Qualitative and quantitative changes in hemolymph proteins during an ovarian cycle and after insemination in Thermobia domestica (packard) (thysanura,lepismatidae)

Qualitative and quantitative investigations on the hemolymph proteins in the adult firebrat Thermobia domestica were performed during an ovarian cycle in inseminated and noninseminated females. Variations of hemolymph protein concentration were determined by Lowry's method. In addition, the proteins were studied by gradient slab gel electrophoresis using nondenaturing conditions and microdensitometry. Besides five major protein fractions, which are present in both sexes, three female-specific protein bands (vitellogenins) are found in the hemolymph and in maturing oocytes. These vitellogenins have molecular masses of 430, 300 and 240 kiloDalton. In fact, associated with the main 300-kD band, there were two smaller bands (320 and 280 kD) indistinguishable by densitometric measurement. Quantitative changes of vitellogenins are linked to oocyte maturation. These proteins appeared in the hemolymph before ecdysis, at the same time as the first yolk granules in the basal oocytes. They increased after ecdysis during the intense vitellogenic phase and decreased during chorion formation. In noninseminated females, in which all maturing oocytes are resorbed before chorion formation, the level of the 300 kD vitellogenins remained lower than in inseminated females. The quantity of vitellogenins fell only after complete oosorption. Thus insemination caused changes in the relative quantities of the different vitellogenic proteins.     

Recovery of proteins on a milligram scale from polyacrylamide electrophoresis gels,exemplified by purification of a retinol-binding protein

An apparatus suitable for the recovery of proteins from polyacrylamide gels on a milligram scale by displacement electrophoresis (isotachophoresis) is described along with a buffer system that is suitable for this purpose with most proteins. The technique is illustrated by the recovery of a protein from a 15% polyacrylamide gel. The recovery was almost quantitative and the eluted protein showed little contamination upon quantitative amino acid analysis and automatic Edman degradation.     

Volatile constituents of the leaves of Cupressus dupreziana and Cupressus sempervirens

The essential oils of the leaves of Cupressus dupreziana and Cupressus sempervirens were compared. The composition of the hydrocarbon fraction showed a great similarity between the two species.     

9-Hydroxydodecanoic acid,an acid from Blepharis sindica seed oil

A hitherto unknown hydroxy acid has been isolated from Blepharis sindica seed oil has been characterized as 9-hydroxydodecanoic acid by IR, NMR and mass spectral studies. The structure of this acid was further supported by its chemical transformations.     

Furanosesquiterpenes from the essential oil of myrrh

An examination of the essential oil of myrrh from Commiphora molmol has permitted the identification of 1(10)Z,4Z-furanodiene-6-one, 2-meth     

Ecdysteroids in the haemolymph and the ovaries of the firebrat Thermobia domestica (Packard) (Insecta,Thysanura): Correlations with integumental and ovarian cycles

Ecdysteroids were analysed with radioimmunoassay (RIA) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in females of the apterygotous insect Thermobia domestica, which ahs overlapping moulting and reproductive cycles. During each moulting cycle, a peak in the haemolymph concentration of ecdysteroids occurs at day 9 (in the 11-day standard cycle), which can be correlated with apolysis and the beginning of new cuticle deposition. The ovaries show a peak of ecdysteroids at day 5 (i.e. one day before egg-laying), which suggests that these hormones are also involved in the reproductive cycle. In both cases, HPLC analysis combined with RIA suggests that the main ecdysteroid is 20-hydroxyecdysone. This duality in the function of ecdysteroids is discussed.     

Differential staining of insect neurons with nickel and cobalt

Pairs of neurons were differentially stained by intracellular injection of the divalent cations, nickel and cobalt. Pairs of neuronal tracts could be similarly labelled following immersion of their axon bundles in the markers described. Use of nickel and a 4 : 6 mixture of cobalt and nickel according to the protocols presented here revealed the morphology of cricket neuron processes as thin as 1 μm in diameter and yielded a favourable contrast between the cells marked, as well as with respect to the background of unstained tissue.     

Isoelectric focusing in immobilized pH gradients: generation and optimization of wide pH intervals with two-chamber mixers

A new technique for generating extended pH gradients (5 pH units) in Immobiline gels is reported. The previously described (J. Biochem. Biophys. Methods 7, 1983, 123-142) five-chamber gradient mixer has been replaced by a two-vessel device. A single mixture of the available Immobilines (pK 3.6, 4.6, 6.2, 7.0, 8.5 and 9.3) is made, with relative concentrations adjusted so as to produce the most uniform buffering power throughout the desired pH interval. This mixture is then divided into two portions, which are titrated to the extremes of the required pH span with an acidic titrant (Immobiline pK approximately 1) and a basic species (Immobiline pK 9.95). Highly reproducible pH gradients (pH 4-9) are thus generated, which appear extremely useful for the first dimensioned of 2-dimensional techniques. Our previously reported computer program has been implemented with an optimization algorithm which, given any cocktail of Immobilines, automatically adjusts the relative initial concentrations until the smoothest possible beta power is found. For the first time it is possible to perform IEF under controlled physico-chemical parameters: pH span and linearity, beta power, ionic strength and molarity of the buffering species.     

八倍体小黑麦×普通小麦杂种后代群体中的染色体易位

用改良的Giemsa C-带技术以单株为基础分析了八倍体小黑麦×普通小麦的杂种BC_1,F_(?)和F_(?)代植株的核型。在鉴定了C-带核型的1098株杂种后代植株中,发现了78条小麦-黑麦和277条黑麦-黑麦易位染色体。在不同的世代和株系中,小麦-黑麦染色体易位率变化在4.35—14.07%之间,平均7.10%;黑麦-黑麦染色体易位率在0.48—52.78%之间,平均25.23%。鉴定的小麦-黑麦易位染色体涉及了黑麦的14条不同的染色体臂和小麦的A、B和D组染色体。易位的48.57%发生在小麦和黑麦的部分同源染色体之间,51.43%发生在非部分同源染色体之间。不同的黑麦染色体臂参与易位的频率不同。小麦-黑麦染色体易位主要发生在杂种的早期世代,使用适当的选择技术在F_3获得了纯合的易位植株。文中讨论了快速选育易位系的技术和它们在小麦育种中的应用问题。