The physiological basis of seed dormancy in Avena fatua. VIII. Action of malonic acid

Adkins, S. W., Symons, S. J. and Simpson, G. M. 1988. The physiological basis of seed dormancy in Avena fatua . VIII. Action of malonic acid - Physiol. Plant, 72: 477–482.
A low concentration of malonic acid (50 m M ) induced germination in four genetically pure dormant lines of Avena fatua L. Sensitivity to this treatment was poor immediately after harvest but increased markedly during after-ripening, indicating that the mode of action of malonic acid (50 m M ) was similar to that of another organic acid, citric acid. Over the concentration range (10–50 m M ) where malonic acid promoted germination, oxygen uptake was also stimulated, and this was before the first visible signs of germination. At higher concentrations (100–300 m M ) where there was no promotion of germination, malonic acid strongly inhibited oxygen uptake. These results show that malonic acid has a dual effect on oxygen uptake and subsequent germination. Low concentrations (10–50 m M ) act by stimulating the Krebs cycle and germination through an acidification reaction like citric acid, and high concentrations (100–300 m M ) act by inhibiting germination through enzymatic restraint of the Krebs cycle.
The stimulation of both oxygen uptake and germination by three established germination promoters (sodium nitrate, citric acid and ethanol) was inhibited by a high concentration of malonic acid (200 m M ) but unaffected by a low concentration (50 m M ). These results show that oxygen uptake, and hence the activity of the Krebs cycle, are important processes involved in the dormancy breaking mechanism of these three promotors.     

Letter: Crystallization and preliminary x-ray investigation of bovine erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase

The major form of bovine erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase has been prepared by a new method in which the conventional chloroform-ethanol treatment is replaced by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex. Single crystals, suitable for high resolution X-ray diffraction studies, have been obtained from enzyme prepared by this method. The space group is P6₁22. The unit cell contains 12 enzyme molecules and has the dimensions $\text{a = b = 68}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{c = 244}\text{A}\text{?}$.     

Proton nmr spectroscopy of high-spin ferrous cytochrome P-450 models

Alkyl mercaptide complexes of both synthetic and natural-derivative iron(II) porphyrins have been characterized in DMSO solution by proton nmr spectroscopy. A single mercaptide ligand binds to form a high-spin iron(II) complex as determined by solution magnetic measurements and the nmr isotropic shift pattern. Ligand exchange is slow on the nmr time scale unlike corresponding 2-methyl imidazole exchange rates which are very rapid. Further comparison of mercaptide and 2-methyl imidazole adducts reveals a downfield bias in isotropic shift values for the mercaptide species, which may be explained by different signs in the dipolar shift term for the two complexes. This apparent magnetic anisotropy of the mercaptide complex is in the same direction, although smaller, than that observed for bacterial cytochrome P-450. Isotropic shift values of at least 250 ppm for methylene resonances of the coordinated mercaptide support a very efficient unpaired spin delocalization for this axial ligand.     

Two lignans from Litsea grandis and L. gracilipes

Two lignans, grandisin and (+)-eudesmin have been isolated from Litsea grandis and L. gracilipes respectively.     

Euclein: A new binaphthaquinone from Euclea pseudebenus

7-MethyljugIone, 8,8′-dihydroxy-4,4′-dimethoxy-6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-binaphthyl-1,1′-quinone, 2-methylnaphthazarin, mamegakinone and euclein have been isolated from Euclea pseudebenus. Euclein is the 3,6′-dimer of 7-methyljuglone.