Schiffs bases and derived secondary amines as plant growth inhibitors

Seventy-two Schiffs bases, 44 corresponding secondary amines, and 12 N-acetylated compounds were tested on their growth activity. Eighty-one compounds were active as growth inhibitors in at least one of three bioassays.     

Trace feature map: a model of episodic associative memory

An approach to episodic associative memory is presented, which has several desirable properties as a human memory model. The design is based on topological feature map representation of data. An ordinary feature map is a classifier, mapping an input vector onto a topologically meaningful location on the map. A trace feature map, in addition, creates a memory trace on that location. The traces can be stored episodically in a single presentation, and retrieved with a partial cue. Nearby traces overlap, which results in plausible memory interference behavior. Performance degrades gracefully as the memory is overloaded. More recent traces are easier to recall as are traces that are unique in the memory.This research was supported in part by an ITA Foundation grant and by fellowships from the Academy of Finland, the Emil Aaltonen Foundation and the Foundation for the Advancement of Technology (Finland) when the author was at UCLA     

Subunit polypeptide composition of rubisco and the origin of allopolyploid Arabidopsis suecica (Brassicaceae)

The polypeptide composition of the large and small subunits of Rubisco (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) from Arabidopsis thaliana, A. suecica and Cardaminopsis arenosa have been studied by IEF (isoelectric focusing) analysis. The putative recent alopolyploid origin of A. suecica is supported. The chloroplast encoded large subunits served to identify solely A. thaliana as the maternal parent whereas the nuclear encoded small subunits indicate C. arenosa as the paternal species.     

Dna stability and survival of bacillus subtilis spores in extreme dryness

The inactivation of Bacillus subtilis spores during long-term exposure (up to several months) to extreme dryness (especially vacuum) is strain-dependent, through only to a small degree. During a first phase (lasting about four days) monolayers of spores lose about 20% of their viability, regardless of the strain studied. During this phase loss in viability can be equally attributed both to damages of hydrophobic structures (membranes and proteins) and DNA. During a second phase lasting for the remaining time of experimental observation (weeks, months and years) the loss in viability is slowed. A viability of 55% to 75% (depending on the strain) is attained after a total exposure of 36 days. The loss in viability during the second phase can be correlated with the occurrence of DNA double strand breaks. Also covalent DNA-protein cross-links are formed by vacuum exposure. If the protein moiety of these cross-links is degraded by proteinase K-treatment in vitro additional DNA double strand breaks result. The data are also discussed with respect to survival on Mars and in near Earth orbits.     

Obtaining a High Percentage of Explants with Negative Serological Reactions against viruses by Combining Potato Meristem Culture with Antiphytoviral Chemotherapy

A high percentage of plantlets, in which PVX, PVM, and PVS were no longer detectable by precipitin tests was obtained from 100% virus-infected stocks of the potato varieties Rosa and Priobskij rannija by combining meristem (tip) culture with antiphytoviral chemotherapy. When 2,4 - dioxohexahydro 1,3,5-triazinc (DHT) was added to the nutrient media, no virus was detectable serologically in 72% of the corresponding explants of the variety Rosa and in 66% of that of the variety Priobskij rannija, respectively. Contrary to this, all untreated control explants proved virusinfected. Treatment with 2-thiouracil resulted in 46.6%, with cyanoguanidine in 28.6% of plantlets, in which no virus was detectable serologically.     

Monoclonal antibodies to the hydrogenase ofThiocapsa roseopersicina

Monoclonal antibodies were produced to electrophoretically pure hydrogenase fromThiocapsa roseopersicina. Protein immunoelectroblotting was used to identify the hydrogenase-specific antibodies. Among the 18 monoclonal antibodies selected by enzyme immunoassay, three were found to react with highly immunogenic trace contaminating proteins. One cell line produced antibody that inhibitied hydrogenase activity. This was the first specific inhibitor of the hydrogenase function. The results suggest that monoclonal antibodies could provide valuable new informations about the enzyme structure as well.