Surface-charge related actions of polylysine on thylakoid membranes

Polycation binding to the negatively charged surface of chloroplast thylakoid membranes is known to cause an inhibition of photosystem I activity. It also interferes with the cation-dependent rearrangement of chlorophyll proteins in the thylakoid membrane. It was shown that added anions prevented or reversed the inhibition of photosystem I by polylysine without decreasing its binding to the membranes. Anions also caused a change in the interaction of the chlorophyll proteins in polylysine-treated thylakoids as indicated by an increase in the relative fluorescence intensity from photosystem II. In both cases, the relative effectiveness of the anions tested depended on their valence; for example, the tetravalent species Fe(CN)₆^4t- was effective at a concentration at least 2 orders of magnitude lower than the divalent species SO₄^2?. These results suggest that anions act by screening the positive charge of the polylysine-coated membrane surface. Measurements of the response of the anionic fluorescent probe 1-anilinonapthalene-8-sulfonate to an addition of anions to polylysine-treated thylakoids supported this contention. It was concluded that the action of polylysine on photosystem I and on the chlorophyll proteins is mediated by changes of the electrical properties of the thylakoid membrane and may not involve a direct binding of the polycation to the affected membrane proteins.     

Paleolimnology of the Peten Lake District,Guatemala

Long-term changes of sedimentary particle-size distribution in two tropical lowland lakes were compared with changes of human population sizes, estimated archaeologically, in the drainage basins. Mean particle size of silt and clay fractions (<64 µm) varied between 3 and 15 µm. High positive skewness and kurtosis of the distributions were associated with smaller particle sizes; hence small mean size resulted from greater influx of small particles while influx of larger particles was probably constant. An inverse correlation between mean particle size and human population size is interpreted to mean that disturbance-induced erosion results in delivery of very fine inorganic particles at higher rates. Within any one basin, particle-size stratigraphy is more precisely related to archaeological time periods than is pollen stratigraphy. An absolute chronology still eludes us, owing to the failure of ¹⁴C dating of calcareous, colluvial sediments, but our relative chronology is now more precise than before. If certain assumptions about past hydrologic relations can be met, particle-size analysis is a way of comparing the histories of geographically very different lakes, including lakes from tropical, temperate, and arctic regions.     

An enzymatic assay for acetate in spent bacterial culture supernatants

A method is presented for the rapid enzymatic determination of acetate in spent bacterial culture supernatants. The assay is based on a previously published assay for acetate kinase [Bergmeyer et al. (1974) in Methods of Enzymatic Analysis (Bergmeyer, H. V., ed.), Vol. 1, pp. 425-426, Verlag Chemie-Academic Press, New York/London], and is sufficiently sensitive to detect acetate levels of 50 microM. The assay is cheaper than commercially available assays and is particularly useful for occasional use by laboratories not equipped for routine acetate analysis using gas chromatography. The application of the assay to the measurement of acetate in bacterial cultures is described, though it should also be applicable to other biological fluids and foodstuffs.     

PHOTOSYNTHETIC QUANTUM EFFICIENCIES OF PHYTOPLANKTON FROM PERENNIALLY ICE COVERED ANTARCTIC LAKES1

A recently introduced approach far estimating the photosynthetic quantum efficiency (φ) of a freshwater or marine phytoplankton community has been applied for the first time to high latitude polar ecosystems, namely four lakes of southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Values for φ at various depths ranged from 0.0022–0.1560 when calculated using a recommended mean extinction coefficient for phytoplankton (i.e. k?_c= 0.016). By contrast, φ ranged from 0.0037–0.0760 when calculated using an empirically estimated value for k?_c of 0.0328. If the recommended k?_c= 0.016 more closely approaches an accurate estimate, then the φ valves indicate that the phytoplankton convert light to organic carbon more efficiently than elsewhere. However, if the empirically derived k?_c= 0.0328 more closely approaches an accurate estimate, then the φ values indicate the phytoplankton trap light more efficiently than elsewhere. Although we have not resolved whether light conversion (φ) or light trapping are more efficient, the results show that the phytoplankton of these Antarctic lakes are well adapted to performing photosynthesis under extremely low light conditions.     

In vitro and in vivo effects on brain GABA metabolism of (S)-4-amino-5-fluoropentanoic acid,a mechanism-based inactivator of γ-aminobutyric acid transaminase

The effects of intraperitoneal administration of (S)-4-amino-5-fluoropentanoic acid, a mechanism-based covalent inactivator of γ-aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA-T), on whole brain GABA metabolism in mice were investigated. A dose-dependent and time-dependent irreversible inactivation of GABA-T was observed with a concomitant increase in whole brain GABA levels. The compound exhibited no $\text{in vitro}$ nor $\text{in vivo}$ time-dependent inhibition of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), alanine transaminase, or aspartate transaminase (Asp-T). It was, however, a potent competitive reversible inhibitor of GAD and a weak competitive inhibitor of Asp-T. The chloro analogue, (S)-4-amino-5-chloropentanoic acid, was ineffective.     

Effect of parasympathetic denervation on acetylcholine levels in the rat parotid gland. Is there an extraneuronal pool of acetylcholine?

Parasympathetic denervation of the rat parotid gland by avulsion of the auriculotemporal nerve caused a marked and lasting decrease in gland weight. Parasympathectomy did not change the levels of choline in the gland but decreased by 60% the levels of acetylcholine (ACh) ten days after surgery and 65% at 28 days. It is puzzling that relatively high levels of ACh remained after parasympathetic denervation. The presence of additional cholinergic nerves that innervate the gland, or pass through it en route to other structures may account for some of the remaining ACh. Also, Schwann cells from denervated nerves might have contributed to some of the ACh. The existence of an extraneuronal source of ACh is considered.     

Ammonia Regulation of Intermediary Metabolism in Photosynthesizing and Respiring Chlorella pyrenoidosa: Comparative Effects of Methylamine

The natural ¹³C abundance (¹³C value) of the field-grown leguminousplants (soybean, kidney bean, pea, azuki bean, mung bean, peanutand cowpea) was investigated by mass spectrometry with a precisionbetter than %0.2 for ¹³C. Among organs of premature plants,the leaves had the most negative values, and the nodules generallyhad the least negative values, and other organs, fruits, stemsand roots, showed intermediate values. In the soybeans so farinvestigated, the grains of nodulating plants exhibited higher¹³C values than nonnodulating lines. The ¹³C values of the grainsvaried depending on the species: peanuts showed the most negativevalues. Possible causes underlying these variations are discussed. (Received March 2, 1983; Accepted May 27, 1983)     

The H-2 dm1 mutation and Qa antigens

The effect of the H-2dm1 mutation on Qa-m2 expression was examined. The mutant strain B10.D2-H-2dm1 showed a fourfold increase in Qa-m2 expression when compared with the parental strain B10.D2. Qa-m2 molecules immunoprecipitated from B10.D2-H-2dm1, C57BL/10, and B10.D2 spleen cells were identical by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis [isoelectric focusing (IEF) followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE]). It is likely therefore that the increased Qa-m2 expression is not due to gross structural alterations of the Qa-m2 molecule; in the present study, alternative explanations are discussed.     

Isolation and characterization of a collagen-binding glycoprotein from chondrocyte membranes

A collagen-binding glycoprotein was isolated from purified chick chondrocyte surface membranes by affinity chromatography on type II collagen-Sepharose. The purified glycoprotein has an apparent mol. wt. of 31,000 and binds to native chick collagen types I, II, III, V and M. Although it contains 30% carbohydrates, the majority of which is fucose, it is hydrophobic and soluble only in detergents. The integral membrane protein character of the 31-K protein became apparent from its ability to insert into lecithin vesicles. Liposome-inserted 31-K protein binds 125I-labelled type II collagen in the presence of 0.5 M NaCl, while detergent-solubilized 31-K protein is dissociated from type II collagen by 0.05-0.1 M NaCl. Electron microscopic studies employing the rotary shadowing technique indicate that 31-K protein particles bind to the ends of collagen molecules. We propose that this glycoprotein serves as anchorage site for extracellular collagen to the chondrocyte membrane and thus may be involved in cell-matrix interactions in cartilage.