The generic placement of a morphologically enigmatic species in Asteraceae: evidence from ITS sequences

 Bidens cordylocarpa is a high polyploid species restricted in distribution to stream sides in the mountains of Jalisco, Mexico. The morphologically enigmatic species was originally described as a member of the genus Coreopsis, but later transferred to Bidens, largely because the involucral bracts appear most similar to Bidens. Characters of the cypselae, often useful in generic placement, are of no value for this species because the fruits have features not detected in either Bidens or Coreopsis. Sequences from the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS) were used to assess the relationships of Bidens cordylocarpa. The molecular phylogeny places B. cordylocarpa in a strongly supported clade of Mexican and South American Bidens, and provides more definitive evidence of relationships than morphology, chromosome number, or secondary chemistry. Molecular, morphological, and chromosomal data suggest that B. cordylocarpa is an ancient polyploid, perhaps the remnant of a polyploid complex. Received August 28, 2000 Accepted February 11, 2001     

Rapid, simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for detection and determination of acyclovir in human plasma and its use in bioavailability studies

A rapid, simple and sensitive reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the measurement of acyclovir concentrations in human plasma and its use in bioavailability studies is evaluated. Unchanged acyclovir has been quantified without the introduction of an internal standard using the present method. Human plasma proteins were selectively precipitated by the addition of 7% perchloric acid to spiked plasma samples or to the plasma samples obtained after acyclovir administration to human volunteers and the mixture was spun at 1000 g for 10 min. The supernatant was directly injected into a Novaflex C₁₈ column and detected at 254 nm. The mobile phase consisted of octane sulfonic acid buffer (pH 2.5) and methanol (92:08). The limit of quantitation for acyclovir in plasma was 20 ng/ml, which enabled the determination of the area under the curve (AUC) more precisely, that is, it is much closer to its extrapolated value. The present method has been successfully applied to samples from bioavailability studies.     

Models of cell cycle control in eukaryotes.

The molecular mechanisms of cell cycle control are now known in enough detail to warrant mathematical modeling by kinetic equations. Despite the repetitive nature of the cell division cycle, the most appropriate models emphasize steady-state solutions rather than limit cycle oscillations, because cells progress toward division by passing a series of checkpoints (steady states).     

Kinetics of acetylation-deacetylation of angiotensin II. Intramolecular interactions of the tyrosine and histidine side-chains

The possible existence of intramolecular interactions involving the tyrosine and histidine residues in angiotensin II has been investigated by measuring the reactivities of the functional groups in the molecule. Angiotensin II catalyzed the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylacetate in the pH range 6.6-8.2 at higher rates than were consistent with the reactivities of the free constituent functional groups, and had 2-4% of the activity of chymotrypsin between pH 6.6 and 7.5. Treatment of angiotensin II with acetic anhydride demonstrated that the tyrosine hydroxyl and the imidazole side-chain in angiotensin II acetylated and deacetylated at markedly higher rates than for the free amino acids, indicating increased nucleophilicities and the presence of intrinsic deacetylation mechanisms for these residues in angiotensin II. These findings are consistent with the presence of tyrosine hydroxyl-histidine-carboxylate charge relay system in ANG II in aqueous environments, and suggest that ANG II may act at membrane receptors by a mechanism which is analogous to that operating in serine proteases.     

Typification of Linnaean taxa of annual Poaceae: Poeae related to Vulpia and Desmazeria

STACE, C. A. & JARVIS, C. E., 1985. TypiHcation of Linnaean taxa of annual Poaceae: Poeae related to Vulpia and Desmazeria. The status and typification of 15 Linnaean species of annual grasses related to Vulpia and Desmazeria are discussed. Of these 15, eight are represented by holotypes or lectotypes in LINN, two by lectotypes in Herb. A. van Royen (L), and one by a neotype in LINN. One (Festuca marina) is based on a pre-Linnaean polynomial and is represented by a lectotype in Herb. Sloane (BM); one (Cynosurus durus) has no known type specimens and we have chosen a Barrelier (1714) illustration as lectotype; one (Nardus aristatus) is an illegitimate name change for Nardus incurvus Gouan, for which we have selected a Scheuchzer (1719) illustration as lectotype; and finally Festuca incrassala appeared on a cancelled page of Species Plantarum and has no nomenclatural standing.     

Systematic analysis of the long-chain components of Eubacterium lentum

The cellular long-chain component patterns of 33 strains of Eubacterium lentum were determined by gas chromatography. Two main types of long-chain component patterns were distinguished. The first (26 strains) was characterized by saturated branched-chain fatty acids (br14:0, br15:0, br16:0 and br17:0). The second (7 strains) did not contain branched-chain fatty acids and was characterized by saturated straight-chain fatty acids (11:0, 12:0, 14:0 and 16:0). Both types contained fatty aldehydes and their respective dimethyl acetals (14ald and 14dma, 16ald and 16dma). br16dma was only found in the first type. The G + C content of the DNA (Tm) of the 33 strains varied between 63.7 and 69.1 mol %. Canonical correlation analysis distinguished three subtypes within the first main type.     

Cloning of aroG, the gene coding for phospho-2-keto-3-deoxy-heptonate aldolase(phe), in Escherichia coli K-12, and subcloning of the aroG promoter and operator in a promoter-detecting plasmid

Defective transducing phages carrying aroG, the structural gene for phenylalanine (phe)-inhibitable phospho-2-keto-heptonate aldolase (EC 4.1.2.15; previously known as 3-deoxy-D-arabinoheptulosonate-7-phosphate synthetase[phe]), have been isolated, and DNA from two of these phages has been used to construct a restriction map of the region from att lambda to aroG. A 7.6-kb PstI-HindIII fragment from one of these phages was cloned into pBR322 and shown to contain aroG. The location of aroG within the 7.6 kb was established by subcloning and Tn3 transpositional mutagenesis. A fragment carrying the aroG promoter and operator has been cloned into a high copy number promoter-cloning vector (pMC489), and the resulting aroGpo-LacZ' (alpha) fusion subcloned in a low copy number vector. Strains with this fusion on the low copy number vector exhibit negative regulation of beta-galactosidase expression by both phenylalanine and tryptophan and positive regulation by tyrosine in a tyrR+ background.     

A rapid single-stranded cloning strategy for producing a sequential series of overlapping clones for use in DNA sequencing: application to sequencing the corn mitochondrial 18 S rDNA

A simple new procedure was described for producing a sequential series of overlapping clones for use in DNA sequencing. The technique used single-stranded M13 DNA and complementary DNA oligomers to form specific cleavage and ligation substrates. It was, therefore, independent of the sequence of the DNA cloned into the vector. Deletions of varying sizes were generated from one end of the insert through the 3' to 5' exonuclease activity of T4 DNA polymerase. The approximate size of the deletion and therefore the starting point for DNA sequencing could be estimated by electrophoresis of the subcloned phage DNA on a agarose gel. This greatly reduced the number of templates that must be sequenced to obtain a complete sequence. The entire procedure could be carried out in one tube in less than a day. The procedure was used to subclone and sequence the maize mitochondrial 18 S rDNA and 5' flanking region (2622 bases) in less than a week. Other applications of oligomers and single-stranded DNA in the construction of insertions, deletions, and cDNAs are discussed.