The localisation of an Mr 74,000 major chromatin antigen on native salivary chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster

An antigen making a major contribution to the immune response to Drosophila melanogaster chromatin resides primarily on a nonhistone charge-class family of proteins of Mr 74,000. Immunofluorescence detects this antigen at interbands, puffs and diffuse bands of D. melanogaster salivary chromosomes isolated without exposure to acid fixatives, and on nucleoplasmic ribonucleoprotein droplets. In the electron microscope, gold labelling reveals the binding of monoclonal antibodies specific for the antigen at chromosomal loci generally bearing putative ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles. However, the locus 3C 11–12 is remarkable in that it bears putative RNP particles but is virtually unlabelled, suggesting protein specificity at different active loci.     

Computer-Assisted Image Analysis of Plant Growth, Thigmomorphogenesis, and Gravitropism

A nonintrusive auxonometric system, based on the DARWIN image processor (Telewski et al. 1983 Plant Physiol 72: 177-181), is described and demonstrated in the analysis of gravitropism and thigmomorphogenesis in corn seedlings (Zea mays). Using this system, growth and bending of regularly shaped plants or organs can be quickly and accurately measured without, in any way, interfering with the plant. Furthermore, the growth and bending curves are automatically plotted. Thigmomorphogenesis in the aerial part of corn seedlings involves growth promotion at a low force load and growth retardation at higher force loads. The time courses of the two kinds of response are somewhat different, with retardation occurring immeditely after mechanical perturbation and growth promotion taking somewhat longer to begin. Gravitropic experiments show that when dark-grown corn seedlings are placed on their side in the light, the resulting curvature is due to two consecutive morphological mechanisms. In the first instance, lasting for about 15 minutes, the elongation of the bottom edge of the plant accelerates, while the elongation of the top edge remains constant. After that, for the next 1.75 hours, the elongation of the top edge decelerates and stops while that of the bottom edge remains constant at the increased rate for most of the period. The measurements taken from both experiments at relatively high resolution (0.08-0.1 millimeter) show that the growth curves are not smooth but show many small irregularities which may or may not involve micronutations.     

Novel extracellular enzymes (ligninases) of Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Abstract 3 New spectrophotometric enzyme assays were developed for the study of microbial lignin-degrading enzymes. The conversion of 2-methoxy-3-phenylbenzoic acid to 2-hydroxy-3-phenylbenzoic acid led to the discovery of an extracellular, aromatic methyl ether demethylase produced by the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium . The conversion of methyl 2-hydroxy-3-phenylbenzoate to 2-hydroxy-3-phenylbenzoic acid allowed the identification of an extracellular, aromatic methyl ester esterase produced by this fungus. The Phanerochaete sp. also excreted an enzyme complex that oxidized 4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-buten-2-one, probably to aliphatic products. All 3 novel enzyme activities were produced together with, and probably comprise a part of, the Phanerochaete ligninolytic enzyme complex. Unlike previously known ligninases, these enzymes did not oxidize 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol. All 3 were H₂O₂-dependent and were activated by Mn²⁺ ions.     

Population Dynamics of Meloidogyne incognita and Rotylenchulus reniformis Alone and in Combination,and Their Effects on Sweet Potato

Meloidogyne incognita (Mi) and Rotylenchulus reniformis (Rr) interactions on sweet potato were studied in naturally and artificially infested field plots for 3 years. In a naturally infested field, early season counts of Mi or Rr were positively correlated with later counts of the same nematode, but negative correlations were found between early Mi and subsequent Rr, and early Rr and subsequent Mi counts. In field plots fumigated with methyl bromide and then infested with low levels of Rr, Mi, and Rr + Mi, final population densities of Mi juveniles were reduced by Rr, but Rr was not affected by Mi. In field plots with a high natural population density of Rr, artificial infestation with high levels of Mi in both fumigated and nonfumigated treatments inhibited Rr, while the final Mi juvenile population density was not affected. Results indicate that a competitive interaction exists with each species capable of inhibiting the other and becoming the dominant population. The nematodes had no apparent effect on yield at the inoculum densities used, either alone or mixed. Both nematodes increased cracking of sweet potatoes, but mixed populations did not differ in incidence of cracking from either Rr or Mi alone.     

Applicability of radiotracer methods of measuring14CO2 assimilation for determining microbial activity in soil including a newin situ method

The applicability of two methods (pyrolysis gas chromatography and acidification-wet oxidation) for determining¹⁴CO₂ incorporation into soil microorganisms was investigated. Both methods were able to distinguish biologically incorporated¹⁴C from abiotically adsorbed¹⁴C, but to varying degrees, there being a larger carryover of abiotic¹⁴C into the organic fraction and a higher percentage of assimilated¹⁴C in the organic fraction with the wet oxidation method. Using¹⁴C assimilation as a measure, it was possible to determine microbial activities in soils of diverse properties under a variety of conditions, including polar soils under harsh environmental conditions. Both light and dark¹⁴CO₂ fixation was measurable.¹⁴CO₂ assimilation was not always proportional to the enumerable microorganisms. A new design for measurement of microbial activityin situ enabled measurement of total C influx (primary productivity) into soils with minimal perturbation to the natural soil ecosystem.     

Lymphangiography: Its Practical Value in Surgically Staged Patients with Hodgkin's Disease

Since the introduction of “staging laparotomy” (to determine the disease''s stage) in assessing Hodgkin''s disease, some observers have argued that lymphangiography could be safely omitted in the initial diagnostic evaluation.To test these opinions a series of 75 patients with Hodgkin''s disease who had a staging laparotomy and histological correlation with lymphangiograms was reviewed. Of 16 examinations with positive results, one proved to be a false positive. Of the 14 examinations with equivocal results, one proved histologically positive. In the remaining 45 lymphangiograms, five were falsely negative. In all five of these patients abdominal lymph nodes were involved, but in areas that do not routinely opacify on lower extremity lymphangiography. The overall accuracy was 90 percent.Therapeutically, the lymphangiogram permits accurate planning for treatment by radiation therapy so that all known disease is treated and yet bone marrow is not excessively irradiated. Changes in lymph node architecture after therapy provide valuable information as to regression of the disease or signs of its early recurrence.     

Polarography of Polynucleotides: III. Polyadenylic Acid: The Electrode Process and Interaction with Polyamines

Polyadenylic acid (poly A) was studied under various conditions using both DC polarography and phase sensitive AC polarography and by measuring the time-course of the current during the lifetime of a single drop of the dropping mercury electrode. Under certain conditions the current at potentials of the limiting portion of the DC polarographic wave does not reach its limiting value and in extreme situations peak-shaped curves are observed. This phenomenon is explained in terms of desorption and repulsion from the electrode of neutral poly A due to its polyanionic character. Consequently, the suppression of the current can be enhanced by increasing negative potential of the electrode and by exposing the negative charges of phosphate groups, e.g., by increasing pH and temperature and by decreasing ionic strength and buffer capacity; vice versa, the current suppression can be at least partially eliminated by reversing these conditions. Polyamines which seem to shield the phosphate groups through specific interactions are very effective in eliminating the current suppression. The effectiveness of a polyamine is determined by its chain length and by the density of its amino groups and the geometry of their distribution.     

Repair Kinetics of Radiation-Induced Mitotic Delay

The recovery from radiation-induced mitotic delay in asynchronous sarcoma-180 (S-180) ascites tumor cells has been analyzed in a manner analogous to the repair of sublethal damage. 200-R increments were separated by various fraction intervals (not exceeding the time necessary for mitosis to return to control levels) for total exposures up to 1600 R. The accumulated mitotic delay after the last exposure increment, in percent of an equivalent single exposure, decreased exponentially with overall treatment time in a bimodal fashion. An initial repair process displayed a half time of 2.3 h of overall elapsed time and was followed by a slower process with a half time of 15.1 h. Such a bimodal recovery provides an explanation of why fractionation intervals long with respect to the amitotic period resulting from a single 200 R exposure enhance mitotic delay over that of equivalent single exposures, while shorter fractionation intervals diminish it. It also predicts that mitotic delay vs. dose curves should bend toward the abscissa as the exposure time is increased with large single exposures and large fractionated exposures given over short fraction intervals.