An optical supernova associated with the X-ray flash XRF 060218

Long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are associated with type Ic supernovae that are more luminous than average and that eject material at very high velocities. Less-luminous supernovae were not hitherto known to be associated with GRBs, and therefore GRB-supernovae were thought to be rare events. Whether X-ray flashes--analogues of GRBs, but with lower luminosities and fewer gamma-rays--can also be associated with supernovae, and whether they are intrinsically 'weak' events or typical GRBs viewed off the axis of the burst, is unclear. Here we report the optical discovery and follow-up observations of the type Ic supernova SN 2006aj associated with X-ray flash XRF 060218. Supernova 2006aj is intrinsically less luminous than the GRB-supernovae, but more luminous than many supernovae not accompanied by a GRB. The ejecta velocities derived from our spectra are intermediate between these two groups, which is consistent with the weakness of both the GRB output and the supernova radio flux. Our data, combined with radio and X-ray observations, suggest that XRF 060218 is an intrinsically weak and soft event, rather than a classical GRB observed off-axis. This extends the GRB-supernova connection to X-ray flashes and fainter supernovae, implying a common origin. Events such as XRF 060218 are probably more numerous than GRB-supernovae.

A photometric redshift of z = 6.39 ± 0.12 for GRB 050904

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and their afterglows are the most brilliant transient events in the Universe. Both the bursts themselves and their afterglows have been predicted to be visible out to redshifts of z approximately 20, and therefore to be powerful probes of the early Universe. The burst GRB 000131, at z = 4.50, was hitherto the most distant such event identified. Here we report the discovery of the bright near-infrared afterglow of GRB 050904 (ref. 4). From our measurements of the near-infrared afterglow, and our failure to detect the optical afterglow, we determine the photometric redshift of the burst to be z = 6.39 - 0.12 + 0.11 (refs 5-7). Subsequently, it was measured spectroscopically to be z = 6.29 +/- 0.01, in agreement with our photometric estimate. These results demonstrate that GRBs can be used to trace the star formation, metallicity, and reionization histories of the early Universe.

A short γ-ray burst apparently associated with an elliptical galaxy at redshift z = 0.225

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) come in two classes: long (> 2 s), soft-spectrum bursts and short, hard events. Most progress has been made on understanding the long GRBs, which are typically observed at high redshift (z approximately 1) and found in subluminous star-forming host galaxies. They are likely to be produced in core-collapse explosions of massive stars. In contrast, no short GRB had been accurately (< 10'') and rapidly (minutes) located. Here we report the detection of the X-ray afterglow from--and the localization of--the short burst GRB 050509B. Its position on the sky is near a luminous, non-star-forming elliptical galaxy at a redshift of 0.225, which is the location one would expect if the origin of this GRB is through the merger of neutron-star or black-hole binaries. The X-ray afterglow was weak and faded below the detection limit within a few hours; no optical afterglow was detected to stringent limits, explaining the past difficulty in localizing short GRBs.

C-band-positive double minutes have kinetochore proteins

Double minutes (DMs) have been shown generally to lack centromeres. In the present paper we report on C-band-positive DMs in Colcemid-resistant SEWA cells. These DMs were heavily labeled after in situ hybridization with mouse major satellite DNA and, furthermore, reacted positively with antikinetochore antibodies. Upon antikinetochore antibody labeling, the immunofluorescent signals of some DMs were strong, indicating that they had functional centromeres.

Cytogenetic findings in 111 ovarian cancer patients: therapy-related chromosome aberrations and heterochromatic variants

The chromosomes of 111 ovarian cancer patients were studied in G- and C-banded slides from peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) cultures for chromosome damage caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy and for asymmetry of the constitutive heterochromatin of chromosomes 1, 9, and 16. We also monitored the survival of these patients to determine whether any secondary neoplasia induced by the therapy and report the findings of our investigations. Melphalan (MEL) was the only drug used in single-drug chemotherapy. The incidence of chromosome abnormalities in melphalan-treated cells (25%) was higher than in the control group (17%). The incidence of structural changes was also higher (10.5%) in the MEL-treated group than in controls (6%). After treatments with combinations of drugs, the incidence of structural changes remained at the same level (11%). In the patients receiving combined treatment with MEL and radiation, the rate of structural changes increased dramatically (24%). The overall rate of chromosome aberrations in this group was also higher (50%). Combination of two or more drugs and radiation produced only 14% structural chromosome changes. The overall rate of chromosome aberrations was also low (20%) in this group. Of 111 patients studied, only 33 were alive 6 years after initiation of the study. Of the surviving patients, eight had rearranged chromosomes in the first analysis. After 5 years, new blood samples were collected from these patients and chromosome analyses showed abnormal karyotypes in all eight patients. All chromosome abnormalities in the second analysis were completely unrelated to those in the first analysis, however. Whether the chromosome changes in the second analysis were due to therapy or to other unknown factors could not be determined. Data on C-banding and the distribution of inversions indicated that 91% of the patients had C-band heteromorphisms of chromosomes 1, 91% had heteromorphisms of chromosome 9, and 69% had heteromorphisms of chromosome 16. Furthermore, inversions were observed in chromosome 1 (41% of patients), chromosome 9 (28% of patients), and chromosome 16 (5% of patients).

Evaluation of tartar control dentifrices in in vitro models of dentin sensitivity

The effects of anticalculus dentifrices were compared with other commercially available dentifrices in in vitro models of dentin sensitivity. Changes in the hydraulic conductance of dentin discs were measured with and without a smear layer before and after treatment and also after a post-treatment acid etch. The capacity of dentifrices to occlude open dentinal tubules in vitro was also assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). There was good correlation (R = 0.98) between our test and values reported in the literature. Tartar control dentifrices gave reductions in fluid flow rates through the dentin discs comparable to those obtained with Promise, Sensodyne, Thermodent and Denquel. Additionally, tartar control dentifrices did not remove microcrystalline debris (smear layers) from the surfaces of dentin in vitro. These results were confirmed by SEM. Thus, according to the hydrodynamic theory of dentin sensitivity, these in vitro results suggest that pyrophosphate-containing dentifrices should reduce dentinal sensitivity.

Tumorigenicity of SEWA murine cells correlates with degree of c-myc amplification

Previous studies have shown that cells of the SEWA mouse tumor contain amplified copies of the proto-oncogene c-myc in the aberrant chromosomal structures of double minutes (DMs), homogeneously staining regions (HSRs) and C-bandless chromosomes (CMs). DMs, and to a lesser degree CMs, tend to disappear from the cells grown in vitro and again reappear after transfer back in vivo, as if DNA amplification confers a growth advantage upon the tumor cells. We have now isolated five in vitro clones that exhibit different degrees of c-myc amplification. When we inoculated cells of the different clones into compatible hosts, we found that there was a positive correlation between degree of c-myc amplification, level of c-myc RNA, and tumorigenicity. Our results lend further support to the idea that gene amplification contributes to the higher malignant phenotype, and to progression of tumors.

Novel cytogenetic expression of gene amplification in actinomycin D-resistant somatic cell hybrids: transfer of resistance by centric chromatin bodies

SEWATC13 mouse cells, resistant to 0.1 microgram/ml of actinomycin D (AMD), were fused to AMD-sensitive cells of the Chinese hamster ovary cell line (CHO). Twenty-two hybrid clones were isolated and put into serial culture in the selective medium. Unexpectedly, identifiable mouse chromosomes were found only in one of the hybrids. All the others had only hamster chromosomes and, in addition, numerous chromatin bodies (CBs), mostly small and irregularly shaped, but also larger, more chromosome-like ones. The CBs were distinctly C-band positive and a mouse satellite probe hybridized strongly to them. The AMD resistance of the murine parental cells had previously been attributed to gene amplification in two large homogeneously staining regions (HSR-AMD1 and 2). They were not observed in the hybrid cells but had supposedly reappeared in the guise of the CBs. It was established by Southern DNA blot analysis that amplified DNA sequences, localized to the HSR-AMD1 and 2 of the SEWA parent were present in multiple copies in the hybrids. It was also established by in situ hybridization that they were located in the CBs. Unlike double minutes (DMs) the CBs were all centric.

Satellite DNA in the three C-bands of an unusual mouse marker chromosome. A model of chromosomal evolution

A marker chromosome in the stemline of a new murine cell line is described on the basis of different stainings and in situ hybridization. The marker was characterized originally by three C-bands, one from each centromeric region of the three chromosomes constituting the marker. In the course of stemline evolution, two of the C-bands have been lost and the marker has developed into a monocentric chromosome, phenotypically and functionally normal.

Alternative involvement of two cytogenetically distinguishable breakpoints on chromosome 8 in Burkitt's lymphoma associated translocations

The chromosomes of 16 Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) derived cell lines were submitted to high-resolution G-band analysis. They included seven lines with t(8;14), three with t(2;8), and four with t(8;22). The translocation breakpoint in chromosome #14 was located in 14q32.3, in chromosome #2 in 2p11.1, and in chromosome #22 in 22q12.12. In chromosome #8, the translocation breakpoint was located in two cytogenetically distinct subbands: 8q24.1 in cell lines with t(8;14) and t(2;8) and 8q24.22 in cell lines with t(8;22). In the light of recent molecular findings, these results indicate that the distance between the c-myc gene, located in 8q24, and the Ig sequences might be much larger in BL lines with t(8;22) than in those with t(2;8).

Amplification and enhanced expression of the c-myc oncogene in mouse SEWA tumour cells

SEWA tumour cells are derived from an osteosarcoma induced in an A.SW mouse by infection with polyoma virus. Cytogenetic analyses have revealed three different characteristic chromosomal abnormalities diagnostic for the presence of amplified genes: 'double minutes' (DMs), homogeneously staining chromosomal regions (HSRs) and C-bandless chromosomes (CMs; for review see ref. 2). DMs may undergo fluctuation in number depending on the conditions in which the cells grow. Their number usually increases after injection of cells into a mouse and often is reduced to undetectable levels when the cells are explanted back into tissue culture; when the cells are re-introduced into the mouse, they again acquire multiple DMs. We show here that cells of SEWA lines carrying DMs, HSRs or CMs contain amplified copies of the proto-oncogene c-myc and enhanced levels of c-myc messenger RNA and c-myc protein. DMs or CMs are the sites of c-myc amplification in two different SEWA lines.

Chromosome #14 markers in two Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines of normal origin differ from the Burkitt lymphoma (BL)-associated 14q+ marker

Two among ten Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines contained a 14q+ marker in a low frequency of the cells (2 and 9%). By means of "mesome-prosome" analysis of the G-band patterns of these markers; it was established that the additional chromosome segments of these two 14q+ markers came from chromosomes #3 and #5, respectively, and not from chromosome #8 as in the 14q+ marker of Burkitt lymphoma. Chromosome #8 was not involved at all in any changes in the ten lymphoblastoid cell lines studied.

The induction of host cell mitoses in a transplantable ascites tumor

The implantation intraperitoneally of in vitro cell lines of the SEWA mouse ascites tumor into syngeneic mice and into allogeneic thymus-less nude mice stimulated mitotic activity in the host component of the ascites cell population. The mitoses were found almost exclusively during the first month after the change in environment, while the tumor cells gradually readapted to in vivo growth. Normal mitoses appeared immediately after the transfer in vivo, reached a maximum at days 10 to 20, then decreased in frequency and disappeared completely after day 33. At that time, the tumor cells had recovered viability and started growing with full vigor. The ascites samples in which normal cells were undergoing mitotic division often contained a low proportion of tumor cells and a high proportion of small inflammatory cells. The chromosomes of the normal mitoses differed from those of the tumor mitoses by being smaller and more crowded. Their relative uniformity in type was also accentuated by the fact that they were all characterized by a low but ubiquitous incidence of chromatid breaks. These features suggested that the normal mitoses belonged to the lymphocytic population and represented a defense mechanism of the host towards the tumor. Since normal mitoses were especially frequent in the ascites cell population of the thymus-less mice, it may be speculated that T-lymphocytes were not the main target cells for the mitotic induction.

A new chromosome type replacing the double minutes in a mouse tumor

For several years the SEWA mouse ascites tumor has been a carrier of double minute chromosomes (DMs), some 90% of its cells containing from one to several hundred DMs. In one specific subline of this tumor, the cells with DMs had decreased in frequency to less than 5% of the cells. At the same time, the stemline chromosome number had increased from 43 to around 50. This was due to the presence, in addition to the ordinary telocentric chromosomes, of a varying number of medium-sized metacentrics. The fact that these chromosomes deviated from ordinary mouse chromosomes in special features, such as median centromeric position, early DNA replication, and complete lack of centromeric heterochromatin, indicates that they represent a new type of chromosome. Their striking agreement with the DMs in many properties makes it tempting to associate their origin with the disappearance of the DMs.