Operon fusions of Mu d1(Ap,lac) to thel-proline biosynthetic genes ofescherichia coli K-12

Operon fusions to the promoter of either theproA,proB, orproC genes of the proline biosynthetic pathway were obtained by the use of the Mu d1(Ap,lac) bacteriophage. These fusions were further stabilized by transformation with plasmid pGW600 containing the wildtype Mu repressor gene or by transduction with phage pSG1. The level of -galactosidase in the fusion strains was not affected by the presence of exogenously addedl-proline or high concentrations of NaCl in the growth medium. A Tn5 insertion nearproBA increased -galactosidase expression 140- to 200-fold in strains carrying theproA-lac andproB-lac fusions, but the level of this enzyme was unaltered in strains carrying theproC-lac fusion. The Tn5 insertion increased intracellular proline concentrations 8- to 10-fold, suggesting that mechanisms other than allosteric inhibition may regulate proline biosynthesis, but did not confer osmotolerance to cells growing in a medium with a high concentration of salt.     

"Caged calcium" in Aplysia pacemaker neurons. Characterization of calcium-activated potassium and nonspecific cation currents

We have studied calcium-activated potassium current, IK(Ca), and calcium-activated nonspecific cation current, INS(Ca), in Aplysia bursting pacemaker neurons, using photolysis of a calcium chelator (nitr-5 or nitr-7) to release "caged calcium" intracellularly. A computer model of nitr photolysis, multiple buffer equilibration, and active calcium extrusion was developed to predict volume-average and front-surface calcium concentration transients. Changes in arsenazo III absorbance were used to measure calcium concentration changes caused by nitr photolysis in microcuvettes. Our model predicted the calcium increments caused by successive flashes, and their dependence on calcium loading, nitr concentration, and light intensity. Flashes also triggered the predicted calcium concentration jumps in neurons filled with nitr-arsenazo III mixtures. In physiological experiments, calcium-activated currents were recorded under voltage clamp in response to flashes of different intensity. Both IK(Ca) and INS(Ca) depended linearly without saturation upon calcium concentration jumps of 0.1-20 microM. Peak membrane currents in neurons exposed to repeated flashes first increased and then declined much like the arsenazo III absorbance changes in vitro, which also indicates a first-order calcium activation. Each flash-evoked current rose rapidly to a peak and decayed to half in 3-12 s. Our model mimicked this behavior when it included diffusion of calcium and nitr perpendicular to the surface of the neuron facing the flashlamp. Na/Ca exchange extruding about 1 pmol of calcium per square centimeter per second per micromolar free calcium appeared to speed the decline of calcium-activated membrane currents. Over a range of different membrane potentials, IK(Ca) and INS(Ca) decayed at similar rates, indicating similar calcium stoichiometries independent of voltage. IK(Ca), but not INS(Ca), relaxes exponentially to a different level when the voltage is suddenly changed. We have estimated voltage-dependent rate constants for a one-step first-order reaction scheme of the activation of IK(Ca) by calcium. After a depolarizing pulse, INS(Ca) decays at a rate that is well predicted by a model of diffusion of calcium away from the inner membrane surface after it has entered the cell, with active extrusion by surface pumps and uptake into organelles. IK(Ca) decays somewhat faster than INS(Ca) after a depolarization, because of its voltage-dependent relaxation combined with the decay of submembrane calcium. The interplay of these two currents accounts for the calcium-dependent outward-inward tail current sequence after a depolarization, and the corresponding afterpotentials after a burst     

Hormonal changes associated with fruit set and development in mandarins differing in their parthenocarpic ability

Satsuma [Citrus unshiu (Mak) Marc.] and Clementine [Citrus reticulata (Hort.) Ex. Tanaka, cv. Oroval] are two related species of seedless mandarins which differ in their tendency to set parthenocarpic fruits. Satsuma fruits naturally set parthenocarpically whereas Clementine mandarins show very low ability to set fruit in the absence of cross-pollination. The endogenous levels of gibberellins (GAs) and free and conjugated indole-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) throughout early stages of fruit development were investigated in seedless cultivars of both species. Analyses performed by full-scan combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of extracts from ovaries at anthesis demonstrated the presence of GA₁₉, GA₂₀, GA₂₉, GA₁, GA₈, GA₃ and iso-GA₃ in Satsuma mandarin, whereas only GA₂₉, GA₃ and trace levels of GA₈ were detected in Clementine. At this developmental stage GA-like substances, as estimated by bioassay, reached their highest levels in Satsuma, while Clementine mandarins contained relatively lower levels. In both species the highest levels of free IAA were found at petal-fall stage at which time free ABA levels also peaked. Developing fruits of Clementine had higher amounts of both free IAA and ABA. In Satsuma, levels of conjugated IAA remained low throughout reproductive development whereas in Clementine they increased as the free form declined. In contrast, conjugated ABA was at low levels in Clementine but reached higher concentrations in Satsuma. These results suggest that in these mandarins the potential for setting parthenocarpic fruits is mainly influenced by the hormonal status of the fruit during the later stages of cell division and early stages of cell enlargement. Thus, the condition of low ability to set parthenocarpic fruits appears to be associated with lower levels of active GAs, lower capability to catabolize ABA to conjugated ABA and higher ability to conjugate IAA during this period.     

Free radical-mediated platelet activation by hemoglobin released from red blood cells.

It is known that the rate of thrombus formation depends on interaction between platelets and erythrocytes, but the mechanism of this process has remained obscure. We here show that nanomolar levels of hemoglobin released from damaged red blood cells can induce platelet aggregation. The molecular mechanism is not receptor-based, but involves oxidation of oxyhemoglobin by platelet-derived hydrogen peroxide, with subsequent generation of a small unknown free radical species, detected by ESR spectroscopy. Methemoglobin and carbon monoxide-treated hemoglobin are unable to cause platelet activation or radical formation. The aggregation of platelets induced by hemoglobin is completely blocked by catalase or radical scavengers. These findings indicate a role for a novel extracellular free radical second messenger in the activation of platelets.     

Interactions between the soilborne root pathogenPhytophthora nicotianae var.parasitica and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungusGlomus mosseae in tomato plants

In order to study the influence of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) on the development of root rot infection, tomato plants were raised with or withoutGlomus mosseae and/orPhytophthora nicotianae var.parasitica in a sand culture system. All plants were fed with a nutrient solution containing one of two phosphorus (P) levels, 32µM (I P) or 96µM (II P), to test the consequence of enhanced P nutrition by the AM fungus on disease dynamics. Mycorrhizal plants had a similar development to that of control plants. Treatment withPhytophthora nicotianae var.parasitica resulted in a visible reduction in plant weight and in a widespread root necrosis in plants without mycorrhiza. The presence of the AM fungus decreased both weight reduction and root necrosis. The percentage reduction of adventitious root necrosis and of necrotic root apices ranged between 63 and 89% The enhancement of P nutrition increased plant development, but did not appreciably decrease disease spread. In our system, mycorrhiza increased plant resistance toP. nicotianae var.parasitica infection. Although a contribution of P nutrition by mycorrhiza cannot be excluded, other mechanisms appear to play a crucial role.