The DNA sequence of human chromosome 21

Chromosome 21 is the smallest human autosome. An extra copy of chromosome 21 causes Down syndrome, the most frequent genetic cause of significant mental retardation, which affects up to 1 in 700 live births. Several anonymous loci for monogenic disorders and predispositions for common complex disorders have also been mapped to this chromosome, and loss of heterozygosity has been observed in regions associated with solid tumours. Here we report the sequence and gene catalogue of the long arm of chromosome 21. We have sequenced 33,546,361 base pairs (bp) of DNA with very high accuracy, the largest contig being 25,491,867 bp. Only three small clone gaps and seven sequencing gaps remain, comprising about 100 kilobases. Thus, we achieved 99.7% coverage of 21q. We also sequenced 281,116 bp from the short arm. The structural features identified include duplications that are probably involved in chromosomal abnormalities and repeat structures in the telomeric and pericentromeric regions. Analysis of the chromosome revealed 127 known genes, 98 predicted genes and 59 pseudogenes.     

7-Chloro-3-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide a new antihypertensive agent

Summary 7-Chloro-3-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-4H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide (DU-717) is a new compound having sustained antihypertensive activity in a similar manner to that of hydrochlorothiazide. However, this compound shows neither diuretic nor hyperglycemic effect, being different from those of hydrochlorothiazide or diazoxide.     

Developmental change of EEG in rat from 4th to 16th week

Summary The development of EEG in 8 male rats from 4 to 16 weeks age were studied chronically. Theta band had the highest power at 5–16 weeks. Especially after 11 weeks, theta band presented a signigicantly higher peak than that of 4-week-old. In contrast to this, delta band, which had the highest power at 4 weeks, was markedly decreased.     

Autoradiographic studies on the experimental pulmonary fibrosis of rats after H3-proline injection

Zusammenfassung Mit einer 2-, 4-, 8- und 16-Wochenbehandlung wurde bei Ratten experimentell eine Lungenfibrose durch SiO₂ verursacht. Später wurde i.p. H³-Prolin injiziert und durch Autoradiographie die pulmonale Fibrose bewertet. In den Pneumokoniose-Herden wurde die Radioaktivität mit der Zeit am intensivsten, wobei die höchste Aktivität in den Kollagenfasern gemessen wurde.     

Release of 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine,thyroxine and thyroglobulin from TSH-stimulated mouse thyroids in the perifusion system

Summary We established a perifusion system using mouse thyroid glands. In this system, TSH increased the release of T₃ and T₄ significantly, and the response of thyroglobulin to TSH was delayed in comparison with that of T₃ and T₄.     

Hinf family: a novel repeated DNA family of the human genome

The isolation of a mutant adenovirus carrying an insertion of cellular DNA has led to the identification of a new family of human repetitive sequences, which are found tandemly arranged in the genome. The sequence of the viral insert resembles that of eukaryotic transposable elements.