Tissue culture ofKarwinskia humboldtiana—a plant producing toxins with antitumoural effects

Isolated embryos ofKarwinskia humboldtiana were cultured in vitro. The growth of embryos and development to plantlets on woody plant medium supplemented with indole-3-acetic acid 6.10^-2 mol l^–1, gibberellic acid (GA₃) 3.10^-2 mol l^–1, and 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) 2 mol l^–1 was obtained. Multiplication of shoots and rooting of excised shoots has been achieved. Callus formation on modified Murashige-Skoog medium supplemented with 1-naphthaleneacetic acid 10 mol l^–1, GA₃ 14 mol l^–1, and kinetin 5 mol l^–1 on hypocotyls, or on root cultures on medium supplemented with 2.4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid 10 mol l^–1 and BA 10 mol l^–1 was induced.Abbreviations BA 6-benzylaminopurine - 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GA₃ gibberellic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - NAA 1-naphthaleneacetic acid - TEM transmission electron microscopy     

Uptake of sewage derived nitrogen by<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Ulva rigida</Emphasis> (Chlorophyceae) in Bahía Nueva (Golfo Nuevo,Patagonia, Argentine)

Uptake kinetics of nitrogen derived from sewage–seawater mixtures (2.5–20% v/v effluent) were determined in the laboratory for Ulva rigida (Chlorophyceae) native from Bahía Nueva (Golfo Nuevo, Patagonia, Argentine). In terms of nitrogen concentration, experimental enrichment levels varied between 53.7 and 362.3M of ammonium and between 0.77 and 6.21M of nitrate+nitrite. Uptake rates were fitted to the Michaelis–Menten equation, with the following kinetic parameters: ammonium: V_max = 591.2molg^–1h^–1, K _s=262.3M, nitrate+nitrite: V _max=12.9molg^–1h^–1, K _s=3.5M). Both nutrients were taken up simultaneously, but ammonium incorporation was faster in all cases. The results show a high capability of Ulva rigida to remove sewage-derived nitrogen from culture media. In the field, most of the nitrogen provided by the effluent would be tied up in algal biomass, supporting low nitrogen levels found at a short distance away from the source.     

Concurrent effect of visible light on γ-particles,chitin synthetase,and encystment capacity in zoospores ofBlastocladiella emersonii

Summary Zoospores derived from ordinary colorless plants ofBlastocladiella emersonii grown under 240 W/cm² of visible light contain an average of ca. 5 -particles and numerous aggregates of cytoplasmic granules which resemble the -matrix, while spores from dark-grown plants contain ca. 12 -particles but none of the granules. Correspondingly, the amount of chitin synthetase associated with -particles is approximately proportional to the number of -particles in the two spore types. The foregoing light effects, known to be accompanied by an increased capacity for encystment, probably take place before sporogenesis. Conversely, zoospores derived from dark-grown plants do not encyst appreciably over an 8 h period unless they are illuminated, but the number of -particles/spore decreases from 12 to ca. 6 whether or not light is present. Arguments are presented for considering the latter disappearance of -particles as an essential ark reaction which precedes a photochemical reaction, both being needed for light-induced encystment.     

Plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis in Styrian pumpkin: cytological and biochemical investigations

Somatic embryo formation was induced from cotyledon explants of Styrian pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L. subsp. pepo var. styriaca Greb.) by using a solid MS medium supplemented with 16.11M NAA and 4.44M BA or 26.85M NAA and 13.32M BA. The callus proliferation was more efficient on medium supplemented with 26.85M NAA and 13.32M BA. In contrast, the embryogenic response was higher on medium with lower concentrations of growth regulators (16.11M NAA and 4.44M BA). The time needed for embryo induction did not depend on medium composition. Embryos in globular stage were transferred to three different maturation media, containing 2.89M GA₃ in combination with 0.54M NAA, 11.42M IAA and growth regulator-free medium. The germination rate was the highest when embryos were cultured on medium with 11.42M IAA. Plantlets grown on this medium achieved maturity suitable for transplantation into soil within 9 to 10weeks. The regenerated plants were successfully transferred into field and developed fertile flowers and set fruits. Biochemical analysis showed significant lower total glutathione levels among in vitro grown plantlets compared to seedlings grown in soil. When the plantlets were transferred into soil, they reached a normal size within a month and the glutathione concentration was comparable to seed-derived plants at the same developmental stage. Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate possible differences in the ultrastructure of cells from callus cultures, and leaf cells of regenerated and seed-derived plants. Differences in the ultrastructure were found within chloroplasts which contained only single thylakoids, large starch grains and small plastoglobuli in callus cells in comparison to leaf cells, which possessed a well developed thylakoid system, small starch grains and large plastoglobuli.     

Somatic embryogenesis in callus cultures of Rosa hybrida L. cv. Landora

Callus was initiated from immature leaf and stem segments of rose (Rosa hybrida cv. Landora) and subcultured every four weeks on a basal medium of half-strength Murashige & Skoog (1962) salts plus 30 g l^-1 sucrose (1/2 MS) and supplemented with 2.2 M BA, 5.4 M NAA and 2.2–9.0 M 2,4-D. Embryogenic callus and subsequently somatic embryos were obtained from 8-week-old callus culture on 1/2 MS+2.2 M BA+0.05 M NAA+0.3 M GA₃+200–800 mg l^-1 L-proline. Long-term cultures were established and maintained for up to 16 months by repeated subculture of embryogenic callus on L-proline deficient medium. About 12% of cotyledonary stage embryos taken from cultures cold-stored at 8±1°C for 4 days germinated on 1/2 MS+2.2 M BA+0.3 M GA₃+24.7 M adenine sulphate.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GA₃ gibberellic acid     

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in wild cotton (Gossypium klotzschianum)

A simple and efficient method for high frequency somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from hypocotyl-derived cultures and suspension cultures of Gossypium klotzschianum Anderss, a wild, diploid species of cotton is described here. Embryogenic cultures were induced from hypocotyl sections on MSB medium with 0.9 M 2,4-D and 2.32 M kinetin. MSB medium containing 0.045 M 2,4-D, 0.93 M kinetin, 2.46 M IBA promoted embryogenic culture proliferation and embryo development. Suspension cultures with 0.23 M 2,4-D and 0.93 M kinetin also produced many embryos. Somatic embryos cultured on MSB medium with PGRs produced secondary embryos, and embryos developed into normal plantlets on PGR-free MSB medium. Regenerated plantlets were transferred onto the quarter-strength MSB medium with 0.5% active charcoal to avoid recallusing. Hypocotyls were better than cotyledons for culture induction and plant regeneration. 2,4-D and kinetin were essential for culture induction and maintenance.     

Problems in estimating growth rates of marine phytoplankton from short-term14C assays

Growth rate estimates () of phytoplankton populations that were sampled from nitrogen-limited continuous cultures and then incubated for short durations in batch culture with added¹⁴C-HCO₃ ^– were significantly different than steady-state growth rates () for 3 of 5 marine phytoplankton species. Two diatoms,Thalassiosira weissflogii andChaetoceros simplex, displayed virtually identical growth rates (=) over a wide range of, whereas for a third diatom,Phaeodactylum tricornutum, was overestimated by an average of 40% compared to. In contrast, was underestimated by the¹⁴C technique for the two remaining species: up to 40% at a steady-state of 1.0 day^–1 for the chlorophyteDunaliella tertiolecta and up to 100% at of 1.4 day^–1 for the haptophytePavlova lutheri. For the latter two species the divergence between and appeared to increase with increasing steady-state. A simple model of labeled and total carbon flow between the aqueous phase and cellular biomass was constructed to demonstrate that respiration was negligible when=, but was significant when>. In the cases in which<, a rapid physiological alteration presumably took place once the steady state was disturbed and cells were placed in the incubation chambers, which perhaps was related to the nutritional state of the cultures at the time of sampling. Questions thus are raised regarding our ability to measure accurately primary productivity from shipboard experiments with confined samples of phytoplankton from nutrient-impoverished waters that probably are less hardy than the laboratory cultures used in these studies.     

Optimization of in vivo tumor targeting in SCID mice with divalent forms of 741F8 anti-c-erbB-2 single-chain Fv: effects of dose escalation and repeated i.v. administration

Single-chain Fv molecules in monovalent (sFv) and divalent [(sFv')₂] forms exhibit highly specific tumor targeting in mice as a result of their small size and rapid systemic clearance. As a consequence, there is a rapid reversal of the sFv blood/tumor gradient, resulting in diminished retention of sFv species in tumors. In this report we investigate two distinct strategies, dose escalation and repetitive intravenous (i.v.) dosing, aiming to increase the absolute selective retention of radiolabeled anti-c-erbB-2¹²⁵I-741F8 (sFv')₂ in c-erbB-2-overexpressing SK-OV-3 tumors in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). A doseescalation strategy was applied to single i.v. injections of¹²⁵I-741F8 (sFv')₂. Doses from 50 g to 1000 g were administered without a significant decrease in tumor targeting or specificity. High doses resulted in large increases in the absolute retention of¹²⁵I-741F8 (sFv')₂. For example, raising the administered dose from 50 g to 1000 g increased the tumor retention 24 h after injection from 0.46 g/g to 9.5 g/g, and resulted in a net increase of greater than 9 /g. Over the same dose range, the liver retention rose from 0.06 g/g to 1 g/g, and resulted in a net increase of less than 1 g/g. The retention of 9.5 g/g in tumor 24 h fllowing the 1000-g dose of (sFv')₂ was comparable to that seen 24 h after a 50-g dose of¹²⁵I-741F8 IgG, indicating that the use of large doses of (sFv')₂ may partially offset their rapid clearance. When two doses were administered by i.v. injection 24 h apart, the specificity of delivery to tumor observed after the first dose was maintained following the second injection. Tumor retention of¹²⁵I-741F8 (sFv')₂ was 0.32 g/g at 24 h and 0.22 g/g at 48 h following a single injection of 20 g/g, while 0.04 g/ml and 0.03 g/ml were retained in blood at the same assay times. After a second 20-g injection at the 24-h assay time, tumor retention increased to 0.49 g/g, and blood retention was 0.06 g/ml, at the 48-h point. These results suggest that multiple high-dose administrations of radiolabeled 741F8 (sFv')₂ may lead to the selective tumor localization of therapeutic radiation doses.Supported by National Cancer Institute (NCI) National Cooperative Drug Discovery Group grant U01 CA51880, CA06927, an appropriation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Bernard A. and Rebecca S. Bernard Foundation     

Methylobacterium rhodesianum MB 126 possesses two acetoacetyl-CoA reductases

Two constitutive acetoacetyl-CoA (AcAc-CoA) reductases were purified from Methylobacterium rhodesianum MB 126, an NADPH-linked d(-)--hydroxybutyryl-CoA forming reductase (enzyme A) and an NADH-and NADPH-linked l(+)--hydroxybutyryl-CoA forming reductase (enzyme B). Enzyme A and B give apparent K _m values of 15 M and 30 M for AcAc-CoA, 18 M for NADPH and 30 M for NADH, respectively. They are inhibited by AcAc-CoA at concentrations higher than 25 M and 50 M, respectively. The contribution of the two reductases to poly--hydroxybutyrate synthesis is discussed.     

Effect of genotype,explant and medium onin vitro regeneration of red pepper

In vitro plant regeneration was achieved inCapsicum praetermissum, C. baccatum andC. annuum cvs. G4, Bhiwapuri Sweet pepper, Cayenne pepper and Hybrid pepper. Shoots were induced from hypocotyl, cotyledon and leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 5.7 M indoleacetic acid (IAA)+13.3 M benzyladenine (BA); 22 M BA; and 44 M BA. Analysis of variance revealed that the most significant effect on shoot regeneration was due to the explant and it accounted for 56.3% of total variation observed. The genotype x explant effect on regeneration was minor relative to all other 2- and 3-way interactions because leaf explants consistently regenerated more shoots than hypocotyls or cotyledons in all the genotypes and thereby reduced the variation among the genotypes. Explant x medium interaction revealed that 22 M BA was the best growth regulator supplement in regeneration medium for optimal shoot regeneration from leaf explants. Rooting of regenerated shoots was achieved on 5.7 M IAA-containing medium, and the rooting response was better from shoots induced on medium fortified with 5.7 M IAA plus 13.3 M BA. Complete plantlets with diploid chromosome number (2n=2x=24) were transferred to soil and 60–70% of these plantlets survived and grew well.     

Different effects of inorganic and triethyl lead on growth and ultrastructure of lily pollen tubes

Summary Pollen tubes ofLilium longiflorum growingin vitro were treated for 1 h with inorganic lead (Pb) and with triethyl lead (TriEL) and studied by light and electron microscopy. Pb was considerably more toxic in relation to inhibition of pollen tube growth (EC₅₀=6 M Pb) than was TriEL (EC₅₀=60 M TriEL). On the other hand, at almost the entire concentration range tested (25-500 M) TriEL caused aberrant tubes and tube swellings. Pb did not cause tube swellings, even at highly growth-impairing concentrations. Pb (60 M) predominantly affected the ultrastructure of the growing cell walls without impairing the distribution of the cell organelles in the tube tips. In contrast, 50 and 100 M TriEL did not visibly influence cell wall ultrastructure but it severely damaged dictyosomes; 100 M TriEL also disturbed the original order of cell organelles in the tube tips. Cortical microtubules were selectively and completely destructed by TriEL at concentrations (50 M) where no effect on polar organization of the tube tips occurred but they remained unimpaired by 60 M Pb, indicating selective and effective interaction of TriEL with these cell organelles.Abbreviations EC⁵⁰ effective lead concentration causing 50% inhibition of pollen tube growth - MTs microtubules - Pb inorganic lead - TriAL trialkyl lead - TriEL triethyl lead     

Development of shoots and roots in anther-derived callus of Azadirachta indica A. Juss.—a medicinal tree

Callus originated in microsporangial wall layers and connective tissues of anthers containing uninucleate microspores on Nitsch's or Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with growth regulators. A higher percentage of cultures (43) produced callus on Nitsch's medium containing 10 M indole-3-acetic acid + 1 M 6-benzyladenine. After 13–15 weeks, green nodular structures and prominent roots developed in 25% of the cultures on Murashige and Skoog's medium + 10 M -naphthaleneacetic acid + 1 M kinetin. Multiple shoots were induced in this anther-derived callus when subcultured on Murashige and Skoog's medium augmented with 4.44 M 6-benzyladenine + 0.53 M -naphthaleneacetic acid along with 18.75 M polyvinylpyrrolidone. The excised shoots formed roots after subculturing on Murashige and Skoog's medium + 4.90 M indole-3-butyric acid + 18.75 M polyvinylpyrrolidone, thus developing complete plantlets. Examination of callusing anthers also revealed two- to multi-celled pollen masses with intact exine.Abbreviations BA 6-benzyladenine - CW coconut water - 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GA₃ gibberellic acid - HCl hydrochloric acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - KMnO₄ potassium permanganate - MS Murashige & Skoog's medium - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - NB Nitsch's medium - PVP polyvinylpyrrolidone     

Plant regeneration from somatic embryos ofTaxus brevifolia

Summary Taxusbrevifolia is the source of paclitaxel (Taxol®), an anticancer drug. A method for regeneration ofTaxus brevifolia from immature zygotic embryos via somatic embryogenesis is described. Embryogenic callus tissues were obtained by culturing immature zygotic embryos on Lloyd and McCown medium (MCM) supplemented with 160 M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) + 5 M benzylaminopurine (BA) + 5 M naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for 4 weeks. Putative embryoids were obtained following transfer of cultures to MCM medium supplemented with 4 M BA + 5 M kinetin + 1 M NAA for 6 to 8 weeks. Conversion of embryos was obtained on MCM medium supplemented with 40 M abscisic acid (ABA) + 1% activated charcoal. Development of bipolar structures with recognizable shoot and root apices was observed in somatic embryos. Five percent of somatic embryos were regenerated into plantlets on half-strength growth regulator-free MCM medium.     

Clonal propagation of Callistemon by tissue culture techniques

Callus development in Callistemon viminalis was readily achieved when axillary buds derived from nodal tissue were placed in a medium containing macro- and micro-nutrients, sucrose (0.06 M), inositol (300 M), nicotinic acid (20 M), pyridoxine hydrochloride (3 M), thiamine hydrochloride (2 M), riboflavin (10 M), cytokinins (5 M) and auxins (0.1 M). The presence of benzylaminopurine (5 M) and p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (0.1 M) promoted the most vigorous callus development and sprout formation. Rooting of nodal material was rare but occurred readily following the transference of sprouts developed on callus to a basal medium containing sucrose and salts. Root initiation was stimulated, however, by the presence of auxins. Chlorophenoxyacetic acid while stimulating root initiation repressed root growth. Indole butyric acid stimulated both root initiation and shoot growth at concentrations of 0.005 to 0.1 M. The treatment of choice for rooting and shoot growth was the addition of indole butyric acid at a concentration of 0.01 M.     

Control of yeast fed-batch process through regulation of extracellular ethanol concentration

At high growth rates, the biomass yield of bakers yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) decreases due to the production of ethanol. For this reason, it is standard industrial practice to use a fed-batch process whereby the specific growth rate, , is fixed at a level below the point of ethanol production, i.e., _crit. Optimally, growth should be maintained at _crit, but in practice, this is difficult because _crit is dependent upon strain and culture conditions. In this work, growth was maintained at a point just above _crit by regulating ethanol concentration in the bioreactor. The models used for control design are shown, as are the experimental results obtained when this strategy was implemented. This technique should be applicable to all microorganisms that exhibit an overflow type metabolism.     

Rapid clonal propagation of guava through in vitro shoot proliferation on nodal explants of mature trees

In vitro clonal propagation of guava Banaras local was achieved by culturing nodal explants of mature trees on Murashige and Skoog (MS) revised medium supplemented with 4.5 M 6-benzyladanine (BA) alone or in combination with either 0.6 M indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 0.5 M indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or 0.3 M gibberellic acid (GA₃). Multiple shoots were induced to form by enhancement of axillary branching and BA (4.5 M) without any auxin and gibberellin was found to give best shoot multiplication rate. In this medium 3–6 shoots developed on explants collected from field-grown plants and 5–10 shoots developed on explants taken from in vitro proliferated shoots within 12 wk of culture. A prior transfer of shoot clumps to a medium containing a lower concentration of BA (0.5 M) before harvesting of cuttings for rooting allowed rapid extension growth and increased the number of usable shoots per culture. Adventitious rooting occurred after subculturing excised shoots on a medium containing 1/2 strength MS salts, 1.5% sucrose, 1 M each of IBA and -naphtha-leneacetic acid (NAA), and 1 gl^-1 activated charcoal. Regenerated plantlets were successfully established on soil.     

The relation of proton motive force,adenylate energy charge and phosphorylation potential to the specific growth rate and efficiency of energy transduction inBacillus licheniformis under aerobic growth conditions

The magnitude of the proton motive force (p) and its constituents, the electrical () and chemical potential (-ZpH), were established for chemostat cultures of a protease-producing, relaxed (rel ^–) variant and a not protease-producing, stringent (rel ⁺) variant of an industrial strain ofBacillus licheniformis (respectively referred to as the A- and the B-type). For both types, an inverse relation of p with the specific growth rate was found. The calculated intracellular pH (pH_in) was not constant but inversely related to . This change in pH_in might be related to regulatory functions of metabolism but a regulatory role for pH_in itself could not be envisaged. Measurement of the adenylate energy charge (EC) showed a direct relation with for glucose-limited chemostat cultures; in nitrogen-limited chemostat cultures, the EC showed an approximately constant value at low and an increased value at higher . For both limitations, the ATP/ADP ratio was directly related to .The phosphorylation potential (G'p) was invariant with . From the values for G'p and p, a variable H⁺/ATP-stoichiometry was inferred: H⁺/ATP=1.83+0.52µ, so that at a given H⁺/O-ratio of four (4), the apparent P/O-ratio (inferred from regression analysis) showed a decline of 2.16 to 1.87 for =0 to _max (we discuss how more than half of this decline will be independent of any change in internal cell-volume). We propose that the constancy of G'p and the decrease in the efficiency of energy-conservation (P/O-value) with increasing are a way in which the cells try to cope with an apparent less than perfect coordination between anabolism and catabolism to keep up the highest possible with a minimum loss of growth-efficiency. Protease production in nitrogen-limited cultures as compared to glucose-limited cultures, and the difference between the A- and B-type, could not be explained by a different energy-status of the cells.Abbreviations CCCP carbonylcyanide-p-trichloromethoxyphenylhydrazone - DW dry weight of biomass - F Faraday's constant, 96.6 J/(mV × mol) - Fo chemostat outflow-rate (ml/h) - FCCP carbonylcyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone - G'p phosphorylation potential, the Gibbs energy change for ATP-synthesis from ADP and P_i - G'⁰p standard Gibbs energy change at specified conditions - H⁺/ATP number of protons translocated through - ATP synthase in synthesis of one ATP - H⁺/O protons translocated during transfer of 2 electrons from substrate to oxygen - specific growth rate (1/h) - _H+ transmembrane electrochemical proton potential, J/mol - M_b molar weight (147.6 g/mol) of bacteria with general cell formula C_6.0H_10.8O_3.0N_1.2 - pH_out,in extracellular, intracellular pH - P_i (intracellular) inorganic phosphate - p proton motive force, mV - pH transmembrane pH-difference - transmembrane electrical potential, mV - P/O number of ADP phosphorylated to ATP upon reduction of one O^2– to H₂O by two electrons transferred through the electron transfer chain - P/O (H⁺/O) × (H⁺/ATP)^–1 - P/O_F, P/O_N P/O with the two electrons donated by resp. (NADH + H⁺) and FADH - q specific rate of consumption or production (mol/g DW × h) - rel ⁺,rel ^– stringent, relaxed genotype - R universal gas constant, 8.36 J/(mol × degree) - T absolute temperature - TPMP⁺ triphenylmethylphosphonium ion - TPP⁺ tetraphenyl phosphonium ion - Y growth yield, g DW/mol - Z conversion constant=61.8 mV for 310 K (37 °C) - ZpH transmembrane proton potential or chemical potential, mV     

Clozapine and Several Other Antipsychotic/Antidepressant Drugs Preferentially Block the Same ‘Core’ Fraction of GABAA Receptors

Clozapine and several other antipsychotic/antidepressant drugs that fully or partially block GABA_A receptors were tested at concentrations that reversed the inhibitory effect of 1 M GABA on ³⁵S-t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([³⁵S]TBPS) binding to rat forebrain membranes only about 20–30%, here designated core fractions. Clozapine at 10 M reverses 1 M GABA 25 ± 4.0% (n = 23) (its core fraction). Fourty three compounds were tested alone, and pairwise together with 10 M Clozapine. The core fractions of some of the compounds yielded significant additive reversals together with 10 M Clozapine, while others did not. A group of 14 compounds of which 7 are clinically effective antipsychotic drugs, including Chlorprothixene, Clomacran, Clopipazan, Fluotracen, Sulforidazine, Thioproperazine, and cis-Thiothixene, were statistically non-additive with 10 M Clozapine, suggesting that all of these drugs selectively block the same core population of GABA_A receptors as Clozapine. These non-additivities also suggest that Clozapine at 10 M fully saturates a subset of GABA_A receptors blocked by 1 M GABA. Therefore, Clozapine probably blocks 2 or more types of GABA_A receptors, but only half of the receptors that are sensitive to 1 M GABA. A second group of 12 compounds of which 6 are clinically active antidepressant/antipsychotic drugs including Amoxapine, Clothiapine, Dibenzepine, Inkasan (Metralindole), Metiapine and Zimelidine were slightly, but significantly, additive with Clozapine suggesting that these compounds block most of Clozapine's core fraction, plus a small additional fraction. A third group consisted of ten compounds that yielded larger (R > 80) and statistically highly significant additivities with Clozapine. Complete additivity was obtained with Bathophenanthroline disulfonate, and Isocarboxazid, suggesting that they block GABA_A receptors other than those blocked by 10 M Clozapine. Seven classical GABA_A receptor blockers, also tested at concentrations yielding 21 to 33% reversal alone, were all significantly additive with 10 M Clozapine, but in no case was the additivity complete. The largest additivity was obtained with Pitrazepine (21%) and the smallest with Tubocurarine (9%). These results provide further support for the notion that selective blockade of the same subset of GABA_A receptors may contribute to the clinical antipsychotic/antidepressant effects of Clozapine. The B_opt values for Clozapine are 50 ± 1.7% and 26 ± 2.6% ( n = 3) in whole rat forebrain and cerebellum, respectively, confirming that clozapine-sensitive GABA_A receptors are unevenly distributed in the brain. The sedative and anxiolytic properties of Clozapine and other antipsychotic drugs may be due to selective blockade of GABergic disinhibition at certain interneurons.     

Transient state characteristics of adaptation to changes in light conditions for the cyanobacterium Oscillatoria agardhii

Transitions in growth irradiance level from 92 to 7 Em^-2 s^-1 and vice versa caused changes in the pigment contents and photosynthesis of Oscillatoria agardhii. The changes in chlorophyll a and C-phycocyanin contents during the transition from high to low irradiance (HL) were reflected in photosynthetic parameters. In the LH transition light utilization efficiencies of the cells changed faster than pigment contents. This appeared to be related to the lowering of light utilization efficiencies of photosynthesis. As a possible explanation it was hypothesized that excess photosynthate production led to feed back inhibition of photosynthesis. Time-scales of changes in the maximal rate of O₂ evolution were discussed as changes in the number of reaction centers of photosystem II in relation to photosynthetic electron transport. Parameters that were subject to change during irradiance transitions obeyed first order kinetics, but hysteresis occurred when comparing HL with LH transients. Interpretation of first order kinetic analysis was discussed in terms of adaptive response vs changes in growth rate.Non-standard abbreviations Chla chlorophyll a - CPC C-phycocyanin - PS II photosystem II - PS I photosystem I - RC II reaction center of photosystem II - P photosynthetic O₂-evolution - I irradiance, Em^-2 s^-1 - light utilization efficiency of cells, mmol O₂·mg dry wt^-1·h^-1/Em^-2 s^-1 - light utilization efficiency of photosynthetic apparatus, mol O₂·mol Chla ^-1·h^-1/Em^-2 s^-1 - P_max maximal rate of O₂ evolution by cells, mol O₂·mg dry wt^-1·h^-1 - P_max maximal rate of O₂ evolution by photosynthetic apparatus, mol O₂·mol·Chla ^-1·h^-1 - LL low light, E m^-2 s^-1 - HL high light, E m^-2 s^-1 - LH low to high light transition - HL high to low light transition - k specific rate of adaptation, h^-1 - specific growth rate, h^-1 - Q pool size of cell constituent, mol·mg dry wt^-1 - q net synthesis rate of cell constituent, mol·mg dry wt^-1·h^-1     

Role of mitochondria in ethanol tolerance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The presence of active mitochondria and oxidative metabolism is shown to be essential to maintain low inhibition levels by ethanol of the growth rate (), fermentation rate (v) or respiration rate () of Saccharomyces cerevisiae wild type strain S288C. Cells which have respiratory metabolism show K _i (ethanol inhibition constant) values for , v and , higher (K _i>1 M) than those of petite mutants or grande strains grown in anaerobiosis (K _i=0.7 M). In addition, the relationship between or v and ethanol concentration is linear in cells with respiratory metabolism and exponential in cells lacking respiration. When functional mitochondria are transferred to petite mutants, the resulting strain shows K _i values similar to those of the grande strain and the inhibition of and v by increasing ethanol concentrations becomes linear.