Photosynthesis of Ulva sp. II. utilization of CO2 and HCO−3 when submerged

The photosynthetic capacity of submerged Ulva sp. when utilizing CO₂ and HCO^?₃ as exogenous carbon forms has been investigated and compared with ambient carbon concentrations in sea water. Saturating concentrations of HCO^{? ₃} and CO₂ were 1200 and 100 μM, respectively at saturating light, and photosynthetic rates under such conditions averaged 700 μmolO₂·gDW^?1 ·h^?1. The HCO^?₃ concentration of sea water (≈2500μM), was thus found to be saturating for photosynthesis of Ulva. At the CO₂ concentration of sea water (≈ 10 μM), the contribution of this carbon form to photosynthesis could be 27% at the most. Under conditions of slow water movement, the relative importance of CO₂ utilization would probably be minimized in favour of HCO^?₃ utilization. It is concluded that HCO^?₃ uptake is not limiting photosynthesis for Ulva under natural conditions.     

Production of fertile somatic hybrids of Gossypium hirsutum?+?G. bickii and G. hirsutum?+?G. stockii via protoplast fusion

Fertile somatic hybrids were obtained via symmetric electrofusion of protoplasts from two combinations of tetraploid cotton (G. hirsutum cv. Coker 201, AD genome) and diploid wild cottons G. bickii (G genome) and G. stockii (E genome), respectively. Observation by morphological, flow cytometric analysis, chromosome counting and RAPD analysis of the tested hybrids of Coker 201 + G. bickii and Coker 201 + G. stockii confirmed the regenerated plants as hybrid status. Cytological investigation of the metaphase root-tip cells revealed there were 78 chromosomes in the hybrids. Flow cytometric analysis showed the tested plants had a relative DNA contents close to the total DNA contents of the two parents. RAPD analysis revealed the hybrids contained specific genomic fragments from both fusion partners, further confirmed their hybridity. The morphology of the hybrids was intermediate between the two fusion partners. The hybrid plants were successfully transferred to the soil, and they bloomed and set bolls. It is sure that the new hexaploids developed by cell fusion would contribute to cotton breeding through backcrossing with the elite genotypes of G. hirsutum.     

Dictyoclostus cf.neoinflatus Licharew的拟内疹

有铰纲腕足动物的壳壁疹孔,具有分类及生态方面的意义。十九世纪中叶,M.D.Carpenter(1853)用光学显微镜,观察了穿孔贝类的壳壁穿孔。以后,K.M.Hatai(1940)、P.E.Cloud(1942)以及A.Williams(1956,1965)等,对此类构造均作过描述,并称之为内疹(Endopuncta)。1968年Williams利用电子显微镜,研究了现代穿孔贝内疹的超微形态,并对其成因和功能作了较详细的探讨。     

Conformational analysis of 1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-galacto-octopyranose derivatives: a 1H- and 13C-N.M.R.-spectral and x-ray comparative study

The pyranoid conformations of 7-acetamido-6,7,8-trideoxy-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-octopyranose (3) and 7-acetamido-7,8-dideoxy-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-l-threo-α-d-galacto-octopyranose (4) in solution have been determined by calculation of the dihedral angles from the vicinal, proton-proton coupling-constants, using three modifications of the Karplus equation. Of these, only the equation ³J(HCCH)(φ)  (7.48  0.74 -ΣδE_x)  (2.03  0.17 ΣE_x)cos φ + (4.60  0.23 ΣδE_x)cos 2φ + 0.06 (Σ ± ΔE_x)sin φ + 0.62 (Σ ± ΔE_x)sin 2φ indicates that the pyranoid part of 3 and 4 has the °S₂ conformation, very slightly distorted towards °H₅, in agreement with the conformations determined for the crystalline state. Analysis of the ¹H-n.m.r. data for a series of 1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropyl-idene-α-d-galacto-octopyranose derivatives shows that the pyranoid parts of these compounds adopt the same conformation as that found for 3 and 4.     

Secondary structures of peptides: 5 · 15N n.m.r. CP/MAS spectroscopy of solid polypeptides and gramicidin-S

30.5 MHz ¹⁵N m.m.r. (CP/MAS) spectra of various solid polypeptides were measured using the cross-polarization/magic angle spinning technique. In order to obtain optimum signal-to-noise ratios, relatively short contact times (1 ± 0.5 ms) are required, because the cross-polarization times (T_NH) are short and because the proton rotating-frame relaxation times (T_1p) are in the order of 20 ms. The ¹⁵N n.m.r. signals of copolypeptides may be sensitive to sequence effects; yet they are in most cases more sensitive to the nature of the secondary structure. The signals of α-helices absorb ca. 8–10 ppm upfield of β-sheet structures, whereas the polyglycine II helix absorbs downfield. The natural abundance spectrum of crystalline gramicidin-S exhibits a signal at ?247 ppm, a characteristic chemical shift of the antiparallel pleated sheet structure.     

A 13c-n.m.r. study of 1,6:2,3- and 1,6:3,4-dianhydro-β-D-hexo-pyranoses and their O-acetyl and deoxy derivatives

¹³C-N.m.r. spectra of all possible 1,6:2,3- and 1,6:3,4-dianhydro-β-D-hexo-pyranoses and their O-acetyl and deoxy derivatives are presented. Relations between chemical shifts of certain carbon atoms and the structure of the dianhydrides are outlined, and their application in structural analysis is discussed. Inversion of configuration of the oxirane ring from the endo to the exo position is associated with typical upfield-shifts for oxirane-ring carbon atoms C-2 or C-4, respectively. Possible inter-relationships between ¹³C-chemical shifts and steric and polar interactions in the dianhydro derivatives are discussed.     

Control of the modularity of {Mo2O2S2}-containing polyoxometalates. Synthesis, structure and characterization of tri- and tetra-modular assemblies based on the [β-B-AsW9O33] anion

Reaction at pH = 2.3 of the [Mo₂O₂S₂(OH₂)₆]²⁺ aqua cation with the tetravacant ion [β-B-HAs₂W₈O₃₁]⁷⁻ leads to the formation of a red solid from which three mixed salts have been obtained as single crystals and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Three mixed salts K-5a, RbNa-5b, DMACs-5c exhibit a similar molecular arrangement consisting in three {β-HAs₂W₉O₃₄} subunits mutually linked by three {Mo₂O₂S₂} groups. The triangular arrangement delimits a large open-cavity, lined on the periphery by three outer {As-OH} groups and closed at the bottom by a small hexagonal pocket formed by six terminal oxygen atoms. The central hexagonal cavity is filled either by a potassium, a rubidium or a cesium cation. The outer {As-OH} groups are pointed towards two directions labelled up and down, respectively. In K-6a the three {As-OH} bonds are in up configuration leading to the {up, up, up} isomer. The structure of RbNa-5b is rather consistent with the superposition of the two {up, up, up} and {down, up, up} isomers disordered over the same crystallographic site, while only the {down, up, up} isomer is present in DMACs-5c. In solution, ¹⁸³W NMR characterization of 6a as sodium salt results in a complicated spectrum consistent with the simultaneous presence of the four isomers, {up, up, up}, {down, up, up}, {down, down, up} and {down, down, down}, respectively. 5a reacts with three equivalents of iodine to give CsNa-6 isolated as single crystals. In 6, four β-{AsW₉O₃₃} moieties are located at the corner of a super tetrahedron and are mutually connected by six {Mo₂O₂S₂} linkers. The three outer {As-OH} groups can be selectively removed by iodine, this oxidation reaction consisting in fact in a deprotecting process permitting the extension of the arrangement from triangular to tetrahedral.     

13C-N.M.R. Spectroscopy of α- and β-anomeric series of alkyl l-arabinopyranosides

Anomeric pairs of l-arabinopyranosides of a variety of aliphatic alcohols were prepared, and their n.m.r. spectroscopy, especially the glycosylation shift of their ¹³C signals, was investigated in comparison with those of d-glucopyranosides, d-mannopyranosides, and l-rhamnopyranosides reported previously. It was found that the glycosylation shift of the l-arabinopyranosides in the present study is almost the same as that of d-glucopyranosides, and the conformational equilibrium of each of these l-arabinopyranosides is very similar to that of the corresponding anomer of methyl l-arabinopyranoside, namely, a preponderance of the ⁴C₁, form, regardless of the structure of the aglycon alcohol. The present results are also useful for structural study of naturally occurring arabinopyranosides.     

New thiocarbamate and thioureate palladium and platinum complexes: synthesis and use as metalloligands. Unprecedented coordination of the thioureate ligand in [(C6F5)2Pd{μ2,η-SC(NMe2)NPh}Pd(C6F5)(bpzm)]

The di-μ-hydroxo complexes [NBu₄]₂[{(C₆F₅)₂M(μ-OH)}₂] (M=Pd, Pt) react with PhNCS in alcohol ROH solution to yield the N,S-chelating thiocarbamate metal complexes [NBu₄][(C₆F₅)₂M{η²-SC(OR)NPh}] (R=Me, Et or Prⁿ). [NBu₄]₂[{(C₆F₅)₂Pd(μ-OH)}₂] also reacts with PhNCS in the presence of dialkylamines R₂NH to yield the N,S-chelating thioureate (1−) palladium complexes [NBu₄][(C₆F₅)₂Pd{η²-SC(NR₂)NPh}] (R=Me or Et). [NBu₄][(C₆F₅)₂M{η²-SC(X)NPh}] (M=Pd or Pt; X=OMe or NR₂) reacts with [(C₆F₅)Pd(bpzm)(acetone)]ClO₄ to yield the dinuclear complexes [(C₆F₅)₂M{(μ₂,η²-{SC(X)NPh}Pd(C₆F₅)(bpzm)] (M=Pd or Pt, X=OMe or NR₂; bpzm=bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane). The single-crystal structures of [NBu₄][(C₆F₅)₂Pd{η²-SC(OMe)NPh}] and [(C₆F₅)₂Pd{μ₂,η²-SC(NMe₂)NPh}Pd(C₆F₅)(bpzm)] have been established by X-ray diffraction.     

Potential difference responses due to K+, Na+ and Cl− changes in Bullfrog antrum with and without HCO3−

The effect of changing [K⁺], [Na⁺] and [Cl^?] in nutrient solution was studied in bullfrog antrum with and without HCO₃^? in nutrient. In 25 mM HCO₃^? (95% O₂/5% CO₂) and in zero HCO₃^? (100% O₂), nutrient pH was maintained at 7.3. Changing from 4 to 40 mM K⁺ or from 81 to 8.1 mM Cl^? gave a decrease 10 min later in transmucosal PD (nutrient became more negative) — a normal response. These responses were less in zero than in 25 mM HCO₃^?. A decrease from 102 to 8 mM Na⁺ decreased PD (anomalous response of electrogenic NaCl symport). This effect was attenuated or eliminated in zero HCO₃^?. In contrast, change from 4 to 40 mM K⁺ gave initial anomalous PD response and change from 102 to 8 mM Na⁺, initial normal PD response with either zero or 25 mM HCO₃^?. Both responses were associated with (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase pump and were greater in zero than in 25 mM HCO₃^?. Initial PD increases in zero HCO₃^? are explained as due to increase in the resistance of passive conductance and/or NaCl symport pathways. Thus, removal of HCO₃^? modifies conductance pathways of nutrient membrane.     

Cleavage-resistant fusion proteins of the M2 muscarinic receptor and Gαi1. Homotropic and heterotropic effects in the binding of ligands

Background

G protein-coupled receptors fused to a Gα-subunit are functionally similar to their unfused counterparts. They offer an intriguing view into the nature of the receptor–G protein complex, but their usefulness depends upon the stability of the fusion.

Methods

Fusion proteins of the M₂ muscarinic receptor and the α-subunit of G_i1 were expressed in CHO and Sf9 cells, extracted in digitonin–cholate, and examined for their binding properties and their electrophoretic mobility on western blots.

Results

Receptor fused to native α_i1 underwent proteolysis near the point of fusion to release a fragment with the mobility of α_i1. The cleavage was prevented by truncation of the α-subunit at position 18. Binding of the agonist oxotremorine-M to the stable fusion protein from Sf9 cells was biphasic, and guanylylimidodiphosphate promoted an apparent interconversion of sites from higher to lower affinity. With receptor from CHO cells, the apparent capacity for N-[³H]methylscopolamine was 60% of that for [³H]quinuclidinylbenzilate; binding at saturating concentrations of the latter was inhibited in a noncompetitive manner at low concentrations of unlabeled N-methylscopolamine.

Conclusions

A stable fusion protein of the M₂ receptor and truncated α_i1 resembles the native receptor–G protein complex with respect to the guanyl nucleotide-sensitive binding of agonists and the noncompetitive binding of antagonists.

General significance

Release of the α-subunit is likely to occur with other such fusion proteins, rendering the data ambiguous or misleading. The properties of a chemically stable fusion protein support the notion that signaling proceeds via a stable multimeric complex of receptor and G protein.