Utilization of cuticular components ofAntheraea mylitta Drury larvae byPenicillium citrinum Thom.

The major cuticular components of Indian tasar silkworm,Antheraea mylitta Drury, were sequentially extracted and estimated to ascertain preferential utilization of these components for growth by the entomopathogenic fungusPenicillium citrinum Thom. Proteins which constituted 61.64% dry weight of cuticule were found to play a key role in the growth ofP. citrinum whereas lipids (7.15%) and chitin (30.02%) were least involved. Also, this study suggests absence of any mycocidal substance in the cuticle ofA. mylitta.     

Biological, Serological and Coat Protein Properties of a Strain of Turnip Mosaic Virus Causing a Mosaic Disease of Brassica campestris and B. juncea in India

Biological, serological and coat protein properties of a potyvirus (Poty-Rape) causing a mosaic disease of Brassica campestris and B. juncea in India were investigated. The virus readily infected 4 of the 5 plant species in the family Brassicaceae in which it induced severe systemic mosaic symptoms; it also induced chlorotic and necrotic local lesions in Chenopodium amaranticolor , but failed to infect 4 other species of Chenopodiaceae or 20 species of Amaranthaceae, Apiaceae, Canabinaceae, Compositae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Leguminosae and Solanaceae. The virus was transmitted in a non-persistant manner by Myzus persicae, Brevicoryne brassicae and Aphis gossypii. The Average size, of the virus particles in a purified preparation was 740 nm × 12 nm. SDS-PAGE analysis of the viral coat protein showed two major bands of approximately 37 kDa and 31 kDa, a pattern very similar to that of a reference isolate of turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) from the U.S. In Western-blot immunoassay, an antiserum to TuMV reacted with both the coat protein bands of the Poty-Rape islate and the reference TuMV, but not with the coat proteins of four other potyviruses. The high performance liquid chromatographic profile of tryptic peptides from the coat protein of Poty-Rape was found to be very similar to that of the reference TuMV, but differed substantially from those of four other potyviruses. The Poty-Rape isolate is considered to be a distinct strain of, TuMV.     

Effects of Iron Limitation on Photosystem II Composition and Light Utilization in Dunaliella tertiolecta

The effects of iron limitation on photosystem II (PSII) composition and photochemical energy conversion efficiency were studied in the unicellular chlorophyte alga Dunaliella tertiolecta. The quantum yield of photochemistry in PSII, inferred from changes in variable fluorescence normalized to the maximum fluorescence yield, was markedly lower in iron-limited cells and increased 3-fold within 20 h following the addition of iron. The decrease in the quantum yield of photochemistry was correlated with increased fluorescence emission from the antenna. In iron-limited cells, flash intensity saturation profiles of variable fluorescence closely followed a cumulative one-hit Poisson model, suggesting that PSII reaction centers are energetically isolated, whereas in iron-replete cells, the slope of the profile was steeper and the calculated probability of energy transfer between reaction centers increased to >0.6. Immunoassays revealed that in iron-limited cells the reaction center proteins, D1, CP43, and CP47, were markedly reduced relative to the peripheral light-harvesting Chl-protein complex of PSII, whereas the [alpha] subunit of cytochrome b559 was about 10-fold higher. Spectroscopic analysis established that the cytochrome b559 peptide did not contain an associated functional heme. We conclude that the photochemical conversion of absorbed excitation energy in iron-limited cells is limited by the number of photochemical traps per unit antenna.     

Biodegradation ofShorea robusta Gaertn. leaf litter and the cycling of minerals in a tropical sal forest

Summary Microbial degradation of the leaf litter ofShorea robusta Gaertn. was studied for a period of one year. The changes in the major litter constituents like sugar, starch, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin were analysed from the litter kept under the nylon bags, at a month's interval. Four major elements phosphorous, potassium, magnesium and calcium were also assessed monthly from the decaying litter and the soil. The role of microfungi in mineral cycling and loss of litter substrates have been correlated.     

Mammary skin oedema: a new prognostic indicator for breast cancer.

Mammary skin thickening shown on the mammogram was measured in 220 patients with non-inflammatory breast cancer, and the mean skin oedema was derived by taking the mean of five measurements from separate sites on the breast (upper part, lower part, medial part, lateral part, and areola) after subtracting the corresponding figures from the opposite (normal) breast. The prevalence of appreciable oedema (greater than 0.25 mm) was 70% for tumours less than 1 cm and 100% for tumours more than 3 cm in diameter. This measure of oedema correlated positively and significantly with tumour size and lymph node status. In a minimum of 60 months'' follow up patients developing recurrence had significantly higher oedema values. The amount of oedema also predicted recurrence better than lymph node status, tumour size, or tumour stage. Oedema and tumour size, information available preoperatively, provide a simple means of assessing prognosis before definitive treatment.     

Phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipases C

The role of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PIase C) in a) the enigmatic phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover and b) in our understanding of membrane enzyme-PI interactions is the subject matter of this article. PIase C is present in both procaryotes and eukaryotes. This enzyme is considered to be involved in the cells PI breakdown which occurs in response to several external stimuli. Recent information on the physical properties, Ca²⁺ requirement, cellular localization and modulation of the activity of PIase C of mammalian systems can help to evaluate the PI turnover from a new angle. Existing evidence suggests that Ca²⁺-dependent PI breakdown is probably mediated through the cytosolic and particulate PIase C while a Ca²⁺ independent pathway is catalyzed by a lysosomal enzyme. Apparently PI turnover may be operating through more than one mechanism. The association of this phenomenon with a membrane receptor event linked with “Ca²⁺ gating” may have to be reconsidered. Modulation of the PIase C activity by unsaturated amphiphiles or the presence of this enzyme in different physico-chemical forms could be a potential regulatory feature.Hydrolysis of membrane PI of a number of cells and tissues by the bacterial PIase C has been shown to cause substantial release of acetylcholinesterase, alkaline phosphatase and 5′-nucleotidase in free, soluble form. Other membrane enzymes, e.g., alkaline phosphodiesterase I, L-leucyl-β naphtyl amidase and Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ ATPase are not affected. These results indicate a specific interaction between PI and certain enzymes in membranes. The chemical nature of this linkage, whether it is covalent or non-covalent, has also been explored and has provided intriguing insight into this phenomenon. New findings also indicate that hydrolysis of PI by PIase C also can cause modifications in membrane-enzyme activities, e.g., adenylate cyclase.     

Aliphatic compounds from Costus speciosus roots

Two new compounds G and H isolated from the roots of Costus speciosus have been characterized as 8-hydroxytriacontan-25-one and Me tritriacontanoat     

Effect of phosphorus and zinc on nodulation and nitrogen fixation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

A green house study was conducted on the effect of P and Zn on nodulation and N fixation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in a loamy sand (Typic Torripsamments) using treatment combinations of five levels of P (0, 25, 50, 100 and 250 ppm), and six levels of Zn (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 100 ppm). The number, dry matter and leghaemoglobin content of nodules, and amount of N fixed generally increased with Zn alone upto 19 ppm and P alone upto 50 ppm, and decreased with their higher levels. Application of 25 to 50 ppm P and 5 to 10 ppm Zn counteracted to a greater extent the adverse effect of 40 and 100 ppm Zn, and 250 ppm P, resp. Maximum nodulation and N fixation (91 to 145% over zero P and Zn, at maturity) was recorded with 25 to 50 ppm P applied along with 5 to 10 ppm Zn. At 64 days, depletion in soil-N was noted, particularly when P was applied, whereas at maturity there was a gain in soil-N, ranging from 10.5 to 44.5 kg/2×10⁶ kg soil depending upon P and Zn treatments. The increase in nodulation and N fixation with balanced P and Zn nutrition might be attributed to an increase in leghaemoglobin, and K and Fe concentration in nodules, and increased plant growth, resulting into enhanced activity of N fixing organisms. The results showed that balanced P and Zn nutrition is essential not only for plant growth but also for maximum activity of Rhizobium for N fixation. Work done at Harvana Agricultural University, Hissar, India.     

Phosphatidylethanolamine distribution and fluidity in outer and inner membranes of the gram-negative bacterium Erwinia carotovora.

1. The distribution of phosphatidylethanolamine, the major lipid of Erwinia carotovora, was investigated in intact bacteria, spheroplasts and outer- and inner-membrane preparations, with the amino-group reagent 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid. Only 4% was found on the external surface of the outer membrane with 30% on the internal surface, whereas the inner membrane had 27 and 38% on its external and internal surfaces respectively. Some comparative studies were made with three other bacteria. 2. The fluidity of the membranes of E. carotovora was studied by using the fluorescent probe 1,6-diphenylhexa-1,3,5-triene. Results were consistent with the hydrocarbon region of the outer membrane bilayer being less fluid than that of the inner one. 3. On the basis of these and other results a model for the outer- and inner-membrane structures of E. carotovora is proposed.