Molecular weight of a germination-enhancing compound in smoke†

The active compound(s) in smoke responsible for promoting seed germination of a number of plant species has so far remained unknown. A germination-promoting fraction containing approximately ten compounds has been obtained from cellulose-derived smoke. Furthermore, activity has been associated with one of the compounds in this fraction. The UV absorbance maximum and molecular weight of the active compound has been established and the molecular formula has been tentatively assigned as C₈H₆O₃.     

Interactions in a mixed bacterial population growing on methane in continuous culture

The growth of a mixed methane-utilizing culture in a continuous flow fermenter has been studied under both methane and oxygen limitation. Small additions of methanol have been shown to inhibit the methane-utilizing moiety in the culture and it has been shown that the Hyphomicrobium sp. in the mixed culture removes any inhibitory methanol. The interaction between the methane-utilizing Pseudomonas sp., and the Hyphomicrobium sp. has been explained and a model of the continuous mixed culture under oxygen limitation has been formulated. Qualitative predictions of transient phenomena by the model have been verified experimentally.     

Sampling Schemes for Studying Growth of Children

Efficiency of linked cross-sectional scheme has been compared with pure longitudinal schemes for generalised estimation of norm relaxing the condition of constancy of variances. The relevant theory of estimation has been developed and the expression for the optimum estimators alongwith their variances have been derived. The percentage gain in efficiency has been calculated. It has been observed that for higher values of Q, percentage gain in efficiency of proposed scheme over cross-sectional is very high.     

ISOLATION AND PROPERTIES OF LIVER CELL NUCLEOLI

1. The significance of the term nucleolus has been discussed. 2. A detailed method for the isolation of nucleoli from already isolated rat or cat liver nuclei has been presented. 3. The presence of DNA in isolated liver cell nucleoli has been indicated by histochemical methods. 4. The percentages of DNA and RNA in the isolated nucleoli have been determined by chemical analysis. 5. The specific activities of aldolase, arginase, and catalase have been determined for two subnuclear fractions and for the isolated nucleoli of rat and cat liver, and the relative amounts of these enzymes in the same subnuclear fractions and nucleoli of rat liver have been measured. 6. The significance of the above findings has been discussed and consideration has been given to what types of isolated nuclei might best serve as starting material for the isolation of nucleoli. 7. A new hypothesis has been presented that nucleoli of the liver cell type may function primarily in furnishing (directly or indirectly) templates for the synthesis of the particular enzymes that must govern the chemistry of mitosis.     

Chromosome evolution in the Brachytheciaceae

Abstract

Twenty-eight moss species have been investigated cytologically. Mitotic karyograms have been presented for most of these species and these show a remarkable similarity in the n = 11 karyotype. Nine of the eleven chromosomes have terminal or sub-terminal centromeres. Lightly staining heterochromatic bands frequently occur along the axis of the chromosomes and very often these are the sites of chromosome bending; it has been suggested that these may be areas of neocentric activity. The karyotypes investigated show a reduction series of chromosome number which is paralleled by an increase in the number of long metacentrics; since the number of major chromosome arms is maintained in most of the species it has been suggested that Robertsonian fusion has been an important mechanism in the evolution of the Bracytheciaceae, and probably in all Diplolepidous mosses. Polyploidy has also played an important role in speciation. Finally it has been proposed that n = 11 is the primary basic number in the Diplolepideae.     

Comparison of lipase-catalysed esterification in supercritical carbon dioxide and in n-hexane

Summary Oleic acid esterification by ethanol has been performed by an immobilized lipase fromMucor miehei in supercritical carbon dioxide and in n-hexane as solvents. In both media, determination of apparent kinetic constants has been achieved and influence of water content has been shown to be different due to various rates of water solubilities. Stability of the lipase has been proved to be correct and similar in both solvents. Inhibition by ethanol excess has been found but is greater in n-hexane. That can explain the higher initial velocities obtained in supercritical carbon dioxide for the highest ethanol concentrations.     

Mycosporine glutamine and related mycosporines in the fungus Pyronema omphalodes

The structure of mycosporine glutamine, a new compound, has been established and its presence demonstrated in two fungi Pyronema omphalodes and Glomerella cingulata. Mycosporine glutamic acid has been isolated from Helvella leucomelaneae. Co-occurrence of normycosporine glutamine, mycosporine glutamine and glucosylmycosporine glutaminol has been demonstrated in the fungus P. omphalodes. A biosynthetic pathway is proposed. Mycosporines have been compared by HPLC.     

THE ACCUMULATION OF ELECTROLYTES : VII. ORGANIC ELECTROLYTES PART 2

Analyses have been made of the inorganic constituents of the juices expressed from the leaves of Rheum, Rumex, and Oxalis. It has been shown that in all cases there is a large excess of inorganic cations over anions in the sap, the average ratio of cations to anions being 3.8 (Part 1, p. 239). The ash analyses of plant tissues (chiefly leaves) reported in the literature have been examined critically, and it has been shown that the preponderance of inorganic cations over inorganic anions in the ash and in the sap is general. It has been concluded that the excess of inorganic cations is consistent with the view that cations pass into the protoplasm chiefly in the form of hydroxides, and are accumulated either in the form of organic salts (such as the oxalates) or in non-polar linkage. It has been concluded that practically all the potassium and sodium found in plant ash must have been present originally in the form of soluble ionogenic compounds, but that a considerable part of the calcium and magnesium may have been present originally in the form of insoluble salts or as components of non-polar compounds. The methods whereby the cations, particularly potassium, may have been accumulated have been discussed, and it has been concluded that as it does not seem very probable that they enter chiefly as nitrates or bicarbonates we may suppose that they go in to a large extent as hydrates: this is highly probable in the case which has been most carefully investigated (Valonia).     

CYTOSOLIC AND NON-CYTOSOLIC CARBONIC ANHYDRASE ENZYMES FROM BOVINE LEUCOCYTES

In this study, carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzyme has been purified and separately characterized according to bound form in 4 steps as outer peripheral, cytosolic, inner peripheral, and integral from bovine leukocyte.

Affinity chromatography has also been used for purification of the enzyme in four steps. CA has been found for each step. Measurment of enzyme activity has been done by CO₂ hydratase activity and esterase activity methods.

Optimum pH and optimum temperature have been defined for each step of purified enzyme. The behaviors of CA with specific inhibitors, such as KSCN and NaN₃ have been investigated. In each step, molecular weight and purity have been determined by gel filtration and SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. In addition, enzyme K_M and V_max values have been determined with the method of Lineweaver-Burk.     

Structural analyses of the permease like protein SoxT: A member of the sulfur compound metabolizing sox operon

One of the oldest known gene clusters that are involved in biological oxidation processes is the sox operon. This operon is present in different microbial species. In the present study an attempt has been made to analyze the probable structural role of SoxT protein from Pseudaminobacter salicylatoxidans. This protein has been predicted to be a permease-like protein. A comparative model of the protein has been made and analyzed. The possible membrane spanning region of the protein has been detected by structural bioinformatics approach. The inducer of the sulfur oxidation process has been predicted. And thereby the plausible mechanism of the transport of the sulfur anion inside the bacterial cell has been elucidated. Since this is the first study regarding the structural aspect of the protein this study may shed light on the theory of the yet unknown molecular mechanism of the sulfur oxidation process by sox operon.     

Lipid metabolism indices and their correlation with vitamin D levels in indigenous populations of northern European Russia

The level of 25-OH vitamin D in the blood plasma in indigenous residents of northern European Russia has been studied. Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to be widespread. The lowest prevalence of vitamin D deficiencies (15%) has been found in male reindeer herders; the highest (80–100%) one, in adolescents aged 13–15 years. A significant decrease in the 25-OH vitamin D₃ level has been found in the inhabitants of the Far North in March. A relationship has been found between the serum 25-OH vitamin D concentration and lipid metabolism parameters in residents of the Far North, which is confirmed by significant correlations with the total cholesterol, apolipoprotein A, high- and low-density lipoprotein, and vitamin A and E levels.     

Age and gender effect on alexithymia in large, Japanese community and clinical samples: a cross-validation study of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20)

Background  

The construct validity of alexithymia and its assessment using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) in Japan is unknown. Low reliability has been found for the third factor of the TAS-20 in some cultures, and the factor structure for psychosomatic disorder patients has not been adequately investigated. Although alexithymia most likely has certain developmental aspects, this has infrequently been investigated.     

Streptomyces thermonitrificans sp.n., a thermophilic streptomycete

A new species of thermophilicStreptomyces has been isolated from a soil sample collected in Bombay. Its morphological characteristics and physiological behaviour have been studied in detail. It has thus been found to belong to Series XVI-Thermophilus of Waksman's scheme of classification (1961). Its similarity to and differences from a few known species are described. It has been designated asStreptomyces thermonitrificans.     

A modified technique for the quantitative analysis of amino acids by gas chromatography using heptafluorobutyric n-propyl derivatives.

The quantitative analysis of amino adids by gas chromatography as their heptafluorobutyric n-propyl derivatives has been examined and a modified technique developed which has been found to give improved results. A single propylation step has been adopted using 6 m HCl n-propanol at 150°C for 3.5 min, followed by a 12-min acylation step at the same temperature. Variability of response for methionine and histidine has been overcome in most cases by the introduction of an antioxidant at the acylation stage. An improved column performance on the previously used nonpolar OV silicone phase has been obtained by using a mildly polar OV phase.     

Increased Drought Tolerance through the Suppression of ESKMO1 Gene and Overexpression of CBF-Related Genes in Arabidopsis

Improved drought tolerance is always a highly desired trait for agricultural plants. Significantly increased drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana (Columbia-0) has been achieved in our work through the suppression of ESKMO1 (ESK1) gene expression with small-interfering RNA (siRNA) and overexpression of CBF genes with constitutive gene expression. ESK1 has been identified as a gene linked to normal development of the plant vascular system, which is assumed directly related to plant drought response. By using siRNA that specifically targets ESK1, the gene expression has been reduced and drought tolerance of the plant has been enhanced dramatically in the work. However, the plant response to external abscisic acid application has not been changed. ICE1, CBF1, and CBF3 are genes involved in a well-characterized plant stress response pathway, overexpression of them in the plant has demonstrated capable to increase drought tolerance. By overexpression of these genes combining together with suppression of ESK1 gene, the significant increase of plant drought tolerance has been achieved in comparison to single gene manipulation, although the effect is not in an additive way. Accompanying the increase of drought tolerance via suppression of ESK1 gene expression, the negative effect has been observed in seeds yield of transgenic plants in normal watering conditions comparing with wide type plant.     

The growth stimulating effect of 5-bromouracil and uracil on chlorococcal algae

The growth stimulating effect of 5-bromouracil and uracil on two strains of chlorococcal algae has been found in cell colonies grown from single cells, which were inoculated onto an agar medium. Analyses of the effect recorded in the cell cycles after treatment have revealed that the growth stimulating effect required four, or more, cell cycles to become evident. This has been proved by the number of autospores released from the treated cells and by the length of the lag phase after inoculation. The differences between the control and the treated population in some experiments with 5-bromouracil inChlorella and with uracil inScenedesmus obliquus have been visible by the unaided eye, whereas in some other experiments, they have been proved statistically. Growth stimulation has not been found only in a small number of experiments. The inhibition of growth induced by 5-bromouracil has been recorded in one experiment withScenedesmus quadricauda.     

Analysis of the 5′ non-coding region of rat liver S-adenosylmethionine synthetase mRNA and comparison of the Mr deduced from the cDNA sequence and the purified enzyme

A 3 kb cDNA coding for rat liver S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) synthetase has been isolated. The M_r of the protein has been unequivocally determined by cDNA sequencing and enzyme purification on a thiopropyl-Sepharose column. The length of the mRNA 5′ non-coding region has been defined by primer-extension analysis. The rat liver cloned cDNA has been also used to detect S-adenosylmethionine synthetase mRNA in human liver.     

Intermediate filament structure.

In the past year, several new developments concerning the structure of intermediate filament proteins and their assembly into intact intermediate filaments have been made: the coiled-coil structure of a rod domain has been elucidated; the basis of the chain interaction and its role in intermediate filament assembly has been specified; the organization of nearest-neighbour molecules in keratin intermediate filaments has been determined; and the glycine loop structures of the terminal domains of epidermal keratin chains have been defined. In addition, mutations in intermediate filament chains that promote pathology have been reported for the first time.     

New diterpenes from Chamaecyparis pisifera

Three new diterpenes, pisiferin, 15-hydroxyferruginol, and O-methyl pisiferic acid have been isolated and the presence of 12-hydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-20-al has been confirmed in studies of the leaves of Chamaecyparis pisifera. The structure of pisiferin, a phenolic diterpene with a new carbon skeleton, has been determined by chemical degradation. The presence of diterpenes of the ferruginol type in the leaves of four varieties of C. pisifera has been examined.     

Salivary peroxidases

Summary Peroxidases are known to be involved in the intracellular metabolism of H₂O₂ coupled with various physiological functions. Apart from the thyroid gland, the enzyme has been isolated from various extrathyroidal sources of which salivary gland is one of the richest sources of the enzyme. The enzyme from bovine and goat submaxillary gland has been extensively studied in terms of their molecular, spectral, kinetic, catalytic and immunological properties and compared with the lactoperoxidase which is similar to the salivary peroxidase. The modulation of the salivary peroxidase by various factors and the probable mechanism of the modulation has been described. The enzyme has also been compared with the thyroid peroxidase as regards their physicochemical properties as well as on the immunological and functional aspects. The similarities and dissimilarities have been incorporated. The possible function of the enzyme in iodine metabolism and in bactericidal action has been discussed.[/p]