Structure of the central spacer region of extrachromosomal ribosomal DNA in Physarum polycephalum

We have analyzed the sequence organization of the central spacer region of the extrachromosomal ribosomal DNA from two strains of the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum. It had been inferred previously from electron microscopy that this region, which comprises about one third of the 60 kb³ palindromic rDNA, contains a complex series of inverted repetitious sequences. By partial digestion of end-labeled fragments isolated from purified rDNA and from rDNA fragments cloned in Escherichia coli, we have constructed a detailed restriction map of this region. The 11 kb of spacer DNA of each half molecule of rDNA contains the following elements: (a) two separate regions, one of 1.1 kb and one of 2.1 kb, composed of many direct repeats of the same 30 base-pair unit; (b) a region of 4.4 kb composed of a complex series of inverted repeats of a 310 base-pair unit; (c) another region of 1.6 kb composed of inverted repeats of the same 310 base-pair unit located directly adjacent to the center of the rDNA; (d) two copies of a unique sequence of 0.85 kb, which probably contains a replication origin. Some of the CpG sequences in the spacer resist cleavage by certain restriction endonucleases and thus appear to be methylated. The lack of perfect symmetry about the central axis and the arrangement of inverted repeated sequences explain the complex pattern of branches and forks of the fold-back molecules previously observed by electron microscopy. Comparison of the rDNA restriction maps from the two strains of Physarum suggests that the repeat units in the spacer are undergoing concerted evolution. We propose a model to explain the evolutionary origin of the several palindromic axes in the Physarum rDNA spacer.     

Zur sozialen Organisation des BienenfressersMerops apiaster

Zusammenfassung Beobachtungen zur sozialen Organisation wurden in einer Bienenfresserkolonie (16 Paare) in Nordost-Griechenland von April bis August 1979 vorgenommen:Die zeitliche Abstimmung der Brutaktivitäten wurde während der einzelnen Stadien des Brutzyklus ermittelt. Die Synchronisation verbesserte sich signifikant zwischen der Fertigstellung der Höhle und dem Beginn der Eiablage.Balzfütterungen und Kopulationen häufen sich wenige Tage vor der Eiablage, werden gegen Ende der Eiablage wieder seltener und treten danach nicht mehr auf.Jedes Paar verteidigt einen Abschnitt der Uferböschung, obwohl es darin nur die Höhle und wenige Sitzplätze benutzt. Territoriale Auseinandersetzungen treten vor allem zwischen angesiedelten Paaren und Neuankömmlingen auf. Obwohl die Angriffe um ein Mehrfaches häufiger von den Territoriumsbesitzern ausgehen, ziehen sich diese später aus einem Teil des Territoriums zurück, und ein neues Paar rückt nach. Diese Streitigkeiten halten nur wenige Tage an.

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On the social organization of the European Bee-eater(Merops apiaster)

Summary Several aspects of the social organization have been studied in a breeding colony (16 pairs) in North-eastern Greece from April until August 1979:Colony synchronization was measured at the beginning and at the end of nest-hole excavation, egg-laying and incubation. The degree of synchrony increased between the end of excavation and the onset of laying.The rates of courtship-feeding and copulation increased a few days before the first egg was layed and decreased again at the end of the laying period.Every pair defended a part of the river bank although it only used the burrow and one or some perches there. Territorial conflicts especially appeared between a settled and an intruding pair. Although the attacks were performed several times more frequently by the territory owners, that pair withdrew from a part of its territory and the other moved up. These territorial conflicts only lasted a few days.

     

The murine bone marrow macrophage,a sensitive indicator cell for murine migration inhibitory factor and a new method for their harvest

Murine bone marrow macrophages grown on Teflon-coated petri dishes for a period of 8–16 days can be removed with a yield of 90–95% and a viability greater than 95% following incubation in 1 mM EDTA. Bone marrow cells cultured on Teflon-coated dishes did not differ in their replication rate, peroxidase and nonspecific esterase content, pinocytosis, secretion of lysozyme and neutral proteinases from bone marrow cells cultured on plastic dishes. Murine bone marrow macrophages were found to be sensitive indicator cells for mouse migration inhibitory factor (MIF). Large numbers of cells for the MIF assay can be obtained, since their yield is 10–15 times higher than the yield of oil-induced peritoneal exudate macrophages from the same number of mice.     

Dynorphin-Related Opioid Peptides in the Neurointermediate Pituitary of Rats Are Not α-N-Acetylated

Immunoreactive dynorphin in the neurointermediate pituitary of rats was found to consist of four different molecular weight forms. The three larger molecular weight forms, with apparent molecular weights of 4800, 3200, and 1700, constituted more than 80% of the total dynorphin immunoreactivity, and each liberated leucine-enkephalin but not alpha-N-acetyl-leucine-enkephalin upon enzymatic treatment with trypsin followed by carboxypeptidase B. Only a minor portion of the smallest dynorphin-related molecular weight form, dynorphin-(1-8), released alpha-N-acetyl-leucine-enkephalin upon enzymatic cleavage. This suggests that the vast majority of dynorphin-related peptides in the rat neurointermediate pituitary is not alpha-N-acetylated. The exceptionally high opiate-like activity of the molecular weight 1700 dynorphin suggests that this dynorphin-related opioid peptide may constitute the major part of opioid activity in the neurointermediate pituitary of rats.     

Patterns of variation in desiccation resistance in a set of recombinant inbred lines in Drosophila melanogaster

Desiccation, resulting from extremely dry environmental conditions, is a serious obstacle to the survival of organisms. Water is vital for the maintenance of intracellular structure and prevents the irreversible formation of aggregates, an occurrence leading to loss of cellular function. To characterize genetic variation in desiccation stress resistance (DSR) in Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, an intercontinental set of recombinant inbred lines (RIL) is used. Flies are exposed to a low humidity environment (<10% relative humidity) at a constant temperature of 25 °C. Desiccation stress resistance is higher in RIL derived from a backcross to the parental stock sensitive to heat stress (from Denmark) than in RIL derived from the reciprocal backcross to the heat‐stress resistant stock (from Australia). Composite interval mapping reveals significant quantitative trail loci (QTL) for DSR in the set of RIL. Both major and minor effects QTL are detected, suggesting a complex genetic architecture. When compared with a previous investigation performed on the same set of RIL, the present study indicates that not all traits of resistance to environmental stressors are affected in the same direction by segregating co‐localized QTL.     

The Internal Organization of Mycobacterial Partition Assembly: Does the DNA Wrap a Protein Core?

Before cell division in many bacteria, the ParBs spread on a large segment of DNA encompassing the origin-proximal parS site(s) to form the partition assembly that participates in chromosome segregation. Little is known about the structural organization of chromosomal partition assembly. We report solution X-ray and neutron scattering data characterizing the size parameters and internal organization of a nucleoprotein assembly formed by the mycobacterial chromosomal ParB and a 120-meric DNA containing a parS-encompassing region from the mycobacterial genome. The cross-sectional radii of gyration and linear mass density describing the rod-like ParB-DNA assembly were determined from solution scattering. A “DNA outside, protein inside” mode of partition assembly organization consistent with the neutron scattering hydrogen/deuterium contrast variation data is discussed. In this organization, the high scattering DNA is positioned towards the outer region of the partition assembly. The new results presented here provide a basis for understanding how ParBs organize the parS-proximal chromosome, thus setting the stage for further interactions with the DNA condensins, the origin tethering factors and the ParA.