The in vitro synthesis and characteristics of ribosomal RNA in imaginal discs of Drosophila melanogaster

Summary Late third instar imaginal discs of Drosophila melanogaster cultured in vitro in Robb's tissue culture medium synthesize 38S, 28S and 18S ribosomal RNAs which are qualitatively indistinguishable from their in vivo synthesized counterparts (Fig. 1). As found in other insect systems, the 38S molecule appears to be the precursor for both the 28S and 18S rRNAs (Figs. 2, 3 and 4). The 28S rRNA and a portion of the 38S pre-rRNA shift in sedimentation value upon exposure to heat or dimethylsulfoxide (Figs. 5 and 8). Studies of the thermal denaturations of these molecules (Figs. 6, 7 and 9) indicate the existence of a single class of 28S rRNA, but three classes of 38S pre-rRNAs. The addition of -ecdysone to the in vitro culture medium stimulates the net amount of rRNA synthesized, increases the rate of processing of the 38S precursor and increases the relative amount of 18S material produced (Figs. 10 and 12).This work was supported in part by grants from the National Science Foundation (GB-8176) and from the Atomic Energy Commission (AT-04-3-34).Predoctoral Trainees, PHS Training Grant No. 2-Tl-GM367 from Research Training Grants Branch, National Institute of General Medical Sciences.1 For purposes of simplification we shall refer to the rRNA molecules of D. melanogaster as being 38S, 30S, 28S and 18S; however, it should be noted that these values are approximate (see Hastings and Kirby, 1966; Greenberg, 1969; Tartof and Perry, 1970).     

Physiological studies on nitrogen-fixing blue-green algae

Summary The various types of blue-green algae known to fix nitrogen are considered. Particular attention has been paid to the effects of oxygen and other physiological parameters on nitrogenase activity and on the ecological distribution of the group. Data on nitrogen fixation by cell-free extracts of blue-green algae are presented.     

Androgen dynamics in vitro in the normal and hyperplastic human prostate gland

The dynamics of uptake and metabolism in vitro of androgens by normal and hyperplastic human prostate glands was studied by means of a new experimental design proposed by Gurpide & Welch (1969). Prostate slices were perfused with a medium containing [(3)H]testosterone and [(14)C]androstenedione, or 5alpha-dihydro-[(3)H]testosterone and [(14)C]testosterone. The entry into the slices, the irreversible metabolism, the conversion between the compounds and the tissue retention or ;uptake' of the steroids were measured at the steady state. A similar portion of the three androgens entered the tissue and was irreversibly metabolized. Conversion of testosterone into 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone was much greater than the interconversion of testosterone and androstenedione. The prostate slices retained 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone at a concentration three times that in the medium, whereas testosterone and androstenedione were retained to a smaller extent. At a steroid concentration of 0.11mumol/l in the medium, the various parameters did not differ significantly in experiments performed with slices from normal and hyperplastic glands. When the steroid concentration in the medium was increased tenfold, however, a difference between normal and hyperplastic glands was evident. The normal glands increased the uptake and metabolism proportionally to the elevation of the steroid concentration in the medium. In the hyperplastic glands the entry and metabolism lagged behind the increase in steroid supply, whereas the tissue uptake became disproportionately high. The possible causes of this finding are discussed.     

Hydrolysis of bradykinin and its higher homologues by angiotensin-converting enzyme (Short Communication)

The hydrolysis of bradykinin and its higher homologues by angiotensin-converting enzyme has been investigated by using an automated ninhydrin technique. The results show an inverse relationship of hydrolysis rate with size and charge of the peptide, which parallels the inactivation in the pulmonary circulation and offers an explanation for the selectivity of metabolism of these kinins by the lungs.     

Chilling injury and changes in adenosine triphosphate of cotton seedlings

Young Gossypium hirsutum L. seedlings chilled at 5° showed a continual decrease in ATP concentration with time of chilling. Chilled plants returned to optimum conditions were able to restore the initial ATP concentration when chilled only 1 day, but not when chilled 2 days. The decrease in ATP with chilling was prevented by hardening the seedlings at 15° for 2 days (14-hr-day-length) immediately before chilling. The ATP level of hardened plants was higher than of unhardened plants. When hardened plants were chilled at 5°, the ATP level increased in the leaves but decreased in the roots.