Hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase activity in tissues and hypoxanthine concentrations in plasma and CSF of the horse in comparison with other species

1. Plasma hypoxanthine and xanthine concentrations are very low in the horse and low in rat, mouse and greyhound compared to concentrations in beagles, man, sheep and rabbit. 2. Activities in erythrocytes of the main enzyme metabolizing hypoxanthine, hypoxanthine phosphori-bosyltransferase, show a similar pattern (Tax et al., 1976, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 54B, 209-212); thus low activities have been found where plasma concentrations were low. 3. Hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase activities in horse tissue other than erythrocytes are similar to those in man and rabbit with high activities in brain; this enzyme may therefore be functionally important in equine brain.     

Construction and properties of a chimeric bacteriophage lysis gene

Abstract The genomes of DNA phage ΦX174 and of RNA phage MS2 each encode a single lysis protein, E protein and L protein, respectively. Based on the known DNA and protein sequences, and with the aid of structural predictions of the proteins, a chimeric gene was constructed. The resulting protein was composed of the N-terminal sequence of E protein and the C-terminal sequence of L protein. The truncated E and L polypeptides used in this construction were functionally inactive. However, the chimeric gene product had very high lysis-inducing activity. This construction is an example which could be extended to the engineering of other lysis proteins designed with specific biotechnological processes in mind.     

Inhibition of lipopolysaccharide O-antigen synthesis by colicin M

Colicin M inhibits peptidoglycan biosynthesis at the level of the bactoprenyl carrier lipid. Since the synthesis of O-antigen also requires bactoprenyl carrier lipid, the effect of colicin M on O-antigen biosynthesis was studied using a colicin-sensitive strain of Salmonella typhimurium. Determination of O-antigen intermediates by two different methods showed that bactoprenyl-dependent O-antigen biosynthesis was inhibited by colicin M. Synthesis of both O-antigen and peptidoglycan was almost immediately inhibited following colicin addition. This was followed some 20 min later by cell lysis. The only known common step between O-antigen and peptidoglycan synthesis is formation of bactoprenyl phosphate by dephosphorylation of bactoprenyl pyrophosphate. Determination of bactoprenyl phosphates showed an accumulation of bactoprenyl pyrophosphate in colicin-treated cultures. It was concluded that dephosphorylation of the bactoprenyl lipid carrier was inhibited by colicin M, and this in turn prevented both O-antigen and peptidoglycan synthesis.     

Effects of a commercial malathion dip preparation on the cellular and humoral immune response of BALB/c mice

Because of the widespread use of malathion as a treatment for ectoparasitism, a study was undertaken to determine the effects of a malathion dip preparation on the BALB/c mouse immune system. Mice were treated with either 2% (recommended dosage) or 8% solutions of malathion or a water control. The cellular immune response was evaluated by in vitro exposure of lymphocytes to mitogens, and the humoral immune response was assessed by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify antibody production against sheep red blood cells (SRBC). Responses to the mitogens and to the SRBC were not significantly different between 2% and 8% malathion treated and water treated mice. Results indicated that malathion did not affect these two aspects of the mouse immune system when used as a 2% or 8% dipping solution.     

Excess amino acid polymorphism in mitochondrial DNA: contrasts among genes from Drosophila, mice, and humans

Recent studies of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation in mammals and Drosophila have shown an excess of amino acid variation within species (replacement polymorphism) relative to the number of silent and replacement differences fixed between species. To examine further this pattern of nonneutral mtDNA evolution, we present sequence data for the ND3 and ND5 genes from 59 lines of Drosophila melanogaster and 29 lines of D. simulans. Of interest are the frequency spectra of silent and replacement polymorphisms, and potential variation among genes and taxa in the departures from neutral expectations. The Drosophila ND3 and ND5 data show no significant excess of replacement polymorphism using the McDonald-Kreitman test. These data are in contrast to significant departures from neutrality for the ND3 gene in mammals and other genes in Drosophila mtDNA (cytochrome b and ATPase 6). Pooled across genes, however, both Drosophila and human mtDNA show very significant excesses of amino acid polymorphism. Silent polymorphisms at ND5 show a significantly higher variance in frequency than replacement polymorphisms, and the latter show a significant skew toward low frequencies (Tajima's D = -1.954). These patterns are interpreted in light of the nearly neutral theory where mildly deleterious amino acid haplotypes are observed as ephemeral variants within species but do not contribute to divergence. The patterns of polymorphism and divergence at charge-altering amino acid sites are presented for the Drosophila ND5 gene to examine the evolution of functionally distinct mutations. Excess charge-altering polymorphism is observed at the carboxyl terminal and excess charge-altering divergence is detected at the amino terminal. While the mildly deleterious model fits as a net effect in the evolution of nonrecombining mitochondrial genomes, these data suggest that opposing evolutionary pressures may act on different regions of mitochondrial genes and genomes.      

Mother-cub relationships in giant pandas in the Qinling Mountains,China, with comment on rescuing abandoned cubs

Six cases of mother-cub relationships in wild giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) were observed in the Qinling Mountains, China. It was found that panda cubs are normally left alone in the den for 4–8 h while mothers forage. The mother's absence during bouts of foraging should be considered when rescuing abandoned cubs in order to avoid adding to the decline of the wild population. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A temperate bacteriophage specific for strains ofAeromonas salmonicida possessing A-layer,a cell surface virulence factor

A temperate bacteriophage designated TP446 was isolated from culture supernatants ofAeromonas salmonicida strain A446. Phage TP446 adsorbed to all of the typical and atypical strains ofA. salmonicida tested that possessed A-layer, the surface protein array that represents the primary virulence factor of this fish pathogen. In contrast, TP446 failed to adsorb to mutants lacking A-layer. These results indicate that the A-layer is a component of the receptor for phage TP446.     

The carrying of ants (Cataglyphis bicolor Fab.) by others of the same nest

The carrying of ants from the nest by others of the same species ( Cataglyphis bicolor Fab.) is described. Two types of carrying are distinguished, systematic removal of many adults and larval stages to a new nest, and carrying of individuals, alive or dead, that are dropped at distances up to 35 metres from the nest. The rate of carrying of individual ants from a nest varied from 0–15 per day in a population of foragers estimated as about 200, making 1500–2000 exits per day. Live and dead ants appeared to be treated similarly. Live ants, in the cases examined, went back to the nest. Evidence was obtained by marking ants that carriers were distinct in habits from non-carriers, and also excavated earth from the nest.