Schepeneses mumifizierte Organe

Four mysterious packages were found on the abdomen and legs of the mummy of Schepenese when she was unwrapped in 1993. Here we show by chemical analysis that at least one of them contains human tissue, presumably the intestines, sodium chloride, bitumen ans sand. The composition of a sample is to 85% of organic origin (about 71% human tissue and 14% bitumen), about 9% is common salt and 6% is desert sand. It is concluded that Schepenese's viscera were preserved with common salt and bitumen. Trace analysis displays enhanced values of molybdenum. The occurrence of this metal is linked to bitumen used for mummification

Demethylation of DNA by purified chick embryo 5-methylcytosine-DNA glycosylase requires both protein and RNA

We have previously purified and characterized a 5-methylcytosine (5-MeC)-DNA glycosylase from 12 day old chick embryos [Jost,J.P. et al. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 9734-9739]. The activity of the purified enzyme is abolished upon treatment with proteinase K and ribonuclease A. RNA copurifies with 5-MeC-DNA glycosylase activity throughout all chromatographic steps and preparative gel electrophoresis. RNA with a length of ∼300-500 nucleotides was isolated from the gel purified enzyme. Upon extensive treatment with proteinase K, the gel eluted and labeled RNA did not show any significant change in molecular mass. The purified RNA incubated alone or in the presence of Mg2+ and deoxyribonucleotide phosphates had no 5-MeC-DNA glycosylase or demethylating activities. However, activity of 5-MeC-DNA glycosylase could be restored when the purified RNA was incubated with the inactive protein, free of RN

A New Sothis Rise on a Small Cylindrical Jar from the Old Kingdom (Collection of Prof. Peter A. Kaplony)

The ointment jar from the collection of late Professor Peter A. Kaplony can be stylistically dated to the Old Kingdom, most likely to the 5 th or early 6 th Dynasty. The inscription mentions the rise of Sothis on the IV. Akhet, day 1. Since the Egyptian civil calendar shifted towards reality one day in four years, the connection of a civil calendar date with the heliacal rising of Sothis is vitally important for the reconstruction of chronology. An assumed point of observation in Memphis dates this rise of Sirius to a time window 2419 to 2411 BC, depending on the arcus visionis