山西永济白草坪组具刺疑源类的发现及其地质意义

该文着重报道了山西永济白草坪组(一般认为系中元古界上部相当于蓟县系的层位),以具刺疑源类为主的微化石群,计有4类6属15种,其中包括1新属,4新种,1新组合,1亲近种,2未定种,新属是具细网状纹饰的复杂具刺疑源类Shuiyousphaeridium Yan gen.nov.,4新种是Shuiyousphaeridium membraniferum Yan sp.nov.,Dictyosphaera incrassate Yan sp.nov.,Foliomorpha stipuliferaYan sp.nov.,Manicosiphoninema shuiyouense Yan sp.nov.。本微化石群以球形疑源类为主体,以具刺疑源类的大量发育为特征,并伴生有推测是绿藻和褐藻的化石,其组合面貌与蓟县上前寒武系各组皆有明显区别,具有更高的进化程度,从生物地层标志推测白草坪组所在的汝阳群应归入震旦系。白草坪组具刺疑源类可能是横裂甲藻的原始分子,它在地层对比和藻类进化方面皆具有重要意义。     

Thiol-stimulated secretion of riboflavin and porphyrins by Escherichia coli

Abstract Streptococcus lactis strain IL594 contains 9 plasmids, designated pIL1 to pIL9. On the basis of protoplast-induced curing experiments we showed that derivatives containing pIL7 (31 kb) were resistant to UV-irradiation while derivatives lacking pIL7 were sensitive. The pIL7-determined UV-protection was confirmed by cotransfer of the plasmid and of the character into a plasmid-free derivative of S. lactis IL594. Moreover, prophage induction required higher UV-fluence in this derivative carrying pIL7 than in the plasmid-free strain. This is the first report of a plasmid-mediated UV-protection in group N streptococci.     

Evidence for a uridine-5′-diphosphate-glucose-protectedp-chloromercuribenzene sulfonic acid-binding site in sugarcane vacuoles

The uptake of uridine-5-diphosphate (UDP) glucose into vacuoles isolated fromSaccharum sp. cells was fully inhibited by pretreatment with 50 Mp-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid (PCMBS) and was not affected by N-ethylmaleimide up to a concentration of 5 mM. The addition of 10 mM UDP-glucose during the pretreatment partially protected the uptake mechanism from PCMBS inhibition, while the presence of adenosine-5-diphosphate (ADP) glucose or of various hexose-phosphates had no protective effect. Parallel experiments on the binding of [²⁰³Hg]PCMBS to the vacuoles showed that UDP-glucose and UDP added at 10 mM concentrations caused a 40% decrease in the binding of PCMBS while ADP-glucose did not inhibit the binding. The results indicate the presence in a previously proposed group translocator of at least one site that can bind UDP-glucose. This site, which is blocked by PCMBS, interacts with the nucleotide moiety of UDP-glucose.Abbreviations ADP-glucose adenosine-5-diphosphate glucose - PCMB p-chloromercuribenzoic acid - PCMBS p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid - UDP uridine-5-diphosphate - UDP-glucose uridine-5-diphosphate glucose     

Foraging site use and interspecific competition between bluegills and golden shiners

Synopsis Laboratory experiments examined the foraging performances of a dietary generalist, bluegill,Lepomis macrochirus, and a dietary specialist, golden shiner,Notemigonus crysoleucas, as they fed from devices simulating four foraging sites (bottom substrate, water column, submerged macrophytes, and water surface). Fishes foraged in monospecific and mixed-species groups of two and four individuals. For monospecific groups, foraging rates of bluegills did not differ among the four sites, but golden shiners had significantly higher rates on bottom and midwater sites than on plant and surface sites. The size of monospecific groups did not affect foraging rates of either species. In mixed-species trials, bluegills removed more food items than golden shiners from plant and surface sites in two- and four-fish groups and from bottom sites in two-fish groups. Bluegills' foraging performances improved with experience, golden shiners' performances did not. Experimental results are discussed with respect to interactions between bluegills and golden shiners in natural assemblages.     

Evidence for the involvement of a UDP-glucose-dependent group translocator in sucrose uptake into vacuoles of storage roots of red beet

Vacuoles isolated from the storage roots of red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) accumulate sucrose via two different mechanisms. One mechanism transports sucrose directly, and its rate is increased by the addition of MgATP. The other mechanism utilizes uridine diphosphate glucose (UDP-glucose) to synthesize and simultaneously transport sucrose phosphate and sucrose into the vacuole. This group translocation mechanism has also been found in sugarcane vacuoles. As in sugarcane, the beet group translocator does not require fructose 6-phosphate, nor is the latter substance transported into the vacuole. The uptake of UDP[¹⁴C]glucose in inhibited by high concentrations of osmoticum.Abbreviations EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - Hepes 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid - UDP uridine 5-diphosphate     

Mitogenic response to epidermal growth factor (EGF) modulated by platelet-derived growth factor in cultured fibroblasts

The mitotic effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) were investigated in two cultured fibroblast lines, BALB/c-3T3 and C3H 10T1/2 cells. EGF (30 ng/ml) added to quiescent 3T3 cells in medium containing either platelet-poor plasma or 10(-5) M insulin caused only minimal increases in the percentage of cells stimulated to initiate DNA synthesis. In contrast, EGF acted synergistically with either insulin or plasma to stimulate DNA synthesis in quiescent cultures of 10T1/2 cells, although the maximum effects of EGF were measured at concentrations several-fold greater than those found in either serum or plasma. In either 3T3 or 10T1/2 cells a transient preexposure to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) caused over a 10-fold increase in the sensitivity to the mitogenic effects of EGF. It is therefore possible that a primary action of PDGF is to increase the sensitivity of fibroblasts to EGF, independent of whether EGF alone is found to be mitogenic.     

Target influences on [3H]ACh synthesis and release by ciliary ganglion neurons in vitro

The developmental influence of neuron-target interaction upon transmitter synthesis from labeled precursor and the capacity to release labeled transmitter were examined in dispersed cell cultures of embryonic ciliary ganglion neurons by comparing cultures of neurons plated alone and neurons plated upon pectoral myotubes. Of the total ACh synthesized from radiolabeled choline by neurons plated alone, more than half is via a Na+-dependent path, but a larger fraction of the synthesis is Na+ insensitive in culture than in mature neurons in vivo. In addition, at 1 week in culture the neurons lacking target failed to significantly increase ACh synthesis from the labeled choline in response to a previous high [K+]0 depolarization. Synthetic responsiveness to depolarization is a characteristic of mature nerve terminals in this preparation. One week after plating neurons onto myotube cultures, synthesis of ACh from the exogenous precursor is double that of sibling cultures lacking muscle, and prior depolarization with [K+]0 results in an increase in labeled product. Release from the labeled transmitter pool by the neurons with myotubes was also enhanced. [3H]ACh release elicited by depolarization via a Ca2+-dependent mechanism was more than fivefold higher in the cocultures. The influence of coculture with myotubes upon neuronal development is not duplicated by the neurons themselves despite formation of apparent interneuronal synapses (G. Crean, G. Pilar, J. Tuttle, and K. Vaca, 1982, J. Physiol. (London). 331, 87-104), by "fibroblasts" or medium conditioned over myotube cultures. Neurons under these conditions neither increase synthesis of [3H]ACh in response to a prior depolarization nor demonstrate enhanced basal [3H]ACh synthesis and release. Thus, coculture of embryonic ciliary ganglion neurons with a striated muscle target has a somewhat specific inductive effect, enhancing the capacity for neuronal [3H]ACh synthesis and release toward mature levels. This influence of a readily accessible target upon ciliary neuron cholinergic development in vitro may reflect a normal neuromuscular interaction occurring during embryogenesis.     

Molecular cloning and chromosomal location of genes encoding the “Early-methionine-labelled” (Em) polypeptide of Triticum aestivum L. var. Chinese Spring

Summary The Early-methionine-labelled (Em) polypeptide is the most abundant cytosolic polypeptide found in mature wheat embryos. Using a near full-length cDNA clone as a hybridisation probe to detect genomic sequences by Southern blotting of electrophoretic separations of genomic DNA derived from Triticum aestivum L. var. Chinese Spring and a series of its aneuploid derivatives, we demonstrate that the Em polypeptide is the product of a small multigene family in which the copies are located on each of the long arms of the homoeologous group 1 chromosomes. Screening of a variety of genotypes additionally reveals a number of restriction fragment length polymorphisms associated with these loci. Screening of a library of genomic DNA cloned in the vector EMBL 4 has resulted in the isolation of a genomic fragment containing two closely linked Em genes. These are separated by ca. 2.5 kb. Analysis of restriction enzyme digests of this clones fragment has identified it as originating from chromosome 1A.     

Shape analysis of two sympatric coral species: Implications for taxonomy and evolution

Fourier shape analysis of Pleurodictyum americanum and P. dividua , favositid tabulate corals, from the Middle Devonian Hamilton Group of New York State, indicates that colony growth form is variable within species between environments, but that the range of variability in growth form is static through time. Pleurpdictyum dividua displays a columnar morphotype; however, P. dividua and P. americanum cannot be discriminated from one another based on colony shape alone. A major prediction of the punctuated equilibrium model of evolution is morphological stasis throughout the duration of a species. Harmonic means of assemblages of P. americanum show no persistent temporal trends. The range of harmonic means present among the oldest assemblages (Centerfield Limestone) are comparable to those among the youngest assemblages (Windom Shale) and to those in the intervening intervals. Character stasis in colony growth form lasted throughout a 2.5-3.5 my interval. In tabulate corals, where reproductive modes such as fragmentation have not been demonstrated, growth form may be useful in interpreting ancient environments. In addition, the tempo of evolution of growth form can be analyzed when sufficient morphological data are available from a wide distribution of environments. Thus, Fourier shape analysis of growth form provides a powerful tool for paleontologists to interpret the ecology and evolution of colonial marine animals.