CDC17: an essential gene that prevents telomere elongation in yeast

The CDC17 gene product performs an essential stage-specific function during the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell cycle. When cdc17-1 strains are grown at the maximum permissive temperature, recombination is induced preferentially in the genetic interval of the chromosome closest to the telomere. Telomeres are longer in cdc17 strains than in CDC17 strains at the permissive temperature because of addition of sequence near or in the poly (C1-3A) telomeric DNA and become even longer when cells are propagated at elevated temperatures. The mitotic recombination events require RAD52 function, but telomere growth does not. Long telomeres are maintained for many generations when crossed into a CDC17+ background, suggesting that telomere length is largely conserved during replication. The altered telomere length phenotype of cdc17 mutations is recessive and coreverts and cosegregates with the temperature-sensitive lethal phenotype.     

The oxidation of sulfhydryl groups in mitochondrial F1-ATPase decreases the rate of its inactivation by the natural protein inhibitor

The oxidants of the SH groups (o-iodozobenzoate, oxidized glutathione, etc.) and the divalent cations of some metals (Zn2+ and Cd2+) significantly slow down the rate of inactivation by the protein inhibitor of the isolated F1-ATPase and ATPase in submitochondrial particles. Modification of SH groups in the ATPase does not change the rate of inactivation but completely prevents the effect of oxidants.     

DNA Sequences from Formalin-Fixed Nematodes: Integrating Molecular and Morphological Approaches to Taxonomy

To effectively integrate DNA sequence analysis and classical nematode taxonomy, we must be able to obtain DNA sequences from formalin-fixed specimens. Microdissected sections of nematodes were removed from specimens fixed in formalin, using standard protocols and without destroying morphological features. The fixed sections provided sufficient template for multiple polymerase chain reaction-based DNA sequence analyses.     

A resonance Raman study of Ambystoma tigrinum hemoglobins: evidence for intraspecies hemepocket variations

Using resonance Raman difference spectroscopy, the Raman-active vibrational modes of hemoglobins from adult, neotenic, and larval forms of the salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum have been compared to each other and to human hemoglobin. The local heme environment of the adult and neotenic proteins were identical and differed from that of the larval protein. Differences were observed in modes sensitive to porphyrin pi electron density and axial ligation. Systematic differences were also observed between human and adult salamander hemoglobins particularly in modes sensitive to the heme vinyl environment. The relationship between these environmental differences, oxygen binding affinity, and the effects of allosteric modulators are discussed.     

Developmental regulation of myelin basic protein expression in mouse brain

Developmental regulation of myelin basic protein expression in mouse brain has been examined by comparing the myelin basic protein coding potential of mRNA in vitro with the accumulation of myelin basic protein-related polypeptides in vivo. In vitro translation of mRNA isolated from mouse brain generated eight myelin basic protein-related polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 34K, 30K, 29K, 26K, 21.5K, 18.5K, 17K, and 14K. A similar set of eight myelin basic protein-related polypeptides with corresponding molecular weights was identified in vivo when total brain proteins were analyzed by immunoblotting. Each of the myelin basic protein-related polypeptides shows a characteristic developmental profile in terms of mRNA level and rate of accumulation implying a complex developmental program of myelin basic protein gene expression with regulation and modulation at several different biosynthetic levels.     

SuperSAGE analysis of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nicotiana attenuata</Emphasis> transcriptome after fatty acid-amino acid elicitation (FAC): identification of early mediators of insect responses

Background  

Plants trigger and tailor defense responses after perception of the oral secretions (OS) of attacking specialist lepidopteran larvae. Fatty acid-amino acid conjugates (FACs) in the OS of the Manduca sexta larvae are necessary and sufficient to elicit the herbivory-specific responses in Nicotiana attenuata, an annual wild tobacco species. How FACs are perceived and activate signal transduction mechanisms is unknown.     

Cell-wall lysing enzymes and products of cell-wall digestion elicit ethylene in citrus

Ethylene production was induced in Valencia oranges [ Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbcck] by injection of the fungal enzyme mixture Pectolyase ( Aspergillus japonicus ) which contains pectolytic enzymes into the peel. The mixture also stimulated production of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC). Cycloheximide partially inhibited the Pectolyase-induced ethylene response. Pectin fragments, resulting from partial acid hydrolysis or Pectolyase digestion, caused an increase in ethylene production when injected into the peel of intact orange fruits. Pectic fragments produced by fungal enzymes are known to be elicitors of phytoalexins and in this study are shown to elicit ethylene in citurs.