过表达Na,K-ATPase基因增强了黑曲霉对硅灰石的风化能力

【目的】探究和证实黑曲霉钠钾ATP酶(NKA)在硅灰石风化过程中的作用。【方法】以野生型黑曲霉(WT)为原始菌株构建黑曲霉Na,K-ATPaseα1基因(NKAα1)高表达菌株oeNKA。通过测定不同时间点(0d、2d、4d、6d)oeNKA和WT生物量、培养液pH值和矿物风化释放的Ca~(2+)浓度,并用X-ray diffraction (XRD)对风化后的矿物残渣进行检测,比较oeNKA和WT菌株对硅灰石这种硅酸盐矿物的风化效果。【结果】oeNKA菌株的NKAα1基因相对表达量和酶活分别为WT菌株的103倍和1.76倍。在持续6d的培养过程中,oeNKA与WT的菌丝体生物量变化趋势相同,在培养第2天时WT显著高于oeNKA,随时间差异逐渐缩小并在第6天达到最低;培养液pH值变化趋势相同,分别下降至3.64和3.87;oeNKA风化硅灰石时所释放Ca~(2+)浓度(1011.36±47.78μg/g)约为WT (248.30±25.21μg/g)的4倍;XRD检测图谱显示菌株oeNKA对硅灰石风化作用更明显。【结论】NKAα1过表达菌株oeNKA对硅灰石的风化能力显著高于WT菌株,且黑曲霉的NKA与硅灰石的风化有密切关联。     

土生空团菌对白云母的风化作用及解钾特性

摘要:【目的】为了提高森林土壤含钾硅酸盐矿物利用率和改善树木钾素营养,探讨外生菌根真菌对白云母矿物的解钾及风化效应。【方法】通过5种外生菌根真菌在贫钾条件下与白云母的相互作用,考察了3种常用培养基对菌株解钾能力的影响;采用解钾效果最高的土生空团菌在Modified Melin-Norkrans(MMN)培养基条件下,进一步研究了21d浸出过程中主要矿质元素的释放量、生物量、剩余葡萄糖量、产生的小分子有机酸种类及含量、菌丝-矿物微环境的改变,利用扫描电子显微镜观测白云母被风化的痕迹。【结果】培养基对不同外生菌根真菌解钾能力的影响各异,其中土生空团菌在MMN培养基条件下解钾能力最强,其解钾量与生物量、剩余葡萄糖量、pH值显著相关。土生空团菌能够分泌有助于菌丝-矿物粘附的胞外多糖以形成菌丝-矿物微环境,并富集有机酸,促进微环境内钾的释放;菌丝不仅能够粘附在白云母表面产生刻蚀作用,还能破坏矿物深入其内部。【结论】外生菌根真菌具有促进白云母风化并释放钾素的能力,这种能力可能与菌丝、有机酸、多糖的协同作用有关。     

一株黑曲霉(Aspergillus niger)对羟基磷灰石合成的诱导

【目的】研究利用真菌诱导的方式合成羟基磷灰石(HAP)。【方法】采用含不同浓度Na2HPO4和CaCO3的PDA(Potato Dextrose Agar Medium)液体培养基,研究黑曲霉作用诱导HAP合成,并用透射电镜(TEM)观察诱导形成的矿物晶体形态和结构、用X射线衍射(XRD)法确定矿物种类。【结果】主要研究结果如下:(1)在含有合适浓度的Na2HPO4和CaCO3的PDA液体培养基中,接入黑曲霉可以诱导HAP晶体的合成。(2)黑曲霉对HAP合成的诱导作用跟反应时间有关,反应时间越长,越有利于生成HAP。分析认为黑曲霉对HAP诱导作用是因其代谢产酸造成对CaCO3的溶解以及菌丝体对Ca2+的富集作用,在菌丝球内先形成白磷钙石,然后进一步转化为羟基磷灰石。【结论】黑曲霉在含Na2HPO4和CaCO3的PDA液体培养基中能诱导羟基磷灰石的生成。由于黑曲霉诱导合成HAP的反应条件温和,制备工艺简单,成本低,因此具有潜在应用前景。     

草酸青霉对含钾矿物风化及钾溶出的影响

【目的】探讨含钾硅酸盐矿物在草酸青霉(Penicillium oxalicum)作用下的风化及钾溶出情况。【方法】利用等离子体发射光谱、X-射线能谱、X-射线光电子能谱分析了3种常见含钾硅酸盐矿物(钾长石、白云母和黑云母)在草酸青霉作用后浸出液和矿物表面元素含量的变化;通过X-射线衍射分析矿物晶相结构的变化;采用共聚焦激光扫描显微镜表征了草酸青霉在矿物表面形成的生物膜;测量了培养液中不同碳源与氮源组分对草酸青霉解钾的影响。【结果】草酸青霉对结构稳定的钾长石和白云母风化速率较低,相比而言黑云母容易被风化并释放可溶性钾元素;草酸青霉在矿物表面形成了网状结构的生物膜,有利于微环境的生成及有机酸在其内的富集,促进微环境内钾的释放,强化微生物对矿物的风化作用;草酸青霉对多种碳源及氮源都表现出较好的适用性。【结论】草酸青霉是一种能够促进多种含钾矿物风化和钾溶出的真菌,在堆肥和生物肥料领域具有广泛的应用前景。     

不同风化程度钾长石表面矿物分解细菌的筛选及遗传多样性

【目的】不同风化程度钾长石表面矿物分解细菌生物多样性研究将有助于了解矿物生物风化、生物成矿和土壤形成的演化规律和机理。【方法】采用纯培养法自南平钾矿区高、中、低风化度钾长石以及矿区土壤样品中分离矿物分解细菌,通过摇瓶释硅实验比较不同菌株分解矿物能力,采用16SrDNA限制性酶切多态性分析(Amplified rDNA Restriction Analysis,ARDRA)研究了供试菌株的遗传多样性。【结果】分离筛选到35株生长良好的矿物分解细菌,与对照相比,接菌处理发酵液中有效硅增加了101～206%;所有供试菌株可分为11个OTU,分别属于5个门,6个科,7个属。多数菌株(74%)属于γ-变形杆菌纲(γ-Proteobacteria)。泛菌属(Pantoea),沙雷氏菌属(Serratia),假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)为优势种群。【结论】南平钾矿区矿物分解细菌具有丰富的微生物种群多样性,且γ-变形杆菌纲(γ-Proteobacteria)细菌在钾长石风化过程中可能起了重要的作用。     

黑曲霉RAF106菌丝球形成的影响因素及对结晶紫的吸附作用

【背景】黑曲霉（Aspergillus niger）作为一种代表性丝状真菌已被广泛用于酶制剂、有机酸、抗生素等高价值代谢产物的工业生产、食品发酵、环境治理等行业,其代谢能力、发酵性能等与菌体形态密切相关。然而,黑曲霉对染料、重金属等的吸附能力与菌体形态的关系鲜有报道。【目的】探究黑曲霉菌丝球形成的影响因素及其对结晶紫的吸附作用。【方法】以从普洱茶分离的黑曲霉RAF106为研究对象,实时监测马铃薯葡萄糖培养液中黑曲霉菌丝球的形成过程;探究培养液的初始pH （4.0-10.0）、培养温度（25-45°C）、孢子接种量（5×10⁴-5×10⁶个/m L）、摇床转速（140-220 r/min）、碳源（葡萄糖、蔗糖、果糖、乳糖、醋酸钠）和氮源（硝酸钠、胰蛋白胨、酵母提取粉、氯化铵）对菌丝球形成的影响;以结晶紫为对象,研究不同菌体形态及菌丝球大小对黑曲霉吸附废水染料能力的影响。【结果】在黑曲霉RAF106中,孢子聚集、菌丝聚集均可形成菌丝球;菌丝球的大小与培养液初始p H、孢子接种量成反比,与摇床转速无关;当温度低于35°C时,菌丝球大小与温度成正比,...     

矿物分解细菌Bacillus sp.L11对钾长石的风化作用北大核心CSCD

【目的】明确从南京钾矿区土壤中分离到的一株矿物分解细菌的分类地位,阐明其对钾长石矿物的风化效应及机制,为深入研究微生物-矿物相互作用提供参考依据。【方法】通过16S rRNA基因序列分析及其系统发育分析对菌株L11进行鉴定。采用摇瓶试验评估菌株L11对钾长石的风化能力,利用SEM/EDS观察钾长石矿物的形貌变化,使用X-射线衍射技术对小于2μm矿物进行了鉴定。【结果】菌株L11的16S rRNA基因序列与Bacillusaltitudinis的相似性最高,为99.9%,初步鉴定其为Bacillus sp.L11。摇瓶试验表明,菌株L11能够通过产生有机酸风化钾长石矿物,释放出Si、Al和Fe等元素。通过SEM发现第30 d的钾长石表明形貌发生了较大变化,表面有许多细菌存在,并形成了一些球形物质,EDS分析表明其Fe的含量较高。XRD结果表明,钾长石经菌株L11作用后可能形成了新矿物——菱铁矿。【结论】菌株Bacillus sp.L11能够加速钾长石的风化,改变其形貌,并能诱导新矿物的形成。     

响应面法优化黑曲霉固定化条件及其对土壤中溴氰菊酯的降解特性研究

【目的】通过研究吸附包埋法固定黑曲霉(Aspergillus niger)的最佳制备工艺,初步探讨固定化黑曲霉对溴氰菊酯(deltamethrin, DM)及其中间产物3-苯氧基苯甲酸(3-phenoxybenzoic acid,3-PBA)的降解机制,并将其应用于农业种植中以评价固定化黑曲霉的实际应用效果。【方法】以生物炭、海藻酸钠为固定化载体,通过单因素和响应面试验对固定化黑曲霉(immobilized Aspergillusniger)的制备工艺进行优化。同时,利用高效液相色谱法分析DM和3-PBA的含量变化。【结果】海藻酸钠浓度、生物炭浓度和菌液接种量为DM去除率的显著影响因子,当三者分别为25.27、1.28和125.28 g/L时,是黑曲霉固定化的最佳制备条件;在施加固定化黑曲霉后,土壤中DM半衰期由7.6d缩短至5.2d,黑曲霉对3-PBA也具有降解作用,在21h达到最低浓度1.45mg/kg;修复后的土壤可显著提高番茄种子发芽率,株高、根长等6个生长指标较DM单独处理组也有不同程度的恢复;在经固定化黑曲霉修复28 d后,污染土壤根系酶活和微生物数量均得到不同程度改善。【...     

微生物驱动硝酸盐还原耦合亚铁氧化成矿过程的锌胁迫

【目的】探究中性厌氧条件下,金属锌影响下硝酸盐依赖型铁氧化菌Pseudomonas stutzeri LS-2驱动的硝酸盐还原耦合亚铁氧化成矿过程机制,对深入理解中性厌氧环境中微生物亚铁氧化驱动的反硝化作用及重金属固定机制具有重要意义。【方法】以不同Zn(Ⅱ)浓度构建LS-2驱动的亚铁氧化成矿体系,分析不同体系中亚铁氧化速率、硝酸盐还原速率以及形成矿物的结构变化规律。【结果】LS-2驱动的硝酸盐还原耦合亚铁氧化成矿过程中,共存Zn(Ⅱ)降低该过程中硝酸盐的还原速率和亚铁氧化速率。同时,随着Zn(Ⅱ)浓度提高,抑制作用增强。微生物亚铁氧化形成的矿物通过吸附、共沉淀和离子置换等过程固定Zn(Ⅱ),降低Zn(Ⅱ)活性。Zn(Ⅱ)浓度对形成的矿物结构有较大的影响:低浓度Zn(Ⅱ)体系中,形成的矿物为纤铁矿;随着Zn(Ⅱ)浓度的提高,矿物结构与结晶度都有一定程度的变化,当Zn(Ⅱ)达到4 mmol/L时,形成的矿物主要为铁锌尖晶石。【结论】明确了重金属锌对LS-2菌株反硝化及亚铁氧化过程的抑制规律,同时阐明了Zn(Ⅱ)浓度对形成矿物结构的影响。研究结果有助于深入认识中性厌氧环境中重金属与微生物驱动的铁循环和反硝化过程的耦合作用,为土壤重金属污染防治提供理论支撑。     

三株真菌对重金属锰的耐受性和吸附特性研究

【目的】研究3种真菌对锰离子的耐受性,并研究其对溶液中Mn²⁺吸附的最佳条件和吸附机理,为治理锰离子污染提供技术参考。【方法】测定哈茨木霉(Trichoderma harzianum)、深绿木霉(Trichoderma atroviride)和棘孢木霉(Trichoderma asperellum)三株真菌的最低抑菌浓度(minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC),探究最佳吸附条件,并利用扫描电子显微镜(scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy,SEM-EDS)和傅里叶变换红外光谱(Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,FTIR)对吸附前后菌体进行分析。【结果】哈茨木霉、深绿木霉、棘孢木霉对重金属锰耐受的浓度可达到1 600、1 800、2 000 mg/L,最佳吸附条件为p H为7,吸附时间80 h,温度28℃,吸附率最高可达23.7%,哈茨木霉参与吸附的官能团有-OH、胺基中的-C-N-、-C=O。...     

硫酸铵对两株钾矿物分解细菌生长代谢和风化钾长石的影响

【目的】为了明确钾矿物分解细菌Bacillus globisporus Q12和Rhizobium sp.Q32最合适的产酸和胞外多糖条件,并进一步阐明供试菌株对钾长石的溶解效应及其机制。【方法】分别向培养基中加入0-1.2 g/L(NH4)2SO4,选择菌株最适的产酸及合成胞外多糖条件,研究菌株对钾长石的溶解效果,并采用扫描电镜(SEM)观察钾长石表面形态及菌体分布特征。【结果】0.6、0和0.3 g/L(NH4)2SO4分别能使菌株Q12、Q32和混合菌株(Q12+Q32)产生较多的有机酸、胞外多糖以及有机酸和胞外多糖的复合物。菌株Q12、Q32及其混合菌株均能够显著地溶解钾长石,并释放出矿质元素,其中混合菌株的溶解效果要优于单一菌株;SEM分析表明,混合菌株对钾长石的溶蚀作用最强。【结论】(NH4)2SO4的含量能够影响供试菌株Q12和Q32的生长代谢及其对钾长石的风化作用,混合菌株可以通过产生的有机酸和胞外多糖的联合作用加速对钾长石的风化。     

Degradation of potassium rock by earthworms and responses of bacterial communities in its gut and surrounding substrates after being fed with mineral

Background

Earthworms are an ecosystem''s engineers, contributing to a wide range of nutrient cycling and geochemical processes in the ecosystem. Their activities can increase rates of silicate mineral weathering. Their intestinal microbes usually are thought to be one of the key drivers of mineral degradation mediated by earthworms,but the diversities of the intestinal microorganisms which were relevant with mineral weathering are unclear.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this report, we show earthworms'' effect on silicate mineral weathering and the responses of bacterial communities in their gut and surrounding substrates after being fed with potassium-bearing rock powder (PBRP). Determination of water-soluble and HNO₃-extractable elements indicated some elements such as Al, Fe and Ca were significantly released from mineral upon the digestion of earthworms. The microbial communities in earthworms'' gut and the surrounding substrates were investigated by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and the results showed a higher bacterial diversity in the guts of the earthworms fed with PBRP and the PBRP after being fed to earthworms. UPGMA dendrogram with unweighted UniFrac analysis, considering only taxa that are present, revealed that earthworms'' gut and their surrounding substrate shared similar microbiota. UPGMA dendrogram with weighted UniFrac, considering the relative abundance of microbial lineages, showed the two samples from surrounding substrate and the two samples from earthworms'' gut had similarity in microbial community, respectively.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results indicated earthworms can accelerate degradation of silicate mineral. Earthworms play an important role in ecosystem processe since they not only have some positive effects on soil structure, but also promote nutrient cycling of ecosystem by enhancing the weathering of minerals.     

Platelet aggregation induced by platelet-activating factor is suppressed by cystine protease inhibitor

The effect of NCO-700, a cystine protease inhibitor, on platelet-activating factor-induced platelet aggregation was determined. A newly synthesized cystine protease inhibitor (calcium-activated neutral protease and cathepsin B inhibitor), NCO-700 (bis[ethyl (2R, 3R)-3-[(S)-methyl-1-[4-(2,3,4- trimethoxyphenylmethyl) piperazine-1-ylcarbonyl]butylcarbonyl]oxiran-2-carboxy late]sulfate), inhibited platelet-activating factor-induced platelet aggregation. The inhibition was dependent on the preincubation time with NCO-700 and on the concentration of the inhibitor. The release of serotonin was also inhibited almost completely by the 20-min preincubation with 10(-4) M NCO-700. Leupeptin also inhibited platelet-activating factor-induced platelet aggregation. But calcium-activated neutral protease inhibitor did not inhibit it. These observations suggest that NCO-700-sensitive protease(s) such as cystine protease may contribute to platelet aggregation induced by platelet-activating factor.     

Thrombin-induced platelet aggregation involves an indirect proteolytic cleavage of aggregin by calpain

5'-p-Fluorosulfonylbenzoyl adenosine (FSBA), a nucleotide analog of ADP, has been shown to inhibit ADP-induced shape change, aggregation and exposure of fibrinogen binding sites concomitant with covalent modification of a single surface membrane polypeptide of Mr 100,000 (aggregin). Since thrombin can aggregate platelets which have been modified by FSBA and are refractory to ADP, we tested the hypothesis that thrombin-induced platelet aggregation might involve cleavage of aggregin. At a low concentration of thrombin (0.05 U/ml), platelet aggregation, exposure of fibrinogen receptors and cleavage of aggregin in FSBA-modified platelets did not occur, indicating ADP dependence. In contrast, incubation of [3H]FSBA-labeled intact platelets with a higher concentration of thrombin (0.2 U/ml) resulted in cleavage of radiolabeled aggregin, aggregation, and exposure of fibrinogen binding sites. Under identical conditions, aggregin in membranes isolated from [3H]FSBA-labeled platelets was not cleaved by thrombin. Thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and cleavage of aggregin were concomitantly inhibited by a mixture of 2-deoxy-D-glucose, D-gluconic acid 1,5-lactone, and antimycin A. These results suggest that thrombin cleaves aggregin indirectly by activating an endogeneous protease. Thrombin is known to elevate intracellular Ca2+ concentration and thereby activates intracellular calcium dependent thiol proteases (calpains). In contrast to serine protease inhibitors, calpain inhibitors including leupeptin, antipain, and ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether) N,N'-tetraacetic acid (chelator of Ca2+) inhibited platelet aggregation and cleavage of aggregin in [3H]FSBA-labeled platelets. Leupeptin, at a concentration of 10-20 microM, used in these experiments, did not inhibit the amidolytic activity of thrombin, thrombin-induced platelet shape change, or the rise in intracellular Ca2+. Purified platelet calpain II caused aggregation of unmodified and FSBA-modified platelets and cleaved aggregin in [3H]FSBA-labeled platelets as well as in isolated membranes. The latter is in marked contrast to the action of thrombin on [3H]FSBA-labeled membranes. Thus, thrombin-induced platelet aggregation may involve intracellular activation of calpain which proteolytically cleaves aggregin thus unmasking latent fibrinogen receptors, a necessary prerequisite for platelet aggregation.     

Comparison of the effects of inhibitors of cytochrome P-450-mediated reactions on human platelet aggregation and arachidonic acid metabolism

Metyrapone and SKF-525A, together with amphenone B, a structural analogue of metyrapone, which are all inhibitors of cytochrome P-450-mediated reactions, were shown to inhibit the arachidonic acid-induced aggregation of human platelets. Amphenone B, like metyrapone, exhibited a type II (ligand) binding spectrum with rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450, in contrast to SKF 525A which is a type I (substrate) binding agent. Independently of their type of binding spectra and of their maximum spectral change, however, the affinity of the three compounds for rat liver cytochrome P-450 showed a close proportional correlation with their platelet aggregation inhibitory potency. All three compounds inhibited the formation of [1-14C]thromboxane B2 from [1-14C]arachidonic acid by human platelets aggregated with collagen. The effect of metyrapone on the remaining labelled products suggested that it is a selective thromboxane synthesis inhibitor, while amphenone B exhibited activity reminiscent of cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors. SKF 525A produced complex effects possibly attributable to cyclo-oxygenase inhibition and enhanced lipid peroxidation, since it also enhanced platelet malonaldehyde formation, which the other two compounds inhibited. These data provide further support for a role of cytochrome P-450 in thromboxane synthesis and platelet aggregation.     

Effects of antimycin and 2-deoxyglucose on adenine nucleotides in human platelets. Role of metabolic adenosine triphosphate in primary aggregation, secondary aggregation and shape change of platelets

1. Human platelet-rich plasma prelabelled with [(3)H]adenine was incubated at 37 degrees C with antimycin A and 2-deoxy-d-glucose. Variations in the amounts of ATP, ADP and P(i), and in the radioactivity of ATP, ADP, AMP, IMP, hypoxanthine+inosine and adenine were determined during incubation. Adrenaline- and ADP-induced platelet aggregation and the ADP-induced shape change of the platelets were determined concurrently. 2. 2-Deoxyglucose caused conversion of [(3)H]ATP to [(3)H]hypoxanthine+inosine. The rate of this conversion increased with increasing 2-deoxyglucose concentration and was markedly stimulated by addition of antimycin, which had no effect alone. At maximal ATP-hypoxanthine conversion rates, the IMP radioactivity remained at values tenfold higher than control, whereas [(3)H]ADP and [(3)H]AMP radioactivity gave variations typical for product/substrates in consecutive reactions. The specific radioactivityof ethanol-soluble platelet ATP decreased during incubation to less than one-tenth of its original value. The amounts and radioactivity of ethanol-insoluble ADP did not vary during incubation with the metabolic inhibitors. 3. The rate of ADP- and adrenaline-induced primary aggregation decreased as the amount of radioactive ATP declined, and complete inhibition of aggregation was obtained at a certain ATP concentration (metabolic ATP threshold). This threshold decreased with increasing concentration of inducer ADP. 4. Secondary platelet aggregation (release reaction) had a metabolic ATP threshold markedly higher than that of primary aggregation. 5. Shape change was gradually inhibited as the ATP radioactivity decreased, and had a metabolic ATP threshold distinctly lower than that of primary aggregation, and which decreased with increasing concentration of ADP. 6. A small but distinct fraction of [(3)H]ATP disappeared rapidly during the combined shape change-aggregation process induced by ADP in platelets incubated with metabolic inhibitors, whereas no ATP disappearance occurred during aggregation in their absence.     

Phosphoinositide breakdown as an indirect link between stimulation and aggregation of rat platelets by thrombin and collagen

When washed rat platelets (1.5 x 10(9)/ml) were stimulated by a threshold concentration of thrombin (0.3 unit/ml) or collagen (10 micrograms/ml), a lag period of about 10 or 30 s, respectively, was seen before the start of aggregation. During the lag period, [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate was degraded as the earliest event within 5-10 s of addition of the stimulus. However, though the extent of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate degradation within 10 s of addition of collagen was greater than that within 20 s of addition of thrombin (0.3 unit/ml), a lag of about 20 s remained before the initiation of aggregation by collagen. This casts doubt on the hypothesis that the stimulus-dependent phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate breakdown induces the aggregation of platelets. Phosphatidylinositol labeled with 32Pi or [1-14C]arachidonic acid was scarcely degraded during the lag period. As aggregation proceeded, [14C-arachidonic acid]phosphatidylinositol was degraded with generation of diacylglycerol, phosphatidic acid, arachidonic acid and its metabolites. The maximum aggregation by collagen of rat platelets in which arachidonic acid of phospholipids was replaced in vivo with eicosapentaenoic acid was reduced, but that by thrombin was not, though reduction of thromboxane A2 generation was caused by both stimuli. Indomethacin also fully inhibited the aggregation induced by collagen, but not that induced by thrombin. Hence, thromboxane A2 is required for full aggregation by collagen, but not that by thrombin. These results indicate that thrombin-induced phosphoinositide metabolism may proceed independently of aggregation.     

Interpretation of concentration-dependence in aggregation kinetics

Aggregation processes are analyzed by two kinetic models, the random polymerization model and the nucleation-dependent polymerization model. A kinetic equation for the random polymerization model can be derived analytically, revealing the relation between the initial monomer concentration ([M]0), the rate constant (k(a)), time (t), the yield of detectable aggregate ([F]), and the critical aggregation number (m). However, time-course curves for the nucleation-dependent polymerization model can be obtained by numerical calculation. It is found that lag time (t(d)) and half-time (t1/2) are proportional to [M](-1) in the random polymerization model, while t(d) and t1/2 are proportional to [M1](-s) (1 < s < n; n is nucleus size) at the lower concentration and are less dependent on [M1] at the higher concentration in the nucleation-dependent polymerization model.     

Cation-induced aggregation of acidic phospholipid vesicles: the role of fatty acid unsaturation and cholesterol

Cation-induced aggregation of acidic phospholipid vesicles consisting of dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG), dipalmitoylphosphatidylserine (DPPS), phosphatidylserine from bovine brain (brPS), and phosphatidylglycerol from egg yolk (eggPG) was studied. Significant differences were evident in the NaCl-induced aggregation of fully saturated and unsaturated acidic phospholipid vesicles. The threshold NaCl concentration of vesicle aggregation ([NaCl]Thr) for DPPS vesicles was 320 mM compared to 610 mM observed for brPS vesicles. For DMPG vesicles the [NaCl]Thr was 430 mM and no aggregation of eggPG vesicles could be observed upon addition of NaCl. The threshold CaCl2 concentrations of aggregation of DMPG and eggPG vesicles were 2.3 and 4.9 mM, respectively. The corresponding threshold CaCl2 concentrations for DPPS and brPS vesicles were 0.85 mM and 1.3 mM, respectively. The inclusion of cholesterol into vesicles attenuated NaCl- and CaCl2-induced aggregation of DMPG and DPPS vesicles. However, enhancement of aggregation by inclusion of cholesterol was observed in the case of NaCl-induced aggregation of brPS vesicles. It is concluded that cation mediated membrane-membrane interactions depend, in addition to polar headgroup structure, on the fatty acid composition of the phospholipids also.     

Mechanisms of thrombocyte aggregation in experimental hypoparathyroidism

Inhibitors of thromboxane synthetase (imidazole), cyclooxygenase (indomethacin), phospholipase A2 (Mepacrine) were used in the experiments on rabbits with experimental hypoparathyroidism to study the role of aggregation factors in the changes of ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. The enhancement of arachidonic acid metabolism and the release of platelet aggregation factor are discussed.