粗缩病对不同抗性玉米品种叶片生理特性的影响

以6个对玉米粗缩病（MRDV）表现不同抗性的玉米品种为材料, 研究了粗缩病对玉米叶片叶绿素含量、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性和可溶性蛋白含量的影响。结果表明, 感病后, 各品种叶片叶绿素含量、SOD活性和可溶性蛋白含量显著降低, 叶绿素含量和SOD活性下降幅度表现为感病品种〉中抗品种〉抗病品种, 可溶性蛋白含量下降幅度表现为抗病品种〉中抗品种〉感病品种（‘青农105’除外）。对病情指数与各生理指标变化幅度的相关分析发现, 叶绿素含量和SOD活性的下降幅度与病情指数均呈显著正相关, 除‘青农105’外的5个品种可溶性蛋白含量的下降幅度与病情指数呈极显著负相关。这说明, 品种对粗缩病的抗病性与感病后各生理指标的变化幅度有关; 品种抗性越强, 感病后叶绿素含量和SOD活性下降幅度越小, 可溶性蛋白含量下降幅度越大。     

镉胁迫对烟草叶激素水平、光合特性、荧光特性的影响

采用不同浓度镉胁迫（0mg/L、5mg/L、25mg/L、50mg/L）的水培试验,分别用感应耦合等离子体、紫外分光光度计、酶联免疫法、光合作用仪、叶绿素荧光分析仪研究了镉胁迫3d对烟草(Nicotiana tabacum L.)叶内镉含量、IAAO活性、激素（IAA、ABA、GA3、Z）水平、光合特性及荧光特性的影响。结果显示烟草叶内镉含量随着胁迫浓度增加而显著增加;IAAO活性在镉为5mg/L时下降,然后随着镉浓度增加而显著上升;IAA含量在镉为5mg/L时上升,但随着镉浓度增加而显著下降;ABA含量随着镉浓度上升而增加;GA3含量在5mg/L时上升,然后随着镉浓度增加而显著下降;Z含量随着镉浓度增加而显著下降;叶绿素a、叶绿素b和类胡萝卜素含量均随镉胁迫浓度增大而显著减少;光合参数（Pn、Gs、Ci、Tr）及荧光参数（ Fv/ Fo、Fv/Fm、ФPSⅡ、qP）均随镉胁迫浓度增大而下降。     

CO_2浓度升高对转Bt水稻生理指标的影响

通过OTC试验研究了生长60和120 d的转Bt水稻克螟稻及其对照亲本秀水11在2种CO2浓度(375、750μL·L-1)处理下的生理变化。结果表明:叶绿素a、叶绿素b、叶绿素a+b、可溶性蛋白含量以及谷氨酰胺合成酶活力等均随水稻生长而显著提高,游离氨基酸含量随水稻生长而显著下降,叶绿素a/b值在高CO2浓度下显著增加;CO2浓度升高会引起水稻组织含水量、叶绿素a和c含量显著降低,叶绿素b含量呈先增加后降低的趋势;同时,可溶性蛋白含量显著下降,游离氨基酸含量显著增加,谷氨酰胺合成酶活性初期变化不显著、后期显著降低;转Bt水稻及其对照亲本之间可溶性蛋白含量和谷氨酰胺合成酶活力差异显著,但叶绿素和游离氨基酸含量差异不显著;与亲本相比,不同CO2浓度处理下克螟稻的谷氨酰胺合成酶活力显著降低。     

镉与锌复合污染对栝楼幼苗生理特性的影响

通过室内盆栽实验,研究镉(Cd)、锌(Zn)复合污染对栝楼(Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim.)幼苗生理特性的影响.结果显示,随着Cd、Zn浓度的升高,叶绿素a、叶绿素b、总叶绿素、可溶性糖及紫外吸收物含量下降;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性先升高再下降,过氧化物酶(POD)活性及类胡萝卜素含量呈升—降—升趋势;丙二醛(MDA)和可溶性蛋白含量分别呈S"型及倒N"型曲线变化.与对照相比,在不同浓度复合污染条件下,光合色素、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、紫外吸收物含量及SOD活性均有所下降,POD活性和MDA含量上升.研究表明,栝楼幼苗对Cd、Zn胁迫具有一定的耐受力,但高浓度Cd、Zn对幼苗正常生长有较为显著的抑制作用.     

不同浓度Hg^2＋对睡莲的毒害影响研究

主要研究了Ｈｇ＾２＋对睡莲的外部形态及叶绿素含量、过氧化物酶活性、硝酸还原酶活性。可溶性蛋白含量等生理指标的影响。结论是：Ｈｇ＾２＋对其外部形态的毒害程度与处理浓度和时间成正相关。１－５ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ处理使叶绿素含量、硝酸还原酶活性上升,８－１０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ处理则下降;１－８ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ处理过氧化物酶活性随浓度增加而上升,１０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ处理则下降,但仍高于对照;可溶性蛋白含量随处理浓度增加呈下降趋     

镉胁迫对大青杨不同倍体的生长及生理生化的影响

以大青杨不同倍体当年生扦插苗为研究对象，用不同浓度CdCl₂溶液对其进行镉胁迫处理，研究不同镉浓度对大青杨3种倍体的生长和生理生化的影响。结果表明：镉胁迫对大青杨3种倍体生长有显著的抑制作用，随着镉浓度的增加，与对照苗（二倍体，CK）相比受胁迫苗的苗高和地径都显著下降；叶绿素含量先升高后下降；大青杨二倍体和四倍体的叶片含水量随镉浓度增加呈下降趋势，而三倍体叶片含水量则在低浓度时增加，高浓度时降低；三倍体和四倍体的过氧化氢酶（CAT）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的酶活性在镉浓度低时增加，在镉浓度高时降低，而二倍体中酶活性则呈下降趋势。这说明镉浓度低时3种倍体都有较好的耐受性，而在高浓度胁迫下三倍体含水量、叶绿素含量、CAT的活性和丙二醛（MDA）含量比四倍体分别高5.47%、25.47%、8.59%、28.47%，比二倍体分别高23.47%、44.63%、17.23%、31.48%，说明大青杨三倍体在镉胁迫下细胞膜损伤最小，抗氧化能力最强，有较好的抗重金属镉的能力。本研究为在重金属污染地区进行育种工作提供了理论依据。     

铜或镉胁迫对海洋青鳉生理生化指标及产卵量的影响

通过研究海水中不同浓度重金属胁迫对海洋青鳉(Oryzias melastigma)生理生化的影响, 探讨与分析各指标间的相互关系, 为海洋重金属污染的生物监测提供参考。按海水水质标准分别设定铜(Cu)和镉(Cd)离子各3个浓度梯度, 测定海洋青鳉中乳酸(LA)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、睾酮(T)、促卵泡素(FSH)、促黄体生成素(LH))及产卵量的动态变化。海洋青鳉中的LA含量随铜胁迫时间的延长而显著降低, 随镉胁迫浓度的增加而升高; LDH活性在铜胁迫下变化不大, 而随镉胁迫时间的延长略有上升; T含量在短期铜胁迫下有所升高, 但随胁迫时间的延长呈显著下降趋势, 却随镉胁迫浓度升高及胁迫时间延长而上升; FSH与LH含量随铜胁迫浓度增加呈显著下降, 随镉胁迫浓度增加呈先降后升趋势, 两者的含量变化与T的动态密切相关。与此同时, 随铜胁迫时间的延长和胁迫浓度的增加, 青鳉的产卵量也呈显著下降趋势。综合表明, 铜或镉胁迫均能显著影响雌性青鳉的LA含量, 增加能量消耗, 进而影响性激素水平, 最终影响到产卵量, 但两类离子的影响存在较大的差异性。因此, 一定浓度的铜或镉胁迫会导致海洋青鳉鱼体内生理生化的变化, 且存在两性差异性, 雌鱼对铜或镉胁迫的响应敏感强, 可选择雌鱼开展相关污染监测。     

镉胁迫对大弹涂鱼肝脏黄螵呤氧化酶和抗氧化酶活性的影响

研究了不同浓度镉离子对大弹涂鱼肝脏黄嘌呤氧化酶（XOD）、抗氧化酶（超氧化物岐化酶SOD、过氧化氢酶CAT）活性和丙二醛（MDA）含量的影响,以探讨其用于污染暴露的生物标记的可行性.结果表明,低浓度Cd²⁺（0.05 mg·L^-1）暴露使大弹涂鱼肝脏XOD和SOD活性随时间延长升高,第10天达到最大值,中高浓度暴露（0.5 和5 mg·L^-1 Cd²⁺）XOD和SOD活性显著或极显著升高;低和高浓度镉胁迫处理的CAT活性在12 h显著降低,随时间的延长低浓度组CAT活性恢复正常,高浓度组在第7天降到最低值, 并在恢复期的5 d中高浓度组CAT活性却极显著升高;低和中浓度镉胁迫处理的MDA含量12 h极显著升高,而高浓度却极显著下降,随时间延长低浓度恢复正常, 中浓度先上升后下降并到第5天达到最大值,而中高浓度在恢复5 d后MDA含量都极显著降低.     

硫硒配施对衰老期大蒜生长、品质及抗氧化能力的影响

本文研究了衰老过程中硫硒配施对大蒜生长、品质及抗氧化能力的影响。结果显示,硒的施用显著提高大蒜干鲜重、鳞茎鲜重和横径,降低了MDA含量,提高了处理200 d的Fv/Fm值与叶绿素含量,促进了大蒜的生长。硒处理均显著提高了谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性;降低了超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性;低硫浓度下低硒处理提高了过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,高硫浓度下, CAT活性随硒浓度升高而升高;处理160 d的过氧化物酶(POD)活性变化与CAT相同,硒处理200 d时,低硫浓度下POD活性降低,高硫浓度下POD活性呈先上升后下降趋势。硒处理提高了大蒜鳞茎Vc和大蒜素含量。可溶性蛋白含量在低硫浓度下随硒浓度升高而降低,而在高硫浓度随之升高;可溶性糖含量变化与可溶性蛋白恰好相反。综合各指标以低硫低硒处理(2 mmol·L-1 S+3μmol·L-1 Se)为最优。     

镉长期暴露对黑斑蛙的氧化胁迫和抗氧化能力的影响

在实验条件下,将黑斑蛙暴露于12．5mg／L和25．0mg／L浓度的镉溶液中30d,分别测定了黑斑蛙在暴露10、20和30d时肝、肾组织中镉（Cd）含量、过氧化产物丙二醛（MDA）的含量、还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）含量和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性,以探讨镉对机体的脂质过氧化作用及机体的抗氧化损伤机制。实验结果表明,不同剂量组黑斑蛙肝、肾镉含量、MDA含量均随着镉暴露时间的延长而升高,且肝MDA含量与镉在肝中的蓄积量呈显著正相关（R^2=0．8643,n=9）。肝脏GSH含量随镉暴露时间的延长而被显著诱导,且与MDA含量呈显著正相关（R^2=0．5933,n=9）;肾GSH含量则随暴露时间的延长而显著下降,与MDA含量呈显著负相关（R^2=0．8609,n=9）。不同剂量组肝SOD活性随镉暴露时间的延长而升高,肾SOD活性在高剂量组随镉暴露时间的延长表现为先升高后回落下降的趋势。可见,在镉的长期暴露下,细胞膜过氧化增强是镉伤害机体的主要原因,而GSH含量、SOD活性的升高则可能是机体抗过氧化的机理之一。     

Anesthetic preconditioning: triggering role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in isolated hearts

We postulated that anesthetic preconditioning (APC) is triggered by reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). We used the isolated guinea pig heart perfused with L-tyrosine, which reacts with ROS and RNS to form strong oxidants, principally peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), and then forms fluorescent dityrosine. ROS scavengers superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione (SCG) and NO. synthesis inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) were given 5 min before and after sevoflurane preconditioning stimuli. Drugs were washed out before 30 min of ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion. Groups were control (nontreated ischemia control), APC (two, 2-min periods of perfusion with 0.32 +/- 0.02 mM of sevoflurane; separated by a 6-min period of perfusion without sevoflurane), SCG, APC + SCG, L-NAME, and APC + L-NAME. Effluent dityrosine at 1 min reperfusion was 56 +/- 6 (SE), 15 +/- 5, 40 +/- 5(++), 39 +/- 4(++), 35 +/- 4(++) , and 33 +/- 5(++) units ((++)P< 0.05 vs. APC), respectively; left ventricular pressure (%baseline) at 60 min of reperfusion was 30 +/- 5(++), 60 +/- 4, 35 +/- 5(++), 37 +/- 5(++), 44 +/- 4, and 47 +/- 4; and infarct size (%total heart weight) was 50 +/- 5(++), 19 +/- 2, 48 +/- 3(++), 46 +/- 4(++), 42 +/- 4(++), and 45 +/- 2(++). Thus APC is initiated by ROS as shown by improved function, reduced infarct size, and reduced dityrosine on reperfusion; protective and ROS/RNS-reducing effect of APC were attenuated when bracketed by ROS scavengers or NO* inhibition.     

The effect of PH on fibrillogenesis of collagen in the egg capsule of the dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula

The collagen of the egg capsule of the dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula is stored and secreted by the secretory cells of the D-zone of the nidamental gland (Rusaou?n-Innocent, 1990b). The collagen appears to pass through several morphologically distinct textures during storage, secretion and fibril formation which may represent different lyotropic liquid crystalline phases (Knight et al., 1993). In the present communication we report evidence that a fall in hydrogen ion concentration induces fibrillogenesis during the secretion of the dogfish egg capsule. In an attempt to understand the factors involved in collagen assembly, we investigated the effects of subjecting isolated collagen storage granules in vitro to solutions ranging in pH from 2-11 and Na(+), K(+), Ca(++), Mg(++), Zn(++) and Cu(++) ions at concentrations varying from 0.01-0.5 M. From pH 2 to pH 4 most granules appeared completely amorphous; from pH 5 to pH 7 granules showed the following previously reported liquid crystalline textures: isotropic, lamellar, micellar, hexagonal columnar, transversely banded twisted nematic, and unbanded twisted nematic. At pH 8 granules showed both the hexagonal columnar phase (phase IV) and small quantities of the final fibrillar phase together with a previously undescribed texture. The latter texture, which we refer to as phase VII, had a D period (17.5 nm) half that of the lamellar texture (phase II) and the final egg capsule fibrils (phase VI). From pH 9 to pH 11, only the final fibrillar texture (phase VI) together with small quantities of the new texture (phase VII) were present. Na(+), K(+), Ca(++), Mg(++), Zn(++) and Cu(++) ions did not appear to have an observable effect on the phases found in isolated granules at pH 7.0. The role of pH in collagen storage and fibrillogenesis was confirmed by direct estimation of the pH in vivo using vital staining with neutral red, a range of pH indicators applied to unfixed cryostat sections and direct measurements of the pH of the jelly within the egg capsule. The implications of these findings for the mechanism of collagen storage and fibrillogenesis in the dogfish egg capsule and other collagenous systems are discussed.     

Regulation of betacyanin efflux from beet root by poly-L-lysine, ca-ion and other substances

Poly-l-lysine, poly-alpha, gamma-diaminobutyric acid and basic proteins cause efflux of betacyanin from beet root tissues to varying degrees. Membrane activities fall in the order: polylysine > poly-alpha, gamma-diaminobutyric acid > polyarginine (protamine), suggesting the importance of steric factors in side-chain to backbone relations. It was also observed that homopolymer activity > heteropolymer activity, using ribonuclease and lysozyme as examples of the latter. Among polylysines, there appears to be an optimal chain length at a molecular weight equal to 50,000. Lowered activity of larger polymers is interpreted in terms of a diffusion barrier, the cell wall.Polylysine and Ca(++) exhibit competitive kinetics, and Ca(++) otherwise is far more active than other cations. It is assumed that polylysine displaces Ca(++) from anionic centers on the membrane, but cannot confer equivalent dimensional stability, rendering the membrane leaky. The possible role of cationic shielding in ionic stabilization of the membrane was also considered. The order of divalent ion activity against polylysine was Ca(++) > Sr(++) > Mg(++), suggesting again a specific size-fit relationship.     

Calcium control of waveform in isolated flagellar axonemes of chlamydomonas

The effect of Ca(++) on the waveform of reactivated, isolated axonemes of chlamydomonas flagella was investigated. Flagella were detached and isolated by the dibucaine procedure and demembranated by treatment with the detergent Nonidet; the resulting axomenes lack the flagellar membrane and basal bodies. In Ca(++)-buffered reactivation solutions containing 10(-6) M or less free Ca(++), the axonemes beat with a highly asymmetrical, predominantly planar waveform that closely resembled that of in situ flagella of forward swimming cells. In solutions containing 10(-4) M Ca(++), the axonemes beat with a symmetrical waveform that was very similar to that of in situ flagella during backward swimming. In 10(-5) M Ca(++), the axonemes were predominantly quiescent, a state that appears to be closely associated with changes in axomenal waveform or direction of beat in many organisms. Experiments in which the concentrations of free Ca(++), not CaATP(--) complex were independently varied suggested that free Ca(++), not CaATP(--), was responsible for the observed changes. Analysis of the flagellar ATPases associated with the isolated axonemes and the nonidet- soluble membrane-matrix fraction obtained during preparation of the axonemes showed that the axonemes lacked the 3.0S Ca(++)-activated ATPase, almost all of which was recovered in the membrane-matrix fraction. These results indicate that free Ca(++) binds directly to an axonemal component to alter flagellar waveform, and that neither the 3.0S CaATPase nor the basal bodies are directly involved in this change.     

Streptococcal Sialidase I. Isolation and Properties of Sialidase Produced by Group K Streptococcus

A survey has been made of the activity of a wide variety of standard strains of streptococci against bovine submaxillary mucin. Strain 6646 (group K) and strain D 168A "X" (group M) completely broke down and strain H 60R (group F) incompletely broke down bound sialic acid of bovine submaxillary mucin added to the growth medium. Among these strains, strain 6646 (group K) produced sialidase in the cell and in the culture fluid. An appropriate amount of glucose in the culture medium stimulated growth and the production of enzyme, but an excess of glucose in the culture medium caused abundant growth without production of the enzyme. The streptococcal sialidase was precipitated from the culture fluid by ammonium sulfate at 50% saturation, and further purification was achieved by diethylaminoethyl cellulose chromatography. Ca(++) and Co(++) stimulated the sialidase activity, and Mn(++), Zn(++), and ethylenediaminetetraacetate inhibited it. With acetate buffer, the optimal pH lay between 5 and 6. Sialic acid was detected in the reaction product of the streptococcal sialidase and bovine submaxillary mucin.     

Microbiological Study of Water-Softener Resins

Microbial identification using effluents backflushed from exhausted urban and rural tank resins and cleaned resins containing the sulfonated copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene (SDB) were completed, along with microbial assessment of the concentrated stock salt brine. Forty-four different bacterial and fungal genera were identified. Extensive biochemical and animal virulence tests completed on one of the six bacterial salt brine isolates indicated a pathogenic staphylococcal strain. The retention of Staphylococcus aureus, a Flavobacterium sp, and Escherichia coli B bacteriophage was demonstrated both by using the nonexhausted sodium-regenerated resin and by using the same resin exchanged with different mono-, di-, and trivalent cations. Effluent counts completed after bacterial seepage through the resins indicated the Pb(++) exchanged resin removed 55% of the bacteria; Na(+), Fe(++), and Al(+++) removed 31 to 36% and Ca(++) and Cu(++) removed about 10 to 15%. Seventy per cent or more of the bacteriophage was removed by Fe(++), Cu(++), and Al(+++), whereas the Ca(++) and Na(++) cations removed 25 to 31%. Over a 77-day period, nonsterile tap water was passed through bacterial seeded and uninoculated SDB (Na) resin columns. Effluent and resin elution counts demonstrated the growth and survival of 2 different bacteria per column. Increased bacterial retention, survival, and multiplication occurred concomitantly with accumulation of organic and inorganic materials and the Ca(++) and Mg(++) cations from the tap water. Furthermore, microbial elution from resin particles taken from column depths of 1, 8, and 16 cm indicated a bacterial diminution with increasing depths.     

23Na NMR study of the interaction between hyaluronan and the bications Ca(++), Mg(++) and Cu(++)

The relaxation rate R = pi Delta nu(1/2) of the quadrupolar (23)Na nucleus was measured at pH approximately 7 using a 200 MHz NMR spectrometer with a view to observe the interaction between hyaluronan and its natural counterion Na(+) and the bications Ca(++), Mg(++) and Cu(++). An interpretation of our results, by means of the "entropy of fluctuations" concept of Na(+), is presented. We show that Cu(++) ions are more effective than Ca(++) and Mg(++). A possible model of complexation of Cu(++) in a cage formed by the 1-4 glycosidic bond, the carboxylate side-chain and the acetoamide side-chain is proposed, according to electrostatic potential computations using the ZINDO1 quantum semi empirical method.     

Evidence of active transfer of certain non-electrolytes across the human red cell membrane

1. Permeability of the human erythrocyte to glycerol, as indicated by the course of hemolysis and volume changes, is depressed by Cu(++), Hg(++), I(2), p-chloromercuribenzoate, and phlorhizin, without effecting general permeability changes. In so far as tested (Cu(++), p-ClHgB), these inhibitors delay exit of glycerol from the cell as well as its entry. 2. Permeability to glucose is similarly depressed by I(2) and phlorhizin, and is extremely sensitive to Hg(++) and p-chloromercuribenzoate, but is not affected by Cu(++). An extensive series of other enzyme poisons is without effect in either system. 3. The effects of the sulfhydryl inhibitors are prevented or reversed in the presence of glutathione, cysteine, etc. 4. The kinetics of the volume changes in glucose-saline solutions indicates a mechanism for transport of glucose into the cell, regulated by the existing intracellular concentration, rather than by simple diffusion gradients. 5. The intermediation of a sulfhydryl group at the cell surface, probably an enzymatic phosphorylation, is suggested as an essential step in the passage of glycerol, glucose, and other like substances, across the human red cell membrane.     

Cation-binding Capacity of Membranes Isolated from Micrococcus lysodeikticus

A study was made of H(+), Na(+), K(+), Ca(++), and Mg(++) binding and ion-exchange properties of the plasma-mesosome membrane system isolated from Micrococcus lysodeikticus strain NCTC 2665. Titration curves were obtained on membranes prepared according to the method of M. R. J. Salton and further exposed to pH 4 for 4 hr (membranes-H). The dissociation coefficients and binding capacities were obtained by applying the mass law equation and the plot of G. Schatchard to the data. The membranes-H possess four kinds of dissociable groups with pK 4.96, 4.18, 3.60, and 3.09, respectively, and a total binding capacity of 0.65 meq/g (dry weight). Potentiometric titrations of cations in the presence and in the absence of membranes-H show that cations (Na(+), K(+), Ca(++), and Mg(++)) are bound by the dissociated groups of the membrane. The fall in pH value for bivalent cations is greater than that for monovalent cations. Cations of the same valency produce equal diminutions on pH. Furthermore, ion-exchange tests carried out on membranes saturated with Mg(++) or Na(+) and suspended in a medium containing (45)Ca show that the cations are reversibly bound.     

Changes in the permeability of ascospores of Neurospora tetra-sperma during germination

The respiration and germination of activated ascospores of Neurospora tetrasperma have been shown to be almost completely inhibited by concentrations of ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as low as 0.0035 M. In contrast, however, dormant ascospores are insensitive to this chelating agent. At any time up to about 150 minutes after activation Ca(++) or Mg(++) can completely reverse this toxicity but Cu(++), Co(++), and Mn(++) only partially reverse it. After this time, the minerals of the Neurospora "minimal" medium taken singly, or in various combinations cannot reverse this effect. Adding EDTA at 120 minutes after activation eliminates the lag period associated with its effect upon respiration. Inhibition occurs even though the cells seem to be impermeable to EDTA. Cationic exchange resins, as another example of a non-penetrating metal-binding agent, gave effects similar to those noted with EDTA. Of the resins used the H(+) form of IR-120 and the Na(+) and K(+) forms of amberlite IRC-50 were the most toxic to activated ascospores. On the other hand, dormant ascospores were entirely unaffected by the resins. The release of Ca(++) from activated ascospores coincided with the period of maximum sensitivity to EDTA. More than 60 per cent of the cell's content of K(+) is released by EDTA-inhibited ascospores. A low pH decreased the effectiveness of EDTA as a poison. The data are consistent with the possibility that non-penetrating metal-binding agents are toxic because of the irreversible removal of essential cations from the cell. The kinetic data for the inhibitory effects, and for the release of Ca(++) establish that the permeability of germinating ascospores to minerals changes drastically as a result of activation.