Molecular cloning and expression of the mouse ornithine decarboxylase gene

We used mRNA from a mutant S49 mouse lymphoma cell line that produces ornithine decarboxylase (OrnDCase) as its major protein product to synthesize and clone cDNA. Plasmids containing OrnDCase cDNA were identified by hybrid selection of OrnDCase mRNA and in vitro translation. The two of these with the largest inserts together span 2.05 kilobases of cDNA. Southern blot analysis of DNA from wild-type or mutant S49 cells, cleaved with EcoRI or with BamHI, revealed multiple bands homologous to OrnD-Case cDNA, only one of which was amplified in the mutant cells. RNA transfer blot analysis showed that the major OrnD-Case mRNA in the mouse lymphoma cells is 2.0 kilobases long. A similar size mRNA was found in mouse kidney and was more abundant in the kidneys of mice treated with testosterone, an inducer of OrnDCase activity in that tissue.

Repetitive sequences and their organization on genomic clones of Zea mays

Fourteen recombinant clones from Zea mays were studied with regard to their composition of unique and repetitive sequences. Southern hybridization experiments were used to classify restriction fragments of the clones into a unique, middle or highly repetitive class of reiteration frequency. All three classes were often found on the same genomic clone. Crosshybridization studies between clones showed that a given repeat might be present on several clones, and thus four families of highly repetitive elements were established. Heteroduplex analysis was used to show the arrangement and size of repeats common between several clones. A short interspersion pattern of unique, middle and highly repetitive DNA was found. The dispersed repetitive elements were 300-1300 bp in length. Analysis of the pattern produced by a given repeat in genomic Southern experiments suggests that some small dispersed repeats may also exist as part of a larger repeating unit elsewhere in the genome.

Growth of 9.5-day rat embryos in human serum

Rat embryos were explanted at 9.5 days and cultured for 48 h in human serum supplemented with glucose. The embryos were anaemic and frequently malformed. The haemoglobin and DNA content of these embryos was less than those grown in pure rat serum. Addition of 10% rat serum improved the embryonic growth as well as the haemoglobin and DNA content. This suggests that rat serum provides essential growth factors required by the embryos which are not present in human serum.

Inter-animal variation and its influence on the overall precision of morphometric estimates based on nested sampling designs

This paper provides additional experimental evidence that biological variation between individuals is likely to be the major factor influencing the overall precision and efficiency of nested sampling schemes for morphometric analysis of thin sections. Four distinct experimental systems (two based on nervous tissue and two on epithelia) have been investigated. Morphometric estimates were obtained from measurements made on micrographs generated by sampling tissues at several levels. Sources of sampling variation were isolated so that the contributions to overall variance made by inter-animal differences could be evaluated. In each case, biological variation was the cardinal component of total observed variance between animals. Relative contributions ranged from 53% to 78%. Examining more animals would be the most efficient way of reducing the variance of the group mean in these sampling designs.

Isolation of polysomes from Nostoc sp. MAC and translation of messenger RNA in a heterologous cell-free system

A method has been established which isolated polysomes from the lysozyme/EDTA-shocked cyanobacterium, Nostoc sp. MAC. In a typical preparation the total recovery of RNA as polysomes was 83%, in which 77% of the polysome fraction was present at sizes greater than 5-mers and 23% as 2-4-mers. Messenger RNA isolated from such a preparation of polysomes produced a 10-fold stimulation in the incorporation of [35S]methionine into polypeptides by a cell-free system of Escherichia coli. The in vitro-synthesized polypeptides were analysed on an SDS-polyacrylamide gradient gel together with in vivo-labelled proteins of Nostoc sp. MAC: seven polypeptides co-migrated with the in vivo-synthesized products. This is the first report of the expression of cyanobacterial messenger RNA in a heterologous cell-free system from E. coli; the efficiency of the system is discussed.

Growth of 9·5-day rat embryos in human serum

Rat embryos were explanted at 9·5 days and cultured for 48 h in human serum supplemented with glucose. The embryos were anaemic and frequently malformed. The haemoglobin and DNA content of these embryos was less than those grown in pure rat serum. Addition of 10% rat serum improved the embryonic growth as well as the haemoglobin and DNA content. This suggests that rat serum provides essential growth factors required by the embryos which are not present in human serum.

Regional sequential motion in the normal left ventricle: nonuniform apical motion

Timing of the onset and sequence of systolic regional wall motion was examined in the digitized left ventricular cineangiograms of 13 patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries and left ventricular function. Distance--time curves for anterior and inferior wall segments, the aortic valve plane, and apex point were compared to the volume--time curve in each ventricle. No significant differences were found in the onset of motion for the wall segments or for descent of the aortic valve where the sequence of motion was generally uniform. At the apex point, however, the onset of motion was significantly delayed. In addition, reduced velocity of motion in the first half of systole was followed by high velocity motion in the latter half. This apparent nonuniform apical motion may be explained by a geometric relationship of normally contracting myocardial wall fibers adjacent to a thin apical point which has relatively little or no contractile motion of its own.

Hematological changes produced in mice by ochratoxin A and citrinin

The effect of 6 weekly injections of ochratoxin A (5 mg/kg) and citrinin (20 mg/kg) on the following hematological indices of mice was studied: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hematocrit percentage, mean corpuscular values, red cell indices, platelet count, total count of bone marrow cells, differential count of bone marrow cells, total count of splenic cells, spleen weight, and serum calcium. These mycotoxins resulted in a significant decrease in platelet count and hematocrit values. On the other hand, they increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, mean corpuscular values and red cell indices. Weight of the spleen and the splenic cell count decreased significantly in ochratoxin A and citrinin treated mice. Total count of bone marrow cells, erythrocyte precursors, leucocyte precursors and megakaryocyte precursors of femoral bone marrow decreased significantly in toxin treated mice. Calcium concentration in the serum of toxin treated mice also was decreased significantly.

Trypan blue teratogenesis in the rat: further observations in vitro

Explanted 9 1/2- and 10 1/2-day rat conceptuses were cultured for 24 or 48 hours and 24 hours respectively in immediately centrifuged, heat-inactivated rat serum to which trypan blue was added at concentration of 150 micrograms/ml or 300 micrograms/ml or 450 micrograms/ml. The embryos were assessed for normal growth and differentiation using the following criteria: heart beat, vitelline circulation, fusion of the allantois with the chorion, normal turning, normally closed neural tube, presence of optic vesicles, presence of forelimb buds, tail, somites, somite number, yolk sac diameter, crown-rump length, and protein content. The results indicated that trypan blue is more teratogenic when 9 1/2-day conceptuses are cultured for the first 24 hours, and that its teratogenicity decreases after 10 1/2 days. Morphological abnormalities produced included neural tube defects, turning defects, and tail defects, the tail abnormalities being manifest as fluid-filled blebs. Ten and one-half-day conceptuses cultured for 24 hours in treated serum produced predominantly tail defects. The conceptuses were cultured at 11 days, when the embryo lies completely within the yolk sac. Culture of such conceptuses in serum containing 450 micrograms/ml trypan blue produced mainly tail defects. Injection of 0.5 microliters of 0.5% dye solution into the yolk sac cavity also produced tail abnormalities; sham treatment, or the injection of sterile water or a nonteratogenic dye, azo blue, did not affect embryonic development.

Morphometric analysis of the visceral yolk sac endoderm in the rat in vivo and in vitro

Rat embryos together with their visceral yolk sac were grown in vitro during the early period of organogenesis from days 9.5 to 11.5 and the ultrastructural morphology od the visceral yolk sac cells was compared with that in vivo at the beginning and at the end of the culture period. Identical areas of the visceral yolk sac endodermal cells were analysed morphometrically. A measure of the functional activity was obtained by comparison of the volume density of surface density of the vacoular system. At 9.5 and 11.5 days, the values obtained were virtually identical for yolk sacs in vivo and in vitro. At 9.5 days, the volume and surface density of the endocytotic vacuoles in the embryonic endoderm was significantly lower than in the visceral yolk sac endoderm. It is concluded that the digestive function of the yolk sac is almost certainly identical in culture and in vivo and that the cells of the embryonic endoderm do not take a significant part in embryonic nutrition.

Dose-dependent induction of embryonic abnormalities in vitro by tissue homogenates of placenta and decidua

Homogenate preparations from normal rat placental and decidual tissue induced abnormalities when included in the culture medium of rat embryos between Day 9.5 and Day 11.5. Abnormal embryos were produced between doses of 2.5 and 4 mg/ml for the placental homogenate and between doses of 1.2 and 4 mg/ml for the decidual homogenate, but were not produced by a solution of bovine serum albumin or by a protein preparation of rat lung tissue at the same concentration. The degree to which the embryos were malformed depended on the dose and which of the two homogenates was used. The decidual homogenate preparation was more pathogenic than the placental homogenate, but both were able to produce neural-tube defects and a severe reduction in embryonic size. The possible association between these findings and some known proteins within such homogenates is discussed.

Hematological changes produced in mice by Nuvacron or Furadan

The effects of multiple intraperitoneal doses of Nuvacron (0.8 mg/kg) or Furadan (0.25 mg/kg) on hematological values in mice were studied. The following were measured: clotting time, hemoglobin content, total count of red blood cells and white blood cells, differential count of white blood cells, platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hematocrit value, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, bone marrow and splenic measurements. These pesticides caused a significant decrease in hemoglobin content, total count of red blood cells, platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and hematocrit value. The administration of Nuvacron or Furadan prolonged the clotting time and caused an increase in total count of white blood cells. Among white blood cells, there was an increase in neutrophils and basophils and a fall in the count of lymphocytes in treated animals. Bone marrow depression and splenic hyperplasia were observed in mice after administration of the pesticides.

Detection of glutamate synthase in heterocysts of Anabaena sp. strain 7120

The formation of [(14)C]glutamate from [(14)C]glutamine in the presence of alpha-oxoglutarate was observed in extracts of heterocysts of Anabaena sp. strain 7120 under conditions that indicate the operation of glutamate synthase.

Severe Escherichia coli septicemia mimicking necrotizing enterocolitis

Enteropathogenic and nonenteropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli have been impicated as causative agents in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The case presented here illustrates an example of fulminant E coli infection in an infant who manifested signs and symptoms of NEC without developing bowel damage.

Ovarian steroidogenesis and development of fetuses following ochratoxin A treatment in pregnant rats

Administration of ochratoxin A to pregnant rats from 6 to 12 days of gestation period, resulted in complete resorption of fetuses. On histological examination luteal degeneration was observed along with reduction in the weight of corpus luteum (mg/100 mg ovarian tissue) and pituitary gland. The enzyme delta 5-3 beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (delta 5-3 beta-OHD) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were demonstrated histochemically in the ovary of pregnant rats. The activities of the enzymes were suppressed significantly in ochratoxin A treated rats. The same treatment also resulted in an accumulation of cholesterol and ascorbic acid in the ovary. Based on these results, it is suggested that resorption of fetuses in ochratoxin A treated rats may be related with a diminution in ovarian steroidogenesis possibly due to reduction in pituitary gonadotrophin secretion.

Sequence analysis of the DNA encoding the Eco RI endonuclease and methylase

The Eco RI endonuclease and methylase recognize the same hexanucleotide substrate sequence. We have determined the sequence of a fragment of DNA which encodes these enzymes using the chain-termination method of Sanger (Sanger, F., Nicklen, S., and Coulson, A. R. (1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 74, 5463-5467). The amino acid sequences of both enzymes were derived from the DNA sequence. The coding regions selected include the only open translational frames of sufficient length to accommodate the enzymes. They coincide with previously established gene boundaries and orientation. The predicted amino acid sequences correlate well with analyses of the purified protein. Comparison of the nucleotide and protein sequences reveals no homology between the endonuclease and methylase which might provide insight into the origin of the restriction-modification system or the mechanism of common substrate recognition. Based on secondary structure predictions, the two enzymes also have grossly different molecular architecture. The base composition of the sequence is 65% A + T, and the codon usage is significantly different from that observed in several Escherichia coli chromosomal genes. In some cases, frequently selected codons are recognized by minor tRNA species. A spontaneous mutation in the endonuclease gene was isolated. Serine replaces arginine at residue 187. In crude extracts, Eco RI specific cleavage is approximately 0.3% wild type.