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Biomedical subjects

H Swift

Publications and source records attributed to H Swift.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Arrangement of herpesvirus deoxyribonucleic acid in the core.

The core of the herpes simplex virion consists of an electron-dense toroidal structure 50 nm high, with an inside diameter of 18 nm and an outside diameter of 70 nm, penetrated by a less dense cylindrical mass. The toroid contains deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), as evident from the observation that uranyl ion staining is removed by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid under conditions which result in the extraction of uranyl ions bound to nuclear DNA. Studies on negatively stained preparations of purified capsids suggest that the toroid consists of DNA arranged as if it were spooled around the cylindrical mass.

Carcinoma↗

Mitochondrial development in liver of foetal and newborn rats.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INNER MITOCHONDRIAL MEMBRANE IN FOETAL AND NEONATAL RAT LIVER WAS STUDIED BY FOLLOWING THREE PARAMETERS: (1) the activity of several respiratory enzymes in homogenates and purified mitochondria, (2) the spectrophotometric determination of cytochrome content in the mitochondria and (3) the cardiolipin content in both homogenates and purified mitochondria. Respiratory-enzyme activities of homogenates of foetal liver were one-quarter to one-twentieth of those of homogenates of adult liver, and the enzyme specific activities in purified mitochondria from foetal liver were one-half to one-eighth of those in mitochondria from adult liver. The cardiolipin content of liver homogenates increased approximately twofold during the development period, but there was no significant change in the cardiolipin content of purified mitochondria. It is concluded that cell mitochondrial content approximately doubles in the immediate postnatal period. There was no evidence for an increase in the relative amount of cristae protein in mitochondria during this period to account for increases in mitochondrial enzyme specific activity, since cardiolipin and cytochrome concentrations remained unchanged and electron micrographs revealed no differences. The cause of the lower respiratory-enzyme specific activity in foetal liver mitochondria is unclear. Qualitative differences in respiratory units in foetal and mature animals are suggested.

Animals↗

Heterogeneity, complexity, and repetition of the chloroplast DNA of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

The chloroplast DNA of wild-type Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was isolated in a CsCl density gradient as a single, homogeneous density class with a mean density of 1.695 g/cm(3). Irrespective of sheared size, denatured chloroplast DNA renatured as a single homogeneous species. Compositional heterogeneity, presumably intramolecular, was revealed by the absorbance-temperature profile. The complement of unique nucleotide sequences of the chloroplast DNA, as determined by the rate of renaturation, was 1.94 x 10(8) daltons. This kinetic complexity is 26-fold less than the DNA content of a single gamete chloroplast, and 52-fold less than the chloroplast of a vegetative cell, which indicates that the chloroplast of C. reinhardtii possesses at least 26 copies of a unique nucleotide sequence.

Base Sequence↗

Cardiolipin content of wild type and mutant yeasts in relation to mitochondrial function and development.

The phospholipid composition of various strains of the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and several of their derived mitochondrial mutants grown under conditions designed to induce variations in the complement of mitochondrial membranes has been examined. Wild type and petite (cytoplasmic respiratory deficient) yeasts were fractionated into various subcellular fractions, which were monitored by electron microscopy and analyzed for cytochrome oxidase (in wild type) and phospholipid composition. 90% or more of the phospholipid, cardiolipin was found in the mitochondrial membranes of wild type and petite yeast. Cardiolipin content differed markedly under various growth conditions. Stationary yeast grown in glucose had better developed mitochondria and more cardiolipin than repressed log phase yeast. Aerobic yeast contained more cardiolipin than anaerobic yeast. Respiration-deficient cytoplasmic mitochondrial mutants, both suppressive and neutral, contained less cardiolipin than corresponding wild types. A chromosomal mutant lacking respiratory function had normal cardiolipin content. Log phase cells grown in galactose and lactate, which do not readily repress the development of mitochondrial membranes, contained as much cardiolipin as stationary phase cells grown in glucose. Cytoplasmic mitochondrial mutants respond to changes in the glucose concentration of the growth medium by variations in their cardiolipin content in the same way as wild type yeast does under similar growth conditions. It is concluded that cardiolipin content of yeast is correlated with, and is a good indicator of, the state of development of mitochondrial membrane.

Carbon↗

DNA content of a chromosome of Trillium erectum: effect of cold treatment.

The DNA (Feulgen) contents of a specific cold-treated (3 degrees C) chromosome and of a control (25 degrees C) were measured by means of photographic-plate microdensitometry. Despite marked morphological alterations in the cold-treated B chromosome of Trillium erectum, its DNA content was unchanged from that of the control.

Chromosomes↗

RNA transport from nucleus to cytoplasm in Chironomus salivary glands.

The fine structure and cytochemistry of the extremely large RNA puffs, or Balbiani rings, in salivary gland nuclei of midge, Chironomus thummi, larvae have been investigated. The Balbiani rings are composed of a diffuse mass of electron-opaque 400 to 500 A granules, short threads about 180 to 220 A in diameter and associated fine chromatin fibrils. These components appear to be organized into brushlike elements which form the ring. Electron microscope cytochemistry has shown that the granules and short threads contain RNA. After ribonuclease digestion, only 50 to 100 A chromatin fibrils were apparent in the Balbiani ring, and the granules were no longer demonstrable. Deoxyribonuclease digestion had no apparent effect on these structures. Observations indicate that the granules are formed from the short threads and released into the nucleoplasm in which they are evenly distributed. At the nuclear envelope, many granules have been observed partially or completely within the nuclear pores. These granules become elongated and are shown to penetrate the center of the pore in a rodlike form, about 200 A in diameter. The Balbiani ring granules are not normally visible within the cytoplasm adjacent to the nuclear envelope, but have been rarely found in this region. It is suggested that the granules represent the product of the Balbiani ring, possibly a messenger RNA bound to protein, and that they regularly pass into the cytoplasm through a narrow central channel in the pores of the nuclear envelope.

Animals↗

Cytoplasmic fine structure of Sciara salivary glands. I. Secretion.

Cells from the anterior segment of the salivary glands of Sciara coprophila were found to synthesize and secrete into the gland lumen three morphologically distinct types of granule: 1) A large, electron-lucid granule, up to 1 micro in diameter, staining only faintly with pH 2 fast green and the PAS reaction; 2) an ellipsoid granule of moderate density, strongly fast green and PAS positive; and 3) a small spherical granule of high electron density. The cells contained numerous Golgi areas, up to an estimated 8,000 per cell. Evidence is presented for the transfer of material from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi areas via small vesicles. Three types of Golgi areas were distinguishable, each containing intercisternal material resembling one of the three types of secretion granule. Patterns of secretion granule synthesis varied with the developmental stage of the larva as determined by counts of eye spots in the eye anlage. Lucid granules were most abundant in the youngest larvae, and decreased in abundance as larvae grew older, becoming virtually absent in prepupae. The small, dense granules were present in all gland cells, but became more prevalent in older larvae and prepupae. Ellipsoid granules were only occasionally present, and were independent of larval stage. It is suggested that lucid granules are digestive in function, since their abundance correlates with feeding patterns. Other granules may produce the external slime coating of the larvae, and also the mucoprotein component of the pupal cocoon.

Animals↗