Purification and Characterization of 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase from Maize

The proposed target enzyme for benzoylcyclohexanedione herbicides, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) was purified from etiolated maize seedlings with a purification factor of 105. Enzyme activity was measured by detection of carbon dioxide formed from radiolabelled substrate. The enzyme has a pH optimum of 7·3 and an apparent molecular mass of 43 kDa, similar to that of the mammalian liver enzyme. Activity needs the presence of a reducing system glutathione/dichlorophenol indophenol or ascorbate and catalase. Surprisingly, a commercial catalase preparation of low specific activity—generally used for the enzyme assay—showed HPPD activity which was separable from the catalase activity on a gel filtration column. According to kinetic studies with purified maize HPPD, experimental herbicides from the family mentioned were strong competitive inhibitors of the plant enzyme in nanomolar range withK_i values of 5 and 15 nM for 2-(2-nitro-4-chlorobenzoyl)-5-(2-methoxyethyl) cyclohexane- 1,3-dione and 2-(2-chloro-4-methanesulfonylbenzoyl)- cyclohexane-1,3-dione (SC-0051; sulcotrione), respectively.     

Canine ocular onchocercosis in Hungary

An adult male mongrel dog that had spent its entire life in Hungary, was found to have infection with filaroid nematodes of the genus Onchocerca. The gravid male and female parasites were embedded in bean-sized granulomatous masses on the conjunctiva and the sclera of both eyes. The cuticle of females consisted of two separated layers in longitudinal sections, the external layer bearing ridges and the internal layer showing striations. The ridges were marked, rounded in shape, and the ratio of body diameter to the distance between ridges varied between 7:1 and 10:1. At midbody of the worms, two striations could be seen between each pair of ridges: one under every ridge and one between neighbouring ridges. Numerous exceptionally small (96.4 microm x 6.4 microm) microfilariae were seen in the uteri of females and the surrounding tissues and isolated from skin biopsy materials. The morphology and location of the parasite and histopathological lesions of the Hungarian case were similar to that described in dogs in the United States. This case is the first documented ocular Onchocerca infection in dogs outside the western United States. Thus, onchocercosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of ocular and periocular nodules in dogs also in Europe.     

Stellar production rates of carbon and its abundance in the universe

The bulk of the carbon in our universe is produced in the triple-alpha process in helium-burning red giant stars. We calculated the change of the triple-alpha reaction rate in a microscopic 12-nucleon model of the (12)C nucleus and looked for the effects of minimal variations of the strengths of the underlying interactions. Stellar model calculations were performed with the alternative reaction rates. Here, we show that outside a narrow window of 0.5 and 4% of the values of the strong and Coulomb forces, respectively, the stellar production of carbon or oxygen is reduced by factors of 30 to 1000.     

Validation of the two-gene epistatic model for vernalization response in a winter × spring barley cross

A two gene epistatic model in which a dominant “winter growth habit” allele at Vrn-H2 encodes a repressor with a corresponding binding site in a recessive vrn-H1 allele explains the vernalization response phenotypes in an array of barley germplasm. In order to validate the model genetically, we developed an F ₂ population (and F ₂-derived F ₃ families) from the cross of Hardy (winter) × Jubilant (spring). Using gene-specific primers, we determined the Vrn-H1 and Vrn-H2 allele architecture of each F ₂ plant and we measured the growth habit phenotype of each F ₂ plant via phenotyping of its F ₃ progeny under controlled environment conditions. We used a set of treatments involving plus/minus vernalization under long photoperiod and vernalization under short photoperiod. Alleles at the two loci showed expected patterns of segregation and independent assortment. Under long day conditions, the two Vrn genes were the primary determinants of heading date, regardless of the vernalization treatment. Under short photoperiod, the effects of these loci were not significant. There was incomplete dominance at Vrn-H1: heterozygotes were significantly later to head than Vrn-H1Vrn-H1 genotypes. Vrn-H2 genotypes were also significantly later to head, even when plants were vernalized. These results validate the two-gene epistatic model for vernalization response under long-day conditions. The results under short photoperiod, and the variance in flowering with vernalization, confirm that while the two Vrn genes are the primary determinants of vernalization response, they are part of a larger interactome that determines the timing of the vegetative to reproductive transition.     

Tubular reabsorption of protein by porcine kidneys during neonatal alimentary proteinuria

The ability of renal proximal tubular cells to reabsorb protein early in postnatal life was investigated using goat haemoglobin as tracer. The haemoglobin was intracardially administered to newborn piglets. The kidneys were fixed for light and electron microscopy 4 h later. Piglets killed immediately after birth and those allowed to suck colostrum for 4 h were used as controls. The proximal tubular cells of newborn, unsuckled piglets already contained absorptive vacuoles. Haemoglobin was absorbed in some absorptive vacuoles of the proximal tubules. The tracer was also demonstrable in the urine, mainly in the form of methaemoglobin. Although proximal tubular cells of newborn piglets are able to absorb protein, this absorption is of limited extent and excess protein is voided with the urine.     

Are there Alfvén waves in the solar atmosphere?

The Sun's outer coronal layer exists at a temperature of millions of kelvins, much hotter than the solar surface we observe. How this high temperature is maintained and what energy sources are involved continue to puzzle and fascinate solar researchers. Recently, the Hinode spacecraft was launched to observe and measure the plasma properties of the Sun's outer layers. The data collected by Hinode reveal much about the role of magnetic field interactions and how plasma waves might transport energy to the corona. These results open a new era in high-resolution observation of the Sun.     

Are spiders reacting to local or landscape scale effects in Hungarian pastures?

Declines of West-European farmland biodiversity have been associated with intensive agricultural practices, Central and Eastern European grasslands still harbour a diverse and unique arthropod community. However, our understanding of the effects of farmland management both at local and landscape levels is rather limited there. A paired field approach was used to compare extensively (0.5 cows/ha) and intensively (>1 cows/ha) grazed pastures in 42 fields in three distinct biogeographic regions within Hungary. Spiders belonging to the hunting and web-building communities were sampled using funnel traps. We found no management effect either on richness and abundance or on species composition, which shows that both forms of grazing management at the intensity levels studied support valuable spider fauna. At the local scale plant and litter cover were the two most important variables that significantly affected the communities overall, meaning both the hunting and to some degree the web-building communities. No significant landscape effects were found in the analyses on spider richness and abundance, but community structure was affected by two landscape level factors (grassland patch density and grassland percentage). We suggest that to protect the valuable spider and other fauna of these regions, the recently launched national agri-environmental program should be further supported and enlarged to maintain and reintroduce the traditional grazing management on these semi-natural grasslands.     

Comparison of two-dimensional echocardiographic measurements of the left atrium in healthy dogs

The aim of the study was to establish normal echocardiographic values of the left atrium just above the mitral annulus (LAama) in healthy dogs. In the first part of the study 20 dogs of various breeds were examined. The diameter of the left atrium just above the mitral annulus (LAama) was compared to the linear (left to right) dimension of the left atrium (LAr-l) as published earlier. There was a linear relationship between LAr-l and the body weight (LAr-l = 0.5061 BW (kg) + 22.206; R2 = 0.81), but the proportion of LAr-l/LAama was independent of the body weight (LAr-l/LAama = 0.0004 BW (kg) + 1.0833; R2 = 0.01). In the second part of the study the left atrial diameter just above the mitral annulus (LAama) was measured in 121 dogs of various breeds. There was a positive linear relationship (R2 = 0.697; p < 0.001) between body weight and LAama (LAama = 0.54 BW (kg) + 18.502+/-4.76), but there were no significant correlations between the age of animals and LAama (p = 0.45) as well as between the gender of animals and LAama (p = 0.78). Two-dimensional echocardiographic (2DE) determination of LAama as described in the present study can be recommended for use in those dogs where measurement of LAr-l encounters technical difficulties. In these cases LAr-l can be calculated from LAama using the formula LAr-l/LAama = 0.0004 BW (kg) + 1.0833, worked out in the first experiment.