Wetland vegetation ecology on a reclaimed coal surface mine in southern Illinois,USA

An early successional wetland complex on a reclaimed surface coal mine in southern Illinois was studied 1985–1987. Seasonally, biomass was low, with above-ground values of 10–210g m^–2 and below-ground biomass of 1.5–2435 g m^–2. Biomass peaked in spring and did not vary much throughout the remainder of the growing season. Stem densities were high (179–1467 m^–2) because large numbers of seedlings became established as falling water levels exposed large areas of mudflats. Fluctuating water levels led to a lack of community zonation. Species diversity (H) was low to moderate over all sites with diversity values ranging between 1.86 and 3.27.     

A high melting structure in DNA distinguishes phases of the cell cycle

Differential scanning microcalorimetry of the nuclei of dividing CHO cells revealed DNA structures that showed structural transitions at 60, 76, 88, and 105 degrees C (transitions I to IV, respectively). In cultures synchronized by isoleucine deprivation the enthalpies of transitions I and II were rather constant throughout the cell cycle. While the sum of the enthalpies of III and IV was nearly constant, the ratio of IV to III varied substantially from one phase of the cycle to another. A high IV:III ratio of 6 characterized G1 while S phase gave a IV:III ratio of about 2. Cells containing metaphase chromosomes also showed a IV:III ratio near 2. The IV:III ratio for CHO cells showed a progressive decrease as the cells were maintained in isoleucine-free medium from 0 to 6 days.     

Effects of calcium ionophore, A23187 and calmodulin inhibitors on intercellular communication in the rat myometrium

We have studied the effect of a calcium ionophore, A23187, and the purported calmodulin inhibitors, calmidazolium and chlorpromazine, on direct intercellular communication between smooth muscle cells in the myometrium of delivering rats. The extent of cell-to-cell coupling was determined by exposing one portion of small strips of longitudinal myometrium to 2-[3H] deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and determining the distribution and apparent diffusion coefficient (Da) for this tracer after a 5-h period for diffusion. The distribution and Da for 2-DG were significantly (p less than 0.05) reduced by exposure to A23187 in Krebs-Ringer solution with 2.5 mM Ca++, partially reduced in Krebs solution with A23187 and low Ca++ (1-10 microM), but the drug had no effect when used with Ca++-free solutions with [ethylenebis (oxyethylene-nitrilo)] tetraacetic acid (EGTA). The calmodulin inhibitors blocked the effects of A23187 in a dose-dependent fashion, and at higher concentrations, the extent of 2-DG diffusion was not different from that in control tissues. Surprisingly, however, a dose-dependent reduction in coupling was also observed in tissues exposed to the calmodulin inhibitors alone. Structural studies failed to reveal any change in the area of gap junctions between the myometrial cells following the above treatments, suggesting that the reduced exchange of 2-DG resulted from a decrease in the permeability of gap junctions between the muscle fibers.     

Hemodynamic effects of atrial natriuretic hormone

The atrial natriuretic hormone (ANH) alters cardiovascular function independent of changes in body fluid volume. Most investigators agree that ANH decreases mean arterial pressure (MAP). However, although some investigators have observed a decrease in total peripheral resistance in association with the decrease in MAP, a more frequent observation has been decreased cardiac output (CO). The mechanism whereby ANH decreases CO is unknown, but does not appear to be the result of direct myocardial depression, reductions in intravascular or cardiopulmonary volumes, or venodilation. Alterations in skeletal muscle and splanchnic blood flow have been reported by some but not all investigators. Although increases in renal blood flow have been reported, they are transitory and have not been consistently observed by all researchers. The cardiovascular effects of ANH appear to be influenced not only by the dose, but also by the cardiovascular control mechanisms that operate at the time of ANH administration. Non-renin-dependent hypertensive models exhibit a decrease in MAP associated with decreased CO, whereas in renin-dependent animals this hypotension is associated with a decrease in total peripheral resistance.     

Changes in the cell wall of Clostridium species following passage in animals

Morphological changes in clostridial isolates after animal passage with other flora in mixed infections were studied by utilizing a subcutaneous abscess model in mice. We used 26 isolates of 7 clostridial species, and one isolate each of Bacteroides fragilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Abscesses were induced by all 7 Clostridium perfringens and 3 Clostridium butyricum isolates and by some of the other isolates. A thick granular wall prior to animal inoculation was shown only in C. perfringens, C. butyricum, and C. difficile. This structure was observed in other clostridia only following their animal passage alone or when co-inoculated with K. pneumoniae or B. fragilis.     

In nondividing cells, histone H1(0) is synthesized and deposited onto chromatin without accompanying phosphorylation

The phosphorylation of H1 histone subfractions was measured in mouse neuroblastoma cells stopped from dividing by three treatments that block cell division: 5 mM butyrate, 2% dimethyl sulfoxide, and serum withdrawal. H1 histone phosphorylation decreased in response to all three treatments, but the response differed in its timing and its extent for the different H 1 subfractions. The different decreases in phosphorylation correlated well with the differential decreases in biosynthesis of the individual H1 subfractions; however, an exception to this parallel decrease in synthesis and phosphorylation was observed in the case of histone H1(0). Phosphorylation of H1(0) was absent in each of the three treatments after 2 days, despite the continued synthesis and deposit of H1(0) on the chromatin. Thus, despite the fact that H1(0) was being synthesized and that the other newly synthesized H1 subfractions were phosphorylated at this time, the phosphorylation of H1(0) became uncoupled from its synthesis after prolonged treatments blocking cell division.     

Genome organization and nucleotide sequence of human papillomavirus type 33, which is associated with cervical cancer.

The 7,909-nucleotide sequence of human papillomavirus type 33, which is associated with cervical cancer, has been determined and used to deduce the corresponding genome arrangement. Extensive sequence homologies and other genetic features are shared with the related oncogenic virus, human papillomavirus type 16, especially in the major reading frames. A surprising difference was found in the noncoding region of human papillomavirus type 33 as, unlike all other sequenced papillomaviruses, it contains a perfect 78-base pair tandem repeat.     

Foliage sesquiterpenes of Dacrydium cupressinum: identification,variation and biosynthesis

The major sesquiterpenes in the foliage of Dacrydium cupressinum are α-longipinene, longifolene, longibornyl acetate, caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, humulene, α- and β-selinene, β- and δ-elemene, aromadendrene and the rare 9βH-caryophyllene. Sesquiterpene levels vary greatly from tree to tree. As this variation is largely independent of environmental factors, genetic control is proposed. Longifolene and α-longipinene levels are closely correlated, as are those of caryophyllene and humulene. The biosynthetic implications of these correlations are discussed.     

Root turnover and production by14C dilution: implications of carbon partitioning in plants

Summary Estimates of belowground net primary production (BNP) obtained by using traditional soil core harvest data are subject to a variety of potentially serious errors. In a controlled growth chamber experiment, we examined the aboveground-belowground, labile to structural tissue, and plant to soil dynamics of carbon to formulate a¹⁴C dilution technique for potential successful application in the field and to quantify sources of error in production estimates.Despite the fact that the majority of net¹⁴C movement between above- and belowground plant parts occurred between the initial labeling and day 5, significant quantities of¹⁴C were incorporated into cell-wall tissue throughout the growing period. The rate of this increase at late sampling dates was greater for roots than for shoots. Total loss of assimilated¹⁴C was 47% in wheat and 28% in blue grama. Exudation and sloughing in wheat and blue grama, respectively, was 15 and 6% of total uptake and 22 and 8% of total plant production.When root production estimates by¹⁴C dilution were corrected for the quantities of labile¹⁴C incorporated into structural carbon between two sampling dates, good agreement with actual production was found. The error associated with these estimates was ±2% compared with a range of –119 to –57% for the uncorrected estimates. Our results suggest that this technique has potential field application if sampling is performed the year after labelling.Sources of errors in harvest versus¹⁴C dilution estimates of BNP are discussed.