Glycerol cycle enzymes and intermediates during adaption of Dunaliella teriolecta cells to hyperosmotic stress

Abstract Dunaliella tertiolecta cells subjected to a hyperosmotic shock of 0.930 osmol kg^?1 start almost immediately to synthesize glycerol at a rate of some 100 nmol min^?1 mg protein^?1. Glycerol synthesis was equally fast in both light and darkness, and was not affected by the nature but only by the concentration of solutes. During the period of rapid glycerol synthesis, which lasted about 1h, the concentration of glycerol-3-phosphate transiently increased. During the same period, ATP, fructose 1-6-bisphosphate, and triosephosphate content decreased markedly, especially when 0.1 kmol m^?3 NaCl-grown cells were used. The content of hexose-6-phosphates, nicotinamide coenzymes, and phosphate underwent no dramatic changes. Since no in vitro activity changes of the glycerol cycle enzymes could be detected during the adaptation period, the activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in vivo is probably increased by a change in concentration of its effectors such as ATP.     

Evaluation of different yeast cell wall mutants and microalgae strains as feed for gnotobiotically grown brine shrimp Artemia franciscana

The nutritional value of isogenic yeast strains and two microalgal species for gnotobiotically grown Artemia was examined. Yeast cell wall mutants were always better feed for Artemia than their respective wild type. Yeast cells harbouring null mutants for enzymes involved early in the biochemical pathway for cell wall mannoproteins synthesis performed best as feed for Artemia. Yeast cells defective in chitin or β-glucan production were scored in second order. The mnn6 isogenic yeast mutant, harbouring a null mutation for mannoprotein phosphorylation, performed poorly as feed for Artemia, although with good growth. These results suggest that any mutation affecting the yeast cell wall scaffolding by reducing the amount of covalent links between the major components of yeast cell wall, namely mannoproteins, β-glucans and chitin, is sufficient to improve the digestibility for Artemia. The results with microalgae indicated that within one species, strains can have different nutritional value under gnotobiotic conditions. The growth phase was another parameter influencing feed quality, although here it was not possible to reveal the exact cause. It is anticipated that the standard Artemia gnotobiotic growth test is an excellent tool to study the mode of action of bacteria, with a probiotic as well as with a pathogenic character.     

Phosphonic acid derivatives of 1,3-dioxan: Potential plant growth regulators

A series of novel (0,0-dialkyl)phosphono derivatives of 1,3-dioxan was prepared, with various alkyl substituents on different positions on the ring carbon atoms. The compounds were obtained by an Arbuzov-type rearrangement of trialkyl phosphites either with halogenoacetals or with 2-alkoxy-1,3-dioxans. The products were tested as potential plant growth regulators, using as a primary screen the effect in a tissue culture of green and white cells, followed by algal growth experiments, green-house tests on barley and maize, and small scale field trials on cucumber, tomato and maize.