An Ontogenetic Study of Canavanine Formation in the Fruit of Jack Bean, Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC

An ontogenetic study of canavanine formation in the fruit of jack bean, Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. was conducted. Evidence was presented to show that the ovary wall is the reservoir for seed canavanine. The testa possesses sufficient canavanine to account for the continued elevation in seed canavanine after the pod senesces. The seed canavanine concentration is not constant inasmuch as the canavanine content per milligram dry weight or soluble protein increases abruptly with seed growth and levels off only with the onset of fruit ripening.     

Branched-chain glycosyl α-amino acids : Part II. Synthesis of 2-D- and 2-L-(3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranos-3-yl)glycine. Analogs of the sugar moiety of the polyoxins

Stereospecific hydroxylation of 3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-C-trans-and 3-C-cis-(methoxycarbonylmethylene)-α-D-ribo-hexofuranose (2 and 3, respectively), with potassium permanganate in pyridine afforded 3-C-[S- and R-hydroxy-(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose, (6 and 7, respectively), in a combined yield, after chromatography, of 43%. Selective formation of monomethanesulfonates (9a and 10a) and p-toluenesulfonates (9b and 10b), followed by treatment with sodium azide and reduction of the azide, afforded the methyl 2-D-(and 2-L-)(3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranos-3-yl)-glycinates (12a and 13a, respectively). Basic hydrolysis of the latter compounds yielded 2-D- and 2-L-(3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranos-3-yl)glycine (12b and 13b, respectively). The structures of the glycosyl amino acids were correlated with that of L-alanine by circular dichroism.     

Effect of Lytic Enzymes of Acanthamoeba castellanii on Bacterial Cell Walls

Extracts of Acanthamoeba castellanii (Neff) contain alpha- and beta-glucosidase, beta-galactosidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, amylase, and peptidase. All of these activities are optimal between pH 3 and 4. These extracts also were found to clarify suspensions of cell walls from nine different gram-positive bacteria, including Micrococcus lysodeikticus. The pH optimum for the lytic activity was between 3 and 4. The extent of lysis of the various cell walls did not correlate with the release of free amino groups and of free N-acetylated sugars from the walls during digestion with these extracts. Suspensions of cell walls of Escherichia coli (a gram-negative bacterium), Cordiceps militaris (a fungus), and Acanthamoeba cysts, as well as of colloidal chitin, were not clarified by incubation with these extracts, although reducing sugars were released from each of these materials. Exhaustive digestion of M. lysodeikticus walls by lysozyme released no free N-acetylglucosamine. The products of exhaustive digestion of this cell wall with Acanthamoeba extracts were free N-acetylglucosamine, free N-acetylmuramic acid, glycine, alanine, glutamic acid, lysine, and N-acetylmuramic acid peptide fragments. These results suggest that the amoeba extracts contain endo- and exo-hexosaminidases, in addition to beta-hexosaminidase and peptide hydrolases.     

Anfütterung und Wachstum der Larven und Jungfische des HornhechtesBelone belone

Zusammenfassung 1.Belone belone L. wurde von der künstlichen Befruchtung an bis zu einer Totallänge von annähernd 10 cm unter kontrollierten Laborbedingungen aufgezogen.2. Dottersacklarven zeigten unter verschiedenen Lichtbedingungen Igelstellungen, die in Anlehnung anMagnus (1967) als Fluchtintensionsbewegung interpretiert werden.3. Die Beutefanghandlungen erreichen schon zur Zeit der ersten Nahrungsaufnahme eine außerordentlich hohe Anfangstreffsicherheit.4. Larven und Jungfische nehmen Kunstfutter sehr gut von der Oberfläche her auf.5. Bei Totallängen zwischen 16 und 25 mm neigen die Jungfische besonders stark zum Kannibalismus.6. Die mit 12,5 mm Totallänge schlüpfenden Larven wuchsen bei 22° C in den ersten 14 Tagen im Mittel bis auf 29 mm, innerhalb von 35 Tagen auf 45 mm und in 80 Tagen auf etwa 93 mm heran. Bei einer Aufzuchttemperatur von 26° C wurden 90 mm Totallänge bereits nach 60 Tagen erreicht.7. Die Überlebensrate betrug während der Dottersackphase und zur Zeit der ersten Nahrungsaufnahme annähernd 100%. Die durch Kannibalismus verursachte Sterblichkeit erreichte mehr als 60%. Erhebliche Verluste wurden dabei sekundär durch Pilzinfektionen und parasitäre Ciliaten verursacht.

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Feeding and growth of larvae and fry of the gar fishBelone belone

Artificially fertilizedBelone belone L. were reared under controlled conditions in the laboratory to a maximum total body length of approximately 10 cm. Percentage of successful prey catching (Artemia nauplii, Cyclopidae) attained high values already at the time when the larvae started to feed. Larvae and fry readily ingested dried food (tetramin, freeze-dried Daphnia) from the surface of the water. Fry of 16 to 25 mm total length exhibited intensive cannibalism. The larvae hatched at an average total length of 12.5 mm and attained a total length of 29 mm after the first 14 days at 22° C. Thirty-five days after hatching, average length had increased to 45 mm; after 80 days it averaged 93 mm. At 26° C, the fishes attained an overall length of 90 mm after 60 days. Survival was almost 100% in the 5 day period following hatching. After yolk absorption and first food intake, cannibalism occurred; it resulted in more than 60% mortality within the next 2 week period. Later causes of mortality were fungal infections, partly associated with injuries resulting from cannibalistic behaviour.

     

Die Fertilität polyploiderBeta-Rüben und ihre Beeinflussung durch ernährungsphysiologische Faktoren

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 4 Abbildungen     

A higher plant enzyme exhibiting broad acceptance of stereoisomers

An arginase, purified from the leaf of the jack bean, Canavalia ensiformis, can effectively hydrolyze both l- and d-arginine. Arginases, examined from a number of other plant and animal sources, exhibit marked substrate stereospecificity and fail to catabolize d-arginine. In order to provide essential nitrogen, jack bean leaf arginase also catabolizes l-canavanine, an arginine analog that is a predominant nitrogen-storing metabolite of this legume. The ability of arginase to metabolize both stereoisomers of arginine may result from the requirement for this enzyme to exhibit limited substrate specificity in order to hydrolyze both arginine and canavanine.