Respiratory components in acidophilic bacteria that respire on iron

Abstract

Microorganisms capable of aerobic respiration on ferrous ions are spread throughout eubacterial and archaebacterial phyla. Phylogenetically distinct organisms were shown to express spectrally distinct redox‐active biomolecules during autotrophic growth on soluble iron. A new iron‐oxidizing eubacterium, designated as strain Funis, was investigated. Strain Funis was judged to be different from other known iron‐oxidizing bacteria on the bases of comparative lipid analyses, 16S rRNA sequence analyses, and cytochrome composition studies. When grown autotrophically on ferrous ions, Funis produced conspicuous levels of a novel acid‐stable, acid‐soluble yellow cytochrome with a distinctive absorbance peak at 579 nm in the reduced state.

Stopped‐flow spectrophotometric kinetic studies were conducted on respiratory chain components isolated from cell‐free extracts of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Experimental results were consistent with a model where the primary oxidant of ferrous ions is a highly aggregated c‐type cytochrome that then reduces the periplasmic rusticyanin. The Fe(II)‐dependent, cytochrome c‐catalyzed reduction of the rusticyanin possessed three kinetic properties in common with corresponding intact cells that respire on iron: the same anion specificity, a similar dependence of the rate on the concentration of ferrous ions, and similar rates at saturating concentrations of ferrous ions     

Role of the modulator protein in the interconversion of rabbit skeletal muscle protein phosphatase

The major active protein phosphatase present in a rabbit skeletal muscle extract is associated with the glycogen particle and migrates in sucrose density gradient centrifugation as a Mr = 70,000 protein and contains modulator activity. Addition of extra modulator protein causes a time- and concentration-dependent conversion of the enzyme to an inactive FA-ATP, Mg-dependent form. The intrinsic modulator in the active phosphatase is destroyed by limited proteolysis without an appreciable change in the phosphatase activity. The proteolyzed active enzyme has a lower molecular weight (Mr = 40,000) and it reassociates with the modulator producing a FA-ATP, Mg-dependent enzyme form (Mr = 60,000). The modulator protein is used stoichiometrically in the activation of the ATP, Mg-dependent phosphatase. This is in agreement with the presence of one unit of modulator activity per unit of native spontaneously active phosphatase.     

Fluorometric, Chromatographic, and Spectronic Evidence for the Non-indolic Nature of Citrus Auxin

Evidence for the non-indolic nature of the new citrus auxinis presented on the basis of fluorometric properties, thin-layerchromatography, Ehrlich's colour reaction, paper electrophoresis,and the infra-red spectra determinations. Citrus auxin had alower Rf in TLC than IAA, did not give the typical indole reactionwith Ehrlich's reagent, and behaved differently in electrophoresis.The infra-red spectra also provided preliminary informationconcerning chemical structure. The hypothesis that indolic compoundsconstitute the only natural auxins in higher plants should berevised in view of this evidence that a non-indole auxin existsin higher plants.     

The Avian Shoulder: An Experimental Approach

SYNOPSIS. This essay is in two parts. The first describes functionalstudies of the shoulder in modern vertebrates that led to theformulation of the hypotheses that motor patterns of homologousmuscles have been maintained during the evolution of the tetrapodshoulder, and that a primitive organization of the neural controlcomponents has persisted in derived groups. The second part of this essay focuses upon a longstanding questionin vertebrate evolution: what neuromuscular and musculoskeletalchanges in the tetrapod shoulder accompanied the evolution offlight in birds? The lack of empirical data on shoulder functionin extant birds limited our insight into this question, andprompted our initiation of experimental studies. Preliminarykinematics of the furcula and humerus of European starlings(Sturnus vulgaris) flying in a wind tunnel, as revealed by highspeed cineradiography, are presented. The two halves of thefurcula, which contact the coracoids dorsally, are bent laterallyduring downstroke and medially during upstroke by as much as60% of the intrafurcular resting distance. High speed film andelectromyographic studies of freeflying pigeons (Columba livia)reveal that the supracoracoideus muscle is strongly activatedduring wing elevation and, as predicted from studies of Varanusand Didelphis, an additional activation burst occurs at mid-downstrokein 48% of the recordings.     

Historical and Ecological Factors in the Biogeography of Aposematic Neotropical Butterflies

SYNOPSIS. Quantitative analysis of low-level (mostly subspecific)geographic differentiation of aposematic color patterns in threegroups of forest butterflies (Heliconiini, Ithomiinae, and Troidini),in 1,550 half-degree quadrants throughout the Neotropics, indicatesfour principal species-endemicity regions, 44 principal subspecies-endemicitycenters, and 300 quadrants of subspecies hybridization. Theendemism centers are different in outline but nearly identicalin position for each of the three ecologically different groups.Basic data on present and past physical environments (climate,soils, geomorphology, and vegetation structures), when integratedinto maps, show 1) regions of favorable ecological conditionsfor forest organisms in the present, 2) regions of environmentalconformities and rapid transitions in the present, and 3) regionsof high probability for humid forest persistence during themajor landscape changes at the end of the last glacial period,13,000–20,000 yr ago. Species diversity (a local phenomenon)is readily related to favorable modern ecological conditionsand environmental microheterogeneity, promoted by unpredictablemild disturbance. Biogeographical patterns of evolution at thelevel of regional subspecies correlate very well with presumedpaleoecological conditions. The biogeographical data also supportan hypothesis of differentiation resulting from areas of rapidenvironmental change; most of the hybridization quadrants fallwithin transition zones. There is lower correlation betweencenters of endemism and zones of en vironmental conformity,but some individual cases of differentiation in the butterfliesmay be adequately explained by modern ecological factors. Speciespresently undergoing differentiation in isolated habitat islands(Amazonian savannas and high-altitude Andean forests and paramos)may offer the best opportunities for observation of evolutionaryprocesses in the present.     

Occupancy of Mountain Plover and Burrowing Owl in Colorado

Abstract: Concern over the decline of grassland birds has spurred efforts to increase understanding of grassland bird-habitat relationships. Previous studies have suggested that black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) provide important habitat for shortgrass prairie avifauna, such as mountain plover (Charadrius montanus) and western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea), although such studies are lacking in Colorado (USA). We used methods to estimate occupancy (ψ) of mountain plover and burrowing owl on prairie dog colonies and other shortgrass prairie habitats in eastern Colorado. Mountain plover occupancy was higher on prairie dog colonies (ψ = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.36–0.64) than on grassland (ψ = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.03–0.15) and dryland agriculture (ψ = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.07–0.23). Burrowing owl occupancy was higher on active prairie dog colonies (ψ = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.66–0.89) compared with inactive colonies (ψ = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.07–0.53), which in turn was much higher than on grassland (ψ = 0.01, 95% CI = 0.00–0.07) and dryland agriculture (ψ = 0.00, 95% CI ψ 0.00–0.00). Mountain plover occupancy also was positively correlated with increasing amounts of prairie dog colony in the landscape. Burrowing owl occupancy was negatively correlated with increasing amounts of prairie dog colony in the surrounding landscape. Our results suggest that actions to conserve mountain plovers and burrowing owls should incorporate land management to benefit prairie dogs. Because managing for specific colony attributes is difficult, alternative management that promotes heterogeneity may ensure that suitable habitat is available for the guild of grassland inhabitants.     

Biomechanical and Morphometric Differences in Triticum aestivum Seedlings Differing in Rht Gene-Dosage

Biomechanical and morphometric comparisons among coleoptilesfrom wheat seedlings differing in Rht gene-dosage (Rht = 0,2, 4 doses) are presented in an effort to evaluate the influenceof Rht on the mechanics of soil penetration by this organ. Rhtis known to reduce seedling establishment compared to the wildtype. Data from 3–7-day-old seedlings indicate that Rhtreduces tissue elastic modulus E, increases the second momentof area I, and decreases the slenderness ratio (l/r) of coleoptiles.Rht-relatedchanges in E and I are such that the flexural stiffness of coleoptilesfrom Rht plants does not differ significantly from the wildtype-hence the growing coleoptiles of all three genotypes haveequivalent biomechanical capacity to penetrate the soil. Rhtreduction of coleoptile slenderness ratios confers a capacityto safely sustain higher axial compressive loads compared tocoleoptiles with equivalent flexural stiffness but higher ratios.However, wild type seedlings produce longer coleoptiles andlonger subcrown internodes than Rht seedlings. Longer coleoptilesdeliver the crown node closer to the top of the soil beforethe crown node extends beyond the lateral confinement of thecoleoptile. This reduces the potential for buckling of the subcrowninternode and leaves due to the compressive loading of soil.Rht affects a variety of mechanical features whose influenceis dependent upon the stage of seedling growth and the degreeof soil compaction. However, at equivalent depths of burialwhich exceed the maximum length of coleoptiles and moderatesoil compaction, Rht is biomechanically disadvantageous to seedlingestablishment. Wheat, germination, biomechanics, Rht-gene