Significance of hydrogen evolution in the carbon and nitrogen economy of nodulated cowpea

The carbon and nitrogen economies of a single cultivar of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.cv Caloona) nodulated with either a high H₂-evolving strain (176A27) or a low H₂-evolving strain (CB756) of Rhizobium were compared. The two symbioses did not differ in total dry matter production, seed yield, nitrogen fixed, the spectrum of nitrogenous solutes produced by nodules for export, or the partitioning of net photosynthate within the plant throughout the growth cycle. Detailed examination of the carbon and nitrogen economy of the nodules, however, showed a significant difference between the symbioses. Nodules formed with CB756 lost less CO₂ in respiration compared to the higher H₂-evolving symbioses and this could have been largely responsible for a 36% better economy of carbon use in CB756 nodules during the period of maximum H₂ evolution (48-76 days) and over the whole growth period (20-90 days), a 16% economy. In terms of overall net photosynthate generated by the plant, these economies were equivalent to 5% and 2% of the carbon utilized in the two periods, respectively. From the differences in H₂ evolution and CO₂ production by nodules of the two symbioses, the cost of H₂ evolution was found to be 3.83±0.6 millimoles CO₂/millimoles H₂ for plants grown in sand culture and 1.69 ± 0.48 millimoles CO₂/millimoles H₂ for those in water culture. In both symbioses, the ratio of H₂ evolution to N₂ fixed varied markedly during ontogeny, indicating a significant variation in the relative efficiency and thus metabolic cost of N₂ fixation at different stages during development.     

THE FINE STRUCTURE OF CHONDROCOCCUS COLUMNARIS : I. Structure and Formation of Mesosomes

Cells of Chondrococcus columnaris were sectioned and examined in the electron microscope after fixation by two different methods. After fixation with osmium tetroxide alone, the surface layers of the cells consisted of a plasma membrane, a dense layer (mucopeptide layer), and an outer unit membrane. The outer membrane appeared distorted and was widely separated from the rest of the cell. The intracytoplasmic membranes (mesosomes) appeared as convoluted tubules packaged up within the cytoplasm by a unit membrane. The unit membrane surrounding the tubules was continuous with the plasma membrane. When the cells were fixed with glutaraldehyde prior to fixation with osmium tetroxide, the outer membrane was not distorted and separated from the rest of the cell, structural elements (peripheral fibrils) were seen situated between the outer membrane and dense layer, and the mesosomes appeared as highly organized structures produced by the invagination and proliferation of the plasma membrane. The mesosomes were made up of a series of compound membranes bounded by unit membranes. The compound membranes were formed by the union of two unit membranes along their cytoplasmic surfaces.     

THE FINE STRUCTURE OF CHONDROCOCCUS COLUMNARIS : II. Structure and Formation of Rhapidosomes

When cells of C. columnaris were broken open, treated with PTA, and examined in the electron microscope, tubular structures (rhapidosomes) were present in the preparations. The rhapidosomes are approximately 300 A in diameter. Their length varies from about 500 to about 15,000 A. An axial hole which runs the length of the rhapidosomes appears to widen and narrow with a regular periodicity. End-on views of short segments of rhapidosomes revealed the presence of subunits around their outside peripheries. The results of studies of lysed cells and of sectioned cells indicate that the rhapidosomes are produced during the disintegration of cells. It seems likely that the compound membranes of the mesosomes break down to give rise to the tubular structures. The mesosomal origin of rhapidosomes is postulated only for the rhapidosomes of C. columnaris, since the origin of rhapidosomes from other organisms was not investigated during this study. The rhapidosomes of C. columnaris may be unrelated to those of S. grandis, S. myxococcoides, A. violaceum, and Sorangium 495, since there was a difference in the details of fine structure between rhapidosomes from C. columnaris and those found in the other four organisms.     

THE FINE STRUCTURE OF TWO UNUSUAL STALKED BACTERIA

Two strains of bacteria that produce slender appendages (pseudostalks) from their lateral surfaces were studied using the electron microscope. The pseudostalks were shown to be extensions of the cytoplasm and peripheral membranes of the cell proper. Both strains of bacteria produce holdfasts at the poles of the cells by the means of which attachment can take place. The pseudostalks are not involved in the attachment of cells. No specialized intracytoplasmic structures are present at the point of juncture of pseudostalk and cell. A discussion of the possible functions of the pseudostalks, based on the electron microscope findings, is presented.     

植物冷锻炼对于胁强敏感度的影响(英文)

前文由柑桔枝条在不同低温下、不同冷冻时间的电解质外渗测定,提出胁强(stress)、作用时间与胁变(strain)之间关系的数学模型。在这个模型中共有3个参数:屈服点温度(yield point temperature),胁强敏感度(stress sensitivity)和作用时间敏感度(sensitivity to duration),用以描述植物的抗性。抗性强的植物应表现为屈服点温度较低,胁强敏感度或者时间敏感度较低。为验证此数学模型,本工作以经冷锻炼与未经冷锻炼的盆栽柑桔枝条为材料,作不同温度与时间处理的电解质外渗率的测定,研究了冷锻炼对于上述3个参数的影响。发现胁强敏感度和屈服点温度受冷锻炼影响而下降,时间敏感度未表现明显变化。对于田间柑桔、油桐与毛竹的定期测定,在固定冷冻时间下,得到了类似于盆栽柑桔的结果。入冬时,植物抗冻性提高,3种植物都表现出下列两种变化:1.胁强敏感度的明显下降;2.屈服点温度和/或时间敏感度亦下降。开春时的变化则相反。胁强敏感度的变化与后一种变化有各自的规律,且因植物种类而不同。拐点胁强(stress at inflection point)具有与半致死温度(50％killing point temperature)不同的意义,它的变化是上述两种变化的综合结果。本试验结果表明,冷锻炼对于植物胁强敏感度有明显影响,用本数学模型的3个抗性指标描述     

Seasonal water uptake and movement in root systems of Australian phraeatophytic plants of dimorphic root morphology: a stable isotope investigation

A natural abundance hydrogen stable isotope technique was used to study seasonal changes in source water utilization and water movement in the xylem of dimorphic root systems and stem bases of several woody shrubs or trees in mediterranean-type ecosystems of south Western Australia. Samples collected from the native treeBanksia prionotes over 18 months indicated that shallow lateral roots and deeply penetrating tap (sinker) roots obtained water of different origins over the course of a winter-wet/summer-dry annual cycle. During the wet season lateral roots acquired water mostly by uptake of recent precipitation (rain water) contained within the upper soil layers, and tap roots derived water from the underlying water table. The shoot obtained a mixture of these two water sources. As the dry season approached dependence on recent rain water decreased while that on ground water increased. In high summer, shallow lateral roots remained well-hydrated and shoots well supplied with ground water taken up by the tap root. This enabled plants to continue transpiration and carbon assimilation and thus complete their seasonal extension growth during the long (4–6 month) dry season. Parallel studies of other native species and two plantation-grown species ofEucalyptus all demonstrated behavior similar to that ofB. prionotes. ForB. prionotes, there was a strong negative correlation between the percentage of water in the stem base of a plant which was derived from the tap root (ground water) and the amount of precipitation which fell at the site. These data suggested that during the dry season plants derive the majority of the water they use from deeper sources while in the wet season most of the water they use is derived from shallower sources supplied by lateral roots in the upper soil layers. The data collected in this study supported the notion that the dimorphic rooting habit can be advantageous for large woody species of floristically-rich, open, woodlands and heathlands where the acquisition of seasonally limited water is at a premium.     

Temperature dependence of the inhibitory effects of orthovanadate on shortening velocity in fast skeletal muscle.

We have investigated the effects of the orthophosphate (P(i)) analog orthovanadate (Vi) on maximum shortening velocity (Vmax) in activated, chemically skinned, vertebrate skeletal muscle fibers. Using new "temperature-jump" protocols, reproducible data can be obtained from activated fibers at high temperatures, and we have examined the effect of increased [Vi] on Vmax for temperatures in the range 5-30 degrees C. We find that for temperatures < or = 20 degrees C, increasing [Vi] inhibits Vmax; for temperatures > or = 25 degrees C, increasing [Vi] does not inhibit Vmax. Attached cross-bridges bound to Vi are thought to be an analog of the weakly bound actin-myosin.ADP-P(i) state. The data suggest that the weakly bound Vi state can inhibit velocity at low temperature, but not at high temperature, with the transition occurring over a narrow temperature range of < 5 degrees C. This suggests a highly cooperative interaction. The data also define a Q10 for Vmax of 2.1 for chemically skinned rabbit psoas fibers over the temperature range of 5-30 degrees C.     

微生物发酵法生产S-腺苷甲硫氨酸的研究进展

S-腺苷甲硫氨酸(S-adenosyl-l-methionine, SAM)广泛存在于生物体内,主要参与生物体内的转甲基过程、转硫过程及转氨丙基过程,具有重要的生理功能,其生产备受重视。目前SAM生产的研究主要集中于微生物发酵法,该方法与化学合成法和酶催化法相比,成本较低且更容易实现工业化生产。随着需求量的迅速增加,通过菌种改良提高SAM产量备受关注。当前SAM生产菌种改良的主要策略包括常规育种和代谢工程。本文综述了提高微生物生产SAM能力的近期研究进展并探讨了SAM生产中的瓶颈问题及解决方法,以期为进一步提高SAM产量提供思路。     

The promotive effect of smoke derived from burnt native vegetation on seed germination of Western Australian plants

Exposure of dormant seed to cold smoke derived from burnt native vegetation had a positive influence on germination in one or more seed provenances in 45 out of 94 species of native Western Australian plants that are normally hard to germinate. When tested under controlled conditions some species showed earlier germination in smoke treatments than controls; in others smoke-treated seeds continued to germinate for several weeks after controls had achieved full germination. In the remainder, treated and control seeds germinated to similar time schedules. A group of 23 species which responded positively had previously been recorded as extremely difficult or impossible to germinate using conventional techniques. These included members of the genera Geleznowia (Rutaceae), Hibbertia (Dilleniaceae), Stirlingia (Proteaceae), Verticordia (Myrtaceae), Actinostrobus (Cupressaceae) and Pimelea (Thymelaeaceae). Both large- and small-seeded species were encountered amongst the positively responding taxa, which encompassed representatives of 15 families and 26 genera of dicotyledons, 5 families and 8 genera of monocotyledons and the gymnosperm Actinostrobus acuminatus. Sowing seeds on smoke-fumigated filter papers or watering with aqueous eluates of smoke elicited similar degrees of stimulation of germination, as did exposure to gaseous smoke in a readily germinating species Anigozanthos manglesii (Haemodoraceae) and the normally intractable species Lysinema ciliatum (Epacridaceae). Exposing recently burnt and unburnt natural bushland sites to smoke, smoked water or smoked dry sand elicited a significant germination response in 15 species. Over one third of the species sampled in the burnt site exhibited germination additional to that caused by the fire. Data are discussed in relation to previous germination studies on Australian and other taxa.     

Changes in key regulatory enzymes of hepatic carbohydrate metabolism after glucose loading of starved rats

When glucose was given to starved rats there was an increase in both 6-phosphofructo 2-kinase and pyruvate kinase activity and a decrease in fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase activity 30 min and 60 min later. These changes were accompanied by an increase in glycogen deposition and by modest, but significant increases in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate levels at the same time. Metabolite measurements indicated that flux through 6-phosphofructo 1-kinase and pyruvate kinase were increased. These results suggest that although glycogen deposition may occur via the gluconeogenic pathway, glycolysis is activated at the same time by changes in the phosphorylation state of key regulatory enzymes as well as by the small rise in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate.