Structural and Transcriptional Variation of Mitochondrial DNA in Pollen-Sterile Agamospermous Sugar Beet (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Beta vulgaris</Emphasis> L.) Progeny

The cytoplasm status according to mitochondrial sequence tags was determined in agamospermous sugar beet progenies characterized by unstable manifestation of cytoplasmic male sterility. The detected variations in the ratios of homologous sequences related to the N and S mtDNA types did not correlate with pollen phenotypes of the plants. Polymerase chain reaction allowed semiquantitative evaluation of these variations and their detection. A cDNA corresponding to a hitherto unknown minor RNA and containing a consensus sequence of dicotyledonous plant promoters was detected by mtRNA display. Probable sources of CMS variability in agamospermous sugar beet progenies are discussed.     

Fungal biosynthesis of non-ribosomal peptide antibiotics and alpha, alpha-dialkylated amino acid constituents.

Zervamicins (Zrv) IIA and IIB are membrane modifying peptide antibiotics of fungal origin, characterized by a sequence of 15 amino acid residues. The primary structure of Zrv-IIA contains five alpha-aminoisobutyric acid residues at positions 4, 7, 9, 12 and 14 of the linear peptide. The sequence of Zrv-IIB is similar, but contains a D-isovaline at position 4. When the free amino acid Aib was added to the peptone-glucose culture medium, the fungus Emericellopsis salmosynnemata produced Zrv-IIA as the major secondary metabolite, whereas addition of DL-Iva to the culture led to a high production of Zrv-IIB. This observation is rationalized by a lack of selectivity of the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase with respect to the thiolester activated amino acid substrates during step 12 of peptide synthesis. Analysis of the configuration of the Iva residue of Zrv-IIB showed a high enantiomeric purity of the D-enantiomer, indicating a high stereoselectivity of the peptide synthetase for this substrate.When the culture was supplemented with [(15)N]DL-Iva, the nitrogen isotope was not only found at the D-Iva residue, but surprisingly also at the Aib residues as well as at the proteinogenic residues of Zrv. The partial catabolism of exogenous [(15)N]DL-Iva is explained by the assumption of a decarboxylation-dependent transamination reaction, catalysed by 2,2-dimethylglycine decarboxylase. The same enzyme might also be involved in the reversed carboxylation reactions of acetone and 2-butanone, during the anabolic biosynthesis of Aib and Iva, respectively. Zrv might possibly act as a thermodynamic sink to shift these equilibrium reactions towards the reversed side.     

Biotinylated fluorescent peptide substrates for the sensitive and specific determination of cathepsin D activity.

Cathepsin D (CatD) is a member of the mammalian aspartic protease family and is involved in cellular protein degradation and in several pathological processes. A sensitive and specific assay for the determination of CatD activity in biological samples was developed. The peptide amide substrates Amca-EDKPILF downward arrowFRLGK(biotin)-CONH2 (I), Amca-EEKPIC(Acm)F downward arrowFRLGK(biotin)-CONH2 (II) and Amca-EEKPISF downward arrowFRLGK(biotin)-CONH2 (III) contain a CatD cleavage site (F downward arrowF) flanked by a N-terminal Amca-fluorophore (7-amino-4-methylcoumarin-3-acetic acid) and a C-terminal biotin moiety. Substrates II and III proved to be specific substrates containing only one cleavage site for CatD. After cleavage of the Phe-Phe bond by CatD all biotin conjugated peptides were removed with streptavidin-coated magnetic beads. The remaining fluorescent peptides in solution represent the amount of digested substrate. The versatility of this CatD digest and pull down assay was demonstrated by measuring the activity of CatD in different subcellular fractions of human EBV-transformed B cells and human monocytes. The described method based on the designed CatD substrates represents a valuable tool for routine assays.     

Synthesis and activity of 2-oxoamides containing long chain beta-amino acids.

2-Oxoamides based on long chain beta-amino acids were synthesized. 1-Benzyl substituted long chain amines, needed for such synthesis, were synthesized starting from Boc-phenylalaninol. The oxidative conversion of a phenyl group to a carboxyl group was used as the key transformation synthetic step. The compounds synthesized were studied for their activity against GIVA PLA(2), and were proven to be weak inhibitors.     

Morphology of the nematocysts of the medusae of two scyphozoans, Catostylus mosaicus and Phyllorhiza punctata (Rhizostomeae): implications for capture of prey

Abstract. We examined the cnidomes (total complement of nematocysts) of medusae of the zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate jellyfishes Phyllorhiza punctata and Catostylus mosaicus (Rhizostomeae, Scyphozoa), and compared the assemblage of zooplankton captured on the oral arms of each species to determine whether differences in the types or amount of zooplankton captured were consistent with possible differences in the cnidomes. Cnidomes were described using light and scanning electron microscopy. Each species had a distinct cnidome and, in general, specimens of P. punctata appeared to have far fewer nematocysts than those of C. mosaicus. Four types of nematocysts were identified in medusae of C. mosaicus; 2 types of holotrichous isorhizae, rhopaloids, and birhopaloids. In C. mosaicus, the oral arms and bell margins possessed all of these types, but the cnidomes of the 2 regions differed in relative abundances and sizes of isorhizae and rhopaloids. Five types of nematocysts were identified in medusae of P. punctata, although not all types were found in all specimens. Round holotrichous isorhizae were found only in the bell, while oval holotrichous isorhizae, rhopaloids of 2 distinct size ranges, and birhopaloids were found in the bell and oral arms. Cnidomes of the bell and oral arms in specimens of P. punctata also differed in the relative abundance and sizes of oval isorhizae and rhopaloids. Although there were clear differences in the overall cnidomes and absolute abundances of nematocysts in each species, the oral arms (feeding appendages) of specimens of both C. mosaicus and P. punctata had similar types and relative abundances of nematocysts. Zooplankton sampled from the oral arms of each species showed that both species preyed predominantly on copepod nauplii and larvae of gastropods and bivalves. Medusae of C. mosaicus captured ～10 × more gastropod larvae and 5 × more bivalve larvae than those of P. punctata. Specimens of P. punctata captured approximately twice as many copepod nauplii as those of C. mosaicus. Differences in the relative abundance of types of zooplankton captured by each species could not be adequately explained by differences in the cnidomes of the oral arms.     

Growth of the Brown Alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Laminaria japonica</Emphasis> in a Laboratory Environment

The growth of an individual thallus of the brown alga Laminaria japonica was studied in a laboratory environment. It was found that daily accretion of the Laminaria thallus can remain constant for a long time. The blade grew in length at a distance from 0 to 15–25 cm from the stipe-blade border, which makes up 60% of the blade length. In width, the blade grew both in the central and in the lateral parts of the blade, 0 to 7–10 cm from the stipe-blade border, which makes up 30% of the frond length. The transposition of a perforation hole mark from the stipe-blade border toward the blade tip evidenced the formation of new tissue in the growth zone even when the thallus diminished in size due to destruction of the blade tip. Based on the results of this observation, it was concluded that both restraint of accumulation and even reduction of the algal thallus in biomass and size cannot be taken as an indication of algal growth cessation.Original Russian Text Copyright ¢ 2005 by Biologiya Morya, Skriptsova, Leletkin.     

Stabilization of ballooning modes by nonparaxial cells

An analysis is made of the effect of high-curvature stabilizing nonparaxial elements (cells) on the MHD plasma stability in open confinement systems and in confinement systems with closed magnetic field lines. It is shown that the population of particles trapped in such cells has a stabilizing effect not only on convective (flute) modes but also on ballooning modes, which govern the maximum possible β value. In the kinetic approach, which distinguishes between the effects of trapped and passing particles, the maximum possible β values consistent with stability can be much higher than those predicted by the MHD model.     

Study of X-ray and neutron emission in experiments with Al wires in an MA plasma focus

Results are presented from experimental studies of the correlation between X-ray and neutron emissions generated in the implosion of a deuteron plasma shell onto an Al wire. The experiments were carried out on the PF-1000 facility at currents of 1.5–1.8 MA. An Al wire 80 μm in diameter and 7–9 cm in length was placed at the end of the inner electrode. During the implosion of the plasma shell, Al K-shell X-rays were first emitted at the dip of the current derivative. After the X-ray pulse, a relatively stable corona with a diameter of 2–3 mm and lifetime of a few hundred nanoseconds formed around the wire. The presence of the wire did not considerably reduce the total neutron yield (at most 10¹¹ neutrons per shot) in comparison to discharges without a wire. As a rule, the intensity of neutron emission was maximal a few tens of nanoseconds after the peak of X-ray emission. A detailed comparison of two shots with low and high neutron yields have shown that the neutron yield depends on the configuration and dynamics of the discharge. The possible influence of the self-generated axial component of the magnetic field on the development of the plasma focus and the acceleration of fast deuterons is discussed.     

Modeling of the composition of materials for soft X-ray sources used in research on inertial confinement fusion

A method for calculating and optimizing the composition of materials for soft X-ray sources used in research on inertial confinement fusion is described. For a target-converter, a material composition is determined with which the conversion of laser light into X radiation is highly efficient. A comparative analysis is carried out of the efficiencies of generation of soft X-ray emission in the plasmas of some composite materials of thin conductors (wires) used as loads in X-and Z-pinches. Numerical calculations of the optical plasma properties are reported whose results make it possible to judge the emissivity of plasmas of different materials. The results obtained are compared to the data from other studies.