Lobula plate and ocellar interneurons converge onto a cluster of descending neurons leading to neck and leg motor neuropil in Calliphora erythrocephala

Summary In the fly, Calliphora erythrocephala, a cluster of three Y-shaped descending neurons (DNOVS 1–3) receives ocellar interneuron and vertical cell (VS4–9) terminals. Synaptic connections to one of them (DNOVS 1) are described. In addition, three types of small lobula plate vertical cell (sVS) and one type of contralateral horizontal neuron (Hc) terminate at DNOVS 1, as do two forms of ascending neurons derived from thoracic ganglia. A contralateral neuron, with terminals in the opposite lobula plate, arises at the DNOVS cluster and is thought to provide heterolateral interaction between the VS4–9 output of one side to the VS4–9 dendrites of the other. DNOVS 2 and 3 extend through pro-, meso-, and metathoracic ganglia, branching ipsilaterally within their tract and into the inner margin of leg motor neuropil of each ganglion. DNOVS 1 terminates as a stubby ending in the dorsal prothoracic ganglion onto the main dendritic trunks of neck muscle motor neurons. Convergence of VS and ocellar interneurons to DNOVS 1 comprises a second pathway from the visual system to the neck motor, the other being carried by motor neurons arising in the brain. Their significance for saccadic head movement and the stabilization of the retinal image is discussed.     

Purification and properties of indole 2,3-dioxygenase from maize leaves

An indole 2,3-dioxygenase was purified ca 38-fold from maize leaves. The enzyme had an MW of about 98000, an optimum pH of 5.0 and the energy of activation was 9.1 kcal/mol. The K_max for indole was 1.4 × 10^?4 M. The enzyme was inhibited by diethyldithiocarbamate, salicylaldoxime and sodium dithionite. The inhibition by diethyldithiocarbamate was specifically reversed by Cu²⁺. The dialysed enzyme was stimulated by Cu²⁺. Four atoms of oxygen were utilized in the disappearance of 1 mole of indole. Inhibition of the enzyme by -SH compounds and -SH group inhibitors, and their partial removal by Cu²⁺ only, suggested the involvement of -SH groups in binding of Cu²⁺ at the catalytic site.     

Occurrence of esterified triterpenoid alcohols in the leaves of Pilosella officinarum

The mature winter leaves of Pilosella officinarum coll. Schultz and Schultz contained 29 mg esterified triterpenoid alcohols (g dry weight)⁻¹, of which over 80% was esterified with long-chain (C16-C18) fatty acids. The major fatty acids were 16:0, 18:2ω6 and 18:3ω3 and their amounts varied according to the season and stage of leaf development. In mature leaves the amount of triterpenoid alcohols esterified with long-chain fatty acids varied only slightly with the season. The changes in the fatty acid proportions in late winter-early spring, however, indicated a turnover in the esterified triterpenoid alcohol pool. In late winter after the snow had melted a 50% decrease occurred in the amount of triterpenoid alcohols esterified with short-chain fatty acids. The amount of esterified triterpenoid alcohols in immature leaves was relatively low [4 mg (g dry weight)⁻¹].
In the mature leaves esterified triterpenoid alcohols were found in globules whose appearance varied greatly according to the season. The globules were partly dissolved in late winter, and this together with the activation of respiration, suggests that the globules function as short-term energy reservoirs. Relationships between the appearance of lipid globules and the amount of esterified triterpenoid alcohols are discussed.     

Specialized formations of endoplasmic reticulum in parenchyma cells ofMimosa pudica L.

Summary Parenchyma cells ofMimosa pudica display close associations between two or more cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum. These associations form simplified types of lamellar bodies in which inner paired lamellae have lost their ribonucleoprotein granules and are separated by a dense layer.     

Photosynthetic electron transport and establishment of an associated trans-thylakoid proton electrochemical gradient during development of the wheat leaf

Abstract Photosynthetic electron transport activities and the ability to generate and maintain a trans-thylakoid proton electrochemical gradient were examined during chloroplast development in 4-day-old wheat leaves grown under a diurnal light regime. Polarographic and spectropholometric studies on leaf tissue demonstrated that poorly developed chloroplasls at the leaf base could photo-oxidize water and transfer electrons from photosystem 2 to photosystem 1. The capacity for non-cyclic whole-chain electron transport increased during chloroplast development. Thylakoids isolated from the leaf base, although capable of pumping protons into the inlrathylakoid space, could not maintain a trans-membrane proton electrochemical gradient; this ability developed at later stages of chloroplast biogenesis in the leaf. The implications of these results for the energetics of the developing leaf are discussed.     

The senescence retarding ability and metabolism of trihydroxy-zeatin in Avena leaf segments

6-(2,3,4-Trihydroxy-3-methylbutylamino) purine, trivial name trihydroxy-zeatin (THZ), an oxidation product of zeatin was applied via the epidermis or cut end of Avena leaf segments. THZ did not retard senescence of the segments in either case. With epidermal application THZ remained unmetabolised while the cut end method of application resulted in its metabolism to more polar THZ metabolites of unknown identity. The Avena leaf tissue did not apparently cleave the isoprenoid side chain of the THZ molecule.     

Leaf senescence in a non-yellowing mutant of Festuca pratensis: Photosynthesis and photosynthetic electron transport

The photosynthetic capacity of detached leaves of a non-yellowing mutant of Festuca pratensis Huds. declined during senescence at a similar rate to that in a normal cultivar. Respiratory oxygen uptake in the dark continued at similar rates in both genotypes during several days of senescence. In chloroplasts isolated from leaves at intervals after excision, the rate of photosystem I (PS I)-mediated methyl viologen reduction using reduced N,N,N,N-tetramethyl-p-phenylene diamine as electron donor also declined in both genotypes, possibly due to loss of integrity of the photosynthetic apparatus in the cytochrome f-plastocyanin region. There was a similar fall in PS II electron transport using water as electron donor and measured at the rate of reduction of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol. Partial restoration of this activity by the addition of diphenyl carbazide was evidence for lability of the oxygen-evolving complex during senescence. An accentuated difference between mutant and normal material in this case indicated that the mutant retains a greater number of functional PS II centres. Changes in the light-saturation characteristics of the two photosystems have been discussed in relation to the organization of the photosynthetic membranes during senescence.Abbreviations and symbols DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea - DCPIP 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol - DMSO dimethyl sulphoxide - DPC diphenyl carbazide - MV methyl viologen - PS I, PS II photosystem I, II - TMPD N,N,N,N-tetramethyl-p-phenylene diamine     

The effect of oxygen on nitrate and nitrite assimilation in leaves of Zea mays L. under dark conditions

The assimilation of nitrate under dark-N₂ and dark-O₂ conditions in Zea mays leaf tissue was investigated using colourimetric and ¹⁵N techniques for the determination of organic and inorganic nitrogen. Studies using ¹⁵N indicated that nitrate was assimilated under dark conditions. However, the rate of nitrate assimilation in the dark was only 28% of the rate under non-saturating light conditions. No nitrite accumulated under dark aerobiosis, even though nitrate reduction occurred under these conditions. The pattern of nitrite accumulation in leaf tissue in response to dark-N₂ conditions consisted of three phases: an initial lag phase, followed by a period of rapid nitrite accumulation and finally a phase during which the rate of nitrite accumulation declined. After a 1-h period of dark-anaerobiosis, both nitrate reduction and nitrite accumulation declined considerably. However, when O₂ was supplied, nitrate reduction was stimulated and the accumulated nitrite was rapidly reduced. Anaerobic conditions stimulated nitrate reduction in leaf tissue after a period of dark-aerobic pretreatment.     

Leaf hydrocarbons of Phacelia species (hydrophyllaceae)

Whole leaf hydrocarbons of six species of Phacelia were investigated for their variability among natural Californian populations, and for adaptive     

Volatile constituents of the leaves of Cupressus dupreziana and Cupressus sempervirens

The essential oils of the leaves of Cupressus dupreziana and Cupressus sempervirens were compared. The composition of the hydrocarbon fraction showed a great similarity between the two species.