Unusual behaviour and morphology of some Rhyacophila Pictet, 1834 caddisfly (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae) larvae reflect their ability to use the hyporheic zone

We found that larvae of four Rhyacophila Pictet, 1834 species preferred the hyporheic biotope in rapids and glides, which appears to be an unusual habitat among species in this genus. These species, i.e., Rhyacophila nigrocephala Iwata, 1927, R. nipponica Navas, 1933, R. shikotsuensis Iwata, 1927 and R. kawamurae Tsuda, 1940, belonging to the nigrocephala species group, of which six species occur in Japan. To study the movement behaviour of these species in the hyporheic biotope, we introduced their larvae into a small aquarium with a sandy bottom substrate. The larvae of these species burrowed into the sand bed and moved smoothly through interstices using their forelegs and their highly flexible and elastic abdomens. The larval morphology of these six species differs from that of the representatives of the other species group of Japanese Rhyacophila. They have more slender and flatter head capsules, more elongate abdominal segments, shorter thoracic legs and more slender anal prolegs. These features are adaptations that allow these species to effectively use the hyporheic biotope by enabling them to burrow through the interstices.     

Enantioselectivity of Enzymatic Cleavage Reaction of 13-Hydroperoxylinolenic Acid to C6-Aldehyde and C12-Oxo Acid in Tea Chloroplasts

A protease with strict specificity to lysyl peptide bonds like that of Achromobacter protease I was purified from a crude enzyme powder obtained from a culture filtrate of Achromobacter lyticus M497-1 and characterized. The purified enzyme had the following differences from protease I. The enzyme had an isoelectric point of 5.3, lower than the value of 6.9 for protease I. The amino acid composition of the enzyme had higher proportions of His, Glu, and Gly and lower proportions of Arg and Thr than protease I. The enzyme was unstable (30% residual activity) in the presence of 7 m urea (pH 8.0, 30°C, 20 min); protease I was resistant to the same conditions (80% residual activity). The k_cat/Km values for the hydrolysis of Tos-Lys-OMe and Lys-pNA by the enzyme were lower than those of protease I.     

Synthesis of 3Z, 6Z-Dienoic Acids

3Z,6Z-Dienoic acids (C₈-C₁₂ and C₁₈) were for the first time synthesized by coupling 2-acetylenic bromides and 2-(3′-butynyloxy)-tetrahydropyrane followed by stereoselective hydrogenation and oxidation.     

Blätteralkohol (XIV) Synthese des 2-Propyl-5-äthyl-benzylalkohols

2-Propyl-5-ethyl-benzylalcohol (IX) was synthesized by an unequivocal route from propylbenzene, thereby establishing the previous deduction tentatively assigned to the leaf alcohol reaction product.¹⁾ This benzyl alcohol surmises one of a lemon-like flavor characteristic of manufactured black tea and an attempted search for this compound in the essential oil obtained by steamdistillation of manufactured black tea was made, but its existence has not so far been confirmed with a neutral fraction examined.     

Sterilization mechanism of nitrogen gas plasma: induction of secondary structural change in protein

The mechanism of action on biomolecules of N₂ gas plasma, a novel sterilization technique, remains unclear. Here, the effect of N₂ gas plasma on protein structure was investigated. BSA, which was used as the model protein, was exposed to N₂ gas plasma generated by short‐time high voltage pulses from a static induction thyristor power supply. N₂ gas plasma‐treated BSA at 1.5 kilo pulses per second showed evidence of degradation and modification when assessed by Coomassie brilliant blue staining and ultraviolet spectroscopy at 280 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis was used to determine the protein's secondary structure. When the amide I region was analyzed in the infrared spectra according to curve fitting and Fourier self‐deconvolution, N₂ gas plasma‐treated BSA showed increased α‐helix and decreased β‐turn content. Because heating decreased α‐helix and increased β‐sheet content, the structural changes induced by N₂ gas plasma‐treatment of BSA were not caused by high temperatures. Thus, the present results suggest that conformational changes induced by N₂ gas plasma are mediated by mechanisms distinct from heat denaturation.     

Nanoscale domain formation of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate in the plasma and vacuolar membranes of living yeast cells

In budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, PtdIns(4)P serves as an essential signalling molecule in the Golgi complex, endosomal system, and plasma membrane, where it is involved in the control of multiple cellular functions via direct interactions with PtdIns(4)P-binding proteins. To analyse the distribution of PtdIns(4)P in yeast cells at a nanoscale level, we employed an electron microscopy technique that specifically labels PtdIns(4)P on the freeze-fracture replica of the yeast membrane. This method minimizes the possibility of artificial perturbation, because molecules in the membrane are physically immobilised in situ. We observed that PtdIns(4)P is localised on the cytoplasmic leaflet, but not the exoplasmic leaflet, of the plasma membrane, Golgi body, vacuole, and vesicular structure membranes. PtdIns(4)P labelling was not observed in the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum, and in the outer and inner membranes of the nuclear envelope or mitochondria. PtdIns(4)P forms clusters of <100?nm in diameter in the plasma membrane and vacuolar membrane according to point pattern analysis of immunogold labelling. There are three kinds of compartments in the cytoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane. In the present study, we showed that PtdIns(4)P is specifically localised in the flat undifferentiated plasma membrane compartment. In the vacuolar membrane, PtdIns(4)P was concentrated in intramembrane particle (IMP)-deficient raft-like domains, which are tightly bound to lipid droplets, but not surrounding IMP-rich non-raft domains in geometrical IMP-distributed patterns in the stationary phase. This is the first report showing microdomain formations of PtdIns(4)P in the plasma membrane and vacuolar membrane of budding yeast cells at a nanoscale level, which will illuminate the functionality of PtdIns(4)P in each membrane.     

Gangliosides GM1 and GM3 in the living cell membrane form clusters susceptible to cholesterol depletion and chilling

Presence of microdomains has been postulated in the cell membrane, but two-dimensional distribution of lipid molecules has been difficult to determine in the submicrometer scale. In the present paper, we examined the distribution of gangliosides GM1 and GM3, putative raft molecules in the cell membrane, by immunoelectron microscopy using quick-frozen and freeze-fractured specimens. This method physically immobilized molecules in situ and thus minimized the possibility of artifactual perturbation. By point pattern analysis of immunogold labeling, GM1 was shown to make clusters of <100 nm in diameter in normal mouse fibroblasts. GM1-null fibroblasts were not labeled, but developed a similar clustered pattern when GM1 was administered. On cholesterol depletion or chilling, the clustering of both endogenous and exogenously-loaded GM1 decreased significantly, but the distribution showed marked regional heterogeneity in the cells. GM3 also showed cholesterol-dependent clustering, and although clusters of GM1 and GM3 were found to occasionally coincide, these aggregates were separated in most cases, suggesting the presence of heterogeneous microdomains. The present method enabled to capture the molecular distribution of lipids in the cell membrane, and demonstrated that GM1 and GM3 form clusters that are susceptible to cholesterol depletion and chilling.     

Callus Induction by Optically Active Auxin, R-(+)-2-(2-Naphthoxy) propionic Acid

R-(+)-2-(2-naphthoxy)propionic acid [(+)-NOP], but not (–)-NOP,was active in inducing calli from peel tissues of cucumber fruits.The callus-inducing activity of (+)-NOP was comparable to thatof 1-naphthylacetic acid. Activities of alcohol dehydrogenaseand lipoxygenase increased during callus induction. (Received August 22, 1984; Accepted January 9, 1985)     

Enzyme system catalyzing formation of cis-3-hexenal and n-hexanal from linolenic and linoleic acids in Japanese silver (Farfugium iaponicum Kitamura) leaves

Leaf alcohol (cis-3-hexenol) and leaf aldehyde (trans-2-hexenal)are responsible for the green odor in leaves and fruits. cis-3-Hexenal,a precursor of cis-3-hexenol and trans-2-hexenal, was producedfrom linolenic acid by a homogenate of Farfugium japonicum (Japanesesilver) leaves. n-Hexanal was produced from linoleic acid bya homogenate of the leaves. The enzyme system catalyzing formationof C₆-aldehydes from linolenic and linoleic acids was localizedin chloroplast lamellae, and required oxygen for reaction. C₁₈-unsaturatedfatty acids such as linolenic acid, linoleic acid and -linolenicacid, which have carboxyl groups and cis-1, cis-4-pentadienesystems including a double bond at C-12, acted as substrates,and C₆-aldehydes (cis-3-hexenal or n-hexanal), but not C₉-aldehydes,were produced from them. The properties of the enzyme systemin chloroplasts were as follows: optimal pH 7.0; stable at pH5 to 7; thermolabile and no activity at 50?C. These propertieswere very similar to those of tea chloroplasts. The enzyme systemcould be solubilized from chloroplasts by 2% Triton X-100, butwas very unstable in solubilized form. (Received July 9, 1976; )