The respiratory system of Chromobacterium violaceum grown under conditions of high and low cyanide evolution.

The particulate fraction of disrupted Chromobacterium violaceum grown under cyanide-evolving conditions was unable to oxidize ascorbate plus N,N,N',N'-tetra-methyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD), but oxidized NADH and succinate by a linear respiratory pathway which was very resistant to inhibition by cyanide. When the bacteria were grown under conditions where little cyanide evolution occurred, particulate fractions developed the ability to oxidize ascorbate-TMPD by a pathway highly sensitive to cyanide inhibition; respiratory activity with NADH and succinate proceeded via both the cyanide-sensitive and-resistant pathways. Studies with respiratory inhibitors, and the cytochrome compositions of the fractions derived from cultures grown under both conditions, are presented. A soluble, carbon monoxide-binding cytochrome c was found, and this appears similar to those found recently in Beneckea natiegens, methylotrophic bacteria and the marine pseudomonad B16.     

The ATPases of Propionigenium modestum and Bacillus alcalophilus. Strategies for ATP synthesis under low energy conditions.

In Propionigenium modestum, ATP synthesis is coupled via delta mu Na+ to the decarboxylation of (S)-methylmalonyl-CoA. The low energy yield of this reaction implies that approx. 4 decarboxylation cycles are necessary to synthesize 1 molecule of ATP. Theoretical considerations in accord with experimental results suggest ATP synthesis in P. modestum at delta mu Na+ = -110 mV. Other anaerobic bacteria synthesize ATP at a delta mu H+ of similar size and alkaliphilic bacteria at pH 10.3 have a delta mu H+ of only -103 mV. In these cases, the H+(Na+) to ATP stoichiometry must be at least 4.     

Observation of the O-O stretching Raman band for cytochrome P-450cam under catalytic conditions

Dioxygen stretching (voo) Raman band was observed for the oxy form of Pseudomonas putida cytochrome P-450 (P-450cam) generated at room temperature under catalytic conditions, that is, in the presence of D-camphor, beta-NADH, putidaredoxin, and putidaredoxin reductase, by using the mixed flow transient Raman apparatus. At the same time the visible absorption spectra were monitored for the transient species. It was found that the voo frequency is little altered by binding of putidaredoxin to P-450cam, although the reduction rate of the oxy form becomes faster. Another intermediate with an oxygen isotope-sensitive band was not found in a time region until 2 s after mixing of the reduced enzyme with oxygen.     

The phototropic response of Triticum aestivum coleoptiles under conditions of low gravity

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv Broom) coleoptiles were stimulated by unilateral blue light pulses, the duration of which varied between 3 s and 30 min, under microgravity conditions on the IML-1 Spacelab mission and in ground controls. The stimuli covered first positive, indifferent and second positive response regions. When phototropic responses were observed under low-gravity conditions, slightly fewer seedlings responded compared with 1 g conditions. The latent period was similar in flight and 1g treatments (10–20 min), except for the response to 300,μmol m^?2 in the indifferent response region, where a positive response in flight plants followed a 130 min latent period, while no response was observed in 1 g plants. First positive responses at Og were slightly enhanced, both in magnitude and in duration, compared to the 1 g controls, but not to the extent predicted by clinostat studies. The response kinetics in the second positive region at 1g showed a plateau at 120 min, in contrast to the single maximum at Og. The fluence-response relationship was similar in both flight and ground controls. Only the responses to 4 and 6μmolm-2 showed significantly greater curvatures at 9g. This contrasts with previous clinostat studies, which reported substantial response enhancement at all fluence levels.     

Diversity and activity of aquatic fungi under low oxygen conditions

1. The objective was to test whether a decrease in oxygen concentration in streams affects the diversity and activity of aquatic hyphomycetes and consequently leaf litter decomposition. 2. Senescent leaves of Alnus glutinosa were immersed for 7 days in a reference stream, for fungal colonization, and then incubated for 18 days in microcosms at five oxygen concentrations (4%, 26%, 54%, 76% and 94% saturation). Leaf decomposition (as loss of leaf toughness), fungal diversity, reproduction (as spore production) and biomass (ergosterol content) were determined. 3. Leaf toughness decreased by 70% in leaves exposed to the highest O₂ concentration, whereas the decrease was substantially less (from 25% to 45%) in treatments with lower O₂. Fungal biomass decreased from 99 to 12 mg fungi g⁻¹ ash‐free dry mass on exposure to 94% and 4% O₂ respectively. Sporulation was strongly inhibited by reduction of dissolved O₂ in water (3.1 × 10⁴ versus 1.3 × 10³ spores per microcosms) for 94% and 4% saturation respectively. 4. A total of 20 species of aquatic hyphomycetes were identified on leaves exposed to 94% O₂, whereas only 12 species were found in the treatment with 4% O₂ saturation. Multidimensional scaling revealed that fungal assemblages exposed to 4% O₂ were separated from all the others. Articulospora tetracladia, Cylindrocarpon sp. and Flagellospora curta were the dominant species in microcosms with 4% O₂, while Flagellospora curvula and Anguillospora filiformis were dominant at higher O₂ concentrations. 5. Overall results suggest that the functional role of aquatic hyphomycetes as decomposers of leaf litter is limited when the concentration of dissolved oxygen in streams is low.     

The effect of colchicine on human blood platelets under conditions of short-term incubation.

The effects of colchicine on ADP-induced aggregation and on the phosphorylation of tubulin-like protein from human blood platelets were studied. Colchicine at 2mM concentration completely inhibits ADP-induced aggregation after 8min incubation. Under the same inhibitory conditions, phosphorylation of tubulin-like materials in intact platelets was also impaired whereas the endogenous kinase activity of tubulin, isolated through polymerization--depolymerization cycles, was not affected. It was also shown that, under conditions of maximal inhibition of both aggregation and tubulin phosphorylation, colchicine does not penetrate into the cells. The results obtained suggest that the effect of colchicine on platelet aggregation might be mainly, although not exclusively, due to a non-specific effect of the alkaloid on the plasma membrane, rather than to a direct action of the drug on the microtubular protein subunits.     

Role of divalent cations on DNA polymorphism under low ionic strength conditions.

We have examined the conformational properties of poly(dG-m5dC) under a variety of low salt conditions and sample preparations. Extensive dialysis against 0.5 mM Na-cacodylate resulted in a left-handed polynucleotide conformation as determined by circular dichroism, in agreement with recently reported results. Similarly, extensive dialysis against Tris-EGTA also led to a left-handed conformation. Dilution of these samples led to a transition to the right-handed conformation. More stringent treatments such as dialysis followed by passage over an ion exchange column also resulted in a right-handed conformation. When these various solutions were examined using atomic absorption spectroscopy, significant levels of Mg+2 were observed (greater than or equal to 190 per 1000 nucleotides) in all samples showing a left-handed form, while much lower levels (less than or equal to 45 per 1000 nucleotides) were found in the low salt samples displaying a right-handed conformation. Addition of MgCl2 to samples in which divalent cations had been almost completely removed led to the reformation of the left-handed form. These results indicate that the left-handed form seen under certain low salt conditions is due to the presence of Mg+2 ions that remain bound to the polynucleotide, even in the presence of EDTA.     

Ethylene removal at low temperatures under biofilter and batch conditions

Removal of the plant hormone ethylene (C(2)H(4)) is often required by horticultural storage facilities, which are operated at temperatures below 10 degrees C. The aim of this study was to demonstrate an efficient, biological C(2)H(4) removal under such low-temperature conditions. Peat-soil, acclimated to degradation of C(2)H(4), was packed in a biofilter (687 cm(3)) and subjected to an airflow ( approximately 73 ml min(-1)) with 2 ppm (microl liter(-1)) C(2)H(4). The C(2)H(4) removal efficiencies achieved at 20, 10, and 5 degrees C, respectively, were 99.0, 98.8, and 98.4%. This corresponded to C(2)H(4) levels of 0.022 to 0.032 ppm in the biofilter outlet air. At 2 degrees C, the average C(2)H(4) removal efficiency dropped to 83%. The detailed temperature response of C(2)H(4) removal was tested under batch conditions by incubation of 1-g soil samples in a temperature gradient ranging from 0 to 29 degrees C with increments of 1 degrees C. The C(2)H(4) removal rate was highest at 26 degrees C (0.85 microg of C(2)H(4) g [dry weight](-1) h(-1)), but remained at levels of 0.14 to 0.28 microg of C(2)H(4) g (dry weight)(-1) h(-1) at 0 to 10 degrees C. At 35 to 40 degrees C, the C(2)H(4) removal rate was negligible (0.02 to 0.06 microg of C(2)H(4) g [dry weight](-1) h(-1)). The Q(10) (i.e., the ratio of rates 10 degrees C apart) for C(2)H(4) removal was 1.9 for the interval 0 to 10 degrees C. In conclusion, the present results demonstrated microbial C(2)H(4) removal, which proceeded at 0 to 2 degrees C and produced a moderately psychrophilic temperature response.     

The relationship between the specific absorption rate and extremely low ambient nitrate concentrations under steady-state conditions

Some water-culture experiments were carried out to measure the ambient nitrate concentration under conditions of exponential addition of nitrate. Juvenile plants ofPlantago lanceolata were therefore grown on an agitated nutrient solution. Nitrate was continually added to the culture vessels during the experimental period. The amount added per plant increased exponentially with time, in accordance with the formula: $$NO_3 - N = N_0 .(e^{(RAR.t)} - 1)$$ (N₀=initial content of N in the seedling, RAR=relative addition rate, t=time in days). There were three treatments corresponding to RAR's of 0.20, 0.15 and 0.10 d^?1. All of them were suboptimal forP. lanceolata. Nitrate concentrations of the culture solution were measured weekly. In all cases plants were in steady state after two weeks. The relative growth rate was about equal to the RAR within treatments. The root weight ratio was inversely proportional to the RAR, and the internal N concentration proportional. Ambient nitrate concentrations were relatively high during the first two weeks. Ambient concentrations in the second half of the culture periods ranged from 0.35 to 1.8 μM. Linear and multiple regressions of the external nitrate concentration on the specific absorption rate (SAR), and on SAR and some other variables, respectively, were carried out. Most of its variation could be explained by the SAR (r²=0.9827); root size had a minor effect. The experimental results lead to the conclusion that ambient concentrations in culture experiments with exponential nutrient-addition are a result of the treatment. They also indicate which external concentrations may be expected to create strongly suppressed growth. Furthermore, the experiments suggest that the lower limit for nitrate absorption is a zero concentration.     

The effect of the animals' emotional state on ethanol consumption under free-choice conditions

Voluntary ethanol consumption (20% solution) in mice of C57BL/6J strain with different experience in social agonistic confrontations was studied. It has been shown, that aggressive males daily winning other individuals did not change the level of ethanol consumption, while the submissive mice with daily experience of defeat in intermale encounters dramatically increased that level. Ethanol enhanced the behavioural reactivity of submissive animals to other individuals. It was supposed that emotionally positive or negative states differentiate the ethanol motivations in mice.