Sexual reproduction and developmental adaptations in Xanthoria parietina

Thalli of Xanthoria parietina have been grown in cultures in the natural environment. In early phases of development the fungus associates with foreign algae and only later forms a symbiosis with Pseudotrebouxia . The lichen is shown to have a very effective mechanism for distribution by sexual spores followed by relichenization.     

Assignment of autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA1) centromeric to the HLA region on the short arm of chromosome 6, using multilocus linkage analysis.

A 7-generation kindred with the HLA-linked form of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA1) was studied to determine whether the SCA1 gene maps centromeric or telomeric to the HLA loci. The DNA markers flanking the HLA-(A-B) region were used for polymorphism studies and multilocus linkage analysis. These two markers are the cDNA for the beta-subunit of HLA-DP, which is centromeric to HLA-(A-B), and the cDNA for coagulation factor XIIIa (F13A), which is telomeric to HLA-(A-B). Haplotypes were constructed using multiple polymorphisms for these two DNA markers, and pairwise linkage analysis revealed a maximum lod score of 2.18 for SCA1 versus HLA-DP at a recombination fraction of .05 and a maximum lod score of 0 for SCA1 versus F13A at a recombination fraction of .50. A possible crossover between HLA-(A-B) and HLA-DP was identified, but lack of samples from key individuals hampered the analysis. To clarify the phase and improve the analysis, the two chromosomes 6 for the crossover individual were separated in somatic cell hybrids. The results strongly favored the probability that the crossover occurred between HLA-(A-B-DR) and HLA-DP with SCA1 segregating with HLA-DP, consistent with a location centromeric to HLA-(A-B). Multilocus linkage analysis was used to evaluate further the location of SCA1 relative to F13A, HLA-(A-B), and HLA-DP; the results indicated that the SCA1 gene locus is centromeric to HLA-DP with odds of 46:1 favoring this most likely location over the second most likely location, i.e., telomeric to HLA-(A-B) between the HLA complex and F13A.     

Prolonged submaximal exercise and L-carnitine in humans

Changes in the main physiological parameters and circulating indicators of carbohydrate, protein, lipid (and ketone body) metabolism were measured in ten exercising subjects before L-carnitine (L-carn) loading, after 4 weeks of daily loading with 2 g L-carn, and 6-8 weeks after terminating L-carn administration. Measurements were made on venous blood samples collected during each experiment at fixed time intervals over an initial rest of 45 min, 60 min bicycle exercise performed near 50% VO2max and 120 min recovery. Free and total plasma carnitine levels reached a plateau corresponding to an average rise of 25% for both fractions, 9-10 days after the beginning of the L-carn diet. These levels returned to their initial values 6-8 weeks after cessation of the supply. Generally L-carn supplementation did not significantly modify the physiological parameters and circulating metabolites. No distinct increase of the relative participation of endogenous lipids in the fuel supply of prolonged submaximal exercise was observed. In normal human subjects the increased demand for fatty acid oxidation resulting from exercise seems to be adequately supported by endogenous levels of carnitine.     

Bloom's syndrome

Summary The biochemical defect in Bloom's syndrome (BS) remains unknown, but two characteristic features of BS cells point to a disturbance of DNA replication, namely, an excessive number of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-substibuted cells and an abnormally slow rate of replicon elongation. The hypothesis of an abnormal DNA polymerase as the explanation for these observations was tested using an in situ assay system for DNA polymerase activity and to estimate molecular weights in cellular extracts of cultured BS cells. DNA polymerase subunits in cellular extracts from the BS cells when separated electrophoretically on polyacrylamide gels showed the same mobilities (i.e., molecular weights) as the controls and were equally effective at promoting the incorporation of isotopically labeled nucleosides. It is concluded that the genetic defect in BS has no direct effect on either DNA-polymerase activity or the amounts and molecular weights of the different forms of the enzyme.     

Heterogeneity in the map distance between X-linked agammaglobulinemia and a map of nine RFLP loci

Summary In nine family pedigrees in which X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is segregating, a multi-point linkage analysis has been carried out. In each family, the map distance, d, between XLA and a fixed point in a known map of nine RFLP loci on the X chromosome was estimated by calculating the log likelihoods, L(d). Using a new method, the 10-point likelihood was approximated by appropriately combining three 4-point likelihoods. Homogeneity tests (admixture tests) were performed showing clear evidence for heterogeneity of XLA.     

Molecular cloning of the F8 fimbrial antigen from Escherichia coli

Abstract The genetic determinant coding for the P-specific F8 fimbriae was cloned from the chromosome of the Escherichia coli wild-type strain 2980 (O18:K5:H5:F1C, F8). The F8 determinant was further subcloned into the Pst I site of pBR322 and a restriction map was established. In a Southern hybridization experiment identity between the chromosomally encoded F8 determinant of 2980 and its cloned counterpart was demonstrated. The cloned F8 fimbriae and those of the wild type strain consist of a protein subunit of nearly 20 kDa. F8 fimbriated strains were agglutinated by an F8 polyclonal antiserum, caused mannose-resistant hemagglutination and attached to human uroepithelial cells. The cloned F8 determinant was well expressed in a variety of host strains.     

Poly(2-methylthio-7-deazainosinic acid)--hydrophobic stabilization of polynucleotide secondary structure by the 2-methylthio group.

Poly(2-methylthio-7-deazainosinic acid) [poly(ms2c7I)] was enzymatically synthesized by polymerization of 2-methylthio-7-deazainosine 5'-diphosphate with polynucleotide phosphorylase from Micrococcus luteus in high yield. The homopolymer shows much higher thermal stability than its parent polynucleotides poly(7-deazainosinic acid) [poly(c7I)] and poly(I). Its sigmoidal melting curve and pronounced hypochromicity imply a rigid, ordered structure. Poly(ms2c7I), like poly(2-methylthio-inosinic acid) [poly(ms2I)], does not form a complex with poly(C) because of the bulky 2-methylthio substituent. On the other hand, two poly(ms2c7I) strands form very rigid triple strands with poly(A). Different from poly(I) and poly(c7I) the homopolymer poly(ms2c7I) is very stable against cleavage by nuclease S1 and ribonuclease T2 as expected from its rigid secondary structure.     

Bloom's syndrome. III. Analysis of the chromosome aberration characteristic of this disorder

The following hypothesis is put forward: X chromatin in man condenses around a center which is situated on Xq at a short distance from the centromere. The hypothesis is based on, and explains, two classes of observations. (1) Abnormal X chromosomes that have the assumed center in duplicate form bipartite Barr bodies in part of the cells. The frequency of bipartite bodies and the distance between the two parts seem to be determined by the distance between the postulated centers. (2) A large number of variously abnormal X chromosomes have been described. Almost all of them possess the postulated center and it seems possible that the very few apparent exceptions represent misidentifications of chromosome Xq — as isochromosome i(Xp). According to the hypothesis, chromosomes lacking the center would form no Barr body and therefore presumably would not be inactivated, thus leaving the cell severely unbalanced. Furthermore, absence of the center might interfere with the viability of the chromosome itself.