Age,growth, and sex ratio among populations of least brook lamprey,Lampetra aepyptera,larvae: an argument for environmental sex determination

Synopsis Sex ratios of least brook lamprey,Lampetra aepyptera, larvae varied widely among 12 geographically-diverse streams of the eastern United States. The extremes were 29 and 71% male, and the proportion of males increased significantly with relative population density, which was estimated among the streams from the number of larvae collected per m2 of substrate. The skewed sex ratios were not likely due to differential mortality between the sexes or differential recruitment to the adult stock, since they were established at the time of gonadal differentiation (at ca. 2 years of age) and remained relatively constant over the subsequent 2–3 years of larval life. Furthermore, although females seemed to predominate in the oldest larval age class, thus appearing to metamorphose later than males, their numbers were small and were omitted from the overall sex ratio. Sex ratio did not vary significantly with water hardness, pH, annual thermal units, or latitude. The possible adaptive significance of density-dependent sex determination in lampreys, however, remains elusive. It has been proposed that growth-promoting conditions might yield female-biased sex ratios as a tactic for ensuring that relatively large individuals become females, thereby increasing their fecundity. As predicted, larval size at a given age was generally greater in low-density populations, but there was no relationship between sex ratio and larval size, and female larvae were not consistently larger than the males.     

Determination of ammonium and L-Glutamine in hybridoma cell cultures by sequential flow injection analysis

A flow injection anlytical system based on a gas diffusion membrane module for ammonia and an ammonium flow-through potentiometric detector has been set up for measurement of L-glutamine and ammonium ions in hybridoma cell cultures. The main feature of the system is that the same basic analytical concept and equipment is used in both measurements, the only difference being for the determination of L-glutamine, in which the sample flows through an immobilized glutaminase cartridge. The conditions to enable the performance of both analysis consecutively, avoiding potential interferences by unwanted deamination of other compounds in the samples, have been determined. Finally, the proposed system has been compared with reference analytical methods for batch hybridoma cell culture experiments.     

NMR View: A computer program for the visualization and analysis of NMR data

Summary NMR View is a computer program designed for the visualization and analysis of NMR data. It allows the user to interact with a practically unlimited number of 2D, 3D and 4D NMR data files. Any number of spectral windows can be displayed on the screen in any size and location. Automatic peak picking and facilitated peak analysis features are included to aid in the assignment of complex NMR spectra. NMR View provides structure analysis features and data transfer to and from structure generation programs, allowing for a tight coupling between spectral analysis and structure generation. Visual correlation between structures and spectra can be done with the Molecular Data Viewer, a molecular graphics program with bidirectional communication to NMR View. The user interface can be customized and a command language is provided to allow for the automation of various tasks.Inquiries concerning the availability of NMR View and the Molecular Data Viewer should be sent via email to johnsonb@merck.com or to Bruce A. Johnson, Merck Research Laboratories, RY80Y-103, P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, NJ 07065, U.S.A.     

A novel isotope labeling protocol for bacterially expressed proteins

Summary A novel protocol for isotopically labeling bacterially expressed proteins is presented. This method circumvents problems related to poor cell growth, commonly associated with the use of minimal labeled media, and problems with protein induction encountered, less commonly, when using enriched labeled media. The method involves initially growing the bacterial cells to high optical density in a commercially available enriched labeled medium. Following a suitable growth period, the cells are transferred to a different (minimal) labeled medium, appropriate for induction. The method is demonstrated using the protein melanoma growth stimulating activity (MGSA).     

高等植物性别分化研究的某些进展

高等植物性别分化研究的某些进展邵宏波（四平师范学院生物工程研究室吉林四平１３６０００）关键词高等植物,性别分化,基因表达ＳＯＭＥＡＤＶＡＮＣＥＳＩＮＴＨＥＳＥＸＵＡＬＤＩＦＦＥＲＥＮＴＩＡＴＩＯＮＲＥＳＥＡＲＣＨＯＦＨＩＧＨＥＲＰＬＡＮＴＳ￥Ｓｈａｏ...     

Cobalt determination in serum and urine by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Cobalt determinations in biological fluids are of great interest in biological or toxicological research programs. Cobalturia is often chosen as an indicator for a biological monitoring program in occupational exposure to cobalt dusts. The method described here derives from the IUPAC reference method for nickel determination. It enables cobaltemia and cobalturia to be measured in small samples (1 mL). The mean usual values for cobalt in biological fluids are very low (2.7 nmol L⁻¹ for serum and 6.7 nmol L⁻¹ for urine), and therefore, thus require an analytical procedure with preconcentration and extraction. The sample is mineralized by wet acid digestion. After digestion, inorganic cobalt is extracted in form of ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate complex into isobutyl methyl ketone and measured in the organic layer by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The analytical parameters are described in detail. The extraction output is about 99%. The detection limits are 1.93 and 1.89 nmol L⁻¹ for serum and urine, respectively. Sensitivity (expressed as the concentration that gives a 0.044 absorbance) is 3.4 nmol L⁻¹ for serum and 3.3 nmol L⁻¹ for urine. Within-run precision ranged between 3.9 and 2.5% (coefficients of variation) for serum and 4.2 and 1.1% for urine, at 87 and 136 nmol L⁻¹ levels, respectively. Between-run precision ranged between 4.3 and 3.3% (coefficients of variation) for serum and 4.2 and 2.3% for urine, at 87 and 136 nmol L⁻¹ levels, respectively. At very low concentration, 5.7 nmol L⁻¹ for serum and 2.5 nmol L⁻¹ for urine, the between-run precision is, respectively, 19.5 and 28%. Linearity is effective between 0 and 272 nmol L⁻¹. Interferences and matrix effects are negligible for urine, serum, or plasma samples without hemoglobin. The method is easily applicable for routine determinations.     

Genetics of sex determination in flowering plants

Most flowering plant species are hermaphroditic, but a small number of species in most plant families are unisexual (i.e., an individ-ual will produce only male or female gametes). Because species with unisexual flowers have evolved repeatedly from hermaphroditic progenitors, the mechanisms controlling sex determination in flowering plants are extremely diverse. Sex is most strongly determined by genotype in all species but the mechanisms range from a single controlling locus to sex chromosomes bearing several linked locirequired for sex determination. Plant hormones also influence sex expression with variable effects from species to species. Here, we review the genetic control of sex determination from a number of plant species to illustrate the variety of extant mechanisms. We emphasize species that are now used as models to investigate the molecular biology of sex determination. We also present our own investigations of the structure of plant sex chromosomes of white campion (Silene latifolia - Melan-drium album). The cytogenetic basis of sex determination in white campion is similar to mammals in that it has a male-specific Y-chromosome that carries dominant male determining genes. If one copy of this chromosome is in the genome, the plant is male. Otherwise it is female. Like mammalian Y-chromosomes, the white campion Y-chromosome is rich in repetitive DNA. We isolated repetitive sequences from microdissected Y-chromosomes of white campion to study the distribution of homologous repeated sequences on the Y-chromosome and the other chromosomes. We found the Y to be especially rich in repetitive sequences that were generally dispersed over all the white campion chromosomes. Despite its repetitive character, the Y-chromosome is mainly euchromatic. This may be due to the relatively recent evolution of the white campion sex chromosomes compared to the sex chromosomes of animals. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Temperature-dependent sex determination in reptiles: Proximate mechanisms,ultimate outcomes,and practical applications

In many egg-laying reptiles, the incubation temperature of the egg determines the sex of the offspring, a process known as temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). In TSD sex determination is an “all or none” process and intersexes are rarely formed. How is the external signal of temperature transduced into a genetic signal that determines gonadal sex and channels sexual development? Studies with the red-eared slider turtle have focused on the physiological, biochemical, and molecular cascades initiated by the temperature signal. Both male and female development are active processes—rather than the crganized/default system characteristic of vertebrates with genotypic sex determination—that require simultaneous activation and suppression of testis- and ovary-determining cascades for normal sex determination. It appears that temperature accomplishes this end by acting on genes encoaing for steroidogenic enzymes and steroid hormone receptors and modifying the endocrine microenvironment in the embryo. The temperature experienced in development also has long-term functional outcomes in addition to sex determination. Research with the leopard gecko indicates that incubation temperature as well as steroid hormones serve as organizers in shaping the adult phenotype, with temperature modulating sex hormone action in sexual differentiation. Finally, practical applications of this research have emerged for the conservation and restoration of endangered egg-laying reptiles as well as the embryonic development of reptiles as biomarkers to monitor the estrogenic effects of common environmental contaminants. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

果糖-1,6-二磷酸的酶法测定

前言 果糖-1,6-二磷酸（简称FDP）在临床上有广泛用途,主要是作为治疗心脏缺血症的辅助药物,其工业化生产引起了人们越来越浓厚的兴趣。因此,无论是生产或者临床应用试验中,FDP的含量分析都十分重要。     

Population structure and spatial pattern in the dioecious shrub Ceratiola ericoides

Abstract. The dioecious shrub Ceratiola ericoides (Florida rosemary) dominates xeric, infrequently burned Florida scrub vegetation, often to the near-exclusion of other woody species. We studied the spatial pattern, age, sex and size structure of four populations in Florida, USA: two coastal scrub populations subject to recurrent local disturbances due to sand movement, and two inland scrub populations in sites periodically burned by stand-replacing fires. The age structure of individual genets was estimated from node counts and used to describe the age structure of the populations. The sex ratio of males to females was not significantly different from 1:1, except within a female-biased coastal population subject to frequent sand movement. Node counts indicated that the mean age for reproductive individuals was 15 - 16 yr for the inland populations and 13 - 16 yr for the coastal populations. In all sites, there was no difference in mean age between males and females. Vegetative reproduction was uncommon except for the least-disturbed coastal population where 72 % of the reproductive individuals originated through layering. Individuals were generally randomly dispersed at the coastal sites, whereas significant aggregation of males and females occurred in the inland sites where the populations were initiated following fire. Seedling recruitment was continuous in the disturbed coastal scrub site, where 35% of the individuals were juveniles. Most juveniles were dispersed from 0.5 to 0.75 m around females. At one of the inland sites, where juveniles comprised 11% of the population, juveniles were clustered at 0.25 to 5.75 m around females. Coastal populations were all-aged, while inland populations were uneven-aged. Recruitment appears to follow periods of disturbance; infrequent fire in the inland populations and continuous sand movement on the coast are factors initiating recruitment.