Effect of dihydroconiferyl alcohol on gibberellic acid-induced hook elongation in decotylized pea seedlings

DCA synergistically promoted GA-induced hook elongation in decotylizedAlaska pea seedlings in the presence of sucrose, but not inintact seedlings. Cotyledon excision caused a decrease in theamount of DCA-like substance(s) in the hooks of pea seedlings. (Received July 30, 1976; )     

erythro-β-hydroxyaspartic acid in bovine factor IX and factor X

To localize β-hydroxyaspartic acid in factor IX and factor X the two proteins were cleaved with cyanogen bromide and trypsin, respectively. Peptides containing β-hydroxyaspartic acid were isolated and subjected to Edman degradation. The phenylthiohydantoin derivative of β-hydroxyaspartic acid was identified by HPLC in position 3 in the factor IX fragment and in position 1 in the factor X fragment. This corresponds to position 64 in factor IX and position 63 in the light chain of factor X. The assignments were confirmed by subtractive Edman degradation and with the dansyl method.     

Surface chemical properties of homologs and analogs of lysophosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine in water

Equilibrium surface tension versus concentration curves for aqueous solutions of homologs of lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) and lysophosphatidylethanolamine (lysoPE) and two analogs of lysoPC, that is, alkylphosphorylcholine and partially fluorinated lysoPC were measured by the Wilhelmy plate method using a ground-glass plate. From these measurements the critical micelle concentration (cmc), the molecular area in saturated adsorption, the standard chemical potential of adsorption from the infinitely dilute solution to the saturated adsorption surface, and the standard chemical potential of micellization were obtained for each lipid. Further, the measurements of the free energy of formation of black film, the steady-state fluorescence anisotropy in the non-polar region of black film and the rate of growth of black film were performed separately for single foam films of the above lipids, together with the measurement of foam stability. By comparing these surface chemical properties among the respective lysophospholipids, the difference in foam stability between lysoPC and lysoPE is discussed in terms of these static and dynamic properties of solution surfaces and single foam films.     

赤霉素对水平放置水曲柳幼苗的负向重性和木材形成的影响

对水平放置2年生水曲柳(Franxinus mandshurica)幼苗应用赤霉素(GAs)及其合成抑制剂烯効唑(Uni．-P)对幼苗的负向重性及木材形成中的生理作用进行了探讨。每种生长调节物质100μg溶于50％的丙酮中，每周1次处理于幼苗顶端，连续处理5周，并在第1次处理后24h，将幼苗水平放置。在实验期间，对照及GAs处理幼苗茎负向重性受到了促进，而Uni．-P处理则受到了抑制。GAs增加了茎上侧具有增厚细胞壁的胶质纤维细胞的数量。Uni．-P抑制了茎上侧的木材形成，但没有影响胶质纤维的分化。对照区木质部中纤维素与木质素的比值上侧大于下侧。该比值在上侧GA4处理区大于GA3处理区及对照区。该结果说明，胶质纤维的分化和木质部的增加对负向重性都是重要的；在该种中，赤霉素对于木质部细胞形成可能比对胶质纤维分化的影响更大。     

Differential GABA concentration gradients are present in the edible parts of greenhouse melon (Cucumis melo L.) during all four seasonal croppings

Food-derived gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) exhibits health-promoting benefits, and melon contain high GABA concentrations. Greenhouse melons (Cucumis melo L. “Earl’s Favorite”) cultivated in Japan have identical or more edible parts than cultivars in other countries, however GABA distribution and the effects of seasonal variations are unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate GABA concentration gradients in four seasonal melons and how glutamic acid (Glu) influences the establishment of these gradients. GABA concentration was significantly lower near the exocarp than in the peduncle, equator, and remnant style regions in most seasons. Glu and GABA concentrations showed similar trends and were significantly correlated near the remnant style. No significant differences in GABA and Glu concentration were detected at concyclic sites across horizontal sections. These data indicate that GABA and Glu concentration differs substantially along a vertical melon section, but less so along a horizontal section, among sampling regions, sites, and cropping season.     

Synthesis of protein C in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

By monitoring the activation of protein C and the regulation of factor Xa-catalyzed thrombin formation by the activated protein C (APC) on the surface of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), we found that functional protein C was synthesized in cultured HUVEC and expressed thereon in the presence of vitamin K. Furthermore, without exogenously added protein S, time-dependent and saturable accumulation of APC (20 fmol APC/10(5) cells) on the surface of HUVEC was observed. During prothrombin activation by the complex of membrane-bound factor Xa and endogenous factor Va formed on the surface of HUVEC, APC was generated, and the rate of thrombin formation decreased. Treatment of HUVEC with an antibody that inhibits the APC-catalyzed inactivation of endogenous factor Va clearly quenched the activity of surface-associated APC. Immunostaining of HUVEC with a horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated antibody that solely recognizes human protein C confirmed the presence of protein C on the surface of HUVEC. Northern blot analysis revealed that an about 1.8 kb mRNA species derived from HUVEC was hybridized with 32P-labeled protein C cDNA, as in the case of those from HepG2, which are known to synthesize normal protein C. The increase in the amount of protein C mRNA in HUVEC in parallel with cell growth provided supporting evidence for the synthesis of protein C during the culture of HUVEC. These results indicate that blood coagulation is regulated by endogenously generated and activated protein C, together with or without protein S, through inactivation of factor Va on the surface of endothelial cells.