The mitotic chromosomes of the lampreyMordacia mordax (agnatha: Petromyzonidae)

Résumé L'étude des chromosomes somatiques de la lamproie de l'hémisphère sud,Mordacia mordax (Richardson), montre que l'équipement chromosomique diploïde de cette espèce est composé de 76 chromosomes très petits. La plupart des chromosomes sont métacentrique ou bien submétacentrique. Ces chromosomes sont différents en nombre de ceux décrits pour les lamproies de l'hémisphère nord.     

Single pass sequencing and physical and genetic mapping of human brain cDNAs.

We have performed single pass sequencing of 1,024 human brain cDNAs, over 900 of which seem to represent new human genes. Library prescreening with total brain cDNA significantly reduced repeated sequencing of highly represented cDNAs. A subset of sequenced cDNAs were physically mapped to their chromosomal locations using gene-specific STS primers derived from 3' untranslated regions. We have also determined that human brain cDNAs represent a rich source of gene-associated polymorphic markers. Microsatellite-containing cDNAs can be physically mapped and converted to highly informative genetic markers, thus facilitating integration of the human physical, expression and genetic maps.     

A ferric-chelate reductase for iron uptake from soils

Iron deficiency afflicts more than three billion people worldwide, and plants are the principal source of iron in most diets. Low availability of iron often limits plant growth because iron forms insoluble ferric oxides, leaving only a small, organically complexed fraction in soil solutions. The enzyme ferric-chelate reductase is required for most plants to acquire soluble iron. Here we report the isolation of the FRO2 gene, which is expressed in iron-deficient roots of Arabidopsis. FRO2 belongs to a superfamily of flavocytochromes that transport electrons across membranes. It possesses intramembranous binding sites for haem and cytoplasmic binding sites for nucleotide cofactors that donate and transfer electrons. We show that FRO2 is allelic to the frd1 mutations that impair the activity of ferric-chelate reductase. There is a nonsense mutation within the first exon of FRO2 in frd1-1 and a missense mutation within FRO2 in frd1-3. Introduction of functional FRO2 complements the frd1-1 phenotype in transgenic plants. The isolation of FRO2 has implications for the generation of crops with improved nutritional quality and increased growth in iron-deficient soils.     

In vivo incorporation of14C-phenylalanine into ascidian tunichrome

Ascidia ceratodes exposed to¹⁴C-phenylalanine in the surrounding seawater incorporates the radiolabel into newly biosynthesized tunichrome molecules. Radioactivity can be detected in tunichrome extracted from circulating blood cells within one day following initial exposure to the radiolabel; weak activity (4 Ci/mol tunichrome=22 nmol phenylalanine/mol tunichrome) is detected in 1 to 10 days; significantly higher amounts of radiolabel (57 Ci/mol tunichrome=318 nmol phenylalanine/mol tunichrome) appear 20 days after seawater exposure. Therefore, phenylalanine can function as a precursor in the biosynthesis of tunichrome.     

The effect of cyclic AMP on dog renal function

Summary The infusion of dibutyryl-cyclic AMP into the dog renal artery in vivo leads to diuresis, natriuresis and glucosuria. Addition of the nucleotide to the incubation medium bathing dog renal cortex slices in vitro causes inhibition of p-amino-hippurate accumulation and stimulation of glycine and -methyl-glucoside transport. The results are interpreted in terms of the development of a blood-lumen flux of sodium and water in the renal proximal tubule, analogous to that seen in the intestine.We are grateful to Mrs P. Ganguillet, S. Henriot, Miss M. Augstburger and D. Mettraux technical skilful technical assistance, and to the Fonds National Suisse for financial support.     

Persistence of added retinoids in organ culture media during induction of mucous metaplasia and glandular morphogenesis in hamster cheek pouches

Summary The retinoid concentration (determined colorimetrically) did not change significantly in retinyl acetatesupplemented (6 g/ml) Eagle's Minimal Essential Medium containing 10% fetal calf serum when stored at –20 or 4°C over 7 days. After the medium was incubated at 37°C for 48 h, 37–49% of the retinoid remained, whether or not tissue (neonatal Syrian hamster cheek pouch) was present, and irrespective of explant age. The normal retinoid level in the tissue was approximately 0.25 g per gram. Therefore, neonatal hamster cheek pouches, incubated in medium with the addition of 6 g of retinyl acetate per ml of medium and undergoing mucous metaplasia and some mucous gland morphogenesis, were continually being exposed to retinoid levels which, though gradually decreasing, remained well above their normal physiological level.     

家用远程智能控制器的设计

给出了利用单片机及TM8880双音多频（DTMF）编、解码电路构成的智能控制系统，这套系统能够通过电话网提供交互式远程控制。     

对钢混桥梁面板中压缩薄膜效应的试验研究

为了研究钢混桥梁面板在压缩薄膜效应作用下的结构性能和真实承载能力,进行了一组1∶3比例桥梁模型的静力加载试验;并通过对混凝土强度、配筋率和支撑梁尺寸的改变来分析压缩薄膜效应对结构承载能力的影响。将试验结果与现行规范计算结果和数值模拟结果进行比较后发现,现行的设计方法不能够准确地反映桥梁面板的真实承载能力,而数值分析结果与试验结果有着较好的吻合。