Tetracycline production byStreptomyces aureofaciens: the time lag of production

Summary The exact time course of phosphate consumption in a tetracycline production byStreptomyces aureofaciens has been determined. The data have been compared with model simulations according to a model proposed by Votruba et al. (1984). This led to a revision of his equation for the rate of phosphate consumption and to the proposal that phosphate is consumed proportionally to the growth rate. In contradiction to the model simulations it was found that the length of the time lag of the production is independent of the initial phosphate concentration. While the model explains the time lag through inhibition of the production by phosphate, the measured data show that there must be another or an additional reason for the lag. Simultaneously with the start of the production the organism changes from an organic substrate to ammonia as nitrogen source.All experiments have been carried out in a bubble column of 651 working volume as fed batch fermentation. An autoanalyzer and a HPLC was coupled to the reactor for automatic measurement of phosphate, ammonia, sucrose and products in short intervals. Composition of the outlet gas, pH, pO₂, temperature and weight of the substrate flasks were monitored on-line.     

Oxygen diffusivity of synthetic gels derived from prepolymers

Summary The oxygen-diffusivity (D _m ) of 16 different gels formed with synthetic prepolymers (photo-crosslinkable resins, urethane resins and photosensitive resins), and that of calcium alginate (for comparison) was determined, using an oxygen electrode covered by the gel membranes with stepwise enzymatic removal of O₂ from the buffer solution. The water content of the gels was found to be decisive for the O₂-diffusivity of the gels: gels with the highest water content showed also the highest D _m . From these findings, the suitability of different polymeric gels for substrate conversion and biosensor systems could be predicted.Abbreviations A surface area of the cathode - c O₂-concentration in the membrane - d _m total thickness of the membrane - D _m O₂-diffusivity in the membrane - ENT, ENTP polymers prepared from hydroxyethylacrylate - ENTA, ENTC isophorone diisocyanate and linear skeleton of different molecular weight of poly(ethylene glycol) (ENT) or poly(propylene glycol) (ENTP), resp. ENTA in addition bears anionic groups, ENTC cationic groups - F Faraday's constant - i _s steady-state O₂ reduction current - N number of electrons per mole unit of reaction - PU polyurethane polymers with poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(propylene glycol) parts in the diol moiety and isocyanate functional groups at both terminals of the prepolymer - PVA-SbQ polyvinyl alcohol stilbazolium polymer     

The influence of calcium and pH on growth in primary roots of Zea mays

Hasenstein, K. H. and Evans, M. L. 1988. The influence of calcium and pH on growth in primary roots of Zea mays. - Physiol. Plant. 72: 466–470.
We investigated the interaction of Ca²⁺ and pH on root elongation in Zea mays L. cv. B73 × Missouri 17 and cv. Merit. Seedlings were raised to contain high levels of Ca²⁺ (HC, imbibed and raised in 10 m M CaCl₂) or low levels of Ca²⁺ (LC, imbibed and raised in distilled water). In HC roots, lowering the pH (5 m M MES/Tris) from 6.5 to 4.5 resulted in strong, long-lasting growth promotion. Surprisingly, increasing the pH from 6.5 to 8.5 also resulted in strong growth promotion. In LC roots acidification of the medium (pH 6.5 to 4.5) resulted in transient growth stimulation followed by a gradual decline in the growth rate toward zero. Exposure of LC roots to high pH (pH shift from 6.5 to 8.5) also promoted growth. Addition of EGTA resulted in strong growth promotion in both LC and HC roots. The ability of EGTA to stimulate growth appeared not to be related to H⁺ release from EGTA upon Ca²⁺ chelation since, 1) LC roots showed a strong and prolonged response to EGTA, but only a transient response to acid pH, and 2) promotion of growth by EGTA was observed in strongly buffered solutions. We also examined the pH dependence of the release of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ from roots of 3-day-old seedlings grown from grains imbibed in ⁴⁵Ca²⁺. Release of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ from the root into agar blocks placed on the root surface was greater the more acidic the pH of the blocks. The results indicate that Ca²⁺ may be necessary for the acid growth response in roots.     

Fiber optic studies of light gradients and spectral regime within Lactuca sativa achenes

Light gradients and spectral regime were measured in Lactuca sativa L. cv. Grand Rapids achenes using fiber optic microsensors. The distribution of scattered light across lettuce achenes was linear for 660 and 730 nm and non-linear for 450 nm light. Spectra for scattered light within intact achenes also showed a non-linear increase with wavelength. The preferential attenuation of blue light by the pericarp and seed explains in part the relative ineffectiveness of blue light with respect to red in triggering germination of lettuce. Calculated action spectra for phytochrome-stimulated germination agree closely in the red with experimentally derived action spectra; however, there is little agreement within the blue.     

Abscisic acid and water transport in sunflowers

The role of abscisic acid (ABA) in the transport of water and ions from the root to the shoot of sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus) was investigated by application of ABA either to the root medium or to the apical bud. The exudation at the hypocotyl stump of decapitated seedlings was measured with and without hydrostatic pressure (0–0.3 MPa) applied to the root. All ABA concentrations tested (10^-10–10^-4 mol·l^-1) promoted exudation. Maximal amounts of exudate (200% of control) were obtained with ABA at 10^-6·mol·l^-1 and an externally applied pressure of 0.1 MPa. The effect was rapid and long-lasting, and involved promotion of ion release to the xylem (during the first hours) as well as an increase in hydraulic conductivity. Abscisic acid applied to the apical bud had effects similar to those of the rootapplied hormone. Increased rates of exudation were also obtained after osmotic stress was applied to the root; this treatment increased the endogenous level of ABA in the root as well as in the shoot. Water potentials of the hypocotyls of intact plants increased when the roots were treated with ABA at 5°C, whereas stomatal resistances were lowered. The results are consistent with the view that ABA controls the water status of the plant not only by regulating stomatal transpiration, but also by regulating the hydraulic conductivity of the root.Abbreviations and symbols ABA abscisic acid - Tv volume flow - Lp hydraulic conductivity - PEG polyethyleneglycol - water potential - osmotic potential - osmotic value - P hydrostatic pressure     

Effects of site-specific mutations on the enzymatic properties of a sialidase fromClostridium perfringens

Three site-specific mutations were performed in two regions of a sialidase gene fromClostridium perfringens which are known to be conserved in bacterial sialidases. The mutant enzymes were expressed inEscherichia coli and, when measured with MU-Neu5Ac as substrate, exhibited variations in enzymatic properties compared with the wild-type enzyme. The conservative substitution of Arg 37 by Lys, located in a short conserved region upstream from the four repeated sequences common in bacterial sialidase genes, was of special interest, asK _M andV _max, as well asK _i measured with Neu5Ac2en, were dramatically changed. These data suggest that this residue may be involved in substrate binding. In addition to its low activity, this mutant enzyme has a lower temperature optimum and is active over a more limited pH range. This mutation also prevents the binding of an antibody able to inhibit the wild-type sialidase. The other mutations, located in one of the consensus sequences, were of lower influence on enzyme activity and recognition by antibodies.     

In situ hybridization of corticotropin-releasing factor-encoding messenger RNA in the hypothalamus of the white sucker,Catostomus commersoni

Summary In situ hybridization procedure with a ³²P-labelled synthetic oligonucleotide probe was used to detect corticotropin-releasing factor-encoding messenger RNA (CRF mRNA) in the hypothalamus of the white sucker, Catostomus commersoni. Adjacent sections were immunostained by a sucker CRF-specific antiserum. CRF mRNA-containing neurons were identified by autoradiography in the magnocellular and parvocellular subdivisions of the preoptic nucleus (PON). Many of these neurons were also immunostained by sucker antiserum, showing the same distribution patterns. These results confirm the presence of CRF mRNA and CRF peptide in the white sucker hypothalamus and support the view that the magnocellular and parvocellular neurons of the PON may be involved in the control of adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion from the pituitary in the white sucker.     

Alport syndrome: a genetic study of 31 families

Thirty one families with Alport syndrome including 3 families with associated syndromes were studied. The location of the COL4A5 gene, responsible for the Alport syndrome, was determined by linkage analysis with eight probes of the Xq arm and by a radiation hybrid panel. Concordant data indicated the localization of the Alport gene between DXS17 and DXS11. Four deletions and one single base mutation of the COL4A5 gene were detected. Homogeneity tests failed to show any evidence of genetic heterogeneity superimposed on clinical heterogeneity for ophthalmic signs and end-stage renal disease age.