Expansion of repetitive DNA into cytogenetically visible elements.

Two cases of amplified repetitive elements accidentally identified in cancer samples are reported. In both cases, repeated DNA that is normally not visible by traditional chromosome banding had increased in amount to become cytogenetically visible. In one case, an addition to the short arm of chromosome 1 was originally diagnosed. However, upon molecular analysis the diagnosis could be corrected to an amplification of the D1Z2 repeat. In the second case, a strongly DAPI-positive band was visible at the top of the short arm of chromosome 22, and the original diagnosis was add(22). Staining for telomeric repeats revealed their presence inside the DAPI-positive element, thus confirming that the element in question was truly added to the end of the chromosome. Curiously, no telomeric repeats could be detected distal to the DAPI-positive element. The identity of the DAPI-positive element could not be established, as it was not stained by any of the specific probes applied, nor in a scanning hybridization with labeled Cot-1 DNA. It thus seems to represent an expansion from some lowly repetitive AT-rich DNA translocated to the tip of chromosome 22.     

The growth strategy of the Gram-positive rod

Abstract Bacteria grow by enlarging their envelope in such a way that osmotic pressure does not normally cause physical rupture. The strategy of Bacillus subtilis for both cylindrical elongation and pole formation is now substantially defined. Side-wall growth takes place by laying down new peptidoglycan, which is then displaced outwards, stretched and discarded; cross walls are laid down in the absence of stress, and then stretched and bulged outward as the septum is split and the pole is formed.     

Coexistence resulting from an alternation of density dependent and density independent growth

When two species compete with each other, one is likely to displace or exclude the other. Several circumstances under which they may coexist indefinitely have been presented in the literature; the present contribution presents examples of one more. Under circumstances where both populations are repeatedly decreased (for example because of annual environmental changes) then subsequent to each decrease both species grow unrestrictedly and then interact with each other in a competitive fashion. If the species that grows more rapidly under unrestricted conditions is at a disadvantage during competitive phases of growth, this effect prolongs coexistence but may not prevent eventual extinction of one or the other species. However, it is shown that there are certain broad ranges of conditions for population growth that lead to permanent cyclical stability. The stability described here is such that the ecosystem will return to the same dynamic balance even when severely perturbed. It is also shown that this kind of stability can be either favored or prevented in certain cases by random fluctuations in the environment affecting season length, kill factor, etc.     

Über die proteolytische Aktivität von Aspergillus niger und ihre Beeinflussung durch Spurenelemente

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

High altitude training of dogs results in elevated erythropoietin and endothelin-1 serum levels

Living at 2300-m altitude combined with intermittent training at 3500 m leads to cardiovascular alterations in dogs, including increase in systemic and pulmonary artery pressure. Despite moderate to marked hypoxemia at these altitudes, erythrocytosis does not develop. To study humoral mechanisms of acclimatisation to high altitude, erythropoietin (EPO), endothelin-1 (ET-1), big endothelin (Big-ET) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured in dogs living at 2300 m and intermittently ascending to 3500 m, and compared to the values obtained in control dogs living at 700-900 m. While the median EPO and ET-1 level in dogs at 2300 m did not differ from the one measured at 700-900 m, exposure from 2300 to 3500 m resulted in significantly elevated EPO and ET-1 levels. Big-ET levels were significantly higher at 2300 and 3500 m compared to dogs at low altitude, but did not differ between 2300 and 3500 m. VEGF was significantly elevated in dogs at 2300 m compared to dogs at low altitude. The increases in EPO, VEGF, ET-1 and Big-ET are thought to reflect the effect of hypoxia on a cellular level in these dogs. Obviously, the mild elevation of EPO levels observed at 3500 m was not sufficient to cause erythrocytosis. Elevations of the vasoconstrictors Big-ET and ET-1 may play some, but not a central role in hypoxic vasoconstriction in these dogs. Finally, serum VEGF measurement may be a sensitive and useful test to assess hypoxic stress in dogs.     

Zur Frage des Einflusses von Spurenelementen auf Bacillus asterosporus

Zusammenfassung Der Einfluß des Kobalts im Kohlenhydratstoffwechsel von Bac. asterosporus wird untersucht. Bei der optimalen Konzentration von 4 Co/ml wird die Kohlensäurebildung bei den untersuchten Kohlenstoffquellen Dextrose, Saccharose, Fructose und Mannit durchschnittlich um 80% reduziert. Der ökonomische Koeffizient erfährt bei Dextrose eine Erhöhung um 100%, bei Saccharose um 30%, der Atmungskoeffizient bei allen vier Kohlenstoffquellen eine Erniedrigung von 55–89%. Ascorbinsäure zeigt die gleiche Reduktion der Kohlensäurebildung wie Kobalt, während Aneurin darauf keine Wirkung ausübt. Der r_H-Wert wird durch Kobalt vermindert. Aus den Ergebnissen wird im Zusammenhang mit anderen Arbeiten geschlossen, daß der Stoffwechsel des fakultativ anaeroben Bac. asterosporus durch Kobalt mehr zur anaeroben Seite hin und zu homolaktischer Gärung verschoben wird. Die Untersuchungen zur Aufklärung des Wirkungsmechanismus von Kobalt werden fortgesetzt.Teilweise vorgetragen am 20. September 1954 anläßlich der österreichischen Mikrobiologentagung in Innsbruck (Dedic 1955).     

Inhibition of Escherichia coli Mg2+ ATPase: Synergism between a fire ant,Solenopsis richteri (Forel) abdomen factor and a photoreduction product of Mirex

Fire ant, Solenopsis richteri (Forel), abdomen was found to contain a water-soluble and heat-stable inhibitor of the ATPase activity in an E- Escherichia coli membrane preparation. A photoreduction product of Mirex was also inhibitory toward Escherichia coli Mg²⁺ ATPase, but was less effective in total enzyme activity inhibition that the fire ant inhibitor. However, the two compounds were found to be strongly synergistic in their inhibitory action. Surprisingly, Mirex had little or no effect on the bacterial membrane enzyme activity.     

Fast one-step procedure for the detection of nucleic acids in situ by primer-induced sequence-specific labeling with fluorescein-12-dUTP.

We provide fast, simple, one-step procedures for sequence-specific detection of nucleic acids in situ. Tandem repeat sequences in DNA are stained within 30 min, and mRNA is stained within 2 h. The procedures are based on the incorporation of the newly available fluorescein-labeled dUTP into DNA synthesized in situ by primed in situ labeling, with denatured fragments of cloned DNA or oligonucleotides as primers. The extreme speed and simplicity of the reaction make it attractive for automatization in routine laboratory procedures and opens up new diagnostic possibilities.