Sequence and functional analysis of the cloned Neisseria meningitidis CMP-NeuNAc synthetase

The CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid (CMP-NeuNAc) synthetase gene of Neisseria meningitidis group B is located on a 2.3-kb EcoRI fragment within the cps gene cluster. Nucleotide sequence determination of the gene encoding the CMP-NeuNAc synthetase revealed a 515-bp open reading frame that can encode a 18.9-kDA protein. A computer data base scan revealed a 59.4% identity to the CMP-NeuNAc synthetase gene of E. coli K1. Enzymatic activity was confirmed in vitro and in vivo. Transformation of the CMP-NeuNAc defective E. coli K1 strain EV5 with the meningococcal CMP-NeuNAc synthetase could complement the defect in E. coli.     

The Effect of Traffic Density on Lead Contents in Roadside Soils: An Analysis of Published Data

Data from eight published studies were combined to show that the influence of traffic density on Pb contents in roadside soils increases with proximity to the road.     

Ultrastructural demonstration of NAD-pyrophosphorylase activity in mouse liver nuclei.

Ultrastructural demonstration of NAD-pyrophosphorylase activity (E.C.2.7.7.1) in isolated mouse liver nuclei was investigated with the use of an electronhistochemical procedure based on the precipitation of pyrophosphate ions with lead ions under conditions permitting simultaneous ATPase inhibition by formaldehyde/ethanol prefixation. In isolated mouse liver nuclei activity of NAD-pyrophosphorylase was found in nucleoli, in interchromatin granules, coiled bodies and strand-like structures in nucleoplasm.     

Retardation of cell cycle progression in yeast cells recovering from DNA damage: A study at the single cell level

Summary Pedigree analyses of individual yeast cells recovering from DNA damage were performed and time intervals between morphological landmark events during the cell cycle (bud emergence and cell separation), were recorded for three generations. The associated nuclear behavior was monitored with the aid of DAPI staining. The following observations were made: (1) All agents tested (X-rays, MMS, EMS, MNNG, nitrous acid) delayed the first bud emergence after treatment, which indicates inhibition of the initiation of DNA replication. (2) Cells that survived X-irradiation progressed further through the cell cycle in a similar way to control cells. (3) Progress of chemically treated cells became extremely asynchronous because surviving cells stayed undivided for periods of varying length. (4) Prolongation of the time between bud emergence and cell separation was most pronounced for cells treated with the alkylating agents MMS and EMS. This is interpreted as retardation of ongoing DNA synthesis by persisting DNA adducts. (5) Cell cycle prolongation in the second and third generation after treatment was observed only with MMS treated cells. (6) In all experiments, individual cells of uniformly treated populations exhibited highly variable responses.Abbreviations DAPI 4,6-diamidino-2-phenyl-indole - EMS ethyl methanesulfonate - MMS methyl methanesulfonate - MNNG N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine     

Synthesis of trisaccharides containing 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid residues related to the KDO-region of enterobacterial lipopolysaccharides

Glycosylation of methyl (allyl 7,8-O-carbonyl-3-deoxy-alpha-D-manno-2-octulo-pyranosid)o nate with an alpha-(2----4) linked per-O-acetylated KDO-disaccharide bromide derivative under Helferich conditions afforded a 2:1 mixture of the alpha- and beta-linked trisaccharide derivatives in 50% yield. Removal of the protecting groups gave sodium O-[sodium (3-deoxy-alpha-D-manno-2-octulopyranosyl)onate]-(2----4)-O-[ sodium (3-deoxy-alpha- and -beta-D-manno-2-octulopyranosyl)onate]-(2----4)-sodium (allyl 3-deoxy-alpha-D-manno-2-octulopyranosid)onate. Radical copolymerization of the allyl glycosides afforded artificial antigens, suitable for defining antibody specificities directed against the KDO-region of enterobacterial lipopolysaccharides.     

A “new” genetic polymorphism of a human serum protein: inter-alpha-trypsin-inhibitor

Summary A new genetic polymorphism of a human serum glycoprotein, the inter--trypsin-inhibitor (ITI), has been demonstrated by population and family studies. Sera were examined after neuraminidase treatment by isoelectric focusing on agarose gels followed by immunoblotting or by immunfixation with specific ITI-antiserum. Using this method, three common ITI phenotypes 1, 1–2 and 2, as well as two further rare ITI types 1–3 and 2–3 were disclosed. Genetically, these phenotypes are controlled by three allelic genes that determine a total of six phenotypes. These alleles are designated ITI^*1, ITI^*2 and ITI^*3. The homozygous form of the third allele ITI^*3 has not been found, as yet. The frequencies of ITI were examined in two population samples from Southern Germany (n=248) and from Tyrol, Austria (n=124). The gene frequencies of the common alleles ITI^*1 and ITI^*2 were 0.575 and 0.417, respectively, in Southern Germany, and 0.577 and 0.423, respectively, in Tyrol, Austria. The third allele ITI^*3 was found only in the sample from Southern Germany, thus far, and was calculated to be 0.008.     

Mapping of the bcl-2 oncogene on mouse chromosome 1

Two bcl-2 alleles have been identified in inbred strains of mice by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Analysis of a bcl-2 RFLP in a series of bilineal congenic strains (C.D2), developed as a tool for chromosomal mapping studies, revealed linkage of bcl-2 to the Idh-1/Pep-3 region of murine chromosome 1. The co-segregation of bcl-2 alleles with allelic forms of two other chromosome 1 loci, Ren-1,2 and Spna-1, in a set of back-cross progeny, positions bcl-2 7.8 cM centromeric from Ren-1,2.     

Multisegmental cobalt filling of the dorsal giant fibers in the nervous system of the earthworm,Lumbricus terrestris

Summary The anatomical organization of the two dorsal giant fiber systems of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris is demonstrated in whole mounts and serial-section reconstructions based on backfillings of the ventral nerve cord with cobalt chloride. Both the medial and lateral fiber systems can be labeled selectively over more than ten body segments. They show a characteristic segmental pattern of collaterals with some modification in tail segments and of dorsal plasma protrusions in the unpaired medial giant fiber presumably representing openings in the myelin sheath. We found no multisegmental cobalt transport in other large neurons of the nerve cord. Cobalt passes through the segmentai septa between consecutive axonal elements of the metameric giant fibers and presumably also through commissural contacts between specific collaterals of the lateral giant fibers. Since these sites of contact are known to represent electrical synapses, cobalt coupling may, in L. terrestris, correlate with functional electrotonic coupling.Abbreviations CL collateral of lateral giant fiber - CM collateral of medial giant fiber - GIN giant interneuron - LGF lateral giant fiber - MGF medial giant fiber - SN segmental nerve