Cyclic changes in enzyme activity in synchronized mammalian cell cultures

Activity of the enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase increases intermittently in synchronized cultures of Chinese hamster cells. During G(1) phase (3 hours after mitosis), midway through S phase (7 hours after mitosis) and again in late S phase (10 hours after mitosis), rapid increases in activity were observed and correlated with a net increase in cell size and total protein. The evidence suggests that this is a general phenomenon which affects a whole population of proteins and may be the expression of an endogenous cellular rhythm.     

Integration and stable germ line transmission of genes injected into mouse pronuclei

Genetic material has been successfully transferred into the genomes of newborn mice by injection of that material into pronuclei of fertilized eggs. Initial results indicated two patterns of processing the injected DNA: one in which the material was not integrated into the host genome, and another in which the injected genes became associated with high molecular weight DNA. These patterns are maintained through further development to adulthood. The evidence presented indicates the covalent association of injected DNA with host sequences, and transmission of such linked sequences in a Mendelian distribution to two succeeding generations of progeny.     

Chromosomal locations of the murine T-cell receptor alpha-chain gene and the T-cell gamma gene

Two independent methods were used to identify the mouse chromosomes on which are located two families of immunoglobulin (Ig)-like genes that are rearranged and expressed in T lymphocytes. The genes coding for the alpha subunit of T-cell receptors are on chromosome 14 and the gamma genes, whose function is yet to be determined, are on chromosome 13. Since genes for the T-cell receptor beta chain were previously shown to be on mouse chromosome 6, all three of the Ig-like multigene families expressed and rearranged in T cells are located on different chromosomes, just as are the B-cell multigene families for the Ig heavy chain, and the Ig kappa and lambda light chains. The findings do not support earlier contentions that genes for T-cell receptors are linked to the Ig heavy chain locus (mouse chromosome 12) or to the major histocompatibility complex (mouse chromosome 17).     

Assignment of the murine interferon sensitivity and cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase genes to chromosome 16

Both hybrids of mouse and human microcells and whole cell hybrids generated by the fusion of primary mouse cells and SV40-transformed human fibroblasts were used to establish the syntenic association of the murine cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase and the interferon sensitivity genes on mouse chromosome 16. This assignment adds two new markers to chromosome 16 and provides another example of an evolutionarily conserved linkage. This finding also provides an animal model both for cellular responsiveness to interferon and for Down's syndrome.     

Chromosomal abnormalities in the human population: estimation of rates based on New Haven newborn study

The incidence of gross chromosomal abnormality was measured in a large (4500), relatively unbiased sample of New Haven infants born during 1 year. The frequency of infants with abnormal chromosomal constitutions was 0.5 percent. For mothers over age 34, 1.5 percent of newborns were chromosomally abnormal. Only one in four of these infants could have been detected by phenotypic criteria alone. Methods are discussed whereby this fraction of the newborn population might be detected and possibly reduced.     

Malate dehydrogenase: evidence for tetrameric structure in Mus musculus

Two electrophoretically distinct variants of supernatant nicotinamideadenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent malate dehydrogenase exist in mice (Mus musculus). They are controlled by codominant alleles segregating at an autosomal locus. The two forms exist in a polymorphic condition in wild populations of Mus musculus and are fixed in a homozygous condition in inbred lines. These genetic electrophoretic variants are used here to study the subunit structure of this enzyme. Evidence indicating a tetrameric structure for mouse nicotinamideadenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent malate dehydrogenase is presented. This interpretation is based on the occurrence in heterozygote tissue extracts of five electrophoretically distinct enzymes. This is the predicted phenotype for tetramers composed of two types of subunits which associate randomly in heterozygotes forming three hybrid enzymes having mobilities intermediate between the parental forms.     

Coherent optical control of the quantum state of a single quantum Dot

Picosecond optical excitation was used to coherently control the excitation in a single quantum dot on a time scale that is short compared with the time scale for loss of quantum coherence. The excitonic wave function was manipulated by controlling the optical phase of the two-pulse sequence through timing and polarization. Wave function engineering techniques, developed in atomic and molecular systems, were used to monitor and control a nonstationary quantum mechanical state composed of a superposition of eigenstates. The results extend the concept of coherent control in semiconductors to the limit of a single quantum system in a zero-dimensional quantum dot.     

Localization of metastable atom beams with optical standing waves: nanolithography at the heisenberg limit

The spatially dependent de-excitation of a beam of metastable argon atoms, traveling through an optical standing wave, produced a periodic array of localized metastable atoms with position and momentum spreads approaching the limit stated by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Silicon and silicon dioxide substrates placed in the path of the atom beam were patterned by the metastable atoms. The de-excitation of metastable atoms upon collision with the surface promoted the deposition of a carbonaceous film from a vapor-phase hydrocarbon precursor. The resulting patterns were imaged both directly and after chemical etching. Thus, quantum-mechanical steady-state atom distributions can be used for sub-0.1-micrometer lithography.     

Genetic polymorphisms of human mitochondrial glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase

In a survey of 860 unselected human placental extracts, three variants of mitochondrial glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase were found, all of which were common enough to be considered polymorphisms. Family studies showed that this enzyme is under the control of nuclear rather than mitochondrial DNA.