Formation of Hydrogen Peroxide by NAD(P)H Oxidation with Isolated Cell Wall-Associated Peroxidase from Cultured Liverwort Cells, Marchantia polymorpha L.

Hydrogen peroxide was formed in isolated cell walls from Marchantiapolymorpha L. in the presence of MnCl₂ by either NADH or NADPHoxidation. This reaction was stimulated by phenols such as 2,4-dichlorophenolor p-coumarate, suggesting a reaction similar to that proposedfor the last step of lignification in higher plant cells, althoughbryophytes have been reported to be devoid of lignin. (Received June 16, 1987; Accepted March 3, 1987)     

Regional distribution of DNA and RNA in rat brain: A sensitive determination using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

DNA and RNA contents in 20 brain regions or nuclei of the rat were determined by a highly sensitive method using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The high DNA and RNA contents were found in the hypothalamic nuclei, especially the median eminence-arcuate nucleus. These results may be available for the preparation of nucleic acids as the regional control.     

Analysis of restriction profiles of Mitochondrial DNA from Sporothrix schenckii and related fungi

Restriction profiles by HaeIII of mitochondrial DNA were studied for classification and distinction of Sporothrix schenckii (100 strains), S. schenckii var. luriei (1), S. curviconia (1), S. inflata (7), Ceratocystis stenoceras (17) and C. minor (7). These 6 species showed unique restriction profiles which could be discriminated from each other. S. schenckii was further separable into 11 types, S. inflata into 4 types, C. stenoceras into 4 types and C. minor into 7 types based on restriction profile heterogeneity.     

Immunocytochemical studies on the pituitary pars distalis of the Japanese long-fingered bat,Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus

Summary Immunocytochemical studies were performed to describe the characteristics of cell types and their distribution in the pars distalis of Japanese long-fingered bat, Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus, collected at various stages of the reproductive cycle. Six distinct cell types have been identified in the pars distalis by the unlabeled immunoperoxidase technique and by the ABC method. Growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) cells were immunostained with antisera against chicken GH and ovine PRL. The GH-immunoreactive cells were round or oval orangeophilic cells distributed throughout the pars distalis with prominent aggregation in the posterolateral region. The PRL cells were pleomorphic carminophilic cells that occurred in small groups within the central and dorsocaudal regions of the pars distalis. They were sparsely distributed in the central region of the pars distalis in the hibernating bats, but increased significantly in the pregnant and lactating bats. The adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) cells were large round or polygonal amphophilic cells in the rostroventral and ventrolateral regions of the pars distalis. The thyrotropic (TSH) cells were small rounded or polygonal and distributed mainly in the ventrolateral region of the pars distalis. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) cells were identified immunocytochemically with antisera against the specific beta subunits of ovine LH and rat FSH. There were two populations of LH and FSH cells, one aggregated in the zona tuberalis and the other scattered singly throughout the rest of the pars distalis. The aggregated cells were immunoreactive with both antisera directed to LH and FSH, while scattered cells were reactive solely with antiserum to either LH or FSH and exhibited seasonal variations. In females, the proportional volume of the pars distalis occupied by LH cells was significantly reduced during pregnancy and lactation. No evidence of involution was observed in pars distalis cells except for PRL cells in males or females during hibernation.     

Distribution and development of the serotonin-and RFamide-like immunoreactive neurons in the arrowworm,Paraspadella gotoi (Chaetognatha)

Summary The distribution and development of serotonin-and RFamide-like immunoreactivities in the nervous system of Chaetognatha, Paraspadella gotoi, were examined in whole-mount preparations. In adults, a single serotonin-like immunoreactive (5HTLI) neuron and numerous RFamide-like immunoreactive (RFaLI) neurons were found in the central nervous system. Based on the structure of the fins, hooks, and eyes, seven postembryonic developmental stages were recognized. The most obvious features of the stages are: stage 1, newly hatched young; stage 2, elongation of a continuous lateral tail fin; stage 3, separation of the lateral and tail fins; stage 4, appearance of hooks; stage 5, pigmentation of eyes, stage 6, attachment by tail adhesive fins; stage 7, prey capture. Stage 1 did not show any immunoreactivity. The 5HTLI neuron first appeared at stage 4 and its axonal pathway became similar to the adult at stage 6. On the other hand, the RFaLI neurons appeared at stage 3 in the ventral ganglion. Some of their somata disappeared at stage 5 and the neuronal architecture resembled the adult at stage 7 although the RFaLI neurons in the cerebral ganglion were complete at the juvenile stage.We are sad to announce that Dr. M. Yoshida died on 29 October 1988     

Molecular analysis of five independent Japanese mutant genes responsible for hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) deficiency

Five independent mutations in the hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene were identified in a partially HPRT deficient patient with gout and in four Lesch-Nyhan patients. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique coupled with direct sequencing, the nucleotide sequences of the entire HPRT coding region amplified from the cDNA and also of each exon amplified form the genomic DNA were analyzed. Three independent point mutations in the coding region were detected in the partially HPRT deficient patient (Case 1) and in two Lesch-Nyhan patients (Case 2 and 3), resulting in single amino acid substitutions. The family study of Case 3, utilizing a PvuII restriction site created in the mutant gene, indicated that the mother was a heterozygote, and a sister and a fetal brother had inherited the normal HPRT gene from the mother. In two other mutants causing Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, a portion of the HPRT gene was deleted, and RNA splicing was missing in both mutants. A 4-bp deletion at the 5 end of exon 4 resulted in formation of three different types of abnormal mRNA (Case 4). The other mutant (Case 5) produced abnormal mRNA including 26bp of intron 8 instead of the deleted 58bp at the 5 end of exon 9, because of a 74-bp deletion from intron 8 to exon 9.     

Maternal care in the red-headed spruce web-spinning sawfly,Cephalcia isshikii (Hymenoptera: Pamphiliidae)

We describe oviposition and maternal behavior in the sawfly Cephalcia isshikiiand examine the adaptive significance of this behavior. Females deposited eggs in a single but loose cluster on needles of terminal twigs of spruces, Piceaspp., and remained with the eggs usually on the underside of the twig facing toward the tip. The female attended her eggs until death without taking food but did not follow the first-instar larvae that moved from natal needles even if she survived until then. When the female was disturbed, she usually moved toward the source and attempted to bite it. Though at much lower frequencies, this aggressive behavior was also observed in gravid females and even in males. Field observations and female removal experiments indicated that the female enhanced the survival of the eggs through the reduction of arthropod prédation.     

Properties of invertase immobilized on the poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) hollow fiber membrane

Invertase was ionically immobilized on the poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) hollow fiber inside surface, which was aminoacetalized with 2-dimethylaminoacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal. Immobilization and enzyme reaction were carried out by letting the respective solutions pass or circulate through the inside of the hollow fiber, and the activity of invertase was determined by the amount of glucose produced enzymatically from sucrose. Immobilization conditions were examined with respect to the enzyme concentration and to the time, and consequently the preferable conditions at room temperature were found to be 5 mug/mL of enzyme concentration and 4 h of immobilization time. Under those conditions the immobilization yield and the ratio of the activity of the immobilized invertase to that of the native one were 89 and 80%, respectively. For both repeating and continuous usages, the activity fell to ca. 60% of the initial activity in the early stage and after that almost kept that value. The apparent Michaelis constant K(m) (') for the immobilized invertase decreased with increasing the flow rate of the substrate solution, to be close to the value for the native one. Furthermore, the possibility of the separation of the enzymatically formed glucose from the reaction mixture through the hollow fiber membrane was preliminarily examined.     

The Effect of Ageing on Bud Differentiation in the Moss, Physcomitrium sphaericum

In the moss Physcomitrium sphaericum, we examined the numberof buds per filament, the position of buds, and the ratio ofbud-differentiated filaments when treated with cytokinin, inrelation to the increase in the number of cells per filament. When filaments of a young protonema were treated with cytokinin,many filaments did not differentiate buds. As the number ofcells in a filament increased, both the mean number of budsper filament and the ratio of bud-differentiated filaments increased.However, the position of bud differentiation was unaffectedby application of cytokinin. A higher concentration of cytokininincreased the mean number of buds per filament and the ratioof bud-differentiated filaments. The relationship between cytokinin, ageing of filaments andthe ability to differentiate buds is discussed. (Received June 17, 1985; Accepted September 9, 1985)