The structure and evolution of the spider monkey delta-globin gene

We have isolated the delta-globin gene of the New-World spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi, and compared its nucleotide sequence with those of other primate delta- and beta-globin genes. Among primate delta-globin genes, the rate of nonsynonymous substitutions is much less than the rate of synonymous substitutions. This suggests that primate delta- globin genes may remain under evolutionary conservation, perhaps because hemoglobin A2 has an as yet unknown physiological importance.      

N-acetyl-L-glutamate synthase of Neurospora crassa. Characteristics, localization, regulation, and genetic control

N-Acetylglutamate synthase, an early enzyme of the arginine pathway, provides acetylglutamate for ornithine synthesis in the so-called "acetylglutamate cycle." Because acetylglutamate is regenerated as ornithine is formed, the enzyme has only a catalytic or anaplerotic role in the pathway, maintaining "bound" acetyl groups during growth. We have detected this enzyme in crude extracts of Neurospora crassa and have localized it to the mitochondria along with other ornithine biosynthetic enzymes. The enzyme is bound to the mitochondrial membrane. The enzyme has a pH optimum of 9.0 and Km values for glutamate and CoASAc of 6.3 and 1.6 mM, respectively. It is feedback-inhibited by L-arginine (I0.5 = 0.16 mM), and its specific activity is augmented 2-3-fold by arginine starvation of the mycelium. Mutants of the newly recognized arg-14 locus lack activity for the enzyme. Because these mutants are complete auxotrophs, we conclude that N-acetylglutamate synthase is an indispensible enzyme of arginine biosynthesis in N. crassa. This work completes the assignment of enzymes of the arginine pathway of N. crassa to corresponding genetic loci. The membrane localization of the enzyme suggests a novel mechanism by which feedback inhibition might occur across a semipermeable membrane.     

Biochemical pathways in prokaryotes can be traced backward through evolutionary time

For the first time, a credible prokaryotic phylogenetic tree is being assembled by Woese and others using quantitative sequence analysis of oligonucleotides in the highly conservative rRNA. This provides an evolutionary scale against which the evolutionary steps that led to the arrangement and regulation of contemporary biochemical pathways can be measured. This paper presents an emerging evolutionary picture of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis within a large superfamily assemblage of prokaryotes that is sufficiently developed to illustrate a new perspective that will be applicable to many other biochemical pathways.      

Effect of exogenous serum gonadotrophin (PMS) on aspects of reproductive development in female domesticated canaries

PMS was injected thrice weekly for four weeks into first winter and second winter canaries during the following periods: September-October, November-December, January-February and February-March. Measures were made of ovary and oviduct weight, brood-patch development (defeathering, vascularity and sensitivity changes), nest-building and egg-laying. PMS caused overy growth in all months: this was greatest in the second year birds in February. Both control and treated ovaries increased in size towards the breeding season. Oviduct growth depends mainly on the size of the treated ovary. Defeathering was produced by PMS in all months: its rate and extent increased towards the breeding season. Vascularity was also produced by PMS. It was least in November-December but after that the rate at which it appeared increased towards the breeding season. By contrast, the effect of PMS on brood-patch skin sensitivity was greater in the autumn group than subsequently. Nest-building occurred in September-October, but was then very slight until February-March, which is the beginning of the breeding season. Eggs were laid in most months; fewer injections were needed to produce egg-laying as the breeding season approached.     

The evolutionary history of the amylase multigene family in Drosophila pseudoobscura

In Drosophila pseudoobscura, the amylase (Amy) multigene family is contained within a series of inversions, or gene arrangements, on the third chromosome. The Standard (ST), Santa Cruz (SC), and Tree Line (TL) inversions are central to the phylogeny of arrangements, and have clusters of other arrangements derived from them. The gene arrangements belonging to each of these three clusters have a characteristic number of Amy genes, ranging from three in ST to two in SC to one in TL. This distribution pattern can reflect a history of either duplications or deletions, although the data available in the past did not permit a decision between these alternatives. We provide unambiguous evidence that three Amy genes were present before the divergence of the ST, SC, and TL arrangements. Thus, the current status of the Amy multigene family is the result of deletions in the TL and SC arrangements, which created three new pseudogenes: TL Amy2-psi, TL Amy3-psi, and SC Amy3- psi. Analysis of pseudogene sequences revealed that, in the SC and ST arrangements, pseudogene evolution has been retarded, most likely due to the homogenization effect of gene conversion. Finally, by determining the original copy number, we have reconstructed the evolutionary history of the Amy multigene family and linked it with the evolution of the central gene arrangements.      

USE OF SENSORY EVALUATION FOR MEASURING DEODORIZING EFFECTS OF AN AIR CONDITIONER

The application of sensory methodology for measuring deodorizing effect of an air conditioner equipped with electric plasma was introduced. Deodorizing effect was measured using chemical and sensory methods at different time (0, 30 and 60 min) and mode (control, blowing and cooling) of an air conditioner. Smoke from a roll of cigarette in a closed room was used as a source of odor and the concentrations of acetic acid and ammonia were measured as odorous chemical components. As one of the sensory methods triangle test was used and as a first step to obtain deodorizing effects by triangle test, the threshold of each panelist was obtained as the log dilution ratio of odor concentration at which the difference from odorless air was detected. The odor concentration at each time and mode was calculated using the threshold of the panel and the deodorizing effect was obtained on the basis of the odor concentration. In addition to a triangle test, scaling methods such as category scaling or magnitude estimation were used to measure deodorizing effect of an air conditioner. Deodorizing effects by scaling methods were calculated based on odor intensity with time at each mode. The regression analysis was done between the efficacy of deodorizing effect by sensory test and those by acetic acid and ammonia, the R² values of the regression equations for triangle test, category scale, and magnitude estimation were 0.84, 0.72 and 0.69, respectively. Deodorizing effect by triangle test explained the decrease of acetic acid and ammonia better than those by category scaling or magnitude estimation while high cost and time consuming labor involved in triangle tests reduced the merit. The results of this study demonstrated that various sensory methods could be used to measure deodorizing effect of air conditioners and further researches on fast and reliable methods are needed to establish the official procedures.     

Variations in historical natural fertility patterns and the measurement of fertility control

This paper looks at 2 main issues: 1) Henry's definition of natural fertility--that which is not controlled within marriage in a parity-specific way; and 2) the use of standard age-specific marital fertility schedules to measure the extent of fertility control. The authors note a number of conceptual difficulties inherent in Henry's definition and which detract from its usefulness. In particular, prolonged lactation and taboos against sexual intercourse are capable of depressing fertility within marriage, while still allowing it to be described as natural. This paper explores some of the consequences of the identified difficulties for the measurement of fertility control within marriage. Regional as well as temporal variations are to be expected in the pattern of marital fertility. The factors affecting natural fertility may be broadly divided into the physical and the psychological. Needed are a variety of standard marital fertility schedules specific to the underlying fertility conditions of the particular population under investigation. The universal applicability of a single standard is placed in doubt. The greatest problem, however, with the application of the idea of natural fertility to historical populations is that its definition rests upon a number of behavioral characteristics amongst a population, whereas its identification must normally proceed in reverse, arguing backwards from the pattern observed to the behavioral processes and conditions which might have produced that pattern. The arguments presented are illustrated by a detailed example drawn from the fertility patterns of Britain, Denmark and Sweden.     

The K+/H+ antiporter LeNHX2 increases salt tolerance by improving K+ homeostasis in transgenic tomato

The endosomal LeNHX2 ion transporter exchanges H⁺ with K⁺ and, to lesser extent, Na⁺. Here, we investigated the response to NaCl supply and K⁺ deprivation in transgenic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) overexpressing LeNHX2 and show that transformed tomato plants grew better in saline conditions than untransformed controls, whereas in the absence of K⁺ the opposite was found. Analysis of mineral composition showed a higher K⁺ content in roots, shoots and xylem sap of transgenic plants and no differences in Na⁺ content between transgenic and untransformed plants grown either in the presence or the absence of 120 mm NaCl. Transgenic plants showed higher Na⁺/H⁺ and, above all, K⁺/H⁺ transport activity in root intracellular membrane vesicles. Under K⁺ limiting conditions, transgenic plants enhanced root expression of the high‐affinity K⁺ uptake system HAK5 compared to untransformed controls. Furthermore, tomato overexpressing LeNHX2 showed twofold higher K⁺ depletion rates and half cytosolic K⁺ activity than untransformed controls. Under NaCl stress, transgenic plants showed higher uptake velocity for K⁺ and lower cytosolic K⁺ activity than untransformed plants. These results indicate the fundamental role of K⁺ homeostasis in the better performance of LeNHX2 overexpressing tomato under NaCl stress.