Immunochemical identification of vitellogenin in the serum of the newt Triturus cristatus.

The hematic yold precursor--vitellogenin--has been identified immunochemically in the serum of estrogenized females of the nest Triturus cristatus by employing an antiserum prepared against yold proteins.     

A transplantable fibroma of the skin in the newtTriturus taeniatus

Zusammenfassung Beschreibung eines transplantierbaren Fibroms der Haut im Streifen- oder TeichmolchTriturus taeniatus, bei dessen Entstehung das adepidermale retikulare Geflecht eine bedeutende Rolle spielt.     

Mitotic karyotype and nucleoli of the marbled newtTriturus marmoratus (Latreille)

Riassunto I cromosomi mitotici diTriturus marmoratus sono stati ordinati in cariotipo. Gli organizzatori nucleolari sono due per cellula, ma negli spermatogoni primitivi sono presenti numerosi nucleoli liberi.

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With financial support by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome.     

Metabolism of C19-steroids in testicular tissue of the newtTriturus vulgaris,during and after breeding

Summary Incubation studies with testicular homogenates ofTriturus vulgaris showed that testosterone was quantitatively the most important metabolite of dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione during breeding. After breeding the recovery of testosterone declined. This suggests that 17-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase may be regulated for the needs of testicular androgen production.     

Changes in the thermal denaturation profiles of DNA from different developmental stages of the newtTriturus vulgaris

Summary The melting profiles of DNA samples from the early gastrula and early neurula ofTriturus vulgaris are essentially the same, whereas DNA from mid to late gastrula possesses higher T_m values and shows a deviation from the regular sigmoidal shape at temperatures above T_m. The plot on normal probability paper indicates a second DNA fraction which melts at higher temperatures and, consequently, it has a higher GC-content than the bulk DNA. These facts confirm our idea that differential DNA replication occurs during gastrulation.     

Completion of the morphology of the lampbrush chromosomes of the Italian alpine newtTriturus alpestris apuanus bonaparte

Riassunto L'identificazione dei centromeri, delle regioni nucleolo-organizzatrici e di quelle sfera-organizzatrici ha permesso il completamento della morfologia dei «lampbrush chromosomes» diTriturus alpestris apuanus.

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With financial support by C.N.R., Rome.     

Chromosomal heteromorphism and female heterogamety in the marbled newtTriturus marmoratus (Latreille, 1800)

Riassunto Il bivalente lampbrush I diTriturus marmoratus è costituito da 2 cromosomi partner di diversa lunghezza a presenta loops eteromorfi lungo una regione sempre sprovvista di chiasmi. Si può quindi ritenere che tale bivalente sia costituito dagli eterocromosomi Z e W.

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With financial support by C.N.R., Rome.     

The selective accumulation of vitellogenin in the locust oocyte

Summary The selectivity of vitellogenin absorption by the locust oocyte was examined by comparing the uptake of vitellogenin and a haemolymph protein of similar molecular weight (MHP). Though both proteins occurred in the haemolymph at approximately the same concentration there occurred a 500-fold difference in accumulation of vitellogenin over MHP during a 24-h period. Surprisingly MHP did not accumulate in the oocyte during vitellogenesis.     

Immunochemical identity of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV from pig serum,liver, submaxillary gland and kidney

Summary The enzymes which were extracted by autodigestion from the microsomal fractions of the pig kidney, liver and submaxillary gland and from the serum showed an immunochemical identity by a double immunodiffusion test. But the kidney enzyme had a different pI-value from the pI-values of the enzymes of other organs.This investigation was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Education, Japan to K. M. F. We would like to thank Dr Toshiharu Nagatsu (Department of Life Chemistry, Graduate School at Nagatsuta, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan) for helpful suggestions, Mr Moritoshi Sato (Matsumoto Meat Inspection Station, Matsumoto, Japan) for their generous supply of pig organs and Ajinomoto Co. Inc., Tokyo, Japan, for the gift of Gly-Pro-p-nitroanilide tosylate. Technical assistance of Miss K. Yanagisawa is gratefully acknowledged.     

Morphology of the mitotic chromosomes of embryos and of adults of Italian alpine newtTriturus alpestris apuanus (Bonaparte)

Riassunto E' stata descritta la diversa morfologia dei cromosomi mitotici diTriturus alpestris apuanus, studiati in blastomeri e in cellule somatiche di individui adulti.

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With financial support by C.N.R., Rome.     

Immunochemical identity of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV from pig serum, liver, submaxillary gland and kidney.

The enzymes which were extracted by autodigestion from the microsomal fractions of the pig kidney, liver and submaxillary gland and from the serum showed an immunochemical identity by a double immunodiffusion test. But the kidney enzyme had a different pI-value from the pI-values of the enzymes of other organs.     

Immunochemical characterization of antibody-coated nanoparticles

A new method using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) through the BIAcore was used to demonstrate the specific interaction between an anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (IOT4a), adsorbed on poly(methylidene malonate 2.1.2) (PMM 2.1.2) nanoparticles, and the CD4 molecule. The results obtained were compared with the interaction of the same immunonanoparticles with rabbit anti-mouse Fc antibodies. The molar ratio (Fc)/(Fab) was 1, suggesting that the same number of epitopes on the Fc and the Fab fragments were accessible after IOT4a adsorption onto nanoparticles. Comparing the observed association rates of free antibody and antibody adsorbed on nanoparticles, the number of molecules of IOT4a antibody on PMM 2.1.2 nanoparticles was estimated as between 2.6 and 3 per nanoparticle. The properties of the antibody-coated nanoparticles are compatible with their use as antibody-targeted pharmacophores.     

Immunochemical detection of arbuscular mycorrhizae

The difficult systematics of the arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) forming-fungi, belonging to the Glomales, can be facilitated with immunochemical methods. Polyclonal antibodies, however, are seldom able to reach below the generic level. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) have been produced which can differentiate AM fungal spores on the species and strain/isolate level. Together with an improved enrichment procedure for spores and hyphae of AM fungi, isolation and identification of the extraradical structures is possible with these mAb, lowering the risk of unspecific binding. Quantification of the data is discussed as the next step.This paper is dedicated to Prof. Dr. Peter Sitte on the occasion of his 65th birthday.