Modification of a catalytically important residue of indoleglycerol-phosphate synthase from Escherichia coli

The active-site residues of indoleglycerol-phosphate synthase from Escherichia coli were tentatively localized by comparing crystallographic data with the amino acid identities among the known indoleglycerol-phosphate synthase sequences. To test the validity of the resulting model of catalysis one of the residues in the presumptive active site, Lys 55, was changed to serine using oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. The specificity constant kcat/Km of the mutant is 3 x 10(4)-times lower than that of the wild-type enzyme, due to a 60-fold decrease in kcat and a 450-fold increase in Km. This finding shows that Lys 55 is important for both catalysis and substrate binding.     

Regulation of microtubule protein levels during cellular morphogenesis in nerve growth factor-treated PC12 cells

Nerve growth factor induces neurite process formation in pheochromacytoma (PC12) cells and causes the parallel increase in levels of the microtubule-associated proteins, tau and MAP1, as well as increases in tubulin levels. Mechanisms to insure balanced accumulation of microtubule proteins and make their levels highly responsive to nerve growth factor were investigated. The effects on tau, MAP1, and tubulin are due to changes in protein synthesis rates, which for tau and tubulin we could show are due in part to changes in the mRNA levels. Whereas tubulin shows feedback regulation to modulate synthesis up or down, tau protein synthesis is not affected in a straightforward way by microtubule polymerization and depolymerization. The degradation of tau, MAP1, and both tubulin polypeptides, however, are stimulated by microtubule depolymerization caused by colchicine, or nerve growth factor removal. Combined feedback on synthesis and stability make tubulin levels highly responsive to assembly states. In addition, the linkage of tau and MAP1 turnover with the state of microtubule polymerization amplifies any change in their rate of synthesis, since tau and MAP1 promote microtubule polymerization. This linkage lends itself to rapid changes in the state of the system in response to nerve growth factor.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray studies of an aspartate aminotransferase mutant from Escherichia coli

Mutant aspartate aminotransferase V39L (Val39 replaced by Leu) from Escherichia coli has been crystallized into a monoclinic cell from a polyethylene glycol solution (pH 7.5) by vapor diffusion. The space group and the unit cell dimensions have been determined using a precession camera, a CAD4 diffractometer and a Nicolet Xentronics area detector to be P2(1) with a = 86.8 A, b = 79.9 A, c = 89.4 A, beta = 118.74 degrees. The crystals diffract to better than 2.3 A and are suitable for X-ray structure analysis.     

Mortality rate in the capital city of Warsaw in the eighties

Percentage of the elderly is higher in the Warsaw metropolitan area than that in other parts of Poland. This difference became more pronounced in the eighties. An analysis has shown that considering changes in the population age structure overall mortality rate in the Warsaw metropolitan area tended to decrease. It resulted from the decrease in mortality rate in the youngest (under 30 years) and the oldest population groups (over 74 years). An increase in mortality rate was noted in some subgroups of middle age and an advanced age (up to 74 years). It did not change the general trend, i.e. decrease in overall mortality rate. Mortality rate of males inhabiting Warsaw metropolitan area was lower in nearly all age groups in comparison with indices for the whole country. The same was seen in the groups of the youngest and oldest women. It may be assumed that health conditions favor men over women inhabiting Warsaw metropolitan area in comparison with the values for the whole country.     

Tetraploids inLuzula multiflora (Juncaceae) in Ireland: Karyology and meiotic behaviour

Populations ofLuzula multiflora s.l. in Ireland were examined karyologically. Plants from 14 populations were invariably tetraploid with 2n=24. Chromosomes of the tetraploid are of AL type (true tetraploidy). Meiosis of the tetraploids is of the same type as described for otherLuzula taxa in the literature. In meiosis, 12 bivalents are regularly formed. A hypothesis based on the morphological and allozyme data, that the tetraploids are of alloploid origin, is supported by the present results. Meiosis in an artificial hybrid between the presumed parental taxa,L. campestris andL. pallidula, was studied; a certain tendency towards chromosome doubling was observed. The geographical distribution of theL. multiflora cytotypes is also discussed.