Automated Food-Procuring Movement-Related Neuronal Activity in the Basolateral Amygdala of the Rat

We studied the impulse activity of neurons of the basal and lateral amygdalar nuclei generated when experimental animals (rats) performed fast stereotyped food-procuring movements by the forelimb. Within the basolateral amygdala, there are neurons whose activity is related to different stages of getting off the food, and according to the characteristics of their spiking these neurons should be divided into a number of subpopulations. Activation forestalling the movement initiation by 0.5-1.0 sec was observed in most neurons of the basolateral amygdala; this is considered a manifestation of excitation related to a motivation component of the food-procuring behavior. Activation of amygdalar neurons following movement initiation can result from generation in this structure of additional excitation necessary for successful performance of a complete food-procuring motor cycle.     

Photosynthesis,Transpiration, and Water Use Efficiency of Vegetative and Reproductive Shoots of Grassland Species from North-Eastern China

The differences in net photosynthetic rate (P _N), transpiration rate (E), and water use efficiency (WUE) between the vegetative and reproductive shoots of three native grass species from the grassland of northeastern China [grey-green and yellow green populations of Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel., Puccinellia tenuiflora (Griseb) Scrib & Merr, Puccinellia chinampoensis Ohwi] were compared. The two type shoots experienced similar habitats, but differed in leaf life-span and leaf area. The leaf P _N and WUE for the vegetative shoots were significantly higher than those for the reproductive shoots in the grasses, while their E were remarked lower in the dry season. Relative lower leaf P _N and WUE for the reproductive shoots of grassland grasses may explain the facts of lower seed production and the subordinate role of seed in the grassland renewal in north-eastern China.     

Sequence heterogeneity and anomalous electrophoretic mobility of kinetoplast minicircle DNA from Leishmania tarentolae

Several unit-length minicircles from the kinetoplast DNA of Leishmania tarentolae were cloned into pBR322 and into M13 phage vectors. The complete nucleotide sequences of three different partially homologous minicircles were obtained. The molecules contained a region of approx. 80% sequence homology extending for 160–270 bp and a region unique to each minicircle. A 14-mer was found to be conserved in all kinetoplast minicircle sequences reported to date. The frequency distributions of various minicircle sequence classes in L. tarentolae were obtained by quantitative gel electrophoresis and by examination of the “T ladder” patterns of minicircles randomly cloned into M13 at several sites. By these methods we could assign approx. 50% of the total minicircle DNA into a minimum of five sequence classes. A sequence-dependent polyacrylamide gel migration abnormality was observed with several minicircle fragments both cloned and uncloned. The abnormality was dependent on the presence of a portion of the conserved region of the minicircle.     

MODY 2: Mutation identification and molecular ancestry in a Brazilian family

Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) is a heterogeneous group of genetic diseases characterized by a primary defect in insulin secretion and hyperglycemia, non-ketotic disease, monogenic autosomal dominant mode of inheritance, age at onset less than 25 years, and lack of auto-antibodies. It accounts for 2–5% of all cases of non-type 1 diabetes. MODY subtype 2 is caused by mutations in the glucokinase (GCK) gene. In this study, we sequenced the GCK gene of two volunteers with clinical diagnosis for MODY2 and we were able to identify four mutations including one for a premature stop codon (c.76C>T). Based on these results, we have developed a specific PCR-RFLP assay to detect this mutation and tested 122 related volunteers from the same family. This mutation in the GCK gene was detected in 21 additional subjects who also had the clinical features of this genetic disease. In conclusion, we identified new GCK gene mutations in a Brazilian family of Italian descendance, with one due to a premature stop codon located in the second exon of the gene. We also developed a specific assay that is fast, cheap and reliable to detect this mutation. Finally, we built a molecular ancestry model based on our results for the migration of individuals carrying this genetic mutation from Northern Italy to Brazil.     

The Mechanism of Supercoiled DNA Recognition by Eukaryotic Type I Topoisomerases: II. A Comparison of the Enzyme Interaction with Specific and Nonspecific Oligonucleotides

Data on the interaction of DNA type I topoisomerases from the murine and human placenta cells with specific and nonspecific oligonucleotides of various structures and lengths are summarized. The relative contributions of various contacts between the enzymes and DNA that have previously been detected by X-ray analysis to the total affinity of the topoisomerases for DNA substrates are estimated. Factors that determine the differences in the enzyme interactions with specific and nonspecific single- and double-stranded DNAs are revealed. The results of the X-ray analysis of human DNA topoisomerase I are interpreted taking into account data on the comprehensive thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of the enzyme interaction with the specific and nonspecific DNAs.     

The effect of antibiotics on the photocycle and protoncycle of purple membrane suspensions

The interrelation was studied between the phototransient absorbing maximally at 412 nm (M₄₁₂) and light-induced proton release under steady-state conditions in aqueous suspensions of ‘purple membrane’ derived from Halobacterium halobium. The decay of M₄₁₂ was slowed down by the simultaneous application of the ionophoric antibiotics valinomycin and beauvericin. The former had only slight activity alone and the latter was effective only in conjunction with valinomycin. The steady-state concentration of M₄₁₂ which was formed on illumination was a direct function of the concentration of valinomycin. Maximum stabilization of M₄₁₂ was obtained when the valinomycin was approximately equimolar with the bacteriorhodopsin. Addition of salts to the medium increased the number of protons released per molecule of M₄₁₂ without affecting the level of M₄₁₂ which was produced by continuous illumination. The effectiveness of the salts in this respect depended on the nature of the cation. Ca²⁺ and their antagonists La³⁺ and ruthenium red were found to have especially high affinity for the system. The extent of light-induced acidification could not be enhanced by increasing the pH of the medium from 6.5 to 7.8. The possible mechanism of action of the ionophores and of the cations on the photocycle and on the proton cycle is discussed.     

A new tubulin-binding protein

A new brain protein is described which forms an insoluble complex with tubulin, with concomitant stoichiometric hydrolysis of GTP. The complex contains a maximum of one tubulin-binding protein (MW 52,500) per two tubulin dimers. The tubulin-binding protein (TBP) does not compete with colchicine, but in the presence of microtubule-associated proteins tubulin appeared less accessible to it. Proteins such as TBP might sequester tubulin and thereby function either to inhibit indiscriminate polymerization, or to promote ordered nucleation by maintaining high local concentrations.     

In vitro assessment of the toxicity of metal compounds

A review of in vitro mutagenesis assessment of metal compounds in mammalian and nonmammalian test systems has been compiled. Prokaryotic assays are ineffective or inconsistent in their detection of most metals as mutagens, with the notable exception of hexavalent chromium. Mammalian assay systems appear to be similarly inappropriate for the screening of metal compounds based upon the limited number of studies that have employed those compounds having known carcinogenic activity. Although of limited value as screening tests for the detection of potentially carcinogenic metal compounds, the well-characterized in vitro mutagenesis systems may prove to be of significant value as a means to elucidate mechanisms of metal genotoxicity.     

Biochemistry and genetics of taste- and odor-producing cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria are one of the principal sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which cause offensive taste and odor (T&O) in drinking and recreational water, fish, shellfish and other seafood. Although non-toxic to humans, these T&O compounds severely undermine public trust in these commodities, resulting in substantial costs in treatment, and lost revenue to drinking water, aquaculture, food and beverage and tourist/hospitality industries. Mitigation and control have been hindered by the complexity of the communities and processes which produce and modify T&O events, making it difficult to source-track the major producer(s) and the factors governing VOC production and fate. Over the past decade, however, advances in bioinformatics, enzymology, and applied detection technologies have greatly enhanced our understanding of the pathways, the enzymes and the genetic coding for some of the most problematic VOCs produced by cyanobacteria. This has led to the development of tools for rapid and sensitive detection and monitoring for the VOC production at source, and provided the basis for further diagnostics of endogenous and exogenous controls. This review provides an overview of current knowledge of the major cyanobacterial VOCs, the producers, the biochemistry and the genetics and highlight the current applications and further research needs in this area.