Physical mapping of the genome and sequence analysis at the inverted terminal repetition of adenovirus type 4 DNA

The genome of adenovirus type 4 (Ad4), the unique member of Ad group E, has been mapped with nine restriction endonucleases. Comparison of the occurrence of restriction endonuclease cleavage sites on Ad2, Ad7, Ad12 and Ad4 indicates that there is very little homology between these serotypes. Sequence analysis at the ITR of Ad4 showed that the "CAT" box which is present in all the ITRs of Ad's so far sequenced is absent in Ad4. The length of 116 bp for the ITR of Ad4 is also different from that of other Ad subgroups.     

Utilization of Citrate, Acetylcarnitine, Acetate, Pyruvate and Glucose for the Synthesis of Acetylcholine in Rat Brain Slices

Slices of rat caudate nuclei were incubated in saline media containing choline, paraoxon, unlabelled glucose, and [1,5-14C] citrate, [1-14C-acetyl]carnitine, [1-14C]acetate, [2-14C]pyruvate, or [U-14C]glucose. The synthesis of acetyl-labelled acetylcholine (ACh) was compared with the total synthesis of ACh. When related to the utilization of unlabelled glucose (responsible for the formation of unlabelled ACh), the utilization of labelled substrates for the synthesis of the acetyl moiety of ACh was found to decrease in the following order: [2-14C]pyruvate greater than [U-14C]glucose greater than [1-14C-acetyl]carnitine greater than [1,5-14C]citrate greater than [1-14C]acetate. The utilization of [1,5-14C]citrate and [1-14C]acetate for the synthesis of [14C]ACh was low, although it was apparent from the formation of 14CO2 and 14C-labelled lipid that the substrates entered the cells and were metabolized. The utilization of [1,5-14C]citrate for the synthesis of [14C]ACh was higher when the incubation was performed in a medium without calcium (with EGTA); that of glucose did not change, whereas the utilization of other substrates for the synthesis of ACh decreased. The results indicate that earlier (indirect) evidence led to an underestimation of acetylcarnitine as a potential source of acetyl groups for the synthesis of ACh in mammalian brian; they do not support (but do not disprove) the view that citrate is the main carrier of acetyl groups from the intramitochondrial acetyl-CoA to the extramitochondrial space in cerebral cholinergic neurons.     

Carbohydrate binding activity of a lectin-like glycoprotein from stems and leaves of Dolichosbiflorus

A glycoprotein from the stems and leaves of the $\text{Dolichos}$$\text{biflorus}$ plant that cross reacts with antibodies to the seed lectin has been found to bind to affinity columns of blood group A + H substance covalently linked to Sepharose. This binding of the cross reactive material to the affinity resin differs from that of the seed lectin in that it is easily dissociated with 0.15 M NaCl. Affinity electrophoresis using entrapped blood group A + H substance shows that the carbohydrate binding activity of the cross reactive material is weakly inhibited with N-acetyl-D

-galactosamine and N-acetyl-D

-glucosamine. Glucose, mannose and galactose gave no inhibition when tested at concentrations of 50 mM. These data indicate that the specificity of the cross reactive material is somewhat different from the N-acetyl-D

-galactosamine specificity of the seed lectin. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the structural similarities of the cross reactive material and the seed lectin.     

Analysis of nutrient components of food for Asian elephants in the wild and in captivity

Thirty-seven wild plants as food for Asian elephants in the field in Simao, Yunnan province, China and five cultivated plants as food for captive elephants in the Beijing Zoo were collected and analyzed for their main nutrient components. Protein, fat, fiber, dry material, ash as well as major microelements: calcium, kalium, zincum, sodium in the food were analyzed by standard methodology. No significant differences were found between the wild plants taken in the field and forage provided in captivity. However, the calcium content in the forage is significantly less than the average of those in the wild plants. It is suggested that the increase in calcium intake may contribute to the relief of low plasma calcium diseases of elephants in captivity. Translated from Journal of Beijing Normal University (Natural Science), 2006, 42(2): 184–188 [译自: 北京师范大学学报 (自然科学版)]     

Gene order and recombination rates in the linkage group S-Phi-Hal-H-(Po2)-Pgd in pigs

Families of Czech Landrace (94 litters and 636 offspring) were tested for halothane sensitivity, A-O (S), H, PHI and PGD phenotypes. Informative matings for the estimation of recombination rates between marker loci were selected. The following recombination frequencies were established: S-Phi = 4.8 % (2.5 % -10.7 %);S-H = 6.8 % (4.3 %-11.7 %); Phi-H = 2.6 % (0.9 %-5.3 9%); H-Pgd = 4.4 % (1.6 %-8.0 %). CCCC-overs were observed also between S- Hal, Hal-H andHal - Pgd, but were not found between Phi - Hal. On the basis of these results it has been possible to revise the position of the S locus in this linkage group. The most probable gene order would be: S - Phi - Hal (or Hal - Phi) -H- (P02) - Pgd.
A striking difference was found between the number of halothane-sensitive pigs (87) and HalⁿHal ⁿ genotypes determined by haplotyping (123). Segregation rates in 19 backcross matings and experimental matings of the animals proved that this difference is mostly due to incomplete CCC or low expression of halothane sensitivity.