Bluetongue virus-17 fusion protein ns1 expressed in Escherichia coli by pUC vectors

The cDNA coding for the major nonstructural protein, NS1, of bluetongue serotype 17 (BTV-17) was cloned previously. Using pUC plasmids, we have successfully expressed the NS1 protein in Escherichia coli as a LacZ-NS1 fusion protein. The recombinant NS1 protein reacted with rabbit anti-BTV-17 antiserum, and was thus immunologically indistinguishable from the native BTV-17 NS1 protein. This was the first bluetongue viral protein to be produced in a bacterial system.     

Ecophysiological Significance of CO(2)-Recycling via Crassulacean Acid Metabolism in Talinum calycinum Engelm. (Portulacaceae)

High levels of variability in gas exchange characteristics and degree of CAM-cycling were found in the same and different individuals of Talinum calycinum Engelm. collected from rock outcrops in Missouri. Differences in CO₂ assimilation were mostly correlated with differences in shoot conductance to CO₂ not shoot internal CO₂ concentration. As found previously, CAM acid fluctuations were evident in well-watered plants exhibiting C₃ gas exchange patterns (CAM-cycling) and also in drought-stressed plants with stomata closed, or nearly so, day and night (CAM-idling). Drought stress also resulted in rapid stomatal closure, conserving water during droughts. Maximal CO₂ uptake rates occurred below 35°C; higher temperatures induced decreases in CO₂ assimilation and conductance while shoot internal CO₂ concentrations remained similar. Plant water-use-efficiency was severely curtailed at temperatures above 30°C. Tissue acid fluctuations were the result of changes in malic acid concentrations. Calculations of the amount of water potentially conserved by CAM-cycling yielded values of approximately 5 to 44% of daytime water loss. Thus, CAM-cycling may be an important adaptation minimizing water loss by perennial succulents growing in shallow soil on rock outcrops.     

The cytogenetics of domestic geese

Hybrids were produced between an African male and several Pilgrim female domestic geese. Partial karyotypes revealed a difference in the fourth largest pair of autosomal chromosomes. This chromosome pair was metacentric in the African, submetacentric in the Pilgrim, and heteromorphic in the hybrids. A similar difference between the putative wild ancestors of the African and Pilgrim breeds has been reported by others. These findings provide cytological evidence to support the traditional opinion that the African breed was derived from the Asiatic swan goose (Anser cygnoides) and the Pilgrim breed was derived from the European greylag goose (Anser anser).     

Localization of the gene encoding human Factor V to chromosome 1q21–25

The gene encoding human coagulation Factor V (FV), one of the cofactors in the blood clotting process, has been mapped to chromosome 1 by both Southern hybridization to DNA from human-hamster somatic cell hybrids and in situ hybridization. The whole plasmid pUC3A containing a 1.5-kb cDNA sequence for FV was 32P-labeled for Southern analysis and 3H-labeled for in situ hybridization to metaphase chromosomes. The results localized the FV gene to the region of 1q21-25.     

我国浙江与日本和我国台湾森林植物区系的联系

作者在“试论浙江省森林植物区系”一文中对我国浙江与日本和我国台湾森林植物区系的联系已作了扼要的说明,本文就是在此基础上作更详尽的论述。浙江省东濒大海,隔海相望,东北方向有日本,其本部岛屿的南端为九州,和浙江北部的纬度相近,具有亚热带气候特征,出现了和浙江相类似的常绿阔叶林和竹林,九