Closure of a genetic linkage map of human chromosome 7q with centromere and telomere polymorphisms.

We have constructed a 2.4-cM resolution genetic linkage map for chromosome 7q that is bounded by centromere and telomere polymorphisms and contains 66 loci (88 polymorphic systems), 38 of which are uniquely placed with odds for order of at least 1000:1. Ten genes are included in the map and 11 markers have heterozygosities of at least 70%. This map is the first to incorporate several highly informative markers derived from a telomere YAC clone HTY146 (locus D7S427), including HTY146c3 (HET 92%). The telomere locus markers span at least 200 kb of the 7q terminus and no crossovers within the physical confines of the locus were observed in approximately 240 jointly informative meioses. The sex-equal map length is 158 cM and the largest genetic interval between uniquely localized markers in this map is 11 cM. The female and male map lengths are 181 and 133 cM, respectively. The map is based on the CEPH reference pedigrees and includes over 4000 new genotypes, our previously reported data plus 29 allele systems from the published CEPH version 5 database, and was constructed using the program package CRI-MAP. This genetic linkage map can be considered a baseline map for 7q, and will be useful for defining the extent of chromosome deletions previously reported for breast and prostate cancers, for developing additional genetic maps such as index marker and 1-cM maps, and ultimately for developing a fully integrated genetic and physical map for this chromosome.     

Stomatal Movement and Sucrose Uptake by Guard Cell Protoplasts of Commelina benghalensis L.

Sucrose concentration in guard cells of epidermal strips ofCommelina benghalensis increased with stomatal opening. Sucroseuptake patterns were investigated using guard cell protoplastsof C. benghalensis. Sucrose (0.5 mM) uptake into these protoplastswas sensitive to pH, with an optimum at pH 6. Uptake of sucroseinto guard cell protoplasts was inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol(DNP), diethylstilbestrol (DES) and (ptrifluoromethoxy)carbonylcyanide phenylhydrozone (FCCP), while DCMU and o-phenanthrolinehad no effect on the uptake of sucrose. Fusicoccin (FC) stimulatedsucrose influx. The influence of pH and the effect of the metabolicinhibitors on the sucrose uptake into the guard cell protoplastsare consistent with an energy dependent membrane-function. (Received July 7, 1986; Accepted September 26, 1986)     

Mepiquat chloride (PIX)-induced changes in photosynthesis and growth of cotton

Mepiquat chloride (N, N-dimethylpiperidinium chloride), well known as PIX, is a potential systemic plant growth regulator. The effects of PIX on plant height, stem elongation, leaf area, net photosynthetic rates, chlorophyll content, sucrose and starch levels, and RuBP carboxylase activity in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. DES 119) plants were measured. PIX was sprayed (0, 7.65, 15.3, 30.6 or 61.2 g active ingredient ha^–1) on the plants at first square (25 days after emergence) and measurements were made at frequent intervals. Plant height was clearly reduced by PIX. The total length of vegetative branches and fruiting branches was 40% and 50% less than the control. Total leaf area in PIX treated plants was 16% less than the control. Net photosynthetic rates were 25% less in PIX-treated leaves. PIX treated leaves had more chlorophyll content. The activity of RuBP carboxylase was decreased in PIX treated plants. Starch accumulation was noticed in PIX treated leaves while sucrose content was not changed. The data reported here suggest that reduced growth responses induced by PIX results in partial loss of photosynthetic capacity in cotton at least up to 20 days after application of the growth regulator.     

Identification and sequence characterization of a 1.3 Kb EcoRI repeat fragment that harbors a DNA repair site of rat pachytene spermatocytes

Introduction of well-programmed nicks and gaps and the associated DNA repair activity in the genome at the pachytene interval is a characteristic feature of the meiotic prophase in organisms as varied as lilium and mouse. In the present study we have shown that the DNA synthetic activity in rat pachytene spermatocytes is insensitive to aphidicolin, a specific inhibitor of DNA polymerase , and , suggesting DNA -polymerase-mediated repair synthesis in these cells. We have developed a novel approach for the isolation of the DNA repair sites by combining two independent techniques. Following incorporation of BrdUrd into pachytene spermatocytes in the presence of aphidicolin, the repair sites were released as ssDNA fragments by treatment of nuclei with 30 mM NaOH. Subsequently, the BrdUrd containing ssDNA fragments were specifically isolated using polyclonal anti-BrdUrd antibodies. The DNA fragments released were of two size classes, namely 4–7S (major) and 9–12S (minor) and constituted approximately 1.75% of the pachytene genomic DNA. These DNA repair fragments were distinct from Okazaki fragments and other replicative intermediates isolated from rat bone marrow cells as evidenced by (a) their different size distribution and (b) little cross-hybridization. Southern hybridization of restriction enzyme digests of rat genomic DNA with probes made against BrdUrd-ssDNA fragments revealed that although the repair sites were distributed throughout the genome, strong hybridization signals were observed in EcoRI, (1.3 kb and 2.4 kb), BamH1 (9 kb) and HindIII (5 kb) repetetive DNA fragments. The EcoRI 1.3 kb family were cloned into M13 mp19, and a repair positive (1.3 A) and a repair negative (1.3 B) were identified and sequenced. The repair positive clone contained (a) (CA)₂₂ repeat, (b) a (CAGA)₆ repeat and (c) 4 sequences sharing high homology with various hypervariable minisatellite (HVMS) sequences. One of the HVMS sequence contained a GGCAGG motif known to be responsible for germline instability. The repair negative clone had (a) (CA)₆ repeat and (b) a HVMS like sequence without GGCAGG. The significance of these motifs and their relevance to the events of DNA metabolism at pachytene interval have been discussed.     

Hybridization and introgression of the genomes of Drosophila nasuta and Drosophila albomicans: evolution of new karyotypes.

Drosophila nasuta (2n = 8) and Drosophila albomicans (2n = 6) are cross-fertile allopatric sibling chromosomal races of the nasuta subgroup of Drosophila. Hybrids of these races can be maintained for any number of generations. Some of the introgressed hybrid lineages of D. nasuta and D. albomicans, after passing through a transient phase of karyotypic polymorphism, ended up with a stable karyotype whose composition is different from those of the parental races. Such hybrid populations were called cytoraces, in which the chromosomes of D. nasuta and D. albomicans are represented in different combinations. The karyotypic composition of 16 such cytoraces have been presented and discussed with reference to evolutionary strategies such as balancing selection, directional selection, and sex-specific effect on different components of the evolving karyotypes.     

Biodegradation of 4-nitrophenol by indigenous microbial populations in Everglades soils

The Everglades in South Florida are a unique ecological system. As a result of the widespread use of pesticides and herbicides in agricultural areas upstream from these wetlands, there is a serious potential for pollution problems in the Everglades. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of indigenous microbial populations to degrade xenobiotic organic compounds introduced by agricultural and other activities. Such biodegradation may facilitate the remediation of contaminated soils and water in the Everglades. The model compound selected in this study is 4-nitrophenol, a chemical commonly used in the manufacture of pesticides. The mineralization of 4-nitrophenol at various concentrations was studied in soils collected from the Everglades. At concentrations of 10 and 100 microg/g soil, considerable mineralization occurred within a week. At a higher concentration, i.e., 10 mg/g soil, however, no mineralization of 4-nitrophenol occurred over a 4-month period; such a high concentration apparently produced an inhibitory effect. The rate and extent of 4-nitrophenol mineralization was enhanced on inoculation with previously isolated nitrophenol-degrading microorganisms. The maximum mineralization extent measured, however, was less than 30% suggesting conversion to biomass and/or unidentified intermediate products. These results indicate the potential for natural mechanisms to mitigate the adverse effects of xenobiotic pollutants in a complex system such as the Everglades.     

Effects of nonionic surfactants on the solubilization and mineralization of phenanthrene in soil-water systems

The solubilization and mineralization of (14)C-phenanthrene in soil-water systems was examined with several commercially available surface-active agents, viz., an alkyl ethoxylate C(12)E(4); two alkylphenol ethoxylate surfactants: C(8)PE(9.5) and C(9)PE(10.5); two sorbitan ethoxylate surfactants: the sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20) and the sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80); two pairs of nonionic ethoxylate surfactant mixtures: C(12)E(4)/C(12)E(23) at a 1:1 ratio, and C(12-15)E(3)/C(12-15)E(9) at a 1:3 ratio; and two surfactants possessing relatively high critical micelle concentration (CMC) values and low aggregation numbers: CHAPS and octyglucoside. Surface tension experiments were performed to evaluate surfactant sorption onto soil and the surfactant doses required to attain the CMC in the soil-water systems. Surfactant solubilization of (14)C-phenanthrene commenced with the onset of micellization. The addition of surface-active agents was observed not to be beneficial to the microbial mineralization of phenanthrene in the soil-water systems and, for supra-CMC surfactant doses, phenanthrene mineralization was completely inhibited for all the surfactants tested. A comparison of solubilization, surface tension, and mineralization data confirms that the inhibitory effect on microbial degradation of phenanthrene is related to the CMC of the surfactant in the presence of soil. Additional tests demonstrated the recovery of mineralization upon dilution of surfactant concentration to sub-CMC levels, and a relatively high exit rate for phenanthrene from micelles. These tests suggest that the inhibitory effect is probably related to a reversible physiological surfactant micelle-bacteria interaction, possibly through partial complexing or release of membrane material with disrupting membrane lamellar structure. This study indicates that nonionic surfactant solubilization of sorbed hydrophobic organic compounds from soil may not be beneficial for the concomitant enhancement of soil bioremediation. Additional work is needed to address physicochemical processes for bioavailability enhancement, and effects of solubilizing agents on microorganisms for remediation and treatment of hydrophobic organic compounds and nonaqueous phase liquids. (c) 1992 John Wiley & Sons Inc.     

Pseudouridine residues in the 5′-terminus of uridine-rich nuclear RNA I (U1 RNA)

The primary nucleotide sequence was reported earlier for U1 RNA (Reddy et al, (1974) J. Biol. Chem. $\text{249}$, 6486–6494), an snRNA implicated in splicing of HnRNAs. In view of the presence of homologous pseudouridine (ψ) residues in 5′-ends of several highly conserved U-snRNAs and the recent report of modified bases in the U1 RNA structure (Branlant et al, (1980) Nucleic Acids Res. $\text{8}$, 4143–4154) a study was made for the presence of ψ and other modified nucleotides in the 5′-end of the U1 RNA. Identification of ψ residues at positions 6 and 7, shows the 5′-sequence of U1 RNA is: m₃², 2,7 GpppAm-Um-A-C-ψ-ψ-A-C-C-U-G-G-C-A-G-G-G-G-A-G-A-U-A-C. The ψ residues in place of U at positions 6 and 7 may affect the binding of U1 RNA at intron-exon splice junctions.     

Effect of extreme salinity conditions on the survival of Mytilopsis sallei Recluz (Pelecypoda)

Effects of salinity conditions, ranging from fresh water to 80, on the survival of marine molluscan fouling species, Mytilopsis sallei Recluz, have been studied in the laboratory. The results show that the species exhibits a wide tolerance to different salinity conditions including freshwater, showing normal activity up to 50 beyond which the higher salt concentration had a lethal effect. The effect of various salinity conditions on spawning has also been examined. The significance of wide range tolerance to salinity on the fouling in seawater cooling systems is discussed.     

Copy number variation-based polymorphism in a new pseudoautosomal region 3 (PAR3) of a human X-chromosome-transposed region (XTR) in the Y chromosome

A 3.5-Mb region of the X chromosome underwent duplication and transposition to the Y chromosome ~5–6 Mya. This X-transposed-region (XTR) originated at Xq21.3 and was inserted at Yp11.2. The two locations have 98.78 % homology and a high concentration of tandem repeats. In whole-genome scans of ten large families with dyslexic members, we identified transposed blocks comprising >102 kb of the Yp11.2 region in its homologous region at Xq21.3 in three females from three different families. Although recombination is known to be limited only to the pseudoautosomal regions (PARs) of the X and Y chromosomes, we report allelic unequal recombination between the XTR region Yp11.2 and Xq21.3, indicating the presence of a new PAR, which we named PAR3. This PAR3 region was also found in 2 % of the general population. An additional layer of justification could be provided from six other dyslexic cases which harbored duplications and deletions in the same Xq21.3 and Yp11.2 regions through allelic unequal recombination.