Cytogenetic study of F1 hybrids betweenCrepis dinarica andCrepis froelichiana (Asteraceae)

Crepis dinarica andC. froelichiana are two closely related species of theC. praemorsa complex. Even though they exhibit the same chromosome number (2n = 8) and similar idiogram shape, they differ widely in quantity and distribution of heterochromatin bands. The hybrids between these two species comprise three morphological types. Parental genomes were distinguished in hybrids by Giemsa differential staining (C-banding). Although meiosis presents only a few abnormalities (about 2.4%), the percentage of aborted pollen grains is very high (90%).     

Accelerated transbilayer movement of phosphatidylcholine in sickled erythrocytes. A reversible process

The transbilayer mobility of phosphatidylcholine (PC) molecules in the membrane of homozygous reversible sickle cells (RSCs) was studied using a PC-specific exchange protein from beef liver. In deoxygenated RSCs, all of the PC present in the membrane of the intact cell is rapidly available for exchange, mediated by this protein. Since a substantial amount of the PC is present in the inner membrane leaflet of these cells, this observation implies that the PC molecules in their membranes do experience rapid transbilayer movements. To determine the actual rate of transbilayer movement of the PC, radioactive PC was introduced into the outer monolayer of oxygenated RSCs using the PC-specific exchange protein. Subsequently, the cells were incubated at 37 degrees C under oxy- and deoxygenating conditions to enable the PC to equilibrate within the bilayer. At various time intervals, samples were taken and treated with phospholipase A2, which selectively degrades the PC in the outer monolayer. Analysis of the specific radioactivities of the lyso-PC thus produced, as well as of the residual PC, enabled us to follow the fate of the radioactive PC previously introduced into the outer membrane layer. The half-time value for transbilayer equilibration of the PC in deoxygenated RSCs was determined to be 3.5 h, which is about four times lower than that for oxygenated RSCs. This increased transbilayer mobility of PC, observed in deoxygenated RSCs, is immediately restored to the normal low rate upon reoxygenation of the cells, indicating a complete reversibility of this phenomenon.     

A calorimetric study of a polymer–monomer complex formed by polyuridylic acid 3′,5′-cyclic AMP

The existence of a soluble complex formed by polyuridylic acid (poly (U)) and 3′,5′-cyclic AMP (cAMP) is demonstrated by u.v. extinction vs. temperature curves, optical rotation, equilibrium dialysis, and reaction calorimetry. The complex hasthe stoichiometry of 2 poly (U)-cAMP and its formation is accompanied by an enthalpy change of ?13.0 kcal/mole of base triplet. The introuction of an empirical factor α in the equations given by Damle² and Crothers² leads to the evolution of a ΔH value of ?13.4 keal/mole. The parameter α is considered as a correction factor for the concentration dependence of the binding process. There is no relation between α and the reduction of monomer activity due to self-association of monomers. The study of the binding process at several temperatures showed that the cooperativity parameter, σ, is independent of temperature and its value of 6.5 × 10^?3 is in good agreement with σ = 5 × 10^?3 for the poly (U)·poly(A) system.³     

The cationic composition of incubated cerebral cortex slices

1. A new type of cutting table is described. It makes use of the elastic properties of a nylon thread, 0.08 mm thick, in which longitudinal vibrations greatly increase its ability to cut through soft tissue. Two slices of cerebral cortex may thus be obtained within 3-4 min after the death of an animal. 2. The extent of the swelling of a brain slice, as well as the ionic shift, is directly related to the amount of oxygen in the incubating fluid. Under the best conditions of oxygen supply, the swelling of a first slice was close to 12.2 +/- 4.3 per cent after 5 hr of incubation. The corresponding values for the Na+ and K+ contents were respectively 119.3 +/- 6.9 and 70.9 +/- 5.0 microequiv./g of final fresh weight (P2). 3. Incubation in complete anoxia leads to a considerable shift in the cation content of the slice, which acquires a composition close to that of the incubating fluid. This suggests that a large part of the cell population is still metabolically active when oxygen is present. 4. The inulin space represents 47.1 +/- 5.8 per cent of the initial fresh weight. It is independent of the amount of fluid taken up by the slice as well as of anoxia. 5. The cation content of the non-inulin space, calculated by assuming that the inulin space has the same composition as the incubation medium, was 77.7 microequiv./ml and 160.3 microequiv./ml for Na+ and K+ respectively. 6. The meaning of the inulin space, as well as the physico-chemical state of the cations in the slice, are discussed.     

Mode of action of an oleophilic nutrient in enhancing 14C-hexadecane mineralization by a marine bacterial community

Hexadecane mineralization by a bacterial consortium isolated from a non heavily contaminated coastal seawater was largely increased by an enrichment with Inipol EAP 22 (10% w/w). In the conditions of the experiment, the efficiency of this oleophilic nutrient is linked to the organic N and P sources (urea and lauryl-phosphate) and, to a lesser extent, to the presence of a readily available carbon source (oleic acid). Otherwise, the micro emulsion nature of the formulation and its physical properties seem to play a major role in accelerating hexadecane mineralization.