Distinct DNA sequence and structure requirements for the two steps of V(D)J recombination signal cleavage.

Cleavage of V(D)J recombination signals by purified RAG1 and RAG2 proteins permits the dissection of DNA structure and sequence requirements. The two recognition elements of a signal (nonamer and heptamer) are used differently, and their cooperation depends on correct helical phasing. The nonamer is most important for initial binding, while efficient nicking and hairpin formation require the heptamer sequence. Both nicking and hairpin formation are remarkably tolerant of variations in DNA structure. Certain flanking sequences inhibit hairpin formation, but this can be bypassed by base unpairing, and even a completely single-stranded signal sequence is well utilized. We suggest that DNA unpairing around the signal-coding border is essential for the initiation of V(D)J combination.     

Stable binding of the herpes simplex virus ICP47 protein to the peptide binding site of TAP.

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) ICP47 protein inhibits the MHC class I antigen presentation pathway by inhibiting the transporter associated with antigen presentation (TAP) which translocates peptides across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. At present, ICP47 is the only inhibitor of TAP. Here, we show that ICP47 produced in bacteria can block human, but not mouse, TAP, and that heat denaturation of ICP47 has no effect on its ability to block TAP. ICP47 inhibited peptide binding to TAP without affecting ATP binding, consistent with previous observations that the peptide binding and ATP binding sites of TAP are distinct. ICP47 bound to TAP with a higher affinity (KD approximately 5 x 10(-8) M) than did peptides, and ICP47 did not dissociate from TAP. ICP47 was not transported by TAP and remained sensitive to proteases added from the cytosolic surface of the membrane. Peptides acted as competitive inhibitors of ICP47 binding to TAP, and this inhibition required a 100- to 1000-fold molar excess of peptide. These results demonstrate that ICP47 binds to a site which includes the peptide binding domain of TAP and remains bound to this site in a stable fashion.     

The ubiquitin conjugation system is required for ligand-induced endocytosis and degradation of the growth hormone receptor.

The ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation system has recently been implicated in downregulation of signal transducing receptors. Growth hormone receptor (GHR) cDNA was transfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells, which exhibit a temperature-sensitive defect in ubiquitin conjugation (CHO-ts20), as well as into wild-type cells (CHO-E36). Upon binding of growth hormone (GH), two GHR polypeptides dimerize and initiate signal transduction. In CHO-E36 and in CHO-ts20 at the permissive temperature the GHR was ubiquitinated and degraded in a GH-dependent fashion. However, at the non-permissive temperature in CHO-ts20 cells, neither GH-dependent uptake nor degradation of the GHR was observed, while in CHO-E36 cells both GHR uptake and degradation were accelerated. Incubation of CHO-E36 cells with inhibitors of endosomal/lysosomal function (NH4Cl, bafilomycin A1) markedly reduced ligand-induced GHR degradation. Our results indicate that a functional ubiquitin conjugating system is required for GH-induced endocytosis and that degradation of both the exoplasmic and cytoplasmic portions of the GHR occurs within the endosomal/lysosomal compartment.     

Use of chicken microsatellite markers in turkey: a pessimistic view

Eighty-eight chicken microsatellite markers, previously developed in our laboratory, were tested for their ability to amplify polymorphic fragments using turkey genomic DNA. Amplification products were obtained for 61 chicken microsatellite markers (69.1%) whereas 27 (30.9%) did not give rise to any products, even when different polymerase chain reaction conditions were employed. From the 61 markers that gave a product, only eight showed a length polymorphism while 37 were monomorphic on the three divergent commercial turkey lines used. The remaining 16 markers yielded many unspecific bands and no specific amplification product could be obtained. Five polymorphic and eleven monomorphic products contained a detectable microsatellite repeat. Furthermore, of the markers that detected a polymorphism in turkey, the observed heterozygosity (15–50%) and allelic variation (only 2 in most cases) was very low. Therefore, on the basis of our results, we think that chicken microsatellite markers are not very useful for mapping purposes in turkey.     

Transmembrane movements of artificial redox mediators in relation to electron transport and ionic currents in chloroplasts

Electrochemical data obtained with TMPD⁺-sensitive electrodes indicate that ammonium-uncoupled chloroplasts retain TMPD (N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl- p -phenylenediamine) mainly in the reduced form during illumination, whereas uncoupled DCMU-treated chloroplasts accumulate TMPD in the oxidized form (TMPD⁺). This observation indicates that the reduced plastoquinol is the preferred electron donor for photosystem I (PSI) and TMPD can only compete efficiently when plastoquinone reduction is blocked. After adding DCMU the formation of a transmembrane gradient for TMPD⁺ is reflected by a slow-down of the electrogenic electron transport and by the emerging of the overshoot of the membrane current in the light-off response. A light-dependent increase in photoelectric current generated by chloroplasts in the presence of NH₄Cl and TMPD is observed and considered to be caused by a reversible release of current limitation in the interfacial conductance barriers in the lumen.     

Relative growth rate, biomass allocation pattern and water use efficiency of three wheat cultivars during early ontogeny as dependent on water availability

We have investigated the water use efficiency of whole plants and selected leaves and allocation patterns of three wheat cultivars (Mexipak, Nesser and Katya) to explore how variation in these traits can contribute to the ability to grow in dry environments. The cultivars exhibited considerable differences in biomass allocation and water use efficiency. Cultivars with higher growth rates of roots and higher proportions of biomass in roots (Nesser and Katya) also had higher leaf growth rates, higher proportions of their biomass as leaves and higher leaf area ratios. These same cultivars had lower rates of transpiration per unit leaf area or unit root weight and higher biomass production per unit water use. They also had higher ratios of photosynthesis to transpiration, and lower ratios of intercellular to external CO₂ partial pressure. The latter resulted from large differences in stomatal conductance associated with relatively small differences in rates of photosynthesis. There was little variation between cultivars in response to drought, and differences in allocation pattern and plant water use efficiency between cultivars as found under well-watered conditions persisted under dry conditions. At the end of the non-watered treatment, relative growth rates and transpiration rates decreased to similar values for all cultivars. High ratios of photosynthesis to transpiration, and accordingly high biomass production per unit of transpiration, is regarded as a favourable trait for dry environments, since more efficient use of water postpones the decrease in plant water status.     

Genetically stable cell lines of cucumber for the large-scale production of diploid somatic embryos

For the initiation of embryogenic cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) cell lines, from excised radicles, directly in liquid medium, the culture regime, explant density and type and concentration of hormones were adjusted so that pro-embryogenic masses (PEMs) were formed within about 8 weeks. The established cucumber cell lines were maintained tor several years without loss of embryogenic and genetic stability. The ploidy level of somatic embryos from different cucumber eell lines was either diploid or tetraploid and depended on the ploidy level of Ihe cell line. Cucumber cell lines that produced only diploid embryos were obtained by selecting completely diploid explant material and growing it in the dark during the initiation phase. Mixoploid explains could lead to tetraploid or mixoploid ceil lines. Isolation and additional selection and subculturing of single PEMs resulted in either completely diploid or tetraploid cell lines, indicating that all cells of individual PEMs are either diploid or tetraploid. The ernbryogenic cucumber cell Imes, differing only in ploidy level, were indistinguishable in growth rate and embryogetiic potential and were genetically stable over several years.     

A telescopic method for photographing within 8×8 cm minirhizotrons

The volatile organic compounds produced during a sequence of soil incubations under controlled conditions, with either added NH₄ ⁺-N or NO₃ ^--N, were collected and identified. The nature and relative amounts of the volatile organic compounds produced by the microorganisms in the soils were remarkably reproducible and consistent.