Oxidative capacity determines the growth rate with Acetobacter methanolicus

The cultivation of Acetobacter methanolicus on various substrates revealed that the respective maximum growth rates are obtained at an almost identical oxidative capacity of about 16 mmoles of oxygen g (biomass)^?1·h^?1 under conditions of energy generations by complete substrate oxidation. This is considered to be an indication that the energy production rate determined by the capacity of the respiratory chain limits the growth rate in this strain. However, with glucose and glycerol, for example, a further increase in the growth rate is observed accompanied by the generation of products (gluconic acid or dihydroxyacetone, respectively). The incomplete oxidation should play the role of an additional energy generation. The potential for this rate increase is looked for in a higher energy gain derived from reduction equivalents (PQQH₂) in this periplasmic oxidation step in relation to the cytoplasmic reduction equivalents.     

The Respiratory Chain of Plant Mitochondria: XIV. Ordering of Ubiquinone, Flavoproteins, and Cytochromes in the Respiratory Chain

The effect of initial oxygen concentration on the rate and extent of oxidation of the respiratory chain carriers of anaerobic mitochondria from mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) seedlings was examined. The substrate was succinate, with malonate added to give malonate to succinate ratios of 6 to 12, thereby minimizing the flow of reducing equivalents from substrate and insuring maximal extent of oxidation of the carriers. The ratio of oxidizing equivalents available from oxygen to reducing equivalents available from reduced ubiquinone, designated the equivalents ratio, varied from 30 to 1. Cytochromes aa₃ and c₅₄₇ have unaltered oxidation half-times, designated t_{½ on}, as the equivalents ratio is reduced from 30 to 3, and the extent of oxidation is decreased by about 25%. The time of the oxidation-reduction cycle induced by the oxygen pulse, calculated from the point of half oxidation to that of half reduction and designated t_{½ off}, decreases 200 fold with this reduction in equivalents ratio. The oxidation half-time, t_{½ on}, for ubiquinone is unaltered by decreasing the equivalents ratio from 6 to 1; the value of t_{½ off} decreases only 30% while the extent of oxidation decreases 50%. The values of t_{½ on} and t_{½ off} and the extent of oxidation of cytochrome b₅₅₃ and flavoprotein Fp_ha were all much reduced at low equivalents ratios. The results, plus results from previous studies, indicate that there is the following linear sequence of components in the plant respiratory chain:     

Studies on Detritus Energy During the Decomposition of Kandelia candel Leaf Litter

Changes of caloric values and energy-rich organic compounds were studied in the detritus derived from mangrove Kandelia candel (L.) Druce leaf litter during the various in situ seasonal decomposition in Jiulong River Estuary, Fujian, China. The results showed that the caloric values varied little among the seasonal fallen leaves being a mean of 19.63 kJ/g dry wt or 21.55 kJ/g AF dry wt, the caloric values of detritus increased remarkably after decomposition but they more rapidly in summer and autumn than in winter and spring. The change was well in agreement with the degree of decomposition, being increased in the early decomposition period and slightly decreased in the later, with a peak at about the half-time of decomposition (50% weight loss). The maximum was averagely 17.67% of dry weight and 14.35 % of ash-free dry; weight basis over the initial values. The dissipation of total energy was somewhat slower than the loss of dry matter. As decomposition proceeds the energy of detritus was more and more contributed by raw protein, raw fat, raw fibers rather than by N-free extract. Therefore it is suggested that detritus at half-time of decomposition should be more important to marine detritivores from the viewpoint of energy supplement.     

Pyruvate and lactate metabolism by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 under fermentation, oxygen limitation, and fumarate respiration conditions

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 is a facultative anaerobe that derives energy by coupling organic matter oxidation to the reduction of a wide range of electron acceptors. Here, we quantitatively assessed the lactate and pyruvate metabolism of MR-1 under three distinct conditions: electron acceptor-limited growth on lactate with O(2), lactate with fumarate, and pyruvate fermentation. The latter does not support growth but provides energy for cell survival. Using physiological and genetic approaches combined with flux balance analysis, we showed that the proportion of ATP produced by substrate-level phosphorylation varied from 33% to 72.5% of that needed for growth depending on the electron acceptor nature and availability. While being indispensable for growth, the respiration of fumarate does not contribute significantly to ATP generation and likely serves to remove formate, a product of pyruvate formate-lyase-catalyzed pyruvate disproportionation. Under both tested respiratory conditions, S. oneidensis MR-1 carried out incomplete substrate oxidation, whereby the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle did not contribute significantly. Pyruvate dehydrogenase was not involved in lactate metabolism under conditions of O(2) limitation but was required for anaerobic growth, likely by supplying reducing equivalents for biosynthesis. The results suggest that pyruvate fermentation by S. oneidensis MR-1 cells represents a combination of substrate-level phosphorylation and respiration, where pyruvate serves as an electron donor and an electron acceptor. Pyruvate reduction to lactate at the expense of formate oxidation is catalyzed by a recently described new type of oxidative NAD(P)H-independent d-lactate dehydrogenase (Dld-II). The results further indicate that pyruvate reduction coupled to formate oxidation may be accompanied by the generation of proton motive force.     

Energy conservation by pyrroloquinoline quinol-linked xylose oxidation in Pseudomonas putida NCTC 10936 during carbon-limited growth in chemostat culture

Abstract When grown in carbon source-limited chemostat cultures with lactate or glucose as the carbon and energy source and xylose as an additional source of reducing equivalents, Pseudomonas putida NCTC 10936 oxidized xylose to xylonolactone and xylonate. No other products were formed from this pentose, nor was it incorporated into biomass. The presence of xylose in these cultures resulted in higher Y_glucose and Y_lactate values as compared to cultures without xylose indicating that biologically useful energy was conserved during the periplasmic oxidation of xylose. As the Y₀ values for growth on glucose or on lactate alone were equal to the Y₀ values with xylose as co-substrate, it is concluded that for flucose- or lactate-limited growth energy conservation by PQQH₂ oxidation is as efficient as by NADH₂ oxidation.     

秋茄红树植物落叶分解的碎屑能量研究

测定了红树植物秋茄（Ｋａｎｄｅｌｉａ ｃａｎｄｅｌ （Ｌ．） Ｄｒｕｃｅ）落叶在不同季节分解过程中碎屑的热值和富能有机化合物的变化。结果表明,季节间落叶的热值差别不大,平均为１９．６３ ｋＪ／ｇ干重或２１．５５ ｋＪ／ｇ 去灰分干重。各季节的落叶在其分解后的碎屑的热值均明显提高,且夏秋季快于冬春季,但它们与分解程度有相应的相关关系：分解初期上升,后期稍降,最大值出现在半分解期（失重５０％ ）附近。碎屑的最大热值平均比落叶的热值提高１７．６７％ （干重热值）或１４．３５％ （失灰分干重热值）。分解中总能量的耗散稍慢于干物质的损失。随分解的进行,碎屑中粗蛋白、粗脂肪、粗纤维的能量增大,而无氮浸出物的能量减少。     

西双版纳不同林龄次生植物群落优势树种的热值

该文对西双版纳的4种次生植物群落优势树种的热值进行了研究。4种群落类型分别是山黄麻(Trema orientalis)群落、白背桐(Mallotus paniculatus)群落、中平树(Macaranga denticulata)群落和思茅崖豆(Millettia leptobotrya)群落,群落年龄分别为2、4、6年和大于15年。4种群落各优势树种的平均干重热值分别为19 182.11、19 474.81、19 551.38和19 445.95 J·g^-1。总体来讲,热值随着群落年龄的增加而增加。增长的原因应该是群落光能利用效率的增加。思茅崖豆群落的热值稍有降低,是因为这个群落样地处在阴坡,不能接受到像其它3个群落那样在阳坡的充足光照。先锋树种的热值明显低于顶极树种。可能是因为在群落演替初期,生态系统增加能量耗散的主要方式是通过生物量的增加;而当结构建成,生物量增加到一定程度,已经没有足够增长空间的时候,生态系统将会改变能量储存方式,主要通过单位质量固定能量的增加,也就是热值的增加,来耗散能量。山黄麻群落中叶片的热值非常低,低于根的热值水平,是短命树种将能量更多地投资于繁殖的原因。     

Level,content, and caloric equivalents of the lipid,carbohydrate, and protein in the body components of Luidia clathrata (echinodermata: asteroidea: platyasterida) in Tampa bay

The body components of the primitive platyasterid starfish, Luidia clathrata (Say) have been characterized according to season, reproductive, and nutritional condition. The animal has been ‘reconstructed’ in terms of the wet and dry weights, the weight of organic matter, and the caloric equivalents of the body components in early summer (when there are no gonads and the pyloric caeca are small), in autumn (just prior to initiation of gonadal development and at maximal caeca size), and in early spring (at maximal gonad size). The body wall is always the most significant component in terms of wet and dry weights. In terms of organic matter and calories, the pyloric caeca are the most significant compartment in the fall and, together with the gonads, in the spring. On starvation for one month, the decrease in the size of the pyloric caeca is calculated to have produced 2.048 kcal. The energy requirement over the period, calculated from Q_o2 values, is 2.112 kcal. There was no change in biochemical composition of the pyloric caeca with starvation, suggesting that energy production came about through cell destruction rather than preferential utilization of cellular nutrient stores. Lack of extreme change in the composition of the pyloric caeca with size through the year also suggests that energy deposition in the organ is primarily by change in cell number and not by cell size.     

Geographical dimensions of terrestrial net and gross primary productivity

Summary The paper presents a comparative summary of previous attempts by the author to assess and map global primary productivity using environmental parameters as predictors. The individual components of the productivity process, net production, gross production, dark respiration as well as their regional rates are computed for 10 degree latitudinal belts.A new version of the Miami Model (Lieth, 1973, 1975) is presented predicting net primary productivity from an increased number of averages of temperature and precipitation. Net primary productivity values in form of dry matter accumulation and caloric energy equivalents are compared.Prof. Dr. H. Walter dedicated to his 80th birthday     

青海海北地区矮嵩草草甸生物量和能量的分配

 此项研究工作于1980年在海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站进行。本文研究了青藏高原地区分布面积广、草质优良,在畜牧业生产中有重要意义的矮嵩草草甸的生物量和它的能量分配关系,测定了地上,地下生物量和不同物候期主要植物类群的热值含量。研究结果表明：矮嵩草草甸生物量的季节动态较为明显,地上生物量随生长季节的水热条件和植物的生长发育阶段而变化,9月初地上生物量达到峰值(296.66g／m2),此后生物量逐渐减少,到枯黄前而停止;地下根系生物量在返青期较高,生长旺盛期最低,枯黄期最高,这同植物生长发育阶段的物质运转有关。矮嵩草草甸主要植物类群的热值以生长旺盛期最高,枯黄期次之,返青期较低;各类草的热值,以莎草类最高,禾草类次之,杂类草最低。矮嵩草草甸总初级生产量为909.49g／m2·年,其中地上为296.66g／m2·年,地下为596.67g／m2·年,枯枝落叶为16.16g／m2·年。群落在不同生长期所固定的太阳能数值不一,以枯黄前所固定的太阳能为最多,生长期整个群落的光能利用率为0.295%。     

豫西刺槐能源林的热值动态

对豫西丘陵区5个无性系刺槐苗期的不同器官的干重热值、去灰分热值和灰分含量及生长量和生物量进行了测定。结果表明:5个无性系刺槐苗期的生长节律不同和各器官的积累速度不同,最后一季干物质量排序为3-I＞83002＞84023＞8044＞8048;5个无性系刺槐苗期的各器官中干重热值和去灰分热值的排序存在差异,8044的叶和枝的干重热值和去灰分热值平均最大,分别为19.31、21.18 kJ/g和18.00、19.39 kJ/g,8048干的干重热值和83002干的去灰分热值平均最大,分别为18.72、19.12 kJ/g,83002皮的干重热值和去灰分热值平均最大,分别为17.77、19.29 kJ/g。整体上标准木单位质量的干重热值表现为先升后降,83002、3-I、84023的生长潜能大,单位面积上的热值表现为无性系83002、3-I、84023最大。     

The energy mechanism of phasic changes in the spontaneous electrical activity of the neurons during hypoxia

The functional activity of the neurons directly depends on the energy metabolism of the cell, and as the hypoxic effect grows there takes place an interreplaceability of metabolic flows supplying the respiratory chain with energy substrates and reducing equivalents participating in the compensatory maintenance of the energy status of the cell (glycolysis, NAD-dependent oxidation and succinate oxidation in the terminal phase). Due to this, in a vast area of pO2 values there is retained a high degree of impulse activity of neurons characteristic of the specific electrogenic neuron function.     

A METHOD FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF ELECTROSTENOLYSIS

A quantitative method for the investigation of electrostenolysis has been developed. Electrostenolysis is redefined in the light of the discovery that organic molecules are subject to it. The experimental requirements for a quantitative study are enumerated, and the apparatus and procedure described. It is found that with ferrous and ferric ions and a cellulose acetate membrane, the potential drop across the membrane must be above about 2150 v./cm. in order to effect any oxidation and reduction. With the present apparatus and conditions the ratio of equivalents oxidized or reduced to faradays passing the membrane is low,— of the order of one to several thousand.     

Metabolism of sulfate-reducing prokaryotes

Dissimilatory sulfate reduction is carried out by a heterogeneous group of bacteria and archaea that occur in environments with temperatures up to 105 °C. As a group together they have the capacity to metabolize a wide variety of compounds ranging from hydrogen via typical organic fermentation products to hexadecane, toluene, and several types of substituted aromatics. Without exception all sulfate reducers activate sulfate to APS; the natural electron donor(s) for the ensuing APS reductase reaction is not known. The same is true for the reduction of the product bisulfite; in addition there is still some uncertainty as to whether the pathway to sulfide is a direct six-electron reduction of bisulfite or whether it involves trithionate and thiosulfate as intermediates. The study of the degradation pathways of organic substrates by sulfate-reducing prokaryotes has led to the discovery of novel non-cyclic pathways for the oxidation of the acetyl moiety of acetyl-CoA to CO₂. The most detailed knowledge is available on the metabolism ofDesulfovibrio strains, both on the pathways and enzymes involved in substrate degradation and on electron transfer components and terminal reductases. Problems encountered in elucidating the flow of reducing equivalents and energy transduction are the cytoplasmic localization of the terminal reductases and uncertainties about the electron donors for the reactions catalyzed by these enzymes. New developments in the study of the metabolism of sulfate-reducing bacteria and archaea are reviewed.     

SirT1 regulates energy metabolism and response to caloric restriction in mice

The yeast sir2 gene and its orthologues in Drosophila and C. elegans have well-established roles in lifespan determination and response to caloric restriction. We have studied mice carrying two null alleles for SirT1, the mammalian orthologue of sir2, and found that these animals inefficiently utilize ingested food. These mice are hypermetabolic, contain inefficient liver mitochondria, and have elevated rates of lipid oxidation. When challenged with a 40% reduction in caloric intake, normal mice maintained their metabolic rate and increased their physical activity while the metabolic rate of SirT1-null mice dropped and their activity did not increase. Moreover, CR did not extend lifespan of SirT1-null mice. Thus, SirT1 is an important regulator of energy metabolism and, like its orthologues from simpler eukaryotes, the SirT1 protein appears to be required for a normal response to caloric restriction.     

Operation and energy dependence of the reducing-equivalent shuttles during lactate metabolism by isolated hepatocytes.

The participation and energy dependence of the malate-aspartate shuttle in transporting reducing equivalents generated from cytoplasmic lactate oxidation was studied in isolated hepatocytes of fasted rats. Both lactate removal and glucose synthesis were inhibited by butylmalonate, aminooxyacetate or cycloserine confirming the involvement of malate and aspartate in the transfer of reducing equivalents from the cytoplasm to mitochondria. In the presence of ammonium ions the inhibition of lactate utilization by butylmalonate was considerably reduced, yet the transfer of reducing equivalents into the mitochondria was unaffected, indicating a substantially lesser role for butylmalonate-sensitive malate transport in reducing-equivalent transfer when ammonium ions were present. Ammonium ions had no stimulatory effect on uptake of sorbitol, a substrate whose oxidation principally involves the alpha-glycerophosphate shuttle. The role of cellular energy status (reflected in the mitochondrial membrane electrical potential (delta psi) and redox state), in lactate oxidation and operation of the malate-aspartate shuttle, was studied using a graded concentration range of valinomycin (0-100 nM). Lactate oxidation was strongly inhibited when delta psi fell from 130 to 105 mV whereas O2 consumption and pyruvate removal were only minimally affected over the valinomycin range, suggesting that the oxidation of lactate to pyruvate is an energy-dependent step of lactate metabolism. Our results confirm that the operation of the malate-aspartate shuttle is energy-dependent, driven by delta psi. In the presence of added ammonium ions the removal of lactate was much less impaired by valinomycin, suggesting an energy-independent utilization of lactate under these conditions. The oxidizing effect of ammonium ions on the mitochondrial matrix apparently alleviates the need for energy input for the transfer of reducing equivalents between the cytoplasm and mitochondria. It is concluded that, in the presence of ammonium ions, the transport of lactate hydrogen to the mitochondria is accomplished by malate transfer that is not linked to the electrogenic transport of glutamate across the inner membrane, and, hence, is clearly distinct from the butylmalonate-sensitive, energy-dependent, malate-aspartate shuttle.     

香港山坡地草本、灌木群落的植物能量生产

利用收获法和植物热值分析,在研究香港桃金娘灌木群落、芒萁群落和鸭嘴草+野古草+金茅草地植物的生物量和净生产量的基础上,探讨群落各组分的干重热值以及植物能量现存量、净固定量和现存净增量.结果表明,芒萁具有较高的热值,而禾草植物的干重热值较低.草地、芒萁、灌木群落植物的能量现存量分别为18683、38436和65632kJ·m^-2;能量净固定量为13286、20354和18784kJ·m^-2·a^-1;能量现存净增量为3437、9626和6695kJ·m^-2·a^-1.与地带性植被南亚热带常绿阔叶林相比,草地、芒萁、灌木群落的能量现存量、能量净固定量和能量现存净增量都较低.刈割实验也表明,随着人类干扰活动强度加大,植物能量净固定量明显下降.     

Energy supply in early development of living cell

It is proposed that before light and oxidation of organic compounds became the predominant energy suppliers of the living cell, electron charge energy derived from heat energy by mineral particles, was the first energy source. The basis of this hypothesis is the finding that Al2O3 in electrolytic condensors can produce an electron driving force with a potential high enough for electrolysis of water and subsequent reduction of CO2 into organic molecules. This electron driving force is likely to originate from one-way movement of electrons in tunnel structures of the Al2O3 layer, driven by temperature kinetic energy.     

围封对内蒙古锡林河流域羊草草原主要构成植物个体、枯落物及群落热值的影响

2010年8月,对中国科学院内蒙古草原生态系统定位站1979、1999和2004年围封的羊草样地进行取样,测定植物个体、枯落物及群落的热值,探讨不同围封时间对羊草草原主要构成植物、枯落物、群落热值及单位面积能量积累量的影响.结果表明:围封对羊草草原主要植物个体、枯落物、群落热值及单位面积能量积累量均具有显著影响.1979和1999年围封的羊草草原单位面积能量积累量显著高于2004年围封,2004年围封群落和枯落物的热值均显著高于1979和1999年围封,而1979和1999年之间无显著差异.在不同围封时间下,同种植物的热值差异显著,而不同种植物的热值则表现出一定差异;群落热值高低取决于构成植物,而单位面积能量积累量主要由草地的生物产量决定,二者的变化趋势均为短期内有一定波动,长期围封之后基本维持在一个较稳定的水平,最终达到生态能量平衡.     

Organic Matter Mineralization with Reduction of Ferric Iron in Anaerobic Sediments

The potential for ferric iron reduction with fermentable substrates, fermentation products, and complex organic matter as electron donors was investigated with sediments from freshwater and brackish water sites in the Potomac River Estuary. In enrichments with glucose and hematite, iron reduction was a minor pathway for electron flow, and fermentation products accumulated. The substitution of amorphous ferric oxyhydroxide for hematite in glucose enrichments increased iron reduction 50-fold because the fermentation products could also be metabolized with concomitant iron reduction. Acetate, hydrogen, propionate, butyrate, ethanol, methanol, and trimethylamine stimulated the reduction of amorphous ferric oxyhydroxide in enrichments inoculated with sediments but not in uninoculated or heat-killed controls. The addition of ferric iron inhibited methane production in sediments. The degree of inhibition of methane production by various forms of ferric iron was related to the effectiveness of these ferric compounds as electron acceptors for the metabolism of acetate. The addition of acetate or hydrogen relieved the inhibition of methane production by ferric iron. The decrease of electron equivalents proceeding to methane in sediments supplemented with amorphous ferric oxyhydroxides was compensated for by a corresponding increase of electron equivalents in ferrous iron. These results indicate that iron reduction can outcompete methanogenic food chains for sediment organic matter. Thus, when amorphous ferric oxyhydroxides are available in anaerobic sediments, the transfer of electrons from organic matter to ferric iron can be a major pathway for organic matter decomposition.