Sequence and analysis of chromosome 4 of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana

The higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) is an important model for identifying plant genes and determining their function. To assist biological investigations and to define chromosome structure, a coordinated effort to sequence the Arabidopsis genome was initiated in late 1996. Here we report one of the first milestones of this project, the sequence of chromosome 4. Analysis of 17.38 megabases of unique sequence, representing about 17% of the genome, reveals 3,744 protein coding genes, 81 transfer RNAs and numerous repeat elements. Heterochromatic regions surrounding the putative centromere, which has not yet been completely sequenced, are characterized by an increased frequency of a variety of repeats, new repeats, reduced recombination, lowered gene density and lowered gene expression. Roughly 60% of the predicted protein-coding genes have been functionally characterized on the basis of their homology to known genes. Many genes encode predicted proteins that are homologous to human and Caenorhabditis elegans proteins.     

Complete coverage of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe genome in yeast artificial chromosomes.

The genome of the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, consists of some 14 million base pairs of DNA contained in three chromosomes. On account of its excellent genetics we used it as a test system for a strategy designed to map mammalian chromosomes and genomes. Data obtained from hybridization fingerprinting established an ordered library of 1,248 yeast artificial chromosome clones with an average size of 535 kilobases. The clones fall into three contigs completely representing the three chromosomes of the organism. This work provides a high resolution physical and clone map of the genome, which has been related to available genetic and physical map information.     

Electron-microscopic study of antibody-producing (plaque-forming) spleen cells of the tortoiseAgrionemys horsfieldi Gray

Zusammenfassung Antikörper produzierende («Plaque» bildende) Milzzellen von Schildkröten (Agrionemys horsfieldi Gray), die mit Hammelerythrozyten immunisiert worden waren, wurden elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Die Feinstruktur dieser Zellen deutet darauf hin, dass es sich um einen Zelltyp handelt, der als phylogenetischer Vorläufer der Plasmazellen von Säugetieren angesehen werden kann.     

The genome sequence of the plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa. The Xylella fastidiosa Consortium of the Organization for Nucleotide Sequencing and Analysis

Xylella fastidiosa is a fastidious, xylem-limited bacterium that causes a range of economically important plant diseases. Here we report the complete genome sequence of X. fastidiosa clone 9a5c, which causes citrus variegated chlorosis--a serious disease of orange trees. The genome comprises a 52.7% GC-rich 2,679,305-base-pair (bp) circular chromosome and two plasmids of 51,158 bp and 1,285 bp. We can assign putative functions to 47% of the 2,904 predicted coding regions. Efficient metabolic functions are predicted, with sugars as the principal energy and carbon source, supporting existence in the nutrient-poor xylem sap. The mechanisms associated with pathogenicity and virulence involve toxins, antibiotics and ion sequestration systems, as well as bacterium-bacterium and bacterium-host interactions mediated by a range of proteins. Orthologues of some of these proteins have only been identified in animal and human pathogens; their presence in X. fastidiosa indicates that the molecular basis for bacterial pathogenicity is both conserved and independent of host. At least 83 genes are bacteriophage-derived and include virulence-associated genes from other bacteria, providing direct evidence of phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer.     

Storing of secretory material inside the perinuclear space

Zusammenfassung In Zellen des Subcommissuralorgans unbehandelter Wistar-Ratten und in neurosekretorischen Zellen NaCl-belasteter Teichmolche wurden voluminöse Erweiterungen der Perinuclearzisterne beobachtet, die beim Teichmolch zur Ausbildung grosser Vakuolen führen können. Perinuclearzisterne und Vakuolen enthalten ein feingranuläres, mässig elektronendichtes Material (proteinreiches Sekret). Es wird eine intranucleäre Synthese von Oligopeptiden oder Proteinen für möglich gehalten.