Low root zone temperature favours shoot B partitioning into young leaves of oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

In previous studies with tropical plant species, low root zone temperature (RZT) induced boron (B) deficiency, but it is not known if the same response to RZT will be expressed in temperate species, like oilseed rape, that are more tolerant of low temperature. The present experiments investigated the effect of RZT (10 and 20°C) on oilseed rape ( Brassica napus L. cv. Hyola 42) response to B in solution culture, in summer and winter. Regardless of canopy growth conditions, low RZT (10°C) promoted the partitioning of shoot B to the actively growing leaves, especially when B supply was low. However, low RZT did not significantly alter net B uptake rates or plant biomass. Low RZT decreased the shoot-to-root ratio, countering the effects of low B which increased it, leading to a decreased demand for B in the shoot at low RZT. At low B supply, B-deficiency symptoms appeared later at 10 than at 20°C, corresponding with higher B concentrations in the youngest fully opened leaves (YOLs) at 10°C RZT. Thus 10°C RZT increased the tolerance to low B supply. As a result, it is concluded that the effect of decreasing RZT on the responses of the temperate species, oilseed rape, to low B supply depends on whether the low RZT is above or below the optimal root temperature for growth.     

Effects of Auxin and Phenobarbital on Morphogenesis and Production of Digitoxin in Digitalis Callus

Pieces of callus obtained from seedlings of Digitalis purpureawere grown on solid Murashige-Skoog's medium supplemented with1 mg liter^–1 BA and 0.1 mg liter^–1 IAA or NAA, withor without phenobarbital (40 mg liter^–1). The replacementof the natural auxin IAA by the synthetic auxin NAA increasedcallus growth and inhibited organogenesis, whereas the additionof phenobarbital had the opposite effect. Morphometric measurementsrevealed a high ratio of vacuole to cytoplasm (v/v) in calluscells. This ratio was affected by the different treatments inthe same way as the fresh weight. The activity of mitochondrialcytochrome P450scc (the enzyme that provides the precursor,pregnenolone, for the biosynthesis of cardenolide in foxgloveplants) was detected in the relevant fraction of callus grownunder all experimental conditions, and its activity was increasedby the addition of phenobarbital. The different treatments testedincreased the cardenolide content and quantifiable amounts ofdigitoxin were detected in all callus tissues. It is of specialinterest that phenobarbital added to the culture medium increasedthe accumulation of digitoxin. The mechanism affecting the developmentand production of cardenolide in callus tissues of D. purpureaby phenobarbital and the replacement of IAA by NAA is discussed. (Received July 18, 1994; Accepted December 14, 1994)     

Mevalonate dependency of the early cell cycle mitogenic response to epidermal growth factor and prostaglandin F2α in Swiss mouse 3T3 cells

Lovastatin (LOV), a hydroxy-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase competitive inhibitor, blocks epidermal growth factor (EGF)— or prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α)—induced mitogenesis in confluent resting Swiss 3T3 cells. This inhibition occurs even in the presence of insulin, which potentiates the action of these mitogens in such cells. LOV exerts its effect in a 2–80 μM concentration range, with both mitogens attaining 50% inhibition at 7.5 μM. LOV exerted its effect within 0–8 h following mitogenic induction. Mevanolactone (10–80 μM) in the presence of LOV could reverse LOV inhibition within a similar time period. LOV-induced blockage of PGF_2α response is reflected in a decrease in the rate of cell entry into S phase. Neither cholesterol, ubiquinone, nor dolichols of various lengths could revert LOV blockage. In EGF- or PGF_2α-stimulated cells, LOV did not inhibit [³H]leucine or [³H]mannose incorporation into proteins, while tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N′ glycosylation, prevented this last phenomenon. Thus, it appears that LOV exerts its action neither by inhibiting unspecific protein synthesis nor by impairing the N′ glycosylation process. These findings strongly suggest that either EGF or PGF_2α stimulations generate early cell cycle signals which induce mevalonate formation, N′ glycoprotein synthesis, and proliferation. The causal relationship of these events to various mechanisms controlling the onset of DNA synthesis is also discussed. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Age structure,growth and reproduction ofRutilus lemmingii in an intermittent stream of the Guadalquivir river basin,southern Spain

The age, growth and reproduction ofRutilus lemmingii (Steindachner, 1866), an endemic cyprinid from the Iberian Peninsula, was studied for over a period of two years in a small seasonal tributary of the Guadalquivir river basin. Approximately 65 % of the total growth in length occured in the first year of life. Males reached a maximum age of 3+ yr (Fork Length, F.L. = 114 mm) and females 4+ yr (F.L. = 144 mm). Both sexes matured during their second year of life (1 +). The overall sex ratio (334 males to 389 females) differed significantly from unity. Somatic condition decreased markedly during the reproductive period of March to May.R. lemmingii is a multiple spawner and releases two batches of eggs per female each year. Mean egg diameter of the first batch was larger than the second one. The regression between fecundity and Fork Length (mm) was: Fec = 0.014 F.L.Z.^2.858 Compared with available information, thisR. lemmingii population, located at a lower latitude, is characterized by fast growth, early maturity, high level of reproductive effort, and a short life-span. These life-history characteristices are typical of species in unstable environments, where adult mortality is high, variable or unpredictable.     

Toxicology of vanadium compounds in diabetic rats: The action of chelating agents on vanadium accumulation

The possible use of vanadium compounds in the treatment of diabetic patients is now being evaluated. However, previously to establish the optimal maximum dose for diabetes therapy, it should be taken into account that vanadium is a highly toxic element to man and animals. The toxic effects of vanadium are here reviewed. The tissue vanadium accumulation, which would mean an additional risk of toxicity following prolonged vanadium administration is also discussed. Recently, it has been shown that coadministration of vanadate and TIRON, an effective chelator in the treatment of vanadium intoxication, reduced the tissue accumulation of this element, decreasing the possibility of toxic side effects derived from chronic vanadium administration without diminishing the hypoglycemic effect of vanadium. However, previously to assess the effectiveness of this treatment in diabetic patients, a critical reevaluation of the antidiabetic action of vanadium and its potential toxicity is clearly needed.     

Structural characterization of glycosphingolipids from the eggs of Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma japonicum

The granulomatous pathology in human intestinal schistosomiasisis induced primarily by the egg antigens of schistosome, a parasitictrematode. Glycolipids and glycoproteins were extracted fromthe eggs of the two major species which infect human, Schistosomamansoni and Schistosoma japonicum, for structural characterizationbased on highly sensitive mass spectrometric analysis coupledwith chemical derivatization. Here, we demonstrate that a seriesof uniquely multifucosylated glycosphingolipids constitute themajor egg glycolipids of S.mansoni but not of S.japonicum. TheS.mansoni glycosphingolipids were found to be extended by varyingnumbers of an unusual repeating unit,     

In vitro pollen germination of species and two interspecific hybrids from the genus Brassica

In vitro pollen germination of five species and two interspecific hybrids from the genus Brassica was tested in four media. Genetically fixed differences in the demands for optimal pollen germination among species were found. The experiments were designed to define optimal content of mineral salts, sugar, and PEG for every investigated species or hybrids. The differences found among species are discussed in relation to the evolutionary trend.     

Meningococcal pilin: a glycoprotein substituted with digalactosyl 2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxyhexose

Neisseria meningitidis pili are filamentous protein structures that are essential adhesins in capsulate bacteria. Pili of adhesion variants of meningococcal strain C311 contain glycosyl residues on pilin (PilE), their major structural subunit. Despite the presence of three potential N -linked glycosylation sites, none appears to be occupied in these pilins. Instead, a novel O -linked trisaccharide substituent, not previously found as a constituent of glycoproteins, is present within a peptide spanning amino acid residues 45 to 73 of the PilE molecule. This structure contains a terminal 1-4-linked digalactose moiety covalently linked to a 2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxyhexose sugar which is directly attached to pilin. Pilins derived from galactose epimerase ( galE ) mutants lack the digalactosyl moiety, but retain the diacetamidotrideoxyhexose substitution. Both parental (#3) pilins and those derived from a hyper-adherent variant (#16) contained identical sugar substitutions in this region of pilin, and galE mutants of #3 were similar to the parental phenotype in their adherence to host cells. These studies have confirmed our previous observations that meningococcal pili are glycosylated and provided the first structural evidence for the presence of covalently linked carbohydrate on pili. In addition, they have revealed a completely novel protein/saccharide linkage.     

The enzymic defect and storage products in canine fucosidosis.

A marked deficiency of alpha-L-fucosidase and the accumulation of fucose-containing glycoasparagines were found in the brains of two English Springer spaniels suffering from a progressive nervous disorder. Both forms of alpha-L-fucosidase in normal brain, which are separable by ion-exchange chromatography, are absent from the affected animals. The storage products were characterized by t.l.c., gel filtration, g.l.c. and fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry. The postulated structures of the main components are: (formula; see text) The enzymic defect and nature of storage products justify designation of this disorder as canine fucosidosis.     

Association of Azospirillum with Grass Roots

The association between grass roots and Azospirillum brasilense Sp 7 was investigated by the Fahraeus slide technique, using nitrogen-free medium. Young inoculated roots of pearl millet and guinea grass produced more mucilaginous sheath (mucigel), root hairs, and lateral roots than did uninoculated sterile controls. The bacteria were found within the mucigel that accumulated on the root cap and along the root axes. Adherent bacteria were associated with granular material on root hairs and fibrillar material on undifferentiated epidermal cells. Significantly fewer numbers of azospirilla attached to millet root hairs when the roots were grown in culture medium supplemented with 5 mM potassium nitrate. Under these growth conditions, bacterial attachment to undifferentiated epidermal cells was unaffected. Aseptically collected root exudate from pearl millet contained substances which bound to azospirilla and promoted their adsorption to the root hairs. This activity was associated with nondialyzable and proteasesensitive substances in root exudate. Millet root hairs adsorbed azospirilla in significantly higher numbers than cells of Rhizobium, Pseudomonas, Azotobacter, Klebsiella, or Escherichia. Pectolytic activities, including pectin transeliminase and endopolygalacturonase, were detected in pure cultures of A. brasilense when this species was grown in a medium containing pectin. These studies describe colonization of grass root surfaces by A. brasilense and provide a possible explanation for the limited colonization of intercellular spaces of the outer root cortex.