A new cyclodextrin-agar medium for surface cultivation of microbes on lipophilic substrates

Summary Inclusion of cyclodextrins into an agar gel enabled a homogenous incorporation of water-immiscible lipophilic organic liquids and solids as substrates for surface microbial growth or conversion. Surface cultivation ofCandida lipolytica andC. tropicalis was demonstrated in and-cyclodextrin/hexadecane-agar media.     

Diurnal variation of corticotropin-releasing factor binding sites in the rat brain and pituitary

Summary 1. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is thought to be involved in the regulation of the diurnal activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and to act as a neurotransmitter in the brain. To date it is unknown whether the binding sites of the central CRF system are subject to diurnal variations. 2. We measured the number of CRF binding sites over the course of a complete 24-hr light-dark cycle in the pituitary, amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), cingulate cortex, visceral cortex, paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and locus ceruleus of rats byin vitro receptor autoradiography with iodinated ovine CRF. A 24-hr time course was also established for plasma CRF and corticosterone. 3. The diurnal pattern of plasma CRF does not correlate with the pattern of plasma corticosterone. Within the brain, CRF binding in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala showed a U-shaped curve with maximum levels in the morning and a wide hallow between 1500 and 0100. A biphasic profile with a small depression in the afternoon and a more pronounced depression in the second half of the activity period is characteristic for the other brain areas and the pituitary. The profile for the pituitary correlates with those for the BNST and the area of the locus ceruleus. Furthermore, the diurnal pattern of CRF binding sites in the BNST correlates with that of the hippocampus, and the daytime pattern of the visceral cortex is similar to that of both the hippocampus and the BNST. 4. Since the CRF-binding profiles in the brain and the pituitary clearly differ from the profiles of both plasma CRF and corticosterone, one may assume that the diurnal pattern of central CRF binding sites is not directly coupled to the activity of the HPA axis.     

Fatal attack on an infant by an adult female tonkean macaque

We describe a fatal attack on a 10-month-old female infant by an adult female Tonkean macaque (Macaca tonkeana)in a semi-free-ranging group. During an intense conflict involving many group members, an adult female, the second most dominant in the group, attacked the infant of a lower-ranking female. The attacker remained near the victim for approximately 20 min, grabbing and biting it repeatedly, until the mother retrieved the infant. She died 2 days later. An autopsy revealed no lethal injury;the main cause of death was starvation or dehydration or both. We discuss social conditions under which a fatal attack by an adult female might occur.     

A new gene coding for an antigen recognized by autologous cytolytic T lymphocytes on a human renal carcinoma

Previous reports have described antigens that are recognized on human melanoma cells by autologous cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL). The genes coding for a number of these antigens have been identified. Here we report the cloning of a gene that codes for an antigen recognized by autologous CTL on a human renal carcinoma cell line. This antigen is presented byHLA-B7 and is encoded by a new gene that we have namedRAGE1. No expression ofRAGE1 was found in normal tissues other than retina. RAGE1 expression was found in only one of 57 renal cell carcinoma samples, and also in some sarcomas, infiltrating bladder carcinomas, and melanomas. This represents the first identification of an antigen recognized by autologous CTL on a renal tumor.     

Do chimpanzees cooperate in a learning task?

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) to cooperate in an instrumental task. A specially constructed fruit distributor was presented to a group of six captive chimpanzees. A cooperative response required two chimpanzees: both had to pull a handle simultaneously to make a fruit fall into the cage. The dominant male of the group and an infant produced most of the operant responses, and the male got nearly all the fruits. Other conspecifics avoided the dominant male at the apparatus. Social influences appear to limit the possibility of co-operation between individuals because a certain level of interindividual tolerance is required. The results revealed a significant increase in the number of pulls each time both chimpanzees were together at the apparatus. Operant chimpanzees learn to coordinate their actions in time and space.     

Tum—mutation P35B generates the MHC-binding site of a new antigenic peptide

Immunogenic tumor cell variant P35 was obtained by mutagen treatment of mouse mastocytoma P815. It express a potent new antigen recognized by syngeneic cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL). This antigen is the result of a point mutation in a gene that is expressed by most healthy cells. A decapeptide encoded by the region spanning the mutation sensitized P815 cells to the relevant CTL, whereas the homologous decapeptide corresponding to the normal sequence did not. Only the mutant decapeptide was capable of enhancing the expression of the D^d-presenting molecule at the cell surface, indicating that the mutation generates a motif which enables the antigenic peptide to bind to D^d. Correspondence to: T. Boon.