Germination of concentrated suspensions of spores from Aspergillus niger

Summary Germination of condiospores fromA.niger in very concentrated suspension was required to inoculate solid fermentation media, but a germination self-inhibitor was detected in spores. It was found that the inhibitory effect depended on the composition of the medium and was reduced when glucose was used as a carbon source. The effect of the self-inhibitor was eliminated by washing the spores and using glucose and a protein nitrogen source in the germination medium. By this method it was possible to increase about 100 times (10⁶ to 10⁸) spore concentration, keeping more than 90% germination.     

Functional alpha 2-adrenoceptors in rat adipocytes: inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation

Alpha 2-adrenoceptor activation inhibits cyclic AMP accumulation in fat cells from many species. However, the presence of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in rat adipocytes has been difficult to demonstrate. We observed that alpha 2-adrenergic activation inhibits forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation both in rat and hamster adipocytes; UK 14304, p-amino clonidine and clonidine were the agents with higher efficacy. The effect of UK 14304 was blocked by yohimbine but not by prazosin demonstrating the involvement of alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Pertussis toxin blocked the alpha 2-adrenergic effect. Our results demonstrate the presence in rat fat cells of alpha 2-adrenoceptors coupled to adenylate cyclase via "Gi".     

Plasmid cloning vectors replicating in Escherichia coli,amino acid-producing coryneform bacteria and Methylobacillus sp.

Summary Four hybrid plasmids were constructed from the cryptic plasmid pAM330 (from Brevibacterium lactofermentum; 4.5 kb) and the broadhost-range plasmid pGV1106 (9.0 kb; Km^r Sm^r) isolated from Escherichia coli. All of them were mobilized from E. coli into the Gram-negative methylotrophic bacterium Methylobacillus sp. and two of these constructs (pCEM300 and pCEM400) were transferred by transformation into B. flavum and Corynebacterium glutamicum. Their kanamycin-resistance determinant coming from Gram-negative hosts was expressed in these Gram-positive bacteria. Both pCEM300 and pCEM400 are very stably maintained in B. flavum and represent suitable vectors for gene cloning in coryneform producers of amino acids.     

Spin label and microcalorimetric studies of the interaction of DNA with unilamellar phosphatidylcholine liposomes

High-molecular DNA from chicken erythrocytes interacts with 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine in unilamellar liposomes, both in the presence and absence of Mg2+ ions. This interaction results in a phase separation in liposome membranes. The new phase induced by DNA and Mg2+ has a higher gel-liquid crystal phase transition temperature as measured by microcalorimetry. In the liquid crystalline state, the 16- and 5-doxyl stearic acid spin labels indicate changed local bilayer properties at the label position in the new phase.     

Interactions of nucleic acids with distamycins. The drug monomeric chromophore

A study of the monomeric chromophore of the oligopeptides netropsin (1), distamycin III (2), and distamycin V (3) by polarization spectroscopy techniques and molecular orbital calculations is reported. Linear dichroism spectra of the monomeric model compounds 1-methyl-2(ethylcarbamoyl)-4-acetamido-pyrrole (4) and 1-methyl-2(ethylcarbamoyl)-pyrrole (5) dissolved and oriented in lyotropic and thermotropic liquid crystals provide, together with the magnetic CD spectra, experimental checks of the theoretical calculations. The polarization directions of the investigated transition obtained by these means in this study allow us to build up in the following paper the exciton states of (1)-(3) and these provide a stereochemical interpretation of the flow linear dichroism spectra of the complexes of DNA with (2) and (3).     

Spinal ascending projections to the nucleus tractus spinalis nervi trigemini of the dog

Seven dogs were subjected 30 min to ligation of the thoracic aorta and were then kept alive 6-7 days after the ligature had been removed. Their spinal cord and brain stem were treated by the Nauta-Gygax method and the extent and appearance of preterminal and terminal degeneration of certain ascending spinal systems were analysed. In the medulla oblongata region, marked degenerating fibres from the lower thoracic and lumbosacral cord segments were found in the nucleus tractus spinalis nervi trigemini. Preterminal and terminal degenerating fibres were visualized in the caudal part of the trigeminal nuclear complex. Comparison with the literature showed these to be previously unknown projections with a relationship to the nucleus tractus spinalis nervi trigemini.     

Production ofd-mannitol fromd-aldopentoses by the yeastRhodotorula minuta

Rhodotorula minuta produced 16% ofd-mannitol and 3% ofd-arabinitol when cultivated ond-ribose, 4% of mannitol and 11% of arabinitol when grown ond-xylose, 5% ofd-mannitol and 5% ofd-arabinitol when grown ond-arabinose, and 5% ofd-mannitol and 6% ofd-arabinitol when cultivated ond-lyxose.     

Conversion of disaccharides to 3-ketodisaccharides by nongrowing and immobilized cells ofAgrobacterium tumefaciens

High-performance liquid chromatography was used to estimate 3-ketolactose and 3-ketosucrose in cultures of agrobacteria. The activities of enzymes that convert the disaccharide substrate were evaluated during batch cultivation ofAgrobacterium tumefaciens on sucrose, maltose, and lactose. The highest activity of glucoside 3-dehydrogenase and a slight activity of disaccharide-hydrolyzing enzymes were found in cells grown on lactose. Nongrowing cells converted lactose to 3-ketolactose faster than immobilized cells did. Immobilization of cells into polysaccharide gels did not stabilize the activity of glucoside 3-dehydrogenase. Glutaraldehyde cross-linking of the cell content led to an inactivation of the respiratory chain but Fe³⁺ could be used as an electron acceptor. Cells treated with glutaraldehyde converted lactose faster than nongrowing ones but the activity of glucoside 3-dehydrogenase was not stable.