DNA sequence homology between attB-related sites of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Corynebacterium ulcerans, Corynebacterium glutamicum, and the attP side of γ-Cornephage

Chromosomal restriction fragments of Corynebacterium ulcerans and C. diphtheriae, containing an integration site for corynephages of the beta family, show homology on Southern blots. Homologous DNA in also found in the soil isolate C. glutamicum, although this strain is not susceptible to beta-corynephages. Three of these DNA fragments, one for each bacterial strain, and a fragment of gamma-corynephage DNA previously shown to contain the phage integration site, were cloned and sequenced. Alignment of the 3 bacterial sequences shows a very high degree of homology in a stretch of ca 120 nucleotides, whereas the rest of the sequences is generally non-homologous. Within this common bacterial portion, a segment of ca. 96 nucleotides (core sequence) is also highly homologous to the phage sequence. The first half (ca. 50 bp) of the core sequence is identical in all aligned sequences whereas the second half, which is largely occupied by a stem-and-loop structure, contains point mutations peculiar to each clone. The described sequences are likely to be involved in phage integration/excision processes.     

A phylogenetic analysis and revised classification of the Monocotylidae Taschenberg, 1879 (Monogenea)

The Monocotylidae Taschenberg, 1879 is revised based on a cladistic analysis of relationships between the constituent species and genera. The monophyly of the family is supported by three apomorphic character states: division of the haptor into one central and eight peripheral loculi; the ovary looping the right intestinal caecum; and tetrahedral eggs. The family is divided into six subfamilies: Calicotylinae Monticelli, 1903 (comprising Calicotyle Diesing, 1850, Dictyocotyle Nybelin, 1941); Dasybatotreminae Bychowsky, 1957 (comprising Anoplocotyloides Young, 1967, Dasybatotrema Price, 1938, Timofeevia n. g., Troglocephalus Young, 1967); Decacotylinae n. subfam. (comprising Decacotyle Young, 1967, Papillicotyle Young, 1967); Heterocotylinae n. subfam. (comprising Heterocotyle Scott, 1904, Neoheterocotyle Hargis, 1955, Nonacotyle Ogawa, 1991, Potamotrygonocotyle Mayes, Brooks & Thorson, 1981, Spinuris Doran, 1953); Merizocotylinae Johnston & Tiegs, 1922 (comprising Cathariotrema Johnston & Tiegs, 1922, Empruthotrema Johnston & Tiegs, 1922, Merizocotyle Cerfontaine, 1894, Squalotrema Kearn & Green, 1983, Triloculotrema Kearn, 1993); and Monocotylinae Taschenberg, 1879 (comprising Clemacotyle Young, 1967, Dendromonocotyle Hargis, 1955, Monocotyle Taschenberg, 1878). The Dendromonocotylinae Hargis, 1955 is removed from subfamilial status and the two genera previously assigned to the subfamily are reassigned to the Monocotylinae. Timofeevia is proposed for Timofeevia rajae (Timofeeva, 1983) n. comb. (formerly Dasybatotrema rajae). Mycteronastes Kearn & Beverley-Burton, 1990 and Thaumatocotyle Scott, 1904 are synonymised with Merizocotyle. Gymnocalicotyle Nybelin, 1941 is not considered a distinct taxon. Revised diagnoses and keys for subfamilies and genera of the Monocotylidae are provided.     

Ethylene production by axenic fruiting cultures of Agaricus bisporus

Axenic cultures of Agaricus bisporus were used to show that the rise in ethylene production during fruiting derives from its own metabolism.     

The roles of c-type cytochromes in algal photosynthesis. Extraction from algae of a cytochrome similar to higher plant cytochrome f.

A membrane-bound cytochrome resembling higher plant cytochrome f in many respects has been extracted from the algae Chlamydomonas. Euglena and Anacystis, and partially purified. The spectra of the cytochromes from Chlamydomonas and Euglena are virtually identical to that of parsley cytochrome f, with alpha-band maxima near 554 nm, very asymmetrical beta-bands, and gamma-band maxima at 421 nm. The cytochrome from Anacystis had alpha and gamma-bands both shifted to slightly longer wavelengths. The redox potential of the cytochrome from Chlamydomonas was determined as +350 mV, and its minimum molecular weight in sodium dodecyl sulphate as 31 000. The cytochrome from Euglena showed a rate of reaction with higher plant plastocyanin at least 100 times that of the soluble Euglena cytochrome c-552, and was unaffected by Euglena cytochrome c-552 antiserum. A very fast rate of electron transfer occurred between this cytochrome purified from Euglena and cytochrome c-552. The roles of the membrane-bound and soluble c-type cytochromes in algal photosynthesis are discussed, and it is recommended that the name cytochrome f should be reserved for the membrane-bound cytochrome (to emphasize its affinity with higher plant cytochrome f), while the soluble one should be named by its alpha-band (c-552, c-553, etc.) to make clear its distinctness from higher plant cytochrome f and homology with mitochondrial cytochrome c.