Aromatic metabolism in Rhizobium trifolii —protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase

Protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.3) has been purified 42-fold from 4-hydroxybenzoate-grown cells of Rhizobium trifolii TA1, where it constitutes about 2% of the cell protein. The dioxygenase has a molecular weight of 220,000, with two dissimilar sub-units of molecular weights 29,000 and 26,500, corresponding to an 44 composition. The enzyme is specific for protocatechuate, with a Km of 1.75×10^-5 M and maximum activity at pH 9.2. Metal removal and replacement studies indicate that the enzyme contains complexed Fe³⁺ which is required for activity. Direct atomic absorption analysis gave 1.3–1.5 g atoms Fe³⁺ per mole of isolated enzyme, but correction for metal-deficient proteins suggests that the value is close to 2.     

Purification and characterization of cyclic 3′5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterase D3 from Sinorhizobium fredii MAR-1

The cyclic 35-nucleotide phosphodiesterase D3 was purified from Sinorhizobium fredii MAR-1. The native enzyme had a molecular weight of approximately 44.5kDa and a subunit molecular weight of approximately 21kDa as judged by SDS-gel electrophoresis. The pH optimum of the enzyme for the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP was approximately 6.0 with both acetate and Tris-maleate buffers. The optimum temperature for hydrolysing cyclic AMP was approximately 50C. No metal ion was required for activity and EDTA up to 2.5mM did not markedly affect the enzyme. However, methylxanthines, adenine and adenosine as well as 5-AMP, ATP, ADP and metal ions like Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Pb²⁺, Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺, were strongly inhibitory at 2.5mM.The D3 enzyme could hydrolyse both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP with the apparent K _m for cyclic AMP of approximately 0.23M.     

Iron-efficient and iron-inefficient oats and corn respond differently to iron-deficiency stress

Iron-efficient (WF9 corn and Coker 227 oat) and Fe-inefficient (ys₁ corn and TAM 0–312 oat) cultivars were comparatively tested for their response to Fe-deficiency stress induced by the use of either ferrous or ferric chelators. Corn and oats were grown in 20 M Fe with 0, 60, and 120 M BPDS and 40 M Fe with 0, 120, and 240 M BPDS and 20 M Fe with 0 and 40 M EDDHA. All four cultivars tested, both Fe-efficient and Fe-inefficient, continuously reduced Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ at a low level as evidenced by the production of Fe²⁺ (BPDS)₃ in test nutrient solutions over time. Severity of chlorosis increased as more BPDS was added to the nutrient solutions for both WF9 and ys₁ corn, but unlike corn, Coker 227 and TAM 0-312 oats were both able to obtain Fe from the Fe²⁺ (BPDS)₃ complex and were less chlorotic as a result. In short-term (4-hour) in vivo measurements, iron-stressed WF9 (Fe-efficient) corn reduced more Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ than similarly stressed ys₁ corn, Coker 227 oat or TAM 0-312 oat. Thus, at the same time that Fe-efficient WF9 corn reduces more Fe than the other cultivars, it is also unable to compete with BPDS for that Fe in the nutrient solution. These differences coupled with the observation that only Coker 227 oat produced measureable iron solubilizing substances (phytosiderophores) suggest that these two species differ in their mechanisms for obtaining Fe during Fe-deficiency stress.     

Degradation of diphenylether by Pseudomonas cepacia Et4: enzymatic release of phenol from 2,3-dihydroxydiphenylether

2,3-Dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase from Pseudomonas cepacia Et 4 was found to catalyze the ring fission of 2,3-dihydroxydiphenylether in the course of diphenylether degradation. The enzyme was purified and characterized. It had a molecular mass of 240 kDa and is dissociated by SDS into eight subunits of equal mass (31 kDa). The purified enzyme was found to be most active with 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl as substrate and showed moderate activity with 2,3-dihydroxydiphenylether, catechol and some 3-substituted catechols. The K _m-value of 1 M for 2,3-dihydroxydiphenylether indicated a high affinity of the enzyme towards this substrate. The cleavage of 2,3-dihydroxydiphenylether by 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase lead to the formation of phenol and 2-pyrone-6-carboxylate as products of ring fission and ether cleavage without participation of free intermediates. Isotope labeling experiments carried out with ¹⁸O₂ and H₂ ¹⁸O indicated the incorporation of ¹⁸O from the atmosphere into the carboxyl residue as well as into the carbonyl oxygen of the lactone moiety of 2-pyrone-6-carboxylate. Based on these experimental findings the reaction mechanism for the formation of phenol and 2-pyrone-6-carboxylate is proposed in accordance with the mechanism suggested by Kersten et al. (1982).Non-standard abbreviations DPE diphenylether - 2,3-dihydroxy-DPE 2,3-dihydroxydiphenylether - PCA 2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid - 2,3-dihydroxy-BP dioxygenase 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase - GC gas chromatography     

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from Acetobacter aceti

In Acetobacter aceti growing on pyruvate as the only source of carbon and energy, oxaloacetate (OAA) is produced by a phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31). The enzyme was purified 122-fold and a molecular weight of about 380,000 was estimated by gel filtration.The optimum pH was 7.5 and the K _m values for PEP and NaHCO₃ were 0.49 mM and about 3 mM, respectively. The enzyme needed a divalent cation; the K _m for Mn²⁺, Co²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were 0.12, 0.26 and 0.77 mM, respectively. Maximal activity was only obtained with Mg²⁺. Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺ became inhibitory at high concentrations.The activity was inhibited by succinate and, to a lesser extent, by fumarate, citrate, -ketoglutarate, aspartate and glutamate.As compared with the corresponding enzyme from A. xylinum, the PEP carboxylase of A. aceti showed the following differences: a) It had an absolute requirement for acetyl CoA (K _a 0.18 mM) or propionyl CoA (K _a 0.2 mM). b) It was not affected by ADP. c) It was sensitive to thiol blocking agents.Abbreviations PEP phosphoenolpyruvate - OAA oxaloacetate - MW molecular weight - TEMG buffer 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 1 mM EDTA, 5 mM MgCl₂, 1 mM glutathione - HEPES N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-ethanesulfonic acid     

Malic enzyme of Chromatium vinosum

Malic enzyme of the phototrophic bacterium Chromatium vinosum strain D that lacks malate dehydrogenase was partially purified yielding a specific activity of 55 units/mg protein. The constitutive enzyme with a molecular weight of 110,000 and a pH optimum of 8.0 was absolutely dependent on the presence of a monovalent cation (NH ₄ ⁺ , K⁺, Cs⁺, or Rb⁺) as well as a divalent cation (Mn²⁺, or Mg²⁺). The enzyme was inhibited by oxaloacetate, glyoxylate, and NADPH. The K _0.5 value for L-malate and the inhibition constants for oxaloacetate and glyoxylate are dependent on the concentration of the monovalent cation, whereas the K _m value for NADP (18 M) and the K ₁ value for NADPH (42 M) are independent. Throughout all kinetic measurements hyperbolic saturation curves and linear double reciprocal plots were obtained.Abbreviations OAA oxaloacetate - OD optical density     

Pyruvate decarboxylase from Zymomonas mobilis. Isolation and partial characterization

Pyruvate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.1) from the ethanol producing bacterium Zymomonas mobilis was purified to homogeneity. This enzyme is an acidic protein with an isoelectric point of 4.87 and has an apparent molecular weight of 200,000±10,000. The enzyme showed a single band in sodium dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis with a molecular weight of 56,500±4,000 which indicated that the enzyme consists of four probably identical subunits. The dissociation of the cofactors Mg²⁺ and thiamine pyrophosphate at pH 8.9 resulted in a total loss of enzyme activity which could be restored to 99.5% at pH 6.0 in the presence of both cofactors. For the apoenzyme the apparent K _m values for Mg²⁺ and thiamine pyrophosphate were determined to be 24 M and 1.28 M. The apparent K _m value for the substrate pyruvate was 0.4 mM. Antiserum prepared against this purified pyruvate decarboxylase failed to crossreact with cell extracts of the reportedly pyruvate decarboxylase positive bacteria Sarcina ventriculi, Erwinia amylovora, or Gluconobacter oxydans, or with cell extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.Abbreviations Tris-buffer 0,01 M tris-HCl buffer, containing 1 mM MgCl₂ 0.1 mM EDTA, 1.0 mM thiamine pyrophosphate, 2 mM mercaptopropanediol, pH 7.0     

Iron uptake by leaf mesophyll cells: The role of the plasma membrane-bound ferric-chelate reductase

The uptake of ⁵⁹Fe from FeCl₃, ferric (Fe³⁺) citrate (FeCitr) and Fe³⁺-EDTA (FeEDTA) was studied in leaf mesophyll of Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. Uptake rates decreased in the order FeCl₃>FeCitrFeEDTA, and uptake depended on an obligatory reduction step of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺, after which the ion could be taken up independently of the chelator, citrate. Uptake was strongly increased by photosynthetically active light (>630 nm), and kinetic analysis revealed saturation kinetics with a K _m (FeCitr) of 80–110 M. In the presence of an external Fe²⁺ scavenger, bathophenanthroline disulfonate, the mesophyll also reduced external FeCitr with a K _m of approx. 50–60 M. The reduction rates for FeCitr were five-to eightfold higher than necessary for uptake. Purified plasma membranes from leaves revealed an NADH-dependent FeCitr- and FeEDTA-reductase activity, which had a pH optimum of 6.5–6.8 and a K _m of approx. 20 M for NADH. Under anaerobic conditions, a K _m of 130–170 M for ferric chelates was obtained, while in the presence of oxygen a K _m (FeCitr) of approx. 100 M was found. It is concluded that the leaf plasma membrane provides a ferric-chelate-reductase activity, which plays a crucial role in iron uptake of leaf cells. Under in-vivo conditions, however, reactive oxygen species or strong (blue) light may also contribute to the obligatory reduction of Fe³⁺ prior to uptake.Abbreviations BPDS bathophenanthroline disulfonate - DCMU 3-(3,4 dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl urea - FCR ferricchelate reductase - FeCitr Fe³⁺-citrate - FeEDTA Fe³⁺-EDTA - PM plasma membrane This work was supported by the SCIENCE program of the European Community (contract no. SC1000344; P.R.M.). We wish to thank P. Siersma and C. Winter for their cooperation at the Central Isotope Laboratory of the Biological Centre of the University of Groningen.     

Purification and properties of extracellular phytase from Bacillus sp. KHU-10

Bacillus species producing a thermostable phytase was isolated from soil, boiled rice, and mezu (Korean traditinal koji). The activity of phytase increased markedly at the late stationary phase. An extracellular phytase from Bacillus sp. KHU-10 was purified to homogeneity by acetone precipitation and DEAE-Sepharose and phenyl-Sepharose column chromatographies. Its molecular weight was estimated to be 46 kDa on gel filtration and 44 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel elctrophoresis. Its optimum pH and temperature for phytase activity were pH 6.5-8.5 and 40°C without 10 mM CaCl₂ and pH 6.0-9.5 and 60°C with 10 mM CaCl₂. About 50% of its original activity remained after incubation at 80°C or 10 min in the presence of 10 mM CaCl₂. The enzyme activity was fairly stable from pH 6.5 to 10.0. The enzyme had an isoelectric point of 6.8. As for substrate specificity, it was very specific for sodium phytate and showed no activity on other phosphate esters. The K _m value for sodium phytate was 50 M. Its activity was inhibited by EDTA and metal ions such as Ba²⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Mn²⁺ ions.     

Ethylene biosynthesis in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tulipae proceeds from glutamate/2-oxoglutarate and requires oxygen and ferrous ions in vivo

Liquid cultures of the deuteromycete, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tulipae, a tulip pathogen, produced high amounts of ethylene during stationary phase. 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, the direct precursor of ethylene in plants, was not present in the fungus. Radioactivity from [3,4-³H]glutamate as well as [U-¹⁴C]glutamate was incorporated into ethylene, indicating that it was derived from C3 and C4 of glutamate or 2-oxoglutarate. Ferrous ions markedly stimulated the rate of ethylene formation in vivo, whereas Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺ or Zn²⁺ had little or no effect. Ethylene biosynthesis was strongly inhibited by the heavy metal chelator ,-dipyridine. The effect of ,-dipyridine was fully reversed by Fe²⁺ ions and partially by Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions but not by the supply of glutamate or 2-oxoglutarate, suggesting that a step in the ethylene biosynthetic pathway downstream of 2-oxoglutarate is dependent on Fe²⁺. When stationary phase cultures were supplied with arginine, ornithine, or proline, ethylene production increased dramatically while addition of glutamate or 2-oxoglutarate had little effect. Tracer studies were performed to test the possibility that an intermediate in the catabolism of arginine to glutamate was the direct precursor of ethylene. In cultures supplied with [U-¹⁴C]arginine or [U-¹⁴C]glutamate, the specific radioactivity of ethylene was closely similar to the specific radioactivity of the endogenous glutamate pool, indicating that glutamate was on the pathway between arginine and ethylene. An enzyme system converting 2-oxoglutarate to ethylene in a reaction dependent on oxygen, ferrous ions and arginine has previously been described in extracts from Penicillium digitatum (Fukuda et al. 1986). The present results suggest that a similar enzyme system catalyzes the final step of ethylene biosynthesis in F. oxysporum.Non-standard abbreviations AdoMet S-adenosyl methionine - ACC 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid - EFE ethylene forming enzyme     

Nickel,a component of factor F 430 from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, growing on medium supplemented with 2 mol ⁶³NiCl₂/l, was found to take up 1.2 mol ⁶³Ni per g cells (dry weight). More than 70% of the radioisotope was incorporated into a compound, which dissociated from the protein fraction after heat treatment, was soluble in 70% acetone, and could be purified by chromatography on QAE-Sephadex A-25, Sephadex G-25, and DEAE cellulose. The purified ⁶³Ni labelled compound had an absorption spectrum and properties identical to those of factor F ₄₃₀ and is therefore considered to be identical with factor F ₄₃₀.Factor F ₄₃₀, a compound of molecular weight higher than 1000 with an absorbance maximum at 430 nm, has recently been purified from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum (Gunsalus and Wolfe, 1978). The structure and function of this compound are not yet known.     

N-Methylation of quinolizidine alkaloids: an S-adenosyl-l-methionine: cytisine N-methyltransferase from Laburnum anagyroides plants and cell cultures of L. alpinum and Cytisus canariensis

An S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM): cytisine N-methyltransferase could be demonstrated in crude enzyme preparations from Laburnum anagyroides plants and cell cultures of L. alpinum and Cytisus canariensis. The transferase specifically catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from SAM to cytisine. The apparent K_m values are 60 mol l^-1 for cytisine and 17 mol l^-1 for SAM. Other quinolizidine alkaloids, e.g. angustifoline and albine, are N-methylated by only 10–15%. The transferase shows a pH optimum at pH 8.5. It is activated by dithioerythritol and inhibited by thiol reagents and Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺. The reaction product S-adenosylhomocysteine is a powerful inhibitor of the transferase reaction. Cell cultures of L. alpinum which have an active SAM: cytisine N-methyltransferase and which are able to N-methylate exogenous cytisine in vivo, do not accumulate cytisine or N-methylcytisine to a detectable degree.Abbreviations GLC gas-liquid chromatography - SAM S-adenosylmethionine - TLC thin-layer chromatography     

Purification and molecular and kinetic properties of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from Amaranthus viridis L. leaves

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31) was purified 43-fold from Amaranthus viridis leaves by using a combination of ammonium-sulphate fractionation, chromatography on O-(diethylaminoethyl)-cellulose and hydroxylapatite, and filtration through Sepharose 6B. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 17.1 mol·(mg protein)^-1·min^-1 and migrated as a single band of relative molecular weight 100000 on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A homotetrameric structure was determined for the native enzyme. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from Zea mays L. and A. viridis showed partial identity in Ouchterlony two-dimensional diffusion. Isoelectric focusing showed a band at pI 6.2. K_m values for phosphoenolpyruvate and bicarbonate were 0.29 and 0.17 mM, respectively, at pH 8.0. The activation constant (K_a) for Mg²⁺ was 0.87 mM at the same pH. The carboxylase was activated by glucose-6-phosphate and inhibited by several organic acids of three to five carbon atoms. The kinetic and structural properties of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from A. viridis leaves are similar to those of the enzyme from Zea mays leaves.Abbreviations MW molecular weight - PEP (Case) phosphoenolpyruvate (carboxylase) - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

Bovine testicular heparin sulfamidase

Heparin sulfamidase was purified 2200-fold in 7% yield from bovine testis by a procedure which consisted of homogenization of the tissue in the presence of Triton X-100, ammonium sulfate fractionation, chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose, chromatography on heparin-Sepharose, and chromatofocusing. As shown by SDS-PAGE, the most highly purified preparation contained one major component, which had a mobility corresponding to a molecular weight of 55 000. Chromatography of the active enzyme on Sephacryl S-300 indicated a molecular weight of 100 000, suggesting that the native enzyme consisted of two subunits. K_M for the purified enzyme was 1.6 M, assayed with [N-³⁵S]heparin as a substrate; V_max was 4.4 pmol of sulfate released per min per g of protein. A pH of 6.7 was estimated from the elution profile on chromatofocusing and was corroborated by cold focusing electrophoresis. The enzyme was optimally active between pH 4.8 and 5.1. Maximum activity was observed in the presence of 0.175 M NaCl, while lower activities were observed upon addition of other salts.     

Purification and characterization of β-xylosidase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces</Emphasis>sp. CH7 and its gene sequence analysis

A thermostable -xylosidase was extracted and purified from Streptomyces sp. CH7 mycelium. The apparent molecular weight of the native enzyme estimated by gel filtration was around 173 and 87 kDa for the two subunits estimated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Its optimal pH and temperature were 6.5 and 55 °C, respectively. The enzyme was stable at pH 6–9 and at 50 °C after 30 min. The K _m values for p-nitrophenyl---xylopyranoside and o-nitrophenyl---xylopyranoside were 0.56 and 0.94 mM with the V _m values of 26.3 and 6.6 U/mg protein, respectively. The enzyme was inhibited strongly by Hg²⁺, Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺. It was inhibited by xylose competitively for p-nitrophenyl---xylopyranoside with the K _i value of 40 mM. Characterization of the nucleotide sequence of pCH7-1 carrying the -xylosidase gene from Streptomyces sp. CH7 revealed 3 open reading frames (ORF). The first truncated ORF, bxlI, encodes a putative ABC-type sugar transport system, permease component. The second ORF, bxl2, encodes -xylosidase, while the third truncated ORF, bxl3, encodes a putative oxidoreductase. The deduced 791 amino acid sequence of Bxl2 showed 84, 71 and 66% identity to those of Streptomyces coelicolor, Streptomyces lividansand Streptomyces thermoviolaceus, respectively. The calculated molecular mass of the deduced amino acid sequence revealed close similarity to that of the purified enzyme.     

Purification and properties of oxaloacetate decarboxylase fromCorynebacterium glutamicum

Oxaloacetate (OAA) decarboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.3) was isolated fromCorynebacterium glutamicum. In five steps the enzyme was purified 300-fold to apparent homogeneity. The molecular mass estimated by gel filtration was 118 ± 6 kDa. SDS-PAGE showed a single subunit of 31.7 KDa, indicating an ₄ subunit structure for the native enzyme. The enzyme catalyzed the decarboxylation of OAA to pyruvate and CO₂, but no other -ketoacids were used as substrate. The cation Mn²⁺ was required for full activity, but could be substituted by Mg²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Ca²⁺. Monovalent ions like Na⁺, K⁺ or NH ₄ ⁺ were not required for activity. The enzyme was inhibited by Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, ADP, coenzyme A and succinate. Avidin did not inhibit the enzyme activity, indicating that biotin is not involved in decarboxylation of OAA. Analysis of the kinetic properties revealed a K _m for OAA of 2.1 mM and a K _m of 1.2 mM for Mn²⁺. The V _max was 158 µmol of OAA converted per min per mg of protein, which corresponds to an apparent k _cat of 311 s^–1.Abbreviations OAA oxaloacetate - LDH lactate dehydrogenase     

Purification and properties of the NADP-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase from Dictyostelium discoideum

Summary NADP-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase from Dictyostelium discoideum was purified 9300 fold with a yield of 4.6%. The enzyme is a hexamer of apparent molecular weight 294 kDa on Sephacryl S400 and a subunit molecular weight of 52 kDa as determined by SDS gel electrophoresis. The apparent K_mS for -ketoglutarate, NADPH and NH _inf4 ^sup+ are 1.2 mM, 9.7 µM and 2.2 mM respectively, and the purified enzyme has a broad pH optimum with a peak at pH 7.75. GTP has a slight stimulatory effect (22% at 83 µM) as does ADP (11% at 1 mM), and AMP is slightly inhibitory (9% at 1 mM) whereas adenosine, ATP and cAMP have little or no effect. Neither the Zn²⁺ chelating compound 1,10-phenanthroline nor EDTA have any effect on the enzyme while p-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid inhibits enzyme activity (50% at 80 µM) yet N-ethylmaleimide does not.In addition, the NADP-GDH activity varies little during the various stages of morphogenesis.Abbreviations EDTA Ethylenediamine Tetraacetic Acid - Tris Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane - Bis-tris bis(2-hydroxyethyl)imino-tris(hydroxymethyl)methane - TRITON X-100 iso-octylphenoxypoly-ethoxyethanol - pHMB p-Hydroxymercuribenzoic acid     

NADP+-dependent acetaldehyde dehydrogenase from Zymomonas mobilis

An NADP⁺-linked acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.4) from the ethanol producing bacterium Zymomonas mobilis was purified 180-fold to homogeneity. The enzyme is a cytosolic protein with an isoelectric point of 8.0 and has an apparent molecular weight of 210000. It showed a single band in sodium dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis with a molecular weight of 55000, which indicates that it consists of four probably identical subunits. The apparent K _m values for the substrate acetaldehyde were 57 M and for the cosubstrate NADP⁺ 579 M. The enzyme was almost inactive with NAD⁺ as cofactor. Several other aldehydes besides acetaldehyde were accepted as a substrate but not formaldehyde or trichloroacetaldehyde. In anaerobically grown cells of Zymomonas mobilis the enzyme showed a specific activity of 0.035 U/mg protein but its specific activity could be increased up to 0.132 U/mg protein by adding acetaldehyde to the medium during the exponential growth phase or up to 0.284 U/mg protein when cells were grown under aeration. The physiological role of the enzyme is discussed.Abbreviations ALD-DH acetaldehyde dehydrogenases from Z. mobilis - DTT dithiothreitol - MES 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid - MOPS 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid - SDS sodium dodecylsulfate Dedicated to Prof. Dr. H.-G. Schlegel, Universität Göttingen, on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Electron transport across the plasmalemma of Lemna gibba G1

Lemna gibba L., grown in the presence or absence of Fe, reduced extracellular ferricyanide with a V _max of 3.09 mol · g^-1 fresh weight · h^-1 and a K _m of 115 M. However, Fe³⁺-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was reduced only after Fe-starvation. External electron acceptors such as ferricyanide, Fe³⁺-EDTA, 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol or methylene blue induced a membrane depolarization of up to 100 mV, but electron donors such as ferrocyanide or NADH had no effect. Light or glucose enhanced ferricyanide reduction while the concomitant membrane depolarization was much smaller. Under anaerobic conditions, ferricyanide had no effect on electrical membrane potential difference (E_m). Ferricyanide reduction induced H⁺ and K⁺ release in a ratio of 1.16 H⁺+1 K⁺/2 e^- (in +Fe plants) and 1.28 H⁺+0.8 K⁺/2 e^- (in -Fe plants). Anion uptake was inhibited by ferricyanide reduction. It is concluded that the steady-state transfer of electrons and protons proceeds by separate mechanisms, by a redox system and by a H⁺-ATPase.Abbreviations E _m electrical membrane potential difference - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - DCPIP dichlorophenol indophenol - +Fe control plant - -Fe iron-deficient plant - FW fresh weight - H⁺ electrochemical proton gradient     

Age and growth,reproduction and diet of a sublittoral population of the rock goby Gobius paganellus (Teleostei,Gobiidae)

Colonisation of extremely acidic waters (pH 3) by aquatic angiosperms occurs widely, but is poorly documented. Unlike acid rain affected and other naturally acidic aquatic ecosystems, waters with pH 3 usually have a high conductivity, with high concentrations of SO₄ ^2- and often high concentrations of Fe³⁺, other heavy metal ions and Al³⁺. Where Fe³⁺ concentration is high, as in many mine waters, it provides a strong buffering system. In such waters, the biogeochemical Fe cycle exerts over water chemistry and the availability of nutrients and carbon for organisms. Biological activity is limited by low concentrations of phosphorus and inorganic carbon (DIC), which in this pH range is essentially all in the form of dissolved CO₂. A number of angiosperms grow in such waters including Phragmites australis, Typha spp. and Juncus bulbosus, though the last is the only one reported to grow totally submerged in waters with pH 3 . J. bulbosus occurs in many lignite mining lakes in Lusatia (north eastern Germany) with pH 3. The characteristics and possible survival strategies for this and other species are discussed.