Protamines in plant sperm

Sperm protamines have been isolated from representatives of three major plant groups: algae (Chara corallina ), bryophytes ( Marchantia polymorpha), and ferns ( Marsilea vestitia ). We previously reported the complete displacement of histones by protamines in Marchantia (Reynolds W F & Wolfe, S L, Exp cell res 116 (1978) 269 [8] ). Marchantia protamines appear as four components on acid-urea gels, whereas Chara and Marsilea protamines comigrate as a single band with a mobility comparable to salmon protamine. The amino acid compositions of the plant protamines show these to be arginine-rich, highly basic (35-42%) proteins which display overall similarity in amino acid composition (84-91%). The molecular weights of Chara and Marsilea protamines are approx. 4700-5300 D.     

Incorporation of [14C]cinnamate into hydrolase-resistant components of the primary cell wall of spinach

[¹⁴C]Cinnamate was taken up very rapidly by cultured spinach cells and completely incorporated into low-MW conjugates within 20 min. The ¹⁴C-labelled products were similar whether the [¹⁴C]cinnamate was supplied continuously over a period of hours via a peristaltic pump or instantaneously. Radioactivity was slowly recruited from the low-MW pool into aromatic components of the cell-wall fraction. Saponification of the radioactive wall fraction yielded, in addition to radioactive ferulate and p-coumarate, large amounts of ethyl acetate-soluble radioactive material with the properties of oxidatively coupled phenols. The coupled material was associated with the most highly ‘Driselase’-resistant fractions of the cell wall. In contrast, ‘Driselase’ released most of the wall's ferulate and p-coumarate on disaccharide fragments. It is suggested that the oxidatively coupled phenols are formed from simpler phenols by peroxidase and that they cross-link the polysaccharides to which they are attached, making these polysaccharides relatively ‘Driselase’-resistant.     

Phonotaxis in the painted reed frog (Hyperolius marmoratus)

Summary A detailed study was conducted of the three-dimensional accuracy of phonotaxis by femaleHyperolius marmoratus. This analysis involved videotape recordings of phonotactic approaches to an elevated loudspeaker through a three-dimensional grid. Females readily resolved the sound source elevation, but the jump error angles describing the precision of approach were considerably greater in this three-dimensional analysis than in the more conventional two-dimensional ground approach analysis. Extensive use was made of visual cues in elevated phonotactic approach and lateral head scanning prior to jumps, often accompanied by vertical changes in head orientation, was frequent. The ability of such small anurans to localize a sound source in both the horizontal and vertical plane is remarkable.On leave from the Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA     

Effects of testosterone on messenger ribonucleic acid and protein synthesis in rat seminal vesicle

In a previous report [Higgins et al. (1976) Biochem. J. 158, 271–282] we described the effects of alterations in androgen status on the synthesis of two basic secretory proteins of the rat seminal vesicle. In the present paper we examine the effects of testosterone on the activity of mRNA in the seminal vesicle. Total cellular poly(A)-rich RNA was isolated and translated in a cell-free system prepared from wheat germ. Translation products were separated on denaturing polyacrylamide gels and the protein bands corresponding to the two basic secretory proteins were identified immunologically. Incorporation of radioactive methionine into these bands was taken as a measure of the individual mRNA activities. Total mRNA activity was estimated by radioactivity in total acid-precipitable material. The results show that 1 to 2 weeks after castration the activities of mRNA molecules for the basic secretory proteins were decreased 10–20-fold on a tissue basis. Testosterone given in vivo rapidly and substantially restores mRNA activity to normal. Since these changes correlate closely with variations in the rates of synthesis of the secretory proteins in whole cells it suggests that androgenic steroids control protein synthesis chiefly via mRNA availability. In this respect their action resembles those of other steroid hormones acting in other systems. However, these effects of testosterone on the mRNA molecules for the major secretory proteins could not be distinguished from those on total mRNA. Thus the proportion of the total mRNA population accounted for by the two specific mRNA molecules showed less than a 2-fold variation with androgen status. Similarly the two secretory proteins always accounted for 25–33% of general protein synthesis. This is in sharp contrast with the markedly differential effects of other steroid hormones controlling synthesis of major proteins in other well-studied systems. We interpret our results as indicating that testosterone regulates the mRNA population of the seminal vesicle as a whole.     

Foundations of the use of an enzyme-kinetic analogy in cell-mediated cytotoxicity

A mathematical model of the ⁵¹Cr-release microcytotoxicity assay is utilized to find conditions under which the kinetics of this assay resemble the kinetics of a classical enzyme-substrate reaction. Assuming a steady-state approximation, that “bystander” effector cells do not bind markedly better than the cytotoxic effector cells, and that the programming of the target cells for lysis is irreversible, it is shown that the velocity of label release is v = v_maxT_T/(K_{$\text{1}\text{2}$}+T_T), where both V_max and K_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} are linear functions of the effector-cell population and T_T is the initial target-cell population. Moreover, the expressions for K_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} and V_max are expressed in terms of natural kinetic parameters of the process and attributes of the noncytotoxic bystanders.     

Susceptibility of Legionella pneumophila to Ultraviolet Radiation

Distilled water suspensions of Legionella pneumophila were found to be sensitive to low doses of germicidal ultraviolet radiation.     

A spectroscopic study of metal ion and ligand binding to β-lactamase II

β-Lactamase II has two metal-binding sites. The electronic spectra of Cd(II)- and Co(II)-substituted β-lactamase II have been investigated. It is suggested that a thiol ligand is involved in metal binding at the first site. The stoichiometric dissociation constants for Co(II) binding to β-lactamase II were estimated to be 0.13 and 2.66 mM (pH 6.0, 4°C, 1 M NaCl) by equilibrium dialysis. Competition between Zn(II) and Co(II) for the first metal binding site suggests a value of 0.7 μM (pH 6.0, 30°C, 1 M NaCl) for the dissociation constant o Zn(II).The electronic spectra of the Co(II) enzyme lead to the suggestion that the coordination geometries around the metal ions in the first and second sites are related to those of a distorted tetrahedron and octahedron, respectively.     

The influence of zooplankton food resources on the morphology of the estuarine clupeid Gilchristella aestuarius (Gilchrist, 1914)

Synopsis The body shape of the estuarine clupeidGilchristella aestuarius from the St. Lucia system is different from that of the same species in other estuaries. The morphology ofG. aestuarius is discussed in relation to long term food availability in the St. Lucia system.     

The stylet apparatus of the nemertean Paranemertes Peregrina: Its ultrastructure and role in prey capture

Summary The nemertean Paranemertes peregrina captures prey by using an eversible proboscis that is armed with a stylet apparatus. The apparatus consists of several reserve stylet sacs and a central stylet that is attached to a granular mass, called the basis. When the proboscis is everted, the central stylet is used to stab prey such as nereid polychaetes, and paralytic neurotoxins, produced in the proboscis, are inserted in the stylet-induced wounds. The central stylet averages 85 m in length and has helically-arranged grooves along its shaft. The proximal piece of the central stylet is anchored to the basis, apparently by adhesive granules in the anterior end of the basis. A basis sheath surrounds the basis and is continuous posteriorly with a duct, called the ductus ejaculatorius. Secretions in the ductus ejaculatorius may contain some of the toxin that is used to immobilize the prey. The contents of the duct are probably injected into the prey by way of the grooves on the central stylet. In the region anterior to the central stylet, there are numerous glandular cells and anchor cells that are believed to attach the stylet apparatus to the prey during attack. Each reserve stylet sac is lined by a simple epithelium. One of the epithelial cells, called the styletocyte, is greatly enlarged and fills the lumen of the sac. Several reserve stylets are assembled in a styletocyte. Each reserve stylet is formed within a membrane-bound vacuole associated with the Golgi apparatus and is composed of an inner organic core surrounded by an inorganic cortex. A duct connects each reserve stylet sac with the area around the central stylet and provides a pathway for the transfer of reserve stylets during replacement of the central stylet.