Trace elements in human parotid saliva

Although various proteins and some electrolytes have been measured in human saliva, little systematic data about the major and minor elemental components of this body fluid have been obtained. In order to obtain such data, concentrations of C, Na, P, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, Se, Br, Rb, Sb, I, and Cs in human parotid saliva were measured by instrumental nuclear methods. The data obtained confirmed the relative lack of Zn in saliva of patients with hypogeusia (decreased taste acuity) and suggested that concentrations of Na, Cl, Br, and Ca followed the order: normals > hypogeusia > hyposmia (decreased smell acuity). To compare concentrations of elements in saliva with those in blood and urine, absolute concentrations were normalized to that of Na through the use of a concept called an enrichment factor. On this basis, parotid saliva is relatively depleted in Se, Zn, and Fe and enriched for most other elements relative to blood plasma indicating that the fluid is not simply a transudate of blood plasma. Using this same technique, saliva composition was found more similar to urine than blood plasma, being relatively depleted in Se, Cs, and Co, being enriched in I, Br, and Cr and having about the same relative concentrations of P, Cl, Zn, Fe, Ca, K, and Rb. As the total body concentrations of many of the enriched elements in saliva are extremely small, their enrichment in saliva suggests special roles for these elements in the oral cavity. Because of its accessibility, ease of collection, and interaction with some body constituents, saliva represents a useful, albeit neglected, tool in the diagnosis of some physiological and pathological changes in body function and in understanding important aspects of trace metal metabolism.     

Synthesis of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase by isolatedSorghum mesophyll chloroplasts

Chloroplasts isolated fromSorghum vulgare are active in light-dependent, organelle protein synthesis. Intact chloroplasts can use light as an energy source; photosynthetically inactive chloroplasts require the addition of ATP for this protein synthesis. Preincubation of chloroplasts in light at 25°C for 1 h depleted the endogenous templates completely; such preincubated chloroplasts translated exogenously added heterologous templates efficiently. When total cellular RNA fromChlorella protothecoides, a C₃ plant, was used as template for translation in a cell-free light-dependent system of isolated mesophyll chloroplasts fromSorghum vulgare, a C₄ type plant, polypeptides of 55 kDa (large subunit) and 15 kDa (small subunit) were detectable in the fluorographic profile of the newly synthesized proteins; these polypeptides were absent in the products obtained with endogenous RNA. Evidence for the fidelity of the system was obtained by immunological analysis of ribulose 1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase obtained by the translation ofChlorella cellular RNAs.     

Molecular evolution among someDrosophila species groups as indicated by two-dimensional electrophoresis

Summary The evolutionary and phylogenetic relationships of sevenDrosophila species groups (represented byD. melanogaster, D. mulleri, D. mercatorum, D. robusta, D. virilis, D. immigrans, D. funebris, andD. melanica) were investigated by the use of two-dimensional electrophoresis. The resulting phylogeny is congruent with the current views of evolution among these groups based on morphological characters and immunological distances. Previous studies indicated that the ability of one-dimensional electrophoresis to resolve relationships between distantly related taxa extended to about the Miocene [25 million years (Myr) ago], but the present study demonstrates that two-dimensional electrophoresis is a useful indicator of phylogeny even back to the Paleocene (65 Myr ago). In addition, two-dimensional electrophoresis is shown to be a useful technique for detecting slowly evolving structural proteins such as actins and tropomyosins.     

Morphological variation among widely dispersed larval populations of anadromous southern hemisphere lampreys (Geotriidae and Mordaciidae)

Larvae of all three southern hemisphere anadromous parasitic lampreys were collected from rivers in Australia, New Zealand and South America. Body intervals were measured, trunk myomeres counted and the frequency of pigmentation in different body regions recorded. Morphometric data were subjected to multiple group principal components analysis (MGPCA) which took into account changes during growth. The components (together with myomere counts) and the pigmentation data were both subjected to discriminant analysis. Ordination and rank correlation tests revealed no evidence for either latitudinal clines or a continuum of circumpolar change amongst larval lamprey populations. Clustering of population centroids clearly distinguished between Mordacia lapicida (Gray) from Chile and M. mordax (Richardson) from south-eastern Australia. Populations of Geotria australis Gray divided into groups representing three geographical regions, namely Argentina, Chile and Australasia (Western Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand). Ammocoetes from Argentina were the most divergent, possessing a more posterior cloaca, taller dorsal fins, a greater gap between dorsal fins, and distinctive pigmentation on the head and caudal fin. Within the Australasian group, Western Australian and New Zealand populations clustered closer than either did with those from Tasmania. The cluster analyses for larval populations of G. australis suggest that, during their marine trophic phase, the adults of this species originating from Argentinian and Chilean rivers follow different migratory routes, whereas those from Western Australia, New Zealand and, to a lesser extent, Tasmania intermix.     

Yields and nitrogen nutrition of intercropped maize and ricebean (Vigna umbellata [Thumb.] Ohwi and Ohashi)

Maize (Zea mays L.) and ricebean (Vigna umbellata [Thumb.] Ohwi and Ohashi) were grown in intercrop and monoculture on Tropaqualf soils under rainfed conditions in Northern Thailand yearly from 1983 to 1986. De Wit's replacement design was used to compare intercrops and monocultures with a constant plant density equivalent to 80 000 maize or 160 000 ricebean plants ha⁻¹. Combined nitrogen was applied at varying levels to 200 kg N ha⁻¹. In the final two seasons the intercrop ratio of maize: ricebean was also varied. At the time of maize maturity intercrops yielded upt 49 kg ha⁻¹ more N in the above ground plant parts than the best monoculture. Dry matter, grain and nitrogen yield of maize and ricebean in intercrop relative to their monoculture yields (RY, relative yield) were significantly greater than their respective share of the plant population. Relative yield totals (RYT) for grain, dry matter and nitrogen were always greater than 1. Nitrogen uptake per maize plant increased with progressive replacement of maize by ricebean plants. This increase was similar to that obtained by applying combined N. Available soil nitrogen tended to decrease with increasing maize:ricebean ratio. Increasing the maize:ricebean ratio increased the % of nitrogen derived from fixation in ricebean, the increase being equivalent to that obtained by decreasing combined nitrogen application. Approximately the same amount of fertilizer and soil nitrogen was taken up by maize plus ricebean in intercrop as the maize monoculture. The results suggest that the improved nitrogen economy of the intercrop resulted from the strong competitiveness of maize in the use of mineral nitrogen and the enhancement of nitrogen fixation in intercropped ricebean which made it less dependent on the depleted pool of soil nitrogen.     

Total root length as estimated from small sub-samples

A method is proposed for estimating the total length of a root system from sub-samples. This method is based on the measurement of the length and diameter of small pieces of roots, and on the measurements of the bulk density of root sub-samples. It is assumed that roots are cylinders with a given bulk density. The length and diameter of small root pieces are measured by image analysis. A weighted quadratic mean (W.Q.M.) root diameter is then calculated and used in estimating the root length. This W.Q.M. diameter is defined as the real mean diameter of an equivalent single root with the same length and volume as the tested root system. The accuracy of prediction is demonstrated for one theoretical root system. The standard deviation of estimation can be calculated using sampling simulations.     

Constitutive and transport-related endocytotic pathways in turtle bladder epithelium

Summary Proton secretion in the urinary bladder of the fresh-water turtle is mediated by a proton pump located in the apical membrane of a population of cells characteristically rich in carbonic anhydrase. Earlier studies have demonstrated that these cells exhibit apical-membrane endocytotic and exocytotic processes which are thought to be involved in the regulation of the rate of proton transport via alterations in the number of pumps within the apical membrane. In this study, we sought to characterize these processes using two different methods. Analysis of transepithelial impedance yielded estimates of membrane capacitance which could be related to membrane area, thereby allowing one to monitor net changes in apical-membrane area resulting from changes in the net rates of endo-and exocytosis. Uptake of the fluid-phase marker FITC-dextran provided a measure of net extracellular volume uptake which was related to net rates of endocytosis. Our major conclusions are summarized as follows. The bladder cells exhibit a high baseline rate of endocytosis which appears to be a constitutive process similar to pinocytosis. This process is completely inhibited when ambient temperature is reduced to 15°C. In addition, serosal application of 0.5mm acetazolamide causes a transient increase in the rate of endocytosis, concomitant with a decrease in the rate of transport. Reduction of ambient temperature to 15°C reduces the rate of acetazolamide-induced endocytosis, but does not abolish it. Addition of 1mm serosal azide not only prevents the acetazolamide-induced increase in endocytosis, but also prevents the decrease in transport caused by acetazolamide. Azide has no effect on the baseline rate of endocytosis, nor does it prevent inhibition of carbonic anhydrase by acetazolamide. The specificity of azide, coupled with the different temperature sensitivities, demonstrate that the constitutive and transport-dependent endocytotic pathways are distinct processes. The observation that azide prevents both the acetazolamide-induced increase in endocytosis and the decrease in transport strongly supports the notion that endocytosis of proton-pump-containing membrane is requisite for the inhibition of transport by acetazolamide. Finally, the results also demonstrate that acetazolamide does not inhibit proton secretion simply by inhibiting carbonic anhydrase.     

A cladistic analysis of interspecific relationships ofSaguinus

The dental and cranial morphologies of all species ofSaguinus, S. oedipus, S. geoffroyi, S. leucopus, S. nigricollis, S. fuscicollis, S. labiatus, S. mystax, S. imperator, S. bicolor, andS. midas are examined. The following hypotheses are developed by cladistic methodology, using only synapomorphic characters to assess the interspecific relationships ofSaguinus.Saguinus are divided into two main groups; one consists ofS. oedipus, S. geoffroyi, andS. leucopus, and the other includesS. inustus, S. nigricollis, S. fuscicollis, S. labiatus, S. mystax, S. imperator, S. bicolor, andS. midas. In the former group,S. oedipus is more closely related toS. geoffroyi than either is toS. leucopus. In the latter group,S. labiatus, S. mystax, andS. imperator are classified into one group, andS. bicolor andS. midas form one monophyletic group.     

Chromosomal location of genes conditioning low amylose content of endosperm starches in rice,Oryza sativa L.

Summary Eight dull mutants that lower the amylose content of rice endosperm as well as waxy mutant and a cultivar with common grains were crossed in a diallele manner. The amylose content of F₁ and F₂ seeds was determined on the basis of single grain analysis. It was concluded that the low amylose content of dull mutants is under monogenic recessive control. Alleles for low amylose content are located at five loci designated as du-1, du-2, du-3, du-4 and du-5. These loci are independent of wx locus located on chromosome 6. The five du loci have an additive effect in lowering the amylose content. Two loci, du-1 and du-4, were found to be located on chromosomes 7 and 4, respectively.     

Stability parameters and performance of interregional crosses in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.)

Summary Twelve durum wheat varieties originating from 3 ecologically diverse regions and their 48 intergroup crosses were evaluated for stability of performance with respect to grain yield and certain component traits. The linear component of the genotype-environment interaction was revealed for grain yield, 100-grain weight and plant height, non-linear for tiller number whereas for grains per spike both components were equally important. However, except for tiller number, the linear component appeared to be contributing to a large extent towards the prevalent interactions. NP 404, Bijaga Yellow and Giorgio VZ 331 depicted stable performance for grain yield. However, considering all the attributes, the parents NP 404, Bijaga Yellow, Anhinga s and Mexicali 75 and hybrids NP 401 x Mexicali 75, NP 404 x Anhinga s, NP 412 x Mexicali 75, NP 404 x Gerardo VZ 466 and Anhinga s x Capeiti appeared promising. The Mexican group as a whole exhibited a more stable performance than the other two evaluated groups. Compensating shift among the component characters was evident in the case of parents as well as hybrids and stability of performance appeared to be under genetic control. Effective utilization of these two aspects through introduction in otherwise desirable varieties has been advocated.Part of Ph.D. thesis of senior author submitted to the Punjab Agricultural University