Major Branch Point Research Articles

Subclassification of neurons in the ventrobasal complex of the dog: Quantitative Golgi study using principal components analysis

The neuronal architecture of the ventrobasal complex (VB) in dog is examined in coronal and horizontal brain sections processed by Golgi- and Nissl-staining methods. Presumed projection and intrinsic neurons are identified by differences in soma size and shape, dendritic branch pattern, the morphology and distribution of appendages, and the appearance of axons. Forty-five projection neurons are examined by quantifying (1) soma cross-sectional area, (2) dendritic field extent and shape, (3) appendages on the soma, primary dendrites, and in a defined major dendritic branch zone, and (4) location in the VB. When considered independently, each variable offers little evidence for separation into morphological classes. However, several of the variables have wide ranges and show significant correlation with other parameters. Using the multivariate descriptive methods of principal components analysis and cluster analysis, a separation of the projection neurons into three morphological classes designated as large, medium, and small neurons is indicated. The features most critical in distinguishing between the groups are, in descending order of importance: (1) dendritic field extent; (2) number of primary dendrites; (3) soma cross-sectional area; (4) number of appendages per major branch point (MBP); (5) number of appendages on the soma; and, (6) number of appendages on the primary dendrites. Dendritic field shape and neuron location have little influence in determining classification.

Glycosidic linkages of swede cell walls and their residues recovered from the terminal ileum of the pig

The glycosidic linkage pattern of unfractionated swede cell walls was determined by methylation analysis. The main linkages in descending order of concentration were: (1----4)-linked glucose, (1----4)-linked xylose, terminal galactose, (1----4)-linked mannose, terminal arabinose and (1----2)-linked rhamnose. The major branch points were to the O-2 or O-3 atoms of xylose, O-4 of rhamnose and O-6 of glucose. The subsequent degradation of swede cell walls by passage through the small intestine of the pig was studied by quantitative methylation analysis of material recovered from animals cannulated 150 mm before the ileo-caecal junction. In addition to a substantial loss of uronic acid and phenolic material, the proportions of the different glycosidic linkages recovered from the digesta varied greatly from those of the parent material. Pectic polysaccharides had apparent digestibilities in the range of 0.60-0.75 while those of hemicellulosic components varied between 0.15 and 0.57. Glucose units linked 1----4 (with an apparent digestibility of 0.24) accounted for the greatest weight loss of neutral sugars from the cell wall, followed by terminal galactose, terminal arabinose and 2-linked arabinose.

An analysis of developmental timing in Dictyostelium discoideum

A new method has been developed to assess the minimum complexity and relationships of those pathways (developmental timers) which time the consecutive stages of a developing system ( Soll, 1983). This method has been applied to the morphogenetic program of Dictyostelium discoideum and has resulted in (1) a minimum estimate of the number of components comprising the timers for the first seven stages of morphogenesis, (2) a characterization of the temperature sensitivities of these components including demonstration of a reversible timer component, (3) detailed temporal definition of a number of transition points between rate-limiting components including a major branch point for the onset of several independent timer components coincident with the onset of aggregation, and (4) a temporal model for the relationships between the timers of the seven consecutive morphogenetic stages, including several examples of parallel timers.

Design of glycolysis.

The design of the glycolytic pathway resulting from the continuous refinement of evolution is discussed with regard to three aspects. 1. Functional and structural properties of individual enzymes. The catalytic constants of the glycolytic enzymes are remarkably optimized; the turnover numbers are within one order of magnitude. The same is true for the molarities of catalytic centres in the cytosol, as is noted for yeast. Functional properties of the enzymes are reflected in their tertiary and quaternary structures. 2. Regulatory mechanisms of single enzymes. A classification of the various types of enzymic control mechanisms operating in the glycolytic pathway is given. In addition to the usual Michaelis-Menten saturation kinetics and the various types of inhibition there is control by positive and negative effectors based on oligomeric structures (fast acting, fine control) as well as regulation by chemical interconversion structures (fast acting, fine control) as well as regulation by chemical based on enzymes cascades (slow acting, very effective). 3. Functional and regulatory mechanisms of the whole glycolytic reaction pathway. A prominent feature is the high enzyme:substrate ratio, which guarantees fast response times. However, a quantitative treatment of the overall kinetics is limited by an incomplete knowledge of the enzymes' dynamic and chemical compartmentation as well as some of their control properties. From an analysis of the oscillatory state, certain control points in the glycolytic chain can be located that coincide with major branching points to other metabolic pathways. These points are controlled by fast-acting cooperative enzymes that operate in a flip-flop mechanism together with the respective antagonistic enzymes, preventing futile cycles. The gating enzymes leading to the glycogen store and the citric acid cycle are of the slow-acting but very effective interconvertible type. The combination of all the complex and intricate features of design yields a glycolytic network that enables the cell to respond to its various metabolic needs quickly, effectively and economically.

Methylation analysis of cell-wall material from parenchymatous tissues of phaseolus vulgaris and phaseolus coccineus

Cell-wall material (CWM) from parenchymatous tissues of pods of dwarf french and runner beans was prepared by sequentially extracting the wet ball-milled tissues with 1% aqueous sodium deoxycholate, phenol-acetic acid-water, and 90% aqueous dimethyl sulphoxide. The overall monosaccharide compositions of the preparations were similar, and each contained small but significant amounts of hydroxyprolinerich glycoproteins. Methylation analysis of the CWM revealed the following main glycosidic linkages in descending order of concentration: 4-linked galacturonic acid, 4-linked glucose, 4-linked galactose, 5-linked arabinose, 2-linked rhamnose, and 4-linked xylose. The major branch-points were those through C-6 of glucose, C-3 of arabinose, and C-4 of rhamnose. Arabinose, xylose, and galactose constituted the non-reducing end-groups. The general structural features of the CWM are discussed.

Is sex determination in germ line and soma controlled by separate genetic mechanisms?

IN sexually dimorphic animals, the determination of sex is a major branch point in development. Although mutations producing sex reversal shed some light on the processes by which this determination is reached, many questions remain unanswered. Autosomal mutations such as polled in the goat1, sex reversed (Sxr)2 in the mouse and transformer (tra)3,7 in Drosophila cause chromosomal females to become phenotypic males, although they are sterile and their gonads agametic. The nature of this sterility suggests that the sex of germ cells in Drosophila, and perhaps in other species, might be determined by different sets of genes from those which operate in somatic tissue. Here we test this hypothesis by constructing mosaics in Drosophila where germ cells of one genotype are surrounded by soma of another. We find that the transformer mutation affects only the somatic sexual differentiation, and that it has no effect on the differentiation of germ cells. Thus we conclude that the agametic nature of transformed flies is due to the absence of functional male germ cells and at least with respect to tra, germ line and soma have separate sex-determining genes.

Purification and methylation analysis of cell wall material from Solanum tuberosum

Cell wall material (CWM) of potatoes was prepared by sequentially extracting the wet ball-milled tissue with 1 % aq. Na deoxycholate, PhOHHOAcH 2O and 90 % (v/v) aq. DMSO. The purity of the CWM (e.g. absence of residual starch) was established by carbohydrate analysis using different acid hydrolysis conditions and by methylation studies. The partially methylated alditol acetates from the CHCl 3MeOH soluble fraction (S) of the methylated CWM were separated into 15 main peaks by GLC. Fourteen of these peaks were carbohydrate derivatives and the identity of most of these was established by MS. Reduction of the hydrolysate of S with NaBD 4 was used to identify the carbohydrate derivatives present in peaks 7 and 11 above. The occurrence of 4-linked galacturonosyl residues in the methylated polymers was established after reduction of S with LiAlH 4 and LiAlD 4. The main glycosidic linkages present in the non-cellulosic polysaccharides of the wall in descending order of concentration are: 4-linked galactose, 4-linked galacturonic acid, 5-linked arabinose and 4,6-linked glucose. The major branch points are those through 0–6 of glucose and 0–4 of rhamnose. Arabinose, galactose and xylose residues constituted the non-reducing ends. Graded acid hydrolysis of the CWM made it possible to assess the relative strengths of some of the glycosidic linkages. The general structural features of the CWM are discussed in the light of these results.

Pressure Transmission in Pulmonary Arteries Related to Frequency and Geometry

The propagation of the pulse wave through the canine pulmonary arterial tree has been evaluated by means of harmonic analysis. The apparent phase velocity varied both with frequency and distance as one would expect in the presence of reflected waves. The phase velocity was about 230 cm/sec for the inflated and 325 cm/sec for the deflated lung. Theoretical considerations as well as experimental results indicate that the major branches represent the primary reflection site for the pulse wave. The pulse pressure is transmitted across the pulmonary capillary bed, although at a high attenuation, and the transmission varies markedly with lung volume. The dimensions of the pulmonary arterial tree were evaluated from casts. Data for the length and cross sections of the various branches are given. The volume of the arterial tree as represented by the casts was 24 ml. The cross section of the various branches represents an ellipse rather than a circle, and the cross section ratios of the major branch points is considerably less than those postulated for optimal energy transfer. The implications of the geometrical findings for the relation between pressure gradient and flow are briefly discussed.