviour of the Mediterranean/Asia Minor/Africa (B biotype) and the Asia II (ZHJ1 biotype) groups of B. tabaci. We also recorded the initial frequency of egg fertilization, as determined by the sex of the progeny. When adults were caged in female–male pairs on leaves of cotton plants, the earliest copulation events occurred 2–6 h after emergence; at 12 h after emergence 56–84% of the females had copulated at least once, and nearly all (92–100%) had copulated at least once by 36 h after emergence. Both females and males copulated repeatedly. Approximately 80 and 20% of copulation events occurred during the photophase and scotophase, respectively. By 72 h post‐emergence, the females of the B and ZHJ1 biotypes had copulated on average 6.1 and 3.9 times, respectively. When adults were caged in groups on plants 1–13 h after emergence, 30–35% of the eggs deposited during this period were fertilized, and approximately 90% of females were fertilized by the end of the 13 h. Although timing of copulation differed in detail between the two genetic groups, the results demonstrate that B. tabaci adults can start to copulate as early as 2–6 h post‐emergence and the majority of females can become fertilized on the day that they emerge.     

l-Phenylalanyl-l-Glutamate-Stimulated, Chloride-Dependent Glutamate Binding Represents Glutamate Sequestration Mediated by an Exchange System

Stimulation of glutamate binding by the dipeptide L-phenylalanyl-L-glutamate (Phe-Glu) was inhibited by the peptidase inhibitor bestatin, suggesting that the stimulation was caused by glutamate liberated from the dipeptide and not by the dipeptide itself. It further suggests that this form of glutamate binding should be reinterpreted as glutamate sequestration and that stimulation of binding both by dipeptides and after preincubation with high concentrations of glutamate is likely to be due to counterflow accumulation. Several other criteria indicate that most of glutamate binding stimulated by chloride represents glutamate sequestration: Binding is reduced when the osmolarity of the incubation medium is increased, when membranes incubated with [3H]glutamate are lysed before filtration, and when membranes are made permeable by transient exposure to saponin. Moreover, dissociation of bound glutamate after a 100-fold dilution of the incubation medium is accelerated about 50 times by the addition of glutamate to the dilution medium. This result would be anomalous if glutamate were bound to a receptor site; it suggests instead that glutamate is transported in and out of membrane vesicles by a transport system that preferentially mediates exchange between internal and external glutamate. Glutamate binding contains a component of glutamate sequestration even when measured in the absence of chloride. Sequestration is adequately abolished only after treating membranes with detergents; even extensive lysis, sonication, and freezing/thawing may be insufficient.     

Conformation of guanosine 5'-diphosphate as bound to a human c-Ha-ras mutant protein: a nuclear Overhauser effect study

1H NMR spectra of a GDP/GTP-binding domain of human c-Ha-ras gene product (residues 1-171) in which glutamine-61 was replaced by leucine [ras(L61/1-171) protein] were analyzed. By one-dimensional and two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy and nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) spectroscopy of the complex of the ras(L61/1-171) protein and GDP, the ribose H1', H2', H3', and H4' proton resonances of the bound GDP were identified. The guanine H8 proton resonance of the bound GDP was identified by substituting [8-2H]GDP for GDP. The dependences of the H1' and H8 proton resonance intensities on the duration of irradiation of the H1', H2', H3', and H8 protons were measured. By numerical simulation of these time-dependent NOE profiles, the conformation of the protein-bound GDP was elucidated; the guanosine moiety takes the anti form about the N-glycosidic bond with a dihedral angle of chi = -124 +/- 2 degrees and the ribose ring takes the C2'-endo form. Such an analysis of the conformation of a guanine nucleotide as bound to a GTP-binding protein will be useful for further studies on the molecular mechanism of the conformational activation of ras proteins on ligand substitution of GDP with GTP.     

Binding of myosin to actin in myofibrils during ATP hydrolysis

Measurements of cross-bridge attachment to actin in myofibrils during ATP hydrolysis require prior fixation of myofibrils to prevent their contraction. The optimal cross-linking of myofibrils was achieved by using 10 mM carbodiimide (EDC) under rigor conditions and at 4 degrees C. The fixed myofibrils had elevated MgATPase activity (150%) and could not contract. As judged by chymotryptic digestions and subsequent SDS gel electrophoresis analysis, less than 25% of myosin heads were cross-linked in these myofibrils. The isolated, un-cross-linked myosin heads showed pH-dependent Ca2+- and EDTA(K+)-ATPase activities similar to those of standard intact S-1. For measurements of myosin binding to actin, the modified myofibrils were digested with trypsin at a weight ratio of 1:50 under rigor, relaxed, and active-state conditions. Aliquots of tryptic digestion reactions were then cleaved with chymotrypsin to yield isolated myosin heads and their fragments. Analysis of the decay of myosin heavy-chain bands on SDS gels yielded the rates of myosin cleavage under all conditions and enabled the measurements of actomyosin binding in myofibrils in the presence of MgATP. Using this approach, we detected rigorlike binding of 25 +/- 6% of myosin heads to actin in myofibrils during ATP hydrolysis.     

A chemically synthesized radiolabeled signal peptide: design, preparation, and biological evaluation of an iodinated analog of preproparathyroid hormone

The chemically synthesized signal peptide (native-sequence signal peptide) of preproparathyroid hormone exhibits signal sequence-like activity by inhibiting the translocation/processing of precursor proteins to their mature forms in an in vitro translation system. In order to prepare a biologically functional radiolabeled form of this peptide, we undertook structure-function studies of the native-sequence signal peptide. Since conventional iodination of peptides is performed under oxidizing conditions, chemical design efforts were focused on the oxidation-labile residues, methionine and cysteine, present in the native sequence. Substitution of the three methionines with norleucine and the single cysteine with alanine yielded a surfur-free analog, [Nle-(-25), Nle-(-21),Nle-(-18),Ala-(-14),D-Tyr-(+1)]pre-proPTH-(-29-+1)amide, which is resistant to oxidation and active in the inhibition of processing assay. An interaction between the signal region and one of the components of the intracellular secretory apparatus, signal recognition particle (SRP), was demonstrated: iodinated sulfur-free analog was cross-linked (using the homo-bifunctional reagent disuccinimidyl suberate) to the 54 kilodalton (kDa) subunit of SRP. The 68 kDa and 72 kDa subunits of SRP were also labeled, but to a lesser extent, by the iodinated peptide.     

Transgenic turf-type tall fescue (Festuca amndinacea Schreb.) plants regenerated from protoplasts

To improve turfgrasses using genetic engineering, we have developed a transformation system in turf-type tall fescue, one of the most important turfgrass species. Embryogenic cell cultures were established after callus induction from embryos of mature seed. The agarose-bead method with nurse cells was used to culture protoplasts and plants were regenerated from protoplasts of tall fescue cultured cells. To develop transgenic tall fescue plants, the hygromycin resistance gene and the -glucuronidase gene were introduced into the tall fescue protoplasts by electroporation. A high concentration (200 mg/l) of hygromycin was required to select transformed cells because of the high level of endogenous resistance to the antibiotic in tall fescue. Most of the transformed cells exhibited GUS activity and several plants were regenerated from these cells. The presence of introduced genes was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization of PCR amplified DNA from transgenic plants.Abbreviations Adh alcohol dehydrogenase - BAP benzylaminopurine - bp base pair(s) - GUS -glucuronidase - Kb kilobase(s) - MS Murashige and Skoog's medium - PCR polymerase chain reaction     

Some chemical and physical properties of extracellular polysaccharides produced by Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens strains

Most strains of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens are known to produce extracellular polysaccharides (EPs). However, the rheological and functional properties of these EPs have not been determined. Initially, 26 strains of Butyrivibrio were screened for EP yield and apparent viscosities of cell-free supernatants. Yields ranged from less than 1.0 to 16.3 mg per 100 mg of glucose added to the culture. Viscosities ranged from 0.71 to 5.44 mPa.s. Five strains (CF2d, CF3, CF3a, CE51, and H10b) were chosen for further screening. The apparent viscosity of the EP from each of these strains decreased by only 50 to 60% when the shear rate was increased from 20 to 1,000 s-1. Strain CE51 produced the EP having the highest solution viscosity. A detailed comparison of shear dependency of the EP from strain CF3 with xanthan gum showed that this EP was less shear sensitive than xanthan gum and, at a shear rate of 1,000 s-1, more viscous. EPs from strains CF3 and H10b were soluble over a wide range of pH (1 to 13) in 80% (vol/vol) ethanol-water or in 1% (wt/vol) salt solutions. The pH of 1% EP solutions was between 4.5 and 5.5. Addition of acid increased solution viscosities, whereas addition of base decreased viscosity. EPs from strains CF3, CE51, and H10b displayed qualitatively similar infrared spectra. Calcium and sodium were the most abundant minerals in the three EPs. The amounts of magnesium, calcium, and iron varied considerably among the EPs, but the potassium contents remained relatively constant.     

Changes in soil microflora associated with control of Sclerotium Rolfsii by Furfuraldehyde

The efficacy of 2‐furfuraldehyde for control of Sclerotium rolfsii was studied in laboratory and greenhouse experiments. Mycelial growth of the fungus was reduced proportionally with concentrations of 0.1–0.5 ml furfuraldehyde l^‐1 agar medium, and viability of sclerotia diminished on exposure to 2‐furfuraldehyde vapours. Detectable populations of bacteria and fungi, including Trichoderma spp., were reduced significantly (9=0.05) when furfuraldehyde was added to the agar used for soil dilution plates of untreated soil. Repeated treatments of natural soil with the fumigant significantly increased populations of Trichoderma spp. and bacteria, but diminished numbers of actinomycetes. Increasing dosages applied to soil artificially infested with S. rolfsii caused a reduction of disease on lentil, Lens culinaris. Results indicate that the compound, when applied to field soil, changes the composition of soil microflora and has potential for integrated control of S. rolfsii.     

A Comparison of the Efficacy of Nuclear Polyhedrosis and Granulosis Viruses in Spray and Bait Formulations for the Control of Agrotis segetum (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Maize

Agrotis segetum nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AsNPV) and granulosis virus (AsGV), propagated in laboratory cultures of A. segetum in England and A. ipsilon in Spain, respectively, were applied to plots of maize plants at the one‐ to four‐leaf stage of growth. Plots were arranged in a 6 x 6 Latin square design and infested with second‐instar A. segetum larvae (the common cutworm). Each virus was applied in separate treatments by two application methods; as an aqueous spray containing 0.1% Agral as a wetting agent, and as a bran bait. The NPV was applied at a rate of 4 X 10¹² polyhedra/ha, and the GV at 4 X 10¹³ granules/ha. Soil and plants were sampled for larvae on three occasions following virus treatment: 24 h, 4 days and 11 days. The larvae were reared on diet in the laboratory, until death or pupation, to examine the rate and level of viral infection. Infection data showed 87.5% and 91% NPV infection and 12.5% and 55% GV infection in spray and bait treatments, respectively, in larvae sampled 24 h after treatment. In larvae sampled 4 days after treatment, the results were 78% and 100% NPV infection, and 13% and 6% GV infection. A total of only six larvae were retrieved on day 11. In both treatments larvae infected with AsNPV died significantly more rapidly and at an earlier instar than those infected with AsGV, indicating that AsNPV appears to have better potential as a control agent for A. segetum.