Cytological and autoradiographic studies in Sciara coprophila salivary gland chromosomes

Summary Morphological and metabolic changes on the salivary chromosomes of Sciara coprophila were followed during the later half of the fourth larval instar.Cytological maps were prepared for five successive stages from mid-fourth instar to the prepupal stage. These maps, which constitute a revision of those published earlier by Crouse, summarized our cytological findings and were the basis for studies on DNA replication of these chromosomes.Similar to earlier studies in Chironomidae, differences in the puffing pattern were noted between the anterior and the posterior portions of the salivary gland. The most striking difference was noted in region 2B on chromosome III which produces a large puff only in nuclei from the anterior part of the gland. Other autosomal puffs, although present in both parts of the gland, showed constant differences in size.An increase in the number of bands from mid-fourth to late fourth instar was observed. The new bands are all of the light-staining kind.In Sciara the puffed area may include a large number of bands in addition to the bands which originated the puff. The maximal extent of puffs was determined in terms of chromosomal map regions and the number of bands subject to obliteration.In the autoradiographic experiments use was made of H³-thymidine as DNA precursor. The aim of these studies was to detect any asynchronies in the replication time of bands. In fact, marked differences in the relative rates of uptake of H³-thymidine of a number of bands in a certain proportion of chromosomes have been observed, while others showed uniform incorporation. Since these latter were found with higher frequency the period of uniform labeling must comprise a larger part of the replication cycle then the periods of localized labeling. To assess the validity and constancy of the observed patterns of unequal incorporation, a semiquantitative analysis was carried out. It showed that the bands showing localized uptake may be separated into two broad groups. In one of these groups are the centromere regions and certain chromosomal ends, which are presumably heterochromatic. The other group comprises most of the puff sites and bulbs. Since late replication is characteristic of heterochromatin, we assumed that bands of the former group (C) replicate late in the cycle, while puffs and bulbs start replication early, and the period of equal labeling is intermediate. Other intermediate labeling patterns were observed and are described.It is known that in the fourth instar from two to three DNA replications occur in the salivary gland nuclei, the last of which coincides with puffing. Several stages may be distinguished in the puffing process based on morphology and rates of isotope uptake of the puffs. The first sign of puffing is a very high rate of incorporation at puffs. It is maintained throughout this last DNA synthesis period and only declines when all other chromosomal regions have ceased to replicate. A pattern of high and exclusive uptake at the heterochromatic sites (pattern C) was never observed in this replication; instead puffs are the last regions to terminate DNA synthesis.These results are discussed in relation to several current problems, such as, asynchronous DNA replication, the problem of metabolic DNA, and the concept of the heterochromatic state.Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, in the Faculty of Pure Science, Department of Zoology, Columbia University, New York. This work has been supported by U.S. Public Health Training Grant No. 2Tl-GM-216-05; partial support has been received also from Grants GB 42 and G-14043 from the National Science Foundation to Dr. H. V. Crouse.     

Harnsäure als zusätzliche stickstoffquelle Für larven von Lasioderma Serricorne F.

Zusammenfassung Larven von Lasioderma serricorne F. sind in der Lage, bei Unterdosierung des Caseins in synthetischen Diäten Guanin, Xanthin, Harnsäure und Allantoin als zusätzliche N- Quellen zu verwerten. Die Bedeutung für den Proteinhaushalt der Larven Bowie die Beteiligung der Symbionten werden diskutiert.     

Configurations resulting from iso-chromatid and iso-subchromatid unions after meiotic and mitotic prophase irradiation

Summary By making use of the chromosomes of Trillium erectum as a model, potential and actual configurations arising from presumed iso-chromatid and iso-subchromatid unions after irradiation of meiotic or mitotic prophase have been studied and analyzed. Diagrams and photographs of various recognizable types of chromatid or subchromatid rearrangements are presented. A minimum of two iso-chromatid unions within an arm of a single chromosome in meiotic prophase, if separated by a single chiasma, can give rise to a monocentric chromosome with a triplicated segment, the middle portion of which is an inversion. A minimum of two iso-subchromatid breaks within an arm at either meiotic or mitotic prophase also can result in the production of a monocentric chromosome containing a triplicated segment. The stage of appearance of dicentrics or bridges arising from chromatid or subchromatid unions in meiotic prophase is influenced by chiasma number and pattern and by the number of strands per chromosome or chromatid. Some of the rearrangements described may have genetic and evolutionary implication of considerable potential importance which has not been recognized previously.Research carried out at Brookhaven National Laboratory under the auspices of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.     

Über die gesteigerte Peroxydaseaktivität in gestörtenPhaseolus-Artbastarden

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 3 Textabbildungen     

Zur Ätiologie der Anreicherung von Aminosäuren und Amiden im Wurzelraum vonHelianthus Annuus L

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 5 Textabbildungen     

Das Wachstum infiltrierter Keimlinge

Zusammenfassung Werden Keimlinge vonHelianthus annuus undVicia faba mittels einer Wasserstrahlpumpe mit Wasser infiltriert, so führt dies sofort in allen Organen der Pflanze zu einer sehr starken und mitunter völligen Hemmung des Wachstums. Wirkt der Unterdruck in Luft ein, so daß es hernach zu keiner Wasserfüllung der Interzellularen kommt, so unterbleibt jede Wachstumshemmung.Die Frage nach der Kausalbeziehung zwischen Infiltration und Wachstumshemmung konnte nicht geklärt werden, da die nächstiliegende Annahme, Infiltration führe zu einer Atmungshemmung, durch das Experiment nicht bestätigt werden konnte.Es wird darauf hingewiesen, daß die Zufuhr von Wirk- oder Nährstoffen durch Infiltration eine Methode ist, die in wachsenden Organen nur mit großem Vorbehalt angewendet werden darf, da eine im Wachstum weitgehend gehemmte Pflanze sich in einem anomalen Zustand befindet.Mit 8 Textabbildungen.     

Über die Veränderung der chemischen Zusammensetzung vonScenedesmus obliquus bei synchroner Kultur im Licht-Dunkel-Wechsel

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 10 Textabbildungen     

Ein Beitrag zur Biosynthese und Physiologie von Kaffein und Trigonellin beiCoffea arabica

Summary Whole young plants were allowed to fix photosynthetically C¹⁴O₂ for 12 hours. The absolute amount and the specific activity of trigonelline, caffeine and glucose in developing and adult leaves were subsequently determined during up to five weeks. There is a rapid incorporation of photosynthetically fixed carbon into trigonelline in both developing and adult leaves. The specific activity of caffeine however increases to any extent only in young developing leaves. It can be concluded that both trigonelline and caffeine are synthesized in leaves ofCoffea arabica. Other problems of the metabolism and translocation of the two substances are discussed.

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Mit 5 Textabbildungen     

Cell function in the ovary of drosophila

Summary The relative DNA content of the ovarian nurse nuclei of Drosophila melanogaster has been measured by high-resolution autoradiography of DNA uniformly labelled with adenine-8-¹⁴C.The various nurse nuclei show a defined pattern of DNA classes. The posterior nuclei, i. e. those nearest to the oocyte, achieve eight reduplications of DNA by stages 8–9, thus reaching 512n, and all have lost some DNA by stage 10. The nuclei in the middle of the chamber achieve seven reduplications of DNA by stage 9, thus reaching 256n, and though there is loss of DNA in the majority of these nuclei at stage 10 some of them might enter a new reduplication cycle. The anterior nuclei, i. e. those more distant from the oocyte, achieve more than seven reduplications by stage 10 and show no loss of DNA.After stage 6 of the ovarian chambers the pattern of DNA enrichment and later degradation is clearly polarized in that there is a posterioranterior gradient for the level of ploidy, the order in time in which this is attained, and the loss of DNA. The dominant end of the gradient is towards the developing oocyte.The measured nuclear volume where DNA is present is well correlated with ploidy till stage 9. Compared with earlier stages, at stage 10 DNA shares less in the nuclear contents than other materials. The nuclear volume when calculated as a sphere is a gross overestimation, except for the earliest stages.Various possibilities likely to bring about differences in the amount of DNA among nurse nuclei within and between chambers are discussed.Research worker of the British Empire Cancer Campaign.