Co-existence of immunoreactivity to anti-dopamine,anti-serotonin and anti-vasotocin in the cerebral giant neuron of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis

Summary Consecutive sections of certain neurons in the central ganglia of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis appear to be immunoreactive to anti-dopamine and anti-serotonin. The Cerebral Giant Neurons stain in addition with antivasotocin. The observations indicate the presence of two biogenic amines within the same neuron and in addition their co-existence with a biologically active peptide.     

Changes of fatty acid composition of phospholipids and lipid structural order in rat liver mitochondrial membrane subsequent to galactosamine intoxication. Effect of clofibrate

Since it has been earlier reported that D-galactosamine induces an inhibition of palmitoylcarnitine transferase I and a depletion of mitochondrial phospholipids which were both prevented by clofibrate, an evaluation of the effects of these drugs on mitochondrial fatty acid composition was made. Galactosamine does not alter the fatty acid pattern of these fatty acids whereas clofibrate induces a 2-fold increase in monounsaturated/saturated fatty acids ratio and a 10-fold decrease of the 20:4 (n - 6)/20:3 (n - 6) ratio in phosphatidylcholine. These alterations suggest an increase of delta 9-desaturation and a decrease of delta 5-desaturation. To determine whether the drug-induced changes in mitochondrial phospholipids has an effect on the physical properties of the membrane, the lipid structural order of mitochondrial preparations was studied using the lipophilic probes DPH and TMA-DPH. Mitochondrial isolated either from galactosamine- or clofibrate-treated rats showed a decrease in fluorescence polarization, indicating an overall decrease in lipid structural order. This alteration is more drastic when both drugs are administered. This phenomenon suggests drastic changes in the bulk phase of inner mitochondrial membrane lipids after treatments and could explain the altered kinetic properties of palmitoylcarnitine transferase I.     

Modulo is a target of Myc selectively required for growth of proliferative cells in Drosophila

In Drosophila, the homologue of the proto-oncogene Myc is a key regulator of both cell size and cell growth. The identities and roles of dMyc target genes in these processes, however, remain largely unexplored. Here, we investigate the function of the modulo (mod) gene, which encodes a nucleolus localized protein. In gain of function or loss of function experiments, we demonstrate that mod is directly controlled by dMyc. Strikingly, in proliferative imaginal cells, mod loss-of-function impairs both cell growth and cell size, whereas larval endoreplicative tissues grow normally. In contrast to dMyc, over-expressing Mod in wing imaginal discs is not sufficient to induce cell growth. Taken together, our results indicate that mod does not possess the full spectrum of dMyc activities, but is required selectively in proliferative cells to sustain their growth and to maintain their specific size.     

Expression of the blistered/DSRF gene is controlled by different morphogens during Drosophila trachea and wing development

The Drosophila serum response factor (DSRF) is expressed in the precursors of the terminal tracheal cells and in the future intervein territories of the third instar wing imaginal disc. Dissection of the DSRF regulatory region reveals that a single enhancer element, which is under the control of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-receptor signalling pathway, is sufficient to induce DSRF expression in the terminal tracheal cells. In contrast, two separate enhancers direct expression in distinct intervein sectors of the wing imaginal disc. One element is active in the central intervein sector and is induced by the Hedgehog signalling pathway. The other element is under the control of Decapentaplegic and is active in two separate territories, which roughly correspond to the intervein sectors flanking the central sector. Hence, each of the three characterized enhancers constitutes a molecular link between a specific territory induced by a morphogen signal and the localized expression of a gene required for the final differentiation of this territory.