The structure and evolution of the spider monkey delta-globin gene

We have isolated the delta-globin gene of the New-World spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi, and compared its nucleotide sequence with those of other primate delta- and beta-globin genes. Among primate delta-globin genes, the rate of nonsynonymous substitutions is much less than the rate of synonymous substitutions. This suggests that primate delta- globin genes may remain under evolutionary conservation, perhaps because hemoglobin A2 has an as yet unknown physiological importance.      

Portal vein network around the liver lobules demonstrates the lobular structure of the liver

The regularity of a basketlike surrounding of parenchymatous parts of the liver by portal branches proves the lobular organization of the liver. The wall formation of the portal basket (corbicula portalis) is demonstrated by several figures.     

Biochemical pathways in prokaryotes can be traced backward through evolutionary time

For the first time, a credible prokaryotic phylogenetic tree is being assembled by Woese and others using quantitative sequence analysis of oligonucleotides in the highly conservative rRNA. This provides an evolutionary scale against which the evolutionary steps that led to the arrangement and regulation of contemporary biochemical pathways can be measured. This paper presents an emerging evolutionary picture of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis within a large superfamily assemblage of prokaryotes that is sufficiently developed to illustrate a new perspective that will be applicable to many other biochemical pathways.      

The evolutionary history of the amylase multigene family in Drosophila pseudoobscura

In Drosophila pseudoobscura, the amylase (Amy) multigene family is contained within a series of inversions, or gene arrangements, on the third chromosome. The Standard (ST), Santa Cruz (SC), and Tree Line (TL) inversions are central to the phylogeny of arrangements, and have clusters of other arrangements derived from them. The gene arrangements belonging to each of these three clusters have a characteristic number of Amy genes, ranging from three in ST to two in SC to one in TL. This distribution pattern can reflect a history of either duplications or deletions, although the data available in the past did not permit a decision between these alternatives. We provide unambiguous evidence that three Amy genes were present before the divergence of the ST, SC, and TL arrangements. Thus, the current status of the Amy multigene family is the result of deletions in the TL and SC arrangements, which created three new pseudogenes: TL Amy2-psi, TL Amy3-psi, and SC Amy3- psi. Analysis of pseudogene sequences revealed that, in the SC and ST arrangements, pseudogene evolution has been retarded, most likely due to the homogenization effect of gene conversion. Finally, by determining the original copy number, we have reconstructed the evolutionary history of the Amy multigene family and linked it with the evolution of the central gene arrangements.      

Gene-rich plastid genomes of two parasitic red algal species,Laurencia australis and L. verruciformis (Rhodomelaceae,Ceramiales), and a taxonomic revision of Janczewskia

Parasitic red algae are an interesting system for investigating the genetic changes that occur in parasites. These parasites have evolved independently multiple times within the red algae. The functional loss of plastid genomes can be investigated in these multiple independent examples, and fine-scale patterns may be discerned. The only plastid genomes from red algal parasites known so far are highly reduced and missing almost all photosynthetic genes. Our study assembled and annotated plastid genomes from the parasites Janczewskia tasmanica and its two Laurencia host species (Laurencia elata and one unidentified Laurencia sp. A25) from Australia and Janczewskia verruciformis, its host species (Laurencia catarinensis), and the closest known free-living relative (Laurencia obtusa) from the Canary Islands (Spain). For the first time we show parasitic red algal plastid genomes that are similar in size and gene content to free-living host species without any gene loss or genome reduction. The only exception was two pseudogenes (moeB and ycf46) found in the plastid genome of both isolates of J. tasmanica, indicating potential for future loss of these genes. Further comparative analyses with the three highly reduced plastid genomes showed possible gene loss patterns, in which photosynthetic gene categories were lost followed by other gene categories. Phylogenetic analyses did not confirm monophyly of Janczewskia, and the genus was subsumed into Laurencia. Further investigations will determine if any convergent small-scale patterns of gene loss exist in parasitic red algae and how these are applicable to other parasitic systems.     

USE OF SENSORY EVALUATION FOR MEASURING DEODORIZING EFFECTS OF AN AIR CONDITIONER

The application of sensory methodology for measuring deodorizing effect of an air conditioner equipped with electric plasma was introduced. Deodorizing effect was measured using chemical and sensory methods at different time (0, 30 and 60 min) and mode (control, blowing and cooling) of an air conditioner. Smoke from a roll of cigarette in a closed room was used as a source of odor and the concentrations of acetic acid and ammonia were measured as odorous chemical components. As one of the sensory methods triangle test was used and as a first step to obtain deodorizing effects by triangle test, the threshold of each panelist was obtained as the log dilution ratio of odor concentration at which the difference from odorless air was detected. The odor concentration at each time and mode was calculated using the threshold of the panel and the deodorizing effect was obtained on the basis of the odor concentration. In addition to a triangle test, scaling methods such as category scaling or magnitude estimation were used to measure deodorizing effect of an air conditioner. Deodorizing effects by scaling methods were calculated based on odor intensity with time at each mode. The regression analysis was done between the efficacy of deodorizing effect by sensory test and those by acetic acid and ammonia, the R² values of the regression equations for triangle test, category scale, and magnitude estimation were 0.84, 0.72 and 0.69, respectively. Deodorizing effect by triangle test explained the decrease of acetic acid and ammonia better than those by category scaling or magnitude estimation while high cost and time consuming labor involved in triangle tests reduced the merit. The results of this study demonstrated that various sensory methods could be used to measure deodorizing effect of air conditioners and further researches on fast and reliable methods are needed to establish the official procedures.     

Effects of the rat renotropic system on 14C-uridine incorporation into RNA and RNA precursors.

We used the incorporation of ¹⁴C-uridine into RNA of incubating kidney fragments from normal control rats to evaluate RNA metabolism. Sera from unilaterally nephrectomized rats (uni) obtained 20 hrs post-operatively stimulate ¹⁴C-uridine incorporation into RNA significantly more than sera from sham-operated rats (sham). Differently, sera from uni and sham rats have little influence on specific activities of endogenous uridine nucleotide pool in renal fragments. Renal extracts were obtained by homogenizing kidneys in saline. Extracts from kidneys of uni and sham rats 20 hrs post operation depress incorporation markedly, and each depresses to a similar extent, but kidney extracts dilute the specific activities of uridine pools. Correcting for the latter dilution demonstrates that kidney extracts alone have little effect on ¹⁴C-uridine incorporation into RNA. We then followed the results when these sera and extracts were combined. Compared to fragments incubating in sham sera and sham extracts, substitution of uni extracts or both uni extracts and uni sera enhances ¹⁴C-uridine into renal RNA, whether or not results are corrected for changes in the specific activities of the uridine pools. We conclude that after uninephrectomy there is a concurrent elevation in circulating renotropin and a tissue activating factor in the remaining kidney. The tissue factor can only form an excitor to ¹⁴C-uridine incorporation into RNA when serum is present. The rat renotropic system that enhances incorporation of ³H-thymidine into DNA also can stimulate ¹⁴C-uridine incorporation into renal RNA.     

Measurement of renal blood flow in the rat.

The radioactive microsphere technique is a simple method for measurement of RBF and intrarenal blood flow distribution in the rat that does not require surgical manipulation of the kidney or general anesthesia. The results are reproducible and compatible with other established techniques.     

No corpora sesamoidea laryngis in man and animal]

The fact that the Corpora sesamoidea have never been precisely defined has led to a series of small cartilaginous bodies in the larynx being thus designated, for want of a better solution. Since the corpora sesamoidea have been identified as capsular bodies, however, originating in or in connection with a synovial capsule, there remained only one laryngeal cartilage which appeared to fulfill all the criteria of sesamoid cartilage, namely the papilionaceous cartilage found in all alar species from Monotremata to Carnivora, and which comparative anatomists term proarytaenoid cartilage. If Goeppert's findings are regarded as having an additional functional significance, then it is clear that this cartilage too, like cartilagines interarytaenoidea, postarytaenoidea (dorsoarytaenoidea in the dog?) pararytaenoidea, cunciformis, corniculata, intercorniculata and triticea, is a connecting cartilage.