Distribution of HIV-1 in the genomes of AIDS patients

The localization of HIV-1 proviruses in compositional DNA fractions from 27 AIDS patients during the chronic phase of the disease with depletion of CD4+ and different levels of viremia showed the following. (1) At low viremia, proviruses are predominantly localized in the GC-richest isochores, which are characterized by an open chromatin structure; this result mimics findings on HIV-1 integration in early infected cells in culture. (2) At higher viremia, an increased distribution of proviruses in GC-poor isochores (which match the GC poorness of HIV-1) was found; this suggests a selection of cells in which the isopycnic localization leads to a higher expression of proviruses and, in turn, to higher viremia. (3) At the highest viremia, integrations in GC-rich isochores are often predominant again, but generally not at the same level as in (1); this may be the consequence of new integrations from the extremely abundant RNA copies.Received 21 November 2003; received after revision 13 January 2004: accepted 15 January 2004     

Abnormal cerebellar development and axonal decussation due to mutations in AHI1 in Joubert syndrome

Joubert syndrome is a congenital brain malformation of the cerebellar vermis and brainstem with abnormalities of axonal decussation (crossing in the brain) affecting the corticospinal tract and superior cerebellar peduncles. Individuals with Joubert syndrome have motor and behavioral abnormalities, including an inability to walk due to severe clumsiness and 'mirror' movements, and cognitive and behavioral disturbances. Here we identified a locus associated with Joubert syndrome, JBTS3, on chromosome 6q23.2-q23.3 and found three deleterious mutations in AHI1, the first gene to be associated with Joubert syndrome. AHI1 is most highly expressed in brain, particularly in neurons that give rise to the crossing axons of the corticospinal tract and superior cerebellar peduncles. Comparative genetic analysis of AHI1 indicates that it has undergone positive evolutionary selection along the human lineage. Therefore, changes in AHI1 may have been important in the evolution of human-specific motor behaviors.     

Dislocation-driven surface dynamics on solids

Dislocations are line defects that bound plastically deformed regions in crystalline solids. Dislocations terminating on the surface of materials can strongly influence nanostructural and interfacial stability, mechanical properties, chemical reactions, transport phenomena, and other surface processes. While most theoretical and experimental studies have focused on dislocation motion in bulk solids under applied stress and step formation due to dislocations at surfaces during crystal growth, very little is known about the effects of dislocations on surface dynamics and morphological evolution. Here we investigate the near-equilibrium dynamics of surface-terminated dislocations using low-energy electron microscopy. We observe, in real time, the thermally driven nucleation and shape-preserving growth of spiral steps rotating at constant temperature-dependent angular velocities around cores of dislocations terminating on the (111) surface of TiN in the absence of applied external stress or net mass change. We attribute this phenomenon to point-defect migration from the bulk to the surface along dislocation lines. Our results demonstrate that dislocation-mediated surface roughening can occur even in the absence of deposition or evaporation, and provide fundamental insights into mechanisms controlling nanostructural stability.     

Isolation from rat brain of a metabolic product,desmethylimipramine, that mediates the antidepressant activity of imipramine (Tofranil)

Zusammenfassung Nach Verabreichung von Imipramin (Tofranil) wurde aus dem Gehirn von Ratten Desmethylimipramin, das N-Monomethylderivat, isoliert. Dieser Metabolit beziehungsweise dessen Anreicherungin vivo scheint für die antidepressive Wirkung von Imipramin verantwortlich zu sein.

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Presented in part as an abstract in Fed. Proc.20, 321 (1961). Some of the material in this communication is taken from a dissertation byJ. V. Dingell to be submitted to the Graduate School of Georgetown University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.     

Experiments on the tumour cells using time-lapse microcinematography

Riassunto Viene descritta mediante riprese microcinematografiche a tempo in cellule del tumore di Walker trattate con desossiribonucleasi la formazione graduale di globuli conseguenti alla aggregazione di ribosomi. Si Riritiene pertanto che venga confermata l'ipotesi che nella cellular tumorale esista una condizione particolare per cui, ad una anormale produzione di ribonucleoproteine, non segua la produzione di concreti prodotti di sintesi.     

Genetic control over the duration of G1 phase

or fi y G₁ , .     

Detection and distribution of "rutinase+, an enzyme hydrolyzin; rutoside]

125 species were investigated for rutinase. A high enzyme activity was found only in a few genera: Fagopyrum, Rhamnus, Berchemia, Sophora, Datisca and Danae. Lower activity was detected in several Lichens (Parmeliaceae) and diverse plants but is lacking in some specimens. In a number of species containing 3- or 7-rutinosides, no enzyme able to hydrolyse the latter seems to be present.