Effect of Different Gibberellins on the Growth of the Hypocotyl

It has been stated earlier that hypocotyls of different plants show different growth response to added GA₃. It was suggested that this difference may be due to the requirement of some specific gibberellin. Hence hypocotyl growth response of three groups of plants has been studied with different gibberellins: group one showing no or insignificant growth response, group two showing 150–200 per cent growth response and group three showing 300–500 per cent growth response to added GA₃. Eight gibberellins were used, viz., GA₁, GA₂, GA₃, GA₄, GA₅, GA₇, GA₈ and GA₉, to test if this varying response is connected with the requirement of some specific gibberellin. In general, the results obtained do not favour this view. Iberis amara, a plant showing no response to added GA₃, Dianthus sp., a plant showing 150 to 200 per cent response and Lactuca satwa, Antirrhinum majus and Nicotiana tabacum, plants showing 300 to 500 per cent response, were promoted by all the gibberellins tested to a similar extent as by GA₃, with the exception of GA₈ which was inactive in most of the cases.     

METABOLISM OF HEXOSES IN RAT CEREBRAL CORTEX SLICES

Abstract—

• 1 The metabolism of two ¹⁴C-labelled hexoses and one hexose analogue, viz. mannose, fructose and glucosamine, has been compared with that of glucose for slices of rat cerebral cortex incubated in vitro.
• 2 The metabolism of [U-¹⁴C]mannose was essentially identical to that of glucose; oxygen consumption and CO₃ production were similar and maximal at a substrate concentration of 2·75 mM. Incorporation of label into lactate, aspartate, glutamate and GABA was similar for the two substrates at 5·5 mM substrate concentration.
• 3 With [U-¹⁴C]fructose, maximal oxygen consumption and CO₃ production were obtained at a substrate concentration of 11 mM. At 5·5 mM, incorporation into lactate was 5 per cent, into glutamate and GABA 30 per cent, into alanine 63 per cent and into aspartate 152 per cent of that from glucose. Increasing substrate concentration to 27·5 mm was without effect on incorporation into amino acids from glucose and raised incorporation from fructose into glutamate, GABA and alanine to a level similar to that found with glucose; at the higher substrate concentration aspartate incorporation from fructose was 200 per cent and lactate 42 per cent of that with glucose. Unlabelled fructose was without effect on incorporation of radioactivity from [3-¹⁴C]pyruvate into CO₂ or amino acids; it increased incorporation into lactate by 36 per cent. Unlabelled glucose diminished incorporation into CO₂ from [U-¹⁴C]fructose to 35 per cent; incorporation into lactate was stimulated 178 per cent at 5·5 mM fructose; at 27·5 mM it was diminished to 75 per cent.
• 4 By comparison with [1-¹⁴C]glucose, incorporation of radioactivity from [1-¹⁴C]-glucosamine into lactate, CO₂, alanine, GABA and glutamine was very low; incorporation into aspartate was similar to glucose. Thus the metabolism of glucosamine resembled that of fructose. Glucosamine-1-phosphate, glucosamine-6-phosphate, and an unidentified metabolite, all accumulated.

     

Further Observations on the Inhibition of Prototheca zopfii Growth by 3-Amino-l,2,4-triazole

The concentration of amitrole (3-amino-l,2,4-triazole) causing 50 per cent inhibition of Prototheca zopfii growth is 1.25 mg/100 g at 25°C. This inhibition is not reversed by adenine. 50 per cent inhibition of growth is also caused by 100–120 mg/ 100 g 2-aminopurine and this inhibition is partially reversed by 40 mg/100 g adenine, the highest adenine concentration tested due to solubility problems. Imidazoleglycerol accumulation occurs in the medium of cells grown in the presence of amitrole.     

The Influence of CO2 Concentration and pH on Two Chlorella Species Grown in Continuous Light

Both Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Chlorella vulgaris grow equally well at 20°C aerated with ordinary air or mixtures of air with 5 or 12 per cent CO₂ (5 klux continuous light). Whereas C. vulgaris relatively rapidly adapts to a higher CO₂ tension, adaptation takes about 24 hours for C. pyrenoidosa. In Chlorella vulgaris pH in the range 3.6–7.6 has no apparent influence on the rate of photosynthesis in experiments having a duration of two hours. This is true both for algae grown aerated by ordinary air and for algae grown with a mixture of 5 per cent CO₂ in air. The adaptation time must be short. In Chlorella pyrenoidosa the same is found for algae in ordinary air, whereas an influence of pH is seen in some experiments where the aeration was by 5 per cent CO₂ in air. As is to be expected, the rate of photosynthesis in C. pyrenoidosa during the first two hours is very much influenced by the concentration of free CO₂. The highest rate is found at the CO₂ concentration at which the algae had been growing previously. The influence on the rate of photosynthesis in C. vulgaris is very much less, although in principle the same. The investigation of the corresponding influence on the rate of respiration is complicated by considerable variation from one series to another. In C. vulgaris this is particularly of importance. In C. pyrenoidosa, the highest rate of respiration is generally found at the CO₂-concentration at which the alga had been growing before the experiment. It seems probable that variations between similar series is due to the fact that the algae were grown in continuous light but with dilution with fresh culture medium when the optical density had reached a certain magnitude. Algae grown in this way are neither synchronized nor non-synchronized.Our thanks are due to the Danish State Research Foundation for financial support.     

Respiratory Patterns in Fruit of Pineapple, Ananas comosus, Detached at Different Stages of Development

The postharvest respiratory drifts for six stages of development of pineapple fruit (Ananas comosus cv. Cayenne) ranging from dry flower to senescence are presented. Based upon these data, pineapple is a non-climacteric fruit. Pineapple does produce ethylene gas hut when levels ranging from 0.01 to 1000 μl/l were applied to stage 4 fruits (fruit just at the start of ripening) no respiration or chemical changes were induced which could he interpreted as affecting the ripening processes. A decrease in the oxygen concentration (to 2.5 per cent) resulted in a decrease in the respiration rate. An increased carbon dioxide concentration (up to 10 per cent) had not detectable effect on the respiration rate.     

BIOELECTRIC POTENTIALS IN HALICYSTIS : VII. THE EFFECTS OF LOW OXYGEN TENSION

The potential difference across the protoplasm of impaled cells of Halicystis is not affected by increase of oxygen tension in equilibrium with the sea water, nor with decrease down to about 1/10 its tension in the air (2 per cent O₂ in N₂). When bubbling of 2 per cent O₂ is stopped, the P.D. drifts downward, to be restored on stirring the sea water, or rebubbling the gas. Bubbling 0.2 per cent O₂ causes the P.D. to drop to 20 mv. or less; 1.1 per cent O₂ to about 50 mv. Restoration of 2 per cent or higher O₂ causes recovery to 70 or 80 mv. often with a preliminary cusp which decreases the P.D. before it rises. Perfusion of aerated sea water through the vacuole is just as effective in restoring the P.D. as external aeration, indicating that the direction of the oxygen gradient is not significant. Low O₂ tension also inhibits the reversed, negative P.D. produced by adding NH₄Cl to sea water, 0.2 per cent O₂ bringing this P.D. back to the same low positive values found without ammonia. Restoration of 2 per cent O₂ or air, restores this latent negativity. At slightly below the threshold for ammonia reversal, low O₂ may induce a temporary negativity when first bubbled, and a negative cusp may occur on aeration before positive P.D. is regained. This may be due to a decreased consumption of ammonia, or to intermediate pH changes. The locus of the P.D. alteration was tested by applying increased KCl concentrations to the cell exterior; the large cusps produced in aerated solutions become greatly decreased when the P.D. has fallen in 0.2 per cent O₂. This indicates that the originally high relative mobility or concentration of K⁺ ion has approached that of Na⁺ in the external protoplasmic surface under reduced O₂ tension. Results obtained with sulfate sea water indicate that Na⁺ mobility approaches that of SO₄ ^— in 0.2 per cent O₂. P.D. measurements alone cannot tell whether this is due to an increase of the slower ion or a decrease of the faster ion. A decrease of all ionic permeability is indicated, however, by a greatly increased effective resistance to direct current during low O₂. Low resistance is regained on aeration. The resistance increase resembles that produced by weak acids, cresol, etc. Acids or other substances produced in anaerobiosis may be responsible for the alteration. Or a deficiency of some surface constituent may develop. In addition to the surface changes there may be alterations in gradients of inorganic or organic ions within the protoplasm, but there is at present no evidence on this point. The surface changes are probably sufficient to account for the phenomena.     

Ion and water fluxes in the ileum of rats

Studies have been carried out on the movement of salt and water across the small intestine of the rat. Segments of the ileum of anesthetized rats have been perfused in vivo with unbuffered NaCl solutions or isotonic solutions of NaCl and mannitol. Kinetic analysis of movements of Na²⁴ and Cl³⁶ has permitted determination of the efflux and influx of Na and Cl. Net water absorption has been measured using hemoglobin as a reference substance. Water was found to move freely in response to gradients of osmotic pressure. Net water flux from isotonic solutions with varying NaCl concentration was directly dependent on net solute flux. The amount of water absorbed was equivalent to the amount required to maintain the absorbed solute at isotonic concentration. These results have been interpreted as indicating that water movement is a passive process depending on gradients of water activity and on the rate of absorption of solute. The effluxes of Na and Cl are linear functions of concentration in the lumen, but both ions are actively transported by the ileum according to the criterion of Ussing (Acta Physiol. Scand., 1949, 19, 43). The electrical potential difference between the lumen and plasma has been interpreted as a diffusion potential slightly modified by the excess of active Cl flux over active Na flux. The physical properties of the epithelial membrane indicate that it is equivalent to a membrane having negatively charged uniform right circular pores of 36 Å radius occupying 0.001 per cent of the surface area.     

Ultrastructure ofDebaryomyces hansenii

Summary The ultrastructure of the extreme halotolerant yeastDebaryomyces hansenii (Zopf) van Rij was similar whether the organism was grown under normal physiological conditions or at high concentrations of NaCl (12, 20 per cent w/v). A multitude of channels often seen in association with plasma membrane and/or vacuoles occur in the cytoplasm. The vacuoles contain lipid storage material. A decrease in mitochondrial size was observed with increasing salt concentration. The ultrastructure has been discussed with respect to halotolerance.     

ACID PENETRATION INTO LIVING TISSUES

The threshold concentrations for sourness of nine acids have been determined with an accuracy of about 8 per cent, and the H⁺ ion concentration of these acids measured. Calculations have been made of the relative concentration gradients of the undissociated acid across the cell membrane for a series of acids having equal sourness and also for a series of acids having equal penetration velocity as determined from experiments by Crozier on Chromodoris and on Allolobophora. For solutions of equal pH a high degree of sourness has been found to be associated with a high penetration velocity of the undissociated acid or of the anion. A comparison of these gradients with the results of adsorption experiments on charcoal indicates that the acids are taken into the tissues by an adsorption process. Polar groups such as OH and Cl and Br are found to have a very marked effect in reducing the ability of organic acids to penetrate living tissues. The important rôle of optical activity of the acids in determining their physiological action has been noted.     

THE EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE ON OXYGEN CONSUMPTION AND CELL DIVISION IN THE FERTILIZED EGG OF THE SEA URCHIN,ARBACIA PUNCTULATA

1. By means of the Warburg-Barcroft microrespirometer apparatus and the Warburg direct method, the relative effect of caffeine upon the O₂ consumption of the fertilized egg of Arbacia punctulata was shown for the following concentrations in sea water: 0.002 per cent (M/10,000), 0.004 per cent (M/5,000), 0.02 per cent (M/1,000), 0.1 per cent (M/200), 0.2 per cent (M/100), 0.5 per cent (M/40), and 2 per cent (M/10). 2. In comparison with the normal eggs (uninhibited, non-caffeine-treated controls), caffeine in concentrations including and greater than 0.1 per cent (M/200) depressed the average uptake from approximately 25 to 61 per cent over the 3 hour period. In a number of instances, as typified by Experiment 10, the effective inhibitory concentration ranged from 0.02 per cent (M/1,000) upward and the degree of depression of the O₂ consumption ranged from 10.6 per cent to 60.6 per cent. 3. All caffeine concentrations including and above 0.02 per cent (M/1,000) in the series used, resulted in decreasing the normal rate of cleavage division in the fertilized Arbacia eggs. 4. The higher concentrations (0.5 and 2 per cent) produced a complete blockage of the cleavage process. 5. Complete cleavage inhibition was noted only when the O₂ uptake had been depressed to 50 per cent or more of the normal controls. 6. O₂ consumption-time relationship data indicate an average depression, in O₂ consumption over a 3 hour period, ranging from 25 per cent with a caffeine concentration of 0.1 per cent to a 61 per cent inhibition with a concentration of 2 per cent. 7. Concentrations of less than 0.1 per cent (certainly of less than 0.02 per cent) give variable results and indicate no significant effect. 8. It is inferred from the respiration data presented that it is probable that the inhibition of the O₂ consumption in fertilized Arbacia eggs is due to the influence of caffeine upon the main (activity or primary) pathway. It will be observed that there are certain similarities of the caffeine data to the degree of inhibition accomplished by sodium cyanide. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that the cyanide probably acts on the cytochrome oxidase step in the cytochrome oxidase-cytochrome chain of reactions constituting the O₂ uptake phase of respiratory metabolism. It is not improbable, therefore, that caffeine also may act upon the cytochrome oxidase enzyme. 9. From the viewpoint of environmental conditions influencing reproductive phenomena, it is of interest that caffeine can affect the normal metabolism of the zygote.     

COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON RESPIRATION : XXIV. THE EFFECTS OF CHLOROFORM ON THE RESPIRATION OF DEAD AND OF LIVING TISSUE.

1. Chloroform in low concentration (0.25 per cent) causes an increase in the rate of production of CO₂ in Ulva; this is followed by a decrease. In higher concentration (0.5 per cent) only a decrease is observed. 2. Assuming that the normal oxidation depends on the action of peroxide and peroxidase, experiments were made by placing Ulva in 1.0 per cent H₂O₂ and in Fe₂(SO₄)₃ (which acts like a peroxidase). The former diminishes the rate, the latter increases and subsequently decreases it. 3. When Ulva is killed in such a manner as to destroy the oxidizing enzymes, no CO₂ is produced unless H₂O₂ and Fe₂(SO₄)₃ are present. If to this mixture chloroform is added, the effect depends on the concentration of the iron. If the concentration is low there is an increase in the production of CO₂ followed by a decrease. If the concentration is high the rate appears to decrease from the start.     

COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON RESPIRATION : V. THE EFFECT OF ETHER ON THE PRODUCTION OF CARBON DIOXIDE BY ANIMALS.

1. The experiments on frog tadpoles show that with 0.15, 0.37, and 0.55 per cent ether solutions there is a decrease in CO₂ output. The effect is reversible. With these concentrations the breathing movements and body movements remained normal during the experiment. In 3.65 and 7.3 per cent ether there is a decrease of respiration followed by an increase which in turn is followed by a decrease. The increase may reach about three times the normal rate. The increase in the CO₂ output is accompanied by the peeling of the skin. The effect is irreversible. 2. Experiments on an aquatic insect, Dineutes assimilis Aube, show that in 7.3 per cent ether there is a decrease followed by an increase which in turn is followed by a decrease. There is no apparent disintegration of structures in the organism accompanying the increase. The effect is irreversible. 3. The experiments on frog eggs with 7.3 per cent ether show a result similar to that found in aquatic insects. 4. Experiments on Fundulus embryos show that with 0.73 per cent ether there is a reversible decrease in the rate of CO₂ production. In 3.65 per cent ether there is a temporary decrease followed by an increase, after which the rate begins to fall off. In 7.3 per cent ether there is an immediate increase amounting to 307 per cent which is followed by a decrease. The increase in the 3.65 and 7.3 per cent ether is accompanied by irreversible changes leading to death. The decrease found in 0.73 per cent ether is not sufficient to cause narcosis, as is shown by experiments on which the same decrease is produced by lowering the temperature. 5. These experiments show that narcosis is not due to asphyxia. The action of anesthetics is due to some other cause than the effect on respiration. There is a difference between the animals studied and the plants described in this series of articles, since in animals the increase in the CO₂ output is accompanied by irreversible changes leading to death, while this is not necessarily the case in plants. The reversible (narcotic) action of ether on the animals studied was accompanied by a decrease in the carbon dioxide output; in plants this is not ordinarily the case. These facts are of considerable interest, but their interpretation must be left to future investigation.     

Properties and transforming activities of two plasmids in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Summary Two plasmids from group B streptococcus were introduced into pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae) and examined for copy number, stability, and some features of the process by which they transform pneumococcal recipients. The 3.6 Mdal pMV158 (tet) was present at a minimum of 12 to 16 copies per chromosome and was never observed to be cured. The 20 Mdal pIP501 (cat erm) had a minimum copy number of 3 to 4 per chromosome and was lost spontaneously at a frequency near 0.03 per division. The presence of novobiocin increased this frequency 2 to 3-fold. Competence for chromosomal transformation and the membrane endonuclease needed for normal DNA entry were required for plasmid transformation. Plasmid transformants segregated transformed cells one generation ahead of chromosomal transformants. Both single and multiple hit components of the transformation reaction kinetics were observed, but the latter could not be seen in the presence of competing chromosomal DNA. The majority of the transforming activity behaved as covalently closed circular DNA in dye-buoyancy gradients. Although most of the activity for both plasmids sedimented in sucrose gradients more rapidly than did monomeric closed circular DNA, a significant fraction was found at a position suggesting that it may have been due to monomeric plasmids.     

14C-Studies on Apple Trees. VIII. The Seasonal Variation and Nature of Reserves

The nature, seasonal variation and mobilization of reserves in Malus × domestica have been studied by means of ¹⁴C, carbohydrate analyses and extractions of xylem sap. Following exposure to ¹⁴CO₂ in the autumn, the majority of the ¹⁴C absorbed is found in the root. During the winter and in particular the spring the amounts of ¹⁴C in the top and root are reduced to approximately 40 per cent of the autumn values; in the root the amount of dry matter was also considerably reduced. In the tops, most of the ¹⁴C absorbed was found as methanol (80 %)-soluble ¹⁴C which also showed the greatest seasonal reduction; sorbitol, sucrose or glucose in particular are responsible for the decrease in concentration within this fraction. Maximum values for methanol-insoluble ¹⁴C were found in March. In the root, the highest values for absolute changes were found for methanolinsoluble ¹⁴C. Hydrolysis of this fraction showed considerable activity in glucose. In the root there was also considerable activity in a precipitated fraction of the methanol extract. Eluates of xylem sap from apple branches contained primarily sorbitol, the highest concentration of which was found at the beginning of March. For a tree with a dry matter weight of about 300 g, the utilization of reserves from the tree in the spring was calculated to be at least 13 g of dry matter. However, only a minor part (less than 25 per cent) of the latter appears to serve as building material for new growth.     

A non-equilibrium thermodynamic theory of leakage of complexed Na+ from muscle,with NMR evidence that the non-complexed fraction of muscle Na+ is intra-vacuolar rather than extra-cellular

Recent experimental evidence has provided increasing support for the hypotheses that 60 to 80 per cent of intracellular Na⁺ exists in a complexed state, and that intracellular water exists in a semi-organized, non-liquid state having low solubility for Na⁺. Using these postulates, a previous crude theory of Na⁺ leakage from the cell based on electronion conduction analogies has been redeveloped in a more complete and detailed fashion, following a non-equilibrium thermodynamic approach. The theory, which is based on the postulate of almost 100 per cent complexing of intracellular Na⁺, predicts that Na⁺ leakage from muscle should conform to the Elovich equation, which closely agrees with experiment, despite the fact that experiments indicate that 20 to 40 per cent of muscle Na⁺ isnot complexed. To resolve this apparent paradox, the leakage of complexed and non-complexed Na⁺ from muscle was measured by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The non-complexed Na⁺ leaked much more slowly than the complexed Na⁺, suggesting that the non-complexed Na⁺ may be confined within vacuoles surrounded by an activation energy barrier at the vacuolar membrane. This implies that the measured curves of Na⁺ leakage showing Elovich kinetics are due mostly to leakage of complexed Na⁺ as the theory requires, and that the leakage of 20 to 40 per cent non-complexed Na⁺ is mostly delayed until later times.     

Yield response of a common spring wheat cultivar to inoculation withAzospirillum brasilense at various levels of nitrogen fertilization

Summary The yield response of a common spring wheat cultivar,Triticum aestivum, to inoculation withAzospirillum brasilense was studied at four levels of N fertilization. Plant yield increased due to the inoculation treatment only at medium and high levels of N fertilization, with a maximum yield increase of about 8.0 per cent at the highest level (approximately 1.0 g of pure N per plant). Yield increase was mostly due to an increase in the number of grains per spike, and at the highest level of fertilization, also due to a higher number of spikes per plant. At all N levels, the inoculation caused an increase of 0.5–1.4 per cent in the number of fertile spikelets per main spike.Grain protein percentage was unaffected by the inoculation, though significantly increase due to the fertilization treatments.The occurrence of maximum yield response at the highest N level, the response by early-determined yield components, i.e. spikelet number, and the unaffected grain protein content are in accord with the suggestion that the contribution ofAzospirillum brasilense to wheat yield is not through N₂-fixation.     

Midge (Chironomidae,Chaoboridae, Ceratopogonidae) assemblages and their relationship with biological and physicochemical variables in shallow,polymictic lakes

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Formation of Valine in the Presence of Sodium Acrylate Monomer by Glutamic Acid Producing Bacteria

Glutamic acid producing bacteria accumulated a large amount of valine in the presence of the excess biotin, when sodium acrylate monomer (Na-AM) was added at the earlier phase of culture. Brevibacterium roseum ATCC 13825, particularly, accumulated the large amount of valine among bacteria tested and the conditions of valine accumulation by this strain were investigated.

The most effective addition time of Na-AM was at the earlier phase of logarithmic phase. The optimal concentration of Na-AM for the accumulation of valine was 1.0 per cent (v/v). Most effective nitrogen sources were the combination of 1.0 per cent urea and 0.2 per cent ammonium sulphate. The additions of Mn²⁺ and Fe²⁺ increased valine accumulation. By the excess concentration of biotin for growth, 20 μg/liter or more, did not affected valine accumulation, while the presence of the suboptimal condition of biotin for growth was not good for the formation of valine even in the presence of Na-AM. The accumulation of valine reached 9.0 mg/ml from 75.0 mg/ml of glucose in the presence of 50 μg/liter of biotin and 1.0 per cent (v/v) of Na-AM.

This strain possessed considerable activity of valine formation regardless of the addition of Na-AM and promoted the accumulation of valine by the addition of Na-AM.     

Effect of Feeding Millet (Sorghum vulgarie) Protein on Growth,Nucleic Acids and Proteins of Liver and Plasma of Rats

Effect of feeding millet (Sorghum vulgarie) at 5, 10 and 15 per cent protein levels respectively for a period of six weeks to rats on their liver DNA, RNA and proteins of liver, its subcellular fractions and plasma has been studied, and results compared with rats fed casein at 10 per cent level. Both liver DNA and RNA of rats fed millet at 5 per cent protein level were significantly increased. Liver proteins (mg/l00 g body weight) of rats fed millet at 5 and 10 per cent protein level were significantly increased and plasma proteins decreased. Incorporation of leucine-I-¹⁴C into both liver and plasma proteins of rats fed millet was significantly higher than the control.