Intraspecific variation in the response of rice (Oryza sativa) to increased CO2– photosynthetic, biomass and reproductive characteristics

Two rice ( Oryza sativa L.) cultivars of contrasting morphologies, IR-36 and Fujiyama-5, were exposed to ambient (360 μl l⁻¹) and ambient plus 300 μl l⁻¹ CO₂ from time of emergence until ca 50% grain fill at the Duke University Phytotron, Durham, North Carolina. Exposure to increased CO₂ resulted in about a 50% increase in the photosynthetic rate for both cultivars and photosynthetic enhancement was still evident after 3 months of exposure to a high CO₂ environment. The photosynthetic response at 5% CO₂ and the response of CO₂ assimilation (A) to internal CO₂ (C_i) suggest a reallocation of biochemical resources from RuBP carboxylation to RuBP regeneration. Increases in total plant biomass at elevated CO₂ were approximately the same in both cultivars, although differences in allocation patterns were noted in root/shoot ratio. Differences in reproductive characteristics were also observed between cultivars at an elevated CO₂ environment with a significant increase in harvest index for IR-36 but not for Fujiyama-5. Changes in carbon allocation in reproduction between these two cultivars suggest that lines of rice could be identified that would maximize reproductive output in a future high CO₂ environment.     

Crown gall transformation of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) with virulent strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Summary Four diverse strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens (C58, Ach5, GV3111, and A281) were capable of inducing tumors at a high frequency on inoculated stems of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik. cultivar Laird) in vivo, and on excised shoot apices in vitro. GV3111 and Ach5 produced the largest and heaviest tumors in vivo, while A281 produced the heaviest tumors in vitro. Tumor formation and opine production are indicative of plant cell transformation and tumors produced appropriate opines: nopaline (C58), octopine (Ach5 and GV3111), and agropine and mannopine (A281). Southern analysis of DNA from a tumor line produced by strain C58 showed that a T-DNA fragment had been transferred into the lentil genome.     

On the character of and distance between states in a binary switching net

Behavioral examination of binary switching net models has typically concerned itself with an examination of their cyclical character. This article considers two less frequently discussed behavioral variables-the density of 1's in net states and the (Hamming) distance between net states. These variables are studied under fully random nets and under nets controlled at levels of internal homogeneity, forcibility or threshold. A collection of theoretical and simulated results is presented.     

The HLA-A:HLA-B crossovers and their contribution in analysing possible haplotype-specific recombination rates

Summary The 266 haplotypes associated with 133 reported HLA-A:HLA-B crossovers in Whites were distributed in a manner representative for European populations. From this observation it follows that differential recombination rates (haplotype-controlled crossover reduction or enhancement mechanisms) do not operate in the human histocompatibility complex.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

Determination of 35S-aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid specific radioactivity in small tissue samples

Rate determination of protein synthesis utilizing tracer amino acid incorporation requires accurate assessment of the specific radioactivity of the labeled precursor aminoacyl-tRNA pool. Previously published methods presumably useful for the measurement of any aminoacyl-tRNA were unsuccessful when applied to [³⁵S]methionine, due to the unique chemical properties of this amino acid. Herein we describe modifications of these methods necessary for the measurement of ³⁵S-aminoacyl-tRNA specific radioactivity from small tissue samples incubated in the presence of [³⁵S]methionine. The use of [³⁵S]methionine of high specific radioactivity enables analysis of the methionyl-tRNA from less than 100 mg of tissue. Conditions for optimal recovery of ³⁵S-labeled dansyl-amino acid derivatives are presented and possible applications of this method are discussed.     

The Role of Chloride in Acetylcholine Metabolism

Abstract: The chloride dependence of acetylcholine (ACh) synthesis and release and of choline uptake was studied in synaptosomal preparations from rat brain. The substitution of propionate for chloride, in the presence of 35 m m -potassium, lowered the ACh content of the synaptosomes. However, in the presence of 5 m m -potassium, the ACh level in synaptosomes was reduced, but significantly less so. Propionate had no effect on choline acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.6) activity when measured in a standard chloride-containing medium. In the presence of propionate, the spontaneous release of ACh was unchanged, but potassium-stimulated release of ACh was markedly reduced as compared with a chloride-containing medium. The synthesis of ACh, as measured by the net increase in the amount of ACh in the synaptosomes and that released to the medium, was reduced with propionate at 5 m m -potassium and was totally inhibited when the potassium concentration was increased to 35 m m . Choline uptake studies revealed that with propionate only a low-affinity component of the choline transport system existed. Further, the V _max was markedly reduced when the potassium concentration was increased to 35 m m . The results suggest that under certain conditions choline transported by a low-affinity system might provide a substantial source of choline for ACh synthesis.     

Do benzodiazepines bind at adenosine uptake sites in CNS?

Benzodiazepines inhibit adenosine uptake into rat cerebral cortical synaptosomes and their potency as inhibitors of adenosine uptake is closely correlated with therapeutic efficacy. Agents which possess “benzodiazepine like” activities such as CL218,872, zopiclone and fominoben and which displace benzodiazepine binding to brain cell membranes, are also inhibitors of adenosine uptake into brain synaptosomes. The IC₅₀ values of all these compounds as inhibitors of adenosine uptake are in close agreement with the IC₅₀ values obtained for the displacement of benzodiazepine binding to the brain receptors. Adenosine uptake inhibitors (dipyridamole, hexobendine, papaverine, 6-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl)thioguanosine) which competitively inhibit adenosine uptake, presumably by blocking adenosine binding to its carrier-protein, are competitive inhibitors of diazepam binding to the brain membrane receptors. The finding of a pronounced correlation between inhibition of benzodiazepine binding and inhibition of adenosine uptake further supports the proposal that benzodiazepines may exert part of their pharmacological action through the inhibition of adenosine uptake.