High-efficiency receptor-mediated delivery of small and large (48 kilobase gene constructs using the endosome-disruption activity of defective or chemically inactivated adenovirus particles.

One limit to successful receptor-mediated gene delivery is the exit of the endocytosed material from the endosome. We demonstrate here the delivery of marker genes to tissue culture cells using a modification of the receptor-mediated gene delivery technique that exploits the endosomolytic activity of defective adenovirus particles. In particular, greater than 90% of the transfected-cell population is found to express a beta-galactosidase gene, and, most importantly, this high level of expression can be obtained with psoralen-inactivated virus particles. Furthermore, because the delivered gene is not carried within the genome of the adenovirus particle, the size constraints are relieved, and we can, therefore, show the delivery of a 48-kilobase cosmid DNA molecule

Ionic profiles close to dielectric discontinuities: Specific ion-surface interactions

We study, by incorporating short-range ion-surface interactions, ionic profiles of electrolyte solutions close to a non-charged interface between two dielectric media. In order to account for important correlation effects close to the interface, the ionic profiles are calculated beyond mean-field theory, using the loop expansion of the free energy. We show how it is possible to overcome the well-known deficiency of the regular loop expansion close to the dielectric jump, and treat the non-linear boundary conditions within the framework of field theory. The ionic profiles are obtained analytically to one-loop order in the free energy, and their dependence on different ion-surface interactions is investigated. The Gibbs adsorption isotherm, as well as the ionic profiles are used to calculate the surface tension, in agreement with the reverse Hofmeister series. Consequently, from the experimentally-measured surface tension, one can extract a single adhesivity parameter, which can be used within our model to quantitatively predict hard to measure ionic profiles.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure

Rare, Threatened and Endangered Vascular Plants in Oregon: An Interim Report

This report on rare, threatened and endangered vascular plants in Oregon is a basic document in the process of inventorying the state\u27s natural areas * Prerequisite to the orderly establishment of natural preserves for research and conservation in Oregon are (1) a classification of the ecological types, and (2) a listing of the special organisms, which should be represented in a comprehensive system of designated natural areas. The necessary ecological classification was published in the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station document, Research Natural Area Needs in the Pacific Northwest, by Dyrness et al. (1975). This valuable reference also provided lists of vascular plants of special interest in each major physiographic province, based on early work by Chambers and Siddall. Under the direction of the Oregon Rare and Endangered Plant Species Taskforce, work has actively continued to expand and perfect the list of vascular plant species, to serve the needs of land management and natural area planning in Oregon, and of many other governmental and private activities. Studies of rare and endangered plants in Oregon have involved a unique coalition of professional and amateur botanists, who have systematically gathered data on the distribution, abundance, habitat, and ecological requirements of some 700 native species. Coordination and leadership have come from the Oregon Rare and Endangered Plant Species Taskforce, and specifically from the Taskforce chairman, Jean L. Siddall. The Natural Area Preserves Advisory Committee has long recognized the significance of this effort and has encouraged the Taskforce\u27s goal of assembling a list of rare, threatened and endangered plant species for the State of Oregon. In August,1979, it was decided to support the publication of an interim report, summarizing the present status of all the plants under review by the Taskforce. This list will serve as a working document for the many individuals and organizations, both public and private, needing information on the rare plants in Oregon. This list will be particularly useful to the Natural Heritage Advisory Council (replacing the Natural Area Preserves Advisory Committee) as it develops the Natural Heritage Plan required by Oregon statute. Ultimately, a detailed Oregon List of Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plants will be produced. This current interim report is a timely step toward this goal

Deidamia Inscriptum (lettered Sphinx Moth) Caterpillars Feeding on Oxydendrum Arboreum (sourwood) and Their Predation by Black Bears in Northeast Tennessee

An outbreak of Deidamia inscriptum (Lettered Sphinx Moth) caterpillars was noted in northeast Tennessee where Oxydendrum arboreum (Sourwood) trees were defoliated. Nearly all published literature and online resources list only plants in the grape family (Vitaceae) as larval food plants. Food-plant preference trials using fresh leaves of 3 woody plant species showed that Deidamiacaterpillars from this region had a preference for Sourwood over Parthenocissus quinquefolia(Virginia Creeper), and rejected Acer rubrum (Red Maple), a non-host species. Ursus americanus(Black Bear) were feeding on the caterpillars as evidenced by bent and broken Sourwood saplings bearing claw marks and by abundant sphingid remains in bear scat

Ghosts from the past: a review of fossil Hepialoidea (Lepidoptera)

We critically re-examine nine of the ten fossil specimens currently assigned to Hepialidae. Three fossils with impressions of wing veins and scales placed in the fossil genus Prohepialus Piton, 1940, and two mummified larvae that show apomorphic characters, have features that support placement in Hepialidae. The other four fossils that we evaluate, Prohepialus incertus Piton, 1940; Oiophassus nycterus Zhang, 1989; Protohepialus comstocki Pierce, 1945; and a fossil scale, lack definitive hepialid characters. One of these, Prohepialus incertus Piton, 1940, appears to represent a symphytan (Hymenoptera), and is excluded from Lepidoptera. The fossilized wings placed in Prohepialus by Jarzembowski display numerous features that indicate a proximate phylogenetic relationship to extant members of the hepialid genus Sthenopis Packard and related genera.Peer reviewe

Electrochemical study of 1,3-indandione derivatives of terthiophenes

Properties and behavior of a group of four newly synthesized derivatives of terthiophene and terthienylenvinylene was studied. All four investigated monomers bear a 1,3-indandione substituent at the central thiophene ring and two of them (ThIV, ThIVM) have additional vinyl bonds introduced between the thiophene rings. In addition, ThIM and ThIVM have 5 positions of the two terminal rings blocked with methyl groups. The measurements were done using cyclic voltamperometry (CV) in solutions of 0.1M Bu4NBF4 in CH2Cl2. It was found that ThI and ThIV polymerise easily. CV of ThI reveals a reduction peak resulting probably from the abstraction of a proton. During polymerisation of ThIV a group of peaks is observed indicating its stepwise oxidation process. The polymerisation potential of ThIV was found to be lower than that of ThI which could mean that formation of radical-cation is easier in the former. Stability measurements indicated that polymer films of ThI are electrochemically stable in CH2Cl2 and films of ThIV are not. Efforts to polymerise ThIM and ThIVM failed. Their CVs revealed only peaks coming from oxidation of the monomers, some of which were semi-reversible

Transferrinfection. A Highly Efficient Way to Express Gene Constructs in Eukaryotic Cells

No abstract available