Nutrient conservation strategies in native Andean‐Patagonian forests

Abstract. Nutrient conservation in vegetation affects rates of litter decomposition and soil nutrient availability. Although resorption has been traditionally considered one of the most important plant strategies to conserve nutrients in temperate forests, long leaf life‐span and low nutrient requirements have been postulated as better indicators. We aimed at identifying nutrient conservation strategies within characteristic functional groups of NW Patagonian forests on Andisols. We analysed C‐, N‐, P‐, K‐ and lignin‐concentrations in mature and senescent leaves of ten native woody species within the functional groups: broad‐leaved deciduous species, broad‐leaved evergreens and conifers. We also examined mycorrhizal associations in all species. Nutrient concentration in mature leaves and N‐ resorption were higher in broad‐leaved deciduous species than in the other two functional groups. Conifers had low mature leaf nutrient concentrations, low N‐resorption and high lignin/N ratios in senescent leaves. P‐ and K‐resorptions did not differ among functional groups. Broad‐leaved evergreens exhibited a species‐dependent response. Nitrogen in mature leaves was positively correlated with both N resorption and soil N‐fertility. Despite the high P‐retention capacity of Andisols, N appeared to be the more limiting nutrient, with most species being proficient in resorbing N but not P. The presence of endomycorrhizae in all conifers and the broad‐leaved evergreen Maytenus boaria, ectomycorrhizae in all Nothofagus species (four deciduous, one evergreen), and cluster roots in the broad‐leaved evergreen Lomatia hirsuta, would be possibly explaining why P is less limiting than N in these forests.     

Tunicamycin-resistant mutants of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens are deficient in amylase, protease and penicillinase synthesis and have altered sensitivity to antibiotics and autolysis

Mutants of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens resistant to at least 10 micrograms/ml of tunicamycin were isolated and shown to be pleiotropic. The mutants were more resistant to streptomycin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin and neomycin than was the parent strain but less resistant to penicillin G and tetracycline. They were more autolytic, presumably due to an altered cell wall. The mutants produced reduced levels of amylase, penicillinase and both metal and serine protease besides having an enhanced sporulation frequency and being more motile.     

Estimate of mean tissue O2 consumption at onset of exercise in males

A mathematical model has been developed that permitted the calculation of the flow-weighted mean tissue O2 consumption (VO2T) at the onset of a step increase in work rate. From breath-by-breath measurements of alveolar O2 consumption (VO2A) and cardiac output (Q) by impedance cardiography and assumptions about the site of depletion of O2 stores, the rate of change in O2 stores (VO2s) was determined. The sum of VO2A + VO2s = VO2T. Six very fit males performed six repetitions of each of two step increases in work rate. STlo was a transition from rest to 100-W cycling; SThi was a transition from 100- to 200-W cycling. For each work rate transition, the responses of VO2A and Q were averaged over the six repetitions of each subject and the model was solved to yield VO2T. The responses of VO2A, VO2T, and Q after the increase in work rate were fit with a monoexponential function. This function included a time constant and time delay, the sum of which gave the mean response time (MRT). In the STlo test, the MRT of VO2A (24.9 +/- 1.1 s, mean +/- SE) was longer than that of VO2T (15.3 +/- 1.3 s) and of Q (16.5 +/- 6.5 s) (P less than 0.05). The MRT of VO2T and Q did not differ significantly. Also for SThi, the MRT of VO2A (34.4 +/- 3.3 s) was significantly longer than that of VO2T (30.0 +/- 3.4 s) (P less than 0.05). The MRT of VO2T and Q (30.3 +/- 5.5 s) were not significantly different at this work rate either.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inhibition of polypeptide synthesis initiation by a change of Mg++ concentration in wheat germ cell-free systems

Polypeptide synthesis programmed by poly(U) and globin mRNA has been studied in cell-free extracts from wheat germ. A two-step reaction with a preincubation at high Mg⁺⁺ levels followed by a second step carried out after a shift to a low Mg⁺⁺ concentration and the addition of labeled amino acids is described. Under these conditions the initiation of polyphenylalanine synthesis can be blocked without affecting the elongation of polypeptide chains. This procedure allows the selective inhibition of polypeptide synthesis initiation without using any drug or antibiotic.     

On the biosynthesis of biotin in Achromobacter IVSW a reinvestigation

[3-¹⁴C, ³⁵S]-L-cysteine was tested as precursor of biotin in Achromobacter IVSW. No significant incorporation was observed, in contradiction with the data previously reported. On the other hand, Achromobacter IVSW converts [³H, ¹⁴C]-dethiobiotin into biotin. This suggests that biotin is biosynthesized in Achromobacter according to the classical dethiobiotin pathway.     

Demonstration that a chemically synthesized BPV1 oncoprotein and its C-terminal domain function to induce cellular DNA synthesis

Bovine papillomavirus type 1 contains the smallest known oncogene (ORF E5), encoding a hydrophobic 44 amino acid protein. To study the biochemical functions of the E5 oncoprotein, we have chemically synthesized it and several deletion mutant peptides. We demonstrate induction of cellular DNA synthesis in growth-arrested cells by microinjection of E5 oncoprotein. This activity can be broken down into two functionally distinguishable domains. Remarkably, the first domain, which alone is sufficient to induce cellular DNA synthesis, contains only the C-terminal 13 amino acids. This is the smallest known protein fragment that can autonomously activate cellular DNA synthesis. The second domain is the hydrophobic middle region, which by itself fails to induce cellular DNA synthesis but confers a 1000-fold increase in specific activity. The N-terminal one-third of the molecule is dispensable for induction of DNA synthesis.