XAct: a program for construction, automated setup and bookkeeping of crystallization experiments

XActis a stand-alone application for Microsoft Windows™ 95/98 that, through a spreadsheet-like interface, allows the user to construct crystallization experiments in a highly flexible way. The object-oriented data structure helps to maintain an overview of many experiments and provides reusable stock and tray objects. The program features a hardware interface that enables automatic setup of experiments by use of a Gilson 222 autosampler (Gilson Inc., Wisconsin, USA). Additionally, experimental information can be imported from external spreadsheets and World Wide Web applications.

Mutations in CUBN, encoding the intrinsic factor-vitamin B12 receptor, cubilin, cause hereditary megaloblastic anaemia 1

Megaloblastic anaemia 1 (MGA1, OMIM 261100) is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by juvenile megaloblastic anaemia, as well as neurological symptoms that may be the only manifestations. At the cellular level, MGA1 is characterized by selective intestinal vitamin B12 (B12, cobalamin) malabsorption. MGA1 occurs worldwide, but its prevalence is higher in several Middle Eastern countries and Norway, and highest in Finland (0.8/100,000). We previously mapped the MGA1 locus by linkage analysis in Finnish and Norwegian families to a 6-cM region on chromosome 10p12.1 (ref. 8). A functional candidate gene encoding the intrinsic factor (IF)-B12 receptor, cubilin, was recently cloned; the human homologue, CUBN, was mapped to the same region. We have now refined the MGA1 region by linkage disequilibrium (LD) mapping, fine-mapped CUBN and identified two independent disease-specific CUBN mutations in 17 Finnish MGA1 families. Our genetic and molecular data indicate that mutations in CUBN cause MGA1.

Crystallisation and preliminary X-ray analysis of the receptor-binding domain of human and bovine alpha 2-macroglobulin

The receptor-binding domains (RBDs) of human and bovine alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) have been isolated after limited proteolysis of methylamine-treated alpha 2M with papain. Single crystals of the RBDs have been grown by vapour diffusion. Crystals of human RBD are very thin plates unsuited for data collection. However, crystals of RBD from bovine alpha 2M give diffraction patterns suitable for X-ray analysis, and a complete dataset with a maximum resolution of 2.3 A has been collected with synchrotron radiation at cryogenic temperature. The crystals belong to spacegroup P3(1)21 or P3(2)21 with cell parameters a = b = 106.8 A, c = 72.2 A.

Reaction of soybean cultivars to races of Phytophthora megasperma f.sp. glycinea present in Queensland

Phytophthora megasperma f.sp, glycinea, the cause of phytophthora root and stem rot of soybeans, was found to be widespread in southern Queensland. Race determinations on 56 isolates were made at 26�C using the North American differential set. Thirty isolates resembled race 1 (virulent only on Harosoy), while the remaining isolates killed varying proportions of the other six differentials. Two of these isolates most closely resembled race 15. When race determinations were repeated for four isolates at 31�C, each isolate was more virulent on most of the differentials. One isolate resembling race 1 at 26�C would have been classified as race 2 at 31�C. All of the cultivars grown in Queensland were susceptible to hypocotyl inoculation, indicating the absence of genes conditioning resistance to races 1 and 15. Small proportions of plants in some cultivars, including Davis and Bragg were resistant to hypocotyl inoculation. The field resistances of 21 cultivars and breeding lines were assessed in a disease nursery. Progressive assessments of disease incidence were significantly correlated with grain yield and plant height. Davis had the highest level of field resistance while Ross and Semstar had the lowest. A breeding line (HS 1115) was identified as highly resistant to the fungus, both in the field and following hypocotyl inoculation. Three F6 lines from the cross Davis x Bragg showed a range of disease reactions, with the best showing an equivalent level of resistance to that of Davis.