Trichodorus persicus n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichodoridae) from Iran

Trichodorus persicus n. sp. is described from the Caspian region of Iran, where it was found in woodland and orchard soil. Males of the new species usually have two ventral cervical papillae anterior to the excretory pore but posterior to the base of the onchiostyle; there are three ventromedian preanal supplements, the posterior one lying near the heads of the retracted spicules; the spicules are 51–61 m long with faint transverse striations distally. Females have two pairs of lateral body pores, large rounded sclerotized thickenings at the vulva and the vagina tapers inwards in lateral view.     

The nuclear migration signal of Xenopus laevis nucleoplasmin.

Nucleoplasmin is the most abundant protein in the nucleus of Xenopus laevis oocytes. Its ability to target to the nucleus when microinjected into the cytoplasm has been the subject of many studies central to our understanding of how proteins segregate into nuclei. Using a cDNA clone we constructed beta-galactosidase-nucleoplasmin hybrids in modified bacterial expression vectors. The fusion proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and injected into the cytoplasm of X. laevis oocytes. The distribution of the fusion proteins between the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments were analysed after incubation of various lengths of time. The results show that the signal sequence for nuclear transport is located close to the carboxy terminus of the protein. The signal sequence has been mapped to a small stretch of amino acids, containing a stretch of four lysines analogous to the SV40 large-T antigen signal.     

Chemical, immunological and biological properties of peptides like vasoactive-intestinal-peptide and peptide-histidine-isoleucinamide extracted from the venom of two lizards (Heloderma horridum and Heloderma suspectum)

Having previously isolated helodermin, the major peptide like vasoactive-intestinal-peptide and peptide-histidine-isoleucinamide, from the venom of the lizard Heloderma suspectum, we decided on a systematic exploration of all (VIP-PHI)-like peptides present in the venom of another lizard of the Helodermatidae family: Heloderma horridum. Six (VIP-PHI)-like peptides (PHH1 to 6) were purified to homogeneity from the venom of the lizard H. horridum with PHH3 and PHH4 representing two minor forms. All peptides cross-reacted in radioimmunoassays for helodermin and PHI but not for VIP. They yielded four fragments (T1 to T4) after trypsin digestion. T1, T2 and T3 showed the same retention time by reverse-phase HPLC and the same amino acid composition; the differences were confined to T4, the C-terminal sequence. PHH5 and PHH6 were found to be identical to synthetic helospectins I and II respectively. PHH1 and PHH3 probably resulted from a secondary modification of PHH5, while PHH2 and PHH4 derived from PHH6. Thus, the VIP-like peptides, previously called helospectins, are in fact typical of H. horridum venom. We confirmed that helodermin is the major (VIP-PHI)-like peptide of the venom of H. suspectum and observed its absence in H. horridum venom. Also, we found that positions 8 and 9 of helodermin are occupied by two Glu residues instead of two Gln as previously published. Helospectin-like material was also present in H. suspectum venom but in very small amount. In both venoms all VIP-like peptides were equally potent and efficient when tested for (a) their ability to occupy VIP as well as secretin receptors in rat pancreatic membranes and VIP receptors in rat liver membranes, and (b) the ensuing activation of adenylate cyclase in both membrane preparations.     

Ultrastructural features of gametogenesis during the life cycle in Branchiura sowerbyi Beddard (Oligochaeta,Tubificidae)

An ultrastructural analysis of the gametogenetic phases in Branchiura sowerbyi, a tubificid oligochaete, has been accomplished. These phases mostly conform to the usual pattern for the family, however, some interesting peculiarities are pointed out. The regression of sexual apparatus after reproductive period and its regeneration up to a new period of sexual maturity, has been followed throughout the year.     

Contributions to the knowledge of African rotifers: Rotifers from Mauritania (W.-Africa)

The number of Rotifer taxa known from Mauritania, is raised from 8 to 90. 61% of these are cosmopolitan, 1 is temperate — boreal, 18% are thermophilic and 20% are tropicopolitan. Most of them are widely distributed in Africa, but some species have limited distributions. The presence of Keratella testudo and Wolga spinifera is remarkable and is probably related to the unusual climatic conditions in the SW Sahara. One phenotype or forma is new to science.     

Malic enzyme from archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus. Purification, structure, and kinetic properties

An NADP-preferring malic enzyme ((S)-malate:NADP oxidoreductase (oxalacetate-decarboxylating) EC 1.1.1.40) with a specific activity of 36.6 units per mg of protein at 60 degrees C and an isoelectric point of 5.1 was purified to homogeneity from the thermoacidophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus, strain MT-4. The purification procedure employed ion exchange chromatography, ammonium sulfate fractionation, affinity chromatography, and gel filtration. Molecular weight determinations demonstrated that the enzyme was a dimer of Mr 105,000 +/- 2,000 with apparently identical Mr 49,000 +/- 1,500 subunits. Amino acid composition of S. solfataricus enzyme was determined and found to be significantly higher in tryptophan content than the malic enzyme from Escherichia coli. In addition to the NAD(P)-dependent oxidative decarboxylation of L-malate, S. solfataricus malic enzyme was able to catalyze the decarboxylation of oxalacetate. The enzyme absolutely required divalent metal cations and it displayed maximal activity at 85 degrees C and pH 8.0 with a turnover number of 376 s-1. The enzyme showed classical saturation kinetics and no sigmoidicity was detected at different pH values and temperatures. At 60 degrees C and in the presence of 0.1 mM MnCl2, the Michaelis constants for malate, NADP, and NAD were 18, 3, and 250 microM, respectively. The S. solfataricus malic enzyme was shown to be very thermostable.     

Interaction of epidermal growth factor with micelles monitored by photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization-1H NMR spectroscopy

Photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP)-1H-NMR spectroscopy has been used to study the interaction of the protein hormone epidermal growth factor (EGF) with micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and dodecylphosphorylcholine (DPC). Conventional 1H-NMR spectra show that most protein resonances remain unperturbed when micelles are added to solution, which argues that the overall protein conformation is maintained in the presence of SDS or DPC at the concentrations used. Photo-CIDNP enhancements of resonances assigned to aromatic side chains of residues at the COOH terminus and beta-sheet regions of murine EGF (i.e. Trp-49, Trp-50, and Tyr-37) are considerably reduced in the presence of micelles, while resonances of aromatic side chains of residues found elsewhere on the protein surface are mostly unaffected. This suggests that the primary interaction between murine EGF and the micelle occurs at the micelle-bulk solvent interface. The overall negatively charged surface of SDS micelles tends to induce a stronger interaction with the protein compared to the zwitterionic DPC micelles, probably due to electrostatic interactions. Cleavage of the COOH-terminal pentapeptide containing both tryptophan residues enhances the already present, but weak, interaction with Tyr-10 and attenuates it with Tyr-37. A similar interaction pattern is found with rat EGF suggesting that at least concerning these two species of EGF the interaction is somewhat specific and conserved. A simple mass-action model for protein-micelle interaction is also presented.