Changes in the radioresistance of bacteria after the inhibition of proteosynthesis in the preirradiation phase

The strain ofEscherichia coli WP₂ (try_v) was irradiated with UV light, at a dosage of 240 erg/mm. Proteosynthesis was inhibited by the elimination of the essential amino acid from the cultivation medium. Changes in radioresistance were followed during 45 minutes of starvation and during the subsequent 45 minutes of restitution after the addition of the essential amino acid. The radioresistance of the cells showed a linear increase immediately after the removal of the essential amino acids, proportional to the duration of the inhibition of proteosynthesis. The increase in radioresistance was shown to be reversible. After the addition of the essential amino acid there was an immediate decrease in radioresistance which was most marked in the first 15 minutes.     

Occurrence of cytochromes in R and S yeast mutants of the genusSaccharomyces

Visible region of an absorption spectrum was followed in cells of original strains and of rough mutants ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae andS. cerevisiae var.ellipsoideus. It was found that there are no substantial differences in relative content of cytochromesb andc in aerobically grown rough and smooth yeast forms, in spite of the fact that both forms differ substantially in the metabolic oxygen quotient. If the cytochromes present were not reduced in washed cells by dithionite or by substrate addition, the rough forms exhibited a lower cytochrome b:c ratio than the smooth forms. Under anaerobic conditions of cultivation, the rough forms retained a typical aerobic spectrum, lacking, however, the cytochromea and a₃ band; the ratio of cytochromesb andc was changed in favour of cytochromeb (from the original 1.7: 1 up to 3.4: 1). The inability of the rough mutants to produce anaerobic cytochrome spectrum represented by cytochrome b₁ was connected with their inability to reproduce under anaerobic conditions.     

Factors affecting the accuracy of chlorophylla andb determination by means of their paper chromatographic separation and colorimetric measurement in eluates

Quantitative determination of chlorophyll a and β can be made by paper chromatography of acetone extracts of plant material with colorimetric measurement of the eluates from the separated zones. From the suitable solvent systems which give adequate separation of the pigments at a distance of 20 cm. from the start,Hager's mixture (1955) separates the chlorophylls better than the toluene-isopropanol (400: 1 v/v.) mixture, which, however, is better for the separation of carotenoids. Twice the amount of chlorophyll is separated on Whatman 31 ET paper, equally well and with the same time of development, as on Whatman No. 3 paper, on which it is possible to separate a maximum of about 15 μg of chlorophyll pigments per 1 em. start length. Losses on elution are, however, higher on using Whatman 31 ET paper. In plants with a high chlorophyllase activity, the error of determining chlorophyll a andb is greatly reduced if the leaves are placed for 1 min. in boiling water before extraction. For elution of chlorophylla andb from paper it is better to use anhydrous acetone, for chlorophyllides 80% acetone. A comparison of the procedure investigated with the method of two-wave length spectrophotometric measurement of crude acetone extracts showed that in view of the average 10% loss, the chromatographic method is hardly suitable for determining the absolute amounts of chlorophylla andb, although the relation (a/b) can be determined with similar precision by both methods. Moreover, in view of the greater amount of work involved the chromatographic method can only be recommended for confirming the results of spectrophotometrie determination. Quantitative determination of chlorophylls from the area of the spot or from the "R_F" value can only be of an informative character.     

Catalase activity in thermal blue-green algae in relation to temperature

Biologia Plantarum - The author has studied the relation of the catalase activity in thermal blue-green algae to temperature. Experimental data were taken from the first phase of the reaction, so...     

The effect of reversion and duplication of leaf disks on the accuracy of photosynthesis determination by the dry weight method

Experiments with sunflower and fodder cabbage showed that reversion of the leaf disks lower side upwards (towards the radiation source) decreased the photosynthetic rate by as much as 26% both at full (2. 10⁵ erg. cm^?2. sec.^?1) and half density of irradiation. On placing two disks one on another the photosynthetic rate was decreased in the upper disk in a similar way as it was on reversion even if it were placed in the normal position (upper side upwards). But assimilation in the lower disk was only a fraction (0–40%) of that of the upper disk and in thick leaves was within the limits of the compensation point. The sum of the increase in dry weight in both disks due to photosynthesis exceeds the increment in one normally placed disk only in thin leaves and at high density of radiation. On the basis of the differences found it is advised to discard experimental samples where a quarter of the disks were reversed during exposure. On evaluating samples in which some of the disks were duplicated in error, it is most accurate to deduct the weight of one control disk from the weight obtained. The decrease in photosynthetic rate found in reversed and duplicated disks is evidently due to the simultaneous effect of differences in the supply of CO₂ and radiation energy to the assimilating tissue and apparatus and also to differences in the photosynthetic capacity of different leaf tissues.     

On the ancestral form of true organ of fructification in the saprophytic stage of the dermatophytes of the faviform group: Favomicrosporon pinettii,N.SP. and its perfect form: Anixiopsis stercoraria (hansen) hansen, 1897

Summary The discovery of the hidden, built-in macroconidia in the four members of the Faviform Group of the dermatophytes, i.e.,Achorion schoenleinii, Trichophyton violaceum, Trichophyton verrucosum andMicrosporon ferrugineum, is described.To bring the hidden, built-in macroconidia to full fructification, i.e., to force the production of imperfect and perfect organs of fructification (macroconidia, cleistothecia), two entirely different techniques have been used: 1) the hair-soil method, 2) the yeast extract method.The two techniques, entirely independent from each other, yielded the same result: the ancestral form of the four members of the Faviform Group of dermatophytes. The imperfect form is described asFavomicrosporon pinettii,Benedek, 1965, sp. nov. The perfect form isAnixiopsis stercoraria (Hansen)Hansen, 1897.The ancestral form was found not only in and cultured from the strains of those dermatophytes derived from pathological material, but it was also recovered from its saprophytic habitat, from the soil (potting soil).

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Zusammenfassung Die Entdeckung der verborgenen, eingebauten Makrokonidien in den vier Representanten der Faviformen Gruppe der Dermatophyten, i.e.Achorion schoenleinii, T. violaceum, T. verrucosum, Microsporon ferrugineum, wird beschrieben.Um die verborgenen, eingebauten Makrokonidien zur vollen Fruchtbildung zu bringen, i.e. um die Produktion der imperfekten und perfekten Organe der Fruktifikation (Makrokonidien, Kleistothecien) zu erzwingen, sind zwei völlig verschiedene Methoden benutzt worden: 1) die Haar-Erde-Methode, und 2) die Hefeextrakt-Methode.Beide Methoden, völlig unabhängig von einander, haben zu demselben Ergebnis geführt, i.e. zur Entdeckung der Urform von den vier Representanten der Faviformen Gruppe der Dermatophyten. Die imperfekte Form wird alsFavomicrosporon pinettii,Benedek, 1965, sp. nov. beschrieben. Die perfekte Form istAnixiopsis stercoraria (Hansen)Hansen, 1897.Die ancestrale Form wurde nicht nur aus den Stämmen jener Dermatophyten gezüchtet, die aus pathologischen Produkten gewonnen worden sind, sondern auch aus dem natürlichen Habitat: von der Erde (potting soil).

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Résumé La découverte des macroconidies occultes et encastrées dans les quatre membres du Groupe Faviforme des dermatophytes:Achorion schoenleinii, Trichophyton violaceum, Trichophyton verrucosum etMicrosporon ferrugineum, est décrite.Pour forcer les macroconidies occultes et encastrées à la fructification complète, i.e. de produire des organs de reproduction imparfaits et parfaits, macroconidies et cleistothecia, on a fait l'usage de deux techniques complètement différentes: 1) des cheveux sur sol et 2) de l'extraction de levure.Toutes les deux méthodes, complètement indépendantes l'une de l'autre, ont produit le même résultat: la forme ancestrale des quatre membres de la Groupe Faviforme des dermatophytes. La forme imparfaite est décrite commeFavomicrosporon pinettii,Benedek, 1965, sp. nov. et la forme parfaite commeAnixiopsis stercoraria (Hansen)Hansen, 1897.La forme ancestrale a été trouvée non seulement dans les souches des dermatophytes indiquées et en cultivées, provenantes des produits pathologiques, mais aussi du sol, du terrain jardinier.

     

Modulation of Rat Brain Cortical α-Adrenoceptors by Treatment with Hydrocortisone for 10 Days

The role of glucocorticoids in the modulation of central alpha 2-receptor mechanisms was investigated by in vitro receptor binding studies. [3H]Clonidine and [3H]idazoxan were used as radioligands. The alpha 2-receptor subtypes and guanine nucleotide sensitivity were studied in homologue and heterologue displacement experiments following hydrocortisone treatment (25 mg/kg s.c.) for 10 days. High and low agonist affinity states of the alpha 2-receptor could be identified in 3H-antagonist-agonist and 3H-agonist-antagonist displacement experiments, which may correspond to different regulatory protein-nucleotide associated forms of the receptor. In the presence of 10 microM GTP, the high-affinity binding was depressed. Following hydrocortisone treatment, there was no detectable change either in the affinity or the binding site concentration of clonidine in homologue displacement ("cold saturation") experiments. The affinity of idazoxan, however, was depressed. The effect of GTP was similar to the controls in this experimental arrangement. In contrast, in heterologue binding studies the high-affinity binding site was not demonstrable and the amount of low-affinity binding increased following the hydrocortisone treatment. The high-affinity site reappeared in the presence of GTP. The change in GTP sensitivity suggests that the nucleotide regulatory system may be involved in the action of adrenal steroids on central alpha 2-receptoral mechanisms.