Procedures for the Generation of Mature Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Zygotes for Molecular and Biochemical Analyses

Zygotes represent an important stage in the sexual cycle of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. To study zygote germination at a molecular level, a protocol was elaborated for the generation of zygotes in large quantities and a method was developed for the extraction from zygotes of RNA that could be translated in vitro.     

Identification of novel genes specifically expressed in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii zygotes

The maturation of zygotes formed by the fusion of two gametes is the essential part of the diploid phase of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii sexual life cycle and results in mature zygotes competent to germinate. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying zygote maturation and the attainment of competence for germination we isolated genomic clones representing three different genes that are specifically expressed in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii zygotes. Accumulation of the RNAs started more than 24 h after mating, setting these genes apart from genes expressed in young zygotes [9]. Upon light-induced germination of zygotes, the mRNAs disappeared. The patterns of RNA accumulation and disappearance were gene-specific and suggested a function of these genes in maturation and/or in initial steps of germination.     

Radiation induced formation of giant cells in Saccharomyces uvarum

Summary Thin sections of budding yeast cells and giant gells grown after X-irradiation have been examined by electron microscopy. The different steps of cross-wall formation during budding were documented with unirradiated cells. With X-ray induced giant cells cytokinesis was shown to be absent. Neither primary nor secondary septae appeared thus cell separation did not occur. Despite this fact both macromolecular synthesis and bud growth continued, giving rise to the formation of giant cells.     

Phospholamban phosphorylation in intact ventricles. Phosphorylation of serine 16 and threonine 17 in response to beta-adrenergic stimulation

Phospholamban is the major membrane protein of the heart phosphorylated in response to beta-adrenergic stimulation. In cell-free systems, cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalyzes exclusive phosphorylation of serine 16 of phospholamban, whereas Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase gives exclusive phosphorylation of threonine 17 (Simmerman, H. K. B., Collins, J. H., Theibert, J. L., Wegener, A. D., and Jones, L. R. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 13333-13341). In this work we have localized the sites of phospholamban phosphorylation in intact ventricles treated with the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol. Isolation of phosphorylated phospholamban from 32P-perfused guinea pig ventricles, followed by partial acid hydrolysis and phosphoamino acid analysis, revealed phosphorylation of both serine and threonine residues. At steady state after isoproterenol exposure, phospholamban contained approximately equimolar amounts of these two phosphoamino acids. Two major tryptic phosphopeptides containing greater than 90% of the incorporated radioactivity were obtained from phospholamban labeled in intact ventricles. The amino acid sequences of these two tryptic peptides corresponded exactly to residues 14-25 and 15-25 of canine cardiac phospholamban, thus localizing the sites of in situ phosphorylation to serine 16 and threonine 17. Phosphorylation of phospholamban at two sites in heart perfused with isoproterenol was supported by detection of 11 distinct mobility forms of the pentameric protein by use of the Western blotting method, consistent with each phospholamban monomer containing two phosphorylation sites, and with each pentamer containing from 0 to 10 incorporated phosphates. Our results localize the sites of in situ phospholamban phosphorylation to serine 16 and threonine 17 and, furthermore, are consistent with the phosphorylations of these 2 residues being catalyzed by cAMP- and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases, respectively.     

Plasmid-encoded resistance to macrolides and lincosamides in Staphylococcus hyicus

S chwarz , S., W egener , H. & B lobel , H. 1990. Plasmid-encoded resistance to macrolides and lincosamides in Staphylococcus hyicus. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 69 , 845–849.
A small plasmid of 2–35 kb, isolated from a porcine Staphylococcus fcyicus-culture, was found to be responsible for constitutive resistance to macrolide/lincosamide antibiotics. This plasmid-encoded property could be established by interspecific transformation experiments. The plasmid from porcine Staph. hyicus was designated as pSE2. It differed on the basis of its restriction map from the macrolid/lincosamid resistance (ML^R-)-plasmids of other staphylococcal species from infections of humans. Furthermore, the pSE2 plasmid encoded two proteins of approximately 20.5 and 30 kDa.     

Characterization of two class II chitinase genes from peanut and expression studies in transgenic tobacco plants

Two different genes encoding class II chitinases from peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. cv. NC4), A.h.Chi2;1 and A.h.Chi2;2, have been cloned. In peanut cell suspension cultures, mRNA levels of A.h.Chi2;2 increased after ethylene or salicylate treatment and in the presence of conidia from Botrytis cinerea. The second gene, A.h.Chi2;1, was only expressed after treatment with the fungal spores. Transgenic tobacco plants containing the complete peanut A.h.Chi2;1 gene exhibited essentially the same expression pattern in leaves as observed in peanut cell cultures. Expression characteristics of transgenic tobacco carrying a promoter-GUS fusion of A.h.Chi2;1 are described.     

Listeria monocytogenes in poultry and poultry products: epidemiological investigations in seven Danish abattoirs

Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from 11/236 (4·7%) caecal samples from parent flocks, providing broilers to the abattoirs investigated. Caecal samples from 2078 broilers representing 90 randomly selected broiler flocks were negative for L. monocytogenes. A total of 3080 samples from seven abattoirs including poultry processing line samples, and final products were also examined for L. monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated in 0·3% to 18·7% of the samples collected in the different abattoirs. Epidemiological typing of 247 L. monocytogenes isolates, including serotyping, phage typing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and ribotyping revealed 62 different clones. Based upon typability and discriminatory power, DNA typing methods used were found equally suitable as epidemiological markers. Serotyping and phage typing were not found useful as epidemiological markers for poultry isolates of L. monocytogenes since only 120/247 (48·6%) isolates were typable by phage typing and 230/247 (93·1%) L. monocytogenes belonged to serotype 01 while 6/247 (2·4%) belonged to 04. The discovery of a few dominating clones in each abattoir might indicate an endemic occurrence of L. monocytogenes. It is concluded that L. monocytogenes in the broiler production is primarily localized to the abattoirs. The incidence of L. monocytogenes may be reduced by improving the hygiene.     

Zur Kompartimentierung der Synthese von Mono- und Sesqui-Terpenen des ätherischen Öls beiPoncirus trifoliata

Zusammenfassung In der Frucht vonPoncirus trifoliata liegen in der Außenschale Drüsenzellkomplexe, die ein monoterpenreiches ätherisches Öl mit geringem Anteil an Sesquiterpenen und O-haltigen Substanzen produzieren. Ähnlich aussehende Exkretzellkomplexe aus den Saftschläuchen enthalten hauptsächlich Sesquiterpenkohlenwasserstoffe (STKW) und O-haltige Komponenten und sehr wenig Monoterpenkohlenwasserstoffe (MTKW). Im Schalenöl konnten nach gaschromatographischer Trennung mit Hilfe der Massenspektrometrie 19 Komponenten identifiziert werden, im Saftschlauchöl 25.Elektronenmikroskopische Aufnahmen der jüngsten Drüsenzellen beider Drüsenkomplexe lassen erkennen, daß beide Terpenklassen wahrscheinlich hauptsächlich bzw. ausschließlich plastidär entstehen.Exogen angebotenes¹⁴CO₂ wird zunächst überwiegend in die MTKW eingebaut, erst später nimmt die Markierung der STKW und O-haltigen Komponenten stark zu. Über den Ferntransportweg angebotenes¹⁴C-Leucin führt anfangs zu einer starken Markierung der STKW und O-haltigen Komponenten, erst später verschiebt sich der Einbau etwas mehr in Richtung MTKW. Als Hauptursache für den differenten Einbau wird das Vorhandensein zweier Typen von Drüsenzellkomplexen mit unterschiedlichen Syntheseleistungen angesehen.Die aus dem¹⁴CO₂ in der Außenrinde gebildeten Assimilate werden zuerst in das MTKW-reiche Öl der Schalenexkretbehälter eingebaut. Die überwiegend STKW erzeugenden Saftschlauchbehälter werden erst später beliefert. Beim Leucinangebot über die Fruchtstiele scheint es gerade umgekehrt zu verlaufen. Die aufeinanderfolgenden Maxima der Ölproduktion in den beiden Drüsenzellkomplex-Typen und die Änderung des Komponentenspektrums ihres ätherischen Öls im Verlauf der Vegetationsperiode tragen ebenfalls zu einem je nach Jahreszeit unterschiedlichen Einbau in die MTKW und STKW bei.

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Compartmentation of mono- and sesqui-terpene biosynthesis of the essential oil inPoncirus trifoliata

Summary The fruit ofPoncirus trifoliata shows glandular cell complexes in the exocarp, which produce a volatile oil rich in monoterpenes but poor in sesquiterpenes and oxigenated compounds. The juice vesicles of the endocarp possess similar cell complexes mainly containing sesquiterpenes and oxigenated compounds, whereas monoterpenes only occur in small amounts. By the use of combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry 19 components of the rind oil and 15 compounds of the endocarp oil could be identified.As demonstrated by electron microscopy the terpenes most probably are synthesized predominantly, if not exclusively in plastids. As shown by gasradiochromatography radioactive precursors (¹⁴CO₂ and¹⁴C-leucine) are incorporated into mono- and sesqui-terpenes to a different extent.This is due to two gland types producing essential oils of different composition with regard to their mono- and sesqui-terpene percentage. In fruit development the exocarp glands differentiate earlier than the endocarp glands do. The activity of exogenously applied¹⁴CO₂ first reaches the peripheral glands and later on appears in the interior glands. Depending upon the growth season, labelled leucine transported by the conducting tissues from lower plant parts leads to a high specific activity of the sesqui-terpenes and oxigenated compounds. It could be argued that in this instance the glands of the pulp are better provided with precursors than the exocarp glands. The successive maxima of essential oil production in both glandular complexes, and the changes in the concentration of individual oil constituents during the ontogeny of the fruit also contribute to different incorporation ratios of radioactive precursors into mono- and sesqui-terpenes.

     

Dynamics of the human heart rate during changes of posture under various climatic conditions]

The time course of the heart rate (15-sec-periods) during active orthostasis (10 min) was investigated according to types found by Drischel et al. under different climatic conditions in 51 female and 50 male subjects. Constant types were observed in each subject in 3 repeated tests on different days at 20 degrees C and 55% R.H., the types remaining constant even at 25 and 90% R.H. The increase in environmental temperature from 15 to 30 and 45 degrees C showed a significant alteration from type A via different transitional types to type B. At 45 degrees C, an additional type was observed called superhigh type B, functionally being a precollapse type. The variation in typology includes the dynamics of the initial process of the active orthostasis as well as the deviation between the steady-state of the heart rate in erect and in supine position. The physiological mechanisms eliciting the changes in the dynamic behaviour and the correlations with the effective temperature are discussed.