New Species of Meconopsis(Papaveraceae) from Laojun Shan and Yao Shan,Northern Yunnan,China

Two new species,Meconopsis muscicola and M.yaoshanensis(Papaveraceae),are described and characterized.Differences separating them from similar species are discussed and photos showing their diagnostic features are provided.     

Partial Purification of the Sperm-binding Factor from the Egg of the Sea Urchin, Anthocidaris Crassispina, Followed by an Immunological Method

Univalent antibody (Fab fragments) against sperm-binding factor inhibits the fertilization of eggs species-specifically. The sperm-binding factor was partially purified from unfertilized eggs of the sea urchin Anthocidaris crassispina by monitoring its neutralizing effect on fertilization inhibiting Fab fragments. It formed two species-specific precipitin lines by the double-immunodiffusion test and gave three main bands of protein with apparent molecular weights of 80,000, 87,000 and 225,000, on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Carbohydrate was detected in the first and third of these protein bands.     

DEGRADATION AND TRANSLOCATION OF 15N-LABELED NICOTINE INJECTED INTO INTACT TOBACCO LEAVES

¹⁵N-labeled nicotine was degraded in tobacco plant when it wasinjected into leaf at the vegetative stage. Topping of inflorescencedepressed the degradation, and no degradation was found whennico tine was injected 10 days after the topping. These resultsmay partly explain the known fact that the content of nicotinein tobacco plant is low in their younger stages and increasesafter the topping. ¹⁵N-labeled nicotine supplied to leaf was transported to otherparts of the plant without degradation. (Received September 1, 1962; )     

Properties of a soluble ATPase from castor bean endosperm mitochondria

An ATPase was extracted and purified from castor bean endospermmitochondria. The enzyme is stable at 60°C only in the presenceof ATP in the incubation medium. It is less stable at 0°Cthan at 30°C but is stabilized by ammonium sulfate or glycerol.Activity is dependent on the presence of Mg⁺⁺, and in the presenceof Mg⁺⁺ is enhanced by 2,4-dinitrophenol, but is not inhibitedby oligomycin. The enzyme hydrolyzes ITP in addition to ATP,but ITPase activity is hardly enhanced by 2,4-dinitrophenol.This preparation has many properties in common with the ATPase(coupling factor 1) from beef heart mitochondria. (Received November 8, 1969; )     

Multiplex PCR system applied for analysing microsatellite loci of Schlegel's black rockfish,Sebastes schlegeli

Two multiplex PCR amplifications were performed to analyse six microsatellite loci of Schlegel's black rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli, an important commercial fish in the northern part of Japan and an important species for the stock enhancement program in this area. We analysed 67 wild samples from Yamada Bay, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The observed genotype frequencies agreed with the Hardy–Weinberg expectations at all loci, and the observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.072 to 0.897.     

AGMATINE AND N-CARBAMYLPUTRESCINE AS INTERMEDIATES IN THE FORMATION OF NICOTINE BY TOBACCO PLANTS

Agmatine-G-³H and N-carbamylputrescine-l,4-¹⁴C were effectivelyincorporated into the nicotine of tobacco plants. This resultmay indicate a route that the pyrrolidine ring of nicotine isformed from putrescine by the following pathway: arginineagmatineN-carbamylputrescineputrescinepyrrolidinering. (Received February 7, 1966; )     

Effect of benzimidazole on the senescence of wheat chloroplasts and their boat shape transformation

Benzimidazole efficiently retards the senescence of detachedwheat leaves. Electron microscopic study has revealed that nodamage was visible on the fine structure of chloroplasts inleaves which retained their green color by benzimidazole treatment,whereas chloroplasts of water floated leaves showed strikingalterations in their color, shape and fine structure as senescenceproceeded. Moreover, the chloroplast lamellar system in benzimidazoletreated leaves even seemed to be organized over those in immediatelydetached leaves. The bending tendency for lamellar array within chloroplastswas more marked in benzimidazole treated leaves than in thecontrol. Chloroplasts showed, more frequently and intensely,transformation into the "boat shape" the extreme curvature ofthe granafretwork skeleton of the chloroplasts forming the keelof the boat. ¹This work was supported by Grants to Prof. E.R. WAYGOOD fromthe Canada Department of Agriculture (EMR-14) and the NationalResearch Council of Canada (PRBT-10) ²This work was undertaken during the author's stay at the Departmentof Botany, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada,with Fellowship granted to the author by the National ResearchCouncil of Canada, 1963–1965 (Received July 29, 1969; )     

L-Tyrosine carboxy-lyase of barley roots

_L-Tyrosine carboxy-lyase (E.C. 4. 1. 1. 25) was isolated fromroots of germinating barley (Hordeum vulgare). The enzyme requirespyridoxal phosphate for maximum activity. The optimum pH foractivity is about 7.0. The enzyme is inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoateand hydroxylamine at 10^–3 M. Enzyme activity is foundin extracts from young roots, especially from those in earlystages of development, but not in extracts from shoots of thesame plant. Localization and changes in the amounts of _L-tyrosinecarboxy-lyase and aromatic amines in developing barley seedlingswere measured. Participation of carboxy-lyase in the formationof aromatic amines in barley roots is suggested. (Received July 17, 1970; )