Effects of oxygen partial pressure and combined nitrogen on N2-fixation (C2H2) associated withZea mays and other gramineous species

Summary The objectives of this investigation were to determine the effects of oxygen partial pressure (pO₂) and combined nitrogen (NH ₄ ⁺ ) on rates of acetylene reduction (AR) associated with roots of intact corn, sorghum, and pearl millet plants. Soil-grown plants were carefully removed from soil and incubated hydroponically with the root system enclosed in a plastic cylinder; the tops were left exposed to ambient conditions. Oxygen concentrations around the root systems were controlled by sparging the nutrient solution with known quantities of O₂ in N₂. Ammonium nitrogen was added to the nutrient solution following establishment of AR rates to determine its effect on rates of N₂-fixation (AR). Substantial AR rates (0.1–1.5 mol C₂H₄ g dry wt^–1 h^–1) were associated with roots exposed to 0–2% O₂ (v/v) (0.0–2.02 kPa) in N₂ following at 12–24 h period of exposure to the reduced oxygen tension. Root systems exposed to air failed to demonstrate AR while those exposed to 100% N₂ showed lower activity than those at reduced pO₂ values. Addition of NH ₄ ⁺ (10–20 g N ml^–1 of nutrient solution) reduced AR by 75–90% within 24 h after addition. Oxygen uptake by roots exposed to low pO₂ was substantially reduced.     

Gene for an immunoglobulin-binding protein from a group G streptococcus.

The gene (spg) for an immunoglobulin G (IgG)-binding protein from a Streptococcus clinical isolate of Lancefield group G was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The complete nucleotide sequence of the gene and 5'-flanking sequences was determined. The DNA sequence includes an open reading frame which encodes a hypothetical protein of 448 amino acid residues (Mr = 47,595). The 5' end of this open reading frame encodes a sequence resembling a typical secretion signal sequence, and the remainder of the encoded protein has features reminiscent of staphylococcal protein A and of streptococcal M6 protein, including repeated sequences and a similar C-terminal structure. Aside from this C-terminal structure, the encoded protein has little direct amino acid sequence homology to either protein A or M6 protein. In E. coli, the cloned gene directs the synthesis of a protein which binds to immunoglobulins, including rabbit immunoglobulin, goat IgG, and human IgG3(lambda). Its binding properties are similar to those of the protein G described by Bj?rck and Kronvall (L. Bj?rck and G. Kronvall, J. Immunol. 133:969-974, 1984), a type III Fc receptor from a group G streptococcus.     

Cometabolism of low concentrations of propachlor, alachlor, and cycloate in sewage and lake water.

Low concentrations of propachlor (2-chloro-N-isopropylacetanilide) and alachlor [2-chloro-2',6'-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)acetanilide] were not mineralized, cycloate (S-ethyl-N-ethylthiocyclohexanecarbamate) was slowly or not mineralized, and aniline and cyclohexylamine were readily mineralized in sewage and lake water. Propachlor, alachlor, and cycloate were extensively metabolized, but the products were organic. Little conversion of propachlor and alachlor was evident in sterilized sewage or lake water. The cometabolism of propachlor was essentially linear with time in lake water and was well fit by zero-order kinetics in short periods and by first-order kinetics in longer periods in sewage. The rate of cometabolism in sewage was directly proportional to propachlor concentration at levels from 63 pg/ml to more than 100 ng/ml. Glucose but not aniline increased the yield of products formed during propachlor cometabolism in sewage. No microorganism able to use propachlor as a sole source of carbon and energy was isolated, but bacteria isolated from sewage and lake water metabolized this chemical. During the metabolism of this herbicide by two of the bacteria, none of the carbon was assimilated. Our data indicate that cometabolism of these pesticides takes place at concentrations of synthetic compounds that commonly occur in natural waters.     

Methanogenesis in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor at pH 6 on an Acetate-Propionate Mixture

High-rate anaerobic digestion can be applied in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors for the treatment of various wastewaters. In upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors, sludge retention time is increased by a natural immobilization mechanism (viz. the formation of a granular type of sludge). When this sludge is cultivated on acid-containing wastewater, the granules mainly consist of an acetoclastic methanogen resembling Methanothrix soehngenii. This organism grows either in rods or in long filaments. Attempts to cultivate a stable sludge consisting predominantly of Methanosarcina sp. on an acetate-propionate mixture as substrate by lowering the pH from 7.5 during the start-up to approximately 6 failed. After 140 days of continuous operation of the reactor a filamentous organism resembling Methanothrix soehngenii prevailed in the sludge. The specific methanogenic activity of this sludge on acetate-propionate was optimal at pH 6.6 to 6.8 and 7.0 to 7.2, respectively.     

Evaluation of quantitative parameters of the interaction of antibody-bearing liposomes with target antigens

The model system for the analysis of targeted liposomes is proposed--the layer of protein antigen adsorbed on polystyrene wells. Antibodies were treated with palmitoyl chloride and liposomes were produced by the cholate dialysis method in the presence of the modified protein (7 X 10(-4) mol protein/mol lipid). Affinity of antibody-bearing liposomes to the antigen on the surface of Multiwell plates was studied, and apparent dissociation constant value was estimated: KD was in the range 1.5 to 5 X 10(-9) M liposomes. Sequential transfers of liposomes in antigen-coated plates revealed that the high-affinity fraction of liposomes is adsorbed first. The bound fraction has 1.7-times-higher protein content. For effective in vivo targeting it would be necessary to have high-affinity liposomes and a high concentration of the target antigen.     

Minimum bacterial density for bacteriophage replication: implications for significance of bacteriophages in natural ecosystems.

Bacteriophage 80 alpha did not increase in number in cultures containing less than about 1.0 X 10(4) to 1.5 X 10(4) CFU of Staphylococcus aureus per ml, but bacteriophage replication did occur when the number of bacteria exceeded this density, either initially or as a result of host cell multiplication. The minimum density of an asporogenous strain of Bacillus subtilis required for an increase in the number of bacteriophage SP beta cI was about 3 X 10(4) CFU/ml. The threshold density of Escherichia coli for the multiplication of bacteriophage T4 was about 7 X 10(3) CFU/ml. In the presence of montmorillonite, bacteriophage T4 did not increase in number until the E. coli population exceeded 10(4) CFU/ml. The mineralization of glucose was not affected in E. coli cultures inoculated with a low number of bacteriophage T4, but it could not be detected in cultures inoculated with a large number of phage. The numbers of bacteriophage T4 and a bacteriophage that lyses Pseudomonas putida declined rapidly after being added to lake water or sewage. We suggest that bacteriophages do not affect the number or activity of bacteria in environments where the density of the host species is below the host cell threshold of about 10(4) CFU/ml.     

DNA homology and adsorption specificity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulent bacteriophages

Summary The DNA homology and adsorption specificity of newly isolated virulent bacteriophages of P. aeruginosa have been studied. On the basis of this analysis all phages were divided into four groups: k, m, mnP78-like and mnF82-like bacteriophages. DNA's of k as well as m phages were shown to possess different restriction patterns although they have an extensive homology. Unlike other groups, k phages were characterized by the presence of T4 DNA ligase-repaired, single-chain breaks.Abbreviations kbp kilobase pairs - EM electron microscopy     

Numerical taxonomic analysis of cross-inoculation patterns of legumes and Rhizobium

Summary A survey was made of published results of tests of the capacity of Rhizobium derived from one legume genus to nodulate plants from other genera. The data were derived from more than 14,000 separate cross-inoculation trials involving species from 165 genera of legumes. Numerical taxonomic techniques were applied to 113 of the genera for which results of substantial cross-infection tests were available. The data were examined using mean character difference coefficients re-expressed as total and positive-only similarity coefficients. The resulting similarity matrices were clustered by the unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic averages. Eighteen affinity groups were defined at the 70% similarity level. With few exceptions, the physiological and cultural behavior of the rhizobia was consistent within the defined groups. Two broad categories were suggested in the numerical taxonomic analysis, and their validity is discussed in regard to the geographic, physiological and cultural characteristics of the legumes and their Rhizobium microsymbionts. The taxonomic and agronomic value of this approach and the new groupings are discussed.     

Insulin regulation of protein biosynthesis in differentiated 3T3 adipocytes. Regulation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

The effect of insulin on protein biosynthesis was examined in differentiated 3T3-L1 and 3T3-F442A adipocytes. Insulin altered the relative rate of synthesis of specific proteins independent of its ability to hasten conversion of the fibroblast (preadipocyte) phenotype to the adipocyte phenotype. Although more than one pattern of response to insulin was observed, we focused on the induction of a Mr 33,000 protein which was identified as the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Exposure of 3T3 adipocytes to insulin throughout differentiation specifically increased GAPDH activity and protein content by 2- to 3-fold as compared to 3T3 adipocytes differentiated in the absence of insulin. These changes in enzyme activity and content could be accounted for by a 4-fold increase in the relative rate of synthesis of GAPDH and a 9-fold increase in hybridizable mRNA levels. Within 2 h of insulin addition to 3T3 adipocytes differentiated in the absence of hormone, hybridizable GAPDH mRNA levels increased 3-fold, and within 24 h GAPDH mRNA levels increased 8-fold, and [35S] methionine incorporation into GAPDH protein increased 5-fold. The increase in GAPDH mRNA and GAPDH biosynthesis could be demonstrated using physiologic concentrations of insulin (0.24 nM), indicating that these effects are mediated through a specific interaction with the insulin receptor. These studies demonstrate that insulin, as the sole hormonal perturbant, can increase the synthesis of certain 3T3 adipocyte proteins by altering the cellular content of a specific mRNA.     

k-Binding and Degradation of [3H]Dynorphin A (1–8) and [3H]Dynorphin A (1–9) in Suspensions of Guinea Pig Brain Membranes

Following incubation of [3H]dynorphin A (1-8) and [3H]dynorphin A (1-9) with suspensions of guinea pig brain membranes, analysis of the supernatants by HPLC has shown that both peptides are degraded at 25 degrees C and at 0 degrees C. Bestatin and captopril reduce degradation at 0 degrees C but for a similar degree of protection at 25 degrees C arginine-containing dipeptides are also required. The effects of these peptidase inhibitors on the degradation profiles indicate that [3H]dynorphin A (1-8) has three main sites of cleavage: the Tyr1-Gly2, Arg6-Arg7, and Leu5-Arg6 bonds. With [3H]dynorphin A (1-9) as substrate the Arg7-Ile8 and Ile8-Arg9 bonds are also liable to cleavage. In binding assays, in contrast to the effects of peptidase inhibitors on the degradation of unbound [3H]dynorphin A (1-8) and [3H]dynorphin A (1-9), bestatin and captopril have little effect on the binding characteristics of the tritiated dynorphin A fragments at the kappa-site at 0 degrees C. However, at 25 degrees C binding is low in the absence of peptidase inhibitors. When binding at mu- and delta-sites is prevented, the maximal binding capacities of [3H]dynorphin A (1-8), [3H]dynorphin A (1-9), and [3H](-)-bremazocine at the kappa-site are similar; [3H]dynorphin A (1-9) has 5-10 times higher affinity for the kappa-site than [3H]dynorphin A (1-8). Comparison of the effects of peptidase inhibitors on unbound dynorphin A fragments with their effects in binding assays suggests that the bound peptides are protected from the action of peptidases.