Multiple-flash development of thermoluminescence bands in dark-grown spruce leaves

Spruce leaves greened in darkness were devoid of three of the five thermoluminescence bands found for mature leaves. These bands were developed rapidly by exposure of the dark-grown leaves to continuous light. The development of these bands was studied by illumination with repetitive flashes at varied intervals. Flashes at intervals of 1 s were the most effective in inducing these bands. Those at shorter or longer intervals were less effective. It was deduced from these data that the development of these bands is a multiquantum process which involves at least two photo-events with a dark reaction between them.     

Remarkable retardation of the senecence of tobacco leaf disks by cordycepin, an inhibitor of RNA polyadenylation

The antibiotic cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine), a known specificinhibitor of nucleic acid synthesis and polyadenylation of RNA,remarkably retarded decrease in the chlorophyll and proteincontents of senescing tobacco leaf disks. The effectivenessof cordycepin, at its optimum concentration (ca. 4 x 10^–5M), was 53% as effective as a cytokinin, benzyladenine at 10^–6M. Adenosine and 2'-deoxyadenosine had no anti-senescence action. (Received May 29, 1975; )     

Alkali Protease and Alcohol Dehydrogenase Immobilized to Weakly Basic Anion Exchange Resins Using 2-Car-boxymethylamino-4,6-dichloro-s-triazine

Alkali protease partially purified from a strain of Bacillus subtilis and yeast alcohol dehydrogenase were immobilized to weakly basic anion exchange resins using a bifunctional reagent, 2-carboxymethyIamino-4,6-dichloro-s-triazine.

Properties of these immobilized enzymes were studied both in batchwise operation and in packed bed reactor systems.     

Impact of Pulsed Nd:YAG Laser Irradiation on the Growth and Mortality of the Biofilm Forming Marine Bacterium Pseudoalteromonas carrageenovora

The impact of pulsed laser irradiation on the marine biofilm forming bacterium Pseudoalteromonas carrageenovora was investigated in the laboratory by monitoring mortality and the post-irradiation growth pattern. The impact of laser irradiation on bacterial mortality increased with the duration of irradiation. Laser irradiation at 532 nm (0.1 J cm m 2 ) for 15 min resulted in a 53% cell mortality immediately after irradiation. However, the impact after a period of 5 h (delayed impact) was more severe. The growth pattern of irradiated samples showed a prolonged lag phase compared to the reference, due to a reduction in total viable counts (TVC) in the irradiated samples. Nucleic acid staining is suggested to be a promising technique for monitoring laser inflicted bacterial mortality. Thus, the results suggest that laser irradiation could be considered as an alternative technique to reduce the number of biofilm forming bacteria and thereby biofilm formation on hard surfaces.     

Nuclease C Polymorphism of Calcium-Dependent Nucleases in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

DNases were extracted from cells of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.Their polymorphism and metal ion requirements were investigated.Most of the nucleases from this organism required Ca²⁺ for fullactivation; therefore, the name nuclease C has been given tothem. Zn²⁺ and Mn²⁺ restored activation, but their respectivepotencies were 1/8 and 1/32 that of Ca²⁺. An in situ nucleaseassay revealed that there are at least 6 species of nucleaseC. The molecular weights of the components were 26,000 (C1),25,000 (C2), 22,000 (C5), 21,000 (C6), 18,000 (C3) and 17,000(C4) by SDS PAGE. Ca²⁺-dependent nuclease activity was slightlyhigher in the female gamete than in the male gamete. There wasno marked change in the apparent nuclease activity during thefirst 3 h after mating. An in situ assay, however, showed thatnuclease C6 and C4 are present in smaller amounts in the malegamete in comparison to the female gamete, and that the contentsor activities of nuclease C5 and C6 diminish during the first30–60 min after mating. This evidence is discussed interms of the possible participation of nuclease C in the maternalinheritance of chloroplast genes in this organism. (Received October 8, 1984; Accepted January 21, 1985)