Equilibrium constants for association of guanidinium and ammonium ions with oxyanions: The effect of changing basicity of the oxyanion

Using guanidinium and n-butylammonium cations (C⁺) as models for the positively charged side chains in arginine and lysine, we have determined the association constants with various oxyanions by potentiometric titration. For a dibasic acid, H₂A, three association complexes may exist: $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1M</mtext>}}\text{=}\text{[CHA]}\text{[C}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{]}\text{[HA}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{]}$; $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1D</mtext>}}\text{=}\text{[CA}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{]}\text{[C}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{]}\text{[A}{}^{\mathrm{2?}}\text{]}$; $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>2D</mtext>}}\text{=}\text{[C}{}_2\text{A]}\text{[C}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{]}\text{[CA}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{]}$. For guanidinium ion and phosphate, K_1M = 1.4, K_1D = 2.6, and K_2D = 5.1. The data for carboxylates indicate that the basicity of the oxyanion does not affect the association constant: acetate, pK_a = 4.8, K_1M = 0.37; formate, pK_a = 3.8, K_1M = 0.32; and chloroacetate, pK_a = 2.9, K_1M = 0.43, all with guanidinium ion. Association constants are also reported for carbonate, dimethylphosphinate, benzylphosphonate, and adenylate anions.     

Heterozygote frequencies in small subpopulations.

The mean fixation index within subpopulations (F_IS) has been defined as $\text{F}\text{̄}{}_{\mathrm{IS}}\text{= ∑w}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{ISi}}\text{or as}\text{F}\text{̂}{}_{\mathrm{IS}}\text{=}\text{∑w}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{p}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{q}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{ISi}}\text{∑w}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{p}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{q}{}_{\mathrm{i}}$. The latter definition is preferred because it can be obtained from the two other fixation indices, F_ST and F_IT and because it is unaffected by the mean gene frequency. The expected frequency of heterozygotes in small subpopulations of dioecious organisms will exceed Hardy-Weinberg expectations and this can be measured by $\text{F}\text{̂}{}_{\mathrm{IS}}$. In an isolated subpopulation of constant variance effective size $\text{N,}\text{F}\text{̂}{}_{\mathrm{IS}}$ rapidly tends to $\text{1 − 4N}{}^2\text{(N − 1 + [N}{}^2\text{+ 1]}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{)}{}^2$. In the Island model of population structure, $\text{F}\text{̂}{}_{\mathrm{IS}}$ is approximately $\text{−(1 − m)}\text{N}\text{where}\text{m}$ is the immigration rate.When a sample is drawn from a natural population, the observed F_IS will depend upon the genetic structure of the population. The values of F_IS expected in three different types of population structure are discussed.     

Respiration-driven proton translocation with nitrite and nitrous oxide in Paracoccus denitrificans

(1) $\text{H}$⁺/electron acceptor ratios have been determined with the oxidant pulse method for cells of denitrifying Paracoccus denitrificans oxidizing endogenous substrates during reduction of O₂, NO^?₂ or N₂O. Under optimal H⁺-translocation conditions, the ratios $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{O}$, $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{N}{}_2\text{O}$, $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_2$ for reduction to N₂ and $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_2$ for reduction to N₂O were 6.0–6.3, 4.02, 5.79 and 3.37, respectively. (2) With ascorbate/N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine as exogenous substrate, addition of NO^?₂ or N₂O to an anaerobic cell suspension resulted in rapid alkalinization of the outer bulk medium. $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{N}{}_2\text{O}$, $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_2$ for reduction to N₂ and $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_2$ for reduction to N₂O were ?0.84, ?2.33 and ?1.90, respectively. (3) The $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{oxidant}$ ratios, mentioned in item 2, were not altered in the presence of $\text{valinomycin}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ and the triphenylmethylphosphonium cation. (4) A simplified scheme of electron transport to O₂, NO^?₂ and N₂O is presented which shows a periplasmic orientation of the nitrite reductase as well as the nitrous oxide reductase. Electrons destined for NO^?₂, N₂O or O₂ pass two H⁺-translocating sites. The $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{electron}$ acceptor ratios predicted by this scheme are in good agreement with the experimental values.     

Ouabain receptor interactions in (Na+ + K+)-ATPase preparations. II. Effect of cations and nucleotides on rate constants and dissociation constants

The action of ATP and its analogs as well as the effects of alkali ions were studied in their action on the ouabain receptor. One single ouabain receptor with a dissociation constant ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>D</mtext>}}$) of 13 nM was found in the presence of ($\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+ P}{}_{\mathrm{i}}$) and ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+ ATP}$). pH changes below pH 7.4 did not affect the ouabain receptor. Ouabain binding required Mg²⁺, where a curved line in the Scatchard plot appeared. The affinity of the receptor for ouabain was decreased by K⁺ and its congeners, by Na⁺ in the presence of ($\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+ P}{}_{\mathrm{i}}$), and by ATP analogs (ADP-C-P, ATP-OCH₃). Ca²⁺ antagonized the action of K⁺ on ouabain binding. It was concluded that the ouabain receptor exists in a low affinity (R_α) and a high affinity conformational state (R_β). The equilibrium between both states is influenced by ligands of $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$. With 3 mM Mg²⁺ a mixture between both conformational states is assumed to exist (curved line in the Scatchard plot).     

Energetics of coupled Na+ and Cl− entry into epithelial cells of bullfrog small intestine

Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^? concentrations ($\text{c}{}_{\mathrm{j}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$) and activities ($\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{j}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$), and mucosal membrane potentials ($\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$) were measured in epithelial cells of isolated bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) small intestine. Segments of intestine were stripped of their external muscle layers, and bathed (at 25°C and pH 7.2) in oxygenated Ringer solutions containing 105 mM Na⁺ and Cl^? and 5.4 mM K⁺. Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry and Cl^? concentrations by conductometric titration following extraction of the dried tissue with 0.1 M HNO₃. ¹⁴C-labelled inulin was used to determine extracellular volume. $\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ was measured with conventional open tip microelectrodes, $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Cl</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ with solid-state Cl^?-selective silver microelectrodes and $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Na</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ and $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>K</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ with Na⁺- and K⁺-selective liquid ion-exchanger microelectrodes. The average $\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ recorded was ?34 mV. $\text{c}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Na</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$, $\text{c}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>K</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ and $\text{c}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Cl</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ were 51, 105 and 52 mM. The corresponding values for $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Na</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$, $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>K</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ and $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Cl</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ were 18, 80 and 33 mM. These results suggest that a large fraction of the cytoplasmic Na⁺ is ‘bound’ or sequestered in an osmotically inactive form, that all, or virtually all the cytoplasmic K⁺ behaves as if in free solution, and that there is probably some binding of cytoplasmic Cl^?. $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Cl</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ significantly exceeds the level corresponding to electrochemical equilibrium across the mucosal and baso-lateral cell membranes. Earlier studies showed that coupled mucosal entry of Na⁺ and Cl^? is implicated in intracellular Cl^? accumulation in this tissue. This study permitted estimation of the steady-state transapical Na⁺ and Cl^? electrochemical potential differences (Δμ&#x0304;Na and Δμ&#x0304;Cl). Δμ&#x0304;Na (?7000 J · mol^?1; cell minus mucosal medium) was energetically more than sufficient to account for Δμ&#x0304;Cl (1000–2000 J · mol^?1).     

The insect brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase Binding of ouabain in the hawk moth, Manduca sexta

(1) A quantitative study has been made of the binding of ouabain to the ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ in homogenates prepared from brain tissue of the hawk moth, Manduca sexta. The results have been compared to those obtained in bovine brain microsomes. (2) The insect brain ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ will bind ouabain either in the presence of Mg²⁺ and P_i, (‘Mg²⁺, P_i’ conditions) or in the presence of Na⁺, Mg²⁺, and an adenine nucleotide (‘nucleotide’ conditions) as is the case for the bovine brain ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$. The binding conditions did not alter the total number of receptor sites measured at high ouabain concentrations in either tissue. (3) Potassium ion decreases the affinity (increases the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>D</mtext>}}$) of ouabain to the M. sexta brain ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ under both binding conditions. However, ouabain binding is more sensitive to K⁺ inhibition under the nucleotide conditions. In bovine brain ouabain binding is equally sensitive to K⁺ inhibition under the both conditions. (4) The enzyme-ouabain complex has a rate of dissociation that is 10-fold faster in the M. sexta preparation than in the bovine brain preparation. Because of this, the M. sexta ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ has a higher $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>D</mtext>}}$ for ouabain binding and is less sensitive to inhibition by ouabain than the bovine brain enzyme. (5) This data supports the hypothesis that two different conformational states of the M. sexta ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ can bind ouabain.     

Inhibition of chymotrypsin by alkyl phosphonates: a quantitative structure-activity analysis.

A quantitative structure-activity relationship has been formulated for 53 alkyl phosphonates [R₂OPO(CH₃)SR₃] inhibiting chymotrypsin: . In this so-called bilinear model, k_i is the bimolecular rate constant (m^?1 s^?1), β is a disposable parameter evaluated by a computerized iterative procedure, MR is the molar refractivity of a substituent, $\text{σ}{}_3{}^1$ is Taft's polar parameter, and I is an indicator variable for substituents containing a sulfonium group. The correlation coefficient for this equation is 0.985. This quantitative structure-activity relationship is compared with those previously formulated for the action of chymotrypsin on acylamino acid ester substrates.     

Presteady-state kinetic study of the elementary processes in the chymotrypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis of specific ester substrate. Rate-limiting association process due to the secondary binding.

Presteady-state kinetic studies of α-chymotrypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis of a specific chromophoric substrate, N-(2-furyl)acryloyl-l-tryptophan methyl ester, were performed by using a stopped-flow apparatus both under [E]₀ ? [S]₀ and [S]₀ ? [E]₀ conditions in the pH range of 5–9, at 25 °C. The results were accounted for in terms of the three-step mechanism involving enzyme-substrate complex (E · S) and acylated enzyme (ES′); no other intermediate was observed. This substrate was shown to react very efficiently, i.e., the maximum of the second-order acylation rate constant ($\text{k}{}_2\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{s}}\text{′}\text{)}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>max</mtext>}}\text{= 4.2 × 10}{}^7\text{M}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{s}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$. The limiting values of K_s′ (dissociation constant of E · S), K₂ (acylation rate) and k₃ (deacylation rate) were obtained from the pH profiles of these parameters to be 0.6 ± 0.2 × 10^?5 m, 360 ± 15 s^?1 and 29.3 ± 0.8 s^?1, respectively. Likewise small values were observed for K_i of N-(2-furyl)-acryloyl-l-tryptophan and N-(2-furyl)acryloyl-d-tryptophan methyl ester and K_m of N-(2-furyl)acryloyl-l-tryptophan amide. The strong affinities observed may be due to intense interaction of β-(2-furyl)acryloyl group with a secondary binding site of the enzyme. This interaction led to a $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{?1}}\text{k}{}_2$ value lower than unity, i.e., the rate-limiting process of the acylation was the association, even with the relatively low k₂ value of this methyl ester substrate, compared to those proposed for labile p-nitrophenyl esters.     

Evidence for general catalysis and formation of nitrobenzene in the oxidation of phenylhydroxylamine in aqueous phosphate buffer

N-Phenylhydroxylamine is oxidized in aqueous phosphate buffer to nitrosobenzene, nitrobenzene, and azoxybenzene. Degradation is O₂ dependent and shows general catalysis by $\text{H}{}_2\text{PO}{}_4{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ (k₁ = 2.3 M^?2 sec^?1) and $\text{PO}{}_4{}^{\mathrm{?3}}$ (k₂ = 2.3 × 10⁵M^?2 sec^?1) or kinetically equivalent terms. Evidence is presented suggesting the intermediacy of a highly reactive species leading to these products.     

Study on models of single populations: an expansion of the logistic and exponential equations

Using the adsorption theory of chemical kinetics, a new equation concerning the growth of single populations is presented:

$\text{d}\text{X}\text{d}\text{t}\text{=}\text{μ}{}_{\mathrm{c}}\text{X(1 ?)}\text{X}\text{X}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{1?}\text{X}\text{X}{}_{\mathrm{m}}{}^{\mathrm{\prime }}$

or in its integral form:

$\text{ln}\text{X}\text{X}{}_{\mathrm{o}}\text{?}\text{ln}\text{X}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{?X}\text{X}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{?X}{}_{\mathrm{o}}\text{+}\text{X}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{X}{}^{\mathrm{\prime }}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{X}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{?X}\text{X}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{?X}{}_{\mathrm{o}}\text{=μ}{}_{\mathrm{c}}\text{(t?t}{}_{\mathrm{o}}\text{)}$

This equation attempts to explain the relationship between population increment and limiting resources. It can be reduced to either the logistic or exponential equation under two extreme conditions. The new equation has three parameters, X_m, X′_m and μ_c, each of which has ecological significance. $\text{X}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{X′}{}_{\mathrm{m}}$ concerns the efficiency of nutrient utilization by an organism. Its value is between zero and one. With ratios approaching unity, the efficiency is high; lower ratios indicate that population increment is quickly restricted by limiting resources. μ_c, is a velocity parameter lying between μ_e, (exponential growth) and μ_L (logistic growth), and is dependent on the value of $\text{solX}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{X′}{}_{\mathrm{m}}$. From μ_c we can predict the time course of population incremental velocity ($\text{d}\text{X}\text{d}\text{t}$), and can observe that it is not symmetrical, unlike that derived from the logistic equation. At $\text{X}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{X′}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{= 1}$ the maximum velocity of the population increment predicted from the new equation is twice that of the logistic equation.Population growth in nature seems to support the new equation rather than the logistic equation, and it can be successfully fitted by means of a least square method.     

Photophosphorylation in bacterial chromatophores entrapped in alginate gel: Improvement of the physical and biochemical properties of gel beads with barium as gel-inducing agent

The immobilization of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata chromatophores by entrapment in an alginate gel is described. Alginate beads were prepared with Ba²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ca²⁺ as gel-forming agents and compared for their mechanical strength, chemical resistance against disruption by phosphate-induced swelling, and yield of photophosphorylation activity. Barium alginate beads proved to have better physico-chemical properties than the more commonly used calcium alginate beads. After embedding in barium alginate gel, R. capsulata chromatophores retained a high yield (up to 70%) of their photophosphorylation capacity. Alginate entrapment did not cause a large increase in the Michaelis constant for ADP and phosphate, the substrates of adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase). These constants were $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{ADP}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}\text{= 1.4 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?5}}\text{m}$ and $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{P}}{}_{\mathrm{i}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}\text{= 2.2 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{m}$ for free chromatophores and $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{ADP}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}\text{= 2.3 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{m}$ and $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{P}}{}_{\mathrm{i}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}\text{= 5.6 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{m}$ for chromatophores entrapped in barium alginate gel. However, embedding gave no additional protection against rapid inactivation of chromatophores upon storage at 3°C. Preliminary results with a batch reactor for continuous ATP regeneration are presented. The barium alginate method has two features which are not generally encountered at the same time, extremely mild conditions for entrapment and excellent physical properties of the gels beads, which make this method a suitable tool for the construction of bioreactors with immobilized cells or organelles.     

Equilibrium constants under physiological conditions for the reactions of L-phosphoserine phosphatase and pyrophosphate: L-serine phosphotransferase

The observed equilibrium constants (K_obs) for the l-phosphoserine phosphatase reaction [EC 3.1.3.3] have been determined under physiological conditions of temperature (38 °C) and ionic strength (0.25 m) and physiological ranges of pH and free [Mg²⁺]. Using Σ and square brackets to indicate total concentrations $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>obs</mtext>}}\text{=}\text{Σ L-serine][Σ P}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{]}\text{Σ L-phosphoserine]H}{}_2\text{O]}\text{, K =}\text{L-H · serine}{}^{\mathrm{\pm }}\text{]HPO}{}_4{}^{\mathrm{2?}}\text{]}\text{[L-H · phosphoserine}{}^{\mathrm{2?}}\text{]H}{}_2\text{O]}$. The value of K_obs has been found to be relatively sensitive to pH. At 38 °C, K⁺] = 0.2 m and free [Mg²⁺] = 0; K_obs = 80.6 m at pH 6.5, 52.7 m at pH 7.0 [ΔG_obs⁰ = ?10.2 kJ/mol (?2.45 kcal/mol)], and 44.0 m at pH 8.0 ([H₂O] = 1). The effect of the free [Mg²⁺] on K_obs was relatively slight; at pH 7.0 ([K⁺] = 0.2 m) K_obs = 52.0 m at free [Mg²⁺] = 10^?3, m and 47.8 m at free [Mg²⁺] = 10^?2, m. K_obs was insignificantly affected by variations in ionic strength (0.12–1.0 m) or temperature (4–43 °C) at pH 7.0. The value of K at 38 °C and I = 0.25 m has been calculated to be 34.2 ± 0.5 m [ΔG_obs⁰ = ?9.12 kJ/mol (?2.18 kcal/ mol)]([H₂O] = 1). The K for the phosphoserine phosphatase reaction has been combined with the K for the reaction of inorganic pyrophosphatase [EC 3.6.1.1] previously estimated under the same physiological conditions to calculate a value of 2.04 × 10⁴, m [ΔG_obs⁰ = ?28.0 kJ/mol (?6.69 kcal/mol)] for the K of the pyrophosphate:l-serine phosphotransferase [EC 2.7.1.80] reaction. $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>obs</mtext>}}\text{=}\text{[}\text{Σ L-serine}\text{][}\text{Σ}\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}\text{]}\text{[}\text{Σ L-phosphoserine}\text{][}\text{H}{}_2\text{O}\text{]}\text{, K =}\text{[L-H · serine}{}^{\mathrm{\pm }}\text{]HPO}{}_4{}^{\mathrm{2?}}\text{]}\text{[L-H · phosphoserine}{}^{\mathrm{2?}}\text{]H}{}_2\text{O}$. Values of K_obs for this reaction at 38 °C, pH 7.0, and I = 0.25 m are very sensitive to the free [Mg²⁺], being calculated to be 668 [ΔG_obs⁰ = ?16.8 kJ/mol (?4.02 kcal/mol)] at free [Mg²⁺] = 0; 111 [ΔG_obs⁰ = ?12.2 kJ/mol (?2.91 kcal/mol)] at free [Mg²⁺] = 10^?3, m; and 9.1 [ΔG_obs⁰ = ?5.7 kJ/mol (?1.4 kcal/mol) at free [Mg²⁺] = 10^?2, m). K_obs for this reaction is also sensitive to pH. At pH 8.0 the corresponding values of K_obs are 4000 [ΔG_obs⁰ = ?21.4 kJ/mol (?5.12 kcal/mol)] at free [Mg²⁺] = 0; and 97.4 [ΔG_obs⁰ = ?11.8 kJ/ mol (?2.83 kcal/mol)] at free [Mg²⁺] = 10^?3, m. Combining K_obs for the l-phosphoserine phosphatase reaction with K_obs for the reactions of d-3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase [EC 1.1.1.95] and l-phosphoserine aminotransferase [EC 2.6.1.52] previously determined under the same physiological conditions has allowed the calculation of K_obs for the overall biosynthesis of l-serine from d-3-phosphoglycerate. $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>obs</mtext>}}\text{=}\text{[}\text{Σ L-serine}\text{][}\text{Σ NADH}\text{][}\text{Σ}\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}\text{][}\text{Σ}\text{α-}\text{ketoglutarate}\text{]}\text{[Σ d-3-}\text{phosphoglycerate}\text{][Σ NAD}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{][Σ L-glutamat0]}$ The value of K_obs for these combined reactions at 38 °C, pH 7.0, and I = 0.25 m (K⁺ as the monovalent cation) is 1.34 × 10^?2, m at free [Mg²⁺] = 0 and 1.27 × 10^?2, m at free [Mg²⁺] = 10^?3, m.     

Flow analysis in a biological system adopting the buffer capacitor concept.

The flow measurement of each component in each compartment is important in works on transport phenomena in a biological system. The method of flow measurement was studied adopting the capacitor concept derived from network thermodynamics.A biologically active component i in a compartment is defined as follows,

$\text{n}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{=n}{}_1\text{+n}{}_2\text{=c}{}_1\text{V+c}{}_2\text{V}$

where the total quantity ni consists of a measurable form n_i (free form, conc. c₁) and concealed form n₂ (conc, c₂). Capacitor for the species i of a compartment is defined as follows,

$\text{C=}\text{d}\text{n}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{d}\text{μ}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{=}\text{1+}\text{c}{}_2\text{c}{}_1\text{c}{}_1\text{dV}\text{dμ}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{+}\text{1+}\text{dc}{}_2\text{dc}{}_1\text{v}\text{dc}{}_1\text{dμ}{}_{\mathrm{i}}$

,

$\text{=Ac}{}_1\text{dV}\text{dμ}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{+BV}\text{d}\text{c}{}_1\text{d}\text{t}$

Thus flow of each component is expressed as,

$\text{J}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{=}\text{d}\text{n}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{d}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{=}\text{d}\text{n}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{dμ}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{dμ}\text{n}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{dt}\text{=C}\text{d}\text{μ}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{dt}$

,

$\text{=Ac}{}_1\text{d}\text{V}\text{dt}\text{+BV}\text{d}\text{c}{}_1\text{dt}$

Method of determination of capacitor coefficients A and B by titration experiment was also considered. For an experimental case, the capacitance for H⁺ of blood compartment was determined. The relationship between the capacitor concept and the buffer value of Van Slyke was discussed.     

Preferential solvation of methylmercurated calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid.

The changes in polymer-solvent interactions that occur when native calf thymus DNA is dialyzed against Na₂SO₄ solutions of a given ionic strength and buffer concentration but of varying concentrations in methylmercuric hydroxide have been investigated with the help of solution density measurements at 25 °C and pH 6.8–7.0. From measurements executed under equilibrium dialysis conditions at the three salt levels 5 mm, 0.05 m, and 0.5 m Na₂SO₄ (m refers to molality) and in the presence of 5 mm cacodylic acid buffer, the density increments $\text{(}\text{??}\text{?c}{}_2\text{)}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}{}^0$ for native calf thymus DNA were determined as a function of CH₃HgOH concentration. $\text{(}\text{??}\text{?c}{}_2\text{)}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}{}^0$ was found not to vary with organomercurial concentration, irrespective of the concentration of supporting electrolyte, until a certain CH₃HgOH concentration level has been reached, viz., , beyond which $\text{(}\text{??}\text{?c}{}_2\text{)}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}{}^0$ increases strongly with increasing concentration of CH₃HgOH. As is shown by optical melting, $\text{(}\text{??}\text{?c}{}_2\text{)}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}{}^0$ becomes a function of organomercurial concentration the moment DNA undergoes denaturation brought about by the complexing of CH₃HgOH with the various N-binding sites of the base residues in the DNA double helix.Polymer-solvent interactions, expressed in terms of preferential water interactions (“net hydration”) and preferential salt interactions (“salt solvation”), were derived from the $\text{(}\text{??}\text{?c}{}_2\text{)}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}{}^0$ data in combination with data obtained on the preferential interaction of CH₃HgOH with denatured DNA and data on the partial specific volumes of all major solution components, gathered from density measurements on solutions with fixed concentrations of diffusible components. Evidence is presented which shows that denaturation in general decreases the net hydration while salt becomes preferentially associated with the polyelectrolyte. This process is further amplified by the interaction of CH₃HgOH with denatured DNA: Methylmercurated DNA alters the redistribution of diffusible components at dialysis equilibrium to such an extent that in a formal sense large amounts of water are rejected from the immediate vicinity of the polymer. The molecular implications of these findings are explored. The results are further discussed in the light of previous findings where the methylmercury-induced denaturation of DNA had been studied with the help of buoyant density measurements in a Cs₂SO₄ density gradient and by velocity-sedimentation in a variety of sulfate media.     

The covariance of relatives derived from a random mating population.

Attention is drawn to errors common in the derivation of forms for the genotypic covariance of noninbred relatives from a Hardy-Weinberg population of diploids. A synthesis of Fisher's least-squares method of partitioning the genotypic variance and Malécot's probability method of expressing kinship, yields a general form. For one locus, the form is $\text{(P}{}_{\mathrm{ss}}\text{+ P}{}_{\mathrm{sd}}\text{+ P}{}_{\mathrm{ds}}\text{+ P}{}_{\mathrm{dd}}\text{)}\text{1}\text{2}\text{σ}{}_{\mathrm{a}}{}^2\text{+ (P}{}_{\mathrm{ss}}\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{dd}}\text{+ P}{}_{\mathrm{sd}}\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{ds}}\text{) σa}{}_{\mathrm{d}}{}^2$, where σ_a² is the additive genetic variance, α_d² is the variance of dominance deviations, p_ij is the probability that parental gamete i is identical by descent to parental gamete j, i = s, d indexes the parents of one relative, and j = s, d indexes those of the other. The form provides a framework for obtaining the covariance of relatives from an equilibrium population with linkage.     

The addition of bisulfite to 5-fluorouracil. Evidence for a change in rate determining step

The kinetics of bisulfite addition to 5-fluorouracil were studied as a function of increasing concentrations of potential general acids. Values of $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{obsd}}\text{[}\text{SO}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{=}}\text{]}$ measured at 25°C and ionic strength 1.0 M increased linearly and then became invariant with increasing concentrations of either HSO₃^? or (OHCH₂CH₂)₂N⁺C(CH₂OH)₃ HCl (BisTris⁺HCl). A small kinetic hydrogen-deuterium isotope effect ($\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{HS}}\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{DS}}\text{= 1.10}$) was observed for the general acid catalysed portion of the addition reaction. The kinetics of bisulfite elimination from 5-fluoro-5,6-dihydrouracil-6-sulfonate were studied in ethanolamine buffers. As previously observed with 1,3-dimethyl-5,6-dihydrouracil-6-sulfonate, this reaction is subject to general base catalysis and exhibits a large kinetic hydrogen-deuterium isotope effect (). The kinetic results for the addition reaction are consistent with a multistep reaction pathway involving the initial formation of an oxyanion sulfite addition intermediate (II) which subsequently adds a proton and undergoes tautomerization to yield the final 5-fluoro-5,6-dihydrouracil-6-sulfonate product. Thus the elimination of bisulfite from 5-fluoro-5,6-dihydrouracil-6-sulfonate probably proceeds by an ElcB mechanism which involves, at relatively low concentrations of general base, rate determining general base catalyzed proton abstraction from carbon 5 to yield intermediate II followed by the rapid elimination of sulfite to yield 5-fluorouracil. These results may be related to both the enzymatically catalyzed dehalogenation of bromoand iodouracil and the methylation of deoxyuridylate by thymidylate synthetase.     

Active K+ transport in Mycoplasma mycoides var. Capri. Net and unidirectional K+ movements

Analysis of the cation composition of growing Mycoplasma mycoides var. Capri indicates that these organisms have a high intracellular K⁺ concentration ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}\text{: 200–300}\text{mM}$) which greatly exceeds that of the growth medium, and a low Na⁺ concentration ($\text{Na}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{: 20}\text{mM}$). Unlike $\text{Na}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{, K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ varies with cell aging.The K⁺ transport properties studied in washed organisms resuspended in buffered saline solution show that cells maintain a steady and large K⁺ concentration gradient across their membrane at the expense of metabolic energy mainly derived from glycolysis. In starved cells, $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ decreases and is partially compensated by a gain in Na⁺. This substitution completely reverses when metabolic substrate is added (K⁺ reaccumulation process). Kinetic analysis of K⁺ movement in cells with steady K⁺ level shows that most of K⁺ influx is mediated by an autologous K⁺-K⁺ exchange mechanism. On the other hand, during K⁺ reaccumulation by K⁺-depleted cells, a different mechanism (a K⁺ uptake mechanism) with higher transport capacity and affinity drives the net K⁺ influx. Both mechanisms are energy-dependent.Ouabain and anoxia have no effect on K⁺ transport mechanisms; in contrast, both processes are completely blocked by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, an inhibitor of the Mg²⁺-dependent ATPase activity.     

Partial purification and characterization of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase from squid optic nerve plasma membrane

A membrane fraction enriched in axolemma was obtained from optic nerves of the squid (Sepiotheutis sepioidea) by differential centrifugation and density gradient fractionation. The preparation showed an oligomycin- and NaN₃-insensitive (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase activity. The dependence of the ATPase activity on calcium concentration revealed the presence of two saturable components. One had a high affinity for calcium ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}{}^1\text{= 0.12 μ}\text{M}$) and the second had a comparatively low affinity ($\text{K}{}^2{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 49.5 μ}\text{M}$). Only the high-affinity component was specifically inhibited by vanadate (K₁ = 35 μM). Calmodulin (12.5 μ/ml) stimulated the (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase by approx. 50%, and this stimulation was abolished by trifluoperazine (10 μM). Further treatment of the membrane fraction with 1% Nonidet P-40 resulted in a partial purification of the ATPase about 15-fold compared to the initial homogenate. This (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase from squid optic nerve displays some properties similar to those of the uncoupled Ca²⁺-pump described in internally dialyzed squid axons, suggesting that it could be its enzymatic basis.