Effect of the phase state of lipids on their interaction with cobra cytotoxin

Interaction between cytotoxin of the Central Asia cobra venom and dimiristoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer depending on its phase state was studied by ESR with spin label. A conclusion can be drawn that the efficiency of cytotoxin effect on the membranes depends on their phase state. Cytotoxin molecules are incorporated into myophile region of the bilayer, only if the latter is in the liquid crystal state. The interaction between cytotoxins and lipids of the bilayer in a gel state is in the main conditioned by electrostatic forces.     

Über die Ursachen der Osmotoleranz bei Hefen

Zusammenfassung Mit Untersuchungen über die Abhängigkeit des Zellvolumens vom osmotischen Wert und über die Konzentration der Zellinhaltsstoffe wird versucht, zur Kenntnis der Ursachen der Osmotoleranz bei Hefen beizutragen. In konzentrierten Lösungen verringern alle untersuchten Hefen ihr Volumen, die osmotoleranten Hefen aber weniger als die nichtosmotoleranten. Der Beginn einer meßbaren Volumenverringerung tritt bei osmotoleranten Hefen bei höheren Konzentrationen ein als bei nichtosmotoleranten. Eine Abhängigkeit der Zellgröße vom osmotischen Wert kann nur in einem bestimmten Konzentrationsbereich (zwischen 0,7–2% und 10% NaCl) festgestellt werden. Darunter fehlt eine osmotische Reaktion, und darüber bleibt die Zellgröße gleich. In Nährlösungen mit erhöhtem osmotischen Wert vermehren sich Zellen beider Typen in ihrer normalen Größe. Der osmotische Wert ihres Zellinhaltes ist annähernd gleich groß. Eine veränderte Struktur des Zellplasmas bzw. ein dadurch bedingter höherer Gehalt an fest gebundenem Hydratationswasser wird als Ursache der Osmotoleranz bei Hefen angesehen.

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About the causes of osmotolerance in yeasts

Summary The question, if the yeast cell volume depends on the osmotic pressure and on the solutes of the cell, has been investigated. In concentrated solutions all yeasts investigated reduced their volume. A smaller reduction was found in osmotolerant yeasts. Osmotolerant yeasts begin to reduce their volume at higher osmotic pressures than non-osmotolerant ones. In concentrated nutrient media the cells of osmotolerant and non-osmotolerant yeasts grow in their normal size. The cell size depends only in the range between 0.7 to 2% and 10% NaCl approximately on the osmotic pressure of the surrounding medium. Beneath 2% there is no osmotic reaction and above 10% the cell size remains unchanged. The osmotic value in the cells of both yeast types is about the same. Causes of osmotolerance in yeasts may be a modified structure of cytoplasm and an increased content of bound water.

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(Prof. Dr. S. Windisch)     

A climate for contemporary evolution

A new study of divergence in freshwater fish provides strong evidence of rapid, temperature-mediated adaptation. This study is particularly important in the ongoing debate over the extent and significance of evolutionary response to climate change because divergence has occurred in relatively few generations in spite of ongoing gene flow and in the aftermath of a significant genetic bottleneck, factors that have previously been considered obstacles to evolution. Climate change may thus be more likely to foster contemporary evolutionary responses than has been anticipated, and I argue here for the importance of investigating their possible occurrence.     

Morphogenesis of the dorsal pigmentary pattern in wild-type and mutant Rana pipiens

The transition from larval to adult pigmentary patterns during metamorphosis of wild-type. burnsi, and kandiyohi R. pipiens is described. Larval fusiform epidermal melanocytes form a pattern that exactly corresponds to the adult spotting pattern. It is concluded that the larval epidermal pattern expresses a “prepattern” in the larval tissue for the adult pattern. This “prepattern” is visible in kandiyohi, but not in burnsi, tadpoles. The role of the extracellular environment in pigmentary pattern determination is discussed. Gradual changes in all chromatophore densities accompany larval development, while abrupt changes accompany metamorphic climax. There is a net increase in all chromatophore densities by the completion of metamorphosis. Kandiyohi density changes differ quantitatively but not qualitatively from those of wild type. In both wild type and kandiyohi, differentiation of many new dermal melanophores in presumptive spot regions effects expression of the adult spotting pattern. The relative roles of chromatophore differentiation and mitosis in pattern expression, and the hormonal control thereof, are discussed.