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.

     

Mechanism by Which Fiber Antigen Inhibits Multiplication of Type 5 Adenovirus

Purified fiber antigen of type 5 adenovirus inhibited the multiplication of type 5 adenovirus by 50% when 35 mug of fiber antigen protein was added to 10(6) KB cells in suspension culture. Although the fiber antigen reduced the number of virions adsorbed per cell when a multiplicity of infection of 50,000 plaque-forming units (PFU)/cell was employed, the number of cells infected was not diminished under these conditions. If a low multiplicity of infection (1.1 PFU/cell) was used, viral adsorption was not detectably decreased. The fiber antigen did not reduce the capability of virions to liberate their viral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The biosyntheses of DNA, ribonucleic acid (RNA), and protein were blocked about 20 to 25 hr after the addition of fiber antigen to cultures of uninfected or type 5 adenovirus-infected KB cells. Most of the fiber antigen protein became cell-associated between 22 and 36 hr after it was added to cells. The hexon antigen neither inhibited viral multiplication nor blocked the biosynthesis of DNA, RNA, or protein. Moreover, the hexon did not attach to KB cells. The profound effects of the fiber antigen were not due to the induction of an interferon-like substance, for actinomycin D did not reduce the ability of the fiber to inhibit multiplication of type 1 poliovirus.     

Studies of the proteins, peptides and free amino acids of mature bovine enamel

1. The organic matrix of enamel from erupted bovine teeth has been found to be composed mostly of small peptides containing principally aspartic acid, glycine, glutamic acid and serine. 2. A small amount of higher-molecular-weight components has been isolated by various procedures. One non-diffusible fraction was found to be heterogeneous in the ultracentrifuge, and composed principally of material that by gel filtration indicated a molecular weight greater than 30000. These components were largely carbohydrate in nature (glycoproteins and glycopeptides), containing only small amounts of amino acids.     

THE FINE STRUCTURE OF STREPTOMYCES VIOLACEORUBER (S. COELICOLOR) : III. The Walls of the Mycelium and Spores

A study of thin sections of hyphae of Streptomyces violaceoruber in the electron microscope showed that the structure of the walls and the mode of formation of cross-walls are similar to those of Gram-positive bacteria. A beaded structure was seen in some regions of the wall, and the significance of this observation is discussed in relation to previous studies of the fine structure of bacterial cell walls. Elements of the intracytoplasmic membrane system appear to be involved in the process of cross-wall formation. The walls of the hyphae of the aerial mycelium divide into two layers before the spores are formed, and only the inner component of the wall grows inwards to form the cross-walls and so delimit the spores. The outer component remains intact for a time and acts as a sheath around the developing spores. Finally the sheath breaks and the spores are liberated. This process is contrasted with the formation of endospores in eubacteria. When the spores germinate, the walls of the germ tubes are continuous with those of the spores.     

Active Ion Transport Across Canine Blood Vessel Walls

Experiments giving evidence of active Na and Cl ion fluxes across large canine blood vessel walls (aorta, vena cava) in vitro have been presented. The information has been obtained using ion tracer techniques after Ussing and with diffusion cells of the Hogben type. The available data suggest that the membranes are satisfactorily oxygenated by the bathing solutions saturated with oxygen at atmospheric pressure. Evidence is offered which indicates that active ion transport does occur across the aorta and vena cava in in vitro experiments. Under the conditions of the experiment net Na and Cl flux takes place from intima to adventitia across the aorta, and from adventitia to intima across the vena cava at low measured potential differences. The possible relationships of derangement of active ion transport mechanisms, produced by electric currents and tissue injury potential differences, to intravascular thrombosis are alluded to. It would appear that sodium and chloride fluxes across large blood vessel walls in vitro occur at least in part as the result of metabolic processes and cannot be explained simply on the basis of diffusion across a semipermeable membrane.