Longitudinal patterns of dissolved organic carbon concentration and suspended bacterial density along a blackwater river

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is the dominant form of carbon in transport in blackwater rivers, and bacteria are the major biological agents of its utilization. This study describes longitudinal patterns in DOC concentration and relates them to suspended bacterial populations in the channel. Concentrations of total DOC, three molecular weight fractions, and bacterial numbers were determined at 12 sites along the Ogeechee River in 1985–1986 and 1989 during periods of low and high discharge. Suspended bacterial populations were compared with DOC concentrations to determine if differences in bacterial abundance were related to longitudinal patterns of DOC concentration. Three distinct longitudinal patterns were observed: (1) The longitudinal pattern followed by both total and intermediate molecular weight DOC concentrations was a linear function of the geographic distance along the river. (2) During low flow conditions, there was a high degree of correspondence between patterns of bacterial numbers and low MW DOC (< 1000 apparent MW). (3) During periods of high discharge, the proportion of high (> 10,000) and intermediate (1000–10,000) MW fractions increased, and there was no longer a clear relationship between bacterial cells and low MW DOC.     

Properties of a Large Complex with NADH Dehydrogenase Activity from Barley Thylakoids

When assays for NAD(P)H-ferricyanide oxidoreductases were performed,activities specific for NADH (0.23 unit (mg protein)^–1)and NADPH (0.68 unit (mg protein)^–1) were detected inchloroplasts isolated from leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgareL.). Activities of chloroplast NADH- and NADPH-ferricyanideoxidoreductase were 5-fold and 25-fold higher, respectively,than the maximum activity that could be attributed to mitochondrialcontamination. Moreover, most of the chloroplast NADH-ferricyanideoxidoreductase (60 to 80%) was solubilized by deoxycholate (DOC)from thylakoids as a single, high-molecular-mass complex thatwas distinguishable from the mitochondrial complex by its lowerelectrophoretic mobility in 3% polyacrylamide, as revealed byreduction of nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) in the presence ofNADH or NADPH on gels after electrophoresis. The stroma yieldeda single band of a dehydrogenase (66 kDa) that used NADH asits electron donor. Several NADPH-dependent activities weredetected after electrophoresis of the stromal fraction. Moreover,chloroplast-specific activities could be distinguished frommitochondrial activities on the basis of the specificity ofthe donor and the acceptor of electrons, the dependence of theactivities on pH, and the sensitivity to various inhibitors.K_m values for NADH (26 µM) and NADPH (75 µM) werein the same range as those of mitochondrial activities. Mostof the NADPH-dependent activity probably corresponds to thechloroplast ferredoxin-NADP⁺ oxidoreductase. The possibilityis discussed that thylakoid NADH dehydrogenase(s) might be theproduct of chloroplast ndh genes and that this activity is involvedin chlororespiration. (Received April 25, 1994; Accepted December 5, 1994)     

Dipole moments of random coil polypeptides

The Rotational Isomeric States model is applied to calculate dipole moments of polypeptides of the twenty natural α-amino acids in the random coil state. Dipole moments of each repeat unit (μ_i), are evaluated using a quantum mechanics procedure. Dipole moment ratios ($\text{D}{}_{\mathrm{x}}\text{=}\text{〈μ}{}^2\text{〉}\text{x}\text{μ}{}_{\mathrm{i}}{}^2\text{,}\text{x = number of repeat units}$) of homopolypeptides are calculated and extrapolated to x →?. With a few exceptions, D_? = 0.36 ± 0.1. Ten actual proteins and three enzymes are also studied; their dipole ratios (D_x′ =〈μ〉/x) range from 7.34 to 10.57 in 10^?59 C² m² (6.6–9.5 D²). Diffferences in the values of D_x′ are due mainly to the different contributions, μ_i, of the amino acid residues contained in each polymer, whereas the sequence of amino acids has a very minor effect.     

Approach to the analysis of diuretics and masking agents by high-performance liquid chromatography—mass spectrometry in doping control

The application of thermospray and plasmaspray high-performance liquid chromatography—mass spectrometry to the analysis of diuretics and probenecid has been investigated. The latter method gave better ionization efficiency than the former, and its response was optimized by altering the solvent composition: best results were obtained with water—methanol—acetonitrile—trifluoroacetic acid. Using different proportions of these solvents, three isocratic systems were developed to separate the compounds under study. The principal characteristic of plasmaspray positive-ion mass spectra was a protonated molecular ion and very little fragmentation was evident. In the negative ionization mode, the plasmaspray method gave mass spectra showing more fragmentation, which resulted in additional structural information. The ability of trifluoroacetic acid to form negative cluster ions precluded its use as a mobile phase component. The minimum detectable amounts determined by the analysis in the positive-ion mode was compound-dependent, but generally ca. 10–150 ng. In many cases the compounds could be detected in urine extracts.     

Selection for canalization at two extra dorsocentral bristles in Drosophila melanogaster.

From 10 isofemale lines of D. melanogaster, the D2 line was established with the aim of obtaining an invariant phenotype at two extra dorsocentral bristles. Line D2 was also subdivided into two other lines, SA and ASD, based on their different bristle patterns. The SA line was selected for two symmetrical anterior extra bristles, and the ASD line was selected for two asymmetrical extra bristles, one anterior and one posterior. Only the SA line showed any canalizing response (estimated by the width of the probit transformation) at the two-extra-bristle class. Nevertheless, the results from the different lines were more consistent with the independent ones of both the anterior and posterior regions of the extra dorsocentral bristles. This analysis showed some independent genetic systems for each region, developmental canalization being at two extra symmetrical bristles per region in all the selected lines (D2, ASD, and SA). Therefore, this canalization did not depend directly on the extra-bristle positional pattern used in the selection. The wild-type canalizing system is suggested to explain the fast canalizing response in a phenotype that had not been previously canalized by natural selection.     

1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid as a substrate of peroxidase: conditions for oxygen consumption, hydroperoxide generation and ethylene production

Conditions in which 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) functions as a substrate of peroxidase have been investigated by measuring oxygen consumption in the reaction medium and the production of ethylene. In both cases, the presence of Mn2+ and either H2O2 or the activated form of peroxidase, namely compound I of peroxidase, was found to be essential. Both oxygen consumption and ethylene production were dependent on enzyme concentration, the optimum ACC/Mn2+ ratio being 1:1. Oxygen consumption in a system with ACC, Mn2+ and compound I showed an enzyme-dependent lag phase and then proceeded to total depletion, suggesting that the system itself generates hydroperoxides that completed the catalytic cycle of the enzyme. The presence of these hydroperoxides in the reaction medium was detected by a colorimetric method. High H2O2 concentration progressively decreased oxygen consumption, the same effect being produced by catalase. Ethylene production was oxygen dependent, mediated by ACC-free radicals and gave a poor yield. The results suggest that the fate of these ACC-free radicals determines the yield in ethylene. These radicals must be oxidized immediately, otherwise their stabilization to hydroperoxides would prevent ethylene production.     

Fatty acid metabolism in human lymphocytes. I. Time-course changes in fatty acid composition and membrane fluidity during blastic transformation of peripheral blood lymphocytes

The time-course changes in fatty acid composition of human T-lymphocytes during blastic transformation were analysed, as well as the variations in membrane fluidity determined by fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. The more important changes observed, in activated relative to quiescent cells, started after 24 h and consisted in an increase in the proportion of oleic (18:1(n - 9)), docosapentaenoic (22:5(n - 3)) and docosahexaenoic (22:6(n - 3)) acids and a decrease in that of linoleic (18:2(n - 6)) and arachidonic (20:4(n - 6)) acids. This represented a relative increase of 26% for 18:1, 56% for 22:5 and 84% for 22:6 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and 35%, 182% and 94%, respectively, in purified T-lymphocytes, both activated for 72 h. The decrease in n - 6 fatty acids was of 42% for 18:2 and 14% for 20:4 in PBMC and 30% and 19%, respectively, for 72 h. The decrease in n - 6 fatty acids was of 42% for 18:2 and 14% for 20:4 in PBMC and 30% and phosphatidylethanolamine) rather than neutral lipids. The 18:1/18:0 ratio increased greatly in major cell phospholipids. The proportion of 20:4, 22:5 and 22:6 in phosphatidylinositol was not significantly altered after 72 h of activation. The molar ratio cholesterol/phospholipids was reduced in 72-h-activated lymphocytes (0.29) compared to quiescent cells (0.5). On the other hand, the stimulation of human T-lymphocytes caused a significant decrease in the order parameter (S) of DPH, according to the observed changes in lipid composition. After 72 h in culture, the S value for quiescent and stimulated T-lymphocytes was 0.530 and 0.326, respectively. In conclusion, the blastic transformation of human T-lymphocytes is associated with changes in lipid composition which modify the physical properties of their membranes. These modifications could modulate, in turn, the activity of membrane proteins implicated in the process of blastic transformation.     

Long-chain fatty acids bound to alpha-fetoprotein and to serum albumin from fetal and adult pig

1. Pig alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin were isolated from fetal serum by DEAE-Sephadex ion exchange chromatography combined with Cibacron Blue-Sepharose and trypsin-Sepharose adsorptions. 2. AFP, fetal albumin and adult albumin carried 2.6, 2.4, and 1.9 moles of fatty acids per mole of protein, respectively. 3. Most of fatty acids bound to AFP were polyunsaturated: mainly arachidonic (20:4, n-6) and docosahexaenoic (22:6, n-3) acids, which accounted respectively for 21.7 and 18.8% of the total fatty acids. 4. By contrast, the fatty acids found in the albumins (fetal and adult) were preferentially saturated and monounsaturated. 5. Arachidonic acid was a minor component in both albumins, and no docosahexaenoic acid was detected.     

The effects of prostacyclin on glycemia and insulin release in man

Prostacyclin /PGI₂/ administered intra-arterially or intravenously to patients with peripheral vascular disease exerted a hyperglycemic effect. In normoglycemic patients receiving PGI₂ at a dose of 5 ng/kg/min these effects were barely detectable, but they became unmasked by a rapid glucose injection. In diabetic patients the same PGI₂ dose led to distinct elevation in blood glucose. Prostacyclin at a dose of 10 ng/kg/min raised blood glucose levels both at rest and after stimulation with glucose, and opposed effectively hypoglycemic action of tolbutamide in non-diabetic patients. PGI₂ repressed glucose-induced insulin release in some normoglycemic patients but in others it either increased it or did not affect it. While hyperglycemic effects are reversible when PGI₂ infusion is stopped, and do not interfere with the usual therapeutic administration of prostacyclin for a few days they, nevertheless, might constitute a risk in a patient with poorly controlled diabetes.