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Biomedical subjects

S Brenner

Publications and source records attributed to S Brenner.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

The role of the centriolar region in animal cell mitosis. A laser microbeam study.

An argon ion laser microbeam (488 and 514 nm) was used to selectively irradiate one of the two centriolar regions of rat kangaroo Potorous tridactylis (PtK2) prophase cells in vitro. The cells were sensitized to the laser radiation by treatment with acridine orange (0.1-0.2 mug/ml). Ultrastructural examination of the irradiated centriolar regions demonstrated that the primary site of damage was the pericentriolar material. This result suggests that nucleic acid is present in the pericentriolar material. Behavioral and ultrastructural analysis demonstrated that cells with one damaged pericentriolar zone could undergo (a) nuclear membrane breakdown, (b) chromosome condensation, (c) metaphase plate formation, and (d) cytokinesis. However, the chromosomes neither separated nor exhibited any anaphase movements. Detailed ultrastructural analysis revealed the presence of kinetochore microtubules on both sides of chromosome mass and a lack of microtubules in the cytokinesis constriction. These results indicate that the pericentriolar material is important in spindle orgainization and essential for the formation of the interpolar microtubules.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1977

The absence of centrioles from spindle poles of rat kangaroo (PtK2) cells undergoing meiotic-like reduction division in vitro.

Light and electron microscopy were used to study somatic cell reduction division occurring spontaneously in tetraploid populations of rat kangaroo Potorous tridactylis (PtK2) cells in vitro. Light microscopy coupled with time-lapse photography documented the pattern of reduction division which includes an anaphase-like movement of double chromatid chromosomes to opposite spindle poles followed by the organization of two separate metaphase plates and synchronous anaphase division to form four poles and four daughter nuclei. The resulting daughter cells were isolated and cloned, showing their viability, and karyotyped to determine their ploidy. Ultrastructural analysis of cells undergoing reduction consistently revealed two duplexes of centrioles (one at each of two spindle poles) and two spindle poles in each cell that lacked centrioles but with microtubules terminating in a pericentriolar-like cloud of material. These results suggest that the centriole is not essential for spindle pole formation and division and implicate the could region as a necessary component of the spindle apparatus.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1977

Jadassohn-type anetoderma in association with keratoconus and cataract.

The unusual association of macular atrophy--Jadassohn type of anetoderma, bilateral subcapsular ocular cataracts and keratoconus--is described in an otherwise healthy adult male. This association has not, to the best of our knowledge, been previously described. The possibility that this is not a chance association is discussed.

Atrophy↗
PubMed1977

Mutations causing transformation of sexual phenotype in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Ten mutations are described that transform genotypic hermaphrodites of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans into phenotypic males. These fall into three autosomal complementation groups, termed tra-1, tra-2, and tra-3. Two alleles of tra-1 produce almost complete transformation, to a fertile male phenotype; such transformed animals are useful for analyzing sex-linked genes. All alleles of tra-1 and tra-2 are recessive; the one known allele of tra-3 is both recessive and maternal in effect. Where tested, both XX and XXX hermaphrodites are transformed into males, but XO males (true males) are unaffected by these mutations. It is suggested that these genes are actually involved in hermaphrodite development and have no role in male development.

Alleles↗
PubMed1976

Regulatory mutants of dihydrofolate reductase in Escherichia coli K12.

Trimethoprim inhibits dihydrofolate reductase. Mutations conferring trimethorpim-resistance on E coli K12 result in either an altered reductase with decreased affinity for the drug, or in 2-30 fold higher levels of the enzyme. Studies of the latter class of mutants indicate that dihydrofolate reductase is regulatdd by a diffusible molecule, and is probably under negative control. The regulatrory mutants, some of which are temperature-sensitive, act cis.

Drug Resistance, Microbial↗
PubMed1976

The structure of the ventral nerve cord of Caenorhabditis elegans.

The nervous system of Caenorhabditis elegans is arranged as a series of fibre bundles which run along internal hypodermal ridges. Most of the sensory integration takes place in a ring of nerve fibres which is wrapped round the pharynx in the head. The body muscles in the head are innervated by motor neurones in this nerve ring while those in the lower part of the body are innervated by a set of motor neurones in a longitudinal fibre bundle which joins the nerve ring, the ventral cord. These motor neurones can be put into five classes on the basis of their morphology and synaptic input. At any one point along the cord only one member from each class has neuromuscular junctions. Members of a given class are arranged in a regular linear sequence in the cord and have non-overlapping fields of motor synaptic activity, the transition between fields of adjacent neurones being sharp and well defined. Members of a given class form gap junctions with neighbouring members of the same class but never to motor neurones of another class. Three of the motor neurone classes receive their synaptic input from a set of interneurones coming from the nerve ring. These interneurones can in turn be grouped into four classes and each of three motor neurone classes receives its synaptic input from a unique combination of interneurone classes. The possible developmental and functional significance of these observations is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

A speculation on the origin of protein synthesis.

It is suggested that protein sythesis may have begun without even a primitive ribosome if the primitive tRNA could take up two configuration and could bind to the messenger RNA with five base-pairs instead of the present three. This idea would impose base sequence restriction on the early messages and on the early genetic code such that the first four amino acids coded were glycine, serine, aspartic acid and aspargine. A possible mechanism is suggested for the polymerization of the early message.

Anticodon↗
PubMed1976

Chromosome rearrangements in Caenorhabditis elegans.

A method for selecting unlinked duplications of a part of the X chromosome of C. elegans is described. Five such duplications have been identified. One of them, Dp (X;V)1, is translocated to linkage group V, where it suppresses crossing over along the left half of linkage group V. Dp(X;V)1 homozygotes grow slowly and are sterile. The other four duplications are associated with chromosome fragments, as observed cytologically by fluorescence microscopy, and tend to be lost. Their frequency of loss is higher in strains homozygous for a mutation that promotes nondisjunction of X chromosomes. The recombination frequencies between two of these duplications and the X have been measured: the frequencies are at least 50 times less than for X-X recombination in the same region. The duplications may prove useful as balancers of recessive lethal mutations.

Aneuploidy↗
PubMed1975

Genetic map of the beginning of the rIIB cistron of bacteriophage T4.

In this report the herefore uncharacterized mutants at the beginning of the rIIB cistron of bacteriophage T4 have been connected to the main part of the map and have been shown not to be in any way unusual. The temperature sensitive mutant HD263 appears to be the earliest mutant in the cistron.

2-Aminopurine↗
PubMed1975

Dopaminergic neurons in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Dopamine is the putative transmitter of eight neurons in the hermaphrodite form of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. These include the cephalic and deirid neurons, which are believed to be mechanosensory. The male has an additional six dopaminergic neurons in the tail. Mutants have been selected which have defects in the formaldehyde induced fluorescence and lack dopamine to varying degrees, but they are not insensitive to touch. The dopaminergic neurons of C. elegans are compared with the homologous neurons in Ascaris lumbricoides.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1975

Electron microscopical reconstruction of the anterior sensory anatomy of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

The complete structure of the anterior sensory nervous system of the small nematode C. elegans has been determined by reconstruction from serial section electronmicrographs. There are 58 neurons in the tip of the head. Fifty-two of these are arranged in sensilla. These include six inner labial sensilla, six outer labial sensilla, four cephalic sensilla and two amphids. Each sensillum consists of ciliated sensory neurons ending in a channel enclosed by two non-neuronal cells, the sheath and socket cells. The amphidial channel opens to the outside as does that of the inner labial sensilla so that these probably contain chemoreceptive neurons. The endings of the other sensilla are embedded in the cuticle and may be mechanoreceptive. The cell bodies of all the neurons lie near the nerve ring and their axons project into the ring or into ventral ganglia. One of the ciliated sensory neurons in each of the six inner labial sensilla makes direct chemical synapses onto a muscle making these sensory-motor neurons. The anatomy of four isogenic animals was compared in detail and found to be largely invariant. The anatomy of juveniles is nearly identical to that of the adult, but males have four additional neuron processes.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Comparative evaluation of combined radiation-chlorambucil treatment of ovarian carcinomatosis.

In a study conducted by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, 51 evaluable women with advanced ovarian carcinoma were randomized to either abdominal radiation therapy alone, chlorambucil alone, or to a combination of radiation therapy and chlorambucil by members of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Provision was made for crossover therapy for patients who were nonresponders to a single modality of treatment. Parameters followed included objective and subjective response rates and patient survival. The total response rate was 51%, with no significant difference among the three treatment regimens. Regarding survival, radiation therapy alone was significantly superior to the other regimens, with an average survival of 94.9 weeks. Best results were obtained in patients with normal performance status; for this group, radiation therapy alone offered the best chance for prolonged survival.

Chlorambucil↗