Distribution and strain-dependent formation of volatile metabolites in the genus Ceratocystis

The accumulation of volatile metabolites in cultures of 34 strains comprising ten species of the genus Ceratocystis (Ascomycetes) has been investigated under defined culture conditions. The identified compounds include short-chain alcohols and esters, lower terpenes, terpenoids, and 2-phenylethyl acetate. Certain species can be recognized by a number of common volatiles traced in all strains, although the quantities of these constituents may vary enormously (up to a factor 1:1000) within one species. The formation of some metabolites is restricted to a few strains.     

Regulation and characterization of two inducible amino-acid transport systems in Chlorella vulgaris

Glucose or non-metabolizable glucose analogues induce two amino-acid transport systems in Chlorella vulgaris: an arginine system (arginine and lysine) and a proline system (proline, glycine, alanine and serine). the same amino-acid transport systems are induced in the absence of glucose, when the cells are depleted of their nitrogen source as judged by a comparison of K_m values and the lack of additive induction by the two treatments Changes in the concentration of neither internal free amino acids nor of soluble carbohydrate pools correlate prefectly with the induction of amino-acid transport. Also exogenous cAMP had no effect on the induction of transport. Both aminoacid transport systems are able to accumulate free amino acids more than 1000-fold. The accumulation plateau is not due to a steady state of influx and efflux, but rather arises by a shut-off of influx. No significant effux is observed. The biological importance of this frequently observed behaviour in amino-acid transport is discussed.     

CORRELATED MORPHOMETRIC AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON THE LIVER CELL : II. Effects of Phenobarbital on Rat Hepatocytes

The changes occurring in rat hepatocytes during a 5 day period of treatment with phenobarbital were determined by morphometric and biochemical methods, particular attention being paid to the endoplasmic reticulum. The hepatocytic cytoplasm played an overwhelming part in the liver hypertrophy, while the hepatocytic nuclei contributed to only a moderate extent. The endoplasmic reticulum accounted for more than half of the increase in cytoplasmic volume. The increase in the volume and number of hepatocytic nuclei in the course of phenobarbital treatment was associated with changes in the ploidy pattern. Until the 2nd day of treatment both the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and the smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (SER) participated in the increase in volume and surface of the whole endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Subsequently, the values for RER fell again to control levels, whereas those for SER continued to increase, with the result that by the 5th day of treatment the SER constituted the dominant cytoplasmic element. The specific volume of mitochondria and microbodies (peroxisomes) remained constant throughout the duration of the experiment, while that of the dense bodies increased. The specific number of mitochondria and microbodies displayed a significant increase, associated with a decrease in their mean volume. The phenobarbital-induced increase in the phospholipid and cytochrome P-450 content of the microsomes, as well as in the activities of microsomal reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate-cytochrome c reductase and N-demethylase, was correlated with the morphometric data on the endoplasmic reticulum.     

Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an spezifischen Organellen von Endothelzellen des Frosches (Rana temporaria)

Zusammenfassung Endothelzellen der Wirbeltiere enthalten spezifische Organellen, deren Funktion unbekannt ist. Diese Organellen werden beim Frosch (Rana temporaria) nach unterschiedlichen Fixierungen elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Die Organellen sind walzenförmig mit mannigfachen Abweichungen, bis zu 2 lang und 0,1 bis 0,5 dick. Ihre oft unterbrochene Außenmembran ist dicker als zytoplasmatische Membranen. Das Innere der Organellen besteht aus Tubuli, die in eine elektronendichte Matrix eingebettet sind. Die Dichte dieser Matrix zeigt deutliche Abstufungen. Die Tubuli sind möglicherweise aus einer spiralförmigen Molekülkette aufgebaut. Das Verteilungsmuster der Organellen wird mit stereologischen Methoden untersucht. Die größte Volumendichte weisen die Aortae thoracicae mit 8% auf. Die Volumendichte der Organellen im Zytoplasma der Endothelzellen scheint mehr von der Entfernung der betreffenden Gefäßstrecke zum Herzen abzuhängen als von der Gefäßgröße. Es werden Verbindungen der Organellen zu zytoplasmatischen Membransystemen aufgezeigt. Auf Besonderheiten des Endothels, darunter Aggregationen von Ribosomen, wird hingewiesen.

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Electron microscopic studies on specific organelles of endothelial cells in the frog (Rana temporaria)

Summary Endothelial cells of vertebrates contain specific organelles of unknown function. These organelles are studied by electron microscopy with different fixations. The organelles are rod-shaped with many variations, up to 2 in length and 0.1 to 0.5 in thickness. Their outer membrane, which is often discontinuous, is thicker than cytoplasmic membranes. The density of the matrix shows distinct gradations. The organelles contain tubules, possibly built up by a spiral molecular chain. The distribution of the organelles is investigated with stereological methods. Their volume density in endothelial cell cytoplasm appears to depend more on the distance from the heart than on vessel size, the thoracic aortae showing the highest organellae content of 8%. Connections between organelles and cytoplasmic membranes are demonstrated. Particularities of endothelium, among them aggregations of ribosomes, are pointed out.

Herrn Prof. Dr. med. F. Hammersen und Fräulein Dr. med. M. Lewerenz danke ich herzlich für Anregungen, Unterstützung und Kritik. Die Arbeit entstand während eines vom Deutschen Akademischen Austauschdienst dankenswerterweise gewährten Stipendiums; sie wurde unterstützt vom Schweizerischen Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Kredit-Nr. 3952.     

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Transfer of amino acids and nitrate from the roots into the xylem of Ricinus communis seedlings

The loading of amino acids and nitrate into the xylem was investigated by collection and analysis of root-pressure exudate from the cut hypocotyl stumps of seedlings of Ricinus communis L. Glutamine was found to be the dominant amino acid in the exudate and also to be the amino acid which is transferred to the xylem most rapidly and accumulated to the greatest extent. The comparison between uptake and xylem loading showed significant differences in specificity between these two transport reactions, indicating a different set of transport systems. Nitrate is transferred to the xylem at a higher relative rate than any amino acid despite the great nitrate-storage capacity of the root system. Thus the supply of nitrate to Ricinus plants leads to enhanced nitrogen allocation to the shoots.     

Review of Colombian Conchostraca (Crustacea) — ecological aspects and life cycles — families Lynceidae,Limnadiidae, Leptestheriidae and Metalimnadiidae

This study gives an overview of our current knowledge of the ecology and distribution patterns of Colombian conchostracans. Colombian euphyllopods are generally restricted to the warm tropical lowlands. OnlyCyclestheria hislopi can be found year-round in larger semipermanent waters and living sympatrically with abundant predators, such as planktivorous fish. The other conchostracans are restricted to the typical habitat of temporary waters.Eulimnadia magadalenensis is especially adapted to very short-term temporary ponds in relatively arid zones andE. colombiensis prefers somewhat cooler ponds of a longer duration. The two species can be found sympatrically in intermediate climatic conditions. A third form,Eulimnadia cf. geayi cohabits with the two other species in the lower Magdalena Valley, its ecological role is not clear.Limnadia orinoquiensis is the selvatic substitute of the open savannah conchostracan fauna (mainlyEulimnadia forms) living in pools in forest clearings in the vicinity of the Upper Orinoco.Four species of Lynceidae were found, twoLynceus and twoParalimnetis. Their distribution patterns are not yet clear, they prefer smaller temporary ponds of moderated temperatures. Two undescribed species ofLeptestheria were found, one restricted to the banks of the Orinoco and the other to one locality in the upper Magdalena Valley, living in ponds with a muddy bottom.Metalimnadia serratura was found in special rock pools of the Guiana Shield in the vicinity of the Orinoco, cohabiting with several other conchostracan species, with differential adaptations to very high water temperatures.     

Preparation and discharge of secretion in the subcommissural organ of the rat

Summary The secretion of the subcommissural organ (SCO) of the rat was studied by means of immunocytochemistry at the electron-microscopic level with the use of (1) the polar embedding medium Lowicryl K4M at -30° C, (2) the protein A-gold technique, and (3) a rabbit antiserum against bovine Reissner's fiber (see Sterba et al. 1981).Two different substructures of the ependymal and the hypendymal SCO-cells display a positive immunocytochemical reaction: (1) sacs containing flocculent secretion, which originate from the granular endoplasmic reticulum, and (2) vacuoles filled with fine granular secretion, which are pinched off from the Golgi apparatus. The secretory material of the sacs and the vacuoles is discharged both (i) apically into the cerebrospinal fluid and (ii) basally into intercellular spaces of the SCO-hypendyma. The apically released secretion is condensed to a lamina-like formation, which more caudally assumes the form of Reissner's fiber. The route of the basally released secretion remains, however, vague. The periodically striated bodies, which were thought to be morphological mediators of the discharge of the secretion into the capillaries, are never labeled by gold particles.Supported by grants from the Ministry for Science and Technology of the German Democratic RepublicThe expert technical assistance of Mrs. B. Wolff, Mrs. S. Mehnert, Mrs. E. Siebert, Mrs. Ch. Schneider, and Mrs. I. Seifert is gratefully acknowledged     

A characterization of the nucleotide uptake by chromaffin granules of bovine adrenal medulla

Chromaffin granules isolated from bovine adrenal gland were incubated with (3)H-labelled nucleotides and [(14)C]noradrenaline to study the uptake of these substances. [(3)H]ATP, [(3)H]ADP and [(3)H]AMP are taken up by these organelles by the same temperature-dependent mechanism. The apparent K(m) for ATP and ADP is 1.4mm, and for AMP it is 2.9mm. The uptake of ATP has a flat pH optimum, whereas the catecholamine uptake increases with more alkaline pH. Atractyloside and carboxyatractyloside are competitive and specific inhibitors of nucleotide uptake, whereas reserpine inhibits only that for catecholamines. Mg(2+) ions activate uptake of both catecholamine and nucleotides, whereas EDTA and N-ethylmaleimide inhibit these processes. Nucleotide and catecholamine uptakes are inhibited by uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation and by two ATP analogues. NH(4) (+) ions and nigericin in the presence of KCl inhibit only catecholamine uptake. It is concluded that nucleotide uptake, as proposed previously for catecholamine uptake, depends on an electrochemical proton gradient produced by a proton-translocating adenosine triphosphatase localized in the membrane of chromaffin granules. Furthermore, as suggested by the effect of NH(4) (+) and nigericin, catecholamine uptake apparently depends on the chemical part of this gradient, whereas the results for nucleotide uptake are consistent with its dependence on the electrical component.