A micromorphological study of some representative genera in the tribe Saturejeae (Lamia ceae)

HUSAIN, S. Z., MARIN, P. D., ŠILIĆ, Č., QAISER, M. & PETCOVIĆ, B., 1990. A micromorphological study of some representative genera in the tribe Saturejeae (Lamiaceae). The Old World genera in the tribe Saturejeae are usually distributed either in Europe and North Africa or in the temperate parts of Asia. The centres of distribution of investigated genera are mainly in the Mediterranean region. In taxonomic revisions very little reference is made to micromorphological characters, in particular, to nutlets and leaf indumentum, in spite of the stability of these characters. Scanning electron microscopy of nutlet surface and patterns of leaf indumentum show a wide range of variation, not only among genera, but also at lower levels of classification. In view of this, nutlet surface and leaf indumentum structure, as seen with the SEM, of representative species of eight genera in the tribe Saturejeae provides useful additional character combinations in delimiting these closely related genera. This study also supports Boissier's delimitation of sections Micromeria and Pseudomelissa.     

Expression of soluble,active, fluorescently tagged hephaestin in COS and CHO cell lines

Hephaestin (Hp) is a trans-membrane protein, which plays a critical role in intestinal iron absorption. Hp was originally identified as the gene responsible for the phenotype of sex-linked anaemia in the sla mouse. The mutation in the sla protein causes accumulation of dietary iron in duodenal cells, causing severe microcytic hypochromic anaemia. Although mucosal uptake of dietary iron is normal, export from the duodenum is inhibited. Hp is homologous to ceruloplasmin (Cp), a member of the family of multi copper ferroxidases (MCFs) and possesses ferroxidase activity that facilitates iron release from the duodenum and load onto the serum iron transport protein transferrin. In the present study, attempts were made to produce biologically active recombinant mouse hephaestin as a secretory form tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP), Hpsec-GFP. Plasmid expressing Hpsec-GFP was constructed and transfected into COS and CHO cells. The GFP aided the monitoring expression in real time to select the best conditions to maximise expression and provided a tag for purifying and analysing Hpsec-GFP. The protein had detectable oxidase activity as shown by in-gel and solution-based assays. The methods described here can provide the basis for further work to probe the interaction of hephaestin with other proteins using complementary fluorescent tags on target proteins that would facilitate the fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements, for example with transferrin or colocalisation studies, and help to discover more about hephaestin works at the molecular level.     

A MUCILAGE-FORMING LACTOBACILLUS SPECIES ISOLATED FROM CIDER. PART II. POLYSACCHARIDE FORMATION

SUMMARY: Cultures grown at 25° under an atmosphere of CO₂ in a medium containing maltose, inorganic salts and ethanolic extracts of peptone and yeast autolysate produced a polysaccharide, which was isolated and purified. Examination by a variety of chemical and biological methods indicated that it was a dextran of low molecular weight.     

NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF ACETOBACTER SPECIES: INORGANIC AMMONIUM SALTS AS SOURCES OF NITROGEN

SUMMARY: Forty-six strains of Acetobacter , representing twenty species, have been compared on the basis of their respective abilities to proliferate in two defined inorganic media, in which either glucose or ethanol was the sole source of carbon and energy. Twenty-three strains, representing eleven species, grew in either inorganic medium when glucose was present and nine of these strains, representing five species, could grow also in either inorganic medium when ethanol was present. The remaining twenty-three strains, representing eleven species, failed to grow in either medium with either glucose or ethanol. Three organisms grew better with ethanol than with glucose and three were inhibited by ethanol in the presence of glucose.     

Effect of vitamins on sprouting of purple nutsedge tubers

Vitamins of the B group and vitamin C were applied to purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) tubers to study their effect on the sprouting rate, initiation and establishment of sprouts, growth of plantlets and development of orthotropic rhizomes in comparison with the corresponding effects of kinetin. Ascorbic acid up to 100 mg I^?1 hastened sprouting, whereas vitamins of the B group and kinetin retarded sprouting; 100% tubers sprouted in all treatments within 10 days. Unlike kinetin, none of the vitamins resulted in the establishment of more than one sprout per tuber. Riboflavin and pyridoxine promoted root and shoot growth of the plantlets, whereas kinetin produced short, thick shoots and inhibited root growth, with increasing concentration. Ascorbic acid was only second to kinetin in the induction of orthotropic rhizomes, but the former resulted in an increase in rhizome length.     

Inter‐ and intra‐observer variation in the reporting of cervical smears: specialist cytopathologists versus histopathologists

One hundred and ten cervical smears were circulated to five specialist consultant cytopathologists and five consultant histopathologists. Of these smears, 100 were randomized and re‐circulated. The cytopathologists reported endocervical cells and wart virus infection more frequently than the histopathologists, although neither group showed good inter‐observer agreement for either assessment. Apart from smear adequacy and the presence of endocervical cells, both groups showed good intra‐observer agreement in all the parameters measured. This suggests that overall individuals were applying their own personal criteria with consistency over time, although a previous study had shown considerable lack of inter‐observer agreement among the histopathologists on the grade of dyskaryosis and the management recommendation. The results indicate that specialist cytopathologists bring a different viewpoint to the reporting of cervical smears than histopathologists. They also show a lack of standardization in the reporting of smears despite the guidelines issued by the British Society for Clinical Cytology.     

Cultural manipulations affecting callus formation from seedling explants of the pearl lupin (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet)

The influences of several cultural factors were investigated in relation to callus formation from seedling explants of L. mutabilis Sweet. The interaction of low culture temperature (18°C), light differences, rapid callus transfer, and media additions led to the successful abolition of media browning which usually accompanied callus senescence. The supplement of activated charcoal slowed down the growth rate of the callus produced, and made it appear friable. Low levels of picloram and dicamba were found to produce large quantities of friable callus especially when combined with kinetin. The availability of nitrogen, as well as type of explant, markedly influenced callus induction and growth, whilst the addition of glutamine enhanced callus formation.