Modes of control by the circadian oscillator and the hourglass mechanism of the activities of cytoplasmic and chloroplast glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenases in Lemna gibba G3

Two types of clocks, i.e., the circadian oscillator and thehourglass mechanism, which under continuous light and darknessrespectively control the mutually inverse temporal changes inthe activities of Cyt-NAD-GPD and Chl-NADP-GPD of Lemna gibbaG3, were studied. Both clocks controlled the apparent Km values,not the Vmax values, of the GPD reactions for their substrateand coenzymes. A red light pulse inserted 3 hr after the onsetof the dark period eliminated the sigmoidal changes in darkness,but evoked rhythmical changes which otherwise did not occurin continuous darkness. Thus, the photosynthetic rhythm, ifpresent, would not sustain the GPD rhythms. This effect of ared light pulse was not nullified by a subsequent far red lightpulse. A far red light pulse given at the 3rd hour of an extendeddark period made conspicuous the sigmoidal changes in activityof GPDs in the dark period, and its effect was nullified bya subsequent red light pulse, suggesting that phytochrome isinvolved in the hourglass mechanism. (Received September 26, 1978; )     

Physiological Role of Leghaemoglobin Heterogeneity in Pea Root Nodule Development

Disk-gel-electrophoresis of the leghaemoglobin isolated frompea root nodules revealed two major (Lb I and Lb IV) and threeminor components. The ratio of the two major components (LbI/Lb IV) decreased with increasing age. This ratio was higherin the distal than in proximal region when nodules were cutinto distal and proximal sections. In young nodules, the incorporationof radioactive leucine into Lb I was much higher than into LbIV. In older nodules, the radioactivities were much higher inLb IV than in Lb I. These data suggest that the change in thisratio is due mainly to differences in the rates of biosynthesis. Two major components (Lb I and Lb IV) which were isolated separatelyhad different O₂-binding affinities. The O₂-binding affinityof the component synthesized mainly in older nodules (Lb IV)was higher than that of the component synthesized mainly inyoung nodules (Lb I). These results indicate that changes inthe relative contents of leghaemoglobin during nodule developmentcontribute to more effective nitrogen fixation which is mediatedby changes in the capacities of oxygen transport. (Received July 7, 1981; Accepted November 2, 1981)     

An Overview on the Toxicological Properties of Ionic Liquids toward Microorganisms

Ionic liquids (ILs), a class of materials with unique physicochemical properties, have been used extensively in the fields of chemical engineering, biotechnology, material sciences, pharmaceutics, and many others. Because ILs are very polar by nature, they can migrate into the environment with the possibility of inclusion in the food chain and bioaccumulation in living organisms. However, the chemical natures of ILs are not quintessentially biocompatible. Therefore, the practical uses of ILs must be preceded by suitable toxicological assessments. Among different methods, the use of microorganisms to evaluate IL toxicity provides many advantages including short generation time, rapid growth, and environmental and industrial relevance. This article reviews the recent research progress on the toxicological properties of ILs toward microorganisms and highlights the computational prediction of various toxicity models.     

Characteristics of microbial fermentation and potential digestibility of fiber in the hindgut of dugongs (Dugong dugon)

The number of microorganisms in the hindgut of dugongs (Dugong dugon) were estimated and their in vitro volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and degradation of eelgrass measured. Scanning electron microscopy showed that some rod bacteria attached to the surface of plant tissue degraded and eroded the cell walls. Number of starch-, lactate-, cellobiose-, pectin-, xylan- and cellulose-utilizing bacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria and methane-producing bacteria were estimated at 10⁹ ～ 10¹⁰ colony forming units g^?1. Microorganisms degraded the cellulose and noncellulolytic components of the eelgrass, and about 47.3% of dry matter was degraded after 36?h in vitro incubation. The total VFA concentration was 10.5?mmol?dL^?1 at 36?h incubation, which included 55.7?mol% acetate, 18.0?mol% n-butyrate and 15.1?mol% propionate. The gas composition of in vitro fermentation was 68.4% carbon dioxide, 22.2% methane and 9.4% hydrogen.     

Common and Distinct Clinical Features in Adult Patients with Anti-Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase Antibodies: Heterogeneity within the Syndrome

Objective

To identify similarities and differences in the clinical features of adult Japanese patients with individual anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibodies (anti-ARS Abs).

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of 166 adult Japanese patients with anti-ARS Abs detected by immunoprecipitation assays. These patients had visited Kanazawa University Hospital or collaborating medical centers from 2003 to 2009.

Results

Anti-ARS Ab specificity included anti-Jo-1 (36%), anti-EJ (23%), anti-PL-7 (18%), anti-PL-12 (11%), anti-KS (8%), and anti-OJ (5%). These anti-ARS Abs were mutually exclusive, except for one serum Ab that had both anti-PL-7 and PL-12 reactivity. Myositis was closely associated with anti-Jo-1, anti-EJ, and anti-PL-7, while interstitial lung disease (ILD) was correlated with all 6 anti-ARS Abs. Dermatomyositis (DM)-specific skin manifestations (heliotrope rash and Gottron’s sign) were frequently observed in patients with anti-Jo-1, anti-EJ, anti-PL-7, and anti-PL-12. Therefore, most clinical diagnoses were polymyositis or DM for anti-Jo-1, anti-EJ, and anti-PL-7; clinically amyopathic DM or ILD for anti-PL-12; and ILD for anti-KS and anti-OJ. Patients with anti-Jo-1, anti-EJ, and anti-PL-7 developed myositis later if they had ILD alone at the time of disease onset, and most patients with anti-ARS Abs eventually developed ILD if they did not have ILD at disease onset.

Conclusion

Patients with anti-ARS Abs are relatively homogeneous. However, the distribution and timing of myositis, ILD, and rashes differ among patients with individual anti-ARS Abs. Thus, identification of individual anti-ARS Abs is beneficial to define this rather homogeneous subset and to predict clinical outcomes within the “anti-synthetase syndrome.”