A versatile bacterial enzyme: l-methionine γ-lyase

The properties and application of l-methionine γ-lyase [methioninase, l-methionine methanethiol-lyase (deaminating), EC 4.4.1.11], a pyridoxal 5′-phosphate enzyme, purified from Pseudomonas putida and Aeromonas sp. are presented. The enzyme has multicatalytic functions: it catalyses α,γ-elimination and γ-replacement reactions of l-methionine and its analogues (e.g. ethionine, homocysteine, O-acetylhomoserine and selenomethionine), α,β-elimination and β-replacement reactions of l-cysteine and its analogues (e.g. S-methylcysteine, O-acetylserine and Se-methylselenocysteine), deamination and γ-addition of vinylglycine, and deuterium labelling at the α and β positions of l-methionine and other straight-chain l-amino acids. These reactions are applicable to the synthesis of various optically active sulphur and selenium amino acids, preparation of deuterium or tritium labelled l-amino acids, and determination of sulphur amino acids. In addition, the enzyme shows potent anti-neoplastic activity.     

Revision ofVerbesina sect.Pseudomontanoa (Asteraceae)

Verbesina sect.Pseudomontanoa is revised. The last treatment of the group byRobinson & Greenman (1899) recognized 5 species; the present treatment recognizes 12 species, 3 of which (V. breedlovei, V. cronquistii andV. olsenii) are described as new. A key to species, phyletic diagram and distribution maps are provided.     

球针壳属一新种和一新组合

本文报道了球针壳属(Phyllactinia)的一个新种和一个新组合,即寄生于杜鹃花科(Ericaceae)吊钟花属(ENkianthus)灯笼花(E.chinensis Franch)上的灯笼花球针壳(Phyllactiniaenkianthi z.y. zhao sp. nov.)和寄生于茶藨子科(Grossulariaceae)茶藨子(Ribes sp.)上的茶藨子球针壳(Phyllactinia ribesii(Jacz.)z. y. zhao comb. nov.)。上述新分类单位均有汉文和拉丁文描述,新分类单位与近似种有汉文讨论。     

霜霉属一新种

本文报道寄生在卷茎蓼Polygonum convolvulus L.植物上的一种霉霜,命名为中国霜霉Peronospora sinensis Tang,并作了描述和比较。     

柄锈属二新种

本文描述了柄锈属的二个新种,一种是寄生在金线草(Antenoron filiforme(Thunb.)Roberty et Vautier](蓼科)上的金线草柄锈(Puccinia antenori J.Y.Zhuang et Wang sp.nov.),模式标本采自福建省浦城;另一种是寄生在花锚(Halenia sp.)(龙胆科)上的波壁柄锈(Puccinia undulitunicata J.Y.Zhuang et Wang sp.nov.),模式标本采自四川省炉霍与甘孜之间的锣锅梁子。金线草柄锈的夏孢子堆均匀密布于叶背面,褐色粉末状;夏孢子亚球形、倒卵形或椭圆形,18—35×17—23μm,壁厚1—2μm,淡黄褐色,有刺,芽孔2个,生在腰部附近。冬孢子堆颜色较深;冬孢子棍棒形或椭圆形,隔膜处不缢缩或稍缢缩,25—45×13—23μm, 顶壁厚3.5—5μm,肉桂褐色,光滑;上部细胞芽孔顶生,下部细胞芽孔生于隔膜附近。本种近似韦氏蓼柄锈(Puccinia polygoni-weyrichii T.Miyake),但其夏孢子壁厚度均匀,冬孢子顶壁增厚,而后者夏孢子顶壁增厚(5—7μm),冬孢子壁厚度均匀(2—2.5μm)。波壁柄锈的冬孢子堆在叶两面散生,黑褐色或黑色粉末状。夏孢子在冬孢子堆中混杂,近球形或宽椭圆形,22—25×18—23μm,壁厚2—2.5μm,密生小刺,暗褐色,有3—5个散生的芽孔。冬孢子椭圆形或倒卵形,隔膜处不缢缩,25—40×20—25μm,壁波状起伏,厚度不均匀(1.5—2.5μm),栗褐色;上部细胞芽孔顶生,下部细胞芽孔近基生或基生。本种由于冬孢子壁呈波状起伏而不同于龙胆科植物上的其他已知的柄锈。     

双孢蘑菇上的丝枝霉新种

1980—1981年先后自北京、昆明、福州等地双孢蘑菇[Agaricus bisporus (Lange)Sing.]上分离到一种真菌,在PDA上的培养性状与蘑菇轮枝菌(Vertieillium psalliotae Tresch．)和蛛网丝枝霉中国变种[Aphanocladium aranearum(Petch) Gams var sincase J．D．Chen]近 似。镜检可见其兼具上述两种菌的形态。经反复多次纯化,并挑取单孢子培养,肯定了这种真菌是纯菌。在培养基上已保存4年,形态稳定。它具典型蘑菇轮枝菌形态,而其丝枝霉型瓶梗的形成和瘪缩时间、长度、原瓶梗数量、末端瓶梗数及排列密度等,都与蛛网丝枝霉中国变种有一定差异,与丝枝霉属其它种亦不同,故定为两型丝枝霉新种(Aphanocladium dimorphum sp-nov.)。本文详细描述了该新种的形态,井对文甲所提的五种真菌及其与Engyodontium属间的关系进行了讨论。     

The effect of bacterial strain and temperature changes on the nitrogenase activity of Lotus pedunculatus root nodules

After 40 days of growth at 25°C, Lotus pedunculatus cav., cv. Maku plants infected with Rhizobium loti strain NZP2037 displayed similar relative growth rates but had twice the nodule mass and only one third the whole plant dry weight of plants infected with Bradyrhizobium sp. (Lotus) strain CC814s. In the NZP2037 symbiosis, the rate of CO₂ evolution (per g dry weight of nodulated root) was 1.6 times as high as that in the CC814s symbiosis while the rate of C₂H₂ reduction (per g dry weight of nodule) was only 48% of that in the CC814s symbiosis. Studies of the effect of short term temperature changes on the gas exchange characteristics (CO₂ and H₂ evolution, C₂H₂ reduction) of these symbioses revealed wide differences in the optima for C₂H₂ reduction. Nodules infected with NZP2037 displayed maximal C₂H₂ reduction rates [157 μmol (g dry weight nodule)^?1 h^?1] at 12°C, whereas nodules infected with CC814s were optimal at 30°C [208 μmol (g dry weight nodule)^?1 h^?1]. These short term studies suggested that differences in temperature optima for N₂ may have partially accounted for the poorer effectivity, at 25°C, of strain NZP2037 when compared with strain CC-814s. The relative efficiency [RE = 1 – (H₂ evolution/C₂H₂ reduction)] of N₂ fixation varied widely with temperature in the two symbioses, but there was a general trend toward higher RE with lower temperatures. The ratio of CO₂ evolution: C₂H₂ reduction (mol/mol) in nodulated roots infected with CC814s was constant (ca 10 CO₂/C₂H₂) between 5°C and 30°C, whereas in plants infected with NZP2037 it reached a minimal value of 3.3 CO₂/C₂H₂ at 10°C and was 19 CO₂/C₂H₂ at the growing temperature (25°C).     

Regulatory and molecular properties of citrate synthases from methylotrophs

Abstract Gram-negative methylotrophs contain a high- M _r'large' citrate synthase. Gram-positive methylotrophs, on the other hand, contain a 'small' citrate synthase. These differences in M _r coincided partly with differences in NADH sensitivity. Citrate synthases from obligate Gram-negative and Gram-positive facultative methylotrophs were insensitive to feedback inhibition by NADH; only the enzymes from Gram-negative facultative methylotrophs were inhibited by NADH.     

Systematic study ofOsbertia (Asteraceae-Astereae)

Osbertia, a stoloniferous group confined to the montane regions of Mexico and adjacent Guatemala, was first proposed as a genus byGreene (1895), but most workers have retained the taxon as part ofHaplopappus. It is clearly closer toNoticastrum, Erigeron orHeterotheca than it is toHaplopappus sensu stricto. The present treatment recognizes two species, a widespread highly variableOsbertia stolonifera and a newly describedO. chihuahuana from northwestern Mexico. Distribution maps, distinguishing features, full synonymy and illustrations are presented.     

Embryogenesis and plant regeneration of Medicago spp. in tissue culture

Ten cultivars and breeding lines from two species of alfalfa (Medicago media and M. sativa) were screened for their ability to produce embryos and plantlets from the root and hypocotyl under three different tissue culture protocols. The three protocols differed in basal salt composition, vitamins, hormones and cytokinin additions. That protocol having a high 2–4,D low cytokinin induction step gave the highest percentage of embryogenic calli in some cultivars and lines. M. media cultivars and breeding lines had a high percentage of embryoid formation. M. sativa cultivars gave no embryoid formation. Two M. media breeding lines (Br1 and Le1), which were intermediate in the percentage of embryogenic calli formed from explants, had the highest number of regenerated plants established in soil. The creeping rooted M. media cultivar Heinrichs produced the highest percentage of embryogenic calli from explants but most of these embryoids were abnormal and failed to grow in soil or vermiculite. Accordingly, successful regeneration is directly related to the quality and quantity of the embryoids produced. Respectively: Biotechnology Department, Alberta Research Council, Agriculture Canada, Beaverlodge, Alberta, and University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada