Carbon and Nitrogen Mineralization of Lead Treated Soils in the Eastern Mediterranean Region,Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the first effect of lead on microbial activity in soil. The study was carried out in the soil samples from four different radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. radicula, Brassicaceae) fields along the highway in a district (Kadirli, Osmaniye) of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Turkey. After the calculation of Pb contents, the Pb amounts of the soil samples were brought up to 50 and 100 mg Pb kg^?1 by treatment with Pb(NO ₃ ) ₂ , and the samples for the carbon and the nitrogen mineralization were incubated under controlled conditions (28°C, constant moist). The carbon mineralization was determined by a CO ₂ respiration method for 30 days. The nitrogen mineralization was observed in vitro for 6 weeks. The untreated group was statistically different from the 50 and 100 mg Pb kg^?1 treatments in the aspect of the C(CO ₂ ) outlet during mineralization (P ≤ 0.05), but difference between the 50 and 100 mg Pb kg^?1 treatments was not significant. NH ₄ -N and NO ₃ -N contents of each soil were shown differences between across treatments. Based on these results, it is possible to conclude that the addition of 50 and 100 mg Pb kg^?1 provided a toxic effect threshold for the microbial activity into 30 days.     

The folding of dimeric cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase. Equilibrium and kinetic studies.

Porcine heart cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase (s-MDH) is a dimeric protein (2 x 35 kDa). We have studied equilibrium unfolding and refolding of s-MDH using activity assay, fluorescence, far-UV and near-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, hydrophobic probe-1-anilino-8-napthalene sulfonic acid binding, dynamic light scattering, and chromatographic (HPLC) techniques. The unfolding and refolding transitions are reversible and show the presence of two equilibrium intermediate states. The first one is a compact monomer (MC) formed immediately after subunit dissociation and the second one is an expanded monomer (ME), which is little less compact than the native monomer and has most of the characteristic features of a 'molten globule' state. The equilibrium transition is fitted in the model: 2U <--> 2M(E) <--> 2M(C) <--> D. The time course of kinetics of self- refolding of s-MDH revealed two parallel folding pathways [Rudolph, R., Fuchs, I. & Jaenicke, R. (1986) Biochemistry 25, 1662-1669]. The major pathway (70%) is 2U-->2M*-->2M-->D, the rate limiting step being the isomerization of the monomers (K1 = 1.7 x 10(-3) s(-1)). The minor pathway (30%) involves an association step leading to the incorrectly folding dimers, prior to the very slow D*-->D folding step. In this study, we have characterized the folding-assembly pathway of dimeric s-MDH. Our kinetic and equilibrium experiments indicate that the folding of s-MDH involves the formation of two folding intermediates. However, whether the equilibrium intermediates are equivalent to the kinetic ones is beyond the scope of this study.     

Incidence of mycoflora and mycotoxins in some edible fruits and seeds of forest origin

Twelve fungi namelyAlternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, A niger, A ochraceus, Actinomucor repens, Capnodoium spp., Curvularia lunata, Fusarium pallidoroseum, F solani, F verticillioides, Penicillium citrinum and Rhizopus stolonifer were recorded from samples ofAegle marmelos, Aesculus indica, Buchanania lanzan andPinus gerardiana. In case ofPrunus amygdalus only Rstolonifer was recorded. A significant variation in pattern of mycoflora incidence was observed in terms of source and season. Fungal infestation in most of the substrates was found to be highest during monsoon. Aflatoxins were the most common mycotoxins elaborated by different isolates ofA flavus obtained fromA marmelos, B lanzan andP gerardiana. The amount of aflatoxins produced by the toxigenic isolates ofA flavus was in the range of traces to 0.9–26.0 μg/ml inA marmelos, 0.8–17.5 μg/ml inP gerardiana and 0.65–13.2 μg/ml inB lanzan. The percentage toxigenicity was comparatively lower in the isolates of other mycotoxigenic fungi. Aflatoxins were detected almost in all the samples analyzed for mycotoxin contamination. However, traces of zearalenone were detected inA marmelos. The concentration of aflatoxin B₁ was in the range of 0.13–0.75 μg/g inA marmelos, 0.09–0.60 μg/g inP gerardiana and 0.01–0.20 ug/g inB lanzan. Mycotoxins were not detected inAesculus indica andPrunus amygdalus.     

Scale-Up of Mammalian Cell Culture using a New Multilayered Flask

A growing number of cell-based applications require large numbers of cells. Usage of single layer T-flasks, that are adequate during small-scale expansion, may become cumbersome, laborious and time-consuming when large numbers of cells are required. To address this need, the performance of a new multi-layered cell culture vessel to facilitate easy scale up of cells from single layered T-flasks will be discussed. The flasks tested are available in 3- and 5-layer format and enable culture and complete recovery of three and five times the number of cells respectively, compared to T-175 flasks. A key feature of the BD Multi-Flask is a mix/equilibration port that allows rapid in-vessel mixing as well as uniform distribution of cells and reagents within and between layers of each vessel and consistently produce cells that can be cultured in an environment that is congruent to T-175 flasks.The design of these Multi-Flasks also allows for convenient pipette access for adding reagents and cells directly into the flasks as well as efficient recovery of valuable cells and reagents and reduces risk of contamination due to pouring. For applications where pouring is preferred over pipetting, the design allows for minimal residual liquid retention so as to reduce wastage of valuable cells and reagents.     

Sexual segment of the kidney of the Indian house lizard, Hemidactylus flaviviridis Rüppell

The morphology, seasonal variation and histochemistry of the sexual segment of the Indian house lizard, Hemidactylus flaviviridis are described. The sexual segment is the hypertrophied portion of the secondary and the tertiary collecting ducts of the kidney in males. The cells of the sexual segment are columnar and are loaded with secretory granules which are predominantly localized in the apical portion. These granules are either free or occasionally clumped to form an “aggregate” towards the basement membrane and are released into the lumen by apocrine secretion. Development of the sexual segment is synchronous with the spermatogenic activity of the testis and maximum development occurs in March and April when the lizards copulate. The sexual segment is secretory from the beginning of October to the end of May and is regressed during sexual quiescence (June and July). It is not developed in females and young of both sexes in any season of the year. Histochemically, the sexual segment granules are saliva resistant and PAS positive, sudanophilic and are positive to the tests for phospholipid, choline and acid phosphatase. An intense esterase activity was localized in the mucosa of the oviduct and cloaca of the female. Sperms are mixed with sexual segment secretions and are transferred to the female during copulation. A possible role for the lipid-rich sexual segment secretion as a source of energy for sperms in the female reproductive tract is discussed.     

Immunoassay of rod visual pigment (opsin) in the eyes of rds mutant mice lacking receptor outer segments

In 020/A mice, homozygous for the retinal degeneration slow (rds) gene, the photoreceptor cells fail to develop outer segments, and in the absorption spectra of retinal extracts the rhodopsin peak is lacking. Application of an enzyme-linked immunoassay using antisera against bovine opsin shows, however, that opsin is present in the homozygous mutant retina (0.010 nmol/eye) at 3% of the level of the normal retina (0.38 nmol/eye) of Balb/c mice. In the retina of heterozygous mice the opsin level (0.19 nmol/eye) is about half of the normal. Detection of opsin in the rds mutant retina demonstrates the functional basis for the reported electroretinographic response and light-mediated reduction in cyclic nucleotide levels in this mutant.