Purine salvage as metabolite and energy saving mechanism in Camelus dromedarius: the recovery of guanine

The preservation of purine ring as purine bases appears to be a common feature of camel liver. Hepatic guanine appears to be actively converted into GMP in the camel rather than further degraded. The limiting step of guanine degradation appears to be the lack of hepatic guanase activity. Higher purine bases over uric acid ratios were found in camel urine with respect to those of zebu.     

A serotonergic system in the brain of the Antarctic fish, Trematomus bernacchii

The immunohistochemical distribution of serotonin-containing nerve fibres and cells has been described in the brain of the Antarctic fish, Trematomus bernacchii. The largest serotonergic system was associated with the diencephalic and rhombencephalic ventricles. In particular, serotonin-positive cells have been found in the lateral recess and neuropile zone of the diencephalic ventricle, where we have identified the serotonergic portion of the paraventricular organ. Numerous serotonin cells were localized in the dorsal nucleus of the raphe, the dorsal tegmental nucleus and the central gray. Two large cell groups, arranged in a pair of well-defined columns and connecting the central gray with the dorsal reticular formation, were immunostained in the region of the trigeminal nuclei. In addition, few positive cells have been found in the preoptic area and the cerebellar valvula, and few serotonergic nerve fibres, probably belonging to the lateral lemniscus, have been identified. The distribution of serotonin elements in the brain of T. bernacchii has been compared with that described in other fish, where it showed some modifications in the immunoreactive pattern. Finally, the lack of a serotonergic system at the level of the reticular superior formation has been reported; however, it was not possible to rule out a phylogenetic or environmental explanation.     

Neuronal Basis of Innate Olfactory Attraction to Ethanol in Drosophila

The decision to move towards a mating partner or a food source is essential for life. The mechanisms underlying these behaviors are not well understood. Here, we investigated the role of octopamine – the invertebrate analogue of noradrenaline – in innate olfactory attraction to ethanol. We confirmed that preference is caused via an olfactory stimulus by dissecting the function of the olfactory co-receptor Orco (formally known as OR83b). Orco function is not required for ethanol recognition per se, however it plays a role in context dependent recognition of ethanol. Odor-evoked ethanol preference requires the function of Tbh (Tyramine β hydroxalyse), the rate-limiting enzyme of octopamine synthesis. In addition, neuronal activity in a subset of octopaminergic neurons is necessary for olfactory ethanol preference. Notably, a specific neuronal activation pattern of tyraminergic/octopaminergic neurons elicit preference and is therefore sufficient to induce preference. In contrast, dopamine dependent increase in locomotor activity is not sufficient for olfactory ethanol preference. Consistent with the role of noradrenaline in mammalian drug induced rewards, we provide evidence that in adult Drosophila the octopaminergic neurotransmitter functions as a reinforcer and that the molecular dissection of the innate attraction to ethanol uncovers the basic properties of a response selection system.     

Transport of l(-)malic acid and other dicarboxylic acids in the yeast Candida sphaerica

Summary dl-Malic acid grown cells of Candida sphaerica (anamorph of Kluyveromyces marxianus) formed a saturable transport system that mediated accumulative transport of l(-)malic acid with the following kinetic parameters at pH 5.0: V _max, 0.44 nmol l(-)malate·s^-1 per milligram dry weight; K _m ,0.1 mM l(-)malate. Initial uptake of the acid was accompanied by disappearance of extracellular protons, the rates of which followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics as a function of the acid concentration. Variation with extracellular pH of the K _m values, calculated either as the concentrations of anions or of undissociated acid, pointed to anions as the transported form. Furthermore, accumulated free acid suffered rapid efflux after the addition of the protonophore carbonylcyanide-M-chlorophenyl-hydrazone (CCCP). These results suggested that the transport system was a dicarboxylate-proton symporter. The system was inducible and was subject to glucose repression. Succinic, fumaric, -ketoglutaric, oxaloacetic and d-malic acid, but not maleic, malonic, oxalic nor l(+)-tartaric acid, apparently used the same transport system since they acted as competitive inhibitors of l(-)malic acid transport and induced proton movements that followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Experiments with glucose-repressed cells showed that undissociated dicarboxylic acid (measured with labelled succinic acid) entered the cells slowly by simple diffusion. The permeability of the cells for undissociated acid increased exponentially with pH, the diffusion constant increasing 100-fold between pH 3.5 and 6.0.     

Eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase I reaction is topology dependent.

The effects of supercoiling on the topoisomerization reaction by eukaryotic DNA topoisomerases I have been analyzed. The systems used were: DNA topoisomerase I from wheat germ, chicken erythrocyte and calf thymus on a 2.3 kb DNA fragment which encompasses the immunoglobulin kappa-light chain (L kappa) promoter of the mouse plasmacytoma MPC11; S. cerevisiae DNA topoisomerase I on a 2.2 kb DNA fragment from the same organism which encompasses the regulatory and the coding region of the ADH II gene; wheat germ DNA topoisomerase I on the plasmid pUC18. It was found in every system that lack of torsional stress prevents topoisomerization of the substrate. A simple regulatory model of DNA topoisomerase I function, based on topological considerations, is presented.     

Direct in vitro action of thyroid hormones on mitochondrial RNA-polymerase

The authors show the direct in vitro action of thyroid hormones on RNA-polymerase activity in rat liver mitochondria. 3,5,3 L-triiodothyronine (L-T₃) and 3,5,3,5 L-tetraiodothyronine (L-T₄) stimulate mitochondrial RNA synthesis without either increasing the permeability of preswollen mitochondria or stimulating the synthesis of the triphosphate ribonucleotides (NTP's). Thyroid hormones do not directly depress mitochondrial RNA hydrolysis. Studies carried out with structural analogues of thyroid hormones indicate the structural specifications of the regulating system of the mitochondrial RNA-polymerase. L-T₃ and L-T₄ are also effective in vitro on mitochondria obtained from animals undergoing different hormonal and dietary treatments, with the exceptions of those fed with a hypoprotein diet. Thus, the authors suggest the possible intervention of a specific mitochondrial receptor for L-T₃ and L-T₄.     

Different structure of polytene chromosomes ofPhaseolus coccineus suspensors during early embryogenesis

Summary The pattern of DNA and RNA puffs in pair VII of polytene chromosomes has been investigated in the suspensor ofPhaseolus coccineus during early embryo development. The pattern of³H-TdR and³H-U incorporation has been also detected. Collected data indicate that: 1. both heterochromatic regions, p₁₁ and q_(111+112), of chromosome pair VII, organize large DNA puffs; 2. DNA puffs of both regions are specific of different embryo differentiation steps; 3. a seasonal influence on the DNA puffing seems also to be present, as demonstrated by the comparison of the results collected in two different crops; 4. the incorporation experiment by³H-TdR evidences that not all DNA puffs show clustered labeling; 5. the RNA puffing of the two regions seems also to be specific of determined embryo stages.     

Tubular structures associated with the endothelial endoplasmic reticulum in glomerular capillaries of Rhesus monkey and nephritic man

Summary Round bodies, tubular profiles and crystalline images have been studied by electron microscopy in the endothelium of seven normal young Rhesus monkeys and in the renal glomerular endothelium of two nephritic human patients. The crystalline images are most frequently formed by aggregation of round bodies, 200–240 Å in diameter. In Rhesus monkeys a variety of crystalline images are seen. On the contrary, in nephritic patients round bodies and tubular profiles are rare and less organized. In the glomerular endothelium of two normal men they were not found.The results obtained suggest that the round bodies, the tubular profiles and the crystalline images result from sectioning of a system of undulating tubules associated with the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. In nephritic patients the formation of such a tubular system could represent a change taking place within the affected cells as a pathologic response to the disease.This work was supported by U.S. Public Health Service (N.H.I.), Grant AI-04527-03-04, and by the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (C.N.R.), Contributo 115/0815/0-1365. The Authors are greatly indebted to Miss Hermina Spiele for skilful technical assistance.     

A re-evaluation of the mesangial cells of the renal glomerulus

Summary The topographical localization of the mesangial cells in renal glomeruli of rats, and their relationships with the structures at the hilus of the glomerulus were studied in this investigation. It was observed that the mesangial cells occupy a parietal position in the wall of the glomerular capillaries, and that they are anatomically continuous with the smooth muscle cells of the tunica media of the glomerular arterioles.This study was supported by a United States Public Health Service Grant AM 08628 (Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases).     

Effect of oocyte-sperm co-incubation on acrosome reaction in the goat

The induction of acrosome reaction of goat spermatozoa was investigated. The acrosomal status of spermatozoa was determined by a triple-staining technique. The effect of the presence of goat oocytes on the proportion of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa was also determined. Ovulated oocytes were obtained from superstimulated adult goats. Other sources of oocytes were adult and prepubertal goats; oocytes from both sources were maturated in vitro. There was an increase in the percentage of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa from 4% +/- 0.98 to 9% +/- 1.41 when oocytes from adult females were used. Similar induction rates were measured with prepubertal and adult oocytes maturated in vitro (10.4% +/- 2.06 and 8.75% +/- 1.06, respectively). The influence of several qualities of cumulus oophorus as well as the presence of zona pellucida was also investigated. No significant differences were obtained with any cumulus oophorus or zona pellucida oocyte complexes. Although oocyte quality is important for high fertilization rates, it does not seem to be crucial for the induction of acrosome reaction.