Chloroplast and Mitochondrial DNA Variation in HORDEUM VULGARE and HORDEUM SPONTANEUM

A survey of restriction fragment polymorphism in Hordeum vulgare and Hordeum spontaneum was made using 17 and 16 hexanucleotide restriction endonucleases on chloroplast (cp) and mitochondrial (mt) DNA, respectively. The plant accessions originated from various places throughout the Fertile Cresent and Mediterranean. The types of changes in cpDNA consisted of nucleotide substitutions and insertions and deletions on the order of 100 base pairs. In contrast, mtDNA has most likely undergone larger insertions and deletions of up to 20 kilobase pairs in addition to rearrangements. Grouping of mtDNA fragment data showed that in some cases geographical affinities existed between the two species, whereas in others there were no clear affinities. Nucleotide diversity estimates derived from the restriction fragment data were used in a number of comparisons of variability. Comparisons of overall mtDNA variability (nucleotide diversity = 9.68 x 10^-4) with cpDNA variability (nucleotide diversity = 6.38 x 10^-4 ) indicated that the former are somewhat more variable. Furthermore, there was no indication that the wild H. spontaneum (cpDNA diversity = 5.57 x 10^-4; mtDNA diversity = 6.04 x 10 ^-4) was more variable than the land races of H. vulgare (cpDNA diversity = 5.88 x 10^-4; mtDNA diversity = 9.79 x 10^-4). In fact, on the basis of mtDNA diversity, H. vulgare was the more variable species. Comparison of organelle nucleotide diversity estimates with an estimate of nuclear nucleotide diversity derived from existing isozyme data provided evidence that both organelle genomes are evolving at a slower rate than the nuclear genome.     

The effects of mispair and nonpair correction in hybrid DNA on base ratios (G + C content) and total amounts of DNA

Base ratios and total DNA amounts can vary substantially between and within higher taxa and genera, and even within species. Gene conversion is one of several mechanisms that could cause such changes. For base substitutions, disparity in conversion direction is accompanied by an equivalent disparity in base ratio at the heterozygous site. Disparity in the direction of gene conversion at meiosis is common and can be extreme. For transitions (which give purine [R]/pyrimidine [Y] mispairs) and for transversions giving unlike R/R and Y/Y mispairs in hybrid DNA, this disparity could give slow but systematic changes in G + C percentage. For transversions giving like R/R and Y/Y mispairs, it could change AT/TA and CG/GC ratios. From the extent of correction direction disparity, one can deduce properties of repair enzymes, such as the ability (1) to excise preferentially the purine from one mispair and the pyrimidine from the other for two different R/Y mispairs from a single heterozygous site and (2) to excise one base preferentially from unlike R/R or Y/Y mispairs. Frame-shifts usually show strong disparity in conversion direction, with preferential cutting of the nonlooped or the looped-out strand of the nonpair in heterozygous h-DNA. The opposite directions of disparity for frame-shifts and their intragenic suppressors as Ascobolus suggest that repair enzymes have a strong, systematic bias as to which strand is cut. The conversion spectra of mutations induced with different mutagens suggest that the nonlooped strand is preferentially cut, so that base additions generally convert to mutant and deletions generally convert to wild-type forms. Especially in nonfunctional or noncoding DNA, this could cause a general increase in DNA amounts. Conversion disparity, selection, mutation, and other processes interact, affecting rates of change in base ratios and total DNA.      

Reduction of laccase type 1 copper by 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and other catechol derivatives

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) is not a preferred substrate of Rhus vernicifera laccase, as rate constants for the anaerobic reduction of the type 1 cupric atom by L-DOPA (6.3 X 10(1) M-1 s-1), D-DOPA (2.6 X 10(1) M-1 s-1), and L-DOPA methyl ester (2.6 X 10(1) M-1 s-1) are considerably smaller than k1 (catechol) (7 X 10(2) M-1 s-1) and rate constants characteristic of numerous other nonphysiological organic substrates (25 degrees C, pH 7.0, I = 0.5 M). The reactions of DOPA derivatives with laccase are unique, however, in that a two-term rate law pertains: kobsd = k0 + k1[phenol]; k0(L-DOPA) = 7 X 10(-2) s-1. The reactivities of other catechol derivatives (pyrogallol, gallic acid, and methyl gallate) with laccase type 1 copper were also examined.     

Mouse-protective properties of Bordetella pertussis serotypes in passive tests

In a passive protection procedure in which the ed(50) values of Bordetella pertussis antisera were determined, groups of mice were given graded intraperitoneal doses of serum, followed the next day by intracerebral challenge with 100,000 organisms. Antiserum produced with B. pertussis culture 5373, serotype 1.3, protected mice against challenge with culture 18-323, serotype 1.2.3, as effectively as did an antiserum produced with a serotype 1.2.3 culture. When two groups of mice similarly treated with pertussis immune serum were challenged with culture 353Z (serotype 1) and 18-323, respectively, much lower ed(50) values were obtained with the animals challenged with 353Z. Passive protection tests with adsorbed antiserum gave equivocal results, suggesting that some of the adsorbing antigen remained in the serum and interfered with the tests. There was no evidence that serotype is related to protection.     

In Vitro Processing of Aleurain,a Barley Vacuolar Thiol Protease

Aleurain, originally described from its cDNA as a thiol protease [Rogers, J.C., Dean, D., and Heck, G.R. (1985). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82, 6512-6516], is characterized here as a glycoprotein that is targeted to a distinct vacuolar compartment in aleurone cells. Monospecific antibodies to a bacterial trpE-aleurain fusion protein were used to show that aleurain is made as a 42-kilodalton (kD) proenzyme (proaleurain) that is proteolytically processed in a post-Golgi compartment in two steps to form a 32-kD protein. The first processing step is the discrete loss of 9 kD from proaleurain to yield a 33-kD intermediate that is further processed by the gradual loss of 1 kD resulting in mature 32-kD aleurain. Using proaleurain secreted from Xenopus oocytes as a substrate, we established an in vitro system using aleurone cell extracts that correctly processes proaleurain to a stable protein that is indistinguishable from native barley aleurain as judged by partial digestion with staphylococcal V8 protease. Proaleurain is not capable of self-cleavage in the absence of aleurone cell extracts and mature aleurain appears not to participate in processing in vitro.     

Reactivity of cuprous stellacyanin as a quinone and semiquinone reductase

The reactivity of cuprous stellacyanin as a quinone and semiquinone reductase has been examined. Rate constants (25.0 degrees C) measured for the oxidation of stellacyanin by 1,4-benzoquinone and benzosemiquinone are 2.3 X 10(4) M-1 s-1 (delta H not equal to = 4.4 kcal/mol, delta S not equal to = -24 eu) and 5.1 X 10(6) M-1 s-1, respectively [pH 7.0, I = 0.1 M (phosphate)]. The agreement of these rate constants with those calculated on the basis of relative Marcus theory is discussed. Stellacyanin is more effective than laccase in quenching benzosemiquinone, suggesting that the physiological role of this metalloprotein is to regulate the concentration of free radicals generated through the laccase-catalyzed oxidation of phenols.     

Kinetics of the oxidation of Rhus vernicifera stellacyanin by the Co(EDTA)-- ion.

A kinetic study of the oxidation of the copper(I) form of the blue copper protein stellacyanin (St(I) by Co(EDTA)-- has been performed. Observed rate constants approach a saturation limit with increasing [Co(EDTA)--] at pH 7, consistent with a mechanism involving rapid pre-equilibrium oxidant-protein complex formation followed by rate-limiting intramolecular Cu(I) to Co(III) electron transfer: Co(EDTA)-- + St(i Qp in equilibrium Co(EDTA)-- ---St(I) Co(EDTA)-- ---St(I) k2 leads to Co(EDTA)2-- ---St(II) (Qp = 149 M--1, k2 = 0.169 sec--1; 25.1 degrees, pH 7.0 mu 0.5 M (phosphate)). Activation parameters based on k2 (deltaH not equal to = 1.8 kcal/mol, deltaS not equal to = --56 cal/mol-deg) indicate that the electron transfer process is substantially nondiabatic, in marked contrast with results obtained for Co(phen) 3 3+ as the oxidant. Linear kobsd VS. [Co(EDTA)--] plots are reported for the Co(EDTA)-- oxidation of cuprous stellacyanin at pH 10 (k = 8.9 M--1 sec--1; 25.0, pH 10, mu 0.5 M (carbonate); DELTaH not equal to 11.3 kcal/mol, deltaS not equal to = -16 cal/mol-deg) and at pH 7 in the presence of excess EDTA (k = 21.2 M--1 sec--1; 25.1 degree, pH 7.0, mu 0.5 M (phosphate), [EDTA] tot = 5 X 10(--4) M; deltaH not equal to = 5.9 kcal/mol, delta S not equal to = --33 cal/mol-deg). It is concluded that Co(EDTA)-- adopts an electron transfer mechanism similar to that preferred by Co(phen)33+ under conditions where the oxidant is prevented from binding strongly to reduced stellacyanin.