Inhibition by S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine of dopamine dependent adenylate cyclase in rat retina

S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (S-AH), a potent inhibitor of biological transmethylation, decreased the response of rat retina adenylate cyclase to dopamine and to 2-amino-6, 7-dihydroxytetrahydronaphtalene (ADTN). This effect appeared for 10^?7M of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine and was linear for concentration ranging to 10^?4M. S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine did not decrease the cyclic AMP accumulation with sodium fluoride, a non specific adenylate cyclase activator. On the other hand, the incorporation of methyl group was reduced in rat retina homogenates by S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine. These findings suggest that the activity of the dopamine dependent adenylate cyclase is linked to a methylation process.     

Detection of genetic variants affecting cattle behaviour and their impact on milk production: a genome‐wide association study

Behaviour traits of cattle have been reported to affect important production traits, such as meat quality and milk performance as well as reproduction and health. Genetic predisposition is, together with environmental stimuli, undoubtedly involved in the development of behaviour phenotypes. Underlying molecular mechanisms affecting behaviour in general and behaviour and productions traits in particular still have to be studied in detail. Therefore, we performed a genome‐wide association study in an F₂ Charolais × German Holstein cross‐breed population to identify genetic variants that affect behaviour‐related traits assessed in an open‐field and novel‐object test and analysed their putative impact on milk performance. Of 37 201 tested single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs), four showed a genome‐wide and 37 a chromosome‐wide significant association with behaviour traits assessed in both tests. Nine of the SNPs that were associated with behaviour traits likewise showed a nominal significant association with milk performance traits. On chromosomes 14 and 29, six SNPs were identified to be associated with exploratory behaviour and inactivity during the novel‐object test as well as with milk yield traits. Least squares means for behaviour and milk performance traits for these SNPs revealed that genotypes associated with higher inactivity and less exploratory behaviour promote higher milk yields. Whether these results are due to molecular mechanisms simultaneously affecting behaviour and milk performance or due to a behaviour predisposition, which causes indirect effects on milk performance by influencing individual reactivity, needs further investigation.     

Neuronal Basis of Innate Olfactory Attraction to Ethanol in Drosophila

The decision to move towards a mating partner or a food source is essential for life. The mechanisms underlying these behaviors are not well understood. Here, we investigated the role of octopamine – the invertebrate analogue of noradrenaline – in innate olfactory attraction to ethanol. We confirmed that preference is caused via an olfactory stimulus by dissecting the function of the olfactory co-receptor Orco (formally known as OR83b). Orco function is not required for ethanol recognition per se, however it plays a role in context dependent recognition of ethanol. Odor-evoked ethanol preference requires the function of Tbh (Tyramine β hydroxalyse), the rate-limiting enzyme of octopamine synthesis. In addition, neuronal activity in a subset of octopaminergic neurons is necessary for olfactory ethanol preference. Notably, a specific neuronal activation pattern of tyraminergic/octopaminergic neurons elicit preference and is therefore sufficient to induce preference. In contrast, dopamine dependent increase in locomotor activity is not sufficient for olfactory ethanol preference. Consistent with the role of noradrenaline in mammalian drug induced rewards, we provide evidence that in adult Drosophila the octopaminergic neurotransmitter functions as a reinforcer and that the molecular dissection of the innate attraction to ethanol uncovers the basic properties of a response selection system.     

Action of phospholipases on the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli. Stimulation by melittin

The emission maximum of the single tryptophan residue of melittin was measured in the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine liposomes and Escherichia coli cytoplasmic membranes. In both cases, the fluorescence maximum was shifted to shorter wavelengths indicating a transfer of the indole ring to an apolar environment. E. coli membranes were labelled in position 2 of their phospholipids with [¹⁴C]oleic acid. These membranes were used for measuring the activity of an endogenous phospholipase A₂. A slow hydrolysis is observed, which can be accelerated by adding melittin. The extent of the stimulation depends on the molar ratio of melittin to membrane phospholipid. Under suitable conditions, the initial rate of hydrolysis is six to seven times higher in the presence than in the absence of melittin. The action of the phospholipase A₂ from bee venom is also stimulated by melittin. An identical stimulation was observed with either E. coli membranes or pure phosphatidylethanolamine liposomes as substrate.     

Advantages of arthroscopy of the knee joint]

Arthroscopic surgery causes considerably less soft tissue damage than conventional surgery. As the result of the development of an optical system employed with a chip camera and a video chain arthroscopic knee surgery can be ideally documented with excellent picture quality. Besides the advantage of soft-tissue sparing procedures, diagnosis is substantially improved and operative procedures can be kept to a minimum. This means, in particular in the case of meniscus procedures, that only the damaged areas are removed, this minimising changes to the biomechanics of the knee. The technical equipment, the arthroscopic surgery technic and the advantages of the knee arthroscopy are discussed.     

Einfluß von Epicoccum nigrum,Alternaria alternata,Mucor racemosus und Ulocladium chartarum auf die Protozoenpopulation im Pansen des Rindes (in vitro)

The influence of moulded hay (Alternaria alternata, Epicoccum nigrum, Mucor racemosus, Ulocladium chartarum) and the efficiency of Vitamin B1 substitution to cope these effects on rumen protozoa was investigated using the longterm rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) for about 25 days. Moulded hay affected medium-sized protozoa to a different extent (Alternaria alternata: ?16 %, Epicoccum nigrum: ?27 %, Mucor racemosus: ?9 %, Ulocladium chartarum: +2 %). The vitamin B1 substitution had positive effects during the feeding of Mucor racemosus and Ulocladium chartarum.     

Delimitation and classification ofBromus fasciculatus (Poaceae)

The syntypes ofBromus madritensis var.delilei Boiss. comprise two different elements: specimens ofB. haussknechtii Boiss. and ofB. fasciculatus C. Presl s.l. By its lectotypification and on the basis of new morphological characters, the validation ofB. fasciculatus subsp.delilei (Boiss.)H. Scholz 1971 was substantiated. This subspecies represents the eastern marginal segregate of the south-Mediterranean species.B. fasciculatus var.alexandrinus Thell. is a minor variant of the typical subspecies.Dedicated to Prof.K. H. Rechinger on the occasion of his 80th birthday.     

Allelic variation in HLA-B and HLA-C sequences and the evolution of the HLA-B alleles

Several new HLA-B (B8, B51, Bw62)- and HLA-C (Cw6, Cw7)-specific genes were isolated either as genomic cosmid or cDNA clones to study the diversity of HLA antigens. The allele specificities were identified by sequence analysis in comparison with published HLA-B and -C sequences, by transfection experiments, and Southern and northern blot analysis using oligonucleotide probes. Comparison of the classical HLA-A, -B, and -C sequences reveals that allele-specific substitutions seem to be rare events. HLA-B51 codes only for one allelespecific residue: arginine at position 81 located on the 1 helix, pointing toward the antigen binding site. HLA-B8 contains an acidic substitution in amino acid position 9 on the first central sheet which might affect antigen binding capacity, perhaps in combination with the rare replacement at position 67 (F) on the ul helix. HLA-B8 shows greatest homology to HLA-Bw42, -Bw41, -B7, and-Bw60 antigens, all of which lack the conserved restriction sites Pst I at position 180 and Sac I at position 131. Both sites associated with amino acid replacements seem to be genetic markers of an evolutionary split of the HLA-B alleles, which is also observed in the leader sequences. HLA-Cw7 shows 98% sequence identity to the JY328 gene. In general, the HLA-C alleles display lower levels of variability in the highly polymorphic regions of the 1 and 2 domains, and have more distinct patterns of locus-specific residues in the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. Thus we propose a more recent origin for the HLA-C locus.