Sulfite formation by wine yeasts

Five different strains of wine yeasts were investigated with respect to active uptake of [³⁵S] sulfate and its regulation by methionine. Considerable differences exist between low and high sulfite-producing strains in the initial velocity of sulfate uptake. Further differences were established in repression of sulfate permease by l-methionine, most evident in a total lack of repression in one of the high sulfite producers. These findings explain in part variable sulfite and sulfide formation.List of Abbreviations CCMP carbonylcyanide-p-trifluormethoxyphenylhydrazone     

Canarion,ein neues naphthochinon aus Usnea canariensis

The structure of canarione, a new naphthoquinone from the lichens Usnea canariensis and U. hookeri was elucidated by UV, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, mass spectrometry, and chemical degradation as 5,8-dihydroxy-2-methyl-4H-naphtho [2,3b]-pyran-4,6,9 (6H, 9H)- trione.     

The influence of externally supplied sucrose on phloem transport in the maize leaf strip

Sucrose (2,5–1000 mmol l^–1), labeled with [¹⁴C]sucrose, was taken up by the xylem when supplied to one end of a 30-cm-long leaf strip of Zea mays L. cv. Prior. The sugar was loaded into the phloem and transported to the opposite end, which was immersed in diluted Hoagland's nutrient solution. When the Hoagland's solution at the opposite end was replaced by unlabeled sucrose solution of the same molarity as the labeled one, the two solutions met near the middle of the leaf strip, as indicated by radioautographs. In the dark, translocation of ¹⁴C-labeled assimilates was always directed away from the site of sucrose application, its distance depending on sugar concentration and translocation time. When sucrose was applied to both ends of the leaf strip, translocation of ¹⁴C-labeled assimilates was directed toward the lower sugar concentration. In the light, transport of ¹⁴-C-labeled assimilates can be directed (1) toward the morphological base of the leaf strip only (light effect), (2) toward the base and away from the site of sucrose application (light and sucrose effect), or (3) away from the site of sucrose application independent of the (basipetal or acropetal) direction (sucrose effect). The strength of a sink, represented by the darkened half of a leaf strip, can be reduced by applying sucrose (at least 25 mmol l^–1) to the darkened end of the leaf strip. However, equimolar sucrose solutions applied to both ends do not affect the strength of the dark sink. Only above 75 mmol l^–1 sucrose was the sink effect of the darnened part of the leaf strip reduced. Presumably, increasing the sucrose concentration replenishes the leaf tissue more rapidly, and photosynthates from the illuminated part of the leaf strip are imported to a lesser extent by the dark sink.Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

Effects of cAMP,theophylline, imidazole,and 4-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidone on the leaf movement rhythm of Trifolium repens—a test of the cAMP-hypothesis of circadian rhythms

The period length of the leaf movement rhythm of Trifolium repens L. is lengthened by continuously offered cAMP (0.5–1.0 mol m^-3) and theophylline (0.5–4 mol m^-3). At the higher concentrations this effect is more pronounced and the rhythm damps out faster. Imidazole (0.5 and 1 mol m^-3) has no effect on the period length; however, after 5 mol m^-3 the rhythm is abolished. Offered as 4 h pulses the resulting phase response curves for cAMP and imidazole are similar and show delays of up to 4 h during the day position of the leaves. Theophylline pulses lead to delays of up to 5 h during closure and advances of up to 3 h during opening. No phase shift is brought about by 4-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidone. The results do not support the cAMP-model of the circadian clock which has been proposed by Cummings (J. theor. Biol. 55, 455–470; 1975). The effect of the substances tested could, however, be based upon influences on the transport of Ca²⁺.Abbreviations ATP adenosine triphosphate - cAMP cyclic adenosine 35 monophosphate - AMP adenosine 5 monophosphate - AC adenyl cyclase - PDE phosphodiesterase - LL continuous light     

Marabou Storks Wash Dung Beetles

Marabou Storks in their natural environment were observed to practise an insightful method of food amelioration.     

Strukturanalyse der methyl-2,3,6-tridesoxy-2-C-[2-hydroxy-1,1-(Äthylendithio)Äthyl]-α-l-threo-hexopyranosid-4-ulo-22,4-pyranose

Methyl 2,3,6-trideoxy-2-C-[2-hydroxy-1,1-(ethylenedithio)ethyl]-α-l-threo-hexopyranosid-4-ulo-2²,4-pyranose (1) crystallizes in a rhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with four molecules in the elementary unit. The structure was refined to an R-value of 0.057. The aldopyranose ring adopts a ¹C₄ conformation with an axial side-chain forming a hemiacetal ring to the keto group at C-4. Both six-membered rings connected in the 2,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane system differ only slightly from the ¹C₄ chair conformation. The spirocyclic dithiolane ring adopts a nearly ideal envelope form with a deviation of C-21 from the plane S-1-C-7-S-2-C-22. The dihedral angle O-5-C-1 O-1-C-11 of 59.1° is an agreement with the exo-anomeric effect.     

Zur Bewurzelung dikotyler Sandpflanzen

Wir haben eingangs die Existenz bestimmter ükologischer Faktoren vermutet, aufgrund derer die Pflanzengesellschaften auf Sandbüden ihr besonderes Gepräge erhalten. In der Tat sind zumindest die Mainzer Sande arm an Nährstoffen und von nur beschränkter Aufnahmefähigkeit für Wasser; andererseits schützt die geringe Kapillarität des Sandes den Boden vor Wasserverlust durch Verdunstung. Tiefgehende Pfahlwurzelsysteme, die sich in unteren Bodenbezirken reich verzweigen — also insgesamt etwa birnenfürmige Gestalt annehmen — entsprächen somit den Erwartungen. Der tiefgehende Anteil der T-Systeme stimmt weitgehend mit dieser Vorstellung überein, der proximale querstreichende Anteil hingegen wie auch die geotropische Umstimmung der Primärwurzeln von Sommer-Hapaxanthen ist ükologisch offenbar ?sinnlos”, wenn nicht sogar schädlich. Ähnliches gilt für die sproßbürtige Bewurzelung. Wir künnen somit drei Gruppen von Merkmalen an Radikationen unterscheiden:

• 1 . Merkmale, die aus dem Bauplan der Sippe resultieren und als solche natürlich genetisch fixiert sind. Sie sind häufig, aber durchaus nicht immer ?ükologisch sinnvoll”, so z. B. die Sproßbürtigkeit der Bewurzelung.
• 2 . Merkmale, die sich unter bestimmten ükologischen Verhältnissen ausgebildet haben und die genetisch fixiert sind. Sie werden auch dann noch beibehalten, wenn sich die ükologischen Bedingungen längst gewandelt haben. Im querstreichenden Teil des T-Systems wird ein solches Relikt vermutet.
• 3 . Merkmale, die infolge der modifikatorischen Kraft bestimmter Umweltfaktoren auftreten; sie sind dementsprechend nicht erblich und eigentlich Gegenstand der Physiologie. Die Reaktion der Wurzel auf bestimmte Nährstoffverhältnisse gehürt hierher und wohl auch die Polaritätsänderung der Primärwurzel.

Einer vergleichend-morphologischen Fragestellung sind somit nur Merkmale der ersten beiden Kategorien zugänglich; dies ist um so bedauerlicher, als die meisten Gestaltsmerkmale (?exomorphen” Merkmale) der dritten Gruppe angehüren.