The carotenoid pigments in the juice and flavedo of a mandarin hybrid (Citrus reticulata) cv michal during ripening

The carotenoid pigments ofthe mandarin hybrid (Citrus reticulata) cv Michal, in the juice and flavedo were characterized at three ripening stages, before, during and after colour break. During ripening the characteristic mandarin pattern was formed in the juice, which contained cryptoxanthin as the principal pigment. In the flavedo the chloroplast carotenoid pattern of the green fruit changed into the characteristic pattern of C. reticulata with a high level of citraurin which, together with cryptoxanthin, imparts an intensive reddish tint to the hybrid. The flavedo contained an unusual C₃₀ apocarotenoid, β-citraurinene (8′-apo-β-caroten-3-ol). The flavedo carotenoids of this accidental hybrid were compared with the carotenoids of the presumed parents Dancy tangerine and Clementine. The hybrid resembles more the second parent, from which it inherited the ability to biosynthesize a higher amount of citraurin as well as citraurinene. Citraurinene, considered a Citrus hybrid-specific pigment, was found for the first time in a Citrus variety. A possible biosynthetic pathway of the Citrus C₃₀ -apocarotenoids is proposed.     

Changes in free galactose, myo-inositol and other monosaccharides in normal and non-ripening mutant tomatoes

Using high-resolution GC, changes in total free galactose, myo-inositol, arabinose, xylose, rhamnose and mannose have been studied in pericarp tiss     

Phase separation, ion permeability, and the isolation of membranes from osmotically stable mycoplasmas

The osmotic stability of M. gallisepticum was found to be a consequence of the synthesis of disaturated phosphatidylcholine incorporated into the cell membrane. The disaturated lipid induces the formation of segregated lipid domains, thus providing the sites for increased permeation of ions. Such permeation reduces the internal pressure so as to minimize cell swelling and subsequent lysis in a hypotonic medium. Purified membranes of M. gallisepticum can be prepared from cells suspended in an iso-osmotic NaCl solution containing either dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), which blocks ATPase activity, or a mild alkaline buffer. Both conditions seem to interfere with cell volume regulation. These procedures can be used also to isolate membranes of other osmotically stable mycoplasmas.     

Distribution of immunoreactive somatostatin in the primate hypothalamus

Immunocytochemical methods were used to compare the localization of somatostatin (SRIF) in the human and rhesus monkey hypothalamus. The distribution of SRIF-containing cell bodies and fibers is similar in the two species. Perikarya are located predominantly in the periventricular region and to a lesser extent in the ventromedial nucleus. Fibers occur in dense clusters within the periventricular region, ventromedial nucleus, arcuate nucleus, median eminence, and pericommissural area of both species. Analysis of serial sections suggests that fibers originate from cells in the periventricular region, extend ventrally through the ventromedial and arcuate nuclei to terminate around the portal vessels of the infundibular stalk, and thereby participate in the regulation of anterior pituitary function. Somatostatinergic fibers are also found surrounding non-immunoreactive perikarya in the ventromedial nucleus and periventricular region of both primates. This arrangement may support somatostatin's postulated role as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator. The strong similarity between the localization of hypothalamic SRIF in the human and rhesus monkey supports the use of the rhesus monkey as a model for the study of somatostatin as a neuroendocrine regulatory in the human.     

Enzymatic methylations: III. Cadaverine-induced conformational changes of E.coli tRNAfMet as evidenced by the availability of a specific adenosine and a specific cytidine residue for methylation+

A partially purified tRNA methylase fraction from rat liver, containing m(2)G- m(1)A- and m(5)C-methylase, was used to study the influence of Mg(++) and of the biogenic polyamine cadaverine on the enzymatic methylation of E.coli tRNA(fMet)in vitro. In presence of 1 or 10 mM Mg(++), guanosine no. 27 was methylated to m(2)G. In 1 mM Mg(++) plus 30 mM cadaverine, guanosine in position 27 and adenosine in position 59 were methylated. In presence of 30 mM cadaverine alone tRNA(fMet) accepted three methyl groups: in addition to guanosine no. 27 and adenosine no. 59 cytidine no. 49 was methylated. In order to correlate tRNA(fMet) tertiary structure changes with the methylation patterns, differentiated melting curves of tRNA(fMet) were measured under the methylation conditions. It was shown that the thermodynamic stability of tRNA(fMet) tertiary structure is different in presence of Mg(++), or Mg(++) plus cadaverine, or cadaverine alone. From the differentiated melting curves and from the methylation experiments one can conclude that at 37 degrees in the presence of Mg(++) tRNA(fMet) has a compact structure with the extra loop and the TpsiC-loop protected by tertiary structure interactions. In Mg(++) plus cadaverine, the TpsiC-loop is available, while the extra loop is yet engaged in teritary structure (G-15: C-49) interactions. In cadaverine alone, the TpsiC-loop and the extra loop are free; hence under these conditions the open tRNA(fMet) clover leaf may be the substrate for methylation. In general, cadaverine destabilizes tRNA tertiary structure in the presence of Mg(++), and stabilizes tRNA(fMet) tertiary structure in the absence of Mg(++). This may be explained by a competition of cadaverine with Mg(++) for specific binding sites on the tRNA. On the basis of these experiments a possible role of biogenic polyamines in vivo may be discussed: as essential components of procaryotic and eucaryotic ribosomes they may together with ribosomal factors facilitate tRNA-ribosome binding during protein biosynthesis by opening the tRNA tertiary structure, thus making the tRNA's TpsiC-loop available for interaction with the complementary sequence of the ribosomal 5S RNA.     

Über das gleichzeitige Vorkommen von zweierlei Eiweißkörpern in den Zellkernen vonPseudolysimachion spicatum und einigen anderen Scrophulariaceen

Zusammenfassung Die Zellkerne vonPseudolysimachion spicatum, Veronica cymbalaria undV. gentianoides enthalten zweierlei Eiweißkörper von je nach dem Entwicklungszustand unterschiedlicher Konsistenz. Bis zum Höhepunkt ihrer Entwicklung liegen sie als anscheinend amorphe flüssige oder gelartige Gebilde vor. Später tritt — mit gewebespezifischen Unterschieden — Verfestigung und Kristallisation ein, und zwar bei beiden nicht gleichzeitig und z. T. auch nur beim großen. Beiderlei Körper unterscheiden sich deutlich in physikalischer und chemischer Hinsicht, außerdem in ihrer Entwicklungsgeschichte und Strukturveränderung. Sie fehlen in den Schließzellen, im Antherentapetum, in den Pollenmutterzellen, Pollenkörnern, im Embryosack, im Endosperm und im Embryo.Die Zellkerne in der Blattepidermis vonPenstemon barbatus enthalten ebenfalls zweierlei Eiweißkörper. Davon liegt einer als kugeliges Gebilde, der andere als Kristallstapel vor.

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Summary In the nuclei ofPseudolysimachion spicatum, Veronica cymbalaria, V. gentianoides there occur two different kinds of protein bodies. They clearly differ from one another in physical and chemical regard as well as in their ontogeny. At first they are amorphous, liquid or geluous. As a rule a consolidation or crystallization with differences according to the tissue takes place after the climax of the development, and that not at the same time within both bodies. In the stomata cells, pollen mother cells, in the embryo sac, in the endosperm, in the endothelium and in the embryo both bodies do not occur.The nuclei in the epidermis of the leaves ofPenstemon barbatus also contain two different kinds of protein bodies, one of them appearing as a round body, and the other one as a pile of crystal plates.