The cytomegalovirus enhancer: a pan-active control element in transgenic mice.

In an effort to identify widely active positive regulatory elements, we have examined the action of the cytomegalovirus enhancer-promoter in transgenic mice. These elements activated expression in 24 of 28 tissues tested. The greatest expression was observed in the heart, kidney, brain, and testis. Maximum expression further localized to specific cells within the heart and kidney.     

Protein diffusion in crowded electrolyte solutions

We report on a combined cold neutron backscattering and spin-echo study of the short-range and long-range nanosecond diffusion of the model globular protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) in aqueous solution as a function of protein concentration and NaCl salt concentration. Complementary small angle X-ray scattering data are used to obtain information on the correlations of the proteins in solution. Particular emphasis is put on the effect of crowding, i.e. conditions under which the proteins cannot be considered as objects independent of each other. We thus address the question at which concentration this crowding starts to influence the static and in particular also the dynamical behaviour. We also briefly discuss qualitatively which charge effects, i.e. effects due to the interplay of charged molecules in an electrolyte solution, may be anticipated. Both the issue of crowding as well as that of charge effects are particularly relevant for proteins and their function under physiological conditions, where the protein volume fraction can be up to approximately 40% and salt ions are ubiquitous. The interpretation of the data is put in the context of existing studies on related systems and of existing theoretical models.     

C-banding polymorphism and the analysis of nucleolar activity in Dasypyrum villosum (L.) Candargy,its added chromosomes to hexaploid wheat and the amphiploid Triticum dicoccum — D. villosum

Summary C-banding patterns and nucleolar activity were analyzed in Dasypyrum villosum, its added chromosomes to hexaploid wheat and the hexaploid amphiploid Triticum dicoccum-D. villosum. Two different populations of the allogamous species D. villosum (2n= 14, VV) from Greece and Italy were analyzed showing a similar polymorphism for C-banding pattern. Six of the seven addition lines were identified by their characteristic C-banding pattern. No polymorphism between both members of each added alien chromosome was found. Furthermore, nucleolar activity and competition were studied by using silver staining procedure. In D. villosum only one chromosome pair, A, was found to be responsible for organizing nucleoli. The results obtained in the amphiploid and in the addition lines demonstrate that nucleolar activity is restricted to SAT-chromosomes 1B and 6B of wheat, while those of D. villosum remain inactive.     

Transfer of the 1BL/1RS wheat-rye-translocation from hexaploid bread wheat to tetraploid durum wheat

Summary The present study describes a cytological stable alien chromosome translocation in tetraploid durum wheat. By crossing the hexaploid 1BL/1RS wheat-rye translocation line Veery to the tetraploid durum wheat cultivar Cando it was possible to select a 28 chromosomic strain homozygous for the 1BL/1RS translocation. The disease resistance potential of the short arm of rye chromosome 1R, which has been widely introduced in many hexaploid bread wheat cultivars could be now also used for the improvement of durum wheat.     

Bacterial sarcosine oxidase: identification of novel substrates and a biradical reaction intermediate

Corynebacterial sarcosine oxidase contains both covalently and noncovalently bound FAD and forms complexes with various heterocyclic carboxylic acids (D-proline and 2-furoic, 2-pyrrolecarboxylic, and 2-thiophenecarboxylic acids). 2-Furoic acid, a competitive inhibitor with respect to sarcosine, selectively perturbs the absorption spectrum of the noncovalent flavin, suggesting that the enzyme has a single sarcosine binding site near the noncovalent flavin. Several heterocyclic amines have been identified as new substrates for the enzyme. Similar reactivity is observed with L-proline and L-pipecolic acid whereas L-2-azetidine-carboxylic acid is less reactive. Turnover with L-proline is slow (TN = 4.4 min-1) as compared with sarcosine (TN = 1000 min-1). Anaerobic reduction of the enzyme with heterocyclic amine substrates at pH 8.0 occurs as a biphasic reaction. A similar long-wavelength intermediate is formed in the initial fast phase of each reaction and then decays in a slower second phase to yield 1,5-dihydroFAD. The slow phase is not kinetically significant during aerobic turnover at pH 8.0 and is absent when the anaerobic reactions are conducted at pH 7.0. EPR and other studies at pH 7.0 show that the long-wavelength species is a half-reduced form of the enzyme (1 electron/substrate-reducible flavin) containing 0.9 mol of flavin radical/mol of substrate-reducible flavin. This biradical intermediate exhibits an absorption spectrum similar to that expected for a 50:50 mixture of red anionic and blue neutral flavin radicals. A similar long-wavelength species is observed during titration of the enzyme with sarcosine and other reductants. Studies with L-proline suggest that reduction of the enzyme involves initial transfer of two electrons to the noncovalent flavin. The covalent flavin is not required and can be complexed with sulfite without affecting the rate of electron transfer. The initial half-reduced form of the enzyme appears to be rapidly converted to the biradical form via comproportionation of the reduced noncovalent flavin with the oxidized covalent flavin.     

The anatomy of the circumgenital scent gland of Saguinus fuscicollis (Callitrichidae, Primates)

In the adult male Saguinus fuscicollis , the scrotal skin and the area above the root of the penis are raised in a sharply defined cushion, which extends cranially into a rectangular suprapubic pad. The circumgenital area of the adult female resembles that of the male, except that the suprapubic pad is relatively and absolutely larger. A complex glandular organ, composed of holocrine and apocrine glands, is located beneath the epidermis of the circumgenital skin. In males, specialized holocrine glands associated with hair follicles predominate. They form a layer, 2-3 mm deep beneath the epidermis. These holocrine glands have a complex alveolar structure and possess numerously branched excretory ducts. Each group of glands empties into a common duct which enters the hair follicle. In males, the apocrine glands are located predominantly at the periphery of the glandular pad and between the scrotal and perineal areas. The excretory ducts of most apocrine glands empty on to the skin surface in close spatial association with hair follicles. However, independent openings were also observed. In females, the specialized holocrine glands resemble those of males but are more frequently interspersed with apocrine glands. The apocrine glands are larger and much more numerous than in males, especially in the region of the labia majora. Gonadectomy of an adult male and female resulted in a reduction in the size of the holocrine glands but had much less effect on the apocrine glands of the scent organ. In addition, the sexual dimorphism in gland histology was retained years after castration.