Modulation of ultraviolet light mutational hotspots by cellular stress.

Stressful treatments of cells provoke broad, transient, changes in cellular physiology and gene expression. In addition to these effects, DNA-damaging agents often induce permanent change in the form of mutations. Mutational patterns in target genes typically show hotspots and coldspots, the molecular basis of which appears to lie in the sequence context of the particular site. We determined the mutational pattern in an ultraviolet light-modified (in vitro) marker gene in a shuttle vector passaged through repair deficient (xeroderma pigmentosum) cells and compared it with patterns obtained from cells exposed to stress imposed by a DNA-damaging agent or a calcium ionophore. We found that the mutational hotspot pattern was altered by both stress treatments. We conclude that the cellular environment can influence the probability of mutagenesis at specific sites and propose that some of these effects on mutagenesis are mediated by alterations in cellular calcium levels.     

Essential function of linoleic acid esterified in acylglucosylceramide and acylceramide in maintaining the epidermal water permeability barrier. Evidence from feeding studies with oleate, linoleate, arachidonate, columbinate and alpha-linolenate

Essential fatty acid-deficient rats were supplemented with 300 mg per day of pure fatty acid esters: oleate (O), linoleate (L), arachidonate (A), and columbinate (C) for 10 days. During this period, the rats in groups L, A, and C all showed a decrease in their initially high trans-epidermal water loss, a classical essential fatty acid-deficiency symptom, to a level seen in non-deficient rats (group N). The trans-epidermal water loss in rats of group O was unaffected by the supplementation. Fatty acid composition of two epidermal sphingolipids, acylglucosylceramide and acylceramide, from the skin were determined. The results indicate that re-establishment of a low trans-epidermal water loss was associated with incorporation of linolenate into the two epidermal sphingolipids. Supplementation with columbinate resulted in relatively high amounts of this fatty acid in the investigated epidermal sphingolipids. Analysis of pooled skin specimens from a previous study in which weanling rats were fed a fat-free diet and supplemented orally with pure alpha-linolenate for 13 weeks (Hansen, H.S. and Jensen, B. (1983) Lipids 18, 682-690) revealed very little polyunsaturated fatty acid in the two sphingolipids. These rats showed increased evaporation which was comparable to that of essential fatty acid-deficient rats. We interpret these results as strong evidence for a very specific and essential function of linoleic acid in maintaining the integrity of the epidermal water permeability barrier. This function of linoleate is independent of its role as precursor for arachidonate and icosanoids.     

Grooming and touching behaviour in captive ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta L.)

The distribution of grooming and touching behaviours was recorded in a group of captive ring-tailed lemurs. Grooming was found to be performed chiefly by older, higher ranking animals; touching (i.e., “reach out and touch” behaviour) was directed primarily by younger, low ranking animals to older, high ranking individuals. It is suggested that such touching is a submissive gesture in this species.     

Enhanced resistance of the myocardium to stress injury and excess calcium in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Extensibility, contractile function and resistance to excess calcium of the right atrium myocardium were studied in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto and August rats and in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). It was shown that long-term stress results in a decrease in the measured parameters in normotensive animals. SHR do not show any stress-induced disturbances. It was discovered that in intact SHR rats, the myocardium has a greater resistance to excess calcium, indirect evidence for higher efficiency of the Ca-pump of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in cardiomyocytes of SHR animals, which is apparently a constituent part of the mechanism of such animals' heart increased resistance to stress-induced damage.     

Alkali sensitivity in plasmid-bearing strains of Escherichia coli

Introduction of the ColV,I-K94 plasmid into any of four strains of Escherichia coli gave derivatives which grew less well than the parent at alkaline pH. The alkali sensitivity of the 1829 derivative resulted from the presence of the plasmid rather than from its introduction into a less alkali tolerant variant. Of two other ColV plasmids tested, one (ColV-K30) conferred substantial alkali sensitivity whereas the other (ColV-41) had little effect. Of several other plasmids examined, R124-F2 (which confers derepressed transfer properties) resembled ColV,I-K94 in its effect on alkali sensitivity and ColV-K98 produced a marked effect. The other plasmids (F lac , R124 itself, R1 and R483ColIa) had only a small effect. For ColV plasmids, it appears to be the presence of transfer and colicin components together which leads to the reduced tolerance to alkaline pHs.     

Immunity in cryptococcosis: An overview

Cryptococcosis is an often fatal opportunistic fungal infection. Despite efforts to elucidate the role of immunity in host defense against the disease, much remains to be learned. The purpose of this brief review is to provide the reader with an overview of the history of research concerned with host immunity in cryptococcosis. Both humoral and cell-mediated studies are included. An effort has been made to present the reader with a comprehensive list of references in the hope of encouraging additional reading and research in this important area.