Reconstitution of electrogenic function in isolated pigment-protein complexes of Anabaena variabilis

Treatment of Anabaena variabilis membranes with lauryldimethylamine N-oxide yielded two fractions of pigment-protein complexes which were separable by gel filtration on Sepharose 6B. A green fraction was characterized which had a maximum of the chlorophyll long-wave absorption band at 678 nm and a small amount of carotenoid. In this fraction, Photosystem I activity was higher than in another (brownish-green) fraction which had a maximum of the chlorophyll absorption band at 673 nm and which was enriched in carotenoids. Similarly to isolated membranes, proteoliposomes containing pigment-protein complexes took up tetraphenylborate anions and tetraphenylphosphonium cations and were found to be capable of light-dependent membrane potential generation, when associated with a planar phospholipid membrane in the presence of reduced phenazine methosulfate upon illumination. The spatial arrangement of the pigment-protein complexes in the native and artificial membranes is discussed.     

Superoxide dismutase in Clostridium butyricum spores

Superoxide dismutase was found for the first time in the spores of the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium butyricum. The prosthetic group of the enzyme was shown to contain iron. The enzyme was demonstrated to be highly thermostable.     

Localization of peptide hydrolysis in the enterocyte and the transport mechanisms of apical membrane

1. The absence of the effect of anoxia on the hydrolysis rate of a number of dipeptides and one tripeptide by the intact and homogenized mucosa of the small intestine in different mammals (rat, mouse and guinea pig) has been demonstrated. 2. It has been shown that in rats anoxia inhibits intestinal transport both of free glycine and glycine formed during the hydrolysis of Gly-Leu, Leu-Gly, Gly-Pro but not Pro-Gly. 3. Data obtained using the anoxic criterion suggest that the systems of membrane hydrolysis of peptides with the subsequent absorption of released amino acids presents a dominant mechanism of protein assimilation under normal physiological conditions. 4. However, they do not exclude the possibility of the transport of peptides across the apical membrane of enterocytes.     

The Semipalatinsk nuclear test site: a first assessment of the radiological situation and the test-related radiation doses in the surrounding territories

As a result of atmospheric nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk test site `Polygon', adjacent territories were contaminated by radionuclide fallout. The population of some districts in the Semipalatinsk oblast were exposed to elevated levels of radiation. Contamination and exposure mostly resulted from early atmospheric tests. The radiological situation of the Semipalatinsk oblast is described. Effective dose estimates due to external and internal exposure attributable to the 1949 and 1953 tests in villages near the Polygon range from 70 mSv to 4470 mSv. Received: 13 February 1997 / Accepted in revised form: 1 July 1997     

Elementary polysynaptic potentials of hippocampal neurons

Synaptic connections of 26 pairs of hippocampal neurons were studied in nonanesthetized rabbits by spike-triggered averaging of intracellularly recorded activity. Synchronized activity was detected in 5 pairs and considered to represent common inputs to the neurons recorded. Hyperpolarizing or depolarizing potentials with 3--4 ms latency were revealed in 3 additional pairs. These potentials are considered to be individual postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) evoked in the target neuron by spikes of the adjacent (0.5--2 mm apart) neuron. A quantum analysis of the individual PSPs was performed. The mean quantum content (0.27--0.65) and quantum size (35--200 mkV) were found to be of the same order as those of the excitatory PSPs previously recorded after intracerebral stimulation. It is concluded that most hippocampal synapses are of low efficacy.     

陕北黄土区雨季后山地枣林土壤水分动态变化研究

选取陕北延川县齐家山红枣试验基地枣林地、苹果林地和撂荒草地为研究对象进行土壤水分动态变化研究，结果表明：①不同坡位、不同坡向和不同整地方式的枣林地土壤水分存在显著差异；其中，研究区下坡位土壤水分最高，为14.19%；阴坡土壤水分最高，为14.19%；水平阶整地枣林土壤水分显著高于原状坡。②研究区不同植被类型间土壤水分垂直变化趋势基本一致。枣林地土壤水分最高，为11.49%；不同植被类型0~100 cm土壤贮水量依次表现为枣林地（144.76 mm） > 苹果林地（124.19 mm） > 撂荒草地（72.20 mm）。③不同植被类型土壤贮水亏缺度存在差异。雨季前，0~20 cm土层亏缺度最小，平均亏缺度表现为撂荒草地 > 枣林 > 苹果林；雨季后，土壤水分亏缺度表现为撂荒草地 > 苹果 > 枣林，除枣林地外均高于雨季前土壤水分亏缺度。④雨季后，研究区3种植被类型0~20 cm土层土壤水分亏缺加剧；20~100 cm土层中，枣林土壤贮水补偿度为正值，土壤水分得到补偿，但最高仅为22.95%，枣林土壤水分仍处于亏缺状态并未完全恢复；苹果林地土壤贮水补偿度则为负值，表明土壤水分亏缺进一步加剧；撂荒草地土壤水分补偿度基本维持在0左右，土壤水分亏缺没有持续恶化。     

A new tropiduchid planthopper genus and species from China with descriptions of in copula genitalic structures (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha)

Abstract The new planthopper taxon, Garumnella bella gen.n. , sp.n. , from Xizang, China, is described and illustrated, including external morphology of adult and eggs and structures of the male and female genitalia. The new genus is compared with Garumna Melichar and Paragarumna Muir, resulting in Paragarumna ( syn.n. ) being placed as a junior synonym of Garumna, with two new combinations, i.e. Garumna pseudolepida (Muir) comb.n. and Garumna melichari Baker comb.rev. New locality records for Garumna species are given. The morphology of the genitalia and egg of a copulating pair of the new genus is investigated. The female has a ventrally sclerotized posterior vagina forming a torsion groove, an unusual long membranous anterior vagina and an enlarged common oviduct. During copulation both the aedeagus and the torsion groove appear tightly interlocked, which may help to maintain the copulatory position. The aedeagus is observed in the bursa copulatrix.