On the inhibitory action of endosperm on germination ofCercis siliquastrum seeds

Summary The endosperm inhibits the growth of embryos isolated fromCercis siliquastrum seeds. The inhibitory activity is present in autoclaved homogenates as well as in homogenates remaining after an extraction with chloroform or isobutanol.Acknowledgment. The authors wish to thank Prof. E. Marré, Milan University, for his help in preparation of this paper.     

Influence of prenatal X-radiation on brain lipid and cerebroside content in developing rats

Résumé Lorsque des rats sont irradiés par des rayons X au 14e jour de la gestation, le contenu en cérébrosides du cortex cérébral et du diencéphale est plus élevé que chez les témoins. Or il est bien connu que ce traitement entraîne d'une part une prolifération gliale et d'autre part une augmentation de la sensibilité du système nerveux central à une stimulation électrique. La possibilité d'une relation entre ces phénomènes est discutée.

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USPHS HD-101 fellow.     

Genetic dissection and prognostic modeling of overt stroke in sickle cell anemia

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a paradigmatic single gene disorder caused by homozygosity with respect to a unique mutation at the beta-globin locus. SCA is phenotypically complex, with different clinical courses ranging from early childhood mortality to a virtually unrecognized condition. Overt stroke is a severe complication affecting 6-8% of individuals with SCA. Modifier genes might interact to determine the susceptibility to stroke, but such genes have not yet been identified. Using Bayesian networks, we analyzed 108 SNPs in 39 candidate genes in 1,398 individuals with SCA. We found that 31 SNPs in 12 genes interact with fetal hemoglobin to modulate the risk of stroke. This network of interactions includes three genes in the TGF-beta pathway and SELP, which is associated with stroke in the general population. We validated this model in a different population by predicting the occurrence of stroke in 114 individuals with 98.2% accuracy.     

Modifications of myosin caused by adenosine-triphosphate,adenosinediphosphate, and pyrophosphate

Riassunto In presenza di ATP o ADP o pirofosfato, in concentrazioni da 10^–2 a 10⁴ M, la solubilità della miosina aumenta notevolmente a bassa forza ionica. Il legame che si forma fra la miosina e i polifosfati è tale che solo una dialisi prolungata può allontanarli interamente.     

Effects of estradiol and cortisol on neural tissue in culture

Résumé L'activité acétylcholinestérasique et la teneur globale en protéines de fragments de cervelet et de moelle d'embryon de poulet de 16 jours diminue lorsqu'ils sont maintenus en culture organotypique dans le milieu standard deEagle. Après addition de cortisol ou d'oestradiol au milieu, les caractéristiques des tissus ne sont pas alterées par la mise en culture.

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This work was partially supported by contract AT (11-1), Project 82, between U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and University of California, Berkeley.     

The N-terminal groups of glutamic aspartic transaminase

Riassunto Su una preparazione altamente purificata di glutammico aspartico transaminasi del cuore di porco sono stati determinati i gruppi N-terminali con il metodo diSanger. È stata dimostrata la presenza di una mole di alanina N-terminale per 58 000 g di proteina, cioè per una mole di coenzima. La transaminasi risulterebbe pertanto costituita da due catene polipeptidiche.     

The ABC protein turned chloride channel whose failure causes cystic fibrosis

CFTR chloride channels are encoded by the gene mutated in patients with cystic fibrosis. These channels belong to the superfamily of ABC transporter ATPases. ATP-driven conformational changes, which in other ABC proteins fuel uphill substrate transport across cellular membranes, in CFTR open and close a gate to allow transmembrane flow of anions down their electrochemical gradient. New structural and biochemical information from prokaryotic ABC proteins and functional information from CFTR channels has led to a unifying mechanism explaining those ATP-driven conformational changes.     

The need for phosphate:at the root of the mycorrhizal symbiosis

Plants also have to follow their diet to be healthy.In addition to light,water,and CO2,they need mineral nutrients which have to be actively uptaken from the so...     

Cancer-related inflammation

The mediators and cellular effectors of inflammation are important constituents of the local environment of tumours. In some types of cancer, inflammatory conditions are present before a malignant change occurs. Conversely, in other types of cancer, an oncogenic change induces an inflammatory microenvironment that promotes the development of tumours. Regardless of its origin, 'smouldering' inflammation in the tumour microenvironment has many tumour-promoting effects. It aids in the proliferation and survival of malignant cells, promotes angiogenesis and metastasis, subverts adaptive immune responses, and alters responses to hormones and chemotherapeutic agents. The molecular pathways of this cancer-related inflammation are now being unravelled, resulting in the identification of new target molecules that could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment.