Application of bacterial magnetic particles as novel DNA carriers for ballistic transformation of a marine cyanobacterium

Summary Bacterial magnetite particles (BMPs) of 50 to 100nm diam were used as DNA carriers for the ballistic transformation of the marine cyanobacteriumSynechococcus. BMPs were bombarded into the cyanobacterial cells at several bombardment velocities using a particle gun. Successful transformation and gene expression were confirmed by Southern hybridization and CAT assay, respectively. The BMPs were also observed in the cyanobacterial cells by transmission electron microscopy. These results suggested that BMPs can be used as carriers for introducing DNA into bacterial cells.     

Photomicrobial sensors for selective determination of phosphate

A photomicrobial sensor consisting of immobilized Chlorella vulgaris and an oxygen electrode has been developed for selective determination of phosphate. When 40 mM phosphate was added to the sensor system, the photocurrent increased to a maximum under light irradiation with a response time of 1 min. The current increased with increasing phosphate concentration in the range 8–70 mM. Selectivity of the sensor was satisfactory. Good agreement was obtained between the phosphate concentrations in lake water determined by the photomicrobial sensor and by conventional colorimetry (correlation coefficient 0.96).     

Photomicrobial electrode for selective determination of sulphide

Summary A photomicrobial electrode, which uses the photosynthetic bacteria Chromatium sp. in conjunction with a hydrogen electrode, was developed for the determination of sulphide. The response time of the photomicrobial electrode was 5–10 min. A linear relationship was obtained between the current of the electrode and the sodium sulphide concentration below 3.5 mM. The minimum detectable concentration of sodium sulphide was 0.4 mM. Selectivity of the sensor is satisfactory. A good agreement was obtained between the photomicrobial electrode and the ethylene blue method (correlation coefficient: 0.90).     

Some Characteristics of Protein Kinases in Lemna paucicostata

The three protein kinases of Lemna paucicostata that are separableby DEAE-Sephacel chromatography have been designated PI, PIIand PIII [Kato et al. (1983) Plant & Cell Physiol. 24: 841].The optimum pH for the PI and PII enzymes was 7.5 and for thePHI enzyme 7.0. The activities of these enzymes were stimulatedby divalent cations, the maximum stimulation being producedby 5 nw Mg^{2 $} for PI, by 3 mM Co^{2 $} for PII and by 1 mM Mn^2$ for PIII. The cytokinins; benzyladenine, kinetin and zeatin,inhibited the activity of the PIII enzyme. The molecular weightsof the PI and PII enzymes did not change after incubation withcAMP even though their activities were regulated by this compound. (Received October 17, 1983; )     

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.