Organization and nucleotide sequence of the genes for ribosomal protein S2 and elongation factor Ts in Spirulina Platensis

A 6.5 kb region from the genome of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis was cloned using as a probe the Escherichia coli gene for ribosomal protein S2. Sequence analysis revealed, in this region, the presence of the gene for ribosomal protein S2 and part of the gene for the elongation factor Ts (EF-Ts). The arrangement rpsB-spacer-tsf resembles that reported for E. coli. The deduced amino acid sequences of the platensis S2 and EF-Ts show significant homology with the E. coli counterparts.     

Kinetic characterization of GABA-transaminase from cultured neurons and astrocytes

The enzymatic mechanism and the kinetic parameters of GABA-transaminase extracted from cultured mouse cerebral cortex neurons and astrocytes were studied. Neuronal as well as astrocytic GABA-transaminase obeyed a bi bi ping-pong reaction mechanism. The estimated K_m-values for -ketoglutarate and GABA were significantly lower for astroglial GABA-transaminase compared to the neuronal enzyme suggesting a possible existence of cell specific isozymes of GABA-transaminase. The observed enzymatic mechanism and the magnitude of the estimated kinetic parameters imply that GABA-transaminase synthesized in the two types of cultured neural cells is mechanistically and kinetically equivalent to the enzyme synthesized in the brainin vivo.     

Changes in the activity of the taste receptor apparatus and the preference for a sodium chloride solution in newborn rats receiving capsaicin]

Taste receptor organ activity and preference of sodium chloride solution in rats with deficit of substance P (SP) were studied. Total impulse activity of chorda tympani nerve of 7-8 week old rats was recorded under nembutal anesthesia. The taste responses to four solutions (sucrose, quinine sulfate, sodium chloride and citric acid) were decreased in rats injected with capsaicin in comparison with rats injected with vehicle. The rats injected with capsaicin preferred water to sodium chloride (two-bottle technique). On the contrary the rats injected with capsaicin preferred the salt solution. These data together with previous studies show the important role of peptide SP in taste receptor activity and "salt appetite".     

Nucleotide sequence of the G6-amylase gene from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. H-167

The nucleotide sequence of the G6-amylase gene from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. H-167 was determined. The open reading frame of the gene consisted of 2865 base pairs, encoding 955 amino acids. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the G6-amylase indicated that the enzyme had a single peptide of 33 amino acid residues and the mature enzyme was composed of 922 amino acids, giving a molecular mass of 102,598. Identity of the NH2-terminal amino acid sequences among each component of the multiform G6-amylase suggested the proteolytic processing of the COOH-terminal side of the enzyme. The DNA sequence and the deduced amino acid sequence of the G6-amylase gene showed no homology with those of other bacterial alpha-amylases although the consensus amino acid sequences of the active center were well conserved.     

Enumeration and presumptive identification of some functional groups of bacteria in the rumen of dairy cows fed grass silage-based diets

Abstract Samples of rumen ingesta from two rumen-fistulated dairy cows fed grass silage-based diets were examined for numbers and types of bacteria that developed colonies on rumen fluid-agar media designated to support the growth of (a) a wide range of species, (b) cellulolytic bacteria, (c) lactate-fermenting bacteria, (d) non-fermentative bacteria. The most numerous species was Bacteroides ruminicola followed by Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens . The most abundant cellulolytic species were Eubacterium cellulosolvens and Ruminococcus flavefaciens. Megasphaera elsdenii and Selenomonas ruminantium were important lactate fermenters but an unidentified bacterium that grew poorly on maintenance medium was by far the most numerous among bacteria isolated from lactate-containing medium. One strain remained sufficiently viable to show that it fermented lactate to propionate and acetate.     

The polymerase chain reaction for Mycoplasma pulmonis

In vitro DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction was examined to detect Mycoplasma pulmonis. A pair of synthetic oligonucleotide primers was constructed, and used to amplify a unique sequence of M. pulmonis DNA. Amplified products were detected by agarose gel electrophoresis and verified by blot hybridization with a synthetic oligonucleotide probe. This system detected cellular DNA of M. pulmonis but not M. arthritidis or M. neurolyticum, and thus appears to be useful for M. pulmonis diagnosis.     

Phytochrome-mediated responses of cells and protoplasts of green calli obtained from the leaves of a CAM plant

Green callus obtained from leaves of the CAM-inducible plant Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cv. Montezuma has previously been shown to perform C₃-type photosynthesis under 16-h days and to shift to crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) under 9-h days. The utilization of photoperiodic regimes (i.e. night interruptions by 30 min red light) established that CAM induction in the callus was under the control of phytochrome, as shown by measurements of CAM criteria: phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity and malic acid pools. Short-term responsiveness of the callus cells to phytochrome modulations by monochromatic radiations was also established by the rapid changes observed in the diameter of the callus-derived protoplasts. These results provide further evidence that whole plant correlations are not necessary for phytochrome operativity.Abbreviations CAM crassulacean acid metabolism - PAL phenylalanine ammonia lyase (EC 4.3.1.5) - PAR photosynthetically active radiations - PEPC phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1. 31) - Rubisco ribulose 1,5 bisphosphate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.39)     

Growth characteristics and ion contents of non-selected and salt-selected callus lines of highbush blueberry (Vacdnium corymbosum) cultivars Blue Crop and Denise Blue

Non-selected and sodium chloride selected callus lines of Vacdnium corymbosum L.cv Blue Crop and cv. Denise Blue were grown on media supplemented with 0–100 mM NaCl. For both cultivars, fresh weight and dry weight yields were greater in selected lines on all levels of NaCl. Selected lines of Blue Crop displayed better growth than selected lines of Denise Blue at most concentrations of NaCl. Internal Na⁺ and Cl^– concentrations in selected and non-selected lines of both cultivars increased as external concentration was raised. However, selected lines of Blue Crop and Denise Blue accumulated more Na⁺ and Cl^– than non-selected lines. Selected lines of both cultivars maintained higher levels of K⁺ than non-selected lines on all external NaCl levels. Selected lines of Blue Crop had higher levels of Na⁺ and Cl^– than that of Denise Blue. The results suggest Na⁺ and Cl^– accumulation could be a mechanism allowing better growth in selected lines at moderate salinity levels (50–75 mM NaCl).     

A protocol for the purification of bovine serum albumin free of deoxyribonuclease activity

Bovine serum albumin, free of deoxyribonuclease activity, was obtained in our laboratory using ion-exchange chromatography followed by acetylation. Chromatography on four different resins (DEAE-52, P-11, hydroxylapatite and Q Sepharose fast-flow) was examined. Fractions from Q Sepharose chromatography, eluted with a linear gradient 0-1.0 M NaCl and subsequently acetylated, proved to be the most effective method for obtaining deoxyribonuclease-free bovine serum albumin.     

Flexibility difference between double-stranded RNA and DNA as revealed by gel electrophoresis

A systematic study of agarose gel electrophoresis of double-stranded RNA in the kilobase range of sizes was performed. The dsRNA to dsDNA relative mobility was found to depend on gel concentration: in low density gels RNA moves slower and in high density gels - faster than DNA of the same molecular size. The electrophoretic differences were interpreted within the reptation theory to be mainly due to the molecular stiffness differences. The dsRNA persistence length was roughly estimated to be about twice as great as that of DNA.