Sulphydryl and Disulphide Levels in Protein Fractions from Hydrated and Dry Leaves of Resurrection Plants

Significant changes in sulphydryl (‘SH’) and disulphide(‘SS’) levels during air-drying in leaves of ‘resurrection’plants (whose protoplasm survives dehydration) stemmed mainlyfrom protein turnover effects. No significant changes were foundin the SH, SS levels in leaves of the desiccation sensitivespecies Sporobolus pyramidalis following air-drying. The three tolerant species studied differed in the directionof change. Some data were consistent with Levitt's SH, SS hypothesis:increases in protein-SS levels in Sporobolus stapfianus (desiccationtolerant) were consistent with a stabilization of new proteinby SS bonds; lower reactivity of protein-SH in the tolerantspecies Talbotia elegans (which on the other hand has decreasedprotein-SS) is consistent with a second mechanism of decreasingprotein denaturation proposed in Levitt's hypothesis. Evidence of some conversion of SH to SS in the soluble proteinsof Xerophyta viscosa (a tolerant species) would on Levitt'shypothesis indicate an injurious process. Some degree of proteindenaturation might be indicated by partial inactivation of thesoluble enzyme ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase in this species,and loss of some soluble isoenzymes (peroxidase and alkalinephosphatase). An apparent lack of SH conversion to SS in thesensitive species Sporobolus pyramidalis was not consistentwith the SH, SS hypothesis. Resurrection plants, Sporobolus pyramidalis, Sporobolus stapfianus, Talbotia elegans, Xerophyta viscosa, drought resistance, desiccation tolerance, protein turnover, sulphydryl groups     

An inexpensive photosynthetic irradiance sensor for ecological field studies

The design and characteristics of inexpensive and simply constructed equal-energy response photosynthetic irradiance sensors is described for use particularly where several cells are required in comparative ecological studies either above or below water. The dimensions of the sensors can be changed proportionally to suit different applications or components. The response of the sensor to irradiance at varying angles corresponds very closely to that required by the cosine law. The sensor is comparatively insensitive to other environmental variables in field use and gave a stable output; the long term drift was proportional to electrical output but in continuous use, drift is regular and could reach -0.08 year^-1 of the total. The spectral range and cosine response is discussed in comparison to other more expensive (x 5–10) commercially available, sensors and to local standards.     

Suppression of A-type potassium current in pyramidal neurons of the rat hippocampus, induced by pinacidil and its fluorine derivatives

With the use of a patch-clamp technique in the whole-cell configuration, we studied the effects of pinacidil and its fluorine derivatives on A-type potassium current (I _A) through the membrane of pyramidal neurons of the rat hippocampus. Hydrogen peroxide (10 mM) exerted no influence on the rate of inactivation ofI _A; therefore, this current is probably mediated by Shal Kv4.2 potassium channels. Pinacidil demonstrated the properties of a weakI _A blocker: in the 500 μM concentration it blocked about 45% of the current, while 50 μM of pinacidil fluorine derivatives were capable of blocking up to 30% ofI _A. The effects of pinacidil and its derivatives showed no dependence on the stimulating potential. A similar pattern of the effects of pinacidil fluorine derivatives, which are an order of magnitude stronger than those of pinacidil itself, allows us to suppose that the imine nitrogen of the tested compounds is significantly more involved in the molecular interaction with the site of an A-type potassium channel than the pyridine nitrogen.     

Mechanisms of changes in human hemodynamics under the conditions of microgravity and prognosis of postflight orthostatic stability

The mechanisms of hemodynamic responses to orthostatic stresses and orthostatic stability (OS) of cosmonauts were studied before and after short-and long-term spaceflights (SFs) using orthostatic tests, as well as before, during, and after SFs using ultrasonic methods in tests with exposure to lower body negative pressure (LBNP). The capacitance and distensibility of the veins of the lower extremities were studied using occlusive air plethysmography before, during, and after SFs of different durations. A stay in microgravity has been proved to result in detraining of, mainly, the vascular mechanisms of compensating orthostatic perturbations. It has been established that the decrease in OS under the influence of microgravity is determined by a reduction of the vasoconstrictive ability of large blood vessels of the lower extremities; an increase in venous distensibility and capacitance of the legs; and an impairment of blood flow regulation, which leads to a cerebral blood flow deficit in orthostatic stresses, and of the initial individual OS before the flight. The results of preflight studies of hemodynamics by ultrasonic methods at LBNP and the data of orthostatic tests before SFs make it possible to predict the degree of decrease of OS after an SF proceeding in the normal mode. At the same time, the data of ultrasonic blood flow examination provide more a accurate estimation of OS and make it possible to assess the physiological reserves of hemodynamic regulation and to reveal the loss of regulation capacity even in cases where integrated indices (heart rate and blood pressure) are within the normal ranges.