The genome sequence of the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa

Neurospora crassa is a central organism in the history of twentieth-century genetics, biochemistry and molecular biology. Here, we report a high-quality draft sequence of the N. crassa genome. The approximately 40-megabase genome encodes about 10,000 protein-coding genes--more than twice as many as in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe and only about 25% fewer than in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. Analysis of the gene set yields insights into unexpected aspects of Neurospora biology including the identification of genes potentially associated with red light photobiology, genes implicated in secondary metabolism, and important differences in Ca2+ signalling as compared with plants and animals. Neurospora possesses the widest array of genome defence mechanisms known for any eukaryotic organism, including a process unique to fungi called repeat-induced point mutation (RIP). Genome analysis suggests that RIP has had a profound impact on genome evolution, greatly slowing the creation of new genes through genomic duplication and resulting in a genome with an unusually low proportion of closely related genes.     

The role of endosomal-recycling in long-term potentiation

Long-term potentiation (LTP) defines persistent increases in neurotransmission strength at synapses that are triggered by specific patterns of neuronal activity. LTP, the most widely accepted molecular model for learning, is best characterised at glutamatergic synapses on dendritic spines. In this context, LTP involves increases in dendritic spine size and the insertion of glutamate receptors into the post-synaptic spine membrane, which together boost post-synaptic responsiveness to neurotransmitters. In dendrites, the material required for LTP is sourced from an organelle termed the endosomal-recycling compartment (ERC), which is localised to the base of dendritic spines. When LTP is induced, material derived from the recycling compartment, which contains α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs), is mobilised into dendritic spines feeding the increased need for receptors and membrane at the spine neck and head. In this review, we discuss the importance of endosomal-recycling and the role of key proteins which control these processes in the context of LTP.     

An evidence for decrease of energy production in thiamine deficient failing rat heart

Résumé La combinaison des substrats — acides pyruvique et fumarique — inhibent le gonflement de mitochondries isolées du coeur de rat, en accord avec le maintien de l'intégrité de la structure mitochondriale par l'adénosine triphosphate produite. On constate la diminution successive de cette inhibition dans des rats déficients en thiamine, par suite du blocage au niveau de la décarboxylation pyruvique. De plus cette carence vitaminique provoque une décroissance graduelle du nombre des mitochondries dans le tissu cardiaque.

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Supported by the Grants H-4012 from the National Heart Institute and K62-3 from the Hospital Division, U.S. Public Health Service. We thank MissV. Meyer for the heart size deteminations.     

Histochemical comparison of mast cell and globule leucocyte granules in the rat

Zusammenfassung Es werden die Granulationen von Leukozyten, welche im Dünndarm der Ratte infolge einer Helmintiasis auftraten, mit den Granulationen der Mastzellen im s.c. Gewebe verglichen. Die Granulationen in den Mastzellen verhalten sich gegenüber Heparin und Histamin positiv, während die Leukozyten eine negative Reaktion ergeben. Dies weist darauf hin, dass die beiden Zellen nicht identisch sind und wohl aus verschiedener Matrix stammen.     

Structural relationships between the endogenous volatile urinary metabolites of experimentally diabetic rats and certain neurotoxins

Summary High resolution glass capillary gas chromatography and GC/MS were utilized to examine qualitative and quantitative variations from normal of urinary volatile metabolites of long-term alloxan and streptozotocin diabetic rats. Volatile metabolites were structurally compared with known neurotoxins to examine any possible relationship between these metabolites and the development of the diabetic polyneuropathy.Acknowledgment. This research was supported by grant No. 24349 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, U.S. Public Health Service.     

A comparison of the degree of chimaerism produced when allogeneic cells from four different tissues are used to create tolerance in the mouse

Résumé La tolérance immunologique produite chez la souris avec les cellules de foie d'embryon, ou des cellules de rate, de tissus lymphoïdes ou de moelle osseuse d'adulte, a été comparée au degré de chimérisme. Le foie d'embryon a produit le plus haut degré de chimérisme (10,7%).