Vitamin K5 as a Fungistatic Agent

The effectiveness of vitamin K(5) in controlling the growth of different molds at varying pH levels in a culture medium, in tomato juice, and in several berry purees was studied. The molds studied were Aspergillus, Botrytis, Hormodendrum, Mucor, and Penicillium. The results showed that vitamin K(5) was effective as a fungistatic agent at concentrations ranging from 0.006 to 0.02%.     

The inhibition of catalase by glutathione

Reduced glutathione (GSH) inhibited catalase activity in a dose-dependent manner. DL-dithiothreitol (DL-DTT) and dithioerythritol (DTE) also inhibited catalase activity. The inhibition of catalase by GSH and DL-DTT could be reduced by NADPH. Polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated the inhibition was partially reversible. The inhibition of catalase by GSH appeared to be partly due to superoxide radicals, since it was inhibited by active manganese superoxide dismutase, but not by heat-inactivated enzyme. Other chemical species also appear to take part in the inhibition, but they could not be identified.     

Differential Expression of mRNA and Protein Encoding Retinal and Pineal S-Antigen During the Light/Dark Cycle

S-Antigen is a soluble cell protein unique to the retina and pineal gland. In the former, it is a well-characterized molecule that participates in light-induced signal transduction in photoreceptor cells. In the latter, the functional role is presently not known. The expression of S-antigen and its mRNA was examined in the rat retina and pineal gland throughout the diurnal cycle and with light interruption of the dark cycle. A cDNA for rat S-antigen was isolated from a pineal gland library to examine the mRNAs. A 1.7-kb mRNA for S-antigen was observed in both the pineal gland and the retina. Retinal S-antigen mRNA was expressed throughout the diurnal cycle and increased with light interruption of the dark cycle. In contrast, pineal gland S-antigen mRNA levels were detectable only during the dark and were absent preceding and during light. The phenotypic expression of immunoreactive S-antigen, identified with two S-antigen monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), MAb A9C6 and MAb C10C10, was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel (PAGE) and isoelectric focusing (IEF) electrophoresis. Immunoblot analysis of gels after SDS-PAGE revealed a single 46-kDa protein in retina. In contrast, two bands of approximately 43 and 46 kDa were identified in the pineal gland. Immunoblots of the retinal extracts separated by IEF electrophoresis revealed five S-antigen isomers, which vary quantitatively throughout the diurnal cycle and when light interrupted the dark cycle. Immunoblots of the pineal gland samples separated by IEF electrophoresis indicated that the pineal gland possesses four pineal gland-specific forms of S-antigen in addition to the five forms present in the retina. The differences observed in the mRNA and protein analyses suggest tissue-specific structural components for S-antigen in the retina and pineal gland that are not regulated in the same manner.     

Plant regeneration from embryogenic callus initiated from immature inflorescences of several high-tannin sorghums

A procedure was established for the induction of regenerable calli from immature inflorescence segments of high-tannin cultivars of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). Murashige & Skoog's medium with several components altered was utilized for inducing, maintaining, and regenerating the cultures. Embryogenic calli formed at a frequency of 8–70% depending on the genotype. During a ten-month period, 3600 plants were regenerated from eight genotypes tested. Among the developmental stages of immature inflorescence tested (from differentiation of secondary branch primordia to floret formation) no critical differences were found in potential for callusing, embryogenesis or regeneration. Genotypic differences were observed in pigment production, embryogenic callus formation, shoot differentiation, and in maintenance of regeneration capacity.Abbreviations 2,4-D dichlorophenoxyacetic acid This is Journal Paper Number 11972 from the Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station     

Structure-activity relationships on hyperglycemia by representatives of the adipokinetic/hyperglycemic hormone family in Blaberus discoidalis cockroaches

Summary Several members of the adipokinetic/hyperglycemic neurohormone family from several different invertebrate species have been prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis and assayed by a modified in vivo hyperglycemic bioassay in Blaberus discoidalis cockroaches. The hypertrehalosemic hormone (HrTH) is the endogenous hypertrehalosemic factor for B. discoidalis and was the most potent peptide in the assay. The more divergent the sequence of a family member from Blaberus HrTH, the less potent was the bioanalog. Manduca adipokinetic hormone is the most divergent peptide of the family and was totally inactive in the bioassay. Locusta adipokinetic hormone I had reduced maximum activity in the assay, which suggests that Ser⁵ is an important residue for the transduction of the hyperglycemic response. The direct relation between bioanalog similarity to Blaberus HrTH sequence and potency suggests that the hormone and target cell receptor for HrTH have evolved to maintain an optimal fit.Abbreviations AKH adipokinetic hormone - HrGH hyperglycemic hormone - HrTH hypertrehalosemic hormone - RPCH red pigmentconcentrating hormone - CAH cardioacceleratory hormone. Hormone abbreviations are according to the convention of Gäde and Raina (1989) except that the genus names are not abbreviated     

Glycerol accumulation while recycling thin stillage in corn fermentations to ethanol

Summary By succesive recycling of the thin stillage in mashing and fermenting fresh corn, the glycerol content in each fermentation increased by about 0.4% and accumulated to a high of 2.1% in the beer of the fifth recycle. Glycerol concentration declined after the fifth recycle. The original fermentation contained 0.8% glycerol.Presented in part at the Society for Industrial Microbiology Annual Meeting, August 7–12, 1988, Chicago, IL.The mention of firm names or trade products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture over other firms or similar products not mentioned.     

Stimulation of in vitro shoot proliferation from nodal explants of cassava by thidiazuron, benzyladenine and gibberellic acid

Multiple shoots were produced from nodal explants of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) by a two-step procedure: a 6- to 8-day exposure to 0.11–0.22 µM thidiazuron (TDZ) in liquid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium followed by culture on agar-solidified MS medium supplemented with 2.2 µM 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 1.6 M gibberellic acid (GA₃). TDZ caused the nodal explants to expand and this expansion (growth) continued during culture with BA and GA₃. From this expanded explant, clusters of buds and fasciated stems developed continuously and these gave rise to shoots. The shoot proliferation process was open-ended, yielding an average of 31.5 shoots per nodal explant after 10 weeks of culture with genotype CG 1–56. A positive response was also obtained from seven other genotypes evaluated with this protocol.Abbreviations BA 6-benzyladenine - BM basal medium - DPU 1,3-diphenylurea - GA₃ gibberellie acid - 2iP isopentenyladenine - MSM multiple shoot medium - NAA 1-naphthaleneacetic acid - PGR plant growth regulator - TDZ thidiazuron - Z zeatin     

Induction of leaf senescence in Arabidopsis thaliana by long days through a light-dosage effect

Given the influence of photoperiod on reproductive development and whole-plant senescence in monocarpic plants, one would suspect that leaf senescence in these plants might be under photoperiodic control. In Arabidopsis thaliana , which is monocarpic and also a nonobligate long-day (LD) plant, LDs (16 h, 300 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) caused leaves to die earlier than did short days (SDs, 10 h). Since leaf longevity was not paralleled by the reproductive development in the present study, the reproductive structures did not seem to be the primary controls of leaf senescence. The LD effect appeared to depend on the amount of light rather than on day length, for leaves given LDs at reduced light intensity (180 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) lived longer than those in LDs with full light. In addition, the higher light intensity promoted chlorophyll loss and anthocyanin accumulation in LDs. Thus, senescence of these leaves seems to be governed by light dosage rather than photoperiod. Light may play a natural role in promoting the senescence of A. thaliana leaves.     

MORBILLIVIRUS INFECTION IN BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS: EVIDENCE FOR RECURRENT EPIZOOTICS IN THE WESTERN ATLANTIC AND GULF OF MEXICO

Morbillivirus infection is widespread among odontocetes of the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Serologic evidence of infection in bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus , was first detected during an epizootic along the mid-Atlantic coast in 1987. Here, we report recurrent epizootics in the coastal dolphin population since at least the early 1980s based on serological surveys and regional stranding frequencies. The first observed epizootic of this series occurred in the Indian and Banana Rivers in 1982 and was followed by others on the mid-Atlantic coast in 1987–1988 and in the Gulf of Mexico between 1992 and 1994. This temporal pattern of infection is likely facilitated by the population size and its fragmentation into relatively discrete coastal communities. Introduction of morbillivirus into a community with a sufficient number of naive hosts may precipitate an epizootic, depending on the potential for transmission within the group. Propagation of an epizootic along the coast is probably determined by frequency of contact between adjacent communities and seasonal migrations.
Morbillivirus antibodies were also detected in serum from offshore bottlenose dolphins. The sero-prevalence in the latter may be higher than in coastal dolphins because of their close association with enzootically infected pilot whales ( Globicephala spp.). Occasional contact between offshore and coastal dolphins may provide an epizootiologic link between pilot whales and coastal dolphin communities.