Protein Components of Bacteriophages λ and λ Virulent

Parallel studies have been made of the protein coats of the temperate bacteriophage λ and of a deletion mutant, λ virulent. A new method for preparing ghosts of both phages by the action of Cu⁺⁺ is described. Protein ghosts of both phages can be dissolved in citrate at pH values below 3, more rapidly in the presence of 8 m urea. Both phages yielded three apparently identical protein components which can be separated by thin-layer gel filtration and thin-layer gel electrophoresis. The protein of molecular weight 47,000 ± 1,500 represents about 55% of the protein of the ghosts and is therefore likely to be the subunit of the head. The other proteins of molecular weight 30,000 ± 1,500 and 16,000 ± 1,500 represent approximately 25% and 20% of the protein, respectively. Amino acid analyses of the ghosts from the two phages have been carried out and show no significant differences. The buoyant density of phage λ virulent is 0.016 g/ml less than that of λ. Since no differences have been found in the protein components of the two phages, this indicates that the virulent mutant contains approximately 16% less deoxyribonucleic acid than the temperate phage.     

The influence of ovarian hormones on the rat oviductal and uterine concentration of noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine

This paper describes the effects of estradiol and progesterone on the concenirations of noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine in the Wistar rat oviduct and uterus. The levels of noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine are higher in the oviduct than in the uterus whereas p-tyrosine and tryptophan are similar in both tissues. Estradiol treatment reduced the oviductal concentration of noradrenaline but not 5-hydroxytryptamine in oviduct, while the concentrations of both noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine were reduced in uterine horn. The levels of noradrenaline in the oviduct and uterus in rats in estrus were lower than those of diestrous rats. Bilateral ovariectomy produced an increase in uterine noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels. These changes were reversed in the presence of ovarian hormones as indicated by experiments where unilateral ovariectomy was performed. Reserpine administration reduced noradrenaline concentration in both the oviduct and the uterus but did not change oviductal or uterine 5-hydroxytryptamine.These results indicate the existence of noradrenaline within postganglionic sympathetic nerve terminals and suggest that estrogens increase the utilization and the synthesis of noradrenaline in both the oviducts and the uterine horns. With respect to 5-hydroxytryptamine the data support the concept that it is mainly associated with mast cells.     

Duck hepatitis B virus can tolerate insertion, deletion, and partial frameshift mutation in the distal pre-S region.

In-frame and frameshift mutations were introduced into the pre-S region (1,212 base pairs) of duck hepatitis B virus. The in-frame mutants retained the inserted 12 nucleotides, while the frameshift mutants either reverted to wild type or exhibited a 10-nucleotide compensatory deletion downstream of the original mutation site. Thus, although duck hepatitis B virus has a compact and highly economical genome organization, it can replicate despite alterations of up to 9 amino acid codons in the pre-S and P open reading frames.     

Cloning of two adult hamster globin cDNAs (alpha and beta major).

A cDNA library was prepared from poly(A) mRNA extracted from adult anemic hamster spleen erythroid cells. cDNA clones containing inserts coding for adult alpha and beta major globin chains were isolated. Their identity was confirmed by (a) translation of hybrid selected mRNA and (b) nucleotide sequence analysis of the inserts and comparison to the adult globin cDNAs of mouse, rabbit and human. Availability of sequences for embryonic (Li et al. (1992) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1130, 218-220) and adult globin cDNAs (this report) will aid in investigations of the molecular mechanisms involved in the globin ontogeny of hamsters.     

黑龙江桔梗科叶表皮研究

本文对分布在黑龙江省的桔梗料(Campanulaceae)植物叶表皮进行了光学显微镜和扫描电镜方面的观察。发现桔梗科植物的气孔复合体是不规则型的;毛状体是单细胞的,其表面的角质纹饰因类群而异;表皮角质纹饰可用于某些种间的鉴别。     

Ⅱ型限制性核酸内切酶NcrⅠ的研究

 在肉色诺卡氏菌C-212株Nocardia carnea C-212中筛选到一种Ⅱ型限制性核酸内切酶NcrⅠ,经与BglⅡ的λDNA降解物的酶谱比较,以及酶识别特异性和切割位点的检测,证明了NcrⅠ是已知的限制酶BglⅡ的同切限制酶,而且其切割位点也与BglⅡ相同,其为: