A radiation hybrid map of the zebrafish genome

Recent large-scale mutagenesis screens have made the zebrafish the first vertebrate organism to allow a forward genetic approach to the discovery of developmental control genes. Mutations can be cloned positionally, or placed on a simple sequence length polymorphism (SSLP) map to match them with mapped candidate genes and expressed sequence tags (ESTs). To facilitate the mapping of candidate genes and to increase the density of markers available for positional cloning, we have created a radiation hybrid (RH) map of the zebrafish genome. This technique is based on somatic cell hybrid lines produced by fusion of lethally irradiated cells of the species of interest with a rodent cell line. Random fragments of the donor chromosomes are integrated into recipient chromosomes or retained as separate minichromosomes. The radiation-induced breakpoints can be used for mapping in a manner analogous to genetic mapping, but at higher resolution and without a need for polymorphism. Genome-wide maps exist for the human, based on three RH panels of different resolutions, as well as for the dog, rat and mouse. For our map of the zebrafish genome, we used an existing RH panel and 1,451 sequence tagged site (STS) markers, including SSLPs, cloned candidate genes and ESTs. Of these, 1,275 (87.9%) have significant linkage to at least one other marker. The fraction of ESTs with significant linkage, which can be used as an estimate of map coverage, is 81.9%. We found the average marker retention frequency to be 18.4%. One cR3000 is equivalent to 61 kb, resulting in a potential resolution of approximately 350 kb.

Systematic analysis of yeast strains with possible defects in lipid metabolism

Lipids are essential components of all living cells because they are obligate components of biological membranes, and serve as energy reserves and second messengers. Many but not all genes encoding enzymes involved in fatty acid, phospholipid, sterol or sphingolipid biosynthesis of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been cloned and gene products have been functionally characterized. Less information is available about genes and gene products governing the transport of lipids between organelles and within membranes or the turnover and degradation of complex lipids. To obtain more insight into lipid metabolism, regulation of lipid biosynthesis and the role of lipids in organellar membranes, a group of five European laboratories established methods suitable to screen for novel genes of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae involved in these processes. These investigations were performed within EUROFAN (European Function Analysis Network), a European initiative to identify the functions of unassigned open reading frames that had been detected during the Yeast Genome Sequencing Project. First, the methods required for the complete lipid analysis of yeast cells based on chromatographic techniques were established and standardized. The reliability of these methods was demonstrated using tester strains with established defects in lipid metabolism. During these investigations it was demonstrated that different wild-type strains, among them FY1679, CEN.PK2-1C and W303, exhibit marked differences in lipid content and lipid composition. Second, several candidate genes which were assumed to encode proteins involved in lipid metabolism were selected, based on their homology to genes of known function. Finally, lipid composition of mutant strains deleted of the respective open reading frames was determined. For some genes we found evidence suggesting a possible role in lipid metabolism.

The effect of the cognitive interview on face identification accuracy: release from verbal overshadowing

Three experiments tested the effect of verbal description on face identification accuracy. Based on verbal overshadowing research, it was predicted that enhancing verbal description of a face would reduce subsequent face identification accuracy. Experiment 1 tested and confirmed this hypothesis using the cognitive interview to enhance verbal description; face identification accuracy was reduced significantly following the cognitive interview, compared with a standard police interview. Experiments 2 and 3 tested and confirmed the hypothesis that verbal overshadowing would be reduced when a delay is inserted between verbal description and face identification, hence resulting in "release from verbal overshadowing." These results suggest that in the verbal overshadowing task, the verbal description does not overwrite the visually based representation of the face in memory but rather makes it less accessible at the time of face identification. The cognitive interview reduces face identification accuracy only when the identification follows description immediately--a rare situation in real criminal cases.

Isolation of a novel type-I fatty-acid synthetase from Euglena gracilis. Specific derepression in streptomycin-bleached cells

A novel, high-molecular-mass fatty-acid synthetase (FAS) complex has been isolated from streptomycin-bleached Euglena gracilis cells. The enzyme was purified 250-fold from the crude cell homogenate and subsequently migrated upon SDS/PAGE as a single band of molecular mass 270 kDa. This apparent subunit size of the purified protein contrasted with a smaller size of only 200 kDa which was exhibited by the same protein upon immunoblotting of the crude cell extract. The purified Euglena FAS complex cosediments in a sucrose density gradient with yeast FAS and, from this, both enzymes were concluded to have the same overall molecular mass of 2.3 MDa. The enzyme described in this paper appears to be a typical type-I FAS multienzyme which clearly differs from the E. gracilis FAS so far described. Instead, it appears to be organized structurally similar to the type-I FAS multienzymes of lower fungi. In vitro, the purified Euglena FAS complex synthesizes mainly palmitic acid, or its CoA ester, from acetyl CoA and malonyl CoA as substrates. The Km values for acetyl CoA and malonyl CoA are 20 microM and 31 microM, respectively. Similar to the FAS enzymes of other lower eucaryotes, the Euglena type-I FAS is a flavoprotein. In contrast to yeast FAS, however, the flavin cofactor appears to be covalently attached to the enzyme protein. By immunological techniques, the enzyme was shown to be absent in green as well as in etiolated E. gracilis cells, while being rapidly induced upon streptomycin bleaching of heterotrophically growing green cells. The data suggest an inverse correlation between organellar development and derepression of this FAS complex.

[Individual phase course and role change in neurosis patients in open intention-centered dynamic psychotherapy groups]

Sociograms are used to demonstrate the phase-typical occurrence of changes in individual roles among a sample comprising 79 neurotics who had received in-patient treatment in intention-centred dynamic open groups. This change depends on age and sex. The results can, on the basis of the four fundamental principles be used for controlling developments, be interpreted as indicating a development, but require closer definition by the use for more representative samples and variables.