{delta}15N and {delta}13C Measurements of Antarctic Peninsula Fauna: Trophic Relationships and Assimilation of Benthic Seaweeds

Measurements of ¹³C, ¹⁵N, and C/N for a variety of Antarcticpeninsula fauna and flora were used to quantify the importanceof benthic brown algae to resident organisms and determine foodweb relationships among this diverse littoral fauna. ¹³C valuesranged from–16.8 for benthic algal herbivores (limpets)to –29.8 for the krill, Euphausia superba; the averagepooled value for brown macroalgae, including their attachedfilamentous diatoms, was–20.6. There was no correlationbetween biomass ¹³C or ¹⁵N with C/N content, and consequentlyboth ¹³C and ¹⁵N values were useful in evaluating trophic relationships.¹⁵N values of the fauna ranged from 3.1 to 12.5, with lowestvalues recorded in suspension feeders (e.g., bryozoans) andhighest values in Adelie penguins (12.5) collected in 1989.The comparatively lower ¹⁵N value for a Chinstrap penguin (6.9)collected in 1997 is attributed to the different dietary foodsources consumed by these species as reflected in their respective¹³C values. Significant amounts of benthic macroalgal carbonis incorporated into the tissues of invertebrates and fishesthat occupy up to four trophic levels. For many benthic andepibenthic species, including various crustaceans and molluscs,assimilation of benthic algal carbon through detrital pathwaysranges from 30 to 100%. Consequently, the trophic importanceof benthic brown algae may well extend to many pelagic organismsthat are key prey species for birds, fishes, and marine mammals.These data support the hypothesis that benthic seaweeeds, togetherwith their associated epiphytic diatoms, provide an importantcarbon source that is readily incorporated into Antarctic peninsulafood webs.     

Purification and characterization of {delta}-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase from Chlorella regularis

-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (-aminolevulinic acid hydrolyaseEC 4.2.1.24 [EC] ) which catalyzes the formation ofporphobilinogenfrom two molecules of -aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was purifiedfrom Chlorella regularis 737-fold by acetone and ammonium sulfatefractionations, DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, and SephadexG-200 gel filtration. The enzyme had an optimum pH of 8.5 inTris-HCl buffer and required either Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺ for its maximumactivity. The Km values for Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺ and ALA were 15 µM,10µM, and 0.5 mM, respectively. The enzyme was not activatedby thiol compounds, but was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate.The molecular weight estimated by gel filtration was 316,000and the isoelectric point was 5.25. (Received October 18, 1978; )     

Characterization of {delta}A9 Acyl-lipid Desaturase Homologues from Arabidopsis thaliana

Two cDNAs, ADS1 and ADS2, were isolated from Arabidopsis. ThesecDNAs encoded proteins homologous to     

Purification and properties of {delta}-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase from radish cotyledons

-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (5-aminolevulinate hydro-lyase,EC 4.2.1.24 [EC] ) was purified from greening radish cotyledons. Thefinal product was homogeneous on polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresisand had a molecular weight, estimated by gel filtration, of282,000 daltons. The enzyme seems to require magnesium ion aswell as sulfhydryl compounds for maximum activity. EDTA anda low concentration of zinc ion markedly inhibited the activity.The optimum pH was 8.0; the Km value for -aminolevulinic acidwas 3.85?10^–4M. Levulinic acid was a competitive inhibitorof the enzyme, with a Ki of 2.14?10^–4M. These propertieswere compared with those of microorganism and animal -aminolevulinicacid dehydratases. (Received November 22, 1976; )     

Estimation of ^{3}J_{HN\hbox{-}H\alpha} and ^{3}J_{H\alpha\hbox{-}H\beta} coupling constants from heteronuclear TOCSY spectra

(3)J proton-proton coupling constants bear information on the intervening dihedral angles. Methods have been developed to derive this information from NMR spectra of proteins. Using series expansion of the time dependent density matrix, and exploiting the simple topology of amino acid spin-systems, formulae for estimation of (3)J(HN-Halpha) and (3)J(Halpha-Hbeta) from HSQC-TOCSY spectra are derived. The results obtained on a protein entailing both alpha-helix and beta-sheet secondary structure elements agree very well with J-coupling constants computed from the X-ray structure. The method compares well with existing methods and requires only 2D spectra which would be typically otherwise recorded for structural studies.     

Experimental Investigations on the Environmental Determination of {delta}13C at Different Altitudes

The influence of environmental variables which are known tochange with altitude on the ¹³C of leaves of Nardus stricta,have been investigated in controlled environment experiments.Low temperature and an increased incidence of freezing temperaturescaused ¹³C to increase. In contrast, lowered atmospheric pressurereduced ¹³C. Increased leaf surface wetness and soil water contentalso caused a decrease. Plants from different altitudes didnot differ consistently or significantly in their responses. Key words: Carbon isotope discrimination, altitude, temperature, atmospheric pressure, freezing     

Syntheses of {delta}-aminolevulinic acid and chlorophyll during chloroplast formation in Chlorella protothecoides

Greening cells of Chlorella prolothecoides were assayed foractivity of the in vivo synthesis of ALA, which was markedlydeveloped during light-induced greening. Effects of CH on thesyntheses of ALA and chlorophyll were also examined. The resultsstrongly suggested that a labile enzyme is involved in ALA synthesis,and that continuous formation of the enzyme is required forthe greening of cells. However, the prompt suppression of chlorophyllsynthesis when CH was added to rapidly greening cells was foundto be attributable not to the blockage of ALA synthesis butto the suppression of some later process(es) in the course ofchlorophyll synthesis, under the conditions used. The valueof the Hill coefficient for the CH inhibition of chlorophyllsynthesis as well as the CH concentration which caused 50% inhibitionremained unaltered whether it was measured when the ALA synthesisactivity was greatly inhibited by CH or when the activity wasonly slightly suppressed. (Received November 11, 1974; )     

{Omega}-oxidation of {alpha}-chlorinated fatty acids: identification of {alpha}-chlorinated dicarboxylic acids

Myeloperoxidase-derived HOCl targets tissue- and lipoprotein-associated plasmalogens to generate α-chlorinated fatty aldehydes, including 2-chlorohexadecanal. Under physiological conditions, 2-chlorohexadecanal is oxidized to 2-chlorohexadecanoic acid (2-ClHA). This study demonstrates the catabolism of 2-ClHA by ω-oxidation and subsequent β-oxidation from the ω-end. Mass spectrometric analyses revealed that 2-ClHA is ω-oxidized in the presence of liver microsomes with initial ω-hydroxylation of 2-ClHA. Subsequent oxidation steps were examined in a human hepatocellular cell line (HepG2). Three different α-chlorinated dicarboxylic acids, 2-chlorohexadecane-(1,16)-dioic acid, 2-chlorotetradecane-(1,14)-dioic acid, and 2-chloroadipic acid (2-ClAdA), were identified. Levels of 2-chlorohexadecane-(1,16)-dioic acid, 2-chlorotetradecane-(1,14)-dioic acid, and 2-ClAdA produced by HepG2 cells were dependent on the concentration of 2-ClHA and the incubation time. Synthetic stable isotope-labeled 2-ClHA was used to demonstrate a precursor-product relationship between 2-ClHA and the α-chlorinated dicarboxylic acids. We also report the identification of endogenous 2-ClAdA in human and rat urine and elevations in stable isotope-labeled urinary 2-ClAdA in rats subjected to intraperitoneal administration of stable isotope-labeled 2-ClHA. Furthermore, urinary 2-ClAdA and plasma 2-ClHA levels are increased in LPS-treated rats. Taken together, these data show that 2-ClHA is ω-oxidized to generate α-chlorinated dicarboxylic acids, which include α-chloroadipic acid that is excreted in the urine.     

IDENTITY OF {varepsilon}-CAROTENE AND {varepsilon}1-CAROTENE

-Carotene was isolated from previously known sources and itsspectral and adsorption properties compared with those of asimilar carotene recently observed in Cryptomonas ovata. Identitywas established. Similar comparisons with synthetic ₁-carotenepoint to the identity of the natural and synthetic compoundsand permit assignment of KARRER and EUGSTER's formulation for₁-carotene to the naturally occurring representative. ¹ Dedicated to Prof. H. TAMIYA on the occasion ot his 60th birthday. ²Contribution from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography,University of California, San Diego. (Received January 22, 1963; )     

Column Chromatographic Separation of Chlorophyllide {alpha} and Pheophorbide {alpha}

Chlorophyllide a, pheophorbide a, chlorophyll a and pheophytina were separated in a short time by anion-exchange chromatographywith a short column of DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B. (Received February 16, 1984; Accepted April 13, 1984)     

Investigations of the {delta}13C Pattern in Leaves of Fagus sylvatica L.

The natural abundance of ¹³C in different parts of beech (Fagussylvatica L.) leaves was analysed. Values for leaf ribs wereconsistently higher than those for intercostal tissue. Similardifferences occur between petiole and stem, with petiole beingless negative. The pattern of results is the same, independentof the position in the tree. However, the absolute values differby up to 6%. from the bottom to the top of the tree. Valuesof ¹³C are in the range of – 29 to – 32%. for thelower leaf strata; while values between – 24 and –26%. have been measured for the top of the tree. Absolute ¹³Cvalues of the whole tissue and cellulose differ by about 2%.,but relative ¹³C trends are almost identical. However, ¹³C trendsare not identical for different leaf parts. A comparison ofcellulose and whole tissue ¹³C data makes it unlikely that the¹³C variations are primarily due to different compositions ofchemical compounds. No fractionation seems to exist betweenleaf and wood cellulose. Tissue from different areas of a leafrevealed identical carbon isotope compositions. Key words: Carbon isotope ratio, Fagus sylvatica L., beech leaves     

Endor characterization and D2O exchange in the \begin{array}{*{20}c} {\mathop Z\nolimits^{\begin{array}{*{20}c} + \\ . \\ \end{array} } } \\ \end{array} /{\kern 1pt} \begin{array}{*{20}c} {\mathop D\nolimits^{\begin{array}{*{20}c} + \\ . \\ \end{array} } } \\ \end{array} radical in photosystem II

The early suggestion by Lozier and Butler (Photochem. Photobiol. 17, 133–137 (1973)) that EPR Signal II arises from radicals associated with the water-splitting process in PSII has been confirmed and extended over the intervening years. Recent work has identified the Signal II radicals, \(\begin{array}{*{20}c} {\mathop D\nolimits^{\begin{array}{*{20}c} + \\ . \\ \end{array} } } \\ \end{array}\) and \(\begin{array}{*{20}c} {\mathop Z\nolimits^{\begin{array}{*{20}c} + \\ . \\ \end{array} } } \\ \end{array}\) , with plastosemiquinone cation species. In the experiments presented here we have used ENDOR spectroscopy and D₂O/H₂O exchange to characterize these paramagnets in more detail. The ENDOR matrix region, which arises from protons which interact weakly with the unpaired electron spin, is well-resolved at 4 K and at least seven resonances are apparent. A number of hyperfine couplings in the 3–8 MHz range are observed and are suggested to arise from methyl or hydroxyl protons which occur as substituents on the plastosemiquinone cation ring or from amino acid protons hydrogen-bonded to the 1,4-hydroxyl groups. Orientation selection experiments are consistent with these possibilities. D₂O/H₂O exchange shows that the D⁺/Z⁺ site is accessible to solvent. However, the exchange occurs slowly and is not complete even after 72 hours which suggests that the free radicals are functionally isolated from solvent water.     

Effects of 6-Benzylaminopurine and Potassium on {delta}-Aminolevulinate Dehydratase Activity of Excised Cucumber Cotyledons

Changes in -aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALAD) activity werefollowed in 7-day excised cotyledons maintained on water ortreated with 6-benzylaminopurine (BA 1 µg.ml^–1),KCl (10 mM) or a combination of BA + KCl. Cotyledons were incubatedfor 3 days in the dark or in the light, or preincubated for18 h in the dark before illumination. Cycloheximide treatments(10µg.ml^–1) were performed to differenciate betweenALAD biosynthesis or activation. The excision entailed an increase in ALAD activity. Then a decreaseappeared after a 24-h incubation on water in the dark. It wasmore precocious in the light, but was delayed when the cotyledonswere illuminated after a dark preincubation. BA had little effect on ALAD activity in the dark. In the light,BA completely prevented the decrease in ALAD activity observedin the control, and enhanced this activity when a dark preincubationpreceded illumination. KCl had a slight stimulating effect inthe dark, but was uneffective in the light. The combinationBA + KCl was always devoid of stimulating effect. Stimulatingeffects of BA or KCl seemed to be due to an increase in ALADbiosynthesis. No treatment markedly affected ALAD exportationfrom cytoplasm to plastids. These results are discussed in relation with cotyledon greening. (Received November 25, 1986; Accepted February 5, 1987)     

Converting a {beta}-glycosidase into a {beta}-transglycosidase by directed evolution

Directed evolution was applied to the beta-glycosidase of Thermus thermophilus in order to increase its ability to synthesize oligosaccharide by transglycosylation. Wild-type enzyme was able to transfer the glycosyl residue with a yield of 50% by self-condensation and of about 8% by transglycosylation on disaccharides without nitrophenyl at their reducing end. By using a simple screening procedure, we could produce mutant enzymes possessing a high transferase activity. In one step of random mutagenesis and in vitro recombination, the hydrolysis of substrates and of transglycosylation products was considerably reduced. For certain mutants, synthesis by self-condensation of nitrophenyl glycosides became nearly quantitative, whereas synthesis by transglycosylation on maltose and on cellobiose could reach 60 and 75%, respectively. Because the most efficient mutations, F401S and N282T, were located just in front of the subsite (-1), molecular modeling techniques were used to explain their effects on the synthesis reaction; we can suggest that repositioning of the glycone in the (-1) subsite together with a better fit of the acceptor in the (+1) subsite might favor the attack of a glycosyl acceptor in the mutant at the expense of water. Thus these new transglycosidases constitute an interesting alternative for the synthesis of oligosaccharides by using stable and accessible donor substrates.     

Synergistic Ca2+ responses by G{alpha}i- and G{alpha}q-coupled G-protein-coupled receptors require a single PLC{beta} isoform that is sensitive to both G{beta}{gamma} and G{alpha}q

Cross-talk between Gα(i)- and Gα(q)-linked G-protein-coupled receptors yields synergistic Ca(2+) responses in a variety of cell types. Prior studies have shown that synergistic Ca(2+) responses from macrophage G-protein-coupled receptors are primarily dependent on phospholipase Cβ3 (PLCβ3), with a possible contribution of PLCβ2, whereas signaling through PLCβ4 interferes with synergy. We here show that synergy can be induced by the combination of Gβγ and Gα(q) activation of a single PLCβ isoform. Synergy was absent in macrophages lacking both PLCβ2 and PLCβ3, but it was fully reconstituted following transduction with PLCβ3 alone. Mechanisms of PLCβ-mediated synergy were further explored in NIH-3T3 cells, which express little if any PLCβ2. RNAi-mediated knockdown of endogenous PLCβs demonstrated that synergy in these cells was dependent on PLCβ3, but PLCβ1 and PLCβ4 did not contribute, and overexpression of either isoform inhibited Ca(2+) synergy. When synergy was blocked by RNAi of endogenous PLCβ3, it could be reconstituted by expression of either human PLCβ3 or mouse PLCβ2. In contrast, it could not be reconstituted by human PLCβ3 with a mutation of the Y box, which disrupted activation by Gβγ, and it was only partially restored by human PLCβ3 with a mutation of the C terminus, which partly disrupted activation by Gα(q). Thus, both Gβγ and Gα(q) contribute to activation of PLCβ3 in cells for Ca(2+) synergy. We conclude that Ca(2+) synergy between Gα(i)-coupled and Gα(q)-coupled receptors requires the direct action of both Gβγ and Gα(q) on PLCβ and is mediated primarily by PLCβ3, although PLCβ2 is also competent.