Ammonium rhythm in cultures of the cyanobacterium Microcystis firma

Over a period of several days, rhythmic changes in extracellular NH⁺₄ concentration take place in cultures of the cyanobacterium Microcystis firma (Bré et Lenorm.) Schmidle, strain Gromov/St. Petersb. 398, under conditions of restricted CO₂ supply and light/dark alternation. The changes are enhanced by nitrate supply. Among the various processes generating intracellular NH⁺₄ (NH⁴₄ uptake, NO⁻₃ reduction, protein and amino acid degradation, photorespiration), NO⁻₃ reduction appears as the one most important. This can be concluded from experiments with and without nitrate and/or ammonium in the medium. In the presence of saturating CO₂, continuous light, or continuous darkness, rhythmic NH⁺⁴₄ oscillations are not induced. Studies of the incorporation of NH⁺₄ nitrogen by in vivo ¹⁵N-NMR show that if CO₂ is supplied, ¹⁵N is accumulated in several components with the following time course: in the first hour in Gln (δ), in the second hour in the α-amino groups of most nonbranched amino acids, in the third hour in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), Orn (δ) and Lys (ε), and in the sixth hour in Ala. Carbon limitation, however, results in accumulation of label in the amide nitrogen of glutamine only.     

Acid-induced changes in the in vivo wall-yielding properties of hypocotyl sections of Vigna unguiculata

Elongation growth of hypocotyl sections of Vigna unguiculata under xylem perfusion was significantly enhanced when acid was applied by acid-aerosol to an abraded hypocotyl surface in the air. The in vivo wall extensibility (φ) and the effective turgor (Pⁱ– Y), both of which were determined by the pressure-jump method, increased during acid-induced growth as observed in IAA-induced growth. The intracellular pressure (Pⁱ), however, decreased significantly at the beginning of acid-induced growth whereas Pⁱ scarcely changed in IAA-induced growth. This result indicates that protons increase the effective turgor by decreasing the yield threshold as IAA does. There seems to be no essential difference between proton and auxin in the effects on the in vivo mechanical properties of the surface cell wall.     

Regulation of nitrate uptake by amino acids in maize cell suspension culture and intact roots

The effect of amino acids on nitrate transport was studied in Zea mays cell suspension cultures and in Zea mays excised roots. The inclusion of aspartic acid, arginine, glutamine and glycine (15mM total amino acids) in a complete cell-culture media containing 1.0 mM NO₃ ^- strongly inhibited nitrate uptake and the induction of accelerated uptake rates. The nitrate uptake rate increased sharply once solution amino acid levels fell below detection limits. Glutamine alone inhibited induction in the cell suspension culture. Maize seedlings germinated and grown for 7 days in a 15 mM mixture of amino acids also had lower nitrate uptake rates than seedlings grown in 0.5 mM Ca(NO₃)₂ or 1 mM CaCl₂. As amino acids are the end product of nitrate assimilation, the results suggest an end-product feed-back mechanism for the regulation of nitrate uptake.     

Biosynthetic pathway of phytosiderophores in iron-deficient graminaceous plants: A new assay system for the detection of nicotianamine amino-transferase activity

A new assay system for the detection of nicotianamine amino-transferase activity was developed. The activity of nicotianamine amino-transferase which participated in biosynthetic pathway of MAs from methionine in graminaceous plants was induced by the iron deficiency treatment.     

Element turnover in a heavily damaged Norway spruce ecosystem influenced by N deposition

Element budgets of a heavily damaged Norway spruce ecosystem at Hohe Matzen in the Fichtel Mountains/FRG were studied over 3 years. The trees show severe symptoms of decline and Mg deficiency. The soil is a typic Dystrochrept derived from granite with sandy texture, high stone content, and low base saturation. The budgets show high releases of N, S and Al from the ecosystem as a result of input, buffering and turnover processes. After an increase of proton fluxes in the organic surface layer, a strong reduction of protons in the B horizon was found. This process was accompanied by the release of Al, whereas reactive Al(OH)₃ was exhausted in the A horizon. The low ANC is also shown in pH-stat.-titrations. The data indicate a strong mineralisation in the humus layer, which results in a net release of NH₄, SO₄ and TOC. Nitrification takes place mainly in the A horizon. With respect to the N-budget, the ecosystem is approaching the state of N saturation. The processes of N turnover lead to an internal proton production exceeding the atmospheric input, and thus contributing to soil acidification.     

Interaction of ethylene with indole-3-acetic acid in regulation of rooting in pea cuttings

Cuttings of pea (Pisum sativum L. cv Marma) were treated with 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid (ACC). This treatment caused increased ethylene production and reduction of root formation. The effect of 0.1 mM ACC on the level of endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in the rooting zone and in the shoot apex was analyzed by gas chromatography-single ion monitoring mass spectrometry or by high pressure liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection (HPLC). Concentrations of indole-3-acetylaspartic acid (IAAsp) in the stem bases were also determined using HPLC. The ACC treatment had little effect on the IAA level in the base measured after 24 h, but caused a considerable decrease during the 3 following days. IAAsp increased in the base on days 1, 2 and 3 and then declined. The build up of IAAsp in the base was not affected by ACC during the first two days of the treatment, but later this conjugate decreased more rapidly than in controls. No effect of the ACC treatment was found on the level of IAA in the apex. IAA (1 µM) applied to the cuttings during 24 h reduced the number of roots formed. The possibility that IAA-induced ethylene is involved in this response was investigated.Our results support earlier evidence that the inhibitory effect of ethylene on rooting in pea cuttings is due to decreased IAA levels in the rooting zone. The inhibitory effect of applied IAA is obtained if the internal IAA level is maintained high during the first 24 h, whereas stimulation of rooting occurs if the internal IAA level remains high during an extended period of time. Our results do not support the suggestion that ethylene mediates the inhibitory effect of applied IAA.     

Effects of light and regulators on senescence-related changes in soluble proteins in detached oat (Avena sativa L.) leaves

The rate of senescence and the two-dimensional pattern of soluble proteins from detached oat leaves senescing in either darkness or light were analyzed, and compared to those of leaves in which senescence was delayed by application of the cytokinin benzyladenine or enhanced through the action of abscisic acid.Senescence of detached leaves in light did not differ significantly from senescence in attached leaves on intact plants. In darkness, protein was lost at a higher rate than in light, but several individual proteins showed relative increases. Notably, proteins previously characterized as high-molecular-weight proteins and senescence-associated proteins (Klerk et al., 1992) increased. Changes observed during incubation in light or darkness appeared to be related to this condition rather than the rate or progress of senescence. Cytokinins delayed and abscisic acid accelerated the changes in protein pattern compared to water. Beside changes previously identified in leaves senescing on the plant, detached leaves show alterations that reflect their condition of incubation rather than their developmental progress.Abbreviations 2D-PAG two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - ABA abscisic acid - BA N⁶-benzyladenine - BSA bovine serum albumin - EDTA ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid - IEF isoelectric focusing - Rubisco ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - Tris tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane     

Abscisic acid and mefluidide in the regulation of cold hardiness development in Solanum tuberosum L. potato

Plants of Solanum tuberosum L. potato do not cold acclimate when exposed to low temperature such as 5°C, day/night. When ABA (45 M) was added to the culture medium, stem-cultured plantlets of S. tuberosum, cv. Red Pontiac, either grown at 20°C/15°C, day/night, or at 5°C, increased in cold hardiness from –2°C (killing temperature) to –4.5°C. The increase in cold hardiness could be inhibited in both temperature regimes if cycloheximide (70 M) was added to the culture medium at the inception of ABA treatment. Cycloheximide did not inhibit cold hardiness development, however, when it was added to the culture medium 3 days after ABA treatment.When pot-grown plants were foliar sprayed with mefluidide (50 M), ABA content increased from 10 nmol to 30 nmol g^–1 dry weight and plants increased in cold hardiness from –2°C to about –3.5°C. The increases in free ABA and cold hardiness occurred only in plants grown at 20°C/15°C; neither ABA nor cold hardiness increased in plants grown at 5°C.The results suggest that an increase in ABA and a subsequent de novo synthesis of proteins are required for the development of cold hardiness in S. tuberosum regardless of temperature regime, and that the inability to synthesize ABA at low temperature, rather than protein synthesis, appears to be the reason why S. tuberosum does not cold acclimate.     

Salicylic acid inhibits the biosynthesis of ethylene in detached rice leaves

The effects of salicylic acid (SA) on ethylene biosynthesis in detached rice leaves were investigated. SA at pH 3.5 effectively inhibited ethylene production within 2 h of its application. It inhibited the conversion of ACC to ethylene, but did not affect the levels of ACC and conjugated ACC. Thus, the inhibitory effect of SA resulted from the inhibition of both synthesis of ACC and the conversion of ACC to ethylene.Abbreviations ACC 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid - EFE ethylene-forming enzyme - SA salicylic acid     

Progress and potential in the biotechnology of lactic acid bacteria

Abstract: Current activities and future prospects for the biotechnology of lactic acid bacteria are reviewed. Genetic engineering technology, including advances and limitations of plasmid vectors and chromosomal integration strategies are discussed together with the status of gene expression and the importance of in vivo gene transfer systems and transposition. Areas of biotechnological application considered include proteolysis and flavour generation, bacteriophage resistance, antimicrobials, metabolic engineering and the possible uses of lactic acid bacteria in relation to health.