Purification and Properties of 5-Enolpyruvylshikimate-3-Phosphate Synthase from Dark-Grown Seedlings of Sorghum bicolor

5-Enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase (3-phospho-shikimate 1-carboxyvinyltransferase; EC 2.5.1.19) was purified 1300-fold from etiolated shoots of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed three barely separated protein bands staining positive for EPSP synthase activity. The native molecular weight was determined to be 51,000. Enzyme activity was found to be sensitive to metal ions and salts. Apparent K_m values of 7 and 8 micromolar were determined for the substrates shikimate-3-phosphate and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), respectively. The herbicide glyphosate was found to inhibit the enzyme competitively with respect to PEP (K_i = 0.16 micromolar). Characterization studies support the conclusion of a high degree of similarity between EPSP synthase from S. bicolor, a monocot, and the enzyme from dicots. A similarity to bacterial EPSP synthase is also discussed. Three EPSP synthase isozymes (I, II, III) were elucidated in crude homogenates of S. bicolor shoots by high performance liquid chromatography. The major isozymes, II and III, were separated and partially characterized. No significant differences in pH activity profiles and glyphosate sensitivity were found. This report of isozymes of EPSP synthase from S. bicolor is consistent with other reports for shikimate pathway enzymes, including EPSP synthase.     

The flea ovary: ultrastructure and analysis of cell clusters

Panoistic ovarioles are found in the order of fleas (Siphonaptera). Only in some species of the Hystrichopsylloidea do polytrophic meroistic ovaries occur. No stem cells and no dividing cystocytes are found in female imagines of Hystrichopsylla talpae. However, each germ cell cluster consists of 32 cells which are generated by five mitotic cycles during the pupal stage. One of the cells containing five intercellular bridges becomes the oocyte, the others serve as nurse cells. Thus, germ cell cluster formation follows the 2(n)-rule. However, no polyfusome is found and nurse cells do not form a rosette. Furthermore, nurse cells remain small and show the same ultrastructural characters as the oocytes, which became distinguishable from nurse cells only by their enhanced growth during pre-vitellogenesis. The first phase of pre-vitellogenesis is dominated by the production of an unknown cytoplasmatic component, consisting of spherical particles, clearly distinguishable from ribosomes by diameter and contrast. The next phase is characterized by a tremendous increase in the production of ribosomes. During this second phase another cytoplasmic component consisting of ball-like structures becomes prominent. During pre-vitellogenesis, germ cell nuclei undergo a pronounced structural change in which, finally, numerous extranucleolar particles predominate. Thus, H. talpae has a polytrophic meroistic ovary, but its oocyte genomes behave panoistically.     

The fine structure of the dorsal ocelli in the male bibionid fly

The dorsal ocelli of bibionid flies, details of which have not previously been described, were examined in males of Dilophus febrilis. The three ocelli are combined within an elevated chitin capsule, in a medial position between the enlarged dorsal compound eyes. The biconvex lenses show a multiple layering of up to 150 regularly spaced, clear and dense cuticle zones (100 nm spacing) which probably provide some spectral filtering, suggested by in vivo observations with an epifluorescence microscope. The corneagenous cells and the retina with 100-200 photoreceptor cells are adjoined proximally. A distal retina zone comprises the rhabdoms, which are laterally connected in an hexagonal network. The rhabdoms are between 4 and 15 mum in length; they decrease gradually from the dorsal to the ventral retina region. A middle retina zone comprises the receptor somata, a proximal zone, their axons. Synaptic contacts between axons and interneuron dendrites, feedback synapses to axons, and axo-axonic synapses are found, showing varying pre-synaptic structures. A possible functional role of the ocelli is discussed.     

Cell differentiation in the embryonic midgut of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

While the larval midgut of Manduca sexta has been intensively studied as a model for ion transport, the developmental origins of this organ are poorly understood. In our study we have used light and electron microscopy to investigate the process of midgut epithelial cell differentiation in the embryo. Our studies were confined to the period between 56 and 95 hr of embryonic development (hatching is at 101 hr at 25 degrees C), since preliminary studies indicated that all morphologically visible differentiation of the midgut epithelium occurs during this time. At 56 hr the midgut epithelium is organized into a ragged pseudostratified epithelium. Over the next 10 hr, the embryo molts and the midgut epithelium takes on a distinctive character in which the future goblet and columnar cells can be identified. With further differentiation, closed vesicles in the goblet cells expand and subsequently communicate to the outside by way of a valve. The columnar cells form numerous microvilli on their apical surfaces that extend over the goblet cells. Both cell types form basal folds from a series of plasmalemmal invaginations. Differentiation occurs concurrent with a six-fold elongation of these cells.     

丫蕊花的双受精及胚和胚乳发育的初步观察

丫蕊花（Ypsilandra thibetica Franch.)为珠孔受精,进入胚囊的两个精子分别与卵细胞和中央细胞进行正常的双受精,其受精作用属有丝分裂前型,受精后的初生胚乳核立即分裂,其发育方式为沼生目型,到发育后期,由游离状态的胚乳核形成胚乳细胞时,珠孔室和合点室都形成胚乳细胞,合子的休眠期很长,而且胚的发育过程较为缓慢,种子成熟时胚尚无器盲的分化,本文还观察了以上发育过程中淀粉粒,蛋白质的动态。     

菜豆属次级联会的细胞学和统计学分析

在花粉母细胞减数第一分裂时期,对多花菜豆（Phaseolus coccineus L.)4个品种,菜豆（P.vulgaris L.)5个品种和菜豆变种[P.vulgaris var,baorigineus(Burk.)baudet]的一个收集样品的二价体次级联会（次级配对）进行了细胞学检查,同时也提供了一种评价观测到的联会程度和预期的随机联会程度之间的偏差统计学方法,发现次级配对的程序是高度显著的,对透射电子显微技术加以改进,并使之能够观察压片完整的花粉母细胞,显示出在次级联会的双价体之间发生有形的联结。     

松嫩平原南部植被与环境相关性的探讨

从环境格局入手,分析植被对环境的反应,是研究植被与环境相关性的一条途径。本文采用该途径。从生态种组入手,分析松嫩平原南部植被与环境的相关性,根据该区自然条件的特点,用生态系列表,分析植物对土壤盐碱,水分,有机质和氮素的含量以及土壤酸度的反应。依植物对上述各因素要求的相似性划分单因子生态种组,并以此为基础,综合植物对上述各因素反应的相似性,划分了11个综合因子生态种组,阐明 生态种组与植物群落及立地的关系。依据三者的关系,结合牧业生产,划分了4个立地类型。     

采后荔枝果皮色素、总酚及有关酶活性的变化

成熟度约八成的“淮枝”在采收后2天内,色素的合成代谢仍相当活跃,类胡萝卜素,花色素苷的含量增高,多酚氧化酶和苯丙氨酸解氨酶的活性增大,总酚保持原有水平,叶绿素降解,反映了果实达到完全成熟的特征,随后,上述各项参数因果实的衰老而下降,与采收当天相比,7天后花色素苷为90％,类黄酮为59％,总酚为71％,苯丙氨酸解氨酶活性为46％,讨论了酚类,花色素苷及两种酶活性之间的关系及对荔枝果实在成熟,衰老褐变中的作用。     

天然胶乳脂质的磷脂组成与分布

本文采用单向硅胶薄层色谱对“红星1号”（抗风品系）和“9－110”（抗寒品系）两种无性系天然橡胶胶乳脂质的磷脂组成进行定性分析,分离出8种磷脂组分,已检出6种,发现两种是从来没检出过的磷脂组分,此外用薄层色谱扫描和“吸光度比例系数校正法”对两种品系天然胶乳总脂,橡胶相和底层脂质中各种磷脂组分的分布进行了快速定量分析。     

几种乌桕桕脂甘油三酯的组成

采用胰脂酶分解的方法对几种乌桕[Sapium sebiferum(L.) Roxb.]种子桕脂甘油三酯组成进行了测定,桕脂的甘油三酯是由9－14种甘油三酯所组成,与可可脂相似之处是甘油三酯2－位上的脂肪酸,82－88％为油酸,二饱和酸甘油酯中81－88％,其中以POP为主（74－81％）;单饱和酸甘油酯占1．8－6．0％;而三饱和酸甘油酯占9．6－15．6％,主要是PPP（8．5－14．0％）。桕脂经过适当的加工处理,可以做可可脂的代用品,将湖南产的乌桕与广西栽培的4个品种（“大粒鸡爪”,“蜈蚣”,“铜锤”和“小粒鸡爪”）桕脂中的甘油三酯组成比较,以“大粒鸡爪”桕脂中二饱和酸甘油酯的比较最高（88．0％）,三饱和酸甘油酯的含量最低（9．6％）。