The complete family of genes encoding G proteins of Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans is the first animal whose genomic sequence has been determined. One of the new possibilities in post-sequence genetics is the analysis of complete gene families at once. We studied the family of heterotrimeric G proteins. C. elegans has 20 Galpha, 2 Gbeta and 2 Ggamma genes. There is 1 homologue of each of the 4 mammalian classes of Galpha genes, G(i)/G(o)alpha, G(s)alpha , G(q)alpha and G12alpha, and there are 16 new alpha genes. Although the conserved Galpha subunits are expressed in many neurons and muscle cells, GFP fusions indicate that 14 new Galpha genes are expressed almost exclusively in a small subset of the chemosensory neurons of C. elegans. We generated loss-of-function alleles using target-selected gene inactivation. None of the amphid-expressed genes are essential for viability, and only four show any detectable phenotype (chemotaxis defects), suggesting extensive functional redundancy. On the basis of functional analysis, the 20 genes encoding Galpha proteins can be divided into two groups: those that encode subunits affecting muscle activity (homologues of G(i)/G(o)alpha, G(s)alpha and G(q)), and those (14 new genes) that encode proteins most likely involved in perception.     

Molecular structure of r(GCG)d(TATACGC): a DNA--RNA hybrid helix joined to double helical DNA

The molecule r(GCG)d(TATACGC) is self-complementary and forms two DNA--RNA hybrid segments surrounding a central region of double helical DNA; its molecular structure has been solved by X-ray analysis. All three parts of the molecule adopt a conformation which is close to that seen in the 11-fold RNA double helix. The conformation of the ribonucleotides is partly determined by water molecules bridging between the ribose O2' hydroxyl group and cytosine O2. The hybrid-DNA duplex junction contains no structural discontinuities. However, the central DNA TATA sequence has some structural irregularities.     

Depletion and repletion of noradrenaline in adrenergic nerves of the rat after decaborane treatment

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe der Fluoreszenz-Technik werden die Veränderungen in sympathischen Fasern der Ratteniris nach Noradrenalin-Depletion durch Boron-Hydrid Decarboran (Dopa-Dekarboxylase-Hemmer) analysiert.

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This work has been supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council under project No. B70-14x-97-06B, B70-14x-711-05B and Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.     

Stereospecificity of allantoin degradation inStreptococcus allantoicus

Zusammenfassung Die Stereospezifität der Enzyme des Allantoinabbaus inStreptococcus allantoicus und die optische Drehung der Reaktionsprodukte wurde bestimmt. Allantoinase war aspezifisch, während Allantoate-amidohydrolase ausschliesslich (-)-Ureidoglykolate bildete. Diese Substanz wurde durch (-)-Ureidoglykolase hydrolysiert.     

Sex attractant of the larch bud moth found by electroantennogram method

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe der Antennogramm-Methode wurdetrans-11-Tetracedenylacetat als spezifisches Attraktans für Männchen des LärchenwicklersZeiraphera diniana bestimmt. In geeigneter Konzentration ist die Attraktivität der synthetischen Substanz derjenigen virginer Weibchen ebenbürtig.

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This research was supported in part by Environmental Protection Agency Grant No. EP-00802 and by the Rockefeller Foundation.

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Contribution No. 46 of the research team for the investigation of the population dynamics of the larch bud moth, directed by Professor Dr.P. Bovey. The research was aided by the Swiss National Funds for Scientific Research.