Effect of hyperoxidized guanine on DNA primer-template structures: Spiroiminodihydantoin leads to strand slippage

Oxidation of guanine in DNA can lead to mutagenic lesions such as 7-hydro-8-oxoguanine (oG). Upon further oxidation, a more mutagenic lesion, spirominodihydantoin (Sp), can occur. In this study, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) investigations were performed to determine the structural features of DNA primer-template models with 5′-GG, 5′-G(oG), 5′-G(Sp) and 5′-T(Sp) templates, that mimic the situation in which the downstream G of the template has been oxidized to oG or hyperoxidized to Sp. Our results show that misalignment occurs only in the 5′-G(Sp) and 5′-T(Sp) templates, providing structural insights into the observed differences in mutagenicity of Sp and oG during DNA replication.     

THE THEORETICAL RESPONSE OF LIVING CELLS TO CONTACT WITH SOLID BODIES

The theoretical behavior of a hypothetical fluid cell in contact with flat and curved solid surfaces is discussed from the point of view of surface tension. An equation is derived for calculating the equilibrium position of the cell on a flat surface in terms of the surface tensions between the cell and the plasma, the plasma and the solid surface, and the solid surface and the cell. It is shown that the same equilibrium is predicted from consideration of the contact angle between the cell and the solid body. The relative surface energy has been calculated at various stages in the ingestion of a solid particle by a fluid cell four times as large in diameter, and it is thus shown that no particle will be ingested until the surface tensions are such that the cell would spread to infinity on a flat surface of the same substance. Here again the same equilibrium is predicted from considerations of the contact angle. The adhesiveness of blood cells to solid substances is shown to be a pure surface tension phenomenon, but in most reactions between living cells and solid bodies the fluidity of the protoplasm is also a factor of prime importance. The frequent occurrence of adhesiveness as a property of cells in contact with solid bodies is due in part to the fact that, by so adhering, the surface area of the cell not touching the solid is decreased.     

Disassembly of All SNARE Complexes by N-Ethylmaleimide-sensitive Factor (NSF) Is Initiated by a Conserved 1:1 Interaction between α-Soluble NSF Attachment Protein (SNAP) and SNARE Complex

Vesicle trafficking in eukaryotic cells is facilitated by SNARE-mediated membrane fusion. The ATPase NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor) and the adaptor protein α-SNAP (soluble NSF attachment protein) disassemble all SNARE complexes formed throughout different pathways, but the effect of SNARE sequence and domain variation on the poorly understood disassembly mechanism is unknown. By measuring SNARE-stimulated ATP hydrolysis rates, Michaelis-Menten constants for disassembly, and SNAP-SNARE binding constants for four different ternary SNARE complexes and one binary complex, we found a conserved mechanism, not influenced by N-terminal SNARE domains. α-SNAP and the ternary SNARE complex form a 1:1 complex as revealed by multiangle light scattering. We propose a model of NSF-mediated disassembly in which the reaction is initiated by a 1:1 interaction between α-SNAP and the ternary SNARE complex, followed by NSF binding. Subsequent additional α-SNAP binding events may occur as part of a processive disassembly mechanism.     

Ligninolytic system of Phanerochaete chrysosporium: Inhibition by o-Phthalate

The degradation rate of [synthetic-¹⁴C]-lignin to ¹⁴CO₂ by Phanerochaete chrysosporium in cultures buffered with 0.01 M 2,2-dimethylsuccinate (DMS) was twice that in 0.01 M o-phthalate-buffered cultures. This difference could be totally accounted for by o-phthalate inhibition of the activity of the ligninolytic system. ¹⁴CO₂ production from ring-, sidechain-, and methoxyl-labeled lignins was inhibited, the degree of inhibition being dependent on o-phthalate concentration. Oxidations of ¹⁴C-glucose, ¹⁴C-acetovanillone, and ¹⁴C-apocynol were not inhibited; thus o-phthalate is not a general inhibitor, and might inhibit activities involved in attack of the lignin polymer. DMS is a suitable buffer for the ligninolytic system. Degradation rates of ring-labeled lignin to ¹⁴CO₂ of 10–15% in 24 h were obtained consistently over the pH range 3.6–4.5, with an optimum near pH 4.0.Non-Standard Abbreviations DMS dimethylsuccinate     

60 Years of Development of the Journal of Integrative Plant Biology

In celebration of JIPB's 60^th anniversary, this paper summarizes and reviews the development process of the journal. To start, we offer our heartfelt thanks to JIPB's pioneer Editors-in-Chief who helped get the journal off the ground and make it successful. Academic achievement is the soul of academic journals, and this paper summarizes JIPB's course of academic development by analyzing it in four stages: the first two stages are mostly qualitative analyses, and the latter two stages are dedicated to quantitative analyses. Most-cited papers were statistically analyzed. Improvements in editing, publication, distribution and online accessibility—which are detailed in this paper—contribute to JIPB's sustainable development. In addition, JIPB's evaluation index and awards are provided with accompanying pictures. At the end of the paper, JIPB's milestones are listed chronologically. We believe that JIPB's development, from a national journal to an international one, parallels the development of the Chinese plant sciences.     

A STUDY OF THE ACTION OF ACID AND ALKALI ON GLUTEN

In this paper there are reported studies of the acid-base equilibrium in systems containing gluten suspended in solution of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. The studies have involved measurements of the hydrogen ion concentration, of the electrical conductivity, and of the solution of the proteins. Further, measurements have been made of the swelling and of the viscosity of the gluten component of such systems. The results seem to show that simple chemical phenomena are most important in such systems, and that the modifications of these, resulting from colloidal and heterogeneous characteristics, are of secondary importance in determining the condition of equilibrium, though somewhat more significant in the progress of the system toward the condition of equilibrium.