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M Megias

Publications and source records attributed to M Megias.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Differences between the circadian system of two strains of senescence-accelerated mice (SAM).

The aim of this study was to look for morphological or functional differences between the circadian system of two substrains of Senescence Accelerated Mice (SAM): senescence-prone (SAMP8; average median survival time = 10.0 months) and senescence-resistant (SAMR1; average median survival time = 18.9 months). Neither the general structure nor the quantitative analysis of the number of VP-positive neurons in matched sections revealed differences between SAMP8 and SAMR1 mice. Under LD 12/12 photoperiod, all animals showed the typical pattern of wheel running activity with maximum activity in the first half of darkness period. The period of the locomotor activity in free running as well as the time course for synchronization after a 6 h phase delay of LD cycle were similar in both strains of SAM mice. However, SAMP8 animals reentrained significantly earlier (3.4 +/- 0.4 days) than SAMR1 (6.3 +/- 0.9 days) after a 6 h phase advance of LD cycle. We conclude that the circadian system of SAMP8 mice presents some functional differences with that of SAMR1, which could help to explain their different rate of ageing.

Aging

Structure of the extracellular polysaccharide secreted by Rhizobium leguminosarum var. phaseoli CIAT 899.

The structure of the extracellular polysaccharide secreted by Rhizobium leguminosarum var. phaseoli CIAT 899 has been studied by methylation analysis. 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy, and partial acid hydrolysis. The repeating unit is an octasaccharide made up of D-glucose, D-galactose, pyruvic acid, and acetic acid in the molar ratios 6:2:1.5:1.5. Half of the terminal Gal groups are 4,6-substituted by pyruvic acid acetal groups and the other half by O-acetyl groups at position 3. Also, one of the 3-linked glucosyl residues carries a pyruvic acid 4,6-acetal group and one of the 4-linked glucosyl residues is acetylated at position 6.

Carbohydrate Sequence

Identification and cloning of nodulation genes and host specificity determinants of the broad host-range Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar phaseoli strain CIAT899.

Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar phaseoli type II strain CIAT899 nodulates a wide range of hosts: Phaseolus vulgaris (beans), Leucaena esculenta (leucaena) and Macroptilium atropurpureum (siratro). A nodulation region from the symbiotic plasmid has been isolated and characterized. This region, which is contained in the overlapping cosmid clones pCV38 and pCV117, is able to induce nodules in beans, leucaena and siratro roots when introduced in strains cured for the symbiotic plasmid, pSym. In addition, this cloned region extends the host range of Rhizobium meliloti and R. leguminosarum biovar (bv.) trifolii wild-type strains to nodulate beans. Analysis of constructed subclones indicates that a 6.4kb HindIII fragment contains the essential genes required for nodule induction on all three hosts. Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli type I strain CE3 nodulates only beans. However, CE3 transconjugants harbouring plasmid pCV3802 (which hybridized to a nodD heterologous probe), were capable of eliciting nodules on leucaena and siratro roots. Our results suggest that the CIAT899 DNA region hybridizing with the R. meliloti nodD detector is involved in the extension of host specificity to promote nodule formation in P. vulgaris, L. esculenta and M. atropurpureum.

Cloning, Molecular