Effect of trophic conditions on aspartate transamination in wheat plants

The enzymatic transamination reactions between aspartic and α-ketoglutaric acid and between aspartic and pyruvic acid were studied in fresh dialysed extracts of young wheat plants cultivated under various trophical conditions, in mineral solution (Knop), in the solution of an soil organic substance (potassium humate) and without nutrients (H₂O). Simultaneously, the level of endogenic aspartic acid, glutamic acid and the growth values were determined. The enzymatic reactions were characterized by determining the optimum pH, the time course, and the effect of coenzyme and of inhibitors. The activity of the aspartate-glutamate transaminase from the root system of plants was considerably higher than the activity of the overground organs. The enzymatic activity from both parts of the plant was inversely proportional to the growth rate: intensive growth of the plants from the Knop variant was connected with their low enzymatic activity; the level of endogenic glutamic acid was high. The slow growth of the plants without nutrients was connected with a higher enzymatic activity; the level of endogenic glutamic acid was low. The plants from the potassium humate variant had an intermediate position between these two variants from the point of view of growth as well as from that of enzymatic activity. The plants with insufficient nutrition (slow growth, low level of endogenic glutamic acid) apparently have a low capacity for supplementing the glutamic acid deficit, which is essential for the metabolic processes, by increasing the activity of the reactions leading to glutamic acid synthesis (Asp-Glu) and, on the other hand, by decreasing the reactions utilizing it (Glu-Ala). For wheat plants the active aspartate-glutamate reaction is obviously physiologically more important than the direct reaction glutamate-aspartate and the reaction aspartate-alanine which in all cases had a very low activity.     

Peroxidases of different parts of the pumpkin plant (Cucurbita pepo L.)

We compared the occurrence of peroxidase isozymes in protein extract from roots, hypocotyls and cotyledons of 10 dayCucurbita pepo plants and of adult leaves of older plants by means of starch gel and polyacryl amide gel electrophoresis. We reached maximum discrimination by means of starch gel electrophoresis: 11 zones were ascertained on the cathode side and about 2 on the anode side at pH 3.1. Two zones occurred regularly:A and (the latter having a more complicated structure). ZoneD is characteristic for roots, but is it suppressed and seldom found with leaves. On the other hand zonesC ₁ andC ₂ are clearly discernible with leaves but are substantially less evident with roots. The character of anodic zoneZ is discussed later in this paper.     

Spores of microorganisms

6-Azauracil at a concentration of 1 μmole/ml inhibits by 50% the outgrowth of germinated spores of a strain ofBacillus cereus, concentration of 1.5 μmole/ml resulting in 100% inhibition. Two distinct maxima of sensitivity to 6-azauracil are observed during postgerminative development of spores. The first occurs during early stages of development (immediately after depolymerization period) and the second after about 60 min of cultivation (late stage of swelling). Uracil reverses the inhibition of the outgrowth of spores caused by 6-azauracil when added during 0–30 min of the spore development. The addition of uracil after 30 min of the germination does not bring about the reversion of the effect of 6-azauracil. An important role of pyrimidine pathway via orotidine 5′-phosphate in germinating spores was proved, suggesting a possible use of 6-azauracil in synchronization of the postgerminative development of spores.     

The genus Candida Berkhout

The properties of 53 fermentation type II strains of the genusCandida Berkhout were studied. The strains in question were originally identified asCandida tropicalis (Castellani) Berkhout,Candida pelliculosa Redaelli,Candida robusta Diddens et Lodder,Candida intermedia (Cif. et Ashf.) Langeron et Guerra,Candida langeroni Dietrichson,Candida obtusa (Dietrichson) v. Uden et Carmo Sousa and as various intermediate forms between these and other similar species. The classification criteria were extended by a number of very important characteristics, such as the degree of utilization of raffinose, the assimilation of lysine, xylose, cellobiose, maltotriose, maltotetraose and arabinose, virulence for mice, nutrient requirements, serological properties, etc. Actual classification was based on the numerical method of a similarity count. On the basis of this extension of the classification criteria, the characteristics of the speciesCandida tropicalis (Castellani) Berkhout andCandida pelliculosa Redaelli were defined in greater detail.Candida intermedia, evaluated on the basis of previously employed characteristics (lactose utilization, non-assimilation of KNO₃) does not appear to be a separate species, but a collection of different border-line forms of other species of this group.Candida robusta Diddens et Lodder is regarded as a member of the genusSaccharomyces, notCandida. The varietiesCandida tropicalis var.lambica andCandida pelliculosa var.cylindrica likewise do not seem to belong to the species concerned and will have to be studied in greater detail from the genetic aspect, in relation to other membrane-forming types ofCandida. The authors' extension of the classification criteria considerably reduced intraspecific variability, particularly in the speciesCandida tropicalis (Castellani) Berkhout, and led to greater accuracy in the practical diagnosis of this species, which is frequent in clinical material.     

Secondary responsein vitro to antigen ΦX 174 phage

In a model secondary reactionin vitro, a correlation was demonstrated between the size of the antigen dose used for the prestimulation of spleen tissue donors and the type of antibodies formed in the anamnestic reaction. After a small dose of antigen ΦX 174, the antibody response three days after prestimulation was of the 19 S (IgM) type, but later secondary contactin vitro (after four months) did not produce a 19 S anamnestic reaction. After large primary doses of antigen, a short interval between primary and secondary contact led to the formation of 19 and 7 S type antibodies, while after a long interval only 7 S (IgG) type antibodies were formed. The results are discussed in relation to differences in the size of the antigen dose needed to induce short-term 19 S and long-term 7 S immunological memory.     

The relationship between the size of yellow water traps and catches of aphids

Yellow water traps are often used for sampling populations of flying aphids. This note suggests that the size and probably the shape of traps should be standardised, because trapping efficiency (nos. caught/unit area), and the relative attractiveness of traps to different species, depends on trap size. Aphidologists using water traps to compare mixed populations of flying aphids, should therefore compare catches from different traps with caution.Traps of three sizes were made up from individual trays, each 29×21.5×5cm, and painted Hansa yellow inside; 1 tray alone, 4 arranged in a 2×2 rectangle, and 9 in a 3×3 rectangle, gave trapping surfaces of approx. 625, 2500 and 5700 cm² respectively. The traps were half-filled with water plus a drop of detergent, placed on bare land and daily catches collected on 19 days in June and July 1966.