Segmentally repeated pattern of expression of a cell surface glycoprotein in Drosophila embryos

We report here that a previously described cell surface antigen (Brower, Smith & Wilcox, 1980) is expressed in a segmentally repeating pattern of stripes in the epidermis and nervous system of segmented Drosophila embryos. We also report that the antigenic activity is found on two closely related cell surface glycoproteins. The pattern of expression of this antigen is reminiscent of the expression of some segmentation genes and is affected by mutation of at least two of these genes, fushi tarazu and paired. Thus these glycoproteins are candidates for cell surface molecules involved in carrying out the patterning processes controlled by segmentation genes.     

Neuron differentiation and axon growth in the developing wing of Drosophila melanogaster

Sensory neurons in the wing of Drosophila originate locally from epithelial cells and send their axons toward the base of the wing in two major bundles, the L1 and L3 nerves. We have estimated the birth times of a number of identified wing sensory neurons using an X-irradiation technique and have followed the appearance of their somata and axons by means of an immunohistochemical stain. These cells become immunoreactive and begin axon growth in a sequence which mirrors the sequence of their birth times. The earliest ones are born before pupariation and begin axonogenesis within 1 to 2 hr after the onset of metamorphosis; the last are born and differentiate some 12 to 14 hr later. The L1 and L3 nerves are formed in sections, with specific neurons pioneering defined stretches of the pathways during the period between 0 and 4 hr after pupariation (AP), and finally joining together around 12 hr AP. By 16 hr AP the adult complement of neurons is present and the adult peripheral nerve pattern has been established. Pathway establishment appears to be specified by multiple cues. In places where neurons differentiate in close proximity to one another, random filopodial exploration followed by axon growth to a neighboring neuron soma might be the major factor leading to pathway construction. In other locations, filopodial contact between neighboring somata does not appear to occur, and axon pathways joining neural neighbors by the most direct route are not established. We propose that in these cases additional factors, including veins which are already present at the time of axonogenesis, influence the growth of axons through non-neural tissues.     

Models of the geometry of the human ankle bone pulley: two series of geometric models for demonstrating the biomechanics of the ankle joint

2 series of models demonstrate the geometrical shape of the human trochlea tali. We have changed step by step the shape of the 2 flanking articular facets of the trochlea, the course of the edges of the trochlea, and the length of their radii, and so we have found a model responding to the biomechanic conditions of the trochlea tali. The convex surface of this model (corresponding to the superior articular surface, i.e. the facies superior trochleae tali) is a torse, the medial flanking facet (corresponding to the medial articular facet of the trochlea, i.e. the facies malleolaris medialis) is a flat cone, the lateral flanking facet (corresponding to the lateral articular facet of the trochlea, i.e. the facies malleolaris lateralis) is a screwed (helicoidal) face. The resulting model shows the 2 completely different phases of motion in the ankle joint: During dorsiflexion (motion setting out from the neutral position towards the final position of dorsiflexion), the internal malleolus leads the talus, whereas the external malleolus is pushed outwards by the screwed lateral articular facet of the trocheal. The trochlea is moved like a hinge. In the final position of dorsiflexion, the malleoli tightly embrace the 2 flanking facets of the trochlea, whilst an obvious cleft appears dorsally and medially between the superior articular surface of the trochlea and the tibial roof (i.e. the facies articularis inferior tibiae). During plantarflexion (motion setting out from the neutral position towards the final position of plantarflexion), the external malleolus leads the talus, whereas the medial articular facet of the trochlea withdraws from the internal malleolus. The trochlea is moved like a screw. In the final position of plantarflexion, the superior articular surface of the trochlea closely contacts the tibial roof, whilst an obvious cleft appears between the medial articular facet of the trochlea and the internal malleolus.     

Dissociation and sorting out of Drosophila imaginal disc cells

Previous attempts to study sorting out of Drosophila imaginal disc cells have been hampered by an inability to thoroughly dissociate these cells and the need to use cuticular markers which require several days of in vivo culture. This study overcomes these limitations by using a new dissociation procedure and a genetic marker for undifferentiated cells, the succinate dehydrogenase8 (sdh8) mutation. Dissociated and reaggregated cells from wing and leg imaginal discs segregated or "sorted out" from one another after only 24 hr of in vivo culture. It was also found that leg cells from different body segments may sort out, but to a lesser degree than wing and leg cells. Mixtures of wing and haltere cells did not sort out, in contrast to previous reports. These results constitute the first unambiguous study of sorting out with Drosophila imaginal disc cells and indicate that dorsally situated imaginal cells share a recognition specificity which is different from that of ventral imaginal cells.     

Elicitation of volatile compounds in photomixotrophic cell culture of Petroselinum crispum

Photomixotrophic cells of Petroselinum crispum accumulated >500 mg chlorophyll per kg wet weight and grew well in a broad range of phytoeffector conditions. Autoclaved fungal cells were lethal for photoheterotrophic cells, but induced in photomixotrophic cells the formation of volatile n-alkanes, phthalides, coumarins, and elemicine. Most of the compounds elicited reached a concentration maximum between 20 and 30 h after addition of the mycelium, whereas the group of n-alkanes increased steadily during the 90 h monitored. Maximum concentrations were: 12 mg of graveolone, 1 mg of bergapten, 0.5 mg of sedanenolide, and 0.5 mg of n-tetradecane per 1 nutrient medium. A dose/effect relationship was found; 10 to 25 g of fungal wet weight per 1 culture medium resulted in maximum accumulation of volatiles. The formation of volatiles by photomixotrophic in vitro cells is discussed as an integral part of plant responses to ecological stress.     

F?nge von Habichten (Accipiter gentilis) im Wurzacher Ried: Kritische Fragen zu einem beh?rdlich genehmigten Wiedereinbürgerungsprojekt

Zusammenfassung Während des unter der Trägerschaft des Landesjagdverbandes Baden-Württemberg e. V. seit 1978 laufenden Projektes zur Wiedereinbürgerung des Birkhuhnes im Wurzacher Ried wurde behördlicherseits der Wegfang von Habichten unter bestimmten Auflagen genehmigt. Nach Beringung mußten die Vögel wieder freigelassen werden. Eine vergleichende Untersuchung der von den Projektbetreibern veröffentlichten Berichte und der Beringungsdokumente ergab erhebliche Ungereimtheiten. Die aus den Berichten der Projektbetreiber zu entnehmende Zahl von 168 gefangenen, angeblich beringten und angeblich wieder freigelassenen Habichten steht der Zahl von 98 in den Beringungslisten dokumentierten Vögel gegenüber. Bereits ein Vergleich zwischen der Wiederfundrate der dokumentierten Vögel (1 %) mit der Fänglingfundrate der Vogelwarte Radolfzell (13 %) ergab einen hochsignifikanten Unterschied. Auch der Vergleich mit der Fundrate (15 %) einer anderen, parallel laufenden Verfrachtungsstudie zeigte, daß die Wiederfundrate der Wurzacher Habichte hochsignifikant geringer ist. Die Darstellung der Projektbetreiber, wonach 1978–1981 insgesamt 90 Habichte durch die Landesanstalt für Umweltschutz verfrachtet worden sein sollen, wurde durch die Landesanstalt nicht bestätigt. Die Landesanstalt bestätigte nur fünf verfrachtete Habichte aus dem Wurzacher Projekt. Obwohl der Habichtfang im März nicht erlaubt war, haben die Projektbetreiber insgesamt vier Habichte im März gefangen und zumindest einen (nach eigenen Angaben jedoch alle!) auch noch verfrachtet. Vermutlich im Auftrag von Geflügelzüchtern wurden sieben Habichte, darunter vier Altvögel, innerhalb eines kleinen Gebietes in einer Entfernung von 13–18,5 km vom Wurzacher Ried gefangen. So besteht begründeter Verdacht, daß ein beträchtlicher Teil der im oder um das Wurzacher Ried gefangenen Habichte nicht wieder freigelassen, sondern getötet wurde. Eine Reihe der in den Projektberichten enthaltenen Angaben lassen zudem ganz erhebliche Zweifel an der Fachkompetenz der Projektbetreiber aufkommen.

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Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) trapping in the nature reserve Wurzacher Ried: critical questions on a Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) reintroduction project

Summary A Black Grouse reintroduction project was established in 1978 in the nature reserve Wurzacher Ried in southwestern Germany. Since the beginning of this project the staff had a licence to catch, ring and to release but not to kill goshawks. A comparison of the very low Euring-recovery-rate of 1 percent from this project with the Euring-recovery-rate of the Vogelwarte Radolfzell (13 %) showed a significant difference (p=0.00017). In contrast, we found no difference between the recovery-rate (15 %) of a study with almost similar design conducted by the University of Tübingen (Schmidt-Koenig 1982) only 100 km apart from the Wurzacher Ried and the Euring-recovery-rate of the Vogelwarte Radolfzell (p=0.624). The recovery-rate of the reintroduction project differed, however, significantly from the recovery-rate ofSchmidt-Koenig (p=0.006). Furthermore, we found serious inconsistencies between the project reports and the ringing documents concerning this project. Our results indicate, that most of the goshawks caught in the project Wurzacher Ried may not have been released but illegally killed by the project staff.

     

Glycosylinositol-phosphoceramide in the free-living protozoan Paramecium primaurelia: modification of core glycans by mannosyl phosphate.

Glycolipids synthesized in a cell-free system prepared from the free-living protozoan Paramecium primaurelia and labelled with [3H]mannose and [3H]glucosamine using GDP-[3H]mannose and UDP-[3H]N-acetyl glucosamine, respectively, were identified and structurally characterized as glycosylinositol-phosphoceramides (GIP-ceramides). The ceramide-based lipid was also found in the GIP membrane anchor of the G surface antigen of P.primaurelia, strain 156. Using a combination of in vitro labelling with GDP-[3H]mannose and in vivo labelling with 33P, we found that the core glycans of the P.primaurelia GIP-ceramides were substituted with an acid-labile modification identified as mannosyl phosphate. The modification of the glycosylinositol-phospholipid core glycan by mannosyl phosphate has not been described to date in other organisms. The biosynthesis of GIP-ceramide intermediates in P.primaurelia was studied by a pulse-chase analysis. Their structural characterization is reported. We propose the following structure for the putative GIP-ceramide membrane anchor precursor of P.primaurelia surface proteins: ethanolamine phosphate-6Man-alpha 1-2Man-alpha 1-6Man-(mannosyl phosphate)-alpha 1-4glucosamine-inositol-phosphoceramide.