Recycling ofd-glucose in collagenous cuticle: A means of nutrient conservation?

Summary Transport by an epithelium, possessing an accumulating, saturable transport system in the apical membrane as well as a finite Fick permeability to the transported solute, was considered in the steady state in the case of zerocis concentration, and in the presence of a peripheral diffusion resistance in a layer apposing thecis face of the tissue (unstirred solution or structural coating). Under suitable conditions, the combination of peripheral diffusion resistance and accumulating epithelial transport may lead to recycling of solute at thecis face of the epithelium. This causes a decrease of the effective permeability to diffusionaltrans-cis flow across the tissue. The phenomenon is discussed in terms of epidermald-glucose transport by the integument of aquatic animals with a collagenous cuticle, such as the seawater-acclimated polychaete wormNereis diversicolor. The recycling phenomenon may be of significance to other epithelia with the function of maintaining large concentration gradients of permeating substances.List of Symbols and Fixed Parameter Values C _m Bulk medium solute concentration,cis face of epidermisC _m=0 mol cm^–3 - C _i Concentration of solute at interface between cuticle and unstirred medium (mol cm^–3) - C _s Concentration of solute atcis face of apical epidermal membrane (mol cm^–3) - C _e Concentration of solute in extracellular fluid,trans-side of epidermisC _e=1.0×10^–6 mol cm^–3 - D _m Diffusion coefficient of solute in outside mediumD _m=6.7×10^–6 cm² sec^–1 - D _c Diffusion coefficient of solute in cuticleD _c=7.4×10^–9 cm² sec^–1 - _m Operative thickness of unstirred medium layer - _c Thickness of cuticle - J Steady-state net flux of solute through cuticle or unstirred layer (flux is positive indirectioncis-trans) (mol cm^–2 sec^–1) - J _i ^max Maximal influx through saturable transport system in apical membraneJ _i ^max =2.0×10^–12 mol cm^–2 sec^–1 - K _t Transport constant, saturable systemK _t=1.0×10^–7 mol cm^–3 - P Epithelial permeability (cm sec^–1)     

Decolorization of synthetic dyes and production of manganese-dependent peroxidase by new fungal isolates

Two yeasts, Debaryomyces polymorphus, Candida tropicalis, and two filamentous fungi, Umbelopsis isabellina, Penicillium geastrivorus, could completely decolorize 100 mg Reactive Black 5 (RB 5) l^–1 within 16–48 h. Manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP) activities between 60 and 424 U l^–1 were detected in culture supernatants of three of these organisms indicating the color removal by enzymatic biodegradation but with P. geastrivorus there was no ligninolytic enzyme activity in its culture and the decolorization was mainly due to biosorption to mycelium. Extensive decolorization by D. polymorphus (69–94%) and C. tropicalis (30–97%) was obtained with five other azo dyes and one anthraquinone dye. Except for Reactive Brilliant Blue KNR and Reactive Yellow M-3R, the four azo dyes, Reactive Red M-3BE, Procion Scharlach H-E3G, Procion Marine H-EXL and Reactive Brilliant Red K-2BP, induced D. polymorphus to produce MnP (105–587 U l^–1). However, MnP activities of 198–329 U l^–1 were only detected in the culture of C. tropicalis containing Reactive Red M-3BE and Reactive Brilliant Red K-2BP, respectively.     

Permeability parameters of the toad isolatedstratum corneum

Summary A technique for isolating thestratum corneum from the subjacent layers of the epithelium was developed which permits studying thestratum corneum as an isolated membrane mounted between half-chambers. The method basically consists of an osmotic shock induced by immersing a piece of skin in distilled water at 50°C for 2 min. When the membrane is bathed on each surface by NaCl-Ringer's solution, its electrical resistance is 14.1±1.3 cm² (n=10). This value is about 1/100 of the whole skin resistance in the presence of the same solution. The hydraulic filtration coefficient (L _p ) measured by a hydrostatic pressure method, with identical solutions on each side of the membrane, is 8.8×10^–5±1.5×10^–5 cm sec^–1 atm^–1 (n=10) in distilled water and 9.2×10^–5±1.4×10^–5 cm sec^–1 atm^–1 (n=10) in NaCl-Ringer's solution. These values are not statistically different and are within the range of 1/80 to 1/120 of the whole skinL _p . Thestratum corneum shows an amphoteric character when studied by KCl diffusion potentials at different pH's. The membrane presents an isoelectric pH of 4.6±0.3 (n=10). Above the isoelectric pH the potassium transport number is higher than the chloride transport number; below it, the reverse situation is valid. Divalent cations (Ca⁺⁺ or Cu⁺⁺) reduce membrane ionic discrimination when the membrane is negatively charged and are ineffective when the membrane fixed charges are protonated at low pH.     

Die Lichtqnalität als Zeitgeber für Zebrafinken (Taeniopygia guttata)

Zusammenfassung Ein tagesperiodischer Wechsel der spektralen Zusammensetzung des Lichtes (12 Std 2900 ° K:12 Std 3400 ° K) vermag die Bewegungsaktivität vonTaeniopygia guttata zu synchronisieren, selbst wenn die meßbare Lichtintensität konstant bleibt (100 Lux, 440 erg × cm^–2 × sec^–1). Die spektrale Zusammensetzung des Lichtes ist von der Sonnenhöhe abhängig. Dieser Faktor kann als tagesperiodischer Zeitgeber in der Hocharktis wirksam sein.

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Quality of light is a Zeitgeber forTaeniopygia guttata

Summary Circadian locomotor activity ofTaeniopygia guttata was synchronized by changing spectral distribution of light (12 h 2900 ° K: 12 h 3400 ° K). Intensities were equal in both phases (100 Lux, 440 erg. cm^–2. sec^–1). Light quality depends on the altitude of the sun and, therefore, it might be a Zeitgeber in high arctic regions.

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Mit Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Sachbeihilfe an Prof. Remmert Be 107/12).     

Ultraviolet spectra of the complexes of acridine orange with deoxyribonucleic acid and polyphosphates

Summary Two kinds of changes were found in ultraviolet spectrum of acridine orange bound to polyphosphate and native or denatured DNA: (a) changes similar to those caused by aggregation in the solutions of pure acridine orange (i.e. blue shifts of the bands at 37300 cm^–1 and 43670 cm^–1, a decrease of absorbance of the band at 34600 cm^–1 and an increase of absorbance of the band at 43670 cm^–1), which were observed at those ratiosP/D, when the dye formed aggregates on the surface of the polyanion; (b) a decrease of absorbance in the whole near ultraviolet region, which had high value even when isolated dye molecules were bound to the polyanion. While the first kind of changes is due to mutual interactions between the aggregated acridine orange molecules, the second kind can be explained as due to interaction of the dye molecules with adjacent chromophores of the polyanion and/or solvent. The maximum value of the hypochromic effect in the near ultraviolet maximum was higher for complexes of denatured DNA than for complexes of native DNA.     

Basic trypsin-subtilisin inhibitor from marine turtle egg white: Hydrodynamic and inhibitory properties

A basic trypsin-subtilisin inhibitor has been isolated from the egg white of marine turtle (Caretta caretta Linn.) and purified to homogeneity by gel filtration followed by ion-exchange chromatography. It has a single polypeptide chain of 117 amino acid residues, having a molecular weight of 13,600. It lacks methionine and tryptophan. Its isoelectric point is atpH 10.0 and the sedimentation coefficient (s_20,w) value of 1.62 S is independent of protein concentration. It has a Stokes radius of 18.8 Å, an intrinsic viscosity of 0.048 dl g^–1 and a diffusion coefficient of 10.17×10^–7 cm² sec^–1. Its fluorescence emission spectrum is similar to that of free tyrosine and the bimolecular quencing rate constant of its tyrosine residues with acrylamide is 3.15×10⁹ M^–1 sec^–1. The inhibitor strongly inhibits both trypsin and subtilisin by forming enzyme-inhibitor complexes at a molar ratio of unity. The nature of inhibition toward both enzymes is not temporary. It has independent binding sites for inhibition of trypsin and subtilisin. Chemical modification with tetranitromethane suggests the presence of three tyrosine residues on the surface of the inhibitor molecule.     

Volume flows and pressure changes during an action potential in cells ofChara australis

Summary Methods have been used for monitoring either volume flows or pressure changes, simultaneously with membrane potentials, in giant algal cells ofChara australis during an action potential. The volume flows were measured from the movement of a mercury bead in a capillary tube recorded by a photo-transducer. The pressure changes were measured by monitoring the deflection of a thin wedge, resting transversely across a cell, and using the same photo-transducer, the deflection of the wedge being directly related to the cell's turgor pressure. The average maximum rate of volume flow per unit area during an action potential was 0.88±0.11 nliter·sec^–1·cm^–2 in the direction of an outflow from the cell (total volume outflow being about 3 nliter·cm^–2 per action potential). Similarly, the maximum rate of change of pressure was 19.6±3.8×10^–3 atm·sec^–1 (peak change being 19.3±2.9×10^–3 atm equivalent to 14.7±2.2 mm Hg). The volume flow and pressure changes followed the vacuolar potential quite closely, the peak rate of volume flow lagging behind the peak of the action potential by 0.17±0.08 sec and the peak rate of pressure change leading it by 0.09±0.07 sec.     

Ion and sugar permeabilities of lecithin bilayers: Comparison of curved and planar bilayers

Summary Na⁺ and sugar permeabilities of egg lecithin bilayers were measured using curved bilayers and planar bilayers as represented by single-bilayer vesicles and black lipid films, respectively. The Na⁺ permeability coefficient measured with single-bilayer vesicles at 25°C is (2.1±0.6)×10^–13 cm sec^–1. Because of technical difficulties it has been impossible to measure ionic permeabilities of values lower than about 10^–10 cm sec^–1 in planar (black) lipid bilayers using tracer methods. Thed-glucose andd-fructose permeabilities were measured with both curved and planar bilayers. The permeability coefficients measured with vesicles at 25°C are (0.3±0.2)×10^–10 cm sec^–1 for glucose and (4±1)×10^–10 cm sec^–1 ford-fructose; these are in reasonable agreement with the corresponding values obtained for planar (black) lipid bilayers which are (1.1±0.3)×10^–10 cm sec^–1 ford-glucose and (9.3±0.3)×10^–10 cm sec^–1 ford-fructose, respectively.This paper is dedicated to the memory of Walther Wilbrandt,cuius nomini nullum par elogium.     

Succinylated bovine heart mitochondrial cytochromec oxidase

Cytochromec oxidase was prepared by sequential extraction of bovine heart muscle submitochondrial particles with sodium deoxycholate, followed by fractional precipitation with ammonium sulfate and chromatography on Sephadex G-75. The resulting preparation had typical absorption spectra, an activity of 1.28 sec^–1 (mg protein)^–1 (3 ml)^–1 in deoxycholate or 4.13 sec^–1 (mg protein)^–1 (3 ml)^–1 in 0.5% Tween 80, and a minimum molecular weight of 120,000 daltons as calculated from the heme content and the total protein. Amino acid analyses of nine preparations yielded a molecular weight per heme of 86,500 daltons. The net charge was calculated to be +8.7 at pH 7.0. Succinylation of cytochromec oxidase in the presence of 500 molar excess of succinic anhydride produced a soluble preparation having a negative charge at neutral pH. The modified enzyme was highly autoxidizable and had little or no activity toward ferrocytochromec as a substrate. Its averageS _20,w was 5.8 and its apparentD was 4.0 × 10^–7 cm² sec^–1, from which a molecular weight of 126,000 daltons was calculated. This size of enzyme is considered to be that of the monomer, because the value is practically the same as the minimum molecular weight reported herein, and since it is approximately onehalf the value obtained in our laboratory (and in others) for the unmodified enzyme.     

Über eine Bertalanffy-analoge Fluorochromierung mit 3-Dimethylamino-6-methoxyacridin

Zusammenfassung Drei neue Acridinfarbstoffe, 3-Dimethylamino-6-methoxyacridin 1, 3-Amino-6-methoxyacridin 2 und 3-Amino-7-methoxyacridin 3 wurden synthetisiert und ihre Eigenschaften als Fluorochrome für LM- und HeLa-Zellen untersucht. Die Substanzen sind Basen (pK_A: 1 8,76; 2 8,01; 3 7,65), die in neutralem und in saurem wäßrigem Medium Kationen bilden durch Protonierung des Aza-Stickstoffatoms vom Heterocyclus. Die Fluorochrome färben fixierte LM- und HeLa-Zellen bei pH=6. Die Fluoreszenz zeigt Metachromasie in Analogie zur Färbung nach Bertalanffy mit Acridinorange AO. Die Färbung hat höhere Photostabilität als bei AO. Die besten Eigenschaften als Fluorochrom hat 1, das im Detail untersucht wurde.Die Vorschrift der Färbung wurde optimiert. Kerne gefärbter Zellen fluoreszieren gelb-grün, Cytoplasma und Nucleoli orange bis braun-rot. Enzymatische Abbauversuche zeigen, daß der Farbstoff in den Kernen an DNA, im Cytoplasma bzw. den Nucleoli an RNA gebunden ist.Die Absorptions- und Emissionsspektren der fluorochromierten Zellen wurden mikrospektralphotometrisch untersucht. Die Absorptionsspektren von Kern und Cytoplasma sind sehr ähnlich. Das Maximum der längstwelligen Absorptionsbande beobachtet man bei beiden bei 21400 cm^–1 (467 nm) mit einer Schulter bei ca. 20100 cm^–1 (498 nm).Die Fluoreszenzspektren von Kern und Cytoplasma metachromatisch gefärbter Zellen sind verschieden. Das Maximum der Emission des Cytoplasmas bzw. der Nucleoli, 16200 cm^–1 (617 nm), ist langwellig gegenüber dem Fluoreszenzmaximum des Kerns, 18200 cm^–1 (549 nm), verschoben. Diese Verschiebung verursacht den metachromatischen Fluoreszenzeffekt.In Ergänzung wurde die Konzentrationsabhängigkeit der Absorptions- und Fluoreszenzspektren des Kations 1 in wäßriger Lösung, pH=6, im Konzentrationsintervall 6×10^–6–6×10^–4 M untersucht. Lage und Form der Banden hängen nur weinig von der Konzentration ab: Mittelwert des längstwelligen Absorptionsmaximums ca. 21500 cm^–1 (465 nm), der langwelligen Schulter ca. 20300 cm^–1 (493 nm) und des Fluoreszenzmaximums ca. 18300 cm^–1 (547 nm). Mit steigender Konzentration nimmt der molare Extinktionskoeffizient ab. Diese Abnahme und isosbestische Punkte in den Absorptionsspektren weisen auf die Bildung von Dimeren mit steigender Konzentration hin.Die Absorptionsspektren der metachromatisch gefärbten Zellen und des Farbstoffs in Lösung sind sehr ähnlich. Ein sorgfältiger Vergleich der Spektren macht es wahrscheinlich, daß die DNA-gebundenen Farbstoffkationen im Kern monomer, die RNA-gebundenen im Cytoplasma bzw. den Nucleoli dimer sind. Ähnliches wurde bei AO gefunden. Die spektralen Effekte sind jedoch bei 1 viel kleiner.Die Fluoreszenz der RNA-gebundenen Farbstoffkationen des Cytoplasmas ist stark langwellig gegenüber der Kernfluoreszenz verschoben. Absorptions- und Emissionsspektren lassen sich unter der Annahme deuten, daß der RNA-gebundene Farbstoff des metachromatisch gefärbten Cytoplasmas bzw. der Nucleoli im Grundzustand Dimere D, im ersten angeregten Zustand Excimere E bildet. Die Excimeren sind gegenüber den Dimeren stabilisiert; der Bindungsabstand R zwischen den Molekülen ist verkürzt. Das Potentialschema V(R) für Grund- und ersten angeregten Zustand wird im Detail diskutiert. Danach kann D nur in Absorption, E nur in Emission beobachtet werden. Unsere experimentellen Befunde stehen mit einer Excimerenhypothese in Übereinstimmung.Absorptions-, Fluoreszenz- und Absorptionspolarisationsspektren von 1 (Kation und freie Base) wurden in glasartig erstarrtem Ethanol bei 77 K gemessen. Die Spektren wurden mit quantenmechanischen Modellrechnungen in SCF-CI-PPP-Approximation verglichen. Danach sind die beiden Absorptionsbanden des freien Kations in wäßriger Lösung bei ca. 20300 und 21500 cm^–1 und des gebundenen Kations bei 20100 und 21400 cm^–1 dem 0-0- und 0-1-Übergang der längstwelligen Elektronenbande von 1 zuzuordnen.

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Bertalanffy-analogical fluorescence staining with 3-dimethylamine-6-methoxyacridine

Summary Three new acridine dyes, 3-dimethylamino-6-methyoxyacridine 1, 3-amino-6-methoxyacridine 2 and 3-amino-7-methoxyacridine 3, have been prepared and tested as fluorochromes of LM- and HeLa-cells. The dyes are basic compounds (pK_A: 1 8,76; 2 8,01; 3 7,65) and form cations in neutral or acidic aqueous solutions by addition of a proton to the aza-nitrogen atom of the heterocycle. The fluorochromes stain fixed LM- and HeLa-cells at pH=6. The fluorescence shows metachromasy similar to the staining with acridine orange AO according to the technique of Bertalanffy. But there is less fading of the fluorescence. The dye 1 is the most suitable fluorochrome of the series. It was studied in detail.Using optimized staining conditions the fluorescence of the nucleus is yellow-green that of the cytoplasm and the nucleoli orange or brownish-red. Enzymatic digestion experiments show that the dye cations are bound to DNA in the nucleus and to RNA in the cytoplasm or nucleoli.The absorption and emission spectra of the stained cells have been studied by means of microspectrophotometry. The absorption spectra of the nucleus and the cytoplasm are very similar. The maximum of the long wave length absorption of both occurs at 21400 cm^–1 (467 nm) with a shoulder at ca 20100 cm^–1 (498 nm).The fluorescence spectra of nucleus and cytoplasm of metachromatically stained cells are different. The emission maximum of the cytoplasm and nucleoli, 16200 cm^–1 (617 nm), is red-shifted relative to the maximum of the nucleus, 18200 cm^–1 (549 nm). This shift causes the metachromatic fluorescence effect.In addition we studied the concentration dependence of the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the cation 1 in aqueous solution, pH=6, in the concentration range 6×10^–6–6×10^–4 M. Shape and maximum of the long wave length absorption and emission depend only slightly on the concentration: Mean value of absorption maximum ca 21500 cm^–1 (465 nm), shoulder at ca 20300 cm^–1 (493 nm), fluorescence maximum ca 18300 cm^–1 (547 nm). With growing concentration diminishes the molar absorptivity. This decrease in absorptivity and isosbestic points in the absorption spectra indicate the formation of dimers with growing dye concentration.The absorption spectra of the metachromatically stained cells and of the dye in aqueous solution are very similar. A careful comparison of the spectra make it probable that the dye cations bound to DNA in the nucleus are monomer and to RNA in the cytoplasm or nucleoli are dimer. The same has been observed with AO. But our spectral changes are smaller.The fluorescence of the dye cations bound to RNA in the cytoplasm is strongly red-shifted compared to the fluorescence of the nucleus. Absorption and emission spectra of metachromatically stained cytoplasm can be explained on the assumption that the RNA bound dye forms dimers D in the ground state and excimers E in the first excited state. Compared with D the excimers are stabilized and the bond distance R between the molecules is shortened. The potential energy curves V(R) of the ground state and the first excited state are discussed in detail. Accordingly D can only be observed in absorption and E in fluorescence. Our experimental results agree with the excimer hypothesis.Absorption, fluorescence and absorption polarisation spectra of 1 (cation and free base) have been measured in rigid ethanol at 77 K. The spectra are compared with quantum mechanical calculations in SCF-CI-PPP-approximation. According to that the two absorption bands of the free cation in aqueous solution at ca 20300 and 21500 cm^–1 and of the bound cations at ca 20100 and 21400 cm^–1 are classified as 0-0- and 0-1-transitions of the long wave length absorption of 1.

     

Kinetics of the potential-sensitive extrinsic probe oxonol VI in beef heart submitochondrial particles

Summary The interaction of the potential-sensitive extrinsic probe oxonol VI with beef heart submitochondrial particles has been investigated under time resolved and equilibrium conditions. The time course of the probe absorption spectrum red shift induced by ATP or NADH injection into a suspension of submitochondrial particles in a dye solution is biphasic, consisting of a faster process described by a second-order rate law withk ₂3×10⁵ m ^–1 sec^–1. For the ATP pulse experiments, the slower process follows first-order kinetics withk ₁0.3 sec^–1. In oxygen pulse experiments to an anaerobic dyeparticle system, the slower process is not significantly developed due to rapid depletion of the oxygen, but the faster process follows second-order kinetics with the same rate constant as for the ATP and NADH cases. Evidence for permeation of the submitochondrial particle membrane by oxonol VI has been obtained; the slower process is interpretable as describing the permeation of the membrane bilayer. The results of the time-resolved work are consistent with a mechanism involving a redistribution of the dye from the bulk phase to the particle membrane. The value of the second-order rate constant for passive binding of the dye to submitochondrial particles is not compatible with a mechanism proposed to explain the microsecond probe response times in bilayer and excitable membrane experiments nor are such rapid signals observed in the oxonol VI-submitochondrial particle system.     

Compartment analysis of plant cells by means of turgor pressure relaxation: II. Experimental results onChara corallina

Summary The three-compartment model (paper I) described turgor pressure relaxations as a sum of two exponential functions. The predicted shape of the curves could be confirmed inChara corallina by improving the recording and processing of data. An evaluation on the basis of the three-compartment model provided values for the hydraulic conductivity of the plasmalemma ofLp _p=2×10^–5 to 4×10^–5 cm sec^–1 bar^–1 and ofLp _i=3×10^–5 to 1×10^–4 cm sec^–1 bar^–1 for the tonoplast (assuming the area to be 90% of the plasmalemma area). The mean proportion of the total volume occupied by the cytoplasm was calculated to be 9%. This value is consistent with the concept of a highly vacuolated cell. Other explanations for the biphasic relaxation curves are discussed.     

Potential of ultraviolet radiation for control of american cockroach populations

Populations of Periplaneta americana (L.) were exposed for 8–20 week periods in specially designed rooms to 254 nm UV at low intensity (50–115 ergs sec^–1cm^–2), high intensity (160–220 ergs sec^–1cm^–2), or to white light. The rooms contained tables and chairs to simulate occupied space, with food and water placed in positions exposed to UV radiation. General irradiation (where the whole room was exposed to UV) at 115 ergs sec^–1cm^–2 and above was effective in producing high mortality in all stages except 8–10th instar nymphs and adults. Hot-spots irradiation (where UV lamps were placed behind table and chair harborages) produced high mortality only in 1 st-3rd instar nymphs which would result in slower elimination of a population. Crude aggregation pheromone was not successful in holding cockroaches close to radiation sources or substantially increasing mortality under the conditions of the experiments.

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Zusammenfassung Populationen von Periplaneta americana (L.), die hinsichtlich ihrer Alterszusammensetzung (2.–3.; 5–6.; 8.–10. und adultes Stadium) und der Anzahlen in jedem Stadium festgelegt waren, wurden für 8–20 Wochenperioden in speziell dafür entworfenen Räumen einer 254 nm UV-Bestrahlung mit geringer (50–115 erg sec^–1cm^–2) oder hoher (160–220 erg sec^–1cm^–2) Intensität oder weißem Licht (als Kontrolle) ausgesetzt. Die Räume enthielten Tische und Stühle, um bewohnten Raum mit natürlichen Zufluchtsstätten mit Nahrung und Wasser an Stellen, die der UV-Bestrahlung unterlagen, zu simulieren. Ganzraumbestrahlung mit 115 erg sec^–1cm^–2 und darüber erzeugte hohe Mortalität bei 1.–3. und 5.–6.-Larvenstadien, örtliche Bestrahlung (UV-Lampen hinter Tisch- und Stuhl-Zufluchtsstätten) dagegen nur beim 1.–3.-Stadium, was zu einer langsameren Ausrottung einer Population führen würde. Ungereinigtes Aggregationspheromon als Zusatz, um Schaben dicht an die UV-Quellen zu locken und sie hier zu halten, war offenbar unwirksam, da eben die Mortalität nicht signifikant zunahm. Dieses Versagen war in erster Linie auf die Konkurrenz mit der Fülle von natürlichem Pheromon, das von den gewohnten Zufluchtsstätten ausging, zurückzuführen, verbunden mit der dem UV-Licht innewohnenden Abschreckung. Dennoch darf man annehmen, daß UV-Bestrahlung einen bedeutsamen Wert für die Verhinderung eines Populationswachstums (durch Ausschalten junger Larvenstadien) besitzt, besonders dort, wo chemische Bekämpfung aus Gesundheits- und Sicherheitsgründen oder wegen gesetzlichen Einschränkungen nur begrenzt möglich ist.

     

Water and salt permeability of gastric vesicles

Summary Volume-dependent changes in light scatter have been shown to be a linear function of the osmotic gradient imposed upon gastric vesicles purified from hog gastric mucosa. Observation of the light scattered 90° to incident, using the Durrum stop flow system D-110, indicates that the vesicles exposed to hypertonic medium undergo rapid shrinkage due to water loss from the vesicle interior. The rate constant for this water movement is 1.1±0.09 sec^–1 (n=10) and is linearly dependent on temperature between 16 and 36°C. The activation energy of 13.93±0.60 kcal mole^–1 (n=3), calculated from an Arrhenius plot, is inconsistent with water movement facilitated by a large-pore aqueous channel. A slower reswell phase, dependent on solute entry into the intravesicular space, follows the water-dependent shrink phase. KCl entry, studied because of the intravesicular requirement for active K⁺/H⁺ transport, exhibits two entry stages. The faster, described by a single exponential imposed upon a constantly sloping background, has a rate constant of 7.75±0.48×10^–3 sec^–1 (n=15). The slower phase, which typically accounts for 90% of the reswell process, demonstrates a rate constant of 1.94±0.23×10^–4 sec^–1 (n=15). In the presence of valinomycin or nigericin, two fast rate constants and one slow rate constant of swelling are observed. The rate constant of the faster reswell phase is increased from 7.75±0.48×10^–3 sec^–1 (n=15) to 15.74±3.7×10^–3 sec^–1 (n=5) and 17.23±3.4×10^–3 (n=3) by the addition of nigericin (1 g ml^–1) and valinomycin (4.5 m), respectively. The second part of the faster reswell phase is approximately that seen in the control population. Transport-dependent volume changes of significant magnitude can be demonstrated following the addition of ATP to vesicles equilibrated with 150mm KCl. The volume change is a function of HCl leak rate and is abolished by ionophores which eliminate the transport-dependent pH gradient. So ₄ ^–- substitution, which eliminates the overshoot phenomena observed in KCl medium, also eliminates the shrinkage resulting from ATP addition.     

Channel formation kinetics of gramicidin A in lipid bilayer membranes

Summary Previous studies have given evidence that the active form of gramicidin A in lipid bilayer membranes is a dimer which acts as an ion channel; it has been further shown that the mean lifetime of the channel strongly depends on the membrane thickness. As the thickness slightly decreases when a voltage is applied to the membrane, the equilibrium between conducting dimers and nonconducting monomers may be displaced by a voltage jump. From the relaxation of the electrical current after the voltage jump, information about the kinetics of channel formation is obtained. For a dioleoyllecithin/n-decane membrane the rate constant of association is found to be 2×10¹⁴ cm² mole^–1 sec^–1, which is by three orders of magnitude below the limiting value of a diffusion-controlled reaction in a two-dimensional system. The dissociation rate constant is equal to 2 sec^–1, a value which is consistent with the channel lifetime as obtained from electrical fluctuation measurements.     

Trypsin inhibitors from ridged gourd (Luffa acutangula Linn.) seeds: Purification, properties, and amino acid sequences

Two trypsin inhibitors, LA-1 and LA-2, have been isolated from ridged gourd (Luffa acutangula Linn.) seeds and purified to homogeneity by gel filtration followed by ion-exchange chromatography. The isoelectric point is atpH 4.55 for LA-1 and atpH 5.85 for LA-2. The Stokes radius of each inhibitor is 11.4 å. The fluorescence emission spectrum of each inhibitor is similar to that of the free tyrosine. The biomolecular rate constant of acrylamide quenching is 1.0×10⁹ M^–1 sec^–1 for LA-1 and 0.8 × 10⁹ M^–1 sec^–1 for LA-2 and that of K₂HPO₄ quenching is 1.6×10¹¹ M^–1 sec^–1 for LA-1 and 1.2×10¹¹M^–1 sec^–1 for LA-2. Analysis of the circular dichroic spectra yields 40%-helix and 60%-turn for La-1 and 45%-helix and 55%-turn for LA-2. Inhibitors LA-1 and LA-2 consist of 28 and 29 amino acid residues, respectively. They lack threonine, alanine, valine, and tryptophan. Both inhibitors strongly inhibit trypsin by forming enzymeinhibitor complexes at a molar ratio of unity. A chemical modification study suggests the involvement of arginine of LA-1 and lysine of LA-2 in their reactive sites. The inhibitors are very similar in their amino acid sequences, and show sequence homology with other squash family inhibitors.     

Kinetic analysis of carrier-mediated ion transport by the charge-pulse technique

Summary The charge-pulse technique has been used previously for the study of quasistationary processes in membranes which required only a moderate time resolution. It is shown here that a time resolution of about 400 nsec may be achieved with this technique and that it may be applied to the kinetic analysis of carrier-mediated ion transport. By this method we have studied the transport of alkali ions through optically black monoolein membranes in the presence of the ion carrier valinomycin. All three relaxation processes that are predicted by theory have been resolved. From the relaxation times and the relaxation amplitudes the rate constants for the association (k _R ) and the dissociation (k _D ) of the ioncarrier complex, as well as the translocation rate constants of the complex (k _MS ) and the free carrier (k _S ) could be obtained. For 1m Rb⁺ at 25° C the values arek _R =3×10⁵ m ^–1 sec^–1,k _D =2×10⁵ sec^–1,k _MS =3×10⁵ sec^–1,k _S =4×10⁴ sec^–1. The activation energies of the single rate constants which have been estimated from experiments at two different temperatures range between 50 and 90 kJ/mol.     

Analysis of transcellular water movement inNitella

Summary The mechanism of transcellular osmosis was analyzed on the assumption that the driving force, which is equal to the osmotic pressure of the mannitol solution given to the exosmosis side, is divided into two parts; one causing the inward water flow on the water side, the other causing the outward water flow on the solution side, when each force drives an equal amount of water. Based on this analysis a new procedure was developed to measure the endosmotic and exosmotic water permeabilities of the membranes independently. It involved measurement of volume of water transported transcellularly, change in turgor pressure, and water permeability of the cell wall alone.Experiments following the new procedure revealed that in aNitella internode positioned across a partition wall with equal length both the endosmotic and exosmotic water permeabilities remained constant during transcellular osmosis induced with 0.4M mannitol, at least for the first minute. It was found that the permeability coefficient for endosmosis (3.9 × 10^–5 cm sec^–1 atm^–1) was very much higher than that for exosmosis (1.4× 10^–5 cm sec^–1 atm^–1). Treatment of the endosmotic cell part with 5% ethanol conspicuously decreased the water permeability of the cell on this side down to 1/2.4 the value obtained without ethanol but never affected the permeability on the other side (exosmosis side).This work was supported partly by a Research Grant from the Ministry of Education of Japan.     

Über Romanowsky-Farbstoffe und den Romanowsky-Giemsa-Effekt

Zusammenfassung Azur B ist der wichtigste Romanowsky-Farbstoff. Zusammen mit Eosin Y erzeugt er in Zellen den bekannten Romanowsky-Giemsa-Effket.Käufliches Azur B ist im allgemeinen stark verunreinigt. Deshalb haben wir chemisch reines Azur B-BF₄ hergestellt, das keine farbigen Verunreinigungen enthält. Es wurde zur Bestimmung des molaren Extinktionskoeffizienten des monomeren Azur B in Ethanol verwendet. Im Maximum der längstwelligen Absorptionsbande bei =15,61 kK (=641 nm) beträgt der Extinktionskoeffizient (15,61) _M =(9,40±0,15)×10⁴ M^–1 cm^–1. Er dient zur Standardisierung von Farbstoffproben.In wäßriger Lösung bildet Azur B mit steigender Konzentration Dimere und höhere Assoziate. Die Dissoziationskonstante der Dimeren K=2,2×10^–4 M (293 K) und die Absorptionsspektren der Monomeren und Dimeren in Wasser wurden aus der Konzentrationsabhägigkeit der Spektren iterativ bestimmt. Der molare Extinktionskoeffizient des Monomeren bei 15,47 kK (646 nm) beträgt 7,4×10⁴ M^–1 cm^–1. Das Dimere hat zwei langwellige Absorptionsbanden bei 14,60 und 16,80 kK (685 und 595 nm) mit sehr verschiedenen Intensitäten, 2×10⁴ und 13,5×10⁴ M^–1 cm^–1. Das Spektrum des Dimeren in wäßriger Lösung steht mit theoretischen Überlegungen von Förster (1946) und Levinson et al. (1957) in Übereinstimmung. Es spricht für eine antiparallele Orientierung der Moleküle im Dimeren. Haben substratgebundene Dimere eine andere Bindungsgeometrie als in Lösung, ist mit einer Zunahme der Intensität der längstwelligen Absorption zu rechnen.

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Romanowsky dyes and romanowsky-giemsa effect1. Azure B, purity and content of dye samples, association

Summary Azure B is the most important Romanowsky dye. In combination with eosin Y it produces the well known Romanowsky-Giemsa staining pattern on the cell. Usually commercial azure B is strongly contaminated. We prepared a sample of azure B-BF₄ which was analytically pure and had no coloured impurities. The substance was used to redetermine the molar extinction coefficient of monomeric azur B in alcoholic solution. In the maximum of the long wavelength absorption at =15.61 kK (=641 nm) the absorptivity is (15.61) _M =(9.40±0.15) ×10⁴ M^–1 cm^–1. This extinction coefficient may be used for standardization of dye samples. In aqueous solution azur B forms dimers and even higher polymers with increasing concentration. The dissociation constant of the dimers, K=2,2×10^–4 M (293 K), and the absorption spectra of pure monomers and dimers in water have been calculated from the concentration dependence of the spectra using an iterative procedure. The molar extinction coefficient of the monomers at 15.47 kK (646 nm) is (15.47) _M =7.4×10⁴ M^–1 cm^–1. The dimers have two long wavelength absorption bands at 14.60 and 16.80 kK (685 and 595 nm) with very different intensities 2×10⁴ and 13.5×10⁴ M^–1 cm^–1. The spectrum of the dimers in aqueous solution is in agreement with theoretical considerations of Förster (1946) and Levinson et al. (1957). It agrees with an antiparallel orientation of the molecules in the dimers. it may be that dimers bound to a substrate in the cell have another geometry than dimers in solution. In this case the weak long wavelength absorption of the dimers can increase.

     

Oscillations of the energy gap for the initial electron-transfer step in bacterial reaction centers

Oscillations in the electrostatic energy gap [V_elec(t)] for electron transfer from the primary electron donor (P) to the adjacent bacteriochlorophyll (B) in photosynthetic bacterial reaction centers are examined by molecular-dynamics simulations. Autocorrelation functions of V_elec in the reactant state (PB) include prominent oscillations with an energy of 17 cm^–1. This feature is much weaker if the trajectory is propagated in the product state P⁺B^–. The autocorrelation functions also include oscillations in the regions of 5, 80 and 390 cm^–1 in both states, and near 25 and 48 cm^–1 in P⁺B^–. The strong 17-cm^–1 oscillation could involve motions that modulate the distance between P and B, because a similar oscillation occurs in the direct electrostatic interactions between the electron carriers.