Photoreceptor Pigment for Blue Light in Neurospora crassa

Irradiating the mycelium of Neurospora crassa with moderate intensities of blue light causes a reversible photoreduction of a b-type cytochrome. The action spectrum for the photoreduction of cytochrome b is very similar to the absorption spectrum of flavin pigments. Prolonged irradiation of the mycelium with strong blue light irreversibly bleaches flavin-like pigments and as these pigments are bleached the photoresponse of cytochrome b is lost. We conclude from these and other data that a flavin is the photoreceptor pigment for the photoreduction of cytochrome b. The close similarity between the action spectrum for the photoreduction of cytochrome b and action spectra for a number of physiological photoresponses suggests that this photoreceptor pigment controls a wide variety of photobiological processes in a wide diversity of organisms.     

Membrane bound and soluble adenosine triphosphatase of Escherichia coli K 12. kinetic properties of the basal and trypsin-stimulated activities

Basal and trypsin-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase activities of Escherichia coli K 12 have been characterized at pH 7.5 in the membrane-bound state and in a soluble form of the enzyme. The saturation curve for Mg2+/ATP = 1/2 was hyperbolic with the membrane-bound enzyme and sigmoidal with the soluble enzyme. Trypsin did not modify the shape of the curves. The kinetic parameters were for the membrane-bound ATPase: apparent Km = 2.5 mM, Vmax (minus trypsin) = 1.6 mumol-min-1-mg protein-1, Vmax (plus trypsin) = 2.44 mumol-min-1-mg protein-1; for the soluble ATPase: [S0.5] = 1.2 mM, Vmax (-trypsin) = 4 mumol-min-1-mg protein-1; Vmax (+ trypsin) = 6.6 mumol-min-1-mg protein-1. Hill plot analysis showed a single slope for the membrane-bound ATPase (n = 0.92) but two slopes were obtained for the soluble enzyme (n = 0.98 and 1.87). It may suggest the existence of an initial positive cooperativity at low substrate concentrations followed by a lack of cooperativity at high ATP concentrations. Excess of free ATP and Mg2+ inhibited the ATPase but excess of Mg/ATP (1/2) did not. Saturation for ATP at constant Mg2+ concentration (4 mM) showed two sites (groups) with different Kms: at low ATP the values were 0.38 and 1.4 mM for the membrane-bound and soluble enzyme; at high ATP concentrations they were 17 and 20 mM, respectively. Mg2+ saturation at constant ATP (8 mM) revealed michealian kinetics for the membrane-bound ATPase and sigmoid one for the protein in soluble state. When the ATPase was assayed in presence of trypsin we obtained higher Km values for Mg2+. These results might suggest that trypsin stimulates E. coli ATPase by acting on some site(s) involved in Mg2+ binding. Adenosine diphosphate and inorganic phosphate (Pi) act as competitive inhibitors of Escherichia coli ATPase. The Ki values for Pi were 1.6 +/- 0.1 mM for the membrane-bound ATPase and 1.3 +/- 0.1 mM for the enzyme in soluble form, the Ki values for ADP being 1.7 mM and 0.75 mM for the membrane-bound and soluble ATPase, respectively. Hill plots of the activity of the soluble enzyme in presence of ADP showed that ADP decreased the interaction coefficient at ATP concentrations below its Km value. Trypsin did not modify the mechanism of inhibition or the inhibition constants. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (0.4 mM) inhibited the membrane-bound enzyme by 60-70% but concentrations 100 times higher did not affect the residual activity nor the soluble ATPase. This inhibition was independent of trypsin. Sodium azide (20 muM) inhibited both states of E. coli ATPase by 50%. Concentrations 25-fold higher were required for complete inhibition. Ouabain, atebrin and oligomycin did not affect the bacterial ATPase.     

A diterpene acid from baccharis tucumanensis

The new clerodane diterpene 1 was isolated from the aerial parts of Baccharis tucumanensis (Compositae). Its structure has been determined from spectral data combined with chemical transformations.     

Effect of antioxidants on the genetic stability of cryopreserved mint shoot tips by encapsulation–dehydration

The effect of antioxidants applied in one step of a cryopreservation protocol by encapsulation–dehydration on recovery and genetic stability of mint shoot tips has been studied. Glutathione (0.16 or 0.24 mM), ascorbic acid (0.28 or 0.43 mM) and α-tocopherol (vitamin E) were added to the preculture medium (0.3 M sucrose). DNA was extracted from three different types of samples: leaves from shoots, callus at the base of shoots and callus. RAPD and AFLP markers were used to assess the genetic stability. The use of antioxidants did not improve recovery after cryopreservation. One of the genotypes, ‘MEN 198’, showed higher percentage of stable samples than the other one, ‘MEN 186’ (56 vs. 37?%; considering all treatments and types of explant). The use of vitamin E improved the percentage of stable samples with respect to control treatment (no antioxidant) in ‘MEN 186’. No differences in the percentages of stable samples were observed among cryopreserved and non-cryopreserved (treated similarly without immersion in liquid nitrogen) plant material. Recovered shoots of both genotypes showed higher stability (76–80?% stable samples) than callus samples (14–22?%).     

Flavonoids from Erythroxylon argentinum

Quercetin 3-rutinoside, quercetin 3-α-l-rhamnoside, 7,4′-dimethylquercetin 3-rutinoside and the novel glycoside 7,4′-dimethylquercetin 3-rutinoside-5-glucoside have been identified from aerial parts of Erythroxylon argentinum.