Purification and Properties of Catalase from Sweet Potato Root Microbodies

Catalase was isolated in a pure form from sweet potato rootmicrobodies by simple procedures including ammonium sulfatefractionation and Sepharose 6B column chromatography. A singleprotein band was detected after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresisof the purified preparation. The catalase consisted of polypeptideswith a molecular weight of 60,000 when analyzed by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamidegel electrophoresis, while the molecular weight of the enzymewas about 240,000 when estimated from sucrose density gradientcentrifugation. The enzyme's ratio of absorbance at 280 nm tothat at 405 nm was about twice that of mammalian catalase. Thecatalase showed a maximal activity at pH 6.5–8.5 but wasstable only at alkaline pHs. In double immunodiffusion tests,antiserum against the purified preparation formed a single precipitinline with the crude soluble fraction from sweet potato roottissue as well as with the purified preparation. The antiserumhad no ability to inhibit the activity, but catalase in boththe crude fraction and the purified preparation was completelyprecipitated by the antiserum. (Received August 20, 1981; Accepted January 5, 1982)     

The Presence of Two Forms of Succinate Dehydrogenase in Sweet Potato Root Mitochondria

Succinate dehydrogenase was partially purified from sweet potatoroot tissue by solubilization of the enzyme from the submitochondrialparticles, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and DEAE-cellulosecolumn chromatography. Sweet potato succinate dehydrogenaseexisted in two forms; these were separated by disc polyacrylamidegel electrophoresis or by hydroxyapatite column chromatography.There was a difference in the electric charge of the molecule,but not in the molecular weights of the two forms. No differencewas detected between the two forms of succinate dehydrogenasewith respect to their K_m values for succinate, pH-optimums andsubunit compositions. The two subunits that make up the enzymehave molecular weights of about 26,000 and 65,000. ¹ This work was supported in part by Grant-in-Aid 411308 forScientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Scienceand Culture of Japan. (Received November 28, 1981; Accepted February 17, 1982)     

Guest-induced conformational change of β-cyclodextrin capped with an environmentally sensitive chromophore

A capped cyclodextrin, 6-deoxy-6-(p-hydroxy-m-nitrophenacylthio)-β-cyclodextrin, was prepared in order to detect any conformational change of the host upon the guest binding. The association constant between the cyclodextrin and 1-adamantanecarboxylate, cyclohexanecarboxylate, p-methylbenzoate, 3,3-dimethylbutyrate, or 2,2-dimethylpropionate was enhanced 20, 5.3, 3.7, 2.3, or 2.0 times, respectively, by chromophore capping. The changes in the electronic, NMR, and circular dichroism spectra as well as pK_a of this cyclodextrin upon binding of the guest strongly indicate a conformational change around the chromophoric moiety of the cyclodextrin.     

Action spectra for the light inhibition of flowering and its reversal inLemna paucicostata T-101

Lemna paucicostata Hegelm. T-101, a short-day plant, flowers when plants preirradiated with red light (R) for 24 h are subjected to inductive darkness for 72 h followed by two short-day cycles (6 h R+ 18 h dark). However, flowering is inhibited by blue-or far-red-light pulses applied at the beginning of the inductive dark period. These inhibitory light effects are fully reversible by a R pulse. The action spectra for the inhibitory light effect and for its reversal show that the light pulses act exclusively through phytochrome. It is concluded that a low level of Pfr at the beginning of the inductive dark period prevents flowering.Abbreviations R red (light) - B blue (light) - FR far-red (light)     

A specific microbial sensor for formic acid

Summary A microbial sensor consisting of immobilized Clostridium butyricum, two gas permeable Teflon membranes and fuel cell type electrode was suitable for the determination of formic acid. When the sensor was inserted into the sample solution containing formic acid, the current increases to a steady state with a response time of 20 min. The relationship between the steady state current and the formic acid concentration is linear up to 1 000 mg l^–1. The currents are reproducible with an average relative error of 5%. Selectivity of the sensor is satisfactory. Results obtained with this sensor and by gas chromatography were in good agreement (regression coefficient; 0.98) when the cultivation medium of Aeromonas formicans was employed. Immobilized Clostridium butyricum is stable for more than 20 days.     

Production of L-aspartic acid from fumaric acid by a fumaric acid-assimilating obligate thermophile,Bacillus stearothermophilus KP 1041

Summary A fumaric acid-assimilating obligate thermophile having a high aspartase activity was isolated from soil. The isolate (KP 1041) that grew at 45 to 68 °C was assigned to a strain of Bacillus stearothermophilus. The cell suspensions produced L-aspartate from fumarate and ammonium ion, with the rapidest initial rate at 65 °C and pH 9.5. The Michaelis constant for fumarate was 0.2 M. The cellular aspartase was relatively stable for 18 h at and below 50 °C over a pH range 6.7–8.3 in the presence of ammonium fumarate; this substance protected the enzyme from heat inactivation. The best yield in L-aspartic acid production was achieved at 6 h incubation at 53 °C and pH 8.5, using 0.88 M fumarate, 3.1 M ammonium ion, and the cells at 53 mg dry weight per ml. In this case, 85% of fumarate added was converted into aspartic acid. The structure of the product was determined from its infrared spectrum, specific rotation, melting point and ultimate analysis.Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Agricultural Chemical Society of Japan, Yokohama, April 2, 1977     

Proline specific endo- and exopeptidases

Summary Peptidases which are specific for proline residues have been described and include endopeptidases (post-proline cleaving enzyme and proline specific endopeptidase), N-terminal exopeptidases (post-proline dipeptidyl aminopeptidase, proline iminopeptidase, aminopeptidase P), C-terminal exopeptidases (prolylcarboxypeptidase, and carboxypeptidase P) and dipeptidases (prolyl dipeptidase and proline dipeptidase). The properties, distinguishing characteristics, and possible significance of these proline specific endo- and exopeptidases are discussed. In addition, reference is made to a series of enzymes which can hydrolyze proline containing peptide bonds, but which are not specific for proline.     

Distribution of growth regulators in relation to the light-induced geotropic responsiveness in Zea roots

Growth regulators were measured in extracts from the upper and lower halves of 7-mm apical segments of horizontally oriented, red-light-irradiated and non-irradiated roots of Zea mays L. cv. Golden Cross Bantam 70 which exhibit a georesponse only after an exposure to light. Abscisic acid (ABA) was measured by gas-liquid chromatography, auxin (indole-3-acetic acid, IAA) by the Avena straight-growth assay, and an unidentified growth inhibitor by a Zea root-growth assay. The ratio of ABA in the upper and lower halves was 1.6 in the irradiated roots and 1.0 in the non-irradiated ones. The total amount of ABA after irradiation was increased by a factor of ca. 1.8. The ratio of IAA in the upper and lower halves of irradiated and non-irradiated roots was 1:3.4 and 1:2.9, respectively. The content (or activity) of an unidentified growth inhibitor was highest in the lower halves of horizontally oriented roots which had been irradiated with red light. The unidentified growth inhibitor, rather than IAA or ABA, may be the major factor in the light-induced geotropic responsiveness in Zea roots.     

Nitrogen fixation by immobilized Azotobacter chroococcum

A nitrogen-fixing bacterium, Azotobacter chroococcum, was immobilized in 2% agar gel. The optimum partial oxygen pressure, pO₂, of immobilized cells was 0.2 atm, wherea s that of native cells was 0.05 atm. When continual nitrogen fixation was performed under aerobic conditions, the nitrogenase activity of immobilized cells increased with increasing time. On the other hand, the activity of native cells decreased rapidly. Increase of nitrogenase activity was attributed to growth of the bacteria in the gel matrix. The production rate of total nitrogen compounds by the immobilized bacteria was also increased during the first 4 days. Nitrogen compounds produced by the immobilized cells were mainly amino acids such as γ-aminobutyrate, glutamate and arginine.