Identification of minor tightly bound H1 histone subfractions which fail to cleave their initiator methionine

Groups of CBA mice were administered [³⁵S] methionine (1 mCi/mouse). Non-histone proteins, H1 and H1⁰ histones and nucleosomal core histones were isolated from different issues by selective extractions. The measurements of radioactivity of individual bands and autoradiography of dry gels were used to identify methionine-containing and methionine-free histone variants. H1A and H1B histone variants extracted with 5% perchloric acid were methionine-free. However, minor sub-fractions of these histones which are more tightly bound to DNA (and which can be extracted only with 0.25 N HC1) contained [³⁵S] methionine and did show a higher specific activity than methionine-containing nucleosomal hitones. Cyanogen Bromide reaction which destroys non-histone proteins and methionine-containing nucleosomal histones removes radioactivity but does not alter the position of methionine-containing H1 minor bands. This indicates that the radioactive methionine occupies only the N-terminus of the H1 molecules. It is suggested that this methionine is an uncleaved initiator methionine. The presence of these methionine-containing minor H1 subfractions varies in different tissues.     

Synthesis of functional bovine opsin in insect cells under control of the baculovirus polyhedrin promoter

In vitro expression of cDNA encoding bovine opsin is accomplished using the baculovirus expression vector system. Full-length opsin was synthesized which was recognized by poly- and monoclonal antisera raised against bovine rhodopsin. Upon infection with a recombinant virus, 1×10⁶ insect cells produced up to 3 g opsin. Incubation of the in vitro synthesized opsin with 11-cis retinal produced a hydroxylamine-stable, photosensitive pigment.Abbreviations dpi days post infection - pfu plaque forming units - AcNPV Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus     

Bone formation in vitro by stromal cells obtained from bone marrow of young adult rats

Summary Cells from fetal or neonatal skeleton can synthesize bone-like tissue in vitro. In contrast, formation of bone-like tissue in vitro by cells derived from adult animals has rarely been reported and has not been achieved using cells from bone marrow. We have explored development of bone-like tissue in vitro by bone marrow stromal cells. Marrow stromal cells obtained from 40–43-day-old Wistar rats were grown in primary culture for 7 days and then subcultured for 20–30 days. Cells were cultured in either -minimal essential medium containing 15% fetal bovine serum, antibiotics, and 50 g/ml ascorbic acid, or the above medium supplemented with either 10 mM Na--glycerophosphate, 10^-8 M dexamethasone, or a combination of both. Cultures were examined using phase-contrast microscopy, undemineralized and demineralized tissue histology, histochemistry (for alkaline phosphatase activity), immunohistochemistry (for collagen type, osteonectin, and bone Glaprotein), scanning and transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, and X-ray diffraction. Collagenous, mineralized nodules exhibiting morphological and ultrastructural characteristics similar to bone were formed in the cultures, but only in the presence of both -glycerophosphate and dexamethasone. Cells associated with the nodules exhibited alkaline phosphatase activity. The matrix of the nodules was composed predominantly of type-I collagen and both osteonectin and Glaprotein were present. X-ray microanalysis showed the presence of Ca and P, and X-ray diffraction indicated the mineral to be hydroxyapatite. The nodules were also examined for bone morphogenetic protein-like activity. Paired diffusion chambers containing partly demineralized nodules and fetal muscle were implanted intraperitonealy in rats. Induction of cartilage in relation to muscle was observed histologically after 40 days in the chambers. This finding provided further support for the bone-like nature of the nodules. The observations show that bone-like tissue can be synthesized in vitro by cells cultured from young-adult bone marrow, provided that the medium contains both -glycerophosphate and, particularly, dexamethasone.     

Occurrence of rye (Secale cereale) 350-family DNA sequences inAgropyron and otherTriticeae

Evidence is presented that in the R and P genomes (Secale cereale andAgropyron cristatum, respectively) of theTriticeae there exist closely related 350-family DNA sequences in the terminal heterochromatin. This observation is compared to the relationships between these two genomes derived from a comparison of theNor and5 S DNA loci as well as the available data on morphological characters, chromosome pairing, and isozyme studies. It is concluded that the R and P genomes are not closely related and that the common presence of very similar 350-family DNA sequences reflects the parallel amplification of this family of DNA sequences.     

The tellurium content of vegetation

Vegetation growing in the Ely mining district of White Pine County, NV has been analyzed for tellurium to discover whether Te accumulator plants existed similar to those that take up Se in great quantities. In addition, the variation in Te content among species growing in different geological settings was studied. Another objective of this study was to determine the range of Te concentration in vegetation in regions where the Te content of surface materials was high, as in the Ely mining district, and low as in various areas of western CO. Trees and shrubs (480 samples) as well as flowering plants (505 samples) and their associated edaphic materials were collected from six sites in the Ely region and all plant parts were analyzed for Te, Se, Fe, S, Zn, Cu, and Pb. One hundred and five plants were collected from three areas in western CO. There is a highly significant difference between Te uptake by trees and that of perennial flowering plants. Flowers contain significantly more Te on the average than other plant parts. An examination of the Te content of tree parts reveals that leaves sorb the most and branches the least. When the Te content of edaphic materials is high, there is a corresponding increase in the Te content of plants. Shallow perennial plants were not found growing in areas where soils contained more than 10 mg kg⁻¹ Te. Seleniferous species ofAstragalus contain larger quantities of Te than plants in the Ely area, whereas nonseleniferous members of this genus contain much less. The nitrotoxin producing Astragali contain concentrations of Te greater than that encountered in nonseleniferous species but less than that in seleniferous ones. No plants contained more than 1 mg kg⁻¹ Te. Iron, Te, Se, and S are coherent in all plants and in most soils and rocks examined.     

Chromium in plants

Chromium is an essential trace element and is associated with some biological pathways, especially with glucose tolerance. For these reasons, we decided to determine the concentration of chromium in two sets of Brazilian medicinal plants. The first group consisted of plants that are considered as antidiabetic, whereas the second included plants that do not have this therapeutic property. The concentration of chromium was determined by flameless atomic absorption. All the plants analyzed contain chromium in the normal range for this element, but the hypoglycemic plants contain more chromium than the others (1–4 μg/g compared to 0.5–1.5 μg/g).     

Effects of traces of rare earth elements on the protozoanBlepherisma and on mice

The growth of the protozoanBlepherisma is stimulated by Lanthanum (La) at concentrations as low as 0.32 ppm. In mice Yttrium (Y) and Ytterbium (Yb) are absorbed, accumulated, and metabolized. Both rare earth elements (RE) exhibit a high affinity for teeth and bones, accumulation occurs and metabolism is slow. In the livers of RE-exposed mice, concentrations are variable. The liver is apparently capable of absorbing and discharging RE in a manner depending on metabolic activity. The main route of discharge for ingested REs is the alimentary canal. Exposure of pregnant mice to RE leads to rapid placental transfer of RE; 14.1% of the total amount of RE administered was detected in newborn mice. Young, developing organisms appear to be especially susceptible to RE accumulation.     

Organogenesis and plant formation from cotyledon explant cultures of wild turnip rape (Brassica tournefortii L.)

Cotyledon explants of Brassica tournefortii L. were excised from germinated seedlings and cultured on Murashige & Skoog's [6] basal medium supplemented with various combinations of cytokinins and auxins, Both cytokinin and auxin were required for induction of shoot organogenesis. Of the three cytokinins tested (in combination with a low concentration of IAA), kinetin was found to be the best for shoot regeneration. On this medium, cotyledonary explants invariably underwent callusing followed by multiple shoot formation. NAA in combination with any of the three cytokinins yielded a reduced number of shoots or none, but favoured good callus growth. Callus so produced also regenerated shoots when subcultured on media containing high concentration of KIN or ZEA and low concentration of IAA. Shoots were rooted during prolonged incubation on the same medium or on MS medium free of growth regulators. Mature plants were grown in the greenhouse.     

Histology of somatic embryogenesis in cultured leaf segments of sugarcane plantlets

Calli have been initiated from young leaves of in vitro grown sugarcane shoots. Histological examination has shown that the two types of calli induced (nodular and friable) originated from different regions of the explants and were cytologically different.This study has shown an obvious relation between the developmental stage of the excised tissue and the potential of plant regeneration of the in vitro initiated callus culture. Nodular calli were obtained from bases of the fast-growing young leaves while their more mature parts of the older leaves only produced friable calli. High-frequency plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis was obtained from nodular calli while friable calli rarely produced plantlets.