Relationship between surplus energy and body weight in fish populations

This paper theoretically analyses the relationship between surplus energy, which is available for either somatic growth or reproduction, and body weight. From the data of metabolism and growth of the biwamasu, Oncorhynchus rhodurus, obtained by Miura et al., a Bernoulli's differential equation is induced to represent the relationship between body weight and the sum of surplus energy and active metabolic rate. Solving this equation gives the amount of surplus energy, f(W_x), as follows:f(W_x) = (αW_x^1−γ+β^1−γ)^1/(1−γ)−W_x, in which α, β and γ are constants and W_x is body weight at age x. The function is applied to ten fish populations and consequently it is found to be useful for a wider age range and a wider variety of fishes than the conventional function.     

Kinetic identification of component X as P430: a primary electron acceptor of Photosystem I

Kinetics of dark recoveries of Component X, Center A, and Center B at 20 and 0 °C after a 30-s illumination were studied in membrane fragments from a blue-green alga by using low temperature electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy in combination with a quick-freeze method. These kinetics were compared with those obtained by spectrophotometry under the same conditions. Contrary to the currently popular view, the result strongly suggests that Component X, rather than Center A or Center B, is P430.     

Evidence for two types of P-700 in membrane fragments from a blue-green alga.

The mathematical analysis described in the preceding paper (Biochim. Biophys. Acta (1977) 460, 65-75), in which the steady-state photooxidation of P-700 was compared with overall electron flux in Photosystem I chloroplast fragments, was applied to membrane fragments from the blue-gree alga Nostoc muscorum (Strain 7119) noted for their high activity of both Photosystem I and Photosystem II. The same analysis, which gave good agreement between the photooxidation of P-700 and the overall light-induced electron flux (measured as NADP+ reduction) in Photosystem I chloroplast fragments, revealed in the algal membrane fragments two P-700 components: one responding to high light intensity (P-700 HI), the photooxidation of which was in good agreement with the overall electron flux (measured as NADP+ reduction by reduced 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol), and the other component responding to low light intensity (P-700 LI), the photooxidation of which was not correlated with the reduction of NADP+ by reduced 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol.     

15-Cis-β-carotene found in the reaction center of spinach Photosystem I

-Carotene was extracted from spinach Photosystem I reaction centers (one consisting of the Psa A, B, C, D and E subunits and the other consisting of the Psa A and B subunits alone), and the extract was subjected to high-pressure liquid chromatography using an apparatus equipped with a two-dimensional diode-array detector; all the procedures were performed at 4 °C in complete darkness. Both 15-cis and all-trans--carotene were identified in the extract by means of electronic absorption spectroscopy. Thus, universal presence of 15-cis carotenoid in the reaction centers of purple photosynthetic bacteria and of spinach Photosystem I and Photosystem II has been shown.Abbreviations Chl- chlorophyll - DEAE- diethylaminoethyl - DMF- dimethylformamide - HPLC- high pressure liquid chromatography - LHC- light-harvesting complex - PS- Photosystem - RC- reaction center - RC_a,b- reaction center consisting of Psa A and B subunits alone - RC_a-e- reaction center consisting of Psa A, B, C, D and E subunits     

The length polymorphism in the 5′ flanking region of the human β-globin gene with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis in a Japanese population

Summary The ATTTT repeat polymorphism located approximately 1,400 base pairs (bp) upstream from the -globin structural gene was analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of RNA: DNA duplexes. A study of 81 unrelated Japanese from Hiroshima revealed a sequence heteromorphism in this site. The alleles with five and six repeats of the ATTTT unit, which have been reported, were found in polymorphic proportions. Two unreported alleles were also detected, the first, in two persons, characterized by seven repeats and the other, in a single person, having an A-to-G nucleotide substitution in the fifth repeat.     

Patch clamp analysis of the respiratory chain in Bacillus subtilis

Bacillus subtilis is a representative Gram-positive bacterium. In aerobic conditions, this bacterium can generate an electrochemical potential across the membrane with aerobic respiration. Here, we developed the patch clamp method to analyze the respiratory chain in B. subtilis. First, we prepared giant protoplasts (GPs) from B. subtilis cells. Electron micrographs and fluorescent micrographs revealed that GPs of B. subtilis had a vacuole-like structure and that the intravacuolar area was completely separated from the cytoplasmic area. Acidification of the interior of the isolated and purified vacuole-like structure, due to H(+) translocation after the addition of NADH, revealed that they consisted of everted cytoplasmic membranes. We called these giant provacuoles (GVs) and again applied the patch clamp technique. When NADH was added as an electron donor for the respiratory system, a significant NADH-induced current was observed. Inhibition of KCN and 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide (HQNO) demonstrated that this current is certainly due to aerobic respiration in B. subtilis. This is the first step for more detailed analyses of respiratory chain in B. subtilis, especially H(+) translocation mechanism.     

Effect of NADP on light-induced cytochrome changes in membrane fragments from a blue-green alga.

The effect of NADP+ on light-induced steady-state redox changes of membrane-bound cytochromes was investigated in membrane fragements prepared from the blue-green algae Nostoc muscorum (Strain 7119) that had high rates of electron transport from water to NADP+ and from an artificial electron donor, reduced dichlorophenolindophenol (DCIPH2) to NDAP+. The membrane fragments contained very little phycocyanin and had excellent optical properties for spectrophotometric assays. With DCIPH2 as the electron donor, NADP+ had no effect on the light-induced redox changes of cytochromes: with or without NADP+, 715- or 664-nm illumination resulted mainly in the oxidation of cytochrome f and of other component(s) which may include a c-type cytochrome with an alpha peak at 549nm. With 664 nm illumination and water as the electron donor, NADP+ had a pronounced effect on the redox state of cytochromes, causing a shift toward oxidation of a component with a peak at 549 nm (possibly a c-type cytochrome), cytochrome f, and particularly cytochrome b559. Cytochrome b559 appeared to be a component of the main noncyclic electron transport chain and was photooxidized at physiological temperatures by Photosystem II. This photooxidation was apparent only in the presence of a terminal acceptor (NADP+) for the electron flow from water.