Amino-terminal fragments of Escherichia coli lac repressor bind to DNA.

The N-terminal fragments (residues 1-51 and 1-59) obtained by selective tryptic cleavage of native lac repressor retain the ability to bind DNA. These fragments (headpieces) are monomeric and form complexes which resemble those of tetrameric repressor with non-operator DNA. But, they do not show the high specificity of repressor for operator sequences. The DNA binding has been demonstrated by filter-binding assay as well as in solution using absorption, circular dichroism, and fluorescence measurements.     

Influence of the thymus hormone on radioleucosis in mice]

A partially purified thymic extract has determined the development of leucosis in 10 thymectomized irradiated CC57Bl mice out of 25. The pure hormone isolated from the same extract prevented the development of leucosis in intact irradiated Mice. This seems to indicate the presence of a second active substance in the extract (enhancing the development of the leucosis).     

The structure of locomotor activity in bilobectomized cockroaches (Blaberus fuscus)

Summary The aperiodic activity patterns of bilobectomized cockroaches can largely be described by simple stochastic regularities: a) there are no correlations between the lengths of successive activity bursts and rest pauses, b) the probabilities for the transition from activity to rest and from rest to activity are time-independent. The activity sequence is strongly influenced by singular temperature steps or temperature cycles.     

Polymorphism near the rat prolactin gene caused by insertion of an Alu-like element

Primate Alu and rodent Alu-like elements comprise major families of mammalian small dispersed repetitive DNAs. These elements are repeated more than 10(5) times per haploid genome and are found between known genes, in introns and in satellite DNA. Their dispersion throughout the genome and the presence of directly repeated DNA sequences flanking the elements suggest, but do not prove, that they are capable of transposition. We describe here an allelic variation in the 5'-flanking region of the rat prolactin gene that offers the opportunity to examine the sequences of matching regions of two homologous chromosomes which differ in the presence of an Alu-like repetitive DNA element. Our findings support the hypothesis that these elements are integrated into the genome by generating short direct repeats of host DNA.     

Sexual dimorphism of mouse fetal brain lesions after X-irradiation prior to gonadal differentiation

Fractionated X-irradiation of gestational days 11-13 in the mouse, with doses between 3 x 1.05 and 3 x 1.33 Gy resulted in rosette-like clusters of primitive ependym-resembling cells dispersed within the cortex walls. Quantification of these abnormalities showed a general prevalence in the female fetuses, especially due to the larger number of rosettes in the females than in the males. It was concluded that X-irradiation acts on sex-specific differentiation steps, which are fully developed at the beginning of the fetal period. As it was recently speculated that these are linked to an early divergence of gene expression between the sexes, we suggest that X-chromosome damage may be involved in the pathogenesis of the dimorphic lesion pattern. While, in principle, this will valid for any fetal tissue, it only becames evident in the forebrain because of the outstanding relationship between cell necrosis and rosette development in this specific organ.     

Sex-dependent action of prenatal fractionated X-irradiation in the mouse. Biochemical findings

Summary X-Irradiation of pregnant NMRI-mice on gestational days 11–13 with 3×1.05 Gy increased postnatal mortality of the female offspring only. Weights, protein content and acetylcholinesterase, as well as Na, K-ATPase activities in the brains of all treated offspring, were changed. There were, however, no differences between females and males with respect to these parameters.We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Miss C. Gutmann.