Underground dry weight in the grassland communities ofArrhenatheretum elatioris alopecuretosum pratensis R. Tx. 1937 andMesobrometum erecti stipetosum Vicherek 1960

The meadow plant communities,Arrhenatheretum elatioris alopecuretosum pratensis R. Tx. 1937 andMesobrometum erecti stipetosum Vicherek 1960, were chosen for investigations of the underground plant parts. Apparent differences in underground dry weight and its seasonal changes in both the communities were observed. Differences in the soil environment in different periods of the year are reflected in the character of time changes in underground dry weight. The soil environment affects not only the total underground biomass and their changes in time, but also the activity of soil microflora and, consequently, the decomposition rate of dead underground plant parts.     

The Superoxide Dismutase-Mimic Copper-Putrescine-Pyridine Suppresses Lipid Peroxidation in CHO Cells. Implications for its Prooxidative and Antioxidative Mechanisms of Action

Copper-Putrescine-Pyridine (Cu-PuPy) is a membrane-permeable complex which efficiently dismutates superoxide. In excess of 0.1 mM it is highly cytotoxic and oxidizes cellular GSH with concomitant production of H₂O₂. Here we show that treatment of CHO cells with 0.2 mM Cu-PuPy (0-200 min) leads to an accumulation of H₂O₂. Organic hydroperoxides which are also formed at low levels in the presence of Cu-PuPy, increase significantly after removal of the copper complex. We conclude that Cu-PuPy acts as an oxidant until cellular GSH is depleted. However, by interfering with radical chain propagation reactions, it suppresses lipid peroxidation and thus substitutes for consumed physiological antioxidants in a later stage of treatment. This consistently explains our previous, seemingly paradox, finding that longer Cu-PuPy treatments may be significantly less toxic than shorter ones.     

Analysis of haplotype preference in the cytotoxic T-cell response to H-Y

The mechanism determining which parental haplotype is selected in (CBA × 1310) (k × b)F₁ female mice for major histocompatibility complex (H-2) restricted, male-specific (H-Y), immune, cytotoxic T-cell (Tc-cell) responses, was investigated. The data show that haplotype preference is variable, and may be directed towards one, both, or neither of the parental haplotypes. This preference is reflected in the precursor frequency of memory Tc cells as measured by limiting dilution assays. It was further shown that maternal influence, antigen dose, route of immunization, and a feedback mechanism on the stimulator cells in vivo could not influence haplotype preference or its observed variability. Evidence for cross-reactive killing by H-2^k and H-2^b H-Y immune Tc cells on H-2^b and H-2^k allogeneic targets, respectively, (i. e., the independent haplotype of the other parent of the F₁ mice), provide evidence for natural tolerance as a possible mechanism to explain haplotype preference.     

Mass cultivation of Tetrahymena thermophila yielding high cell densities and short generation times

Summary A cheap medium, composed of skimmed milk powder, yeast extract, and glucose, for mass cultivation of the protozoon Tetrahymena thermophila has been developed. Cell concentrations of 5 x 10⁶ cells/ml and unprecedented short generation times of only 1.4 h were determined in batch cultures. During the exponential phase of growth, daughter cells initiated a new cell division even before the previous division had been completed, resulting in the formation of cell chains. Addition of glucose extended the stationary phase. Using a bench-top fermentor supplied with a digital control unit the utilization of nutrient components in batch culture was monitored. Milk protein and glucose were consumed completely, but lactose only partly. Correspondence to: A. Tiedtke     

Enhancement of specific nitrogenase activity inAzospirillum brasilense andKlebsiella pneumoniae,inhibition inRhizobium japonicum under air by phenol

Specific nitrogenase activity inAzospirillum brasilense ATCC 29145 in surface cultures under air is enhanced from about 50 nmol C₂H₄·mg protein^-1·h^-1 to 400 nmol C₂H₄ by the addition of 1 mM phenol. 0.5 and 2 mM phenol added increase the rate 5-fold and 4-fold. This enhancement effect is observed only between 2 and 3 days after inoculation, with only a small reduction of the growth of the cells by the phenol added. In surface cultures under 1% O₂, nitrogenase activity is slightly reduced by the addition of 1–0.01 mM phenol. Utilization of succinate is enhanced during the period of maximum enhancement of nitrogenase activity by 60% by addition of 1 mM phenol. The cells did not produce¹⁴CO₂ from [U-¹⁴C] phenol, neither in surface cultures nor in liquid cultures and less than 0.1% of the phenol was incorporated into the cells. A smaller but significant enhancement of nitrogenase activity by about 100% in surface cultures under air was found withKlebsiella pneumoniae K 11 after addition of 1 mM phenol. However, inRhizobium japonicum 61-A-101 all phenol concentrations above 0.01 mM reduced nitrogenase activity. With 1 mM phenol added activity was reduced to less than 10% with no effect on the growth in the same cultivation system. With thisRhizobium japonicum strain significant quantities of phenol (25 mol in 24 h by 2·10¹² cells) were metabolized to¹⁴CO₂, with phenol as sole carbon source. WithAzospirillum brasilense in liquid culture under 1% and 2% O₂ in the gas phase, no enhancement of nitrogenase activity by phenol was noticed.     

Distribution of RNA polymerase on Drosophila polytene chromosomes as studied by indirect immunofluorescence

Using indirect immunofluorescence visualization techniques we investigated the in situ distribution of RNA polymerase B on Drosophila melanogaster polytene chromosomes. The enzyme was found at many sites distributed throughout the genome in a pattern clearly distinct from that observed for histone H1, but it was especially concentrated in puffs induced by heat shock.     

Non-zero mean alpha oscillations revealed with computational model and empirical data

Ongoing oscillations and evoked responses are two main types of neuronal activity obtained with diverse electrophysiological recordings (EEG/MEG/iEEG/LFP). Although typically studied separately, they might in fact be closely related. One possibility to unite them is to demonstrate that neuronal oscillations have non-zero mean which predicts that stimulus- or task-triggered amplitude modulation of oscillations can contribute to the generation of evoked responses. We validated this mechanism using computational modelling and analysis of a large EEG data set. With a biophysical model, we indeed demonstrated that intracellular currents in the neuron are asymmetric and, consequently, the mean of alpha oscillations is non-zero. To understand the effect that neuronal currents exert on oscillatory mean, we varied several biophysical and morphological properties of neurons in the network, such as voltage-gated channel densities, length of dendrites, and intensity of incoming stimuli. For a very large range of model parameters, we observed evidence for non-zero mean of oscillations. Complimentary, we analysed empirical rest EEG recordings of 90 participants (50 young, 40 elderly) and, with spatio-spectral decomposition, detected at least one spatially-filtred oscillatory component of non-zero mean alpha oscillations in 93% of participants. In order to explain a complex relationship between the dynamics of amplitude-envelope and corresponding baseline shifts, we performed additional simulations with simple oscillators coupled with different time delays. We demonstrated that the extent of spatial synchronisation may obscure macroscopic estimation of alpha rhythm modulation while leaving baseline shifts unchanged. Overall, our results predict that amplitude modulation of neural oscillations should at least partially explain the generation of evoked responses. Therefore, inference about changes in evoked responses with respect to cognitive conditions, age or neuropathologies should be constructed while taking into account oscillatory neuronal dynamics.     

Sulfate is transported at significant rates through the symbiosome membrane and is crucial for nitrogenase biosynthesis

Legume–rhizobia symbioses play a major role in food production for an ever growing human population. In this symbiosis, dinitrogen is reduced (“fixed”) to ammonia by the rhizobial nitrogenase enzyme complex and is secreted to the plant host cells, whereas dicarboxylic acids derived from photosynthetically produced sucrose are transported into the symbiosomes and serve as respiratory substrates for the bacteroids. The symbiosome membrane contains high levels of SST1 protein, a sulfate transporter. Sulfate is an essential nutrient for all living organisms, but its importance for symbiotic nitrogen fixation and nodule metabolism has long been underestimated. Using chemical imaging, we demonstrate that the bacteroids take up 20‐fold more sulfate than the nodule host cells. Furthermore, we show that nitrogenase biosynthesis relies on high levels of imported sulfate, making sulfur as essential as carbon for the regulation and functioning of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Our findings thus establish the importance of sulfate and its active transport for the plant–microbe interaction that is most relevant for agriculture and soil fertility.