Effects of growth conditions on formation of cytochrome system of a denitrifying bacterium, Pseudomonas stutzeri

Cytochrome systems in cells of a denitrifying bacterium, Pseudomonasstutzeri (VAN NIEL strain), grown under different atmosphericconditions were compared with reference to the effects of nitrateand nitrite on cytochrome synthesis. When a culture was sufficiently aerated (aerobic conditions),synthesis of all cytochrome components was repressed, regardlessof the presence or absence of nitrate and nitrite. When aeratedmoderately (semi-aerobic conditions), both soluble and paniculatecytochromes c-552 and cytochrome b-558 contents markedly increasedeven in the absence of nitrate and nitrite. Under anaerobic or semi-aerobic conditions, nitrite inducedcytochrome a₂–c synthesis. This inductive effect of nitritewas counteracted by nitrate. Nitrate also repressed particulatecytochrome c-552 synthesis to some extent but nitrite did not. ¹Present address: Department of Biochemistry, Hiroshima UniversitySchool of Dentistry, Hiroshima, Japan (Received June 24, 1969; )     

Studies on organic acid metabolism and ethylene production during controlled atmosphere storage of apples {Mallus pumila MILLER, cv. Rolls)

Organic acid metabolism and ethylene formation during controlledatmosphere storage (CA-storage) of apples (Mallus pumila MILLER,cv Rolls) were studied. A higher titratable acidity was observedin apples during CA-storage as compared to those in air control.The incorporation of atmospheric ¹⁴CO₂ into malic acid was greaterin apples stored in the higher CO₂ concentration. The conversionof succinic acid-¹⁴C into fumaric acid-¹⁴C was slightly lessin the apple in modified high carbon dioxide atmosphere thanthose in air. O₂ uptake and CO₂ output by apple slices weremarkedly inhibited by the addition of succinic and malic acidsat a concentration higher than 25 mM. These factors seem to be the possible cause of a higher acidityof fruits stored in CA-condition. Ethylene production from wholefruits or tissue slices was markedly inhibited under CA-condition. The retardation of acid metabolism and the inhibition of ethyleneproduction of apples during CA-storage seem to be the importantfactors which help to maintain their storage quality. (Received March 18, 1970; )     

Studies on anaerobic biphasic growth of a denitrifying bacterium, Pseudomonas stutzeri

Growth of Pseudomonas stutzeri(VAN NIEL strain) in the presenceof a limiting amount of nitrate under anaerobic conditions ischaracterized by 2 logarithmic phases separated distinctly byan intermediate phase where the growth rate is very low. Inthe first logarithmic phase nitrate is reduced stoichiometricallyto nitrite stage, and in the second phase nitrite is reducedto nitrogen gas. The nitrite reducing activity of cells in the second growthphase is 3–4 times higher than that of cells in the firstphase. The rise in nitrite reducing activity is correlated witha remarkable increase in the content of cytochromes a₂ and c-552. ¹Present address: Department of Biochemistry, Hiroshima UniversitySchool of Dentistry, Hiroshima, Japan. ²Present address: Institute of Molecular Biology, Faculty ofScience, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan. (Received June 16, 1969; )     

Stimulative effect of potassium ion on starch synthetase of different plant origins

The stimulative effect of K⁺ on the activity of granule-boundstarch synthetase was uniformly observed in the enzyme preparationsobtained from the root, leaf and stem of sweet potato plants.The stimulation of K⁺ was most marked with the sweet potatoenzyme, while the broad bean enzyme was also appreciably stimulated.The K⁺-effect was very small in the enzyme from rice, barleyand taro plants. (Received October 25, 1968; )     

CHEMICAL NATURE OF YEAST SEXUAL HORMONES

From culture media of yeast cells of the two mating types, a and α, hormones, which made cells of the opposite mating type expand, were extracted with methylene chloride. They were then isolated by either thin layer chromatography or vacuum distillation. The isolated hormones showed color reactions of steroidal compounds. According to Rf values and UV absorption spectra, the two yeast hormones apparently are different from testosterone and estradiol, which have activity similar to that of the yeast sexual hormones excreted by a and α type cells, respectively.     

Some effects of low temperature on the photoperiodic clock in Drosophila triauraria

Abstract. Prior studies revealed that the photoperiodic clock in Drosophila triauraria operates during the scotophase and the processes measuring scotophase are composed of two phases: the A phase which lasts 6–7 h from the onset of the scotophase and the B phase which follows the A phase. In this study the photoperiodic clock in this species was analysed by low-temperature pulses. Low temperature (5C) or a low-temperature (2C) pulse of 3 or 4 h decreased the induction of diapause when applied during the scotophase, but not when applied within the photophase. The low-temperature pulse showed two maxima of the effect, 0–4 h and 8–10 h after the onset of the scotophase, approximately corresponding to the A and B phases, respectively. It is considered that low temperature retards the time measurement processes operating during these phases. In the period which was rather insensitive to the diapause-preventing action of low temperature, i.e. 5-7h after the onset of the scotophase, substances or stimuli accumulated during the A phase may be converted to information required for operation of the machinery in the B phase. Experiments using a combination of low-temperature and light pulses suggested that low-temperature decreases the sensitivity to light, especially in the B phase.     

A genetic analysis of photoperiodic reproductive diapause in Drosophila triauraria

Abstract. Recombinant inbred lines were produced from hybrids between diapausing and non-diapausing strains of Drosophila triauraria Bock & Wheeler by twenty generations of full-sib mating. The analysis of these inbred lines suggests that the difference in the photoperiodic response between the original diapausing and non-diapausing strains is due to genes at three or four loci and at least one of these loci is located on the X chromosome. The original diapausing strain and two inbred lines exhibited circadian peaks when subjected to the Nanda-Hamner protocol, although they had different critical daylengths. This suggests that critical daylength is modified independently of the circadian oscillation system in this species. On the other hand, diapause duration was correlated with critical daylength among the inbred lines and the original diapausing strain, suggesting that these two traits are under the control of the same genetic system.     

Variations in the Leaf Anatomy among some C4 Panicum Species

The Dichotomiflora group of Panicum contains NAD-malic enzyme(ME) species with centrifugal chloroplasts in Kranz cells, NAD-ME(F)species as well as NAD-ME species with centripetal chloroplastsin Kranz cells, NAD-ME (P) species. Many attributes of leafanatomy of 22 C₄ Panicum species were investigated to identifydifferences among four different C₄ subtypes, i.e. NADP-ME,NAD-ME(F), NAD-ME(P) and PEP-CK species grouped by the C₄-aciddecarboxylating enzymes and chloroplast location in Kranz cellsin combination. Differences were found in the number of Kranzcells surrounding a large vein, and the number surrounding asmall vein, the interveinal distances, the proportion of leafcross sectional area occupied by epidermis plus sclerenchyma,by mesophyll cells, by Kranz cells, and by vascular bundles.There were also differences in the ratios of the area of thedifferent cell types. The number of the characters significantlydifferent between a respective pair of C₄ subtypes was the largestbetween NAD-ME(F) and NAD-ME(P) species. In principal componentanalysis applied to 11 leaf anatomical characters, the differentC₄ subtypes clustered into small groups, although the rangeof variations of PEP-CK species and those of NAD-ME(F) speciesoverlapped. The results were discussed in relation to taxonomyand ecological adaptation of Panicum species in the differentC₄ subtypes. C₄ photosynthesis, NADP-malic enzyme, NAD-malic enzyme, Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, C₄ leaf anatomy, Panicum, Kranz, Dichotomiflora group