Weak field influence on biomolecular changes

Model equations for the kinetics of the synthesis and decay of molecular aggregates are used to show the high sensitivity of equilibrium concentrations of high-molecular aggregates to external radiation. This phenomenon is used to explain the effects of low-intensity microwave fields on the functioning of biological systems. The experimental results on the influence of SHF-radiation on ferricyanide reduction by erythrocytes are interpreted in detail.     

Different modes of electrogenic Na+ absorption in the coprodeum of the chicken embryo: role of extracellular Ca2+

Summary Transepithelial electrogenic Na⁺ transport (I_Na) was investigated in the coprodeum of 20-days-old chicken embryos in Ussing chambers. Short circuit current (I_sc) and transepithelial resistance (R_t) were 14.7±4.8 A · cm^-2 (n=12) and 0.53±0.09 k · cm^-2 (n=12), respectively. I_Na was calculated from changes in I_sc by substitution of mucosal Na⁺ by (N-methyl-d-glucamine) (NMDG). I_sc inversed during Na⁺ removal, and I_Na was found to be 27.8±4.7 A · cm^-2 (n=12). Amiloride (100 mol · l^-1) inhibited only about 60% of I_Na. Analysis of I_sc fluctuations revealed a Lorentzian component in the power density spectrum with a corner frequency of about 57 Hz. This component was not correlated to I_Na, and its origin is still unclear. Removal of mucosal Ca²⁺ increased I_Na about 2.5-fold due to an increase of the amiloride-insensitive component of I_Na in additionally investigated adult tissues. The results clearly show that this is due to a non-selective cation channel with an apparent order of selectivity Cs⁺>Na⁺=K⁺>Rb⁺>Li⁺. The Ca²⁺ concentration required to block 50% of the I_sc was about 18 mol · l^-1. The I _sc ^Ca could also be supressed by other divalent cations such as Mg²⁺ and Ba²⁺. Additionally, an I_Na-linked Lorentzian component occurred which dominated the control spectrum with a significantly higher corner frequency (about 88 Hz). The results indicate that Na⁺ absorption in the coprodeum of the chicken embryo is more complex than in adult hens. However, the Ca²⁺ sensitivity of I_Na is similar to comparable effects described for other epithelia. This possibly reflects the existence of two types of amiloride-insensitive apical cation channels as pathways for Na⁺ absorption, which may be involved to differing degrees in ontogenetic developments of nonselective channels to Na⁺-specific ion channels.Abbreviations DPL direct-linear-plot method - slope of the back-ground noise component - EGTA ethylene glycol-bi(2-amino-ethylether)-N,N,N,N-tetraacetic acid - f frequency - f _c corner frequency of the Lorentzian noise component - G _t transepithelial conductance - HEPES N-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-ethanesulfonic acid - I _sc short-circuit current - I _Na transepithelial sodium current - I _sc ^Ca Ca²⁺-sensitive short-circuit current - K _m ^Ca Michaelis-Menten constant for Ca²⁺ - K _B power density of the background noise component at f=1Hz - m mucosal - NMDG N-methyl-D-glucamine - R _t transepithelial resistance - s serosal - SEM standard error of mean - S(f) power density of the Lorentzian noise component - S _o plateau value of the Lorentzian noise component     

Thermodynamics of the disproportionation of adenosine 5'-diphosphate to adenosine 5'-triphosphate and adenosine 5'-monophosphate. I. Equilibrium model

The thermodynamic treatment of the disproportionation reaction of adenosine 5′-diphosphate to adenosine 5′-triphosphate and adenosine 5′-monophosphate is discussed in terms of an equilibrium model which includes the effects of the multiplicity of ionic and metal bound species and the presence of long range electrostatic and short range repulsive interactions. Calculated quantities include equilibrium constants, enthalpies, heat capacities, entropies, and the stoichiometry of the overall reaction. The matter of how these calculations can be made self-consistent with respect to both calculated values of the ionic strength and the molality of the free magnesium ion is discussed. The thermodynamic data involving proton and magnesium-ion binding data for the nucleotides involved in this reaction have been evaluated.     

Identificaton of UV,green and red receptors,and their projection to lamina in the cabbage butterfly,Pieris rapae

Summary The photoreceptors in the compound eye of a cabbage butterfly, Pieris rapae, were examined by conventional and intracellular-labeling electron microscopy by the use of the cobalt(III)-lysine complex as an ionized marker. Five types of spectral sensitivity were recorded intracellularly in electrophysiological experiments. They peaked at about 340, 380, 480, 560 and 620 nm, respectively. One of the distal retinula cells (R2) was a UV receptor, whereas the R4 distal retinula cell was a green receptor. The basal retinula cell, R9, was found to be a red receptor; it was localized near the basement membrane, having a bilobed cell body with an individual nucleus in each lobe. A small number of rhabdomere microvilli were present in a narrow cytoplasmic bridge connecting the two lobes. The axons of six retinula cells (R3–R8) in each ommatidium terminated at the cartridge in the lamina (short visual fiber), whereas those of the other three retinula cells, R1, R2 and R9, extended to the medulla (long visual fiber). The information from the UV and red receptors is therefore probably delivered directly to the medulla neurons, independent of that from the other spectral receptor types.     

Isolation and characteristics of Thiopedia rosea (neotype)

Four new strains of Thiopedia rosea were isolated in pure culture from blooms of platelet-forming purple sulfur bacteria in the top layers of the anoxic hypolimnia of two freshwater lakes. Individual cells of the new strains as well as of T. rosea strain 4211 were spherical to oval, nonmotile and contained gas vesicles in the central part. The predominant photosynthetic pigments were bacteriochlorophyll a and okenone. All strains were strictly anaerobic and obligately phototrophic. Optimal growth occurred at low light intensities of 100 E · m^-2 s^-1 (tungsten lamp); intensities above 150 E · m^-2 s^-1 inhibited growth completely. Photoautotrophic growth was possible at sulfide concentrations up to 0.6 mM; higher concentrations were inhibitory. Acetate, butyrate and valerate supported photoorganotrophic growth in the presence of bicarbonate and sulfide concentrations below 1 mM. Sulfide was required as a source of cellular sulfur because assimilatory sulfate reduction is lacking. All strains were assigned to the species Thiopedia rosea with strain 4211 as a neotype.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. H. G. Schlegel on the occasion of his 66th birthday     

Oxidative stress responses and shock proteins in the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechococcus R2 (PCC-7942)

Oxidative stress responses were tested in the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC 7942 (R2). Cells were exposed to hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide and high light intensities. Activities of ascorbate peroxidase and catalase were correlated with the extent and time-course of oxidative stresses. Ascorbate peroxidase was found to be the major enzyme involved in the removal of hydrogen peroxide under the tested oxidative stresses. Catalase activity was inhibited in cells treated with high H₂O₂ concentrations, and was not induced under photo-oxidative stress. Regeneration of ascorbate in peroxide-treated cells was found to involve mainly monodehydroascorbate reductase and to a lesser extent dehydroascorbate reductase. The induction of the antioxidative enzymes was dependent on light and was inhibited by chloramphenicol. Peroxide treatment was found to induce the synthesis of eight proteins, four of which were also induced by heat shock.Abbreviations ASC ascorbate - DHA dehydroascorbate - MDA monodehydroascorbate - GSH reduced glutathione - GSSG oxidized glutathione - ASC Per ascorbate peroxidase - DHA red. dehydroascorbate reductase - MDA red. monodehydroascorbate reductase - GSSG red. glutathione reductase - HSP heat shock proteins - PSP peroxide shock proteins - C_m chloramphenicol     

A re-assessment of bacterial growth efficiency: the heat production and membrane potential of Streptococcus bovis in batch and continuous culture

Glucose-limited, continuous cultures (dilution rate 0.1 h^-1) of Streptococcus bovis JB1 fermented glucose at a rate of 3.9 mol mg protein^-1 h^-1 and produced acctate, formate and ethanol. Based on a maximum ATP yield of 32 cells/mol ATP (Stouthamer 1973) and 3 ATP/glucose, the theoretical glucose consumption for growth would have been 2.1 mol mg protein^-1 h^-1. Because the maintenance energy requirement was 1.7 mol/mg protein/h (Russell and Baldwin 1979), virtually all of the glucose consumption could be explained by growth and maintenance and the Y_ATP was 30. Glucose-limited, continuous cultures produced heat at a rate of 0.29 mW/mg protein, and this value was similar to the enthalpy change of the fermentation (0.32 mW/mg protein). Batch cultures (specific growth rate 2.0 h^-1) fermented glucose at a rate of 81 mol mg protein^-1 h^-1, and produced only lactate. The heat production was in close agreement with the theoretical enthalpy change (1.72 versus 1.70 mW/mg protein), but only 80% of the glucose consumption could be accounted by growth and maintenance. The Y_ATP of the batch cultures was 25. Nitrogen-limited, glucose-excess, non-growing cultures fermented glucose at a rate of 6.9 mol mg protein^-1 h^-1, and virtually all of the enthalpy for this homolactic fermentation could be accounted as heat (0.17 mW/mg protein). The nitrogenlimited cultures had a membrane potential of 150 mV, and nearly all of the heat production could be explained by a futile cycle of protons through the cell membrane (watts = amperes x voltage where H⁺/ATP was 3). The membrane voltage of the nitrogen-limited cells was higher than the glucose-limited continuous cultures (150 versus 80 mV), and this difference in voltage explained why nitrogen-limited cultures consumed glucose faster than the maintenance rate. Batch cultures had a membrane potential of 100 mV, and this voltage could not account for increased glucose consumption (more than growth plus maintenance). It appears that another mechanism causes the increased heat production and lower growth efficiency of batch cultures.     

Comparison of salt- and heat-induced alterations of protein synthesis in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Protein synthesis of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis spec. PCC 6803 decreases after a 684 mM NaCl salt shock. Qualitative changes were observed during the shock and the subsequent adaptation process using one-dimensional polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Proteins of apparent molecular masses of 13.0, 14.2, 16.6, 20.0, 21.0, 23.0, 33.0, 47.0, 52.0, 65.0 and 72.0 kDa are synthesized at enhanced rates after salt stress. The proteins of 14.2, 21.1 and 52.0 kDa are transiently induced during the first hours of the adaptation phase, while the other proteins are also synthesized at enhanced rates in salt-adapted cells. The proteins of 14.2, 23.0, 33.0 and 65.0 kDa are also induced by heat shock (43°C). Heat shock proteins of about 88.0, 75.0, 58.0, 17.5 and 13.8 kDa, in contrast, are induced by heat shock but not by salt. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide electrophoresis showed that the induced salt and heat shock proteins in some cases consisted of isoforms of different isoelectric points.Abbreviations IP isoelectric point - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - PMSF phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride     

Mechanisms of heat protection by cycloheximide or puromycin: Involvement of polyamines?

1. 1.|When Chinese hamster ovary cells are treated with cycloheximide (10 μg/ml) or puromycin (100 μg/ml) for 2 h before and during heating at 43°C for 3 h, there is protection from hyperthermic killing; i.e. the plating efficiency increases 2000-fold from 3.7 × 10⁻⁵ to (6–9) × 10⁻².

2. 2.|The total intracellular levels of spermidine and spermine are not altered by the hyperthermic or drug treatments.

3. 3.|The small 30% decrease in intracellular putrescine observed after heating is not altered by drug treatment.

4. 4.|Heat protection by treatment with cycloheximide or puromycin cannot be attributed to changes in levels of total intracellular polyamines.

Sexual differences in auditory sensitivity: mismatch of hearing threshold and call frequency in a tettigoniid (orthoptera,tettigoniidae: Zaprochilinae)

Summary Sexual dimorphism of the ear of an undescribed species of zaprochiline tettigoniid is described. The internal trachea, dedicated to hearing in other tettigoniids, is unmodified in the male but fully developed in the female. The external auditory spiracle is also lost in the male. In contrast, there is no difference between the sexes in the number of sensilla within the hearing organ. The male is 10 dB less sensitive than the female. The characteristic frequency of the hearing organ at 35 kHz does not match the carrier frequency of the male's call at 51 kHz. As a result of this mismatch the female is remarkably insensitive to the male's call (threshold at 75 dB SPL), and the male is even less sensitive (thresholds80 dB SPL). In nature this provides a maximum hearing range of the male of less than 50 cm.