The Lipid Phase of Thylakoid and Cytoplasmic Membranes from the Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria), Anacystis nidulans and Anabaena variabilis

The lipid phases of the thylakoid and cytoplasmic membranesfrom the blue-green alga, Anacystis nidulans, were studied bya spin-probe method using 2-(14-carboxytetradecyl)-2-ethyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-oxazolidinyloxyl.The thylakoid and cytoplasmic membranes of this alga were bothin the liquid crystalline state at growth temperature, and inthe phase separation state at about 0?C. The thylakoid membranesentered the phase separation state at a temperature higher thanthe cytoplasmic membranes. The lipid phase of the thylakoidmembranes from Anabaena variabilis was studied in a similarway, and these membranes were found also to undergo the phasetransition. The temperature for the onset of the phase separationand the fluidity of the membrane lipids of both algae dependedon the growth temperature of the culture. (Received April 9, 1984; Accepted June 1, 1984)     

Effects of colchicine on the mitosis of Physarum polycephalum

Colchicine treatment delayed mitosis in the plasmodium of Physarumpolycephalum. This effect was observed when colchicine-pulsetreatments were performed at the late G2 phase. ³H-colchicine-bindingactivity was mainly localized in the nuclei and increased inthe late G2 phase. ¹ Present address: Department of Biochemistry, The Public HealthResearch Institute of The City of New York, Inc., New York,U.S.A. (Received September 22, 1977; )     

Energy-dependent redox state of heme a+a3 and copper of cytochrome oxidase in perfused rat brain in situ

Using theblood-free perfused rat brain, we examined the redox behavior ofcytochrome oxidase of two chromophores, hemea + a₃ and copper.When perfusate inflow was stopped to induce global ischemia,the reduction of heme a + a₃ was triphasic,with a rapid phase, a slow phase, and a second rapid phase. Incontrast, the reduction of copper was monophasic after the rapid phaseof heme a + a₃. The triphasicreduction of heme a + a₃ was diminished by energy-depleting treatments, such as addition of an uncoupler. Thetime course of the reduction of copper was not affected by the energydepletion. During global ischemia the decrease in creatine phosphate nearly paralleled the reduction of hemea + a₃, whereas ATPremained at the control level until ~60% of hemea + a₃ was reduced inthe rapid phase. In the slow phase, ATP started to decrease with thereduction of copper. The redox behavior of copper was similar to theslow phase of the reduction of heme a + a₃ because ofthe higher oxygen affinity of copper than of hemea + a₃. Therefore,the rapid phase of the reduction of hemea + a₃ can be used asan alarm before a decrease in ATP, whereas the reduction of copperindicates a decrease in ATP under severe hypoxia. Thus the coppersignal in noninvasive near-infrared spectroscopy is a useful parameterfor the clinical setting.

     

Cytophotometric Study of the 2C Nuclear DNA Content in the Apical Bud of Sinapis alba during Floral Transition

Feulgen cytophotometry was used to detect possible changes inthe 2C DNA content in the various parts of the apical bud ofSinapis alba during floral evocation and flower development.This study showed that there was no significant difference inthe 2C DNA content between the vegetative, evoked or reproductivemeristems. In vegetative plants, the 2C DNA content was lowerin the leaf primordia than in the meristem. This content inthe leaf exhibited a further decrease during the floral transition.In the flower primordia, the 2C value never exceeded the typicalvalue of the meristem. In the flower at anthesis, the DNA contentwas lower in the pistil and stamen than in the meristem. Apical bud, floral transition, 2C DNA content, cytophotometry, Sinapis alba L.     

CORRIGENDUM

F. W. Andrews: A Study of Nut Grass (Cyperus rotundus L.) inthe Cotton Soil of the Gezira. I. The Maintenance of Life inthe Tuber. To the literature cited should be added: SMITH, E. V., and MAYTON, E. L., 1937: Nut Grass EradicationStudies. II. The Eradication of Nut Grass (Cyperus rotundusL.) by Certain Tillage Treatments. Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron.,xxx. 18.     

Potassium channel expression level is dependent on the proliferation state in the GH3 pituitary cell line

Previously, we showed that the peakdensity of the transient outward K⁺ current(I_to) expressed in GH3 cells was different inthe S phase than in other phases of the cell cycle. Using cellsynchronization, we show here that I_to dropsprecisely at the quiescent (G₀ phase)/proliferating transition. This change is not due to a modification in the voltage dependence of I_to, but rather to a modificationin its inactivation kinetics. Molecular determination of K⁺channel subunits showed that I_to required theexpression of Kv1.4, Kv4.1, and Kv4.3. We found that the increase inI_to density during the quiescent state wasaccompanied by an increase in Kv1.4 protein expression, whereas Kv4.3expression remained unchanged. We further demonstrate that the linkbetween I_to expression and cell proliferation isnot mediated by variations in cell excitability. These results providenew evidence for the cell cycle dependence ofI_to expression, which could be relevant inunderstanding the mechanisms leading to pituitary adenomas.

     

Duration and Rate of Development Phases in Wheat in Two Environments

Six cultivars of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. vulgareL. amend. Thell.) of diverse climatic origin and different developmentalpatterns were studied under two environments, (a growth roomand an outdoors sowing) for the duration and rate of completionof their developmental phases. The need for vernalization in the cultivar Cappelle Desprezsubstantially increased the length of the vegetative phase,particularly in the growth room. Large differences in the durationof reproductive initiation and stem elongation phases betweenCappelle Desprez and the other cultivars in the growth roomsowing suggests an influence of veralization beyond the vegetativephase. Differences between the two environments influenced the durationof all phases of development, giving pronounced between-cultivarvariation in both the stem elongation and ripening phases. Rates of reproductive initiation and stem elongation for thecultivars, within and between the two environments appearedto be largely independent. The rate of spikelet initiation wassignificantly decreased in the growth room compared with theoutdoor sowing. The duration of the phases of development withineach cultivar appeared to be independent of each other, indicatingthe possibility for adjusting the rate, or duration, of a phaseof development comparatively free of a compensatory change inthe rate, or duration, of other phases. Triticum aestivum ssp, vulgare, wheat, vegetative phase, flower initiation, vernalization, photoperiodism     

EOLID NUDIBRANCHIATE MOLLUSCA FROM BARBADOS

17 species of eolid nudibranch are described from Barbados inthe Caribbean sea of which three are new: Cuthona iris, Cuthonabarbadiana and Learchis evelinae. The present status of thefamilies Cuthonidae and Facelinidae is discussed. (Received 8 July 1982;     

Phase Shifts of Potassium Uptake Rhythm in Lemna gibba G3 Due to Light, Dark or Temperature Pulses

Phase shifts in potassium uptake rhythm during continuous lightin flow medium (FMC) and static (STC) culture of Lemna gibbaG3, produced by various light and temperature pulses were examined.The phase responses were very similar to those known for a varietyof circadian rhythms: A pulse of high temperature (39°C)shifted the phase in the same way as a light pulse insertedduring darkness. A pulse of darkness, or of low temperature(5 or 10°C), however, caused a phase shift that was theinverse of that caused by a light pulse. A temperature pulseof definite timing erased the rhythm. Although the rhythms inthe STC and FMC had essentially the same phase response, a highintensitylight pulse was more effective in FMC and dark and temperaturepulses in STC. (Received December 18, 1982; Accepted March 8, 1983)     

14C-Translocation in Kalanchoe pinnata at two Different Stages of Development

Mayoral, M. L. and Medina, E. 1985. ¹⁴C-translocation in Kalanchoepinnata at two different stages of development.—J. exp.Bot. 36: 1405–1413 Translocation of ¹⁴C-compounds from mature leaves was measuredin plants of Kalanchoe pinnata to determine the interactionbetween plant age and CAM phase when CO² is taken up. Matureleaves of 4 and 12 month old plants were fed with ¹⁴CO² eitherduring CAM phase 1 (midnight) or at the beginning of CAM phase4 (early afternoon). Export of ¹⁴C activity from source leaves,and distribution of ¹⁴C activity in soluble and insoluble compoundswas measured both in source leaves and sink organs. In 4 monthold plants 4 d were needed to export 76% of total ¹⁴C activityincorporated during CAM phase 1, while leaves labelled at thebeginning of CAM phase 4 exported 44% of total ¹⁴C activityafter 4 h, and 80% after 24 h. In both cases the major fractionof total radioactivity translocated was found in the roots inthe form of neutral sugars. Differences in translocation patternsare due to distribution of ¹⁴C in the source leaves, 96 % of¹⁴C taken up during CAM phase 1 is found in the insoluble fractionat the end of the subsequent phase 3, while 93 % of total radioactivitytaken up at the beginning of phase 4 is found in the solublefraction at the end of this phase. In 12 month old plants labelledduring phase 1 very little translocation could be detected atthe end of phase 3, while only 20% of total radioactivity wastranslocated from leaves labelled during phase 4 and measured4 h later. ¹⁴C activity in the older leaves had a similar distributionin soluble and insoluble fractions as the one determined inthe younger plants. Ability to translocate carbon compoundsfrom source leaves during phase 3 was shown by loading matureleaves at dawn with ¹⁴C-sucrose. Here again, mature leaves ofyounger plants showed faster translocation of radioactivitythan those of older plants Key words: Kalanchoe, crassulacean acid metabolism, translocation, sink, source relationships     

The combined effects of temperature and food supply on Calanus sinicus in the southern Yellow Sea in summer

The effects of temperature and food availability on the lifehistory strategy of the planktonic copepod Calanus sinicus inthe southern Yellow Sea in summer were studied in this paper.The fifth copepodite stage (CV) dominates the population inthe central part of the southern Yellow Sea, where the YellowSea Cold Water Mass (YSCWM) occurs below the thermocline. Incubationexperiments were conducted on CV C. sinicus caught from theYSCWM to examine the effects of temperature and food availability.Temperature at the surface (27°C) is lethal to CVs regardlessof food availability. At the temperature in the middle of thethermocline (18°C), survival time of the specimens dependson food availability, being     

A Novel Molybdenum Protein with a Low Molecular Mass in Rhodobacter sphaeroides f. sp. denitrificans

A novel molybdenum cofactor-containing protein with a low molecularmass of 20 kDa was found in a photodenitrifier, Rhodobactersphaeroides f. sp. denitrificans. The protein was located inthe cytoplasm and was produced constitutively. (Received March 25, 1993; Accepted May 14, 1993)     

The Effect of Source-Sink Alterations on Soybean Seed Growth

Soybeans (Glycine max L. Merrill) were grown in the greenhouseand in the field to investigate the effect of variations inthe assimilate supply during the linear phase of seed developmenton the rate and duration of growth of individual seeds. Increasedassimilate supplies, created by partial fruit removal, increasedrates of dry matter accumulation, duration of seed growth, andfinal seed size (weight per seed). Reductions in the supplyof assimilate to the developing seed, created by shading (60per cent) the plants during the linear phase of seed development,lowered seed growth rate but did not affect final seed sizebecause of a longer duration of seed growth. Nitrogen stressduring seed development, created by removing N from the nutrientmedium, did not affect seed growth rate but shortened the durationof seed growth and reduced final seed size. The data indicatethat the growth characteristics of soybean seed are influencedby the supply of assimilate to the seed during the linear phaseof seed development. Glycine max L., soybean, seed growth rate, duration of seed growth, effective filling period     

A Host-specific, Nitrogen Fixation Mutant of Bradyrhizobium: Physiology on Three Host Plants

NC92 #284 is a transposon mutant of Bradyrhizobium sp. (Arachis)strain NC92 and has a host-specific fixation phenotype. It appearsto be ineffective on the host pigeonpea (90% reduction in shootN compared to that of the wild type), but partially effectiveon two other host plants, groundnut and siratro (50% and 20%reduction in shoot N compared to the wild type, respectively).To understand this phenomenon of host-specific fixation, thephysiological basis of the phenotypes was investigated. Host-dependentdifferences in symbiotic effectiveness were largely explainedby the degree to which nitrogenase activity was impaired inthe various #284 symbioses. Nodulation and the onset of nitrogenfixation were found to be delayed on all three hosts, but tothe greatest degree on pigeonpea. The specific activity of nitrogenaseper gram nodule was also reduced on all three hosts, again tothe greatest extent on pigeonpea. By contrast, the carbon costsand relative efficiencies of each symbiosis were similar tothe wild type. The results indicate that the host-specific fixationphenotype of #284 is reflected in a quantitative reduction inthe amount of N₂ fixed. Thus the phenotypes reflect the differentability of the three host plants to tolerate or support the#284 mutation, rather than a defect in a specific interactionbetween #284 and a particular host plant. Key words: Bradyrhizobium, nodules, nitrogenase activity, relative efficiency, Arachis hypogaea, Cajanus cajan, Macroptilium atropurpureum     

Physiological Studies of the Sulpholipids of Diatoms

The sulpholipids of three species of freshwater and marine diatomNitzschia palae Kutz, Navicula muralis Lewin and Navicula incertaGrün, have been investigated under various culture conditions.The plant sulpholipid, sulphoquinovosyl diglyceride, was predominantlysynthesized in the light rather than in the dark while the unknownsulpholipids, designated as U₁ and U₂, were produced more inthe dark than in the light. It was found that cells starvedof carbon or sulphate utilized their sulpholipid reserve assources of these materials. Generally, cultures incubated inthe light and bubbled with air (with or without CO₂) showeda high level of incorporation of ³⁶S into sulpholipids. In culturesbubbled with oxygen-free nitrogen the incorporation of tracerwas very small. The photosynthetic and respiratory inhibitors,DCMU and DNP appreciably reduced the amount of tracer incorporatedinto the sulpholipids.     

The Effect of Ferrous Iron on the Uptake of Manganese by Juncus effusus L.

Juncus effusus L was grown in solution culture at five levelsof ferrous iron The concentration and amount of manganese inthe shoots decreased with increased iron concentration in thesolution, except at the highest iron concentration (128 p pm) where there was a significant increase in manganese concentrationIt is suggested that this increase is due to a chemical interactionin the culture solution The importance of a Fe Mn ratio of twoas a general rule in plant nutrition is questioned Juncus effusus L., iron, manganese, mineral nutrition     

Inhibition of the Production of Phenolic Compounds in Brassica napus 2-Amino-oxyacetic Acid

Phenolic compounds precipitated with caffeine were more widelydistributed in the cytoplasm and nucleus in the outermost layerof the columella of germinating Brassica napus root than inthe other layers. Amino-oxyacetic acid, an inhibitor of thebiosynthesis of the C₆C₃ part of phenolic compounds, inhibitedthe biosynthesis of phenolics, and made dark deposits less numerousin all three of the outermost layers of the columella. The firstlayer was the most responsive, because symptoms of inhibitionwere already visible after 3 h. After 24 h the inhibition inthe second and third layers was proportional to the concentration.The first layer contained less deposits than the control, butmore than the second and third layers, suggesting that manyof these compounds in the first layer were present at the outset.Copyright1995, 1999 Academic Press Phenolics, 2-amino-oxyacetic acid, Brassica, germination, cytoplasm, nucleus     

Giant Stomata in Regnellidium diphyllum Lind.

The occurrence of abnormally large stomata on the pinnae ofRegnellidium diphyllum is reported. The plants were grown underin vitro conditions in Knop's sugar medium. These stomata aredifferent from the normal ones, both in size as well as shape,but structurally similar to them and probably functioning inthe same way.