Genetic control of malate dehydrogenase inNicotiana suaveolens andN. glutinosa

Summary The study of malate dehydrogenase patterns in leaves ofNicotiana suaveolens, N. glutinosa and their interspecific hybrid has been carried out, in order to propose a model of its genetic control. Two possible explanations for the genetic control of malate dehydrogenase have been postulated forN. suaveolens, and at least two loci appear to be implicated in the control of this system inN. glutinosa.Acknowledgments. The authors thank Dr M. Pérez de la Vega for his valuable advice.     

Genetic control and modifications of peroxidase pattern in two species ofNicotiana and their interspecific hybrid

Summary The peroxidase patterns ofNicotiana suaveolens, N. glutinosa and their interspecific hybrid have been studied, and their possible genetic control analyzed. Modifications of the isozymatic pattern along the plant have been observed.Acknowledgments. The authors thank Prof. J.R. Lacadena and Dr M. Pérez de la Vega for their valuable advice.     

Electrophoretic analysis of lactate NAD oxidoreductase in interspecific hybrids between three species of the genus Sphaeroma: S. monodi, S. Rugicauda and S. hookeri]

The electrophoretic analysis of lactate NAD oxydoreductase in interspecific hybrids between three species of genus Sphaeroma (S. monodi, S. rugicauda and S. hookeri hookeri) leads, for each category of hybrids, to a distribution between the two parental enzymatic patterns and, consequently, shows the absence of an isozyme appropriate to these hybrids.     

Genetic analysis of interspecific crosses Mus musculus L. x Mus spretus Lataste: linkage of Adh-1 with Amy-1 on chromosome 3 and Es-14 with Mod-1 on chromosome 9]

192 offsprings from interspecific back-crosses (male M. spretus x female BALB/c) F1 x male BALB/c or (male M. spretus x female C57BL6) F1 x male C57BL6 were analysed at thirteen structural loci. Linkage of ES-14 with Mod-1 on chromosome 9 and that of Adh-1 with Amy-1 on chromosome 3 are shown. The following order centromere/Car-2/Amy-1 is tentatively proposed for these loci on chromosome 3.     

Quantitative studies on the influence of the temperature applied in freeze-substitution on P,N, and dry mass losses in fixed tissues

Résumé Les auteurs ont constaté que la température a une influence sur la diminution du contenu en azote et en phosphore et sur celle de la masse déséchée après l'usage de méthanol au cours de la congelation-dissolution (freeze-substitution) des tissus. Ces diminutions sont moins marquées à la temperature de – 79°C. Après l'usage d'acétone, les diminutions atteignent leur minimum.     

Synthesis and contractile activity of the C-terminal heptapeptide of substance P with N5-dimethyl glutamine in the 6-position. Active site studies

The synthesis and testing of [N5-dimethyl-Gln6]-SP5-11 showed 37 +/- 12% contractile activity relative to SP, and intrinsic efficacy 98 +/- 4%. This finding indicates that the carboxamide groups of the dual Gln5-Cln6 moiety are not equally related with the contractile response of the C-terminal heptapeptide of SP.     

Synthesis and contractile activity of the C-terminal heptapeptide of substance P with N5-dimethyl glutamine in the 6-position. Active site studies

Summary The synthesis and testing of [N⁵-dimethyl-Gln⁶]-SP_5–11 showed 37±12% contractile activity relative to SP, and intrinsic efficacy 98±4%. This finding indicates that the carboxamide groups of the dual Gln⁵-Gln⁶ moiety are not equally related with the contractile response of the C-terminal heptapeptide of SP.The authors wish to express their deep appreciation to Professor H. Niedrich and Dr J. Bergmann of the Institute of Drug Research, Academy of Sciences of DDR, Berlin, for their valuable help in providing the biological data.     

The opsins of the vertebrate retina: insights from structural,biochemical, and evolutionary studies

The vertebrate retina contains several classes of visual pigments responsible for such diverse functions as image- and nonimage-forming vision, the entrainment of circadian cycles, and the pupilary light response. With vision being vital to the survival of many species, the elucidation of the structural and biochemical properties of visual pigments has been the focus of a large body of research that has led to rapid advances in the field of photoreception. In this review, the current understanding of the structure, function, biochemistry, and evolution of the opsins that make up the photopigments in the vertebrate retina will be reviewed. These include the rod and cone opsins, melanopsin, RGR, peropsin, and VA-opsin. The goal is to highlight important questions that have been answered and to define some of the remaining questions in the field that will provide future directions for research.     

Alkaloid studies XXIII isolation of four new aspidosperma alkaloids: Cylindrocarpine,refractine, pyrifoline,and pyrifolidine

Zusammenfassung Die Isolierung von vier neuenAspidosperma-Alkaloiden ergabCylindrocarpin (erstes N-Cinnamoyl-dihydroindolderivat) sowieRefractin, Pyrifolin undPyrifolidin (alles N-Acetyl-dihydroindole), die alle vier eine Methoxylgruppe im Dihydroindolsystem besitzen.

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Postdoctorate research fellow 1958–1959 (Wayne State University); 1959–1960 (Stanford University).

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Paper XXII,J. S. E. Holker, M. Cais, F. A. Hochstein undC. Djerassi, J. org. Chem.24, 314 (1959).     

Genetic variation in the New World: Ancient teeth,bone, and tissue as sources of DNA

Examination of ancient and contemporary Native American mtDNA variation via diagnostic restriction sites and the 9-pb Region V deletion suggests a single wave of migration into the New World. This is in contrast to data from Torroni et al.³⁴ which suggested two waves of migration into the New World (the NaDene and Amerind). All four founding lineage types are present in populations in North, Central, and South America suggesting that all four lineages came over together and spead throughout the New World. Ancient Native American DNA shows that all four lineages were present before European contact in North America, and at least two were present in South America. The presence of all four lineages in the NaDene and the Amerinds argues against separate migrations founding these two groups, although admixture between the groups is still a viable explanation for the presence of all four types in the NaDene.