Evidence for an intracytoplasmic membrane in the core of spores ofBacillus popilliae

Zusammenfassung Die Arbeit bringt den elektronenmikroskopischen Beweis für das Bestehen einer intracytoplasmatischen Membran im Cytoplasma (core) der Sporen vonBacillus popilliae.

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This investigation was supported by a research contract from the Northern Utilization Research and Development Division, US Department of Agriculture, Peoria (Illinois).     

Structural determinants for generating centromeric chromatin

Mammalian centromeres are not defined by a consensus DNA sequence. In all eukaryotes a hallmark of functional centromeres--both normal ones and those formed aberrantly at atypical loci--is the accumulation of centromere protein A (CENP-A), a histone variant that replaces H3 in centromeric nucleosomes. Here we show using deuterium exchange/mass spectrometry coupled with hydrodynamic measures that CENP-A and histone H4 form sub-nucleosomal tetramers that are more compact and conformationally more rigid than the corresponding tetramers of histones H3 and H4. Substitution into histone H3 of the domain of CENP-A responsible for compaction is sufficient to direct it to centromeres. Thus, the centromere-targeting domain of CENP-A confers a unique structural rigidity to the nucleosomes into which it assembles, and is likely to have a role in maintaining centromere identity.     

Effects of aflatoxin B1 on human skin lipids metabolism — a site of action on 1-14C-acetate incroporation

Zusammenfassung Aflatoxin B₁ hemmt den Einbau von 1-¹⁴C-Azetat in die Lipide der menschlichen Haut. Wird aber³H-Azetyl-CoA als Vorstufe für den Lipideinbau verwendet, so kommt es zu keiner merklichen Hemmung. Die Azetataktivierung scheint somit die wichtigste, vom Toxin beeinflussbare Stufe der Lipidsynthese zu sein.     

Effects of puromycin on rat embryos in vitro

Summary Somite-staged rat embryos were exposed to varying concentrations of puromycin for 48 h in vitro. Medium concentrations below 0.92 M had no significant effects, while concentrations above 1.84 M were lethal. Between these extremes, there were concentration dependent increases in the incidence of malformations in a close relationship to growth retardation.     

Naming of substituted histamines

Résumé Un système de nomenclature triviale des histamines substituées est proposé. Les positions des substituants sont identifiées sans aucune ambiguité dans la formule IX. Le noyau peut être substitué en position N, 2, N. et 4, et la chaîne latérale en position N, , et .     

Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase deficiency causes a bone dysplasia with autoimmunity and a type I interferon expression signature

We studied ten individuals from eight families showing features consistent with the immuno-osseous dysplasia spondyloenchondrodysplasia. Of particular note was the diverse spectrum of autoimmune phenotypes observed in these individuals (cases), including systemic lupus erythematosus, Sj?gren's syndrome, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypothyroidism, inflammatory myositis, Raynaud's disease and vitiligo. Haplotype data indicated the disease gene to be on chromosome 19p13, and linkage analysis yielded a combined multipoint log(10) odds (LOD) score of 3.6. Sequencing of ACP5, encoding tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, identified biallelic mutations in each of the cases studied, and in vivo testing confirmed a loss of expressed protein. All eight cases assayed showed elevated serum interferon alpha activity, and gene expression profiling in whole blood defined a type I interferon signature. Our findings reveal a previously unrecognized link between tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity and interferon metabolism and highlight the importance of type I interferon in the genesis of autoimmunity.     

Forecasting Stock Returns: Do Commodity Prices Help?

This paper examines the relationship between stock prices and commodity prices and whether this can be used to forecast stock returns. As both prices are linked to expected future economic performance they should exhibit a long‐run relationship. Moreover, changes in sentiment towards commodity investing may affect the nature of the response to disequilibrium. Results support cointegration between stock and commodity prices, while Bai–Perron tests identify breaks in the forecast regression. Forecasts are computed using a standard fixed (static) in‐sample/out‐of‐sample approach and by both recursive and rolling regressions, which incorporate the effects of changing forecast parameter values. A range of model specifications and forecast metrics are used. The historical mean model outperforms the forecast models in both the static and recursive approaches. However, in the rolling forecasts, those models that incorporate information from the long‐run stock price/commodity price relationship outperform both the historical mean and other forecast models. Of note, the historical mean still performs relatively well compared to standard forecast models that include the dividend yield and short‐term interest rates but not the stock/commodity price ratio. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.