The Photosynthetic Electron Transport Chain of Chlamydomonas reinhardi. VII. Photosynthetic Phosphorylation by a Mutant Strain of Chlamydomonas reinhardi Deficient in Active P700

Electron transport activity and absorbance changes associated with P700 were investigated in a mutant strain of Chlamydomonas reinhardi with impaired photosynthesis. This mutant strain, ac-8oa, cannot reduce NADP with electrons from either water or dye and ascorbate, but it has considerable Hill activity. The mutant strain shows none of the absorbance changes characteristic of P700. Although unable to carry out cyclic photosynthetic phosphorylation, ac-8oa is able to synthesize ATP when ferricyanide is provided as an electron acceptor.

These observations lead to the conclusion that a site for the coupling of photosynthetic phosphorylation with electron transport must exist between the 2 photochemical systems.

     

α1-Adrenergic Receptor Mediates Arachidonic Acid Release in Spinal Cord Neurons Independent of Inositol Phospholipid Turnover

The alpha 1-adrenergic receptor has been shown to mediate the release of arachidonic acid in FRTL5 thyroid cells and MDCK kidney cells. In primary cultures of spinal cord cells, norepinephrine stimulated release of arachidonic acid (from neurons only) and turnover of inositol phospholipids (from neurons and glia) via alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. These two responses were dissociated by treatment with phorbol ester and pertussis toxin, which inhibited production of inositol phosphates with no appreciable effect on release of arachidonic acid. Extracellular calcium was required for release of arachidonic acid, but not for production of inositol phosphates. The calcium channel blockers nifedipine and verapamil inhibited release of arachidonic acid only. However, 8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8), a compound that blocks intracellular calcium release, diminished production of inositol phosphates, but had little effect on release of arachidonic acid. These results suggest that alpha 1-adrenergic receptors couple to release of arachidonic acid in primary cultures of spinal cord cells by a mechanism independent of activation of phospholipase C, possibly via the activation of phospholipase A2.     

Catabolic plasmids of environmental and ecological significance

The environmental and ecological significance of catabolic plasmids and their host strains are discussed in the context of their potential application for environmental biotechnology. Included is a comprehensive list of naturally occurring discrete catabolic plasmids isolated from either natural habitats or selective enrichment studies. General properties, such as plasmid maintenance, stability and transfer, are discussed together with the techniques for plasmid detection and monitoring in the environment. The issues concerning the construction of catabolic strains with new or broader substrate ranges and the uses of monocultures or consortia for in situ treatment are addressed.     

Genic diversity in Red River pupfish Cyprinodon rubrofluviatilis (Atheriniformes: Cyprinodontidae) and its implications for the conservation genetics of the species

Starch gel electrophoresis of proteins was used to study geographic variation at 26 gene loci in the Red River pupfish ( Cyprinodon rubrofluviatílís ), a species restricted to west Texas and Oklahoma. Marked differences were detected between populations in the Red and Brazos river drainages, with fixed or nearly fixed differences occurring at five gene loci. In addition, mean heterozygosity was uniformly high for the Red River form ( = 0·076–0·101) while samples of the Brazos River form were genetically depauperate ( =0·00–0·017). Introduced populations in the South Canadian and Colorado river drainages appear to have been derived from the Red River drainage. The presence of alleles diagnostic of the Red and Brazos river forms supports the suggestion from previous work that they may represent cryptic species. Regardless of taxonomy, however, the presence of two genetically distinct forms must be taken into consideration by those concerned with maintenance of biotic diversity.