“Pleiotypic Response”

A hypothesis has been developed to relate stringent control in bacteria to a set of interactions involved in the regulation of growth of transformed and untransformed mammalian cells.     

Inhibition of DNA Synthesis but not of Poly-dAT Synthesis by the Arabinose Analogue of Cytidine <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

Kimball and Wilson¹ reported that the arabinose analogue of cytidine (ara-C) inhibited DNA polymerase in a crude extract prepared from Ehrlich ascites cells. Furth and Cohen² observed cytosine arabinoside triphosphate (ara-CTP) inhibited DNA polymerase in extracts from either calf thymus or bovine lymphosarcoma tissue, although these investigators³ had already found no effect of ara-CTP on DNA polymerase from Escherichia coli. The inhibition in both of these cases could be substantially reversed by dCTP; but incorporation of the arabinose nucleotide (ara-CMP) into DNA could not be unequivocally demonstrated. Graham and Whitmore⁴ reported the incorporation of ara-C into DNA in vivo and the inhibition of a DNA polymerase from L cells by ara-CTP. They found that ara-CMP was initially incorporated into small DNA strands but subsequently appeared in long strands. Momparler⁵ has presented evidence that, in vitro, ara-C incorporation was limited to the 3′-hydroxyl end of DNA chains. Such incorporation might be expected to block further chain elongation but this expectation was not supported by the evidence presented by Graham and Whitmore.     

Endopeptidase Activity of Phage λ-Endolysin

JACOB and Fuerst^1,2 demonstrated the presence of a bacteriolytic enzyme (λ-endolysin) in the induced cultures of lysogenic Escherichia coli K12 (λ). The enzyme was later identified as the product of gene R; of phage λ³ which is involved in bacterial lysis at the end of a latent period. The enzyme is apt to form spheroplast-like structures in E. coli² and one would therefore expect its substrate to be murein.     

Ernährungsbiologie einer rhipidoglossen Kiemenschnecke

Zusammenfassung Die Arbeitsweise und die Leistungen der Rhipidoglossenradula von Theodoxus fluviatilis werden durch die kräftigen 4. Zwischenzähne und die Randbürstenzähne bestimmt. Die 4. Zwischenzähne lockern im wesentlichen die dem Fre\grund anhaftenden oder aufliegenden ein- bis wenigzelligen Algen (Diatomeen, chlorococcale und konjugate Grünalgen), die Randzähne fegen das gelockerte Nahrungsgut quantitativ zusammen. Fädige Grünalgen (z. B. Cladophorales) und Gewebeteile höherer Pflanzen werden nicht abgebissen bzw. abgeschabt.Die Diatomeen werden nur verdaut, wenn die Kieselschalen bereits bei der Nahrungsaufnahme mechanisch zerkleinert werden. Diese Zerkleinerung erfolgt allein auf einem Substrat mit rauher Oberfläche; sie wird durch die während des Bisses zwischen 4. Zwischenzähnen und Substrat auftretenden Reibungskräfte erzielt. Theodoxus wurde bei refiner Diatomeenernährung über mehrere Generationen gezüchtet. Tierisches Eiwei\ ist als Zusatzkost nicht erforderlich. Mit besonderen Hilfsma\nahmen kann Theodoxus im Laboratorium auch mit Cyanophyceen oder besonders mit Flagellaten (Chlamydomonas), die den Schnecken an den im Freiland besiedelten Standorten nicht zur Verfügung stehen, ernährt werden.Sämtliche Grünalgen mit stärkerer Cellulosewandung (Chlorococcales, Conjugatae) sind unverdaulich. Die Unverdaulichlichkeit beruht vermutlich auf einem Fehlen von Cellulasen im Verdauungstraktus. Die Zellmembranen und extrazellularen Scheiden der Cyanophyceen, die aus Hemicellulosen und Pektinen aufgebaut sind, werden im Magen aufgelöst. Theodoxus ist ein reiner Diatomeenfresser. Die ökologische Einnischung in die litorale Steinregion ist vorwiegend ernährungs-physiologisch begründet und erklärt das Vorkommen in Flie\gewassern und an Brandungsufern stehender Sü\gewässer sowie der Ostsee.     

Ecotoxicological contamination processes: Interaction with vegetation (a review)

Up-to-date crop production concentrates on the maximisation of plant matter production, both by optimum utilization of solar energy by plants and by the application of additional energy. Therefore a natural strategy is being developed aimed at combining the physiological functions of the assimilation organs with their external shaping and strengthening their variety in space and area. As demonstrated by many deposition studies, this effect is contradictory to the factors conditioning the low deposition capacity of plant covers. A high level of particle, gas and solution deposition increases the danger of food chain contamination and has a negative impact on plant production. Data concentrated on transport values of pollutants and their long-term dynamics in stands could be used for the selection of ideal crop types; therefore every effort should be directed towards selection and breeding.     

Lipid Composition in Scrapie-Infected Mouse Brain: Prion Infection Increases the Levels of Dolichyl Phosphate and Ubiquinone

Abstract: The neutral and phospholipid composition of mouse brain infected with scrapie prions was investigated. During the later stages of this disease, the level of dolichol decreased by 30% whereas the level of dolichyl phosphate increased by 30%. In terminally ill mice, there was also a 2.5-fold increase in both total ubiquinone and its reduced form. Furthermore, α-tocopherol was elevated at this stage by 50%. In contrast, no changes were observed in phospholipid amount, in phospholipid composition, and in phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen content during the entire disease process. The fatty acid and aldehyde composition of individual phospholipids remained unaltered as well. No modifications could be detected in cholesterol content. Thus, the majority of membrane lipids in scrapie-infected mouse brain are modified in neither quantity nor structure, but specific changes occur to a few polyisoprenoid lipids. This specificity indicates that, although prions accumulate in lysosomes, the infection process is not associated with a general membrane destruction caused by lysosomal enzyme leakage.