Catalytic RNA and synthesis of the peptide bond

We are studying whether the L-19 IVS ribozyme from Tetrahymena thermophila can catalyze the formation of the peptide bond when it is supplied with synthetic aminoacyl oligonucleotides. If this reaction works, it could give us some insight into the mechanism of peptide bond formation and the origin of coded protein synthesis. Two short oligoribonucleotides, CCCCC and a protected form of CCCCU were prepared; the former was made by the controlled hydrolysis of Poly(C), and the later by multistep chemical synthesis from the protected monomers. The homopentamer was then aminocylated using C-14 labelled Boc-protected glycine imidazolide. This aminoacylated oligo-nucleotide has now been shown to enter the active site of the L-19 IVS, and aminoacyl transfer, and peptide bond formation reactions are being sought. Our synthesis of CCCCU made us aware of the inadequacy of many of the 2'- hydroxyl protecting groups that are in use today and we therefore designed a new 2'- protecting group that is presently being tested

Dysplazja kregosłupowo-przynasadowa : Kozlowski

Background: Kozlowski type spondylo-metaphyseal dysplasia is the most frequent form among spondylometaphyseal dysplasias. Case report: The first cases of such dysplasia among Gypsies - a father and two sons - have been described. Conclusions: Radiographic examination is the only means by which to diagnose Kozlowski type spondylometaphyseal dysplasia with certainty. Correct diagnosis is not only prognostic for the course of the disease and its complications, but also excludes the necessity of further, often expensive, investigations

Statics and dynamics of an Ashkin-Teller neural network with low loading

An Ashkin-Teller neural network, allowing for two types of neurons is considered in the case of low loading as a function of the strength of the respective couplings between these neurons. The storage and retrieval of embedded patterns built from the two types of neurons, with different degrees of (in)dependence is studied. In particular, thermodynamic properties including the existence and stability of Mattis states are discussed. Furthermore, the dynamic behaviour is examined by deriving flow equations for the macroscopic overlap. It is found that for linked patterns the model shows better retrieval properties than a corresponding Hopfield model.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figures, Latex with postscript figures in one tar.gz fil

Forest resource information system, phase 3

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Probing of mortality rate by staying alive : the growth‐reproduction trade‐off in a spatially heterogeneous environment

1. In many annual plants, mollusks, crustaceans and ectothermic vertebrates, growth accompanies reproduction. The growth curves of these organisms often exhibit a complex shape, with episodic cessations or accelerations of growth occurring long after maturation. The mixed allocation to growth and reproduction has poorly understood adaptive consequences, and the life‐history theory does not explain if complex growth in short‐lived organisms can be adaptive. 2. We model the trade‐off between growth and reproduction in a short‐lived organism evolving in a metapopulation. Individuals occupy risky or safe sites throughout their lives, but are uncertain regarding the risk of death. Modelled organisms are allowed to grow and produce offspring at specified time points (moults), although we also consider scenarios that approximate continuous growth and reproduction. 3. Certain combinations of risky to safe sites select for strategies with mixed allocation to growth and reproduction that bet‐hedge offspring production in safe and risky sites. Our model shows that spatially heterogeneous environments select for mixed allocation only if safe sites do not become the prevailing source of recruits, for example, when risky sites are frequent. In certain conditions, growth curves are multi‐phasic, with allocation to growth that stops, remains constant or accelerates during adult life. The resulting complex growth curves are more likely to evolve in short‐lived organisms that moult several times per adult life. 4. Our work shows that spatial heterogeneity can select for growth that accompanies reproduction and provides insights into the adaptive significance of complex growth curves. Short‐lived crustaceans are particularly predisposed to exhibit complex growth patterns as an adaptive response to spatially heterogeneous environments. Our results suggest that standard statistical growth models assuming adult growth rate to only decelerate over life are not well suited to approximate growth curves of short‐lived crustaceans