Binding of aromatic compounds to cornstarch polysaccharides

Sorption of aromatic compounds from aqueous solutions by cryotextures and suspensions of native cornstarches was studied by capillary gas chromatography. Acetophenone and benzyl alcohol were not sorbed by cryotropic-cornstarch gel and native-cornstarch suspension. A linear concentration dependence was found for aldehydes. Phenylethyl alcohol was characterized by a nonlinear concentration dependence. The presence of a benzene ring contributed to decreased binding (relative to the level characteristic of aliphatic compounds). The degree of binding depended considerably on the type of functional group in the aromatic compounds. Cryotextures were more potent than granules of native cornstarch in binding aromatic compounds.     

Sucrose and application of Rhizobium on seed

Summary Studies on the effect of different levels of sucrose in the slurry of peat-based Rhizobium inoculant on germination, seedling growth, and rhizosphere fungi of peanut and soybean revealed that the limits of tolerance for good germination were 2.5 and 5 per cent of the sugar, respectively. Fusaria and aspergilli were invariably present at all levels of sucrose whereas species of Penicillium, Myrothecium, Cunninghamella and Curvularia were isolated only from the rhizosphere at higher levels of the sugar     

Production of cholinesterase by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, its regulation by glucose and cyclic AMP and inhibition by antiserum

Production of cholinesterase by a pyocyanin-producing strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, isolated from a patient and grown in the presence of acetylcholine as the main source of carbon, was described. The enzyme activity was detected in suspensions of intact bacteria and in their subcellular preparations. Like the acetylcholinesterase of the electric eel, as opposed to that of the erythrocytes, this bacterial enzyme was inhibited by specific antiserum produced against it in rabbits. The production of the enzyme was found to be sensitive to catabolite repression and to require external cyclic AMP, but not 5′-AMP for the elimination of this repression. Cyclic AMP alone, without the inducer, did not stimulate the production of the enzyme.     

Tiron as a spin-trap for superoxide radicals produced by the respiratory chain of submitochondrial particles

Tiron can be used as a spin-trap for O2 radicals generated by the respiratory chain of submitochondrial particles (SMP). Using this sensitive method, it was shown that the O2 (radical) production by the succinate-oxidizing SMP can be reduced by antimycin or 4-nonyl-2-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide, the effects of both antibiotics being abolished and prevented by cyanide. It is suggested tht the O2 radicals are produced due to autooxidation of ubisemiquinone which is formed as an intermediate upon one-electron oxidation of CoQH2 by cytochrome c1. The effects of antimycin, 2-nonyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide and cyanide on the O2 (radical) generation correlate with the effects of these inhibitors on a steady-state concentration of ubisemiquinone predicted by the Mitchell's Q-cycle hypothesis.