New contribution to the study of chromosomes of the European Cryptocephalinae (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae)

Summary The chromosomes of three species ofPachybrachis and nine ofCryptocephalus chrysomelids were analyzed. The male meiotic bivalent formula ofP. azureus Suffr.,P. catalonicus Burl. andP. petitpierrei Daccordi is 7^II+Xy_r.Cryptocephalus sexmaculatus Ol. andC. vittula Suffr. have 13^II+Xy_p,C. bipunctatus L. 14^II+Xy_r,C. ochroleucus Steph. andC. ocellatus Drap. 14^II+Xy_p,C. crassus 01. 15^II+Xy_r,C. sulphureus 01. 15^II+Xy_p, the same number as inC. fulvus Goeze with 2n=32 chromosomes, whileC. primarius Har. has 19^II+Xy_p. The modal chromosome number inCryptocephalus is 2n=30 (about 60% of spp.), and most species are characterized their small chromosomes. The low variation found in the karyotypes of Cryptocephalinae along with their possible interrelationships with allied chrysomelid subfamilies are also discussed.     

Ontogenetische Änderungen im Gehalt an Isoxanthopterin bei verschiedenen Genotypen vonDrosophila melanogaster

Summary The content of isoxanthopterine in different developmental stages and different genotypes ofDrosophila melanogaster has been investigated. In male pupae of the red eyed wild type the isoxanthopterine reaches a high concentration which is maintained during the whole period of imaginal life. It could be shown that the mutantsw (white) andbw (brown) though they are unable to synthesize the red eye pigment do nonetheless accumulate considerable quantities of isoxanthopterine during metamorphosis. This isoxanthopterine, however, disappears gradually from the body ofw andbw during the first 3 days of imaginal life till nothing of it is left in adult flies. The transitory appearance of isoxanthopterine in the two mutants, sets new problems with regard to the pleiotropic effect of thew- andbw-loci in pigment synthesis.     

The effect of X-rays and EMS on the behavior of the transposing element, TE98, in Drosophila melanogaster

The sensitivity of TE98 (carrying w+R and rst+) to X-rays does not differ significantly from the mutability of curled and karmoisin loci. In addition no spontaneous mutants of TE98 were recovered, indicating its extreme stability. On the effect of EMS no white mutants were found supporting the view that the w+ gene of TE98 is duplicated.     

Effects of corpora cardiaca extract,furosemide and ion substitution on sodium and chloride flux in perfused Malpighian tubules ofLocusta

Treatment with the co-transport inhibitor, furosemide decreased³⁶Cl^– flux across perfused Malpighian tubules ofLocusta. However, exclusion of³⁶Cl^– from the bathing medium had not effect on²²Na⁺ flux whereas substitution of bathing medium Na⁺ by K⁺ increased³⁶Cl^– flux. Diuretic extract of corpora cardiaca increased²²Na⁺ (by 106%) and³⁶Cl^– (by 335%) fluxes differentially.     

Protective effect of Shigyaku-to,a traditional Chinese herbal medicine,on the infection of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in mice

The antiviral activity of Shigyaku-to (TJS-109), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, was investigated in mice infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). TJS-109 is a combination of the medicinal plant extracts fromZingiberis siccatum rhizoma,Aconiti tuber andGlycyrrhizae radix in a specific proportion. Mice infected with a 10 LD₅₀ dose of HSV-1 were treated with TJS-109 orally at doses of 1.25 to 20 mg/kg 2 days before, and 1 and 4 days after the infection. The treated groups had 80% (1.25 mg/kg), 40% (5 mg/kg) and 23% (20 mg/kg) mortality rates 25 days after the infection as compared with a 100% mortality rate in control mice treated with saline. When HSV-1 infected mice (recipients) received CD8⁺T cell fractions derived from spleens of mice treated with TJS-109 (donors), 70% of recipients survived, as compared with 0% survivors in the groups of mice treated with saline, B cell fractions, CD4⁺ T cell fractions or macrophage-enriched fractions prepared from the same donors. TJS-109 did not show any virucidal activities against HSV-1 or any virostatic activities on the growth of HSV-1 in Vero cells. These results suggest that TJS-109 protected mice exposed to lethal amounts of HSV-1 through the activation of CD8⁺ T cells.     

Osmotic adaptation of moderately halophilic methanogenic Archaeobacteria,and detection of cytosolicN,N-dimethylglycine

Methanohalophilus mahii SLP andMethanohalophilus halophilus Z-7982, two closely-related, moderately halophilic, methylotrophic methanogens, were tested for their adaptation to saline conditions. They grew in a wider range of salinities than previously reported, in a defined medium with as little as 0.1 M NaCl, and with a high as 4.0 M NaCl forM. halophilus and 4.5 M NaCl forM. mahii. Fastest growth occurred with 1.5 M NaCl forM. mahii and 1.0 M NaCl forM. halophilus. M. mahii also grew in media in which NaCl was replaced by sucrose or KCl as osmolytes up to the osmolal equivalent of 2 and 2.5 M NaCl (these media contained other sodium salts totaling about 0.1 M Na⁺). In media with either sucrose of KCl replacing NaCl,M. mahii grew fastest at osmolalities approximately equiosmolal to 1 M NaCl.M. mahii not only grew well at a wide range of osmosities, it also tolerated rapid shifts in osmolality. Cells subjected to a rapid 10-fold hypertonic shift resumed growth without a prolonged lag. When cells were subjected to a rapid 10-fold hypotonic shift, 90% of cells lysed, but the remaineder continued to swell with little further lysis during the next 45 min. Surviving cells resumed growth.Methanohalophilus strains grown in defined medium had low cytosolic Na⁺ concentrations; K⁺ concentrations were as high as 0.35 M. Organic osmotica in the cytosol include glycine betaine and larger amounts of N,N-dimethylglycine.     

Effects of the virulence plasmid ColV,I-K94 on the sensitivity ofEscherichia coli to putative environmental inhibitory agents

Summary Derivatives ofEscherichia coli carrying the virulence plasmid, ColV, I-K94 were more resistant than the ColV^– parents to phage Mel but were more sensitive to the hydrophobic inhibitors deoxycholate, erythromycin and lysozyme. The basis for these changes in sensitivity has been examined in ColV⁺ mutants with altered colicin or VmpA protein levels and in ColV⁺ strains with repressed transfer properties.The authors wish to thank the Fondacion Gran Marischal de Ayacucho and the Central Research Fund of the University of London for financial support.     

Involvement of Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>, K<Superscript>+</Superscript>-ATPase and its inhibitors in HuR-mediated cytokine mRNA stabilization in lung epithelial cells

Increasing evidence demonstrates that Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase plays an important role in pulmonary inflammation, but the mechanism remains largely unknown. In this study, we used cardiotonic steroids as Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase inhibitors to explore the possible involvement of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase in pulmonary epithelial inflammation. The results demonstrated that mice after ouabain inhalation developed cyclooxygenase-2-dependent acute lung inflammation. The in vitro experiments further confirmed that Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase inhibitors significantly stimulated cyclooxygenase-2 expression in lung epithelial cells of human or murine origin, the process of which was participated by multiple cis-elements and trans-acting factors. Most importantly, we first described here that Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase inhibitors could evoke a significant Hu antigen R nuclear export in lung epithelial cells, which stabilized cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA by binding with a proximal AU-rich element within its 3′-untranslated region. In conclusion, HuR-mediated mRNA stabilization opens new avenues in understanding the importance of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase, as well as its inhibitors in inflammation.     

Melezitase and maltase from the midgut ofSesamia inferens Walker (Lepidoptera: Insecta)

Summary The activity of melezitase and maltase was optimal at pH 6.2 and temperature 35–40°C and inhibited by the end-products. Melezitase activity was affected by K⁺, Li⁺⁺ andTris ions and was reduced by dialysis.Acknowledgments: The author is thankful to ProfessorR. Rakshpal for valuable guidance, and to University Grants Commission, for awarding me a Junior Research Fellowship.     

Lack of conversion of C29-phytosterols to cholesterol in the khapra beetle,Trogoderma granarium Everts

Summary Metabolic studies in which³H-sitosterol,³H-stigmasterol, and¹⁴C-desmosterol were administered by feeding and injection to the khapra beetle,Trogoderma granarium Everts, provided strong evidence that this insect is unable to dealkylate phytosterols and convert them to cholesterol.     

Dominance for enzyme activity inDrosophila melanogaster

Summary A regulatory element tightly linked to theGpdh locus inDrosophila melanogaster has been isolated from a natural population. Flies homozygous for second chromosomes bearing the element,H31, have half the GPDH activity of normal homozygotes. Heterozygotes betweenH31 andF orS alleles exhibit dominance in GPDH activity. Heterozygotes betweenH31, F orS andDf(2L) GdhA have half the diploid level. The contribution of theS allele to the activity inS/H31 heterozygotes is more than four times that ofH31. The regulatory element distinguishingH31 is tightly linked to theGpdh ⁺ locus.     

Aberrant,canavanyl protein formation and the ability to tolerate or utilize L-canavanine

Summary L-Canavanine, 2-amino-4-(guanidinooxy)butyric acid, and L-arginine incorporation into de novo synthesized proteins was compared in six organisms. Utilizing L-[guanidinooxy¹⁴C]canavanine and L-[guanidino¹⁴C]arginine at substrate saturation, the canavanine to arginine incorporation ratio was determined in de, novo synthesized proteins.Caryedes brasiliensis andSternechus tuberculatus, canavanine utilizing insects;Canavalia ensiformis, a canavanine storing plant; and to a lesser extentHeliothis virescens, a canavanine resistant insect, failed to accumulate significant canavanyl proteins. By contrast,Manduca sexta, a canavanine-sensitive insect, andGlycine max, a canavanine free plant, readily incorporated canavanine into newly synthesized proteins. This study supports the contention that the incorporation of canavanine into proteins in place of arginine contributes significantly to canavanine's antimetabolic properties.     

Vorgänge bei pH-Änderung und bei Belichtung eines Anthocyanidins

Summary The anthocyanidin investigated here exists below pH 4 as a cationAH ₂ ⁺ (wave length of absorption maximum _max=459 mµ), between pH 5 and 7 in the neutral formAH ( _max=492 mµ) and above pH 8 as an anionA ^– ( _max=537 mµ). At pH 5 the freshly dissolved substance is partially converted into a colourless formBH ( _max=372 mµ) and a chemical equilibrium betweenAH andBH is reached within 1 h. A kinetic study of the process of formation ofBH shows that an intermediate productZ is formed. This process can be reversed by light exposure. It can be concluded from a kinetic investigation by using flash light thatBH is transformed by the absorbing light into a new substanceL ( _max 275 mµ and 225 mµ), andL changes partially intoBH, partially intoZ, which itself is transformed partially intoAH ₂ ⁺ ,AH,A ^–, partially intoBH. The reactionZ AH,AH ₂ ⁺ ,A ^– is proportional to the concentration of protons [H ⁺], the reactionZ BH independent of [H ⁺]. Thus a photochemical production ofAH ₂ ⁺ ,AH,A ^– fromBH is readily obtained in the presence ofH ⁺ and not obtained in the absence ofH ⁺.     

Spermatozoid-attracting substance in hermaphrodite brown algae,Pelvetia wrightii andFucus evanescens

Summary A spermatozoid-attracting substance of the hermaphrodite brown algae,Pelvetia wrightii andFucus evanescens, was identified as 1, trans-3, cis-5-octatriene, respectively, by¹H-NMR and¹³C-NMR data and biological activities.Acknowledgments. The authors would like to express their thanks to Mr A. Nishikawa for technical assistance, to Dr M. Abe (Yamagata Univ.) for valuable discussion on biological work and to Prof. Y. Sakai (Hokkaido Univ. Director of the Institute of Algological Research, Muroran) for the facilities during the investigation ofP. wrightii andF. evanescens. Financial support from the Ministry of Education Science, and Culture (Grant-in Aid for Scientific Research No. 556092) is gratefully acknowledged.     

The human α2-plasmin inhibitor: functional characterization of the unique plasmin(ogen)-binding region

The human α₂-plasmin inhibitor (A2PI) possesses unique N- and C-terminal extensions that significantly influence its biological activities. The C-terminal segment, A2PIC (Asn³⁹⁸-Lys⁴⁵²), contains six lysines thought to be involved in the binding to lysine-binding sites in the kringle domains of human plasminogen, of which four (Lys⁴²², Lys⁴²⁹, Lys⁴³⁶, Lys⁴⁵²) are completely and two (Lys⁴⁰⁶, Lys⁴¹⁵) are partially conserved. Multiple Lys to Ala mutants of A2PIC were expressed in Escherichia coli and used in intrinsic fluorescence titrations with kringle domains K1, K4, K4 + 5, and K1 + 2 + 3 of human plasminogen. We were able to identify the C-terminal Lys⁴⁵² as the main binding partner in recombinant A2PIC (rA2PIC) constructs with isolated kringles. We could show a cooperative, zipper-like enhancement of the interaction between C-terminal Lys⁴⁵² and internal Lys⁴³⁶ of rA2PIC and isolated K1 + 2 + 3, whereas the other internal lysine residues contribute only to a minor extent to the binding process. Sulfated Tyr⁴⁴⁵ in the unique C-terminal segment revealed no influence on the binding affinity to kringle domains.     

Competitiveness and communication for effective inoculation byRhizobium,Bradyrhizobium and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi

After a short summary on the ecology and rhizosphere biology of symbiotic bacteria and vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhiza fungi and their application as microbial inocula, results on competitiveness and communication are summarized. Stress factors such as high temperature, low soil pH, aluminium concentrations and phytoalexins produced by the host plants were studied withRhizobium leguminosarum bv.phaseoli andRhizobium tropici onPhaseolus beans. Quantitative data for competitiveness were obtained by usinggus ⁺ (glucoronidase) labelled strains, which produce blue-coloured nodules. ForPhaseolus-nodulating rhizobia, a group specific DNA probe was also developed, which did not hybridize with more than 20 other common soil and rhizosphere bacteria. Results from several laboratories contributing to knowledge of signal exchange and communication in theRhizobium/Bradyrhizobium legume system are summarized in a new scheme, including also defense reactions at the early stages of legume nodule initiation. Stimulating effects of flavonoids on germination and growth of VA mycorrhiza fungi were also found. A constitutive antifungal compound in pea roots, -isoxazolinonyl-alanine, was characterized.     

Chromosomal findings on eight species of EuropeanCryptocephalus

Summary Chromosome studies on 8 species of EuropeanCryptocephalus; C. aureolus Suffr.,C. capucinus Suffr.,C. globicollis Suffr.,C. hypochoeridis L.,C. moraei L.,C. rugicollis Ol.,C. sexpustulatus Vill., andC. violaceus Laich. have shown an identical karyotypic formula, 14^II+Xy_r, 2n=30. Most species ofCryptocephalus share 2n=30 chromosomes. The only interspecific differences are in the size of bivalents and in the sex-determining systems. The chromosomal interrelationships ofCryptocephalus with other allied groups are also discussed.     

Multiple phosphoglucomutase alleles in two species ofMansonia mosquito

Summary Multiple phosphoglucomutase (E.C.2.7.5.1) alleles are found in the mosquitoesMansonia crassipes andM. uniformis. The present study reveals 4Pgm alleles, of whichPgm ^B andPgm ^C are common to both species whilePgm ^A is present only inM. crassipes andPgm ^D only inM. uniformis. The frequencies in both species accord well with Hardy-Weinberg expectations. The most frequent allele is that controlling a phenotype with an intermediate electrophoretic mobility, viz.Pgm ^B inM. crassipes andPgm ^C inM. uniformis.This work is supported in part by a University of Malaya research grant to the senior author.     

Die Einlagerung von radioaktivem Schwefel in die Flügel von Acrididen nach Applikation von35S-Natriumsulfat-und35S-l-Cystinlösungen

Summary Psophus stridulus L. andOedipoda coerulescens L. were fed or injected with solutions of Na ₂ ³⁵ SO₄ and³⁵S-l-cystine. The radioactive radiation pattern of the wings was found to depend on the time of application. Differences in radiation intensity were found to correspond to the red, blue and dark areas.     

A reinvestigation of the chemistry of the Dufours gland of the formicine ant,Anoplolepis custodiens

The components of individual Dufours glands excised fromAnoplolepis custodiens workers were analysed by GC-MS. In addition to then-alkanes andn-alkenes previously reported² in these glands, primary alcohols (C₁₉-C₂₂), secondary alcohols (C₂₀-C₂₃), 2-ketones (C₂₀-C₂₃) and possibly carboxylate ethyl esters (C₁₉ and C₂₁) were identified as components of these glands. It seems possible that these high-boiling compounds are used by the workers in laying trails on the hot sandy surfaces of their characteristic habitat and in lining of the inner walls of nests, but no standard compounds have been available to us for any behavioral studies.