Inhibition of Swarming of Proteus by Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate, β-Phenethyl Alcohol,and p-Nitrophenylglycerine

The effects of sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS), β-phenethyl alcohol (PEA), and p-nitrophenylglycerol (PNPG) on motility, swarming, flagellation, and growth of Proteus were examined. Growth-inhibitory concentrations (GIC) and swarming-inhibitory concentrations (SIC) were determined. A characterization of the swarming-inhibitory efficacy of these compounds was based on their GIC/SIC ratio and their concentration inhibition curves. Using the homologous series of sodium alkyl sulfates as a standard reference, we showed that PNPG was more effective than STS, which was the most effective of the homologous series. PEA was less effective than sodium decyl sulfate but more effective than sodium octyl sulfate. Motility tests in liquid medium and electron microscope investigations indicated that the modes of action of the three compounds, all of which effectively inhibit the swarming of Proteus, are different. Whereas STS and PEA inhibit swarming by inhibition of motility, PNPG seems to act on the swarming mechanism sensu strictori, without impairment of motility. STS immobilizes by inhibition of flagellum formation or by some lytic action on the flagella already synthesized. PEA acts by impairing flagellar function, but leaves the flagella morphologically intact.     

Die Feinstruktur von Milz und Leber bei experimenteller Amyloidose

Zusammenfassung Experimentell erzeugtes Amyloid besteht aus einer faserigen Komponente und einer homogenen Kittsubstanz. Darin eingelagert sieht man regelmäßig Thrombocyten. Die faserige Komponente des Amyloids besitzt eine andere Struktur als Reticulum- und Kollagenfasern und verhält sich nach Kontrastierung mit Schwermetallsalzen anders als diese. Mit großer Wahrscheinlichkeit handelt es sich bei den Fasern um die Eiweißkomponente der amyloiden Substanz. Das Amyloid stellt ein rein zwischenzelliges Differenzierungsprodukt dar, es tritt niemals intrazellulär auf.Während der amyloiderzeugenden Behandlung kommt es zu einer plasmazellulären Transformation von Zellen in der roten Pulpa der Milz. Vergleichbare Erscheinungen zeigen sich auch in der Leber. Die Amyloiddepots liegen häufig in unmittelbarer Nachbarschaft von Plasmazellen. Das Cytoplasma, insbesondere Ergastoplasmalamellen von Plasmazellen stehen oft mit dem Amyloid ohne Zwischenschaltung von Zellmembranen in unmittelbarem Kontakt. Diese Befunde sprechen für eine Beteiligung von Plasmazellen bei der Amyloidentstehung. Insbesondere können sie das regelmäßige Auftreten von Antigen-Antikörper-komplexen im Amyloid verständlich machen.Die Untersuchung wurde mit Hilfe der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft durchgeführt.Herrn Prof. Dr. E. Letterer zum 30. 6. 60 gewidmet.     

Gibberellin and sympodial branching inTilia

U r?stově na za?átku fyziologického odpo?inku inhibovaných rostlinTilia platyphyllos Scop. aTilia cordata Mill. se vlivem giberelové kyseliny (GA₃) zachoval terminální pupen jako náznak monopodiálního větvení, co? lze vylo?it jako fylogenetickou rekapitulaci. P?itom se ukázalo, ?e po?et normálně na letorostech zachovávaných list? je p?edur?en ji? v pupenech.     

Analysis of standing up and sitting down in humans: definitions and normative data presentation

A formal definition of human standing up and sitting down movements based on sagittal plane goniometric and force plate data from 20 normal subjects is presented. This definition is comparable to the established gait cycle diagram, and consists of defined characteristic events and relative time intervals between them. The characteristic events are selected primarily on changes in ground reaction forces. The terminology proposed may be valuable for introducing more formalized and standardized reporting of both qualitative and quantitative studies in both normals and in patients. This presentation is directed toward the process of defining generally acceptable standards for human standing up and sitting down movements.     

The effect of endogenous and externally supplied nitrate on nitrate uptake and reduction in sugarbeet seedlings

The pericarp of the dormant sugarbeet fruit acts as a storage reservoir for nitrate, ammonium and -amino-N. These N-reserves enable an autonomous development of the seedling for 8–10 d after imbibition. The nitrate content of the seed (1% of the whole fruit) probably induces nitrate-reductase activity in the embryo enclosed in the pericarp. Nitrate that leaks out of the pericarp is reabsorbed by the emerging radicle. Seedlings germinated from seeds (pericarp was removed) without external N-supply are able to take up nitrate immediately upon exposure via a low-capacity uptake system (v_max = 0.8 mol NO ₃ ^- ·(g root FW)^–1·h^–1; K_s = 0.12 mM). We assume that this uptake system is induced by the seed nitrate (10 nmol/seed) during germination. Induction of a high-capacity nitrate-uptake system (v_max = 3.4 mol NO ₃ ^- ·(g root FW)^–1·h^–1; K_s = 0.08 mM) by externally supplied nitrate occurs after a 20-min lag and requires protein synthesis. Seedlings germinated from whole fruits absorb nitrate via a highcapacity uptake mechanism induced by the pericarp nitrate (748 nmol/pericarp) during germination. The uptake rates of the high-capacity system depend only on the actual nitrate concentration of the uptake medium and not on prior nitrate pretreatments. Nitrate deprivation results in a decline of the nitrate-uptake capacity (t_1/2 of v_max = 5 d) probably caused by the decay of carrier molecules. Small differences in K_s but significant differences in v_max indicate that the low- and high-capacity nitrate-uptake systems differ only in the number of identical carrier molecules.Abbreviations NR nitrate reductase - pFPA para-fluorophenylalanine This work was supported by a grant from Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie and by Kleinwanzlebener Saatzucht AG, Einbeck.     

Extracellular lipase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an amphiphilic protein.

Lipase (triacylglycerol acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3) secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAC1R was purified from cell-free growth medium by preparative isoelectric focusing. After blotting the N-terminal amino acid sequence and the amino acid composition were determined and compared to P. fragi and P. cepacia lipases yielding significant homology between all three species. Additionally, a consensus sequence K-Y-P-i-v-l-V-H-G was identified residing at the N-terminus of Pseudomonas lipases and in the central part of Staphylococcus lipases. Treatment of lipase with the serine-specific inhibitor diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate caused a rapid and complete inhibition of enzyme activity indicating the presence of a serine at the catalytic site as expected from lipase consensus sequences. Upon charge-shift electrophoresis the electrophoretic mobility of purified lipase was shifted either anodally or cathodally in the presence of sodium deoxycholate and cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide, respectively. This result demonstrates that extracellular lipase of P. aeruginosa exhibits an amphiphilic character like intrinsic membrane proteins.     

The hemoglobin concentration ofChironomus cf.Plumosus l. (Diptera: Chironomidae) larvae from two lentic habitats

Hemoglobin concentrations ofChironomus cf.plumosus larvae were measured in two different habitats of the same pond. Larger larvae have higher hemoglobin concentrations than small larvae. There is strong indication that the animals of poorly oxygenated deep water, have higher hemoglobin concentrations than the animals from the well-oxygenated littoral zone.