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DNA divergence in and around the alcohol dehydrogenase locus in five closely related species of Hawaiian Drosophila.

The alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) region from five planitibia subgroup species of Hawaiian picture-wing Drosophila has been cloned. A total of 15 kb of DNA in and around the Adh gene has been compared among the five species. Genetic distances were calculated to determine evolutionary relationships. These distances agree with previous distances determined by protein polymorphism and DNA hybridization techniques and can be interpreted in terms of specific island colonization and speciation (founder) events over the past 5 Myr. Examination of the restriction maps of the cloned Adh region from the five species shows many instances of small deletions, insertion of a transposable element in D. heteroneura, and the existence of a highly variable region on the 3' side of the Adh gene. Clustering relationships and rates of DNA change are calculated and compared with the relationship found for other species of Drosophila.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

Three-dimensional analysis of object properties during active electrolocation in mormyrid weakly electric fishes (Gnathonemus petersii).

Weakly electric fishes are nocturnal and orientate in the absence of vision by using their electrical sense. This enables them not only to navigate but also to perceive and recognize objects in complete darkness. They create an electric field around their bodies by producing electric signals with specialized electric organs. Objects within this field alter the electric current at electroreceptor organs, which are distributed over almost the entire body surface. During active electrolocation, fishes detect, localize and analyse objects by monitoring their self-produced electric signals. We investigated the ability of the mormyrid Gnathonemus petersii to perceive objects three-dimensionally in space. Within a range of about 12 cm, G. petersii can perceive the distance of objects. Depth perception is independent of object size, shape and material. The mechanism for distance determination through electrolocation involves calculating the ratio between two parameters (maximal slope and maximal amplitude) of the electrical image which each object projects onto the fish's skin. During active electrolocation, electric fishes cannot only locate objects in space but in addition can determine the three-dimensional shape of an object. Up to certain limits, objects are spontaneously categorized according to their shapes, but not according to their sizes or the materials of which they are made.

Animals↗

Fast maximum entropy approximation in SPECT using the RBI-MAP algorithm.

In this work, we present a method for approximating constrained maximum entropy (ME) reconstructions of SPECT data with modifications to a block-iterative maximum a posteriori (MAP) algorithm. Maximum likelihood (ML)-based reconstruction algorithms require some form of noise smoothing. Constrained ME provides a more formal method of noise smoothing without requiring the user to select parameters. In the context of SPECT, constrained ME seeks the minimum-information image estimate among those whose projections are a given distance from the noisy measured data, with that distance determined by the magnitude of the Poisson noise. Images that meet the distance criterion are referred to as feasible images. We find that modeling of all principal degrading factors (attenuation, detector response, and scatter) in the reconstruction is critical because feasibility is not meaningful unless the projection model is as accurate as possible. Because the constrained ME solution is the same as a MAP solution for a particular value of the MAP weighting parameter, beta, the constrained ME solution can be found with a MAP algorithm if the correct value of beta is found. We show that the RBI-MAP algorithm, if used with a dynamic scheme for estimating beta, can approximate constrained ME solutions in 20 or fewer iterations. We compare results for various methods of achieving feasible images on a simulation of Tl-201 cardiac SPECT data. Results show that the RBI-MAP ME approximation provides images and quantitative estimates close to those from a slower algorithm that gives the true ME solution. Also, we find that the ME results have higher spatial resolution and greater high-frequency noise content than a feasibility-based stopping rule, feasibility-based low-pass filtering, and a quadratic Gibbs prior with beta selected according to the feasibility criterion. We conclude that fast ME approximation is possible using either RBI-MAP with the dynamic procedure or a feasibility-based stopping rule, and that such reconstructions may be particularly useful in applications where resolution is critical.

Algorithms↗

Effects of the sulphydryl donor N-acetyl-L-cysteine on nerve conduction, perfusion, maturation and regeneration following freeze damage in diabetic rats.

Peripheral nerve conduction velocity deficits in diabetic rats depend on decreased nerve perfusion, which may be related to increased free radical activity and impaired endogenous protection by the glutathione redox cycle. We studied the effect of treatment with the glutathione precursor N-acetyl-L-cysteine on nerve conduction, blood flow, maturation and regeneration. Two months of diabetes in mature rats caused 20% and 48% deficits in sciatic motor conduction velocity and endoneurial blood flow, respectively, which were largely corrected by N-acetyl-L-cysteine treatment during the second month. In young nondiabetic rats, sciatic motor conduction velocity increased by 31% over 6 weeks. Diabetes halved the conduction velocity maturation rate, however N-acetyl-L-cysteine treatment allowed a normal pattern of development. After 1 month of treated or untreated diabetes, the sciatic nerve was lesioned by a liquid nitrogen-cooled probe. Myelinated fibre regeneration distance, determined electrophysiologically, was reduced by 12.2% with diabetes; this was prevented by N-acetyl-L-cysteine treatment. Thus, the data stress the importance of free radical-mediated changes in the aetiology of experimental diabetic neuropathy.

Acetylcysteine↗

Synthesis of 8-L-tryptophan-oxytocin and determination of one of its conformational parameters.

The hormone analog 8-L-tryptophan-oxytocin was synthesized in solution by stepwise chain lengthening from the C-terminal residue. Active esters of 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-amino acids were used for the incorporation of individual residues and thereby exposure to the tryptophan-containing intermediates both to acid conditions and to alkylation could be avoided. In a parallel experiment the parent compound, oxytocin, was prepared similarly. The final products were purified by countercurrent distribution. The presence of tyrosine (donor) and tryptophan (acceptor) in the chain was used for the measurement of the average intramolecular Tyr2-Trp8 distance by evaluation of intramolecular resonance energy transfer between their fluorescent side chains. Since the 8-L-tryptophan analog has high affinity for oxytocin receptors, it is reasonable to assume that its conformation is similar to that of the parent molecule and that in the latter the leucine-tyrosine distance is of about the same length. The distance of 13.5 Ao between the side chains of tyrosine and tryptophan measured in aqueous solution is compatible with the Tyr2-Leu8 distance determined with molecular models built according to the proposals of Walter for the biologically active conformation of oxytocin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mapping of glucose and glucose-6-phosphate binding sites on bovine brain hexokinase. A 1H- and 31P-NMR investigation.

Inhibition of bovine brain hexokinase by its product, glucose 6-phosphate, is considered to be a major regulatory step in controlling the glycolytic flux in the brain. Investigations on the molecular basis of this regulation, i.e. allosteric or product inhibition, have led to various proposals. Here, we attempt to resolve this issue by ascertaining the location of the binding sites for glucose and glucose 6-phosphate on the enzyme with respect to a divalent-cation-binding site characterized previously [Jarori, G. K., Kasturi, S. R. & Kenkare, U. W. (1981) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 211, 258-268]. The paramagnetic effect of enzyme-bound Mn(II) on the spin-lattice relaxation rates (T-1(1] of ligand nuclei (1H and 31P) in E.Mn(II).Glc and E.Mn(II).Glc6P complexes have been measured. The paramagnetic effect of Mn(II) on the proton relaxation rates of C1-H alpha, C1-H beta and C2-H beta of glucose in the E.Mn(II).Glc complex was measured at 270 MHz and 500 MHz. The temperature dependence of these rates was also studied in the range of 5-30 degrees C at 500 MHz. The ligand nuclear relaxation rates in E.Mn(II).Glc are field-dependent and the Arrhenius plot yields an activation energy (delta E) of 16.7-20.9 kJ/mol. Similar measurements have also been carried out on C1-H alpha, C1-H beta and C6-31P at 270 MHz (1H) and 202.5 MHz (31P) for the E.Mn(II).Glc6P complex. The temperature dependence of 31P relaxation rates in this complex was measured in the range 5-30 degrees C, which yielded delta E = 9.2 kJ/mol. The electron-nuclear dipolar correlation time (tau c), determined from the field-dependent measurements of proton relaxation rates in the E.Mn(II).Glc complex, is 0.22-1.27 ns. The distances determined between Mn(II) and C1-H of glucose and glucose 6-phosphate are approximately 1.1 nm and approximately 0.8 nm, respectively. These data, considered together with our recent results [Mehta, A., Jarori, G. K. & Kenkare, U. W. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 15492-15498], suggest that glucose and glucose 6-phosphate may bind to very nearly the same region of the enzyme. The structure of the binary Glc6P.Mn(II) complex has also been determined. The phosphoryl group of the sugar phosphate forms a first co-ordination complex with the cation. However, on the enzyme, the phosphoryl group is located at a distance of approximately 0.5-0.6 nm from the cation.

Animals↗

Molecular phylogeny of the animal kingdom.

A rapid sequencing method for ribosomal RNA was applied to the resolution of evolutionary relationships among Metazoa. Representatives of 22 classes in 10 animal phyla were used to infer phylogenetic relationships, based on evolutionary distances determined from pairwise comparisons of the 18S ribosomal RNA sequences. The classical Eumetazoa are divided into two groups. Cnidarians arose from a protist ancestry different from the second group, the Bilateria. Within the Bilateria, an early split gave rise to Platyhelminthes (flatworms) and the coelomate lineage. Coelomates are thus monophyletic, and they radiated rapidly into four groups: chordates, echinoderms, arthropods, and eucoelomate protostomes.

Animals↗

Fine-structure mapping by transformation in the tryptophan region of Bacillus subtilis.

Carlton, Bruce C. (Yale University, New Haven, Conn.). Fine-structure mapping by transformation in the tryptophan region of Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol. 91:1795-1803. 1966.-The arrangements of eight mutational sites within a segment of the tryptophan cluster of Bacillus subtilis have been determined by three-point reciprocal crosses with a mutation in the same gene cluster used as an outside marker. Estimates of distances between sites were made by two-point crosses and normalization to recombination values for an unlinked marker to correct for physiological variabilities between recipient strains. In general, the additivities of map distances determined by this procedure were reasonable, although some discrepancies were noted in reciprocal crosses between widely separated sites within the gene region examined. No definitive polarity effect on recombination was evident, and it appears that the variations observed in reciprocal crosses may be an effect of the probability of recovery of crossovers between exogenotic and endogenotic segments. It is concluded that fine-structure mapping is feasible for the transformation system in this organism and that a high degree of resolution can be attained.

Bacillus subtilis↗

TT virus infection in French hemodialysis patients: study of prevalence and risk factors.

The TT virus (TTV) is a recently discovered DNA virus which was first identified in patients with non-A to -G hepatitis following blood transfusion. In this study, we tested 150 attendees of two hemodialysis (HD) units of the public hospitals of Marseilles, France, for the presence of TTV genome by using a PCR-based methodology. The overall prevalence of TTV viremia was 28% (compared to 5.3% in blood donors from the same region). We demonstrated the existence of chronic infections and superinfections by strains belonging to different genotypes. The prevalence of infection was higher in patients originating from Africa, in patients with previous blood transfusion or organ transplantation, in patients with antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, and in those with diabetes mellitus. A high prevalence of TTV infection (50%) was also observed in a population of patients with diabetes mellitus but without renal disease. No significant relationship was found between TTV viremia and hepatitis C virus or GB virus C, transaminases, age, sex, and duration of HD treatment. The PCR amplification products (located in open reading frame 1 of the TTV genome) were sequenced. These genomic sequences were submitted to phylogenetic analysis by using the Jukes-Cantor algorithm for distance determination and the neighbor-joining method for tree building. In several instances, sequences from viruses isolated in a HD unit were grouped in the same phylogenetic cluster. These results together with the different distribution of cases in the two HD units suggest there is viral transmission within each.

Adult↗

Active electrolocation of objects in weakly electric fish

Weakly electric fish produce electric signals (electric organ discharges, EODs) with a specialised electric organ creating an electric field around their body. Objects within this field alter the EOD-induced current at epidermal electroreceptor organs, which are distributed over almost the entire body surface. The detection, localisation and analysis of objects performed by monitoring self-produced electric signals is called active electrolocation. Electric fish employ active electrolocation to detect objects that are less than 12 cm away and have electric properties that are different from those of the surrounding water. Within this range, the mormyrid Gnathonemus petersii can also perceive the distance of objects. Depth perception is independent of object parameters such as size, shape and material. The mechanism for distance determination through electrolocation involves calculating the ratio between two parameters of the electric image that the object projects onto the fish's skin. Electric fish can not only locate objects but can also analyse their electrical properties. Fish are informed about object impedance by measuring local amplitude changes at their receptor organs evoked by an object. In addition, all electric fish studied so far can independently determine the capacitative and resistive components of objects that possess complex impedances. This ability allows the fish to discriminate between living and non-living matter, because capacitance is a property of living organisms. African mormyrids and South American gymnotiforms use different mechanisms for capacitance detection. Mormyrids detect capacitance-evoked EOD waveform distortions, whereas gymnotiforms perform time measurements. Gymnotiforms measure the temporal phase shift of their EODs induced at body parts close to the object relative to unaffected body parts further away.

Journal Article↗

Estimation of inter-electrode distance for body surface mapping: application of Fourier analysis to potential distribution due to the epicardial breakthrough.

For the purpose of determining an appropriate distance of lead points for constructing body surface maps, Fourier analysis was performed on potential distribution reflecting the epicardial breakthrough, and inter-electrode distance necessary for sampling of harmonics contributing to the body surface potential distribution was determined by application of sampling theorem. Potential distribution was simultaneously recorded with an interval of 4 mm for 250 msec along the vertical (head to foot) and horizontal (right to left) line crossing a second-minimum appearing on the chest surface of a healthy adult, and the data obtained from 9.6 cm along the respective lines underwent Fourier transform. Relative contribution of the second harmonics to the original wave forms increased with time lapse after QRS initiation, in accordance with reductions of the first harmonics component, and attained the maximum (32.5% of total power spectrum without d-c component) at the instant of occurrence of the second-minimum. A similar tendency was observed among higher harmonics, but their contribution was comparatively low (within 10%). Inter-electrode distance determined by sampling theorem was 4.8 cm for the first harmonics and 2.4 cm for the second harmonics. In conclusion it is proposed that placement of electrodes with an inter-electrode distance of 2.4 cm is necessary for acquiring clinically important data on the epicardial breakthrough.

Electrocardiography↗

The effect of the Müller-Lyer illusion on map reading.

One important reason for studying visual illusions is that they can influence real-world perception as people interact with human-made displays. Three experiments examined how the Müller-Lyer illusion affects distance judgments and decision-making in the complex graphical context of a map by having subjects estimate the lengths of road segment lines framed by inward-going or outward-going wings in actual maps, in control displays that had the map context removed, and in simulated maps. The experiments showed that (1) outward-going wings led to higher distance estimates than did inward-going wings to the same extent both with and without the map context, (2) decisions based on distances determined from maps were affected by Müller-Lyer elements in the maps, and (3) map readers' measurement behavior influenced the effect of the Müller-Lyer elements in maps. The discussion focuses on how certain display manipulations and task manipulations affect the Müller-Lyer illusion. In addition, the discussion addresses the instances in which using a map might be affected by misestimation due to Müller-Lyer elements.

Adult↗

Cuticular hydrocarbons, isoenzymes and behavior of three populations of Anopheles darlingi from Brazil.

Three populations of Anopheles darlingi were studied for cuticular hydrocarbons, isoenzymes and patterns of peak biting activity. Differences were found in specimens from Costa Marques, a malaria endemic area; Dourado, a site with a very exophilic population and Juturnaíba, located near the type locality. Twelve hour collections from sunset to sunrise showed that An. darlingi from Costa Marques had a bimodal biting activity profile with a major peak at sunset and a minor peak at sunrise. At Dourado, the pattern was trimodal, with peaks at both morning and evening periods of twilight and near midnight. The Juturnaíba population showed a slight increase in activity near 2000 and 0100 h. Nei's genetic distances, determined by isoenzyme electrophoresis between pairs of populations, were low (D < or = 0.049). Using discriminant analysis for the cuticular hydrocarbons, 92.4% of the specimens from Costa Marques, 91.2% of the specimens from Dourado and 61.3% from Juturnaíba were correctly identified. Cuticular hydrocarbon and isoenzyme results matched very well: the smaller the Nei's distance, the more misidentifications occurred in the jackknife estimator used in the cuticular hydrocarbon analysis. This is the first report of cuticular hydrocarbon analysis in combination with isoenzymes to investigate neotropical anopheline species.

Animals↗

Arrangement of the substrates at the active site of brain pyridoxal kinase.

The distances between enzyme-bound paramagnetic CrATP (a stable, beta, gamma-bidentate complex of Cr3+ and ATP) at the active site of sheep brain pyridoxal kinase and the protons of bound inhibitor 4-dPyr (4-deoxypyridoxine) were determined in the ternary enzyme-CrATP.4-dPyr complex by measuring the paramagnetic effects of Cr3+ on the longitudinal relaxation rates (1/T1p) of the protons of 4-dPyr. The correlation time for the Cr(3+)-4-dPyr dipolar interaction on the enzyme was estimated as 1.59 ns by the frequency dependence of 1/T1p of water protons. Temperature dependence of 1/T1p values indicated the fast exchange of 4-dPyr from the paramagnetic enzyme.CrATP.4-dPyr complex; hence the measured 1/T1p values can be used for metalnucleus distance determinations. The distances from the Cr3+ of the enzyme-bound CrATP to the 2-methyl (7.19 A), 4-methyl (7.18 A), and H6 proton (6.18 A) of the 4-dPyr are too great to permit a direct coordination of any group from 4-dPyr. However, these distances can be built into a model in which phosphorus of the gamma-phosphoryl group of ATP is 4 A away from the oxygen atom of the 5-CH2OH group of the 4-dPyr. This suggests that phosphorylation of pyridoxal can occur via direct transfer of the phosphoryl group between the bound substrates at the active site of pyridoxal kinase.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Identification of a beta-turn in the tertiary structure of a peptide fragment of the Alzheimer amyloid protein.

In an attempt to understand the three-dimensional structure of the Alzheimer amyloid protein, a fragment decapeptide was studied by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Using two-dimensional techniques, protons close in space were identified and their interproton distances determined. These distances were then used as input data for distance geometry calculations. The resulting three-dimensional structures suggest the presence of a beta-turn in the C-terminus of the decapeptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Conformation of NAD+ bound to allosteric L-lactate dehydrogenase activated by chemical modification.

On modification of arginine residues with 2,3-butanedione, the Thermus caldophilus L-lactate dehydrogenase is converted to an activated form that is independent of an allosteric effector, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (Fru-1,6-P2). The conformation of NAD+ bound to the modified enzyme in the absence of Fru-1,6-P2 was investigated by means of proton NMR, analyzing the time dependence of the transferred nuclear Overhauser effect (TRNOE) and TRNOE action spectra. The inter-proton distances determined on TRNOE analysis indicated that both the nicotinamide riboside moiety and the adenosine moiety of NAD+ were in the anti conformation, the ribose rings being in the C3'-endo form. This conformation was almost the same as that of NAD+ bound to the native enzyme-Fru-1,6-P2 complex, rather than that of NAD+ bound to the free native enzyme. These results suggest that the C3'-endo-anti form of the enzyme-bound NAD+ is essential for the activation of the T. caldophilus L-lactate dehydrogenase.

Allosteric Regulation↗

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and adenosine 5'-monophosphate interaction with bovine liver fructose-1,6-biphosphatase.

1H and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance was used to investigate the interaction of AMP and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2) with bovine liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Mn2+ bound to fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase was used as a paramagnetic probe to map the active and AMP allosteric sites of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Distances between enzyme-bound Mn2+ and the phosphorus atoms at C-6 of fructose-6-P and alpha-methyl-D-fructofuranoside 1,6-bisphosphate were identical, and the enzyme-Mn to phosphorus distance determined for the C-6 phosphorus atom of Fru-2,6-P2 was very similar to these values. Likewise, the enzyme-Mn to phosphorus distances for Pi, the C-1 phosphorus atom of alpha-methyl-D-fructofuranoside 1,6-bisphosphate, and the C-2 phosphorus atom of Fru-2,6-P2 agreed within 0.5 A. The distance between enzyme-bound Mn2+ and the phosphorus atom of AMP was significantly shorter than the distances obtained for any of the aforementioned ligands, but the presence of Fru-2,6-P2 caused the enzyme-Mn to phosphorus distance for AMP to lengthen markedly. NMR line broadening of AMP protons was studied at various temperatures. The dissociation rate constant was found to be greater than 20 s-1. It was concluded that Fru-2,6-P2 strongly affects the interaction of AMP with fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and that the sugar most likely acts at the active site of the enzyme.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

[Analysis of the reproducibility of conditions of intracavitary irradiation of patients with cervix cancer].

The paper is concerned with the results of an analysis of reproducibility of conditions for intracavitary irradiation of 20 cervical cancer patients using metracolpostat, a combined therapeutic endostat consisting of 3 tubes: the central one to introduce radiation sources into the cervical canal and cavity of the uterus and 2 lateral ones with ovoids to deliver the sources to the vaults of the vagina. Topometric investigations for each patient were performed 4 times: before the first session of fractionated intracavitary irradiation with high activity 252Cf sources using the ANET-B unit and after each session of irradiation. It was shown that discordances between distances from the central endostat to the right and left lateral ovoids determined during roentgenotopometric preparation of each patient and taken as a basis of dosimetric design, and discordances between these distances determined as a result of roentgenotopometric control after each laying, are a random value distributed according to the normal law.

Brachytherapy↗