The afterglow of GRB 050709 and the nature of the short-hard gamma-ray bursts

The final chapter in the long-standing mystery of the gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) centres on the origin of the short-hard class of bursts, which are suspected on theoretical grounds to result from the coalescence of neutron-star or black-hole binary systems. Numerous searches for the afterglows of short-hard bursts have been made, galvanized by the revolution in our understanding of long-duration GRBs that followed the discovery in 1997 of their broadband (X-ray, optical and radio) afterglow emission. Here we present the discovery of the X-ray afterglow of a short-hard burst, GRB 050709, whose accurate position allows us to associate it unambiguously with a star-forming galaxy at redshift z = 0.160, and whose optical lightcurve definitively excludes a supernova association. Together with results from three other recent short-hard bursts, this suggests that short-hard bursts release much less energy than the long-duration GRBs. Models requiring young stellar populations, such as magnetars and collapsars, are ruled out, while coalescing degenerate binaries remain the most promising progenitor candidates.     

Structural basis of HutP-mediated anti-termination and roles of the Mg2+ ion and L-histidine ligand

HutP regulates the expression of the hut structural genes of Bacillus subtilis by an anti-termination mechanism and requires two components, Mg2+ ions and L-histidine. HutP recognizes three UAG triplet units, separated by four non-conserved nucleotides on the terminator region. Here we report the 1.60-A resolution crystal structure of the quaternary complex (HutP-L-histidine-Mg2+-21-base single-stranded RNA). In the complex, the RNA adopts a novel triangular fold on the hexameric surface of HutP, without any base-pairing, and binds to the protein mostly by specific protein-base interactions. The structure explains how the HutP and RNA interactions are regulated critically by the l-histidine and Mg2+ ion through the structural rearrangement. To gain insights into these structural rearrangements, we solved two additional crystal structures (uncomplexed HutP and HutP-L-histidine-Mg2+) that revealed the intermediate structures of HutP (before forming an active structure) and the importance of the Mg2+ ion interactions in the complexes.     

Sterilization of solanaceous hadda,Epilachna vigintioctopunctata F. by irradiating pupae using gamma radiation

Summary Sterility in males and females was observed in the resulting adults when 3–4-day-old pupae of solanaceous hadda,Epilachna vigintioctopunctata F. were exposed to gamma radiation doses of 2000 rad and 2500 rad. However, at 2500 rad longevity of treated insects was adversely affected.Acknowledgment. Financial help to one of us (J.K.G.) by C.S.I.R. in the form of J.R.F. is gratefully acknowledged. Authors are thankful to Prof. P.N. Srivastava and Dr A.R. Rao, School of Life Sciences, J.N.U. Delhi for providing radiation facility.     

Dimorphic sperms ofRhinopoma kinneari (Chiroptera)

Résumé Les spermatozoïdes deRhinopoma kinneari sont dimorphes et diffèrent les uns des autres dans leur forme et leur longeur totale, mais la longueur de leur tête reste constante. Ils peuvent être du type X et Y comme ceux des autres mammifères.