A nutritional analysis of foraging in the Malabar giant squirrel (Ratufa indica)

The effect of nutrients and their availability on the diet of the herbivorous Malabar giant squirrel Ratufa indica (Sciuridae) was investigated at Magod and Bhimashankar in western India. The daily consumption of food items (percent wet diet) and the intake rates of these items and the contained nutrients (wet g s^-1) were determined by continuous observation of focal animals. Water content was a significant positive predictor of relative food item consumption while mineral contents in general had the opposite effect. The intake rates of water and more digestible nutrients such as nonstructural carbohydrates, as well as the intake rate of minerals such as zinc (at Magod), were significant positive predictors of the relative contribution of an item to the daily diet, thus indicating considerations of feeding costs versus benefits. Tannins, some alkaloids, and other secondary metabolites may negatively influence food choice. Protein content, relative to digestibility reducers, influenced food item consumption only at Bhimashankar. There was seasonal variation in daily biomass consumption. At Bhimashankar, daily biomass consumption increased with the proportion of fruit in the diet while this did not occur at Magod. This is perhaps a result of the higher water content and the lower content of some soluble nutrients within fruit at Bhimashankar relative to Magod. There was also intra-month variation between individual squirrels in daily biomass of food consumed. Squirrels consumed ephemeral food items opportunistically and non-ephemeral items such as mature leaves and bark on a regular daily basis. Squirrels probably obtained minerals and nitrogen from both fruit (especially seeds) and non-fruit sources (mature leaves and bark in the case of minerals, young and mature leaves in the case of nitrogen). However, they obtained lipid and non-structural carbohydrates mostly from fruit. Squirrels were selective in their utilization of tree species on a monthly basis, but this selectivity was not evident over a longer time period because individuals were constrained to use different phenological stages of tree species present within their territories. Large body size in this squirrel permits dietary flexibility and enables an overall generalist feeding strategy.     

Ultrastructural studies of the secretion of calcium carbonate by the serpulid polychaete worm,Pomatoceros caeruleus

Summary Pomatoceros caeruleus possesses a pair of simple acinar calcium-secreting glands lying in the ventral peristomium. Each gland has a single large secretory acinus containing columnar secretory cells with basal nuclei. Golgi complexes and flattened cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum are abundant in the midregion and secretory vacuoles fill the apical cytoplasm. Elongate microvilli extend from the apices of the cells into the gland lumen. An organelle-free zone, the intracellular channel, extends from near the base almost to the apex of the cells. It is bordered on one side by the lateral cell membranes and is separated from the organelle compartment by elongate profiles of the rough endoplasmic reticulum.The secretory products of the calcium-secreting glands have the form of cubic or rhombohedral granules with average dimensions of 150–200 m on a side. The granules are composed of a fibrous organic matrix in which needle-like calcite crystals are deposited. The possible mode of synthesis of the calcified secretory granules is discussed.Part of this work represents a portion of a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Duke University. I wish to express my thanks to Dr. Karl M. Wilbur and Dr. Norimitsu Watabe for their advice and encouragement during this study. This study was supported by Public Health Service Grants 5TI DE 92-05 and DE 02668 from the National Institutes of Health.     

Structure of a unique inland mangrove forest assemblage in fossil lagoons on the Caribbean Coast of Mexico

Scrub mangrove wetlands colonize the intertidal zone of fossil lagoons located in carbonate continental margins along the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. These unique ecological types were investigated in October, 1994, by locating transects in several mangrove forests along the Caribbean coast of the peninsula. Four species of mangrove occurred at these sites including Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia germinans, Laguncularia racemosa, Conocarpus erecta. This is one of the first examples of a species rich scrub forest. The mangroves fell into three height categories: short scrub less than 1.5 m, tall scrub to 3.0 m, and basin forests between 4.5 and 6 m. Average height, diameter (dbh), basal area, and complexity index generally increased from short scrub to basin forests. Basal area, ranged from 0.16 m² ha^–1 in a short scrub forest intermixed with Cladium jamaicense to 12.9 m² ha^–1 in a basin forest. Density ranged from 1520 trees ha^–1 to over 25,000 trees ha^–1 in a short scrub forest dominated by R. mangle. The complexity index ranged from 0.01 to 8.3. Height, dbh, basal area, and complexity index were positively related. A number of trees were growing as sprouts from larger downed trunks, suggesting that hurricanes, such as Gilbert that occurred in 1988, are important in controlling the structure of these forests. These forests appear isolated from the sea, but are influenced by groundwater exchange occurring at the land-margin zone.     

Sexual differences in the flight performance of the oriental fruit moth, Cydia molesta

Cydia molesta Busck (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a major pest of stone fruits and an increasingly important late season pest of apple, is predominately monitored by pheromone trapping of male moths. We investigated flight performance in relation to sex, age, and mating status using computer-linked flight mills, and also examined the relationship between female flight and reproduction. The crepuscular flight pattern of the experimental moths in relation to photointensity was very similar to that reported from field studies. Female moths significantly outperformed males in all measured flight parameters including total distance flown, distance of longest single flight, and velocity. The proportion of long-flying females (categorised as those completing an unbroken flight of greater than 1 km) was three to six times greater than that of males. Female flight performance was not related to mating status, but mated males displayed significantly greater flight than unmated males. The maximal flight period of mated females commenced on the third day after eclosion, following 30% egg deposition. Male flight was not significantly related to age. The data suggest that a limited proportion of the population, in particular females, may have the capacity to make inter-orchard flights. The limitations of monitoring C. molesta populations in apple orchards solely by pheromone trapping of males are discussed.     

Cell and calcium oxalate crystal growth is coordinated to achieve high-capacity calcium regulation in plants

Summary Crystal idioblasts are cells which are specialized for accumulation of Ca²⁺ as a physiologically inactive, crystalline salt of oxalic acid. Using microautoradiographic, immunological, and ultrastructural techniques, the process of raphide crystal growth, and how crystal growth is coordinated with cell growth, was studied in idioblasts ofPistia stratiotes. Incorporation of⁴⁵Ca²⁺ directly demonstrated that, relative to surrounding mesophyll cells, crystal idioblasts act as high-capacity Ca²⁺ sinks, accumulating large amounts of Ca²⁺ within the vacuole as crystals. The pattern of addition of Ca²⁺ during crystal growth indicates a highly regulated process with bidirectional crystal growth. In very young idioblasts,⁴⁵Ca²⁺ is incorporated along the entire length of the needle-shaped raphide crystals, but as they mature incorporation only occurs at crystal tips in a bidirectional mode. At full maturity, the idioblast stops Ca²⁺ uptake, although the cells are still alive, demonstrating an ability to strictly regulate Ca transport processes at the plasma membrane. In situ hybridization for ribosomal RNA shows young idioblasts are extremely active cells, are more active than older idioblasts, and have higher general activity than surrounding mesophyll cells. Polarizing and scanning electron microscopy demonstrate that the crystal morphology changes as crystals develop and includes morphological polarity and an apparent nucleation point from which crystals grow bidirectionally. These results indicate a carefully regulated process of biomineralization in the vacuole. Finally, we show that the cytoskeleton is important in controlling the idioblast cell shape, but the regulation of crystal growth and morphology is under a different control mechanism.Abbreviation SEM scanning electron microscopy     

Alterations in the vesicular pattern and wall growth ofPhycomyces induced by the calcium ionophore A 23187

Summary Hyphal elongation, chitin synthesis in vivo, and invertase secretion inPhycomyces blakesleeanus were all inhibited almost instantly by the addition of 5–10 M calcium ionophore A 23187. Protein biosynthesis was inhibited in these conditions by 30–50%. The ionophore did not affect cell respiration for at least 40 min. Effect on chitin biosynthesis was not due to alterations of the chitin synthetase levels or its activity; nor to impairement in GlcNAc metabolism. In drug-treated cells the number of apical vesicles was severely reduced even at very short periods of incubation, and these low numbers remained constant for at least 60 min of incubation with the ionophore. We suggest that the ionophore collapses the cellular calcium gradient and/or interferes with the normal electrical transhyphal current. As a consequence, formation and migration of apical vesicles are inhibited. These results are further evidence of the role of vesicles in fungal tip growth and exhibit the fact that active chitin synthetase is short-lived in vivo demanding its continuous supply by chitosomes to the cell surface.Abbreviations GlcNAc N-acetylglucosamine - TCA trichloroacetic acid - UDPGIcNAc uridine diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine - DMSO dimethylsulfoxide     

Some notes on fig-eating by arboreal mammals in Malaysia

During a study of avian fig-eating at Kuala Lompat, Malaysia, observations were also made of fig-eating by mammals. Four species of primate, seven species of squirrel, and two species of civet consumed figs. Twenty-six species ofFicus were of importance to arboreal mammals. Observations suggest that there were differences in the importance of figs in the diets of sympatric langurs (Presbytis) and congeneric squirrels. Dusky langursPresbytis obscura ate carbohydrate-rich ripe figs despite their ruminant-like digestive system and the danger of bloat.     

Investigations into the late Pleistocene and Holocene history of vegetation and climate in Santa Catarina (S Brazil)

Palynological studies have been carried out on three highland peat bogs, and one situated on the Atlantic coastal plain. In the highlands, the late Pleistocene (14,000 - 10,000 uncal B.P.) vegetation was dominated by campos (grassland). Scattered stands of Araucaria forests were preserved in deep valleys. In the region of the sites at Morro da Igreja and Serra do Rio Rastro, the dominance of campos vegetation continued until about 1000 B.P. while at the Serra da Boa Vista site there was an expansion of Atlantic pluvial forest elements followed by Araucaria forests at the beginning of the Holocene. A general expansion of A. angustifolia, clearly related to a change towards an increasingly moist climate, can be dated to the present millenium. On the coastal plains, the late Pleistocene vegetation was dominated by Myrtaceae which were replaced by tropical taxa in the Holocene. The lowland profile (Poço Grande) also covers part of the upper Holocene, where the rich flora of the Atlantic pluvial forests can be characterized by taxa including Alchornea, Urticales and Rapanea. Close to the coring site, there was a repeated alternation between two different dune communities (4840 - 4590 B.P.), followed by a lake stage with aquatic plant succession (4590 - 4265 B.P.), plant communities dominated by Rapanea (4265 - 4230 B.P.) and the spread of Alchornea (4230 - 3525 B.P.). Late Pleistocene climate conditions (14,000 - 10,000 B.P.) can be described as cold and relatively dry, possibly including an equivalent of the Younger Dryas period. In the Holocene, there were changes from a warm and drier climate (10,000 -3000 B.P.) to a cool and more moist regime (ca. 3000 -ca. 1000 B.P.) and finally to a cool and very moist period (from around 1000 B.P.).     

Phytochrome-mediated uptake of calcium in Mougeotia cells

Ca²⁺ is proposed to function as a messenger in such phytochrome-mediated responses as localized cell growth, intracellular movements, and control of plasma membrane properties. To test this hypothesis, the uptake of Ca²⁺ in irradiated and non-irradiated regions of individual threads of the green alga Mougeotia was studied with the aid of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ and low temperature autoradiography: 10–20 cells within 40–60 cell-long threads were irradiated for up to 1 min, transferred to darkness for 3 to 10 min, submersed in a radioactive medium for 1 min, washed in an unlabelled medium for 30 min, and then autoradiographed at-80° C for several days.The autoradiographs show that those cells which had been pre-irradiated with red light did take up 2–10 times more Ca²⁺ than the adjacent non-irradiated cells of the same thread. Cells pre-irradiated with farred light or red light followed by far-red light showed no enhanced uptake of Ca²⁺. These results might be interpreted to indicate, firstly, that phytochrome-Pfr is involved in the enhanced uptake of Ca²⁺ and secondly, that the accumulation of radioactive Ca²⁺ in red light irradiated cells is an expression of an increased intracellular concentration of Ca²⁺. This interpretation is based on the data that (i) the dark interval between irradiation and labelling precluded the involvement of photosynthesis, (ii) the effect of red light was reversible with far-red light, and (iii) the accumulation of Ca²⁺ persisted during the long wash-out period. We speculate, that the red light-enhanced accumulation of Ca²⁺ in Mougeotia cells is caused by a Pfr-mediated increase of the Ca-permeability of the plasma membrane, and perhaps by a Pfr-impeding of an active Ca²⁺-extrusion.Abbreviations APW artificial pond water - EGTA ethylene glycol-bis-(-amino ethyle ether) N,N-tetraacetic acid - R red irradiation - D darkness - FR far-red irradiation - Pfr physiologicallyactive form of phytochrome - Pr physiologically inactive form of phytochrome This paper is part of a Ph. D. Thesis submitted to the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg by E.M. Dreyer     

Chemical stimulation of phagocytosis in Amoeba proteus and the influence of external calcium

Summary The process of phagocytosis in Amoeba proteus was examined by following the uptake of Tetrahymena pyriformis and agarose beads. The ciliates are taken up in a time dependent and saturable manner. T. pyriformis apparently emits a water-soluble substance that acts as a chemoattractant to the amoebae. Plain agarose beads are not engulfed by A. proteus, but those beads having reducedglutathione with the -SH group exposed are taken up almost to the same extent as T. pyriformis. Phagocytosis of the glutathione beads is calcium-dependent with maximum bead uptake at 10^-4M Ca⁺⁺. Glutathione applied to A. proteus brings about pseudopod formation, increased phagocytosis and displacement of surface-associated calcium.     

An ultrastructural study of the effect of parasitism by larval Schistosoma mansoni on the calcium reserves of the host,Biomphalaria glabrata

Summary The tissues of Biomphalaria glabrata contain three types of calcium cells which can be differentiated by their location and the size and number of their contained corpuscles. X-ray analysis has confirmed the presence of calcium and magnesium in the corpuscles. Molluscs containing the larval stages of Schistosoma mansoni at 40 days post infection show disintegration of the calcareous corpuscles in Type-A calcium cells and erosion of the inner surface of the shell.Deceased     

Increased calcium bioavailability in mice fed genetically engineered plants lacking calcium oxalate

Bioavailable calcium affects bone formation and calcification. Here we investigate how a single gene mutation altering calcium partitioning in the model forage crop Medicago truncatula affects calcium bioavailability. Previously, the cod5 M. truncatula mutant was identified which contains identical calcium concentrations to wild-type, but contains no oxalate crystals. In this study, equal number of male and female mice were randomly grouped and then fed one of four ⁴⁵Ca-containing diets: M. truncatula extrinsically or intrinsically labeled, and cod5 extrinsically or intrinsically labeled. Absorption of the tracer was determined in the legs one day after consumption. The absorption was similar in the M. truncatula and cod5 extrinsically labeled diets; however, in the intrinsically labeled diets, calcium absorption was 22.87% (P < 0.001) higher in mice fed cod5. Our study presents the first genetic evidence demonstrating the nutritional impact of removing oxalate crystals from foods.     

Sexual differences in over-winter torpor patterns of Richardson's ground squirrels in natural hibernacula

Summary Over-winter torpor patterns of Richardson's ground squirrels hibernating in southern Alberta were monitored with temperature-sensitive radiocollars to determine if these patterns differed between males and females in a manner related to the greater costs of mating effort by males than females. The hibernation season (from immergence to emergence) was composed of three periods: post-immergence euthermy, heterothermy, and pre-emergence euthermy. The hibernation season was shorter for juveniles than adults both among males (< 150 versus 234 days) and females (185 versus 231 days), a reflection of the later immergence into hibernation by juveniles. However, regardless of the absolute duration of hibernation, heterothermy accounted for a smaller proportion of the hibernation season of males (93±5%) than females (98±1%) and, within the heterothermal period, males had shorter torpor bouts and longer inter-torpor arousals. Overall, males spent a smaller proportion of the hibernation season in torpor (85±6%) than females (92±1%). This sexual difference was largely attributable to the longer duration of preemergence euthermy for males than females. Males terminated torpor in January and February, when hibernacula were at their coldest, then remained euthermic for 8.8 days (range 0.5–25.0 days) before emergence. In contrast, females terminated torpor in March, when hibernaculum temperatures were increasing, then remained euthermic for only 1.1 days (range 0.5–2.0 days) before emergence. Males lost less mass per euthermic day during hibernation than females (7.0 versus 9.3 g/day). Males and females hibernated at similar depths (56 cm), but males had larger chambers than females (18 versus 16 cm³/g). Many males, but no females, cached seeds in the hibernaculum. Males met the costs of thermogenesis and euthermy from a combination of fat reserves and food caches, whereas females relied solely on fat. Access to food caches permitted males to terminate torpor several weeks in advance of emergence, during which time they recouped mass and developed sperm in preparation for the forthcoming mating season.     

Sexual differences as adaptation to the different gender roles in the frogXenopus laevis Daudin

1. Various physiological parameters were determined in fed, adult, male and female Xenopus laevis acclimated to 20 degrees C and with a light: dark cycle of 12:12. The results were compared for sex differences. 2. There were significant differences in food intake, oxygen consumption, and motor activity with lower values for each parameter in males than in females (Table 1). 3. Further significant differences were found in the plasma concentrations of calcium, total lipids, and aldosterone (Table 3), in the somatic indices of fat body and gonads, in the glycogen and protein content of the liver (Table 4), and in the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, fructose-1,6-diphosphatase, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in the liver (Table 5). 4. It is assumed that the observed differences are essentially a result of differences in body growth and gametogenesis between the sexes. The lack of capacity of males to store glycogen and lipids in the male gonads is a further explanation for the differences.     

Sexual reproduction in Daphnia: interspecific differences in a hybrid species complex

To investigate whether reproductive variation in the Daphnia galeata-cucullata-hyalina hybrid species complex can explain the occurrence of hybrids and backcrosses, a total of 43 clones from three north German lakes were tested for allocation to sexual reproduction under equal stress conditions. Six replicates per clone were followed until the seventh adult instar. I used the following cues to promote sexual reproduction: short photoperiod, water from a crowded Daphnia culture, fish-conditioned water and low food concentration. For each animal, clutch size and clutch sex were recorded. Ephippia, which were empty since the animals were cultured individually, were only produced by D. cucullata and D. cucullata x hyalina (26% and 6% of the broods, respectively), whereas almost all taxa produced males (the range was 2–15%). Intraspecific variation for male and ephippial production was also found. The fact that the taxa tested show different responses to the stimuli of-fered may indicate that there is reproductive isolation between them. This is supported by field data from the Tjeukemeer (The Netherlands) which shows that D. galeata mostly produces ephippia in spring and D. cucullata in autumn. The presence of hybrids with ephippia in both seasons, however, shows that backcrossing is also possible.     

Interspecific differences in Zn,Cd and Pb accumulation by freshwater algae and bryophytes

The relationships between the concentrations of zinc, cadmium and lead in aquatic plants and the concentrations of these metals in the ambient water have been compared for three algae (Lemanea fluviatilis, Cladophora glomerata, Stigeoclonium tenue), one liverwort (Scapania undulata) and three mosses (Amblystegium riparium, Fontinalis antipyretica, Rhynchostegium riparioides). The data to establish these relationships are all based on our own studies, some published already, some here for the first time. They come from a wide range of streams and rivers in Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and the U.K. There were significant bivariate positive relationships between concentrations of Zn, Cd and Pb in water and plant for all species except Cd and Pb in Stigeoclonium tenue. When relationships were compared using datasets with total or filtrable metals in water, most differences were slight. However there were marked differences both between species and between metals. Comparison for the seven species of Zn in the plant when aqueous Zn is 0.01 mg l^–1, a concentration at which all seven were found, shows that the four bryophytes had the highest concentrations; however the two green algae had steeper slopes (representing change in concentration in plant in response to change in aqueous concentration). Lemanea fluviatilis had a slope closer to that of the bryophytes, but the concentration was about one order of magnitude lower. All seven species were found at a concentration of 0.01 mg l^–1 Pb, and at this concentration there were almost two orders of magnitude difference between the species which accumulated the most (Scapania undulata) and the one which accumulated the least (Cladophora glomerata). The steepest slope was however shown by C. glomerata.When multiple stepwise regression was applied, the aqueous metal under consideration was the first variable extracted in only nine of the 21 regressions. However one of the other heavy metals (aqueous or accumulated) was extracted first in all but one of the other regressions, presumably because the occurrences of Zn, Cd and Pb were strongly cross-correlated. The principal non-heavy metal factor extracted for Zn and Cd, but not Pb, was aqueous Ca. The relevance of these results to the use of aquatic plants for monitoring heavy metals is discussed.     

Phytochrome and calcium ions are involved in light-induced membrane depolarization in Nitella

Isolated internodes of Nitella (N. opaca, N. flexilis) and Nitellopsis spec. were punctured with single microelectrodes and their membrane potentials were recorded continuously during various light treatments. In red light the initial response was always a depolarization. This depolarization began with a lag-time of 0.4-3.5s and reached a steady state within 1–2 min of continuous illumination. Repolarization began within several seconds after turning off the light. The magnitude of the red-light-induced depolarization increased with the Ca²⁺-concentration of the medium. The largest depolarizations were recorded in 5 m mol l^-1 Ca²⁺. Ca²⁺ could not be replaced in this function by Na⁺, Mg²⁺, La³⁺ or mannitol. Far-red light alone had no effect on the resting membrane potential. Far-red light applied immediately after red light accelerated the repolarization of the membrane potential. Far-red light applied simultaneously with red light reduced the amount of depolarization and increased the rate of repolarization. The results indicate that phytochrome and Ca²⁺ are involved in the light-induced depolarization of the membrane. They are consistent with the hypothesis that phytochrome may act by triggering a Ca²⁺-influx at the plasma membrane.Abbreviations APW artificial pond water - Pfr far-red absorbing form of phytochrome - DCMU 3-(3,4-Dichlorphenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea     

Influence of calcium on blue-light-induced chloroplast movement in Lemna trisulca L.

The presence of calcium is essential for chloroplast movement induced by blue light in Lemna trisulca L. The regulatory role of calcium was confirmed by the inhibition of chloroplast movement by cytochalasin B and trifluoperazine. The calcium concentration in tissues was modified by ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N, N-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), the calcium ionophore A23187 and La³⁺. Only a long period of incubation (12h) in EGTA or La³⁺ caused distrubances in chloroplast movement. This indicates that calcium influx is not essential for chloroplast movement. Those conditions that dramatically changed the internal calcium concentration, either applications of calcium ionophore A23187 and EGTA, or ionophore and La³⁺, markedly decreased the amplitude of response to blue-light pulses. This demonstrates that disturbances of chloroplast movement are observable only when internal stores of calcium are affected by Ca²⁺-antagonists. We suggest that the calcium involved in blue-light-induced chloroplast movement is derived from intracellular stores. The addition of Mg²⁺ to EGTA buffer counteracted its effect, indicating that Mg²⁺, as well as Ca²⁺, might possibly be involved in chloroplast movement.Abbreviations EGTA ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N,N-tetraacetic acid - Hepes 4(2-hydroxyethyl-1-piperazine) ethanesulfonic acid - A23187 calcium ionophore We express our gratitude to Professor W. Korohoda for valuable critical comments on this paper and stimulating discussion. We also thank Mr. P. Malec for help in preparing the experiment with trifluoperazine and Mr. A. Waloszek for taking the photographs. We are indebted to Mr. Tim Kline (International House, Krakow, Poland) for improving the English style. This research was supported by grant No. 1042/P2/92/03 from the State Committe for Scientific Research.     

Rapid transcriptional regulation of the Cab and pEA207 gene families in peas by blue light in the absence of cytoplasmic protein synthesis

Automated methods of peak determination including peak location, background determination and peak deconvolution are presented. Special attention is given to the problem of severely overlapped peaks, such as the primary calcium peak (Ca_ka) and the secondary potassium peak (K_k). A method, based on the principle of electronic transitional probabilities, is presented for estimating Ca in the presence of a high background of K, and limitations of resolution are discussed. Minimally detectable concentrations of elements in prepared frozen-hydrated standards are estimated empirically by analysis of the relative variance. Minimally detectable Ca is estimated in both frozen-hydrated and freeze-dried tissue standards. Using our instrumentation and procedures P, S, Cl and K are detectable down to 24 mM, while Na and Mg are only detectable down to 38 mM in frozen-hydrated tissue. In the presence of 100 mM K, detection of calcium is possible down to 22 and 2 mM in frozen-hydrated and freeze-dried tissue, respectively. As an example, total Ca is shown not to conform to the radial gradient of K across the lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) taproot.Abbreviations COV coefficient of variation - EPMA electronprobe microanalysis - P/B peak to background ratio This work was supported by U. S. Department of Agriculture grant 87-CRCR-1-2462. The authors would also like to acknowledge the assistance of Dr. R. Falk (Botany) and R.B. Addison (Facility for Advanced Instrumentation) of the University of California, Davis.     

The calcium requirement for functional vesicle development and nitrogen fixation by Frankia strains EAN1pec and CpI1

A calcium requirement was shown for both vesicle development and nitrogenase activity by Frankia strains EAN1_pec and CpI1. Washing cells with EGTA or EDTA inhibited both vesicle development and nitrogenase activity. The inhibition of both was reversed by the addition of calcium. A variety of agents known to affect calcium-dependent biological processes, such as a Ca-ATPase inhibitor, Ca-channel blockers, Ca-ionophores, calmodulin antagonists and the local anaesthetics, tetracaine and dibucaine, inhibited nitrogenase activity. Respiratory studies showed that a CN-insensitive respiration process occurred only under nitrogen derepressing conditions. Respiration by NH₄Cl-grown cells was completely inhibited by KCN while N₂-grown cells were inhibited by only 70%. Removal of calcium ions by EGTA or by the addition of dibucaine or tetracaine blocked the CN-insensitive respiration. This CN-insensitive respiration may be involved in protecting nitrogenase inside the vesicles from oxygen.Abbreviations EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - EGTA ethyleneglycol-bis-( amino-ethyl ether) N,N¹-tetraacetic acid - GI germination inhibitor - MOPS 3-[N-morpholino] propane sulfonic acid - PCMBS p-chloromercuribenzene sulphonate - TMB 8,8-(diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate