Intracellular Calcium Deficits in Drosophila Cholinergic Neurons Expressing Wild Type or FAD-Mutant Presenilin

Much of our current understanding about neurodegenerative diseases can be attributed to the study of inherited forms of these disorders. For example, mutations in the presenilin 1 and 2 genes have been linked to early onset familial forms of Alzheimer''s disease (FAD). Using the Drosophila central nervous system as a model we have investigated the role of presenilin in one of the earliest cellular defects associated with Alzheimer''s disease, intracellular calcium deregulation. We show that expression of either wild type or FAD-mutant presenilin in Drosophila CNS neurons has no impact on resting calcium levels but does give rise to deficits in intracellular calcium stores. Furthermore, we show that a loss-of-function mutation in calmodulin, a key regulator of intracellular calcium, can suppress presenilin-induced deficits in calcium stores. Our data support a model whereby presenilin plays a role in regulating intracellular calcium stores and demonstrate that Drosophila can be used to study the link between presenilin and calcium deregulation.     

Co-segregation of a gene encoding a deletion ligand for Tcrb-V3+ T cells with Mtv-3

A gene encoding the endogenous superantigen Mls^c, which deletes Tcrb-V3⁺ T cells in the NOD inbred mouse strain, was found to co-segregate with Mtv-3 on chromosome 11. This identifies a fourth gene encoding a deletion ligand for Tcrb-V3⁺ T cells and extends recently published observations in support of the hypothesis that a number of endogenous superantigens are the products of Mtv proviruses. Address correspondence and offprint requests to : K. Tomonari.     

A growth inhibitory protein secreted by human diploid fibroblasts. Partial purification and characterization

We have identified and partially purified a growth inhibitor protein secreted by human diploid fibroblast cells. This protein is not secreted constitutively but only after induction with the double stranded hetero duplex polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic acid. The growth inhibitory activity has been purified 3,800-fold and has an estimated molecular mass of 12,000 daltons. The protein will inhibit the growth in culture of human diploid fibroblast cells, human cells derived from tumors, and mouse L cells. Although interferon-beta is secreted with the growth inhibitory protein, the partially purified growth inhibitory protein has no antiviral activity, and its activity is not neutralized by antibodies to interferon-alpha, interferon-beta, and interferon-gamma. We believe this growth inhibitory activity to reside in a newly defined protein and have named it fibroblast-derived growth inhibitor.     

Minitron II system for precise control of the plant growth environment

A transparent, cylindrical chamber system was developed to allow measurement of gas-exchange by small crop canopies in the undisturbed plant growth environment. The system is an elaboration of the Minitron system developed previously to compare growth of small plants in different environments within the same general growth area. The Minitron II system described herein accommodates hydroponic culture and separate control of atmospheric composition in individual chambers. Root and shoot environments are compartmented separately to accommodate atmospheres of different flow rate and/or gaseous composition. A series of 0-rings and tension-adjustable springs allow carbon dioxide in the flowing atmosphere to be analyzed without cross-contamination between chamber compartments or from external gas sources. Carbon dioxide has been maintained at set point +/- 9 g m-3 over a range of CO2 concentrations from 382 to 2725 g m-3 and with an atmosphere turnover rate of 136.7 cm3 s-1 by computer-assisted mass flow controllers. Each chamber has dimensions large enough (61 cm internal diameter, 0.151 m3 internal volume) to allow adequate replication of individual plants for statistical purposes (e.g., up to 36 equally-spaced plant holders). No significant variation in growth or photosynthetic rate of leaf lettuce occurred between chambers for a given set of environmental conditions. Gas-exchange rates in different chambers changed to a similar extent as CO2 concentration in the flowing atmosphere or chamber temperature were varied by the same amount. When coupled with appropriate control systems, Minitron II chambers can provide separate controlled environments for multiple small plants with adequate precision and at relatively low cost.     

Spectral analysis of ventilation in elderly subjects awake and asleep

We studied the periodicities of ventilation in elderly subjects using digital comb filtering. Two groups of subjects were studied, those with and without sleep apnea. Measurements were made in wakefulness, stage 1-2 sleep, and where possible in stage 3-4 sleep. For each of the digital filters we calculated the average power of the oscillatory output. To compare subject groups we first specifically determined the average power in the filter with the maximum output. The mean of this measurement was greater in elderly subjects with apnea compared with those without apnea, both during wakefulness and stage 1-2 sleep. In both groups of subjects the cycle time of the major ventilatory oscillations was on the order of 40-60 s. There was no difference in this cycle time between the two groups of subjects in wakefulness or stage 1-2 sleep. Thus, whereas similar oscillatory processes occur in subjects with and without apnea, it is the magnitude of the oscillation that differs between the two groups. These conclusions are supported by analysis of the output of individual filters of the digital comb filter. In both groups, stage 1-2 sleep produced significantly increased oscillations in ventilation. Both in wakefulness and stage 1-2 sleep, significantly greater periodicities occurred in the apneic compared with the nonapneic group. In the few subjects who had sufficient data in stage 3-4 sleep for spectral analysis, ventilatory oscillations were virtually absent in this state. Our data suggest that subjects who develop apnea during sleep have an increased propensity for periodic breathing even while awake.     

Genetic analysis of a mutant class of Physcomitrella patens in which the polarity of gravitropism is reversed.

Summary In the moss Physcomitrella patens, single-cell protonemata and multicellular gametophores respond to reorientation relative to the gravity vector by growing negatively gravitropically. A mutant class in which the protonemata, but not the gametophores, respond by growing towards gravity has been identified. In this paper, we describe the isolation of additional mutants of this class. Complementation and segregation ratio analyses were carried out on these mutants, which indicate that a single gene may mutate to switch the polarity of gravitropism.