A family with RP3 type of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa: an association with ciliary abnormalities

Summary The results of linkage analysis in a family with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) are presented. Probe M27B (DXS255), localised to Xp11.22, was only loosely linked to XLRP, whereas pHOC3 (OTC), in the more distal Xp21.1 region, was tightly linked. In this family, the conditional probability of an RP3 locus (in Xp21.1–p11.4) was found to be 0.978 compared with 0.021 for an RP2 locus (in Xp11.4–p11.2). Risk assessment showed that 2 out of 4 at risk females showing no clinical abnormality have a high probability of being genetic carriers of XLRP. Some affected males have recurrent respiratory infections as a result of a condition indistinguishable from the immotile cilia syndrome; indeed, there is an association between XLRP and susceptibility to respiratory infections in the majority of affected males. The possibility that previously observed ciliary abnormalities in XLRP patients might be associated specifically with an RP3 locus abnormality is discussed.     

A nomenclature for the genes encoding the chlorophylla/b-binding proteins of higher plants

We propose a nomenclature for the genes encoding the chlorophylla/b-binding proteins of the light-harvesting complexes of photosystem I and II. The genes encoding LHC I and LHC II polypeptides are namedLhca1 throughLhca4 andLhcb1 throughLhcb6, respectively. The proposal follows the general format recommended by the Commision on Plant Gene Nomenclature. We also present a table for the conversion of old gene names to the new nomenclature.     

Carotenoids and abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis in higher plants

Recent research has revealed that abscisic acid (ABA), synthesised in response to water stress, is an apo-carotenoid. Two potential carotenoid precursors, 9'- cis -neoxanthin and 9- cis -violaxanthin, have been identified in light-grown and etiolated leaves, and in roots of a variety of species. Experiments utilizing etiolated Phaseolus vulgaris leaves and deuterium oxide strongly suggest that 9'- cis -neoxanthin, synthesised from all- trans -violaxanthin, is the immediate pre-cleavage precursor of ABA. The cleavage of 9'- cis -neoxanthin, performed by an inducible and specific dioxygenase, is likely to be the rate-limiting step in ABA biosynthesis. Any apocarotenoids formed as by-products of cleavage are probably rapidly degraded by lipoxygenase or related enzymes. After cleavage xanthoxin is converted via ABA-aldehyde to ABA by constitutive enzymes in the cytosol.     

Pea lectin is correctly processed,stable and active in leaves of transgenic potato plants

A gene encoding the preproprotein of the pea (Pisum sativum) lectin was expressed in transgenic potato plants using a cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter or a tobacco ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit (ssRubisco) promoter. Presence of the pea lectin to levels greater than 1% of total soluble leaf protein was detected by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The pattern of expression derived from the two promoters was established using both RIA and a squash-blot immunolocalisation technique. Western blotting demonstrated that the preproprotein was correctly processed, generating and subunits that assembled to give an isolectin form observed in pea seeds and roots. It was also found that the haemagglutination activity and specificity of pea lectin synthesised in transgenic potato leaves was comparable to purified lectin from pea cotyledons.     

A protoplast to plant system in roses

High yields of protoplasts were isolated from embryogenic suspension cultures of Rosa persica x xanthina and Rosa wichuraiana using an enzyme mixture comprising 20 g l^-1 cellulase Onozuka R10, 1 g l^-1 Pectolyase Y-23 and 10 g l^-1 hemicellulase. Agarose-immobilized protoplasts gave the most consistent growth at a plating density of 5×10⁴ protoplasts ml^-1 on the basic medium of Kao & Michayluk (KM8p) containing 2 mg l^-1 naphthaleneacetic acid and 1 mg l^-1 benzylaminopurine. At 25°C in the dark, 0.004% of R. persica x xanthina protoplasts developed into colonies. Using similar culture conditions, but with a plating density of 9×10⁴ protoplasts ml^-1, 0.017% of R. wichuraiana protoplasts developed into colonies. On transfer of R. persica x xanthina colonies to Schenk & Hildebrandt's medium containing 3 mg l^-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, globular and later stage embryos were formed. Approximately 30% of these embryos developed into plantlets on transfer to basal Schenk & Hildebrandt's medium. Further development of the plantlets took place on cellulose plugs (Sorbarods) soaked in Murashige & Skoog's medium containing 0.05 mg l^-1 naphthaleneacetic acid, 0.05 mg l^-1 indole-3-butyric acid and 0.1 mg l^-1 benzylaminopurine. Rose breeding is now open to the full range of in vitro genetic manipulation techniques involving protoplast technology.     

The preparation in vitro of chrysanthemum for transplantation to soil

Plantlets of Dendranthema grandiflora Pennine Reel were grown from nodal sections on Sorbarods saturated with liquid medium containing 0–3 mg 1^–1 of various growth retardants. After 4 weeks they were transferred to compost and maintained at a relative humidity of 42% at 27.5°C. Wilting was assessed over a period of 3 h. Plantlets treated with paclobutrazol, flurprimidol, triapenthenol, chlorphonium chloride, uniconazol and ancymidol showed dose-related reductions in wilting up to a concentration of 3 mg 1^–1. Responses to tetcyclacis and mepiquat chloride were weaker, and no responses to chlormequat chloride, BTS 44584 or diaminozide could be detected. These observations are compatible with an hypothesis that resistance to wilting derives from inhibited synthesis of gibberellins.     

Wetland vegetation ecology on a reclaimed coal surface mine in southern Illinois,USA

An early successional wetland complex on a reclaimed surface coal mine in southern Illinois was studied 1985–1987. Seasonally, biomass was low, with above-ground values of 10–210g m^–2 and below-ground biomass of 1.5–2435 g m^–2. Biomass peaked in spring and did not vary much throughout the remainder of the growing season. Stem densities were high (179–1467 m^–2) because large numbers of seedlings became established as falling water levels exposed large areas of mudflats. Fluctuating water levels led to a lack of community zonation. Species diversity (H) was low to moderate over all sites with diversity values ranging between 1.86 and 3.27.     

Sequence analysis of two exons from the murine dystrophin locus

We have isolated two genomic clones from the murine dystrophin locus, containing single exons encoding protein sequence from the putative actin-binding domain of the amino-terminus and the terminal portion of the triple helical domain. Using interspecific backcross progeny mice, both clones were shown to be X-linked. Sequence analysis indicated that the amino-terminal clone contains a 173 bp exon exhibiting 90% nucleotide sequence identity to human dystrophin exon 6, whilst the C-terminal clone contains a 61 bp exon with 93% nucleotide sequence identity to the human cDNA sequence.

     

Lymphocyte activation and serine-esterase induction following recombinant interleukin-2 infusion for lymphomas and acute leukaemias

Summary C57BL mice inoculated with radiation leukemia virus (RadLV) develop preleukemic cells long before the onset of leukemia. These cells are potentially immunogenic but fail to elicit an immune response in the host because of the appearance of virus-specific suppressor T cells. We have studied the effect of polysaccharide K (PSK) on the generation of RadLV-specific cell-mediated immune responses in vitro. Long-term exposure to PSK in culture potentiated the ability of immunized T cells to respond to a RadLV-induced lymphoma. It also abrogated the suppressive activity of suppressor T cells and simultaneously boosted the ability of reactive T cells to respond. The dual immunostimulating activity of PSK resulted in the generation of T cytotoxic lymphocytes that could lyse lymphoma cells in vitro. The results suggest that PSK could be used as a prophylactic immune response modifier in preleukemia.