Occurrence of oscillations in ATP synthesis and hydrolysis in chromatophores of Rhodospirillum rubrum

The conditions under which an oscillatory behaviour is observed during net hydrolysis or synthesis of ATP in chromatophores of Rhodospirillum rubrum FR1 are described. In the case of ATPase the oscillations are observed at low temperature (ca. 11°C) in the dark after an initial transient behaviour. These oscillations are attenuated or disappear by the addition of an uncoupler.Oscillations are also observed during ATP synthesis. At 3°C the oscillations appear spontaneously if photophosphorylation is measured during a sufficiently long time. At 30°C the mere intercalation of a dark period also at 30°C is sufficient to trigger the oscillations in the following light period.Abbreviations Bchl Bacteriochlorophyll - FCCP carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl hydrazone - PMS phenazine methosulfate - TMPD, N,N,N,N tetramethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Gerhart Drews as a homage for his permanent example as hard worker and careful scientist and also for his remarkable human quality     

Immunoelectrophoretic approach to the metabolic regulation of glutamine synthetase in Rhodopseudomonas capsulata E1F1: role of glutamine

Anti-glutamine synthetase serum was raised in rabbits by injecting purified glutamine synthetase (GS) of the phototrophic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas capsulata E1F1. The antibodies were purified to monospecificity by immunoaffinity chromatography in GS-sepharose gel. These anti-GS antibodies were used to measure the antigen levels in crude extracts from bacteria, grown phototrophically with dinitrogen, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, glutamate, glutamine or alanine as nitrogen sources. The amount of GS detected by rocket immunoelectrophoresis was proportional to Mn²⁺-dependent transferase activity measured in the crude extracts. Addition of GS inhibitor l-methionine-d,l-sulfoximine (MSX) to the actively growing cells promoted increased antigen levels, that were not found in the presence of glutamine or chloramphenicol. The ammonia-induced decrease in GS relative levels was reverted by MSX. GS levels remained constant when phototrophically growing cells were kept in the dark.Abbreviations GS glutamine synthetase - MOPS 2-(N-morpholine) propane sulfonate - MSX l-methionine-d,l-sulfoximine     

Clinical importance of circulating immune complexes in human acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Summary A total of 122 sera from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients were analyzed for circulating immune complexes (CIC) by two methods: the ¹²⁵I-C₁q binding assay and the polyethylene glycol precipitation test (PEG). The results were correlated with induction, remission and relapse stages of the disease. Using the first method the levels of CIC in induction were 15.18±9.15, with 19/29 positive cases (65.50%), P<0.001 compared with controls. In the remission phase the levels were 9.02±5.62, 11/45 (24.49%) nonsignificant P value, and in relapse they were 16.14±11.17 28/48 (58.33%) P<0.001. The PEG precipitation test results were: 0.33±0.10, 8/22 (36.36%); 0.24±0.11, 10/48 (20.83%) and 0.28±0.10, 6/28 (21.42%), respectively. Thus the values of CIC as measured by PEG in the three clinical of phases ALL did not differ significantly from controls. This contrasts with results obtained by the radioiodinated C₁q binding assay, where the incidence of positive values was significantly higher in induction and in relapse and lower in the remission phase. These observations were extended in sequential vertical studies performed in a group of patients. These results suggest that raised CIC detected by the ¹²⁵I-C₁q method may reflect a progressive state in ALL and that quantitation of these immune complexes may provide an adequate biochemical marker for prognosis.     

Protoplast forming ability in the genusBrevibacterium

Formation of protoplasts and their reversion were followed in 7 strains of brevibacteria. The formation of protoplasts and their reversion differed both between various species of brevibacteria and between various mutant strains of the same species.     

Comparison of the reversibility of locipet23 andlys2 after UV irradiation in the standard and UV-sensitive strains ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Reversibility of the respiration-deficient locuspet23 and auxotrophic locuslys2 was followed in the standard (RAD1) and UV sensitive (rad1–2) strains ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae, both after identical doses of UV radiation and at identical survival. When comparing the reversibility after the treatment with identical doses of UV radiation a much higher reversibility of both loci in strainrad1–2 could be detected. When comparing the reversibility of the loci in question at identical survival of both strains it could be found that the reversibility of thepet23 locus is again much higher in strainrad1–2, whereas the reversibility of thelys2 locus is roughly identical in the two strains. Thus, the function of geneRAD1 in repair processes is apparently associated with the “error-free” repair, both at low and high doses of ultraviolet radiation.     

Phylogenetic relationships in the family Resedaceae L.

A study was made on the phylogenetic relationships of species of the family Resedaceae, based on morphological features, chromosome meiotic behaviour, karyotype features, size and fertility of pollen grains, nucleotypic parameters, seed protein profiles and esterase isozyme patterns.For the comparison of the seed protein profiles among species a method was developed based on the presence or absence of the bands by means of a computer program. The dendrogram obtained by such a method is in line, to a great extent, with the clusters (sections) obtained within the family based on morphological features.Data on meiotic behaviour and on morphology, such as the type of fruit, carpel numbers and others, suggest that x=5 is the primitive basic chromosome number of this family. x₁=6 and x₂=7 are considered as secondary basic numbers derived from x=5 through aneuploid changes.The results support a proposed phylogenetic tree of the genera and sections of the genus Reseda represented in the European Flora.The principal phenomena that have operated in the evolution of the Resedaceae seem to be aneuploid changes, polyploidy and structural rearrangements. A trend towards DNA increase in the evolution of this group is also apparent.     

Recombinant haplotype H-2 in mice of the congenic resistant strain B10.D1(R108)/Y

Recombinant H-2 haplotype of mouse strain B10.D1(R108)/Y (symbol R108) obtained in experiments with skin grafting in the course of developing the CR B10.D1/Y strain (strain DBA/LacY--the donor of H-2q) was studied. Strains with recombinant H-2 haplotypes a, h2, g1, i3, i5, i7, m, y1 were used. Alleles of different H-2 (K, I, D) regions were determined according to the presence or absence of genetic complementation in the F1 test with skin grafts. R108 recombinant was studied by serological methods with panel of anti-H-2 sera. Anti-H-2Kb (H-2.33) and anti-H-2Dq (H-2.30) monospecific antisera were used in microcytotoxicity test and in absorption experiments in vitro. It was concluded that crossing over between H-2b and H-2q chromosomes, which led to formation of recombinant H-2 haplotype of R108 mice, occurred at I region, between IA and IC subregions. The H-2 complex of R108 line has KbIAbIJ?IE?ICqSqDq alleles. bq1 symbol was proposed for the H-2 haplotype of B10.D1(R108)/Y strain.     

Papulacandin B: Inhibitor of biogenesis of (1→3)-β-d-glucan fibrillar component of the cell wall ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae protoplasts

The effect of papulacandin B on regenerating protoplasts ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae was studied by light and electron microscopy. In liquid media it inhibited the biogenesis of (1→3)-β-d-glucan fibrillar nets; as a result, the protoplasts did not grow polarly but only spherically. The effect was reversible. Instead of the nets the inhibited protoplasts synthesized only individual microfibrils soluble in hydroxide; these were not joined in the nets and were partially masked by amorphous material. The microfibrils disintegrated after lysis and did not maintain the shape of protoplasts. Protoplasts inhibited in solid media grew spherically up to 25 μm but they did not divide or revert or revert, in spite of forming cell walls. These walls were amorphous and fragile and they disintegrated during preparation. Papulacandin B did not decrease the viability of protoplasts and did not interfere with their growth, biogenesis of alkali-soluble glucan microfibrils or amorphous wall matrix. It inhibited specifically the synthesis of alkali-insoluble branched (1→3)-β-d-glucan, a necessary building unit required for the formation of the fibrillar component of the cell wall responsible for the cell wall shape, its rigidity and tensile strength.     

The use of different oils for the cultivation ofStreptomyces cinnamonensis

The addition of 2–4% oils to the synthetic fermentation medium used for the cultivation ofStreptomyces cinnamonensis increased the production of monensin three times on the average. When the amount of the added oil was lower than 2% and higher than 4% the production sharply decreased. The maximal production preceded the maximal consumption of individual fatty acids of the added oils, the content of oleic acid decreasing most pronouncedly.     

The effect of glucose on cellobiose uptake and β-D-glucosidase activity inStreptomyces granaticolor

Glucose inhibits the inducible synthesis of β-D-glucosidase inStreptomyces granaticolor. Neither cAMP nor cGMP influence the inhibitory effect of glucose. Glucose also inhibits the inducible synthesis of the cellobiose uptake system but has no effect on its activity. This may be the mechanism underlying glucose inhibition of induction of β-D-glucosidase inS.granaticolor.