Changes in synthetic activity of cell walls during the cell cycle in a synchronous culture of Catharanthus roseus

The incorporation rates of [¹⁴C] glucose into various fractions of the cell walls and into the sugar constituent of each fraction were investigated in a synchronous culture of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don in order to elucidate the synthetic aspects of the cell walls during the cell cycle. Changes in the incorporation of radioactivity were closely correlated with changes in the amount of each cell wall fraction as well as with those in sugar composition as reported previously (S. Amino et al. Physiol. Plant. 60: 326–332, 1984). The specific activity of galactose was higher than that of other sugars throughout the cell cycle, and a temporary increase in the incorporation of radioactivity into all cell wall fractions except cellulose was observed just before the increase in cell numbers. The synthetic activities may play key roles in the regulation of cell wall polysaccharide dynamics during the cell cycle.     

A Comparison of Tomato Fruit Chloroplast and Chromoplast DNAs as Analyzed with Restriction Endonucleases

Chromoplast DNA was isolated from ripe-red tomato fruits, andits structure compared with that of chloroplast DNAs from maturegreen fruits and leaves. There was a good correspondence betweenthe structures analyzed by BamHI or EcoRI digestion and by hybridizationwith a probe for the gene of the ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenaselarge subunit. ¹ Present address: Koryo International College, Nisshin, Aichi470-01, Japan. (Received November 5, 1984; Accepted February 6, 1985)     

Triterpenes from Periandra dulcis roots

Three oleanane triterpenes were isolated from the roots of Periandra dulcis,and identified as 3β-hydroxy-25-al-olean-18-en-30-oic acid (periandric acid I), 3β-hydroxy-25-al-olean-12-en-30-oic acid (periandric acid II) and 3-oxo-25-hydroxy-olean-12-en-30-oic acid. The former two compounds (periandric acids I and II) were identical with the aglycones obtained by hydrolysis of periandrin I and II, respectively and the latter one was a new triterpene.     

Length heterogeneity of the large spacer of Vicia faba rDNA is due to the differing number of a 325 bp repetitive sequence elements

Summary The DNA fragments including the whole large spacer region of Vicia faba rDNA were cloned in plasmid pBR325. Sixteen clones were classed into five groups which differed from each other in the lengths of the rDNA inserts. Physical maps of these length variants cloned were constructed using EcoRI, SalI, HpaI, MluI and AccI and evidence was obtained that the length heterogeneity was due mainly to the differing number of 325 base pairs (bp) subrepeating elements in the large spacer. Sequence analysis of this subrepeating element revealed that it consisted of a duplet of an approximately 155 bp sequence and a 14 bp unrelated sequence. This structure of the repetitive element is novel.     

Correlations in one-dimensional fully developed chaos

Correlations in the baker map and the tent map as examples of one-dimensional, fully developed chaos are considered. It is shown, utilizing symbolic dynamical systems derived from these maps, that the vanishing second-order correlation function is not sufficient to guarantee uncorrelatedness. Importance of the higher-order, especially third-order, correlation functions is emphasized for chaotic systems. In search of the quantities that grasp correlational behaviors as a whole in chaotic systems, it is proposed to use the fixed-separation correlation integral, which is a modified quantity of the usual correlation integral devised to calculate the fractal dimension of strange attractors, for these maps. It is shown that the new quantity contains all the even-number orders of autocorrelation function that are commonly considered.     

Structural changes of alpha2- and ovomacroglobulins

The plasma α₂-macroglobulin and its egg white homologue ovomacroglobulin were purified from several different species and their structure before and after the reaction with proteinases studied by electron microscopy. The negatively stained specimens showed either a ringlike structure or a flowerlike one before the reaction with proteinses, but their structures changed into open rectangular ones after the reaction. The translational frictional ratio f/f ₀ of human α2-macroglobulin and crocodilian ovomacroglobulin given in the literature is between 1.5 and 1.6 before and after the reaction with proteinases. The value reflects asymmetry due not to a high axial ratio, but rather to an openness of the structure resulting in a partially free draining character of the molecules. The computational method developed by Bloomfield and his co-workers based on the formalism of Kirkwood is used to calculate the frictional ratio of several models constructed from small spheres. The overall shape of the models is derived from electron micrographs. Although the degree of hydration is an unknown parameter in the calculation, reasonable agreement is obtained between the experimental values of f/f ₀ and the calculated ones. Combination of electron microscopic and hydrodynamic methods would be fruitful in the structural study of giant proteins such as α₂-macroglobulin.     

Responses of aerial ventilation to hypoxia and hypercapnia inChanna argus,an air-breathing fish

Summary The snake-head fish (Channa argus) is an obligate air-breather inhabiting fresh waters in the temperate zone of East Asia.Ventilation of the air-breathing organ and aerial gas exchange were measured in 1 to 2 kg specimens at 15 and 25°C. Additionally, the ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia were studied. Aerial ventilation increased from 1.1 to 2.9 mlbtps·kg^–1·min^–1 when temperature rose from 15 to 25°C. Concomitantly, O₂-uptake through airbreathing increased from 0.1 mlstpd·kg^–1·min^–1 (15°C) to 0.28 mlstpd·kg^–1·min^–1 (25°C), whereas aerial gas exchange was less important for CO₂-climination as evident from low gas exchange ratios (0.16 at 15°C, 0.29 at 25°C).Ventilation increases only slightly in response to inspiration of hypercapnic gas mixtures or to hypoxic conditions in water. By contrast, inspiration of hypoxic gas mixtures caused marked increases of ventilation in particular at the higher temperature.Aerial ventilation inChanna is low compared to values for ectothermic pulmonary breathers. However, its ventilatory responses to hypoxia strikingly resemble those of reptiles: The most marked ventilatory response to hypoxia occurs at the higher temperature where the demands for O₂ are greatest.     

Effects of Some Growth Regulators and Benzoic Acid Derivatives on Flower Initiation and Root Elongation of Pharbitis nil, Strain Kidachi

Seedlings of Pharbitis nil, strain Kidachi, were grown undercontinuous light at 20°C in vessels containing 5,000-mlnutrient solution, 24 plants per vessel. NAA (0.005–0.5µM), GA₃ (0.1–0.5 µM), kinetin (0.5–5µM), benzyladenine (0.05–5 µM) or abscisicacid (4 µM) added to the nutrient solution induced long-dayflowering, and the flowering was always accompanied by suppressionof root elongation. 3,4-Dichlorobenzoic acid (0.05–10µM) and some other benzoic acid derivatives which arehighly effective for the induction of flowering in Lemna paucicostataalso showed similar effects. Neither NAA, kinetin nor 3,4-dichlorobenzoicacid applied via the apical part of the hypocotyl could causeflowering or suppression of root elongation. Thus, the flower-inducingeffect of the above substances was presumed to be secondaryto the suppression of root elongation. Ethrel (1–50 µM)added to the nutrient solution suppressed root elongation, butdid not induce flowering probably because it has flower-inhibitingactivity. ¹ This paper is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Joji Ashida,the first president of the Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. (Received December 15, 1982; Accepted February 25, 1983)     

Evidence that cyclic AMP may regulate Ca2+-mobilization and phospholipases in thrombin-stimulated human platelets

The regulation of human platelet responses by cyclic AMP (cAMP) has been investigated by measuring thrombin-stimulated serotonin release, Ca²⁺ uptake and phospholipase activity. Thrombin-induced 1,2-diacylglycerol (DG) formation as a result of phospholipase C activation was inhibited by pretreatment with dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) in a dose-dependent manner. Subsequent failure to produce phosphatidic acid (PA), which is converted from 1,2-DG by phosphorylation and would serve as intracellular Ca²⁺ ionophore, appeared to parallel the decrease in Ca²⁺ uptake activity. Phospholipase A₂ activity, monitored by the production of [³H]lysophosphatidylcholine and [³H]lysophosphatidylethanolamine, was also suppressed by dbcAMP. These data indicate that the intracellular cAMP level may be closely associated with Ca²⁺ uptake and phospholipases activation. In addition, it is suggested that alteration of intracellular cAMP regulates phospholipase activation and consequently platelet responses, perhaps by controlling available Ca²⁺ content.     

Glucose catabolism during aging and differentiation in hypocotyls ofPhaseolus mungo seedlings

Changes in activities of the glycolytic and pentose phosphate (PP) pathways in glucose catabolism in various parts of the hypocotyls obtained from 4-day-old etiolatedPhaseolus mungo seedlings were investigated by measuring the inhibition rates of respiration by iodoacetate and malonate, and the release of¹⁴CO₂ from [1-¹⁴C]- and [6-¹⁴C]glucose. The relative activity of the PP pathway in glucose catabolism was higher in the immature part (Part I) and the aged part (Part V) of the hypocotyls than in the intermediary one (Part III), while the activity of the glycolytic pathway decreased with aging. On a fresh weight basis, the enzyme activities of the glycolytic and PP pathways were higher in Part I than in Parts III and V. On a protein content basis, however, activities of the enzymes of the PP pathway increased with aging and differentiation of the hypocotyls whereas those of the glycolytic pathway decreased. Levels of nicotinamide adenine nucleotides were found to be in the following order: Part I>Part III> Part V for NAD⁺+NADH; Part I>Part V>Part III for NADP⁺+NADPH. The stimulative effect of methylene blue on decreasing the C₆/C₁ ratio was greater in Part III than in Part I, and No effect was observed in Part V. These data suggest that a decrease in the activity of the glycolytic pathway with aging and differentiation may be due to the decreasing glycolytic enzyme activities and NAD(H) content. The higher activity of the PP pathway in the immature part is attributable to larger amounts of NADP(H) and enzymes of the PP pathway. The greater contribution of the PP pathway to glucose catabolism in the aged part than in the intermediary part seems to results from a more active turnover of NADP and the relatively higher activity of the enzymes of the PP pathway than those of the glycolytic pathway.