Arginine chemical modification of Petunia hybrida 5-enol-pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase

Reaction of Petunia hybrida 5-enol-pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) with the arginine reagents phenylglyoxal (PGO) and p-hydroxyphenylglyoxal (HPGO) leads to inactivation of the enzyme. Inactivation with HPGO leads to modification of approximately 3 mol of arginine per mole of enzyme. The modification reaction follows pseudo-first-order kinetics with a t1/2 of 1 min at 5 mM p-hydroxyphenylglyoxal in 0.1 M triethanolamine HCl, pH 7.8. By titration of HPGO-modified enzyme with 5,5'-bis(dithio-2-nitrobenzoic acid), the possibility of cysteine modification by the arginine reagent was ruled out. While shikimate 3-phosphate (S3P) afforded partial protection to the enzyme against inactivation by HPGO, complete protection could be obtained by using a mixture of S3P and glyphosate. Under the latter conditions, only 1 mol arginine was modified per mole of enzyme. This pattern of reactivity suggests that two arginines may be involved in the binding of S3P and glyphosate to EPSP synthase. A third reactive arginine appears to be nonessential for EPSPS activity. Labeling of EPSP synthase with [14C]phenylglyoxal, peptic digestion, HPLC mapping, and amino acid sequencing indicate that Arg-28 and Arg-131 are two of the reactive arginines labeled with [14C]PGO.     

The direct measurement of cytochrome P450 in unfixed tissue sections

Summary A method for the measurement of cytochrome P450 in unfixed cryostat sections is described. The sections are incubated for 10 minutes at room temperature in a buffered solution containing polyvinyl alcohol and sodium dithionite. Two incubations are performed on serial sections, one in nitrogen and the other in carbon monoxide. Readings are taken on a Vickers M85 microdensitometer fitted with a high sensitivity photomultiplier amplifier system, the measurements being made on corresponding fields in the serial sections. Subtraction of the nitrogen values from the carbon monoxide values, after allowing for an absorption shift, gives the absolute spectrum of cytochrome P450. The subtraction corrects for the tissue content of other haem-containing proteins. The cytochrome P450 spectrum shows a sharp maximum at 450 nm, and two other minor components absorbing at 444 nm and 458 nm. The content of cytochrome P450 in animals fed with phenobarbitone was 2.4 times greater than in control animals.     

Role of aspartate-133 and histidine-458 in the mechanism of tryptophan indole-lyase from Proteus vulgaris

Tryptophan indole-lyase (Trpase) from Proteus vulgaris is a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate dependent enzyme that catalyzes the reversible hydrolytic cleavage of L-Trp to yield indole and ammonium pyruvate. Asp-133 and His-458 are strictly conserved in all sequences of Trpase, and they are located in the proposed substrate-binding region of Trpase. These residues were mutated to alanine to probe their role in substrate binding and catalysis. D133A mutant Trpase has no measurable activity with L-Trp as substrate, but still retains activity with S-(o-nitrophenyl)-L-cysteine, S-alkyl-L-cysteines, and beta-chloro-L-alanine. H458A mutant Trpase has 1.6% of wild-type Trpase activity with L-Trp, and high activity with S-(o-nitrophenyl)-L-cysteine, S-alkyl-L-cysteines, and beta-chloro-L-alanine. H458A mutant Trpase does not exhibit the pK(a) of 5.3 seen in the pH dependence of k(cat)/K(m) of L-Trp for wild-type Trpase. Both mutant enzymes are inhibited by L-Ala, L-Met, and L-Phe, with K(i) values similar to those of wild-type Trpase, but oxindolyl-L-alanine and beta-phenyl-DL-serine show much weaker binding to the mutant enzymes, suggesting that Asp-133 and His-458 are involved in the binding of these ligands. D133A and H458A mutant Trpase exhibit absorption and CD spectra in the presence of substrates and inhibitors that are similar to wild-type Trpase, with peaks at about 420 and 500 nm. The rate constants for formation of the 500 nm bands for the mutant enzymes are equal to or greater than those of wild-type Trpase, indicating that Asp-133 and His-458 do not play a role in the formation of quinonoid intermediates. In constrast to wild-type and H458A mutant Trpase, D133A mutant Trpase forms an intermediate from S-ethyl-L-Cys that absorbs at 345 nm, and is likely to be an alpha-aminoacrylate. Crystals of D133A and H458A mutant Trpase bind amino acids with similar affinity as the proteins in solution, except for L-Ala, which binds to D133A mutant Trpase crystals about 20-fold stronger than in solution. These results suggest that Asp-133 and His-458 play an important role in the elimination reaction of L-Trp. Asp-133 likely forms a hydrogen bond directly to the indole NH of the substrate, while His-458 probably is hydrogen bonded to Asp-133.     

Resonance Raman spectra of the copper-sulfur chromophores in Achromobacter cycloclastes nitrite reductase

Resonance Raman spectroscopy at ambient temperature and 77 K has been used to probe the structures of the copper sites in Achromobacter cycloclastes nitrite reductase. This enzyme contains three copper ions per protein molecule and has two principal electronic absorption bands with lambda max values of 458 and 585 nm. Comparisons between the resonance Raman spectra of nitrite reductase and blue copper proteins establish that both the 458 and 585 nm bands are associated with Cu(II)-S(Cys) chromophores. A histidine ligand probably is also present. Different sets of vibrational frequencies are observed with 457.9 nm (ambient) or 476.1 nm (77 K) excitation as compared with 590 nm (ambient) or 593 nm (77 K) excitation. Excitation profiles indicate that the 458 and 585 nm absorption bands are associated with separate [Cu(II)-S(Cys)N(His)] sites or with inequivalent and uncoupled cysteine ligands in the same site. The former possibility is considered to be more likely.     

Photochemistry of two rhodopsinlike pigments in bacteriorhodopsin-free mutant of Halobacterium halobium.

Two photocycles due to two different pigments were found in membrane vesicles of a bacteriorhodopsin-free mutant of Halobacterium halobium. A pigment absorbing approximately 590 nm halorhodopsin (HR) underwent a faster photocycle with a phototransient at approximately 490 nm (half-time of decay, tau 1/2 = 10 ms). Another third rhodopsinlike pigment (TR) absorbing approximately 580 nm underwent a slower photocycle accompanying a phototransient absorbing below 410 nm (tau 1/2 = 0.8s). The photocycles were measured under various conditions of temperature, NaCl concentration, pH, and in the presence of cholate. All results obtained support the notion that the two photocycles are independent of each other, and the fast or the slow cycle can be abolished after these treatments. At alkaline pH, the wavelength of maximum absorbance of both pigments shifted to blue, but the magnitude of the shift of the pigment undergoing the slow photocycle was much greater than the other. The ratio of the content of the two pigments varies among bacteriorhodopsin-free mutants.     

Orientation of the pigments in Photosystem II: A low-temperature linear dichroism and polarized fluorescence emission study of chlorophyll-protein complexes isolated from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

The orientation of the various absorbing and fluorescing dipoles in Photosystem II have been investigated by linearly polarized light spectroscopy at 5 K, performed on macroscopically oriented PS II complexes derived from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Linear dichroism and absorption spectra show that the Q_Y transitions of the chlorophyll molecules are mostly tilted at less than 35° from the plane of largest cross-section of the particle (which in vivo coincides with the plane of the thylakoid membrane). The chlorophyll forms absorbing at 676 and 683 nm are oriented closer to the membrane than the forms absorbing at 665 and 670 nm which are tilted at approximately 35° from the plane. A dip observed around 680 nm in the LD/absorption spectra indicates a component tilted at a larger angle away from the membrane plane than the 676 nm- and 683 nm-absorbing species. A component weakly absorbing around 693 nm and exhibiting a negative LD (tilt larger than 35°) is clearly resolved. The amplitude of the LD at 693 nm relative to that observed at the maximum (676 nm) varies from sample to sample. In the blue spectral region, two populations of carotenoids are observed; one absorbs around 460 and 490 nm, while the other absorbs around 510 nm. They are oriented out of and near to the thylakoid plane, respectively. Comparison of polarized absorption and fluorescence spectra from the same oriented samples allows the assignment of the 695 nm fluorescence emission to the dipoles responsible for the LD signal at 693 nm.     

The effect of oxygen on melanin precursors released from retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro.

The autoxidation of dopa to melanin in culture media causes toxicity to retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and endothelial cells. The damage is specific to cell type and to the ambient oxygen concentration. To determine whether RPE cells influence the oxidation of dopa to media, we compared light absorbing dopa derivatives in the media exposed to cells with those found in the media incubated without cells. Dopa was extensively oxidized in the presence of RPE cells, and more light absorbing substances were generated with higher dopa and oxygen concentrations. However, an increase in ambient oxygen concentration decreased the quantity of several dopa derivatives which had been formed. The data provided evidence that RPE modulated dopa metabolism. Quinolic derivatives produced from a tyrosinase reaction and dopa-melanin formation moved the peak absorbance wavelength of dopa into the visible range. The spectrum between the dopa-derived compounds in the media has an absorbance at 240-275 nm and a maximum around 300 nm with a shoulder near 375 nm. Gaussian analysis (peak separation) resolved these spectra into five components: a sharp band at 248 nm, a band at 295 nm, a large band at 359 nm, and two broad bands at 459 and 585 nm.     

The Effect of Oxygen on Melanin Precursors Released from Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells In Vitro

The autoxidation of dopa to melanin in culture media causes toxicity to retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and endothelial cells. The damage is specific to cell type and to the ambient oxygen concentration. To determine whether RPE cells influence the oxidation of dopa to media, we compared light absorbing dopa derivatives in the media exposed to cells with those found in the media incubated without cells. Dopa was extensively oxidized in the presence of RPE cells, and more light absorbing substances were generated with higher dopa and oxygen concentrations. However, an increase in ambient oxygen concentration decreased the quantity of several dopa derivatives which had been formed. The data provided evidence that RPE modulated dopa metabolism. Quinolic derivatives produced from a tyrosinase reaction and dopa-melanin formation moved the peak absorbance wavelength of dopa into the visible range. The spectrum between the dopa-derived compounds in the media has an absorbance at 240–275 nm and a maximum around 300 nm wth a shoulder near 375 nm. Gaussian analysis (peak separation) resolved these spectra into five components: a sharp band at 248 nm, a band at 295 nm, a large band at 359 nm, and two broad bands at 459 and 585 nm.     

The Influence of Arginine-specific Reagents on Nitrate Uptake by Corn Seedlings

The effects of three arginine-specific reagents on uptake were studied using corn seedlings (Zea mays L., GoldenCross Bantam). In the presence of borate, 0.25 mM 2, 3-butanedione(BD) and 1.0 mM 1, 2-cyclohexanedione (CHD) inhibited uptake by 76% and 68%, respectively, compared tothe controls. However, in the absence of borate, only 18% and38% inhibition was observed for 0.25 mM BD and 1.0 mM CHD, respectively.Similarly, 0.5 mM phenylglyoxal (PGO) resulted in 75% inhibition.The degree of inhibition of nitrate uptake exhibited a concentration-dependencewith respect to the reagents. Corn seedlings are 2- or 3-foldmore sensitive to BD than to PGO and CHD, respectively, presumablydue to the unfavourable steric effects of the benzal ring. Uptakeof was partially restored after removal of BD, CHD, and PGO from the uptake medium. No significant differenceswere observed for the ATPase and plasma membrane-associatedvanadate-sensitive H⁺-ATPase or K⁺-stimulated ATPase activityin homogenates and microsomal fractions prepared from corn seedlingswhich had been incubated for 2 h in the presence or absenceof 0.5 mM BD or 1.0 mM PGO. This suggests that inhibition ofnitrate uptake by the arginine-specific reagents was not causedby the indirect effect of their binding and inhibiting H⁺-ATPase.The fact that the arginine-specific reagents strongly inhibit uptake indicates that the transport system has arginine residues at or near the activesite. Key words: Arginine-specific reagents, borate effect, nitrate uptake, reversibility     

The photochemical trapping rate from red spectral states in PSI-LHCI is determined by thermal activation of energy transfer to bulk chlorophylls

The average fluorescence decay lifetimes, due to reaction centre photochemical trapping, were calculated for wavelengths in the 690- to 770-nm interval from the published fluorescence decay-associated emission spectra for Photosystem I (PSI)-light-harvesting complex of Photosystem I (LHCI) [Biochemistry 39 (2000) 6341] at 280 and 170 K. For 280 K, the overall trapping time at 690 nm is 81 ps and increases with wavelength to reach 103 ps at 770 nm. For 170 K, the 690-nm value is 115 ps, increasing to 458 ps at 770 nm. This underlines the presence of kinetically limiting processes in the PSI antenna (diffusion limited). The explanation of these nonconstant values for the overall trapping time band is sought in terms of thermally activated transfer from the red absorbing states to the "bulk" acceptor chlorophyll (chl) states in the framework of the Arrhenius-Eyring theory. It is shown that the wavelength-dependent "activation energies" come out in the range between 1.35 and 2.7 kcal mol(-1), increasing with the emission wavelength within the interval 710-770 nm. These values are in good agreement with the Arrhenius activation energy determined for the steady-state fluorescence yield over the range 130-280 K for PSI-LHCI. We conclude that the variable trapping time in PSI-LHCI can be accounted for entirely by thermally activated transfer from the low-energy chl states to the bulk acceptor states and therefore that the position of the various red states in the PSI antenna seems not to be of significant importance. The analysis shows that the bulk antenna acceptor states are on the low-energy side of the bulk antenna absorption band.     

Wavelength dependence of the time course of fluorescence enhancement and photobleaching during irradiation of ethidium bromide-stained nuclei

The variation of fluorescence during irradiation of ethidium bromide-stained nuclei with the 458 nm argon laser line was measured at different wavelengths throughout the emission spectrum. When glycerol was used as a mountant, photoenhancement of fluorescence was observed at all wavelengths, but was greater at the shorter wavelengths. Fluorescence increased by almost one order of magnitude at 500 nm after 40 s of irradiation, compared with only about 10% at wavelengths longer than 600 nm after 2-3 s. In nuclei mounted in phosphate buffer, an initial photoenhancement of fluorescence was detected only at the shorter wavelengths, while continuous photobleaching was observed in the rest of the emission spectrum. When the spectra are normalized to maximum, so as to eliminate the effect of the concurrent photobleaching, it appears that the difference between the time course of fluorescence variation in buffer and glycerol depends largely on the lower photobleaching rate in glycerol. The photoenhancement of fluorescence at shorter wavelengths was found to consist of a band peaking at 485-491 nm in glycerol and at 495-496 nm in buffer. Attenuation of the inner-filter effect contributes minimally to the enhancement of fluorescence at shorter wavelengths. Since the dimer is known to be non fluorescent, the light-induced disaggregation of dimers to monomers cannot be an explanation for the large increase of fluorescence at the shorter wavelengths. The same laser beam that was used to excite the fluorescence of stained nuclei was also used for monitoring the concomitant variation of transmitted light, from which the variation of absorptance during irradiation was computed. While the expected decrease of absorptance was observed in glycerol, reflecting the photodestruction of the fluorophore, in buffer solution an unexpected initial increase was found, which may reflect the accumulation of an absorbing photoproduct.     

Influence of fear conditioning on elicited ponto-geniculo-occipital waves and rapid eye movement sleep

The amygdala plays a central role in fear conditioning, a model of anticipatory anxiety. It has massive projections to brainstem regions involved in rapid eye movement sleep (REM) and ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) wave generation. PGO waves occur spontaneously in REM or in response to stimuli. Electrical stimulation of the central nucleus of the amygdala enhances spontaneous PGO wave activity during REM and the amplitude of both the acoustic startle response and the elicited PGO wave (PGOE), a neural marker of alerting. This study examined the effects of fear conditioning on REM and on PGOE. On conditioning days, the number of REM episodes, the average REM duration and the REM percentage were decreased while REM latency was increased. The presentation of auditory stimuli in the presence of a light conditioned stimulus produced PGOE of greater amplitudes. The results suggest that fear, most likely involving the amygdala, can influence REM and brainstem alerting mechanisms.     

Effects of volatile anesthetics on bacteriorhodopsin in purple membrane, Halobacterium halobium cells and reconstituted vesicles.

In this study, we have investigated effects of volatile anesthetics on absorption spectra, proton pumping activity and decay of photointermediate M of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) in differently aggregated states. Anesthetics used in this study are ether-type general anesthetics; enflurane and sevoflurane. The observed effects on bR depend not only on variety or concentration of anesthetics but also strongly on the aggregation state of bR molecules in the membrane. In purple membrane (PM), bR having maximum light absorption at 567 nm (bR567) is formed in the presence of sevoflurane or a small amount of enflurane, while a species absorbing maximally at 480 nm (bR480) is formed upon the addition of large amounts of enflurane. X-ray diffraction studies show that the former species maintains crystallinity of PM, but the latter does not. In reconstituted vesicles where bR molecules exist as monomer, even sevoflurane forms bR480. Flash photolysis experiments show that bR567 contains a shorter-lived M intermediate absorbing maximally at 412 nm in the photoreaction cycle than bR does and that bR480 contains at least two long-lived M intermediates which seem to absorb maximally near and at lower than 380 nm. The measurements of light-induced pH changes of the whole cells and of the reconstituted vesicles in the presence of the anesthetics indicate that bR567 has a enhanced proton pumping efficiency, while bR480 has a quite low or no activity. No significant difference was observed in the anesthetic action between two inversely pumping vesicles. These observations suggest that on the formation of bR480, anesthetics enter into the membrane and affect the protein-lipid interaction.     

Red antenna states of photosystem I from Synechocystis PCC 6803

Single-molecule spectroscopy at low temperatures was used to elucidate spectral properties, heterogeneities, and dynamics of the red-shifted chlorophyll a (Chl a) molecules responsible for the fluorescence from photosystem I (PSI). Emission spectra of single PSI complexes from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803 show zero-phonon lines (ZPLs) as well as broad intensity distributions without ZPLs. ZPLs are found most frequently on the blue side of the broad intensity distributions. The abundance of ZPLs decreases almost linearly at longer wavelengths. The distribution of ZPLs indicates the existence of at least two pools with maxima at 699 and 710 nm. The pool with the maximum at 710 nm is assigned to chlorophylls absorbing around 706 nm (C706), whereas the pool with the maximum at 699 nm (F699) can be assigned to chlorophylls absorbing at 692, 695, or 699 nm. The broad distributions dominating the red side of the spectra are made up of a low number of emitters assigned to the red-most pool C714. The properties of F699 show close relation to those of F698 in Synechococcus PCC 7002 and C708 in Thermosynechococcus elongatus. Furthermore, a high similarity is found between the C714 pool in Synechocystis PCC 6803 and C708 in Synechococcus PCC 7002 as well as C719 in T. elongatus.     

Cholinergic microstimulation of the peribrachial nucleus in the cat. I. Immediate and prolonged increases in ponto-geniculo-occipital waves.

The cholinergic agonist carbachol was injected into the pontine Pb area where PGO bursting cells have been recorded. When microinjections were localized to the ventrolateral aspect of the caudal Pb nucleus near aggregates of ChAT immunolabeled cholinergic neurons, carbachol produced an immediate onset of state-independent PGO waves in the ipsilateral LGB. These state-independent PGO waves persisted for 3-4 days. After the first 24 hrs PGO wave activity increasingly became associated with REM sleep and with REM transitional SP sleep as both of these PGO-related states increased in amount to 3-4 times baseline levels. The increase in amount of PGO-related states peaked on days 2-4 following one carbachol injection and persisted for 10-12 days. These results suggest a two stage process: stage one, PGO enhancement, is the direct consequence of the membrane activation of cholinoceptive PGO burst neurons by carbachol; stage two, REM enhancement, is the consequence of metabolic activation of endogenous cholinergic neurons. This experimental preparation is a useful model for the study of the electrophysiology and functional significance of PGO wave and REM sleep generation.     

A study of protein-carotenoid interactions in the astaxanthin-protein crustacyanin by absorption and Stark spectroscopy; evidence for the presence of three spectrally distinct species

Molecular mechanisms underlying the peculiar spectral properties of the carotenoid astaxanthin in alpha-crustacyanin, the blue carotenoprotein isolated from the exoskeleton of the lobster Homarus gammarus, were investigated by comparing the basic electrooptical parameters of astaxanthin free in vitro with those of astaxanthin in the complex. Absorption and electroabsorption (Stark effect) spectra were obtained for alpha-crustacyanin in low-temperature glasses to provide information about the molecular interactions that lead to the large bathochromic shift of the spectra resulting from this complexation. The low-temperature spectra reveal the presence of at least three spectral forms of alpha-crustacyanin, with vibronic (0-0) transitions at 14000 cm(-1), 13500 cm(-1) and 11600 cm(-1) (corresponding to approximately 630, 660 and 780 nm, respectively, at room temperature) and with relative aboundance 85%, 10% and 5%. The longer wavelength absorbing species have not previously been detected. The changes in polarizability and in permanent dipole moments associated with the S0-->S2 electronic transition for all these forms are about 1.5 times larger than for isolated astaxanthin. The results are discussed with reference to the symmetric polarization model for astaxanthin in alpha-crustacyanin.     

Photoaddition of chlorpromazine to DNA

Chlorpromazine, 2-chloro-N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)phenothiazine (CPZ), is a frequently prescribed antipsychotic drug that causes cutaneous photosensitivity in man. CPZ is also phototoxic and photomutagenic in vitro. We have investigated the photoaddition of CPZ to DNA as a possible mechanism for these photobiologic effects. Prior to irradiation, CPZ binds non-covalently to double-stranded calf thymus DNA. At high nucleotide to CPZ ratios, the CPZ absorption maximum shifts from 305 nm to 340 nm with an isosbestic point at 323 nm and 90% of the CPZ fluorescence at 455 nm is quenched. The excitation and emission spectra for the unquenchable fluorescence are the same as those for unbound CPZ. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of unbound CPZ are restored at 0.1 mM magnesium acetate or 100 mM sodium acetate. Non-covalent binding of CPZ to heat-denatured DNA does not shift the CPZ absorption spectrum but quenches 65% of the CPZ fluorescence. Photolytic decomposition of CPZ was inhibited by binding to DNA. In the presence of high concentrations of double-stranded DNA or denatured DNA the photolysis rates were reduced by greater than 98% and 65%, respectively, compared to free CPZ. Formation of covalent photoadducts between CPZ and denatured DNA was 10-fold more efficient than photoadduct formation with double-stranded DNA. Approximately 10% of the CPZ which photodecomposed upon irradiation at 323 nm photoadded to denatured DNA. These results indicate that formation of a complex between CPZ and double-stranded DNA absorbing at 340 nm protects CPZ from photodecomposition and inhibits covalent photoadduct formation.     

The photochemical trapping rate from red spectral states in PSI–LHCI is determined by thermal activation of energy transfer to bulk chlorophylls

The average fluorescence decay lifetimes, due to reaction centre photochemical trapping, were calculated for wavelengths in the 690- to 770-nm interval from the published fluorescence decay-associated emission spectra for Photosystem I (PSI)–light-harvesting complex of Photosystem I (LHCI) [Biochemistry 39 (2000) 6341] at 280 and 170 K. For 280 K, the overall trapping time at 690 nm is 81 ps and increases with wavelength to reach 103 ps at 770 nm. For 170 K, the 690-nm value is 115 ps, increasing to 458 ps at 770 nm. This underlines the presence of kinetically limiting processes in the PSI antenna (diffusion limited). The explanation of these nonconstant values for the overall trapping time band is sought in terms of thermally activated transfer from the red absorbing states to the “bulk” acceptor chlorophyll (chl) states in the framework of the Arrhenius–Eyring theory. It is shown that the wavelength-dependent “activation energies” come out in the range between 1.35 and 2.7 kcal mol⁻¹, increasing with the emission wavelength within the interval 710–770 nm. These values are in good agreement with the Arrhenius activation energy determined for the steady-state fluorescence yield over the range 130–280 K for PSI–LHCI. We conclude that the variable trapping time in PSI–LHCI can be accounted for entirely by thermally activated transfer from the low-energy chl states to the bulk acceptor states and therefore that the position of the various red states in the PSI antenna seems not to be of significant importance. The analysis shows that the bulk antenna acceptor states are on the low-energy side of the bulk antenna absorption band.     

Tone induction of ocular activity and dream imagery from stage 2 sleep.

Currently, there is debate as to whether ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) waves or the resulting cortical arousal associated with such neural activity constitute the biological substrate of dreaming. The present study aimed to induce PGO activity in humans using an external stimulation technique. Participants (N = 15) were presented with tones (1,000 Hz) of increasing intensity during Stage II and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. A peizosensor fixed to the eyelid captured ocular activity (OA) as an indicator of PGO activity in response to the tone. Compared to the stimulation, the Stage II control condition with no Stage II tone-induced ocular activity (OA) condition showed: a) more imagery reports that were rated as more vivid, and b) more electroencephalogram (EEG) arousal time. EEG arousal was correlated with the average Stage II imagery across participants. None of these findings were observed from REM sleep. It was concluded that investigation of PGO analogues, or even PGO activity itself, and dreaming might be inherently flawed due to the confounding presence of EEG arousal, as the two may be intimately linked. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The N intermediate of bacteriorhodopsin at low temperatures: stabilization and photoconversion

In aqueous suspensions of purple membranes (pH 10.2, 0.4 M KCl) an intermediate having an absorption maximum at 570-575 nm (at -196 degrees C) was produced by first heating the M intermediate up to -30 degrees C and then stabilizing it by subsequent cooling to -60 degrees C. We suggest that this species is the intermediate N (or P or R) found and characterized earlier near room temperature. Upon illumination at -196 degrees C N is transformed into a bathochromically absorbing species KN which has an absorption maximum near 605 nm and an extinction 1.35 times that of N. This light reaction is photoreversible. The quantum yield ratio for the forward and back reaction is 0.18 +/- 0.02. The maximum photo steady state concentration of KN is about 0.24. The N intermediate was also trapped in water suspensions of purple membranes at neutral pH and low salt concentration by illumination at lambda greater than 620 nm during cooling. In addition to N another intermediate absorbing in the red (maximum at 610-620 nm) was accumulated in smaller amounts. It is not photoactive at -196 degrees C and apparently is the O intermediate or a photoproduct of N.