Chemical activity and biological effect of sludge-borne heavy metals and inorganic metal salts added to soils

Summary A greenhouse experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the chemical activity and the uptake by Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. S24) of Zn, Cu, Cd and Ni added to a sandy and a heavy clay soil in two different forms: as inorganic salts and sludge-borne.The chemical activity of heavy metals as evaluated with different extractants was higher for the inorganic salt treatment and for the sandy soil, indicating that the chemical form of the metal and soil characteristics largely affect their extractability.The different chemical activity was also reflected in plant uptake. For all metals the degree of plant accumulation decreased in the following order: sandy soil-salt sandy soil-sludge> clay soil-salt>clay soil-sludge.These findings indicate that caution must be used when using results of inorganic salt treatments and different soil types to evaluate plant uptake of heavy metals from sludge amended soils.     

Human genes for glutathione S-transferases

The tissue distribution of different glutathione S-transferases (GST) is analysed by electrophoresis. The existence of GST"e" (erythrocyte), GST3, GST1, and GST2 is confirmed. GST"e" the fastest and most thermolabile of different GST analysed is observed only in erythrocyte cells. GST3 which migrates more slowly than GST"e" is present in all tissues and cells analysed, excepted for erythrocyte cells in which only GST"e" is observed. GST1 presents a polymorphism with four phenotypes, 1, 1/2, 2, and 0 controlled by three alleles 1, 2, and 0 (null). With the sample of 56 livers analysed the different frequencies obtained are 9%, 5%, 43%, 43% for the phenotypes 1, 1/2, 2, and 0 respectively and 0.074 (p), 0.279 (q), 0.647 (r) for the alleles, 1, 2, and 0 (null). GST2 presents variant patterns due probably, in the majority of cases, to post-synthetic modifications rather than allelic variation. Two new GST are described, GST4 and GST5. GST4 abundant in muscle tissue is a dimeric protein. GST4 forms with GST1 a heterodimeric band. GST5 is observed in brain homogenates. For the chromosome localization the results obtained by man (leucocytes)-mouse somatic cell hybrid analysis indicate that the gene for leucocytes GST is on chromosome 11. This gene is the structural GST3 gene.     

Inactivation pattern of the fragile X in heterozygous carriers

Summary Chromosome analysis with conventional staining, G-banding, and R-banding with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation were performed on the lymphocytes of ten females, who were heterozygous for the fragile X-chromosome. Mental development of these females varied greatly: moderate to severe mental retardation was found in one and moderate mental retardation in four females. Normal to borderline intelligence was found in three and normal intelligence was noted in two further females. The discrepancy in percentage of active fragile X-chromosomes in the five females with moderate mental retardation was found to be 60–100% (mean value: 80%). The three women with normal to borderline intelligence showed a corresponding discrepancy from 57 to 86% (mean value: 77%) of active fragile X-chromosomes. Finally, two female heterozygotes for fragile X with normal intelligence showed 70 and 76% (mean value 73%) of active fragile X-chromosomes. The phenotypic features also did not seem to correspond with the X-chromosome inactivation pattern. Based on the data obtained, we suggest that there is no evident correlation between the frequency of the active fragile X chromosomes and the mental status of these females.     

The sequence of the gene for cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, a frameshift containing gene for cytochrome c oxidase subunit II and seven unassigned reading frames in Trypanosoma brucei mitochrondrial maxi-circle DNA.

A 9.2 kb segment of the maxi-circle of Trypanosoma brucei mitochondrial DNA contains the genes for cytochrome c oxidase subunits I and II (coxI and coxII) and seven Unassigned Reading Frames ("URFs"). The genes for coxI and coxII display considerable homology at the aminoacid level (38 and 25%, respectively) to the corresponding genes in fungal and mammalian mtDNA, the only striking point of divergence being an unusually high cysteine content (about 4.5%). The reading frame coding for cytochrome c oxidase subunit II is discontinuous: the C-terminal portion of about 40 aminoacids, is present in the DNA-sequence in a -1 reading frame with respect to the N-terminal moiety. URF5, 8 and 10, show a low but distinct homology (about 20%) to mammalian mitochondrial URF-1, 4 and 5, respectively. In URF5, the first AUG is found at codon 145, whereas extensive homology to mammalian URF-1 sequences occurs upstream of this position. The possibility exists that UUG can serve as an initiator codon. URF7 and URF9 have a highly unusual aminoacid composition and do not possess AUG or UUG initiator codons. These URFs probably do not have a protein-coding function. The segment does not contain conventional tRNA genes.     

Assignment of the gene for uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase to human chromosome 1 by somatic cell hybridization and specific enzyme immunoassay

Summary A specific enzyme immunoassay of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase was developed and applied to the detection of the human enzyme in man-rodent somatic cell hybrids. This method allowed to assign the gene for uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase to human chromosome 1.     

Chromosome studies in 496 infertile males with a sperm count below 10 million/ml

Summary Chromosome studies were performed on 106 men with azoospermia and 390 men with oligozoospermia (consistant sperm count below 10 million/ml). Constitutional chromosome abnormalities were found in 14.1% of the azoospermia group and in 5.1% of the oligozoospermia group. An overall incidence of 7.1% constitutional abnormalities indicates that this criterion of selection may be advisable for routine chromosome analysis of infertile men. A reduction of 25% in the workload increases the yield of chromosome abnormalities in the group of infertile men to 10–14 times above that expected in the normal population.     

Effect of the Compound CGA 78039 and Streptomycin on the Expression of Bacterial Stem Rot in Dieffenbachia

Bacterial stem rot, due to Erwinia chrysanthemi , is a serious problem in ornamental crop protection, e.g. in Dieffenbachia . It was our aim to compare the effect of the synthetic compound CGA 78039 and streptomycin sulphate on the suppression of stem rot disease in Dieffenbachia . Different treatments were applied under natural and artificial infection pressures. Pretreatment of the mother plants with CGA 78039, followed by dipping of the cuttings overnight in the same solution before potting and five subsequent weekly foliar sprays during growth reduced the expression of stem rot in Dieffenbachia significantly.     

Peptide YY (PYY) immunoreactivity is co-stored with glucagon-related immunoreactants in endocrine cells of the gut and pancreas

Summary In this study we report the localisation of PYY immunoreactivity in intestinal mucosa endocrine (EG) cells containing glucagon-related peptides and also in foetal pancreatic A cells of rat and man. Radioimmunoassay of human foetal pancreatic extracts revealed the presence of PYY immunoreactivity, the concentration of which declined with age (from 65.42 pmol/g at week 20 to 17.0 pmol at week 40; correlation coefficient=–0.893), in contrast to the amount of glucagon which remained statistically constant throughout the same foctal period. The identity of this PYY immunoreactive material with the original 36 amino acid porcine peptide has been shown by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).     

Induction of ovulation with pulsatile luteinising hormone releasing hormone.

Ovulation was successfully induced with luteinising hormone releasing hormone in 28 women with hypothalamic amenorrhoea who had failed to respond to treatment with clomiphene. Luteinising hormone releasing hormone was administered in a pulsatile manner with miniaturised automatic infusion systems. The rate of ovarian follicular maturation, as monitored by serial pelvic ultrasonography, was similar to that observed in spontaneous cycles. Endocrine assessment by serial measurement of gonadotrophin, oestradiol, and progesterone concentrations showed hormone concentrations to be within the normal range. Intravenous treatment was required in only two patients, the remainder responding satisfactorily to subcutaneous infusion. All patients conceived within six cycles of treatment, and only one multiple pregnancy occurred.