Amino acid sequence of the active site of human pseudocholinesterase

The usualE ₁ ^u and atypicalE ₁ ^a human pseudocholinesterases (acylocholine acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.8) were purified to homogeneity. The active-site serine residue was conjugated with diisopropyl fluorophosphate and digested with trypsin. The tryptic peptide containing the active site was isolated by gel filtration followed by two-dimensional paper chromatography and electrophoresis. The amino acid sequence of the active site peptide obtained from the usualE ₁ ^u enzyme was found to be Gly-Glu-Ser-Ala-Gly-Ala-Ser-Ala-Val-Ser-Leu. A remarkable structural homology exists between the human and the horse enzymes in their active sites. From the difference in electrophoretic mobility of the active-site peptides obtained from the usual and atypical enzymes, the probable structure of the atypical human enzyme was deduced as Gly-His-Ser-Ala-Gly-Ala-Ser-Ala-Val-Ser-Leu.     

Increased osmotic tolerance of some Aspergilli isolated from ‘Usar’ (alkaline) soils — A possible indication of ecological specialization

Studies on the osmotic optima for growth of some Aspergilli isolated from Indian Usar (alkaline) soils have revealed the occurrence of four osmophilic and twenty-five other species which can be categorised as facultative tolerant on the basis of their osmotic concentration optima. In addition, the Usar soil strains possess a comparatively greater osmotic tolerance than their fertile soil counterparts which may be attributed to the relatively hypertonic conditions prevailing in Usar soils.     

Effect of apholate and hempa on nucleic acid and protein syntheses in the yellow-fever mosquito

The growth curve, nucleic acid and protein content of the various life stages of Aedes aegypti were studied. The larvae of this mosquito were treated with sterilizing doses of the chemosterilants apholate and hempa, and their effects on the above parameters were also investigated. The body-weight increased gradually in the earlier instars and showed a sharp rise from late-fourth instar to the pupa. Adults weighed less than the pupae. Females weighed more than the males. In the controls, DNA and RNA content generally followed the growth curve. RNA content was more than DNA up to the late-fourth instar and the ratio reversed in the later stages. Protein content also followed the growth curve except in adult female, where it was more than in the pupa. In general the treatment with the chemosterilants, apholate and hempa did not seem to alter RNA, DNA and protein content in the whole insect.

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Zusammenfassung Wachstumskurve, Nukleinsäure- und Eiweißgehalt verschiedener Entwicklungsstadien der Gelbfieber-Mücke, Aedes aegypti, wurden untersucht. Die Larven dieser Mücke wurden mit sterilisierenden Dosen der Chemosterilantia Apholate und Hempa behandelt und ihre Wirkungen auf die genannten Parameter geprüft. Das Körpergewicht nahm in den frühen Stadien allmählich zu und zeigte vom Ende des 4. Stadiums bis zur Puppe einen steilen Anstieg. Adulte wogen weniger als die Puppen, Weibchen mehr als Männchen. In den Kontrollen folgte der DNS- und RNS-Gehalt im allgemeinen der Wachstumskurve. Der RNS-Gehalt war bis zum späten 4. Stadium größer als der DNS-Gehalt, in den späteren Stadien kehrte sich das Verhältnis um. Der Eiweißgehalt folgte ebenfalls der Wachstumskurve mit Ausnahme bei den Weibchen, wo er höher war als in der Puppe. Im allgemeinen schien die Behandlung mit den Chemosterilantien Apholate und Hempa den RNS-, DNS- und Eiweißgehalt im ganzen Insekt nicht zu verändern.

     

Inheritance of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase: genotyping in Chinese,Japanese and South Korean families reveals dominance of the mutant allele

Summary Genotyping of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH I) was performed in enzymatically amplified DNA of 20 Chinese, Japanese and South Korean families (85 individuals) and in 113 unrelated persons by employing allele-specific oligonucleotide probes and dot blot hybridization. Genotyping individuals with phenotypic deficiency of ALDH I activity always showed the presence of at least one mutant allele. The data are compatible with a model assuming dominant inheritance of the mutant allele, which we have previously suggested on the basis of a population study.     

Suppression of Oxygen Evolving System in Spinach Chloroplast Membranes due to Release of Manganese on Exposure to Osmotic Stress in vitro in Presence of Magnesium

When spinach chloroplast membranes were exposed to osmotic stress in vitro, by incubation in 1.0 M sorbitol + 10 mM MgCl₂ their oxygen evolving system was suppressed. The possible reasons for such inactivation of PS II mediated oxygen evolution were examined. There were conformational changes in the chloroplast membranes, as indicated by their absorption spectra. The pattern of sensitivity to DCMU was not altered. The sensitivity of PS II to water stress remained, even after a pre-wash treatment with NaCI (which removed 18 and 24 kD proteins) but not when the thylakoids were pretreated with NH₂0H or CaCl₂ (removed manganese and 33 kD). The manganese content of thylakoid membranes was markedly reduced under osmotic stress in presence of magnesium. We suggest that exposure of chloroplasts to 1.0 M sorbitol in presence of Mg₂₊ released manganese from thylakoid membranes, thereby leading to a suppression in oxygen evolution.     

Studies on Prolonged Storage of Beauveria bassiana Conidia: Effects of Temperature and Relative Humidity on Conidial Viability and Virulence against Chickpea Borer,Helicoverpa armigera

Unformulated conidia of Beauveria bassiana were stored at five different temperatures (0°, 10°, 20°, 30° and 40°C) at six different relative humidities (RH) (0, 33, 53, 75, 85 and 98%). Conidial viabilities and virulence against third instar larvae of Helicoverpa armigera were determined over a 24‐month period. Conidia survived longest at lower temperatures (0–20°C) and lower RH levels (0–53% RH). At higher temperatures (30–40°C) conidia did not survive. When the temperature was decreased from 30°C to 0°C, at nearly all RH levels the longevity of conidia increased. Conidia remained virulent for third instar larvae of H. armigera under favourable storage conditions for 24 months.