Studies on the cytochemical localization of adenylate-cyclase activity inDugesia lugubris s.l.

Summary The localization of adenylate-cyclase activity inDugesia lugubris s.l. has been investigated cytochemically using 5-adenylyl-imidodiphosphate as substrate. The enzyme was localized in mucous gland cells, in rhabdite cells, in intercellular spaces and also in nerve endings of this planarian. The presence of adenylate-cyclase on the membrane suggests that it might mediate different stimulus-secretion coupling by increasing cyclic AMP synthesis in specialized areas of the planarian.Supported in part by a grant from Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome.Acknowledgments. This work was performed with the technical assistence of the laboratory of Electron Microscopy of the University of Perugia.     

Reciprocal crossover asymmetry and meiotic drive in a human recombination hot spot

Human DNA diversity arises ultimately from germline mutation that creates new haplotypes that can be reshuffled by meiotic recombination. Reciprocal crossover generates recombinant haplotypes but should not influence the frequencies of alleles in a population. We demonstrate crossover asymmetry at a recombination hot spot in the major histocompatibility complex, whereby reciprocal exchanges in sperm map to different locations in the hot spot. We identify a single-nucleotide polymorphism at the center of the hot spot and show that, when heterozygous, it seems sufficient to cause this asymmetry, apparently by influencing the efficiency of highly localized crossover initiation. As a consequence, crossovers in heterozygotes are accompanied by biased gene conversion, most likely occurring by gap repair, that can also affect nearby polymorphisms through repair of an extended gap. The result is substantial over-transmission of the recombination-suppressing allele and neighboring markers to crossover products. Computer simulations show that this meiotic drive, although weak at the population level, is sufficient to favor eventual fixation of the recombination-suppressing variant. These findings provide an explanation for the relatively uniform widths of human crossover hot spots and suggest that hot spots may be generally prone to extinction by meiotic drive.     

The effect of neuraminidase on the rabbit urinary interferon

Riassunto Proteine urinarie di coniglio contenenti interferone con una attività di 5000 U/mg sono state desializzate mediante neuraminidasi. La rapida e completa rimozione dell'acido sialico non si accompagna alla scomparsa della attività antivirale e pertanto, se l'interferone contiene acido sialico, quest'ultimo non ha un ruolo nell'attività biologica.     

Isoelectric fractionation of desialyzed interferon

Riassunto Proteine urinarie di coniglio contenenti interferone sono state desializzate mediante neuraminidasi e sono state separate simultaneamente ai controlli mediante elettroforesi su poliacrilammide con gradiente di pH. La rimozione dell'acido sialico produce una notevole modificazione del profilo elettroforetico con diminuzione dell'attività interferonica avente punti isoelettrici inferiori a pH 6.3. Il risultato indica che almeno in parte l'interferone contiene acido sialico.

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This work was supported by a grant from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma, Gruppo Nazionale di Medicina Sperimentale.