Effects of metals on enzyme activity in plants

Abstract. Uptake of phytotoxic amounts of metal by higher plants or algae can result in inhibition of several enzymes, and in increase in activity (= induction) of others. Two mechanisms of enzyme inhibition predominate: (1) binding of the metal to sulphydryl groups, involved in the catalytic actionor structural integrity of enzymes, and (2) deficiency of an essential metal in metalloproteins or metal-protein complexes, eventually combined with substitution of the toxic metal for the deficient element. Metal accumulation in the cellular compartment of the enzyme is a prerequisite for enzyme inhibition in vivo. The induction of some enzymes is considered to play a significant role in the stress metabolism, induced by metal phytotoxicity. Peroxidase induction is likely to be related to oxidative reactions at the biomembrane; several enzymes of the intermediary metabolism might be stimulated to compensate for metal-sensitive photosynthetic reactions. The induction of enzymes and metal-specific changes in isoperoxidase pattern can be used as diagnostic criteria to evaluate the phytotoxicity of soils, contaminated by several metals. Lines for future research on metal phytotoxicity are proposed, involving the study of inhibition and induction of enzymes at the different cell membranes (especially the plasmamembrane) in vivo.     

Changes in phosphorus and nitrogen cycling following food web manipulations in a shallow Dutch lake

1. The flow of phosphorus and nitrogen through the food web of the shallow, eutrophic lake Wolderwijd was analysed for 2 different years before and for 1 year after food web manipulation.
2. After fish removal the water became clear and the growth of macrophytes began. Fish removal resulted in a significant reduction of the total nutrient pool in the water, but differences between the nutrient cycles before and after the experiment were mainly caused by a gradual change driven by a reduced phosphorus input.
3. The zooplankton biomass before and after food web manipulation did not change significantly. Unfavourable food conditions and predation by young fish limited zooplankton biomass after the food web manipulation.
4. After fish removal benthic algae, fish, zoobenthos and macrophytes form the largest pools of nutrients apart from the sediment top layer. However, they contribute only little to nutrient cycles in the water column.     

Long term lily scale bulblet storage: effects of temperature and storage in polyethylene bags

Collections of lily genotypes are usually maintained by yearly planting, harvesting and storage of the bulbs. To facilitate this maintenance, a storage method has been developed for a collection of lily genotypes, including Asiatic hybrids, Oriental hybrids, Lilium longiflorum and L. henryi. Scale bulblets were stored either dry, sealed air-tight in polyethylene bags, or in moist vermiculite in open polyethylene bags for a period of 2 yr. The decrease in mass, sprouting proportion and ion leakage or sprouting proportion alone were determined for treatments carried out at -2°C, °C and 17°C. Sealing scale bulblets in polyethylene bags at -2°C resulted in the smallest decrease in mass, the least ion leakage and the highest sprouting proportion after 2 yr of storage.     

Prediction of a low dose herbicide effect from studies on binding of metribuzin to the chloroplasts of Chenopodium album L.

Chenopodium album L. seedlings at the 4- and 8-leaf stage were exposed to low concentrations metribuzin [4-amino-6-(l, l-dimethyl)-3-(methylthio)-l,2,4-triazin (4 H )-one] in nutrient solution to study herbicide uptake and the effects of low-dose rates. Chlorophyll fluorescence was measured to relate the inhibition of photosynthesis to herbicide dose. The minimum rate at which metribuzin fully inhibited photosynthesis was less than 1 μM for seedlings at the 4-leaf stage of development, and between 1 and 5 μM for the 8-leaf stage seedlings. With isolated chloroplasts, experiments were conducted to establish the relationship between the amount of herbicide molecules bound to each chloroplast and the inhibition of photosynthesis. From the dose-response curves obtained it was calculated that photosynthesis was fully inhibited when 7.5 10⁵ molecules metribuzin were bound to each chloroplast. This amount of binding was used to estimate minimum-lethal dose rates of metribuzin required for seedlings differing in fresh weight of leaves and amounts of chloroplasts present. It is suggested that prediction of a low dose herbicide effect from studies on binding of photosystem-II inhibitors in combination with chlorophyll fluorescence measurements may lead to the development of a new weed management strategy.     

Progesterone concentrations and contents in the plasma, ovary, adrenal gland and placenta of the pregnant Natal clinging bat Miniopterus schreibersii natalensis

Reproduction in the Natal clinging bat in South Africa at 25°S is characterized by fertilization in April, implantation during July and parturition in November. In the present study plasma progesterone concentrations peaked two months before implantation, this coinciding with significant peaks in ovarian progesterone content and concentration. Plasma progesterone concentrations remained relatively low during and after implantation, but increased significantly during the limb bud stage to peak levels one month before parturition. Adrenal progesterone content and concentration did not follow a specific trend; post-implantation ovarian progesterone content and concentration remained at baseline values. Placental progesterone content increased significantly with foetal weight (age). The present study showed that pregnancy in these bats is characterized by two major sources of progesterone, with the ovary as the primary source before implantation and the placenta the primary source during embryonic and foetal development.     

Identification of aneuploid cells in cytological specimens by combined in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry

The purpose of our study was the application of non-isotopic in situ hybridization with chromosome-specific repetitive DNA probes for the determination of cytogenetically aberrant cells in routine cytological materials, such as cervical smears and breast tumour aspirates. Hyperdiploid cells in fine needle aspirates (FNA) of breast tumours could be visualized by in situ hybridization with a chromosome l-specific repetitive DNA probe. However, for the evaluation of a specific cell type in heterogeneous cell populations, i.e. cervical smears, a procedure combining immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization can be required. Therefore, we developed a combination protocol using β-galactosidase/ ferri-ferrocyanide (blue-green) for immunocytochemistry and peroxidase/DAB (brown-black) for detection of the DNA probe. the described protocol enabled us to distinguish squamous epithelial cells within heterogeneous cell populations. By combining the chromosome 1 DNA probe with a specific cytokeratin marker it was possible to identify the chromosomal abnormal cells within cervical smears.     

On the relationship between food, reproduction and survival of two carabid beetles: Calathus melanocephalus and Pterostichus versicolor

Abstract.

• 1 The relative influences of temperature and availability of food on reproduction, survival and growth of all developmental stages of two carabid beetle species are discussed with special reference to the suggested relationship between availability of food, size of egg production and survival of adults from one breeding season to the next.
• 2 Temperature as well as food supply influence the length of larval growth and adult body size. Beetles grown at low temperatures and low amounts of food are smaller than those grown at higher temperature and with more food.
• 3 The number of eggs laid per female was correlated with the amount of food gathered. There was no inverse relationship (trade-off) between reproductive output and survival in the field until the next breeding season.
• 4 In 1980 no significant relationship was found between winter mortality and the amounts of food gathered by beetles in the period after reproduction and before winter diapause. However, in 1981 in C. melanocephalus a lower number of starved beetles survived the winter than the fed ones and‘field’beetles.
• 5 Only in the first part of the feeding activity period in autumn can enough food be gathered by C.melunocephalus for successful hibernation. In the second part of this period there is not enough food to build up the fat reserves needed to survive the winter.
• 6 Difference in population fluctuations of both species are discussed in relation to their life histories.