Characterization of four herbicide-resistant mutants of Rhodopseudomonas viridis by genetic analysis, electron paramagnetic resonance, and optical spectroscopy

Herbicides of the triazine class block electron transfer in the photosynthetic reaction centers of purple bacteria and PSII of higher plants. They are thought to act by competing with one of the electron acceptors, the secondary quinone, QB, for its binding site. Several mutants of the purple bacterium Rhodopseudomonas viridis resistant to terbutryn [2-(methylthio)-4-(ethylamino)-6-(tert-butylamino)-s-triazine] have been isolated by their ability to grow photosynthetically in the presence of the herbicide. Sequence analysis of the genes coding for the L and M subunits of the reaction center showed that four different mutants were obtained, two of them being double mutated: T1 (SerL223----Ala and ArgL217----His), T3 (PheL216----Ser and ValM263----Phe), T4 (TyrL222----Phe), and T6 (PheL216----Ser). The residues L223 and L216 are involved in binding of QB, whereas L217 and L222 are not. M263 is part of the binding pocket of the primary quinone, QA. The affinity of the reaction centers for terbutryn and the electron transfer inhibitor o-phenanthroline, determined via the biphasic charge recombination after one flash, is decreased for all mutants. The affinity for ubiquinone 9 is also decreased, except in T1. Characterization by EPR spectroscopy showed that the QB.-Fe2+ signal of T4, having a g = 1.93 peak, is different from the signals obtained with the wild type and the other mutants but very similar to those of Rhodospirillum rubrum and PSII. The results obtained by the combination of these different techniques are discussed with respect to the three-dimensional structure of the wild type and the mode of binding of ubiquinone, terbutryn, and o-phenanthroline as determined by X-ray structure analysis.     

Effects of phospholipases,proteases and neuraminidase on γ-hydroxybutyrate binding sites

Summary -Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a natural compound of mammalian brain synthesized from GABA. The characteristics of its synthesis, transport, release, distribution and turnover, in addition to the presence of a high affinity binding site for this substance in brain are in favor of a modulator role for GHB. The effects of hydrolytic enzymes on the specific binding capacity of GHB have been studied in the present work. Phospholipases A₂ and C, neuraminidase and Pronase markedly decrease GHB binding to crude synaptosomal membranes from rat brain. This effect is time and enzyme concentration dependent. Trypsin, under the conditions employed, is less active. The inhibitory effects of phospholipases is correlated with phospholipid hydrolysis. Lysophospholipids, in the absence of bovine fatty acid free serum albumin partially inhibit GHB binding. The action of neuraminidase has been followed by sialic acid release and modifications of the ganglioside profile. The effects of phospholipase C and of neuraminidase are completely different to those on GABA binding sites. These results represent further data concerning the molecular existence of specific GHB binding sites on rat brain membranes.Abbreviations GHB -hydroxybutyrate - LPC L--lysophosphatidylcholine - LPE Lysophosphatidylethanolamine - PC Phosphatidylcholine - PE Phosphatidylethanolamine - BSA Bovine Serum Albumin     

Light-temperature interactions on the growth of Antarctic diatoms

Summary The combined effect of various temperatures and light intensities on the growth of seven species of antarctic diatoms in culture has been studied. With the exception of Chaetoceros deflandrei whose thermal tolerance is fairly good, these obligatory psychrophils cannot survive in temperatures above 6° to 9° C. Their mean growth rate is relatively low, between 0.24 div d^–1 for Corethron criophilum and 0.63 div d^–1 for C. deflandrei. Regardless of light intensity, growth rate increased with the temperature to reach a maximum between 3° and 5° C. The highest rates were obtained between 115 and 220 mol m^–2 s^–1 with 0.38 div d^–1 for C. criophilum, 0.56 div d^–1 for Synedra sp. and between 0.71 and 0.88 div d^–1 for the other 5 species. A reduction in light intensity from 220 to 46 mol m^–2 s^–1 slowed growth by nearly 50%. These results suggest that the combined effect of temperature and light is one of the factors involved in the limitation of antarctic phytoplankton growth. The low temperatures of the environment do not permit rapid growth, which, even under optimal light conditions remains low. In addition, in the euphotic layer, the overall light energy available for algae is considerably reduced due to turbulence, a factor which exacerbates the reduced growth rate.     

Ultrastructure of the tube foot sensory-secretory complex in Ophiocomina nigra (Echinodermata,Ophiuridea)

Summary The ultrastructure of the epidermal layer of both the oral and arm podia of the brittle star Ophiocomina nigra is described. Despite external differences, little variation occurs in their internal structure. The podial epidermis, which is overlain by a three-layered cuticle, consists of five cell types: support, mucous, sensory, adhesive secretory and monociliated neurosecretory-like cells. Areas of specialisation are superimposed on this basic plan. These comprise four cells forming cohesive units, made up of two adhesive secretory, one sensory and one monociliated neurosecretory-like cells. The two adhesive secretory cells may be identical or vary in the structure of their secretory packets. The sensory cells are of the normal type bearing a short cilium with a 9+2 microtubular arrangement. The monociliated neurosecretory-like cells contain many small dense vesicles and a short sub-cuticular cilium of irregular microtubular structure. Together, they appear to form a sensory-secretory complex which functions in adhesion both for feeding and locomotion. A system in which the secretion of the monociliated neurosecretory-like cell may control adhesive secretion is proposed.     

Dynamic properties of intermediate filaments: disassembly and reassembly during mitosis in baby hamster kidney cells

A morphological analysis of the organizational changes in the type III intermediate filament (IF) system in dividing baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cells was carried out by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. The most dramatic change occurred during prometaphase, when the typical network of long 10-nm-diameter IF characteristic of interphase cells disassembled into aggregates containing short 4-6 nm filaments. During anaphase-telophase, arrays of short IF reappeared throughout the cytoplasm, and, in cytokinesis, the majority of IF were longer and concentrated in a juxtanuclear cap. These results demonstrate that the relatively stable IF cytoskeletal system of interphase cells is partitioned into daughter cells during mitosis by a process of disassembly and reassembly. This latter process occurs in a series of morphologically distinct steps at different stages of the mitotic process.     

Hydrolysis of alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide in vitro by human kidney membranes and purified endopeptidase-24.11. Evidence for a novel cleavage site.

alpha-Human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) is secreted by the heart and acts on the kidney to promote a strong diuresis and natriuresis. In vivo it has been shown to be catabolized partly by the kidney. Crude microvillar membranes of human kidney degrade 125I-ANP at several internal bonds generating metabolites among which the C-terminal fragments were identified. Formation of the C-terminal tripeptide was blocked by phosphoramidon, indicating the involvement of endopeptidase-24.11 in this cleavage. Subsequent cleavages by aminopeptidase(s) yielded the C-terminal dipeptide and free tyrosine. Using purified endopeptidase 24.11, we identified seven sites of hydrolysis in unlabelled alpha-hANP: the bonds Arg-4-Ser-5, Cys-7-Phe-8, Arg-11-Met-12, Arg-14-Ile-15, Gly-16-Ala-17, Gly-20-Leu-21 and Ser-25-Phe-26. However, the bonds Gly-16-Ala-17 and Arg-4-Ser-5 did not fulfil the known specificity requirements of the enzyme. Cleavage at the Gly-16-Ala-17 bond was previously observed by Stephenson & Kenny [(1987) Biochem. J. 243, 183-187], but this is the first report of an Arg-Ser bond cleavage by this enzyme. Initial attack of alpha-hANP by endopeptidase-24.11 took place at a bond within the disulphide-linked loop and produced a peptide having the same amino acid composition as intact ANP. The bond cleaved in this metabolite was determined as the Cys-7-Phe-8 bond. Determination of all the bonds cleaved in alpha-hANP by endopeptidase-24.11 should prove useful for the design of more stable analogues, which could have therapeutic uses in hypertension.     

Presence of serum albumin in normal human epidermis: Possible implications for the nutrition and physiology of stratified epithelia

In this paper, using both immunofluorescence and protein biochemistry techniques, we present definitive evidence that plasma proteins such as albumin are present within normal human epidermis. This result confirms several previous reports supporting the idea that relatively large molecules can diffuse through the epidermal basement membrane into epidermis. Our results bring new insights for discussing how hydrophobic ligands or drugs present in the bloodstream and bound to plasmatic carriers can reach epidermal cells of all layers.Abbreviations CHAPS 3-[3-cholamidopropyl dimethylammonio] propane sulfonate - kD kilodaltons - BSA bovine serum albumin - 2ME 2-mercaptoethanol - DTT dithiothreitol - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - pI isoelectric point - Mw molecular weight - Tris Tris-(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane - 1D one dimensional - 2D two dimensional - PAGE poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis - MEM Minimal Eagle's Medium     

Expression of the HNK-1/NC-1 epitope in early vertebrate neurogenesis

Summary A family of glycoconjugates has recently been shown to share a common carbohydrate epitope recognized by the mouse monoclonal antibody HNK-1. The specificity of HNK-1 was found to be similar to that of another monoclonal antibody, NC-1. These two IgM monoclonal antibodies were raised after immunization of mice with a human T-cell line and avian neural crest-derived ganglia, respectively. The antigens recognized by these antibodies include the myelin-associated glycoprotein, MAG, a glycolipid of defined structure, and a set of molecules involved in cell adhesion. The timing and pattern of appearance of these antigens are distinct. Moreover, the epitope may be absent on an antigen at a given stage or in a given tissue. Therefore, although the molecules able to carry the NC-1/ HNK-1 epitope are numerous and expressed in various tissues, the use of the monoclonal antibodies on tissue sections has proven adequate for following the migration of avian neural crest cells, the major cell lineage recognized by NC-1 and HNK-1 during early embryogenesis. Analogies in several other species have been found on the basis of HNK-1 reactivity. In this study we show that NC-1 and HNK-1 can be used successfully to label migrating neural crest cells in dog, pig and human. On the other hand, the NC-l/HNK-1 epitope was not present on migrating crest cells in amphibians or mice and was found only transiently on the neural crest of rats.