Construction and characterization of Escherichia coli disruptants defective in the yaeM gene.

Escherichia coli disruptants defective in the yaeM gene, which is located at 4.2 min on the chromosome map, were constructed and characterized. The disruptants showed auxotrophy for 2-C-methylerythritol, a free alcohol of 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate that is a biosynthetic precursor in the nonmevalonate pathway. This result clearly shows that the yaeM gene is indeed involved in this pathway in E. coli.     

Murine C4-binding protein: a rapid purification method by affinity chromatography

A simple, 3-step method was described for purification of murine C4 binding protein (C4-bp), a recently recognized serum protein that functions as one of the regulatory proteins of the complement system. The method consists of 1) affinity chromatography using TNBS-BGG-conjugated Sepharose beads, 2) gel filtration on a Sepharose 6B column, and 3) heparin-Sepharose chromatography. By this method, milligram quantities of C4-bp can be easily purified by more than 500-fold from EDTA-serum of various mouse strains, and the whole purification process can be completed within 1 wk. The overall yield of C4-bp is about 15%. The C4-bp thus prepared is homogeneous as judged by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunelectrophoresis. The purified mouse C4-bp showed physicochemical properties very similar to those described for human C4-bp. Like human C4-bp, mouse C4-bp is composed of several apparently identical subunits of the m.w. of 80,000. However unlike the human counterpart, the subunits of mouse C4-bp are not linked by disulfide bonds but are connected by non-covalent forces that can be disrupted by SDS. The purified mouse C4-bp retained binding affinity for C4 and showed unaltered antigenicity. Immunization of rabbits with the purified mouse C4-bp resulted in the production of potent and monospecific antisera.     

Failure of testicular development associated with a rearrangement of 9p24.1 proximal to the SNF2 gene

In 46,XY individuals, testes are determined by the activity of the SRY gene (sex-determining region Y), located on the short arm of the Ychromosome. The other genetic components of the cascade that leads to testis formation are unknown and may be located on the Xchromosome or on the autosomes. Evidence for the existence of several loci associated with failure of male sexual development is indicated by reports of 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis associated with structural abnormalities of the Xchromosome or of autosomes (chromosomes9, 10, 11 and 17). In this report, we describe the investigation of a child presenting with multiple congenital abnormalities, mental retardation and partial testicular failure. The patient had a homogeneous de novo 46,XY,inv dup(9)(pter→p24.1::p21.1 →p23.3::p24.1→qter) chromosome complement. No deletion was found by either cytogenetic or molecular analysis. The SRY gene and DSS region showed no abnormalities. Southern blotting dosage analysis with 9p probes and fluorescent in situ hybridisation data indicated that the distal breakpoint of the duplicated fragment was located at 9p24.1, proximal to the SNF2 gene. We therefore suggest that a gene involved in normal testicular development and/or maintenance is present at this position on chromosome 9. Received: 20 January 1997 / Accepted: 5 November 1997     

A new method for mechanical dechorionation of ascidian eggs

Pasteur pipets were prepared with constricted tips of such diameter that unfertilized Ciona intestinalis (L.) eggs could be held immobile while their chorions were lanced open with a tungsten needle. Eggs were pretreated with double-strength seawater to increase the space between egg and chorion. Eighty-five percent of the eggs dechorionated in this way developed normally after fertilization in regular seawater.