Lichtbedingte Orientierungen der Chlorophyllmoleküle in Algenchloroplasten

Der Mesotaenium-Chloroplast hat in Kantenstellung ein Extinktionsmaximum bei λ = 670 nm, in Flächenstellung ein solches bei λ = 680 nm. Chi 660 und 680 sind im Mesotaenium- und im Mougeotia-Chloroplasten parallel zur Thylakoidfläche orientiert. Das gleiche gilt für das Chl 670 des Mougeotia-Chloroplasten, während dieses Chlorophyll im Mesotaenium-Chloroplasten teils flächenparallel und teils flächennormal ausgerichtet ist. Das Molekül bzw. die Porphyrinebene des flächenparallel ausgerichteten Chlorophylls kann mit seinem Rotübergang (Elektronenoscillator für die Absorption roten Lichtes) bzw. mit seinem Blauübergang zusätzlich parallel zur Chloroplastenlängsachse orientiert sein. Die Ausrichtung der Chlorophyllmoleküle steigert sich mit der Lichtintensität, wird jedoch durch DCMU bzw. durch 4-Amino-6-isopropyl-3-thiomethyl-1,2,4-triazin-5-on gehemmt bzw. völlig unterbunden. Herrn Prof. Dr. G. Schulz , Fachbereich Physik der Universität des Saarlandes, danken wir für die Unterstützung bei der Durchführung statistischer Teste, den Farbenfabriken Bayer, Leverkusen, für die Überlassung des 1,2,4-Triazinons.     

The distinction between γ-glutamylhydroxamate synthetase and l-glutamine–hydroxylamine glutamyltransferase activities in rat tissues. Studies in vivo

The formation of gamma-glutamylhydroxamate by homogenates under optimum assay condition showed an inconstancy in the ratios of the enzyme activities utilizing l-glutamate and ATP (gamma-glutamylhydroxamate synthetase) and l-glutamine and ADP (l-glutamine-hydroxylamine glutamyltransferase) in a number of normal and neoplastic rat tissues. Although gamma-glutamylhydroxamate synthetase activities in adult livers and kidneys were identical in males and females, l-glutamine-hydroxylamine glutamyltransferase activities in the organs of females were significantly lower. The developmental formations of the two activities in liver, kidney, brain and muscle were not simultaneous. The l-glutamine-hydroxylamine glutamyltransferase activity in foetal liver or neonatal kidney could be prematurely evoked by thyroxine, but the gamma-glutamylhydroxamate synthetase activity remained unchanged. Injections of cortisol also had dissimilar effects on the two activities in thymus and hepatomas. The discrepant tissue distribution, asynchronous developmental formation and differential response to several hormonal stimuli provide evidence in vivo that the two activities are not catalysed by the same protein.     

Development and Use of a Polyvalent Conjugate to Differentiate Histoplasma capsulatum and Histoplasma duboisii from Other Pathogens

Previous investigations have demonstrated the existence of five Histoplasma capsulatum serotypes. Available specific fluorescent-antibody reagents stain only four of the five serotypes. Antibodies produced against the most complete H. capsulatum serotype were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate to develop a reagent specific for H. capsulatum that was reactive with all the known serotypes. The unadsorbed reagent not only stained all the H. capsulatum serotypes, but it also stained cultures of Blastomyces dermatitidis, H. duboisii, several Candida species, and a variety of other fungi. Adsorption of the conjugate with antigens of C. albicans produced a reagent that intensely stained only H. capsulatum, H. duboisii, and B. dermatitidis. Differentiation of B. dermatitidis from the Histoplasma species was accomplished by application of a B. dermatitidis specific fluorescent antibody to antigens positive with the H. capsulatum reagent. At present, differentiation of H. capsulatum from H. duboisii may be accomplished only by animal inoculation. Our data substantiate the antigenic relationships hypothesized earlier, and they indicate that H. capsulatum shares at least two antigens with the other fungi that were studied.     

Die Verteilung der Gc-Phänotypen und Gc-Allele bei einigen Krankheiten (Diabetes mellitus,Leberparenchymschaden, Psoriasis vulgaris)

Zusammenfassung Bei 239 Probanden mit Diabetes mellitus, 213 Leberkranken—bes. Patienten mit akuter und chronischer Hepatitis sowie Lebercirrhosen—und 203 Kranken mit Psoriasis vulgaris wurden die Gc-Phänotypen bestimmt und mit der Gc-Typenverteilung bei 1733 gesunden Kontrollpersonen verglichen. Die Frequenz für das Allel Gc¹ beim Diabetes mellitus liegt mit 0,7490 sowie bei den Leberkrankheiten mit 0,7371 höher, bei der Psoriasis vulgaris mit 0,6749 niedriger als bei der gesunden Kontrollgruppe mit Gc¹ 0,7185. Der Unterschied im Vergleich der Diabetiker sowie der Leberkranken mit den Gesunden ist jedoch nicht signifikant. In der Gruppe mit Psoriasis vulgaris dagegen kommt der Phänotyp Gc2-1 signifikant häufiger vor als der Typ 1–1, allerdings ist diese Stichprobe in sich möglicherweise nicht hinreichend homogen.

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The frequency of the three Gc-phenotypes has been determined in 239 propositi with diabetes mellitus,213 patients with liver diseases—especially acute and chronic hepatitis as well as liver cirrhosis—and 203 persons with psoriasis vulgaris. The distribution in these diseases is compared with 1733 serum samples of healthy inhabitants of South-Niedersachsen with a Gc¹ frequency of 0,7185. The frequency of the gene Gc¹ in diabetes mellitus is 0,7490, in liver diseases 0,7371 and in psoriasis vulgaris 0,6749. These differences are statistically not significant in diabetes and in liver diseases. A significant difference has been found in psoriasis vulgaris between the both phenotypes Gc 1–1 and Gc 2-1 (X ²=10,7164, p(m=1)0,001). It may, however, be discussed wether this sample has a sufficient homogeneity.

     

Eine Analyse der durch Blaulicht bewirkten Steigerung der Proteinsynthese bei Farnvorkeimen auf der Ebene der Aminosäuren

Zusammenfassung Bei der quantitativen Analyse der Protein-Aminosäuren von Farnvorkeimen (Dryopteris filix-mas) ergab sich, daß die Steigerung des Proteingehalts durch Blaulicht mit einer Zunahme aller untersuchten Aminosäuren einhergeht. Dabei bleibt der prozentuale Anteil der einzelnen Aminosäuren am Gesamtprotein immer annähernd gleich, abgesehen vom Prolin. — Offenbar kommt es unter dem Einfluß von Blaulicht hauptsächlich zu einer quantitativen Vermehrung und nur im geringen Maße zu einer qualitativen Veränderung der Proteinfraktion. — Da die pools der erfaßbaren freien Aminosäuren im Hellrot stets größer sind als im Blaulicht, ist der Schluß berechtigt, daß das Blaulicht seine Wirkung im Zusammenhang mit der Polypeptidsynthese und nicht über eine Steigerung der Aminosäuresynthese ausübt.

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An analysis of the blue light mediated increase of protein synthesis in fern gametophytes on the level of amino acids

Summary Morphogenesis and metabolism of the sporelings (= young gametophytes) of the common male fern Dryopteris filix-max are controlled by visible radiation. Short wavelengths visible radiation (= blue light) leads to an increase in protein synthesis and makes possible the formation of normal two-dimensional prothallia. Under long wavelengths visible radiation (= red light) the sporelings grow as cellular filaments, the protein contents of which are markedly lower than under blue light even under conditions of equal rate of dry matter accumulation in red and blue light (Fig. 2). — Quantitative amino acid analysis of the total protein of blue and red grown sporelings did not reveal any striking difference. The contents of all those amino acids which can be measured quantitatively after protein hydrolysis show about the same increase under the influence of blue light (Figs. 3, 4). Only in the case of proline are the differences between red grown and blue grown sporelings indicative of a qualitative change in the nature of the protein fraction (Fig. 3/h). —The pools of the free amino acids are always smaller in blue grown sporelings than in red grown ones (Figs. 6, 7). — The facts reported in this paper indicate that blue light leads mainly to a quantitative increase in the rate of protein synthesis. The influence of blue light on the qualitative nature of the protein fraction seems to be slight. On the other hand, the data on the pool sizes of the free amino acids support the conclusion that blue light controls the rate of protein synthesis at the stage of polypeptide synthesis and not through amino acid synthesis.

     

Polymorphism and complexity of HLA-DR: evidence for intra-HLA-DR region crossing-over events

HLA-DR molecules were isolated from HLA-DR3, –5, and –w6 positive homozygous B-cell lines by immunoprecipitation with monoclonal antibodies and analyzed by gel electrophoretic techniques. DNA isolated from the same cell lines was digested with the restriction enzyme Taq I and hybridized with a DR beta full-length cDNA probe. We demonstrated that certain DR I alleles are found in combination with different DR III alleles as defined by Southern blotting, protein chemistry, a functional assay using purified protein derivative-specific T-cell lines, and, in one case, also alloreactive T-cell reagents. Our results indicate that within the family of HLA-DRw52-associated haplotypes DR beta chain genes may have been transferred from one haplotype to another. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

Model study on the bioreduction of paraquat, MPP+, and analogs. Evidence against a "redox cycling" mechanism in MPTP neurotoxicity

The ability of paraquat, MPP+, and analogs to be reduced by chemical reductants and by NADPH, as catalyzed by liver microsomes or purified NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase, is reported. The analogs span a range of electrochemical potential, including values in-between that of paraquat and MPP+. Analogs with an Eo below -.55 V (vs. NHE) are not reduced by either the NADPH-microsomes or NADPH-reductase systems. The inability of MPP+ to be bio-reduced or to stimulate the production of superoxide during aerobic reduction is evidence against a redox-cycling (oxidant stress) role of MPP+ in MPTP neurotoxicity.     

Frequency alternation and an offbeat rhythm indicate foraging behavior in the echolocating bat, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccopteryx bilineata</Emphasis>

The greater sac-winged bat, Saccopteryx bilineata (Emballonuridae), uses two distinct echolocation call sequences: a ‘monotonous’ sequence, where bats emit ~48 kHz calls at a relatively stable rate, and a frequency-alternating sequence, where bats emit calls at ~45 kHz (low-note call) and ~48 kHz (high-note call). The frequencies of these low–high-note pairs remain stable within sequences. In Panama, we recorded echolocation calls from S. bilineata with a multi-microphone array at two sites: one a known roosting site, the other a known foraging site. Our results indicate that this species (1) only produces monotonous sequences in non-foraging contexts and, at times, directly after emitting a feeding buzz and (2) produces frequency-alternating sequences when actively foraging. These latter sequences are also characterized by an unusual, offbeat emission rhythm. We found significant positive relationships between (1) call intensity and call duration and (2) call intensity and distance from clutter. However, these relationships were weaker than those reported for bats from other families. We speculate on how call frequency alternation and an offbeat emission rhythm might reflect a novel strategy for prey detection at the edge of complex habitat in this ancient family of bats.