Itraconazole vs amphotericin B: in vitro comparative evaluation of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against clinically isolated yeasts

Itraconazole is a triazole compound which, following several clinical trials, has begun to be used for therapy of mycotic infections. This new drug, with a broad-spectrum antifungal activity, can be orally administered. The Authors studied the in vitro susceptibility to amphotericin B and itraconazole of the following clinical isolates of pathogenic yeasts: 100 Candida albicans, 20 C. tropicalis, 20 C. parapsilosis, 8 C. guilliermondii, 6 C. pseudotropicalis, 24 Torulopsis glabrata and 16 Cryptococcus neoformans.Serial two-fold dilutions, from 100 g/ml to 0.04 g/ml, of each drug were prepared in Yeast Nitrogen Base + Glucose 5%, after dissolving the itraconazole in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and amphotericin B in 5% glucose solution. Amphotericin B (MIC₉₀: 3.12 g/ml) was found to have an average in vitro MIC six-fold lower than itraconazole (MIC₉₀: 25 g/ml).Thus, even though itraconazole is active, amphotericin B remains one of the most effective of the antifungal drugs.     

Susceptibility,resistance development,and synergy of antimicrobial combinations againstClostridium difficile

Studies of susceptibility, development of resistance, and synergy were performed with 32 antimicrobics againstClostridium difficile strains. A microtiter technique was used to demonstrate the in vitro activities of 40C. difficile isolates. Rifampin inhibited 73% of the strains at a concentration of 0.06 g/ml, and metronidazole inhibited 90% at 0.5 g/ml. Penicillin, vancomycin, cephaloridine, and chloramphenicol were also active. Development of resistance to penicillin or chloramphenicol was not found, but vancomycin, methicillin, and minocycline showed development of low levels of resistance. Rifampin in combination with erythromycin, methicillin, or penicillin was synergistic against more than 90% of theC. difficile isolates. Rifampin-ampicillin was synergistic against 85%, and vancomycin-metronidazole was synergistic against 68% of the isolates.     

Phytotoxic activity of selected water-soluble metabolites of Fusarium against Lemna minor L. (Duckweed)

Phytotoxicity and inhibitory effects of the fusarial toxins fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) [m.p. 103–105 °C], fusaric acid [m.p. 106–107 °C], butenolide (4-acetamido-4-hydroxy-2-butenoic acid lactone) [116–117 °C], 9, 10-dihydroxyfusaric acid [m.p. 150–155 ° C], and moniliformin on chlorophyll synthesis in the aquatic macrophyte Lemna minor (duckweed) were examined. FB₁ proved to be most active, reducing the growth of L. minor fronds and their ability to synthesize chlorophyll by 53% and 59%, respectively, at 0.7 g/ml. The growth rate of L. minor was reduced 59% by 6.7 g/ml fusaric acid, 62% by 66.7 g/ml butenolide, and 22% by 66.7 g/ml 9,10-dihydroxyfusaric acid. Moniliformin was the least phytotoxic to L. minor, with only a 16% suppression of growth rate and a 54% reduction in chlorophyll at 66.7 g/ml.The mention of firm names or trade products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the US Department of Agriculture over other firms or similar products not mentioned.     

Spreading and mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in microorganisms,producing beta-lactamases. Molecular mechanisms of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Klebsiella</Emphasis> spp. strains,isolated in cases of nosocomial infections

Antibiotic sensitivity has been investigated in nosocomial bacterial Klebsiella spp. strains isolated from patients treated in 30 hospitals of 15 Russian regions. Among Klebsiella strains (n = 212) studied the following species were found: Klebsiella pneumoniae ss. pneumoniae—182 (85.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae ss. ozaenae—1 (0.5%), Klebsiella oxytoca—29 (13.7%) strains. Their sensitivity to antibacterial preparations was estimated by the method of serial dilutions in microvolume (the microdilution method). Carbapenems (imipenem and meropenem) exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against the strains studied. Among third generation cephalosporins the lowest MIC (Minimum inhibitory concentration) were found in the inhibitor protected preparations: ceftazidime/clavulanic acid (MIC₅₀ of 0.25 μg/ml; MIC₉₀ of 64 μg/ml) and cefoperazone/sulbactam (MIC₅₀ of 16 μg/ml; MIC₉₀ of 64 μg/ml). Using the PCR method the detection of class A betalactamases genes (TEM, SHV, CTX) was carried out in 42 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae ss. pneumoniae. TEM type beta-lactamases were found alone or in various combinations in 16 (38.1%) strains, SHV—in 29 (69%), and CTX—in 27 (64.3%). Combinations of 2 and 3 different resistance determinants were detected in 23.8 and 26.2% of strains, respectively. Screening of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella strains for production of class B metallo-beta-lactamases did not reveal nosocomial strains with phenotypically documented production of these enzymes.     

Interaction among anion,cation and glucose transport proteins in the human red cell

Summary The time course of binding of the fluorescent stilbene anion exchange inhibitor, DBDS (4,4-dibenzamido-2,2-stilbene disulfonate), to band 3 can be measured by the stopped-flow method. We have previously used the reaction time constant, _DBDS, to obtain the kinetic constants for binding and, thus, to report on the conformational state of the band 3 binding site. To validate the method, we have now shown that the ID₅₀ (0.3±0.1 m) for H₂-DIDS (4,4-diisothiocyano-2,2-dihydrostilbene disulfonate) inhibition of _DBDS is virtually the same as the ID₅₀ (0.47±0.04 m) for H₂-DIDS inhibition of red cell Cl^– flux, thus relating _DBDS directly to band 3 anion exchange. The specific glucose transport inhibitor, cytochalasin B, causes significant changes in _DBDS, which can be reversed with intracellular, but not extracellular,d-glucose. ID₅₀ for cytochalasin B modulation of _DBDS is 0.1±0.2 m in good agreement withK _D =0.06±0.005 m for cytochalasin B binding to the glucose transport protein. These experiments suggest that the glucose transport protein is either adjacent to band 3, or linked to it through a mechanism, which can transmit conformational information. Ouabain (0.1 m), the specific inhibitor of red cell Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase, increases red cell Cl^– exchange flux in red cells by a factor of about two. This interaction indicates that the Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase, like the glucose transport protein, is either in contact with, or closely linked to, band 3. These results would be consistent with a transport proteincomplex, centered on band 3, and responsible for the entire transport process, not only the provision of metabolic energy, but also the actual carriage of the cations and anions themselves.     

Effect of water soluble vitamins and their analogues on the growth of candida albicans. I. Biotin,pyridoxamine, pyridoxine and fluorinated pyrimidines

Summary C. albicans showed an absolute dependency for biotin in shaker cultures in a basal mineral synthetic medium free of vitamin-precursors and vitamin-sparing amino acids. Diminished growth activity was observed with biotin sulfone and biotin diamine sulfate, but not with biocytin, N-biotinyl--alanine, N-biotinyl-L-aspartic ethyl ester, D-desthiobiotin or biotin-D-sulfoxide. The ability of the organism to utilize desthiobiotin indicates that its block in biosynthesis of biotin occurs at a step prior to desthiobiotin biosynthesis. Pyridoxamine and pyridoxine were both highly growth stimulatory at 1000 and 2056 µg/ml but not in the vitamin range at 1 to 10 µg/ml. Since desoxypyridoxine compounds failed to inhibit growth in the absence of B₆, it was concluded thatC. albicans has no dependency for vitamin B₆, although it actively metabolizes it. Pyridoxamine shortened the lag phase of the organism and reversed the toxicity of 5-fluorouracil and 5-fluoro-2-deoxyuridine, pointing to a new role of vitamin B₆ in nucleic acid metabolism of the organism. Inhibition indices for pyridoxamine and pyridoxine versus FU and FUDR were inconstant, indicating that the antagonism with the fluoropyrimidines was non-competitive in nature and the B₆ competes with these compounds at more than one site on the cell.     

Inhibition of proliferation of retrovirus-immortalized macrophages by LPS and IFN-γ: Possible autocrine down-regulation of cell growth by induction of IL1 and TNF

The GG₂EE macrophage tumor cell line was previously established by immortalization of C3H/HeJ mouse bone marrow cells with the J2 retrovirus which contains the v-myc and v-raf oncogenes. Studies on the control of GGZEE cell proliferationin vitro have recently been performed. We observed that the combination of 5–25 U/ml recombinant mouse interferon- (rmIFN-) plus 0.03 – 0.3 µg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) markedly inhibited the proliferation of GG₂EE cells (by >95%)in vitro, while either agent alone inhibited only by <40% and 0–10%, respectively. Subsequent studies established that biologically active ILI-like (2–4 U/ml) and TNF-like (50–100 U/ml) activities were released into the supernatants of LPS-treated GG₂EE cells. The combination of IFN- + LPS induced more (6–8 U/ml) ILI release. These results suggested that the inhibition of proliferation of GG₂EE cells by IFN- + LPS could have been mediated in part by cytokines produced by the cells themselves. rhIL1 at a concentration of 10 U/ml inhibited GG₂EE proliferation by 25–30%, while rmIFN- (25 U/ml) + rhIL1 (10 U/ml) inhibited proliferation by 98%. Thus, 10 U/ml rhIL1 could completely replace LPS in the LPS + rmIFN- combination. Further, the combination of low doses of rhIL1 (0.1 to 1 U/ml) plus rmTNF (250 U/ml), which together inhibited proliferation by <20% synergized with doses of 5 to 25 U/ml rmIFN- to inhibit proliferation of GG₂EE cells by 98–99%. These results suggest that cytokines produced by the cells themselves can synergize with rmIFN- to inhibit the oncogene-driven proliferation of GG₂EE cells.     

Multiple action sites for photosystem II herbicides as revealed by delayed fluorescence

DCMU (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea) at concentrations higher than 10 M suppresses the second time range delayed fluorescence (DF) of pea chloroplasts, due to inhibition of the oxidizing side of photosystem II (PS II). The inhibition of the reducing side of PS II resulting in the suppression of millisecond DF takes place at much lower (0.01 M) DCMU concentrations. The variation in the herbicide-affinities of the reducing and oxidizing sides of PS II is not the same for DCMU and phenol-type herbicides. The DCMU-affinity of the oxidizing side considerably increases and approximates that of the reducing side upon mild treatment of chloroplasts with oleic acid. Probably this is a result of some changes in the environment of the binding site at the oxidizing side. At DCMU concentrations higher than 1 mM, the chaotropic action of DCMU leads to the generation of millisecond luminescence which is not related to the functioning of the reaction centres.Abbreviations D-1 The 32 kDa herbicide-binding intrinsic polypeptide of PS II, the apoprotein of Q_B - D-2 The 32–34 kDa intrinsic polypeptide of PS II, probably the apoprotein of Z - DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea - DF Delayed fluorescence - Dinoseb 2,4-dinitro-6-sec-butylphenol - DNOC 4,6-dinitro-o-cresol - F_m Maximal fluorescence yield (when all traps are closed) - F_o Constant fluorescence yield (when all traps are open) - PS Photosystem - Q_A and Q_B The primary and secondary plastoquinone acceptors of PS II, correspondingly - Z A plastoquinol electron donor, presumably associated with the D-2 protein     

Thermal Stability of Glucose Oxidase from Penicillium adametzii

The thermal stability of glucose oxidase was studied at temperatures between 50 and 70°C by kinetic and spectroscopic (circular dichroism) methods. The stability of glucose oxidase was shown to depend on the medium pH, protein concentration, and the presence of protectors in the solution. At low protein concentrations (<15 g/ml) and pH > 5.5, the rate constants k _in, s^–1, for thermal inactivation of glucose oxidase were high. Circular dichroic spectra suggested an essential role of structures in stabilizing the protein globule. At a concentration of 15 g protein/ml, the activation energy E _Aof thermal inactivation of glucose oxidase in aqueous solution was estimated at 79.1 kcal/mol. Other thermodynamic activation parameters estimated at 60°C had the following values: H= 78.4 kcal/mol, G= 25.5 kcal/mol, and S= 161.9 entropy units. The thermal inactivation of glucose oxidase was inhibited by KCl, polyethylene glycols, and polyols. Among polyols, the best was sorbitol, which stabilized glucose oxidase without affecting its activity. Ethanol, phenol, and citrate exerted destabilizing effects.     

Prolongation of MGE 412 Transposition Induction after γ-Irradiation in an Isogenic Line of Drosophila melanogaster

The dose dependence of the rate of -induced transpositions and consequent dynamics of the MGE 412pattern after -irradiation were investigated in isogenic line 49 in generations F₁, F₁₂, F₁₄₀, and F₁₇₀. It was shown that the results on dose dependence of transpositions was very similar with the corresponding results of the classic works by Timofeeff-Ressovsky et al.(1935). It is suggested that the transcribed copies of retrotransposon 412cure -radiation-induced double-strand DNA breaks. The phenomenon of prolongation of MGE transposition induction during early generations after treatment was shown. In this period (F₁–F₁₂), the maximum transposition rate ( 2 × 10^–2events per MGE copy, per haploid genome, per generation) and the maximum number of heterozygous MGE copies were achieved. In the late generations (F₁₄₀–F₁₇₀), the reduced induction level ( 10^–3) was established. In the population of effective size N _e= 2000 individuals, this corresponds to the state when 1/4N _e, i.e., when the transposition flow prevails over the MGE copy loss by genetic drift. These data together with some indirect evidence argue for the hypothesis that the spontaneous transposition rate is proportional to the average number of heterozygous MGE copies per diploid genome.     

Role of mitochondria in ethanol tolerance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The presence of active mitochondria and oxidative metabolism is shown to be essential to maintain low inhibition levels by ethanol of the growth rate (), fermentation rate (v) or respiration rate () of Saccharomyces cerevisiae wild type strain S288C. Cells which have respiratory metabolism show K _i (ethanol inhibition constant) values for , v and , higher (K _i>1 M) than those of petite mutants or grande strains grown in anaerobiosis (K _i=0.7 M). In addition, the relationship between or v and ethanol concentration is linear in cells with respiratory metabolism and exponential in cells lacking respiration. When functional mitochondria are transferred to petite mutants, the resulting strain shows K _i values similar to those of the grande strain and the inhibition of and v by increasing ethanol concentrations becomes linear.     

Core substructure in Mastigocladus laminosus phycobilisomes

Three allophycocyanin complexes were separated by gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and ion exchange chromatography from a low molecular fraction (M_r 100–150000) of partially dissociated phycobilisomes of Mastigocladus laminosus: A. (^APAP); B. (^*AP₂ ^AP₂ ^AP*AP) · L _C ¹⁰ ; and C. (^*APAPBAP₂ ^AP*AP) · L _C ¹⁰ . According to their fluorescence emission maximum at room temperature the complexes A., B. and C. are designated AP 660, AP 664 and AP 680. The different subunits of the AP complexes have apparent molecular weights of M_r 18500 ^*AP, 18200 ^APB, 18000 ^AP, 17000 ^AP and 16500 ^*AP. This hitherto unrecognized microheterogeneity within the AP subunits of complexes B. and C. of Mastigocladus laminosus phycobilisomes could also be demonstrated and confirmed with the two phycocyanin complexes PC 642 and PC 646. PC 642 is characterized by a L _R ¹¹ linker polypeptide.Abbreviations AP allophycocyanin - PC phycocyanin - PEC phycoerythrocyanin - PE phycoerythrin - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - IEF isoelectric focusing - pI isoelectric point - M_r apparent molecular weight - TMED tetramethylethylenediamine - APS ammonium persulphate - SDS sodium dodecylsulphate - O.D. optical density A preliminary account of this work has been presented at the Embo Workshop on Oxygenic and Anoxygenic Electron Transport Systems in Cyanobacteria (Blue-green Algae) in Cape Sounion, Greece, 20–25 September 1987     

Zur Cytochemie der Lysosomen in der Rattenniere unter normalen und experimentellen Bedingungen

Zusammenfassung Es wird das Vorkommen der sauren Phosphatase (sP) und der -Glucu-ronidase (-Glu) in den Lysosomen von Rattennieren vom 16. Embryonaltag (ET) bis 33. Lebenstag (LT) sowie von erwachsenen unbehandelten, kastrierten und nach der Kastration mit gleich- bzw. gegengeschlechtlichen Hormonen behandelten Tieren untersucht. Bis zur Geburt entwickelt sich die lysosomale sP und -Glu in den einzelnen Nephronabschnitten und Sammelrohren annähernd parallel. Am 1. LT nimmt in den S₁-Segmenten der iuxtamedullären Nephrone Zahl, Durchmesser und Aktivität der sP positiven Lysosomen sprunghaft zu, um zwischen 5. und 9. LT wieder schnell abzunehmen. Die Aktivität der -Glu steigt dagegen kontinuierlich an. Zwischen 24. und 25. LT nimmt die Aktivität der -Glu in den Lysosomen der S₁- und S₃-Segmente ab, die der sP deutlich zu. Geschlechtsunterschiede treten bei der sP zum ersten Mal am 18. LT in den S₃-Segmenten, bei der -Glu am 25. LT in den S₁-Segmenten auf. Das ausdifferenzierte Enzymmuster für sP und -Glu kann erst bei erwachsenen Tieren nachgewiesen werden. Dann fallen bei beiden Geschlechtern unter den Lysosomen der S₁-Segmente zwei Größenklassen besonders auf: a. große Lysosomen (beim Weibchen 7 m, beim Männchen 5 m) und b. kleinere Lysosomen (bei beiden Geschlechtern 2–3 m). Die großen Lysosomen sind bei Weibchen zahlreicher und sP aktiver als bei Männchen. In den S₂-Segmenten (Durchmesser der Lysosomen 1,5–2,5 m) ist die -Glu in den Lysosomen der Männchen aktiver als bei den Weibchen; jedoch sind die Geschlechtsunterschiede in S₂ geringer als in S₁ In den S₃-Segmenten sind sP und -Glu in den Lysosomen weiblicher Nieren aktiver als in denen männlicher Tiere. — In den übrigen Abschnitten des Nephrons und in den Sammelrohren bestehen keine Geschlechtsunterschiede. — Die Lysosomen der Sammelrohre haben eine höhere Aktivität für -Glu als für sP.Durch Kastration werden die Geschlechtsunterschiede geringer, bleiben aber grundsätzlich erhalten; in den S₁-Segmenten können jedoch Lysosomen über 2,5 m nicht mehr nachgewiesen werden. Nach Testosteronbehandlung männlicher Kastrate nimmt die Aktivität der sP und -Glu gegenüber unbehandelten Kastraten ab. Bei kastrierten weiblichen Tieren treten nach Testosteronbehandlung wieder große Lysosomen auf, das Enzymmuster unbehandelter Tiere wird jedoch nicht erreicht. Östradiolbehandlung kastrierter Tiere führt bei beiden Geschlechtern in etwa zu einer Restitution der normalen Enzymverteilung, insbesondere bei den Männchen. Bei den Weibchen sind die Lysosomen größer und reagieren intensiver als bei Normaltieren, die Anzahl der Lysosomen scheint aber geringer zu sein.Insgesamt ergibt sich, daß die Lysosomen und die lysosomalen Enzyme unter dem Einfluß der Geschlechtshormone stehen.

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On the cytochemistry of lysosomes in the rat kidney under normal and experimental conditions

Summary Acid phosphatase (ap) and -glucuronidase (-glu) have been investigated in the lysosomes of the rat kidney between the 16th embryonic and 33th postnatal day. Furthermore these enzymes were demonstrated in the kidney of adult normal as well as of orchiectomized or ovarectomized rats following treatment with homosexual and heterosexual hormones. — Up till birth, the development of ap and -glu runs nearly parallel to one another in the nephron and in the collecting tubules. At the first day of life an irregular increase with respect to number, diameter, and activity of lysosomes containing ap can be observed in the S₁ segments of the iuxtamedullary nephrons; a decrease occurs between the 5th and 9th postnatal day. On the contrary the -glu activity increases continously. Between the 24th and 25th day of life its activity decreases in the lysosomes of the S₁ and S₂ segments; the ap activity, however, increases. For the first time sex-specific differences concerning the distribution pattern of ap can be revealed around the 18th day of life in the S₃ segments; in the case of -glu ca one week later in the S₁ segments. The final ap and -glu pattern only exists in the kidney of adult animals. Here, in the male and female kidney two classes of lysosomes exhibit striking peculiarities in the S₁ segments: a. big lysosomes (in male 5 m, in female 7 m in diameter) b. small lysosomes (in both sexes 2–3 m in diameter). The big lysosomes are more numerous. Moreover their ap activity is higher in female rats in comparison with the male kidney. In the S₂ segments (lysosomal diameter 1.5–2.5 m) the -glu activity of male rats surpasses that of females. However sex differences in the S₂ are as obvious as in the S₁ segments. In S₃ the strongest ap and -glu reaction appear in female kidneys. — In the other parts of the nephron and in the collecting tubules sexspecific differences have never been observed. — In the lysosomes of the collecting tubules more -glu than ap activity can be detected.Castration induces only a decrease of sex differences, but they do not disappear completely; in the S₁ segments lysosomes being bigger than 2.5 m are absent. In male castrates treated with testosterone the activity of ap and -glu is lowered in comparison with unsubstituted animals. Following application of testosterone the big lysosomes reappear in overectomized rats; but the enzyme pattern of untreated animals will never be obtained. In both sexes treatment of castrated animals with estradiol is accompanied by restitution of the normal ap and -glu pattern especially in males. In the female kidney lysosomes are bigger and more active in comparison with the controls; the number of lysosomes seems to be reduced. Summarizing strong evidence occurs that in the rat kidney lysosomes and lysosomal enzymes are controlled by sex hormones.

     

Oligogalacturonide signal transduction,induction of defense-related responses and protection of grapevine against<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Botrytis cinerea</Emphasis>

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is vulnerable to a variety of pathogenic fungi, among them Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of grey mould, is responsible for worldwide yield losses that would be even more important without a successful control that relies mainly on fungicides. In the present work we investigated an alternative way of using oligogalacturonides (OGA) to induce defense responses in grapevine and protection against B. cinerea. Kinetic experiments with grapevine cells showed that OGA induced a rapid and transient generation of H₂O₂, followed by differential expression of nine defense-related genes and stimulation of chitinase and -1,3-glucanase activities. Inhibition of OGA-induced oxidative burst by diphenylene iodonium (DPI), an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, lowered induction levels of six genes and chitinase activity. Interestingly, the induction of three other genes and -1,3-glucanase activity were inhibited by K252a, a protein kinase inhibitor, but not by DPI. Treatment of grapevine leaves with OGA also reduced infection by B. cinerea by about 55–65%. Accordingly, DPI or K252a with or without OGA increased the susceptibility of grapevine leaves to B. cinerea. We suggest that treatment of grapevine with OGA elicits different signalling pathways, which might act in tandem with the oxidative burst to increase grapevine defense responses required for protection against B. cinerea.Abbreviations AOS Active oxygen species - Chit Chitinase - DPI Diphenylene iodonium - -Glu -1,3-Glucanase - GST Glutathione-S-transferase - MAP Mitogen-activated protein - OGA Oligogalacturonides - PAL Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase - PR Pathogenesis-related - PGIP Polygalacturonase inhibiting protein - PIN Serine-proteinase inhibitor - STS Stilbene synthase     

Effect of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> p</Emphasis>CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and temperature on the boron isotopic composition of the zooxanthellate coral<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Acropora</Emphasis> sp.

Culture experiments were carried out with Acropora sp. (a branching scleractinian coral) in seawater at two pCO₂ conditions (438 and 725 µatm) and two temperatures (25 and 28 °C) in order to establish the pH and temperature dependence of the boron isotopic composition of the skeleton. A clear pCO₂ effect, but no temperature effect, on the coral boron isotope composition is seen. For corals cultured at normal pCO₂ (438 µatm), the ¹¹B of the skeleton was 24.0±0.2 at 25 °C, and 23.9±0.3 at 28 °C. The values of ¹¹B measured for corals cultured at higher pCO₂ (725 µatm) were lower: 22.5±0.1, and 22.8±0.1 at 25 and 28 °C, respectively. The ¹¹B of corals cultivated at both high and normal pCO₂ conditions are consistent with a dominant pH control, and are very close to that calculated from theoretical considerations. Thus, the corals do not seem to significantly alter ambient seawater for calcification with respect to pH. Co-variation between boron and carbon isotope values is explored.Communicated by: Guest Editor A. Grottoli     

Effects of elevated CO2 and increased nitrogen deposition on photosynthesis and growth of understory plants in spruce model ecosystems

We studied the effects of atmospheric CO₂ enrichment (280, 420 and 560 l CO₂ l^–1) and increased N deposition (0,30 and 90 kg ha^–1 year^–1) on the spruce-forest understory species Oxalis acetosella, Homogyne alpina and Rubus hirtus. Clones of these species formed the ground cover in nine 0.7 m² model ecosystems with 5-year-old Picea abies trees (leaf area index of approx 2.2). Communities grew on natural forest soil in a simulated montane climate. Independently of N deposition, the rate of light-saturated net photosynthesis of leaves grown and measured at 420 l CO₂ l^–1 was higher in Oxalis and in Homogyne, but was not significantly different in Rubus compared to leaves grown and measured at the pre-industrial CO₂ concentration of 280 l l^–1. Remarkably, further CO₂ enrichment to 560 l l^–1 caused no additional increase of CO₂ uptake. With increasing CO₂ supply concentrations of non-structural carbohydrates in leaves increased and N concentrations decreased in all species, whereas N deposition had no significant effect on these traits. Above-ground biomass and leaf area production were not significantly affected by elevated CO₂ in the more vigorously growing species O. acetosella and R. hirtus, but the slow growing H. alpina produced almost twice as much biomass and 50% more leaf area per plant under 420 l CO₂ l^–1 compared to 280 l l^–1 (again no further stimulation at 560 l l^–1). In contrast, increased N addition stimulated growth in Oxalis and Rubus but had no effect on Homogyne. In Oxalis (only) biomass per plant was positively correlated with microhabitat quantum flux density at low CO₂, but not at high CO₂ indicating carbon saturation. On the other hand, the less shade-tolerant Homogyne profited from CO₂ enrichment at all understory light levels facilitating its spread into more shady micro-habitats under elevated CO₂. These species-specific responses to CO₂ and N deposition will affect community structure. The non-linear responses to elevated CO₂ of several of the traits studied here suggest that the largest responses to rising atmospheric CO₂ are under way now or have already occurred and possible future responses to further increases in CO₂ concentration are likely to be much smaller in these understory species.     

Evidence of regional differences in the lectin histochemistry along the ductus epididymis of the lizard,Podarcis sicula Raf

The regional difference in the carbohydrate components of the ductus epididymis epithelium of a lizard was delineated by means of 13 lectins. Basal cells expressed only N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). Throughout the ductus, the secretory cells showed oligosaccharides with terminal N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac)(2,6)galactose (Gal)/N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) and internal mannose (Man) and/or glucose (Glc) in the whole cytoplasm, oligosaccharides terminating in Neu5Ac(2,6)Gal(1,3)GalNAc, Neu5Ac(2,6)Gal (1,4)GlcNAc, GalNAc, GlcNAc, and fucose (Fuc) in the supra-nuclear zone, and also glycans terminating in Neu5Ac(2,3)Gal (1,4)GlcNAc, Neu5Ac(2,6)Gal(1,3)GalNAc, Gal (1,4)GlcNAc on the luminal surface. In the caput and corpus regions, the supra-nuclear cytoplasm was characterized by terminal Gal(1,4)GlcNAc and GalNAc, the luminal surface by GalNAc and Gal. The Golgi zone, showing oligosaccharides with terminal Neu5Ac(2,3)Gal (1,4)GlcNAc, Neu5Ac(2,6)Gal (1,3)GalNAc, Neu5Ac(2,6)Gal (1,4)GlcNAc, and internal GlcNAc, expressed terminal Gal (1,4)GlcNAc and GalNAc in the caput, and terminal GalNAc in the corpus. The granules showed all the investigated carbohydrates in their peripheral zone except terminal GalNAc and Fuc, whereas internal Man/Glc and terminal Gal were expressed in the central core, and Fuc throughout the ductus, terminal GlcNAc in the caput and corpus, and terminal GalNAc only in the corpus.     

Moderately Elevated Temperature Eliminates Resistance of Rice Plants with Enhanced Expression of Glutathione Reductase to Intensive Photooxidative Stress

We developed transgenic rice plants (Oryza sativa L. cv. Daeribbyeo) overproducing cytosolic glutathione reductase (GR) using a GR gene from Brassica campestris and studied their response to photo-oxidative stress in the presence of methyl viologen (MV, 10 and 50 M concentrations) under room (25 °C) and moderately elevated (35 °C) temperature by analysis of chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence parameters (F_V/F_M, q_N, and q_P) and of Chl content. Elevated temperature enhanced and accelerated the photo-oxidative damage to photosynthetic apparatus expressed mainly by a fast decrease of q_N. Higher temperature supported the protective reaction in transformed rice plants for lower MV concentration (10 M) and eliminated the enhanced tolerance of photosystem 2 photochemistry to photooxidative stress for higher (50 M) MV concentration. Different mechanisms and temperature dependence of oxidative and protective reactions explain the results.     

Reducibility of cytochromeb in mitochondrial inner membrane

When mitochondrial inner membrane was disintegrated into Complex I-III, IV, and oligomycin-sensitive ATPase, about 50% of cytochromeb in Complex I-III was readily reduced with NADH, as judged by the appearance of a peak at 562 nm, while in whole mitochondria less than 25% of cytochromeb was reduced by succinate. On addition of antimycin to the substrate-reduced Complex I-III, cytochromeb was further reduced to 71% of the total, and the peak at 562 nm was red-shifted to 564 nm as in the case of dithionite reduction. These results indicate that the 562 nm and 564 nm peaks, at 29°C correspond, respectively, tob ₅₆₀ andb _562.5 at 77°K of Davis et al. [7] and to b _K and b _T of Chance et al. [2]. When Complex I-III and oligomycin-sensitive ATPase were reconstituted to form a membrane, about 60% of cytochromeb in Complex I-III was readily reduced with NADH. In this case the 562 nm peak was not red-shifted. However, the difference spectrum of NADH-reduced membraneminus that in the presence of deoxycholate showed a peak at 565 nm. A mirror image of the difference spectrum was obtained on addition of an uncoupler,m-chlorocarbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone. This is characteristic for b _T. These results support the idea that the occurrence of spectral peaks of b _T and b _K is not due to two species but to single speciesAbbreviations OS-ATPase oligomycin sensitive ATPase - CCCP m-chlorocarbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone - F₁ coupling factor one - OSCP oligomycinsensitivity-conferring protein     

The TF1-ATPase and ATPase activities of assembled α3β3γ, α3β3γδ, and α3β3γε complexes are stimulated by low and inhibited by high concentrations of rhodamine 6G whereas the dye only inhibits the α3β3, and α3β3δ complexes

The ATPase activity of the F₁-ATPase from the thermophilic bacterium PS3 is stimulated at concentrations of rhodamine 6G up to about 10 µM where 70% stimulation is observed at 36°C. Half maximal stimulation is observed at about 3 µM dye. At rhodamine 6G concentrations greater than 10 µM, ATPase activity declines with 50% inhibition observed at about 75 µM dye. The ATPase activities of the ₃₃ and ₃₃ complexes assembled from isolated subunits of TF₁ expressed inE. coli deleted of theunc operon respond to increasing concentrations of rhodamine 6G nearly identically to the response of TF₁. In contrast, the ATPase activities of the ₃₃ and ₃₃ complexes are only inhibited by rhodamine 6G with 50% inhibition observed, respectively, at 35 and 75 µM dye at 36°C. The ATPase activity of TF₁ is stimulated up to 4-fold by the neutral detergent, LDAO. In the presence of stimulating concentrations of LDAO, the ATPase activity of TF₁ is no longer stimulated by rhodamine 6G, but rather, it is inhibited with 50% inhibition observed at about 30 µM dye at 30°C. One interpretation of these results is that binding of rhodamine 6G to a high-affinity site on TF₁ stimulates ATPase activity and unmasks a low-affinity, inhibitory site for the dye which is also exposed by LDAO.