Linkage of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations to a locus on chromosome 9p in Mexican Americans.

High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are anti-atherogenic lipoproteins that have a major role in transporting cholesterol from peripheral tissues to the liver, where it is removed. Epidemiologic studies have shown that low levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) are associated with an increased incidence of coronary heart disease and an increased mortality rate, indicating a protective role of high concentrations of HDL-C against atherogenesis and the development of coronary heart disease. HDL-C level is influenced by several genetic and nongenetic factors. Nongenetic factors include smoking, which has been shown to decrease the HDL-C level. Exercise and alcohol have been shown to increase HDL-C levels. Decreased HDL-C is often associated with other coronary heart disease risk factors such as obesity, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension. Although several genes have been identified for rare forms of dyslipidemia, the genes accounting for major variation in HDL-C levels have yet to be identified. Using a multipoint variance components linkage approach, we found strong evidence of linkage (lod score=3.4; P=0.00004) of a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for HDL-C level to a genetic location between markers D9S925 and D9S741 on chromosome 9p in Mexican Americans. A replication study in an independent set of Mexican American families confirmed the existence of a QTL on chromosome 9p.     

Contrasting tail and other responses to morphine and reserpine in rats and mice

Zusammenfassung Charakteristisch verschiedene Schwanzstellungen zeigen Albino-Ratten und -Mäuse als Morphium- bzw. Reserpinreaktion. Verstärkte Schwanzreaktionen erhält man bei der Maus nach Morphium, bei der Ratte nach Reserpin. Methylphenidat erweist sich bei der Ratte antagonistisch gegen Reserpin, während im Mäuseversuch nach Reserpin injiziertes Morphium kompetitiv zu wirken scheint.

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This work was aided by a grant from the Medical Research Council.     

Pulsar sub-pulses and the emission process

This article describes another regular phenomenon in the sub-pulse behaviour of pulsars. The drift speed of successive sub-pulses follows a sawtooth pattern with a linearly increasing drift speed and sudden jumps as the speed drops to repeat the cycle.     

Holding plastic-embedded specimens for sectioning in a rotary microtome.

Three methods are evaluated for holding capsules of plastic-embedded tissue for rotary microtomy. Use of a V-block is rapid but deforms the capsule. Gluing the capsule to a supporting block is useful for reorientation of the capsule but otherwise time consuming. adapter is easy to use, does not deform the tissue, and is the preferred method for routine microtomy.     

Holding plastic-embedded specimens for sectioning in a rotary microtome

Summary Three methods are evaluated for holding capsules of plastic-embedded tissue for rotary microtomy. Use of a V-block is rapid but deforms the capsule. Gluing the capsule to a supporting block is useful for reorientation of the capsule but otherwise time consuming. A metal adapter is easy to use, does not deform the tissue, and is the preferred method for routine microtomy.Supported in part by the U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital, Hines, Illinois.     

Genome sequence of Silicibacter pomeroyi reveals adaptations to the marine environment

Since the recognition of prokaryotes as essential components of the oceanic food web, bacterioplankton have been acknowledged as catalysts of most major biogeochemical processes in the sea. Studying heterotrophic bacterioplankton has been challenging, however, as most major clades have never been cultured or have only been grown to low densities in sea water. Here we describe the genome sequence of Silicibacter pomeroyi, a member of the marine Roseobacter clade (Fig. 1), the relatives of which comprise approximately 10-20% of coastal and oceanic mixed-layer bacterioplankton. This first genome sequence from any major heterotrophic clade consists of a chromosome (4,109,442 base pairs) and megaplasmid (491,611 base pairs). Genome analysis indicates that this organism relies upon a lithoheterotrophic strategy that uses inorganic compounds (carbon monoxide and sulphide) to supplement heterotrophy. Silicibacter pomeroyi also has genes advantageous for associations with plankton and suspended particles, including genes for uptake of algal-derived compounds, use of metabolites from reducing microzones, rapid growth and cell-density-dependent regulation. This bacterium has a physiology distinct from that of marine oligotrophs, adding a new strategy to the recognized repertoire for coping with a nutrient-poor ocean.     

Whole-lake carbon-13 additions reveal terrestrial support of aquatic food webs

Ecosystems are supported by organic carbon from two distinct sources. Endogenous carbon is produced by photosynthesis within an ecosystem by autotrophic organisms. Exogenous carbon is produced elsewhere and transported into ecosystems. Consumers may use exogenous carbon with consequent influences on population dynamics, predator-prey relationships and ecosystem processes. For example, exogenous inputs provide resources that may enhance consumer abundance beyond levels supported by within-system primary production. Exogenous fluxes of organic carbon to ecosystems are often large, but this material is recalcitrant and difficult to assimilate, in contrast to endogenously produced organic matter, which is used more easily. Here we show, by the experimental manipulation of dissolved inorganic (13)C in two lakes, that internal primary production is insufficient to support the food webs of these ecosystems. Additions of NaH(13)CO(3) enriched the (13)C content of dissolved inorganic carbon, particulate organic carbon, zooplankton and fish. Dynamics of (13)C indicate that 40-55% of particulate organic carbon and 22-50% of zooplankton carbon are derived from terrestrial sources, showing that there is significant subsidy of these ecosystems by organic carbon produced outside their boundaries.     

Two mitotic kinesins cooperate to drive sister chromatid separation during anaphase

During anaphase identical sister chromatids separate and move towards opposite poles of the mitotic spindle. In the spindle, kinetochore microtubules have their plus ends embedded in the kinetochore and their minus ends at the spindle pole. Two models have been proposed to account for the movement of chromatids during anaphase. In the 'Pac-Man' model, kinetochores induce the depolymerization of kinetochore microtubules at their plus ends, which allows chromatids to move towards the pole by 'chewing up' microtubule tracks. In the 'poleward flux' model, kinetochores anchor kinetochore microtubules and chromatids are pulled towards the poles through the depolymerization of kinetochore microtubules at the minus ends. Here, we show that two functionally distinct microtubule-destabilizing KinI kinesin enzymes (so named because they possess a kinesin-like ATPase domain positioned internally within the polypeptide) are responsible for normal chromatid-to-pole motion in Drosophila. One of them, KLP59C, is required to depolymerize kinetochore microtubules at their kinetochore-associated plus ends, thereby contributing to chromatid motility through a Pac-Man-based mechanism. The other, KLP10A, is required to depolymerize microtubules at their pole-associated minus ends, thereby moving chromatids by means of poleward flux.