A rapid micro radial electrophoretic method of protein separation on cellulose acetate membranes.

A new rapid micromethod for protein separation under a radial electric field is described. As many as 12 rabbit serum samples could be separated in 4--6 min.     

Effect of injury on the foliar sclereid development inFagraea fragrans

Résumé L'effet d'une blessure naturelle sur le développement du tissu sclérifié et la distribution des feuilles est étudié sur laFagraea fragrans. Un méristème blessé est préparé et son histologie décrite. L'influence inhibitrice de la blessure et de l'hormone de blessure sur le développement du tissu sclérifié est très prononcée. Certains points importants de l'étude présente sont discutés, et comparés à des observations antérieures.     

Genomic alterations in cultured human embryonic stem cells

Cultured human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines are an invaluable resource because they provide a uniform and stable genetic system for functional analyses and therapeutic applications. Nevertheless, these dividing cells, like other cells, probably undergo spontaneous mutation at a rate of 10(-9) per nucleotide. Because each mutant has only a few progeny, the overall biological properties of the cell culture are not altered unless a mutation provides a survival or growth advantage. Clonal evolution that leads to emergence of a dominant mutant genotype may potentially affect cellular phenotype as well. We assessed the genomic fidelity of paired early- and late-passage hESC lines in the course of tissue culture. Relative to early-passage lines, eight of nine late-passage hESC lines had one or more genomic alterations commonly observed in human cancers, including aberrations in copy number (45%), mitochondrial DNA sequence (22%) and gene promoter methylation (90%), although the latter was essentially restricted to 2 of 14 promoters examined. The observation that hESC lines maintained in vitro develop genetic and epigenetic alterations implies that periodic monitoring of these lines will be required before they are used in in vivo applications and that some late-passage hESC lines may be unusable for therapeutic purposes.     

WNT7b mediates macrophage-induced programmed cell death in patterning of the vasculature

Macrophages have a critical role in inflammatory and immune responses through their ability to recognize and engulf apoptotic cells. Here we show that macrophages initiate a cell-death programme in target cells by activating the canonical WNT pathway. We show in mice that macrophage WNT7b is a short-range paracrine signal required for WNT-pathway responses and programmed cell death in the vascular endothelial cells of the temporary hyaloid vessels of the developing eye. These findings indicate that macrophages can use WNT ligands to influence cell-fate decisions--including cell death--in adjacent cells, and raise the possibility that they do so in many different cellular contexts.     

Genome sequencing and analysis of Aspergillus oryzae

The genome of Aspergillus oryzae, a fungus important for the production of traditional fermented foods and beverages in Japan, has been sequenced. The ability to secrete large amounts of proteins and the development of a transformation system have facilitated the use of A. oryzae in modern biotechnology. Although both A. oryzae and Aspergillus flavus belong to the section Flavi of the subgenus Circumdati of Aspergillus, A. oryzae, unlike A. flavus, does not produce aflatoxin, and its long history of use in the food industry has proved its safety. Here we show that the 37-megabase (Mb) genome of A. oryzae contains 12,074 genes and is expanded by 7-9 Mb in comparison with the genomes of Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus fumigatus. Comparison of the three aspergilli species revealed the presence of syntenic blocks and A. oryzae-specific blocks (lacking synteny with A. nidulans and A. fumigatus) in a mosaic manner throughout the genome of A. oryzae. The blocks of A. oryzae-specific sequence are enriched for genes involved in metabolism, particularly those for the synthesis of secondary metabolites. Specific expansion of genes for secretory hydrolytic enzymes, amino acid metabolism and amino acid/sugar uptake transporters supports the idea that A. oryzae is an ideal microorganism for fermentation.     

The interference of tryptophane in the estimation of fructose by the resorcinol method

Résumé Nous avons essayé de chercher la nature des substances réduisantes dans la semence humaine. Ces substances interviennent dans l'estimation quantitative du fructose d'après la méthode deRoe, utilisant le resorcinol. L'existence du tryptophane dans la semence humaine est déjà démontrée. En présence du tryptophane, la quantité du fructose obtenue est plus élevée que la quantité du fructose obtenue en absence du tryptophane.Il semble, selon nos résultats, que l'estimation quantitative du fructose selon la méthode deRoe dépend de la quantité de tryptophane présente dans la semence humaine.