A structural model for the retroviral proteases

In many retroviruses the 5' end of the pol gene codes for a protease vital for the processing of the gag polyprotein into the separate core proteins. In some viruses this protease is encoded at the 3' end of the gag gene, or between the gag and pol genes in a different reading frame to either. A sequence, Asp-Thr-Gly, which is conserved in retroviral proteases is also conserved in the active sites of aspartic proteases, an observation which has led to the suggestion that the retroviral proteases could belong to this family. We have examined the sequences of the aspartic and retroviral protease families, using pattern-recognition, structure prediction and molecular modelling techniques, and conclude that the viral protease sequences probably correspond to a single domain of an aspartic protease and may function in a dimeric form. We have constructed a model of the pol-protease of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) to test this hypothesis.     

Chronic maintenance of rat sperm reserves into old age by previous sexual contact

Extensive copulatory experiences at a younger age provoked chronic changes in the reproductive physiology of old male rats. Continuous access to females was not necessary, sperm numbers were elevated in the 22-month-old males 7 months after a final sexual interaction.     

A crystalline,toxic, peptide metabolite ofTrichoderma spp. isolated from soil

Summary Isolates ofTrichoderma spp. from pasture soils of Nova Scotia produce at least 7 toxic peptides, probably related to alamethicin, some of which inhibit the growth of cellulase producing rumen bacteria. One of the peptides has been obtained in crystalline form and crystal data on this material is reported.     

Evolution of homeothermy in mammals

We propose that mammalian homeothermy was was acquired in two steps. The first step enabled mammals to invade a nocturnal niche without an increase in resting metabolic rate. The second step enabled them to invade a diurnal niche and involved the acquisition of higher body temperatures and metabolic rates.