The plasma membrane and generative cell organization in pollen of the mimosoid legume,Acacia retinodes

Summary Cytological changes associated with the final maturation, and dehiscence of the 16-grain compound pollen (polyads) have been followed in anthers at female and male phase of flowering. InAcacia retinodes, the transition from female to male phase takes approximately 24 h. The spherical generative cell at female phase is connected with the vegetative cell plasma membrane by a junction zone. This is sited adjacent to a germinal aperture, comprising wall ingrowths and membrane labyrinths. By male phase, the generative cell has elongated into a spindle-shape, and its surface is characteristically scalloped. The membrane labyrinths, especially those at the apertures, now contain masses of coated vesicles, implicated in the transport and secretion of proteins. Two-dimensional projections indicate that the generative cell and vegetative nucleus are closely associated forming a male germ unit.     

Protonmotive force in freshwater sulfate-reducing bacteria,and its role in sulfate accumulation in Desulfobulbus propionicus

The protonmotive force in several sulfate-reducing bacteria has been determined by means of radiolabelled membrane-permeant probes (tetraphenyl-phosphonium cation, TPP⁺, for , and benzoate for pH). In six of ten freshwater strains tested only the pH gradient could be determine, while the membrane potential was not accessible due to nonspecific binding of TPP⁺. The protonmotive force of the other four strains was between –110 and –155 mV, composed of a membrane potential of –80 to –140 mV and a pH gradient between 0.25 and 0.8 (inside alkaline) at pH_out=7. In Desulfobulbus propionicus the pH gradient decreased with rising external pH values. This decrease, however, was compensated by an increasing membrane potential. Sulfate, which can be highly accumulated by the cells, did not affect the protonmotive force, if added in concentrations of up to 4 mM. The highest sulfate accumulation observed (2500-fold), which occurred at external sulfate concentrations below 5 M, could be explained by a symport of three protons per sulfate, if equilibrium with the protonmotive force was assumed. At higher sulfate concentrations the accumulation decreased and suggested an electroneutral symport of two protons per sulfate. At sulfate concentrations above 500 M, the cells stopped sulfate uptake before reaching an equilibrium with the protonmotive force.Abbreviations CCCP carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone - MOPS morpholinopropanesulfonic acid - TPP⁺ tetraphenylphosphonium cation - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - pH transmembrane pH gradient (pH_in-pH_out) - transmembrane electrical potential difference     

Immunological identification of yeast SCO1 protein as a component of the inner mitochondrial membrane

Summary The SCO1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a 30 kDa protein which is specifically required for a post-translational step in the accumulation of subunits 1 and 2 of cytochrome c oxidase (COXI and COXII). Antibodies directed against a -Gal::SCO1 fusion protein detect SCO1 in the mitochondrial fraction of yeast cells. The SCO1 protein is an integral membrane protein as shown by its resistance to alkaline extraction and by its solubilization properties upon treatment with detergents. Based on the results obtained by isopycnic sucrose gradient centrifugation and by digitonin treatment of mitochondria, SCO1 is a component of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Membrane localization is mediated by a stretch of 17 hydrophobic amino acids in the amino-terminal region of the protein. A truncated SCO1 derivative lacking this segment, is no longer bound to the membrane and simultaneously loses its biological function. The observation that membrane localization of SCO1 is affected in mitochondria of a rho ⁰ strain, hints at the possible involvement of mitochondrially coded components in ensuring proper membrane insertion.     

脂肪族类两亲物对肌浆网膜脂区结构的影响

C18饱和脂肪酸和胺可增加DPH标记肌浆网(SR)的荧光偏振度,而C18单不饱和脂肪酸。胺和醇则使其偏振度下降。加入MgATP,可除去单不饱和脂肪胺引起的DPH标记的荧光偏振度下降,并使之高于未加脂肪胺的对照水平。饱和酸及相应胺可使标记于膜脂中层和深层的TAS和12AS的荧光偏振度上升,不饱和酸及相应胺和醇仅使12AS荧光偏振下降。说明脂肪族类两亲物对SR膜流动性的影响与脂肪链饱和程度有关。饱和者主要使膜中、深层流动性下降.不饱和者主要使膜深层流动性升高。     

Assessment of membrane potential changes using the carbocyanine dye,diS-C3-(5): synchronous excitation spectroscopy studies

The fluorescence of the voltage sensitive dye, diS-C₃-(5), has been analyzed by means of synchronous excitation spectroscopy. Using this rather rare fluorescence technique we have been able to distinguish between the slightly shifted spectra of diS-C₃-(5) fluorescence from cells and from the supernatant. It has been found that diS-C₃-(5) fluorescence in the supernatant can be selectively monitored at _exc = 630 nm and _em= 650 nm, while the cell associated fluorescence can be observed at _exc= 690 nm and _em = 710 nm. A modified theory for the diSC₃-(5) fluorescence response to the membrane potential is presented, according to which a linear relationship exists between the logarithmic increment of the dye fluorescence intensity in the supernatant, In I/I°, and the underlying change in the plasma membrane potential, _p=_p-°_p. The theory has been tested on human myeloid leukemia cells (line ML-1) in which membrane potential changes were induced by valinomycin clamping in various K⁺ gradients. It has been demonstrated that the membrane potential change, _p,can be measured on an absolute scale. Offprint requests to: J. Plasek     

Reduced orthostatic tolerance following 4 h head-down tilt

The cardiovascular responses to a 10-min 1.22 rad (70 degrees) head-up tilt orthostatic tolerance test (OST) was observed in eight healthy men following each of a 5-min supine baseline (control), 4 h of 0.1 rad (6 degrees) head-down tilt (HDT), or 4 h 0.52 rad (30 degrees) head-up tilt (HUT). An important clinical observation was presyncopal symptoms in six of eight subjects following 4 h HDT, but in no subjects following 4 h HUT. Immediately prior to the OST, there were no differences in heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, mean arterial pressure and total peripheral resistance for HDT and HUT. However, stroke volume and cardiac output were greater for the control group. Mean arterial pressure for the control group was less than HDT but not HUT. Over the full 10-min period of OST, the mean arterial pressure was not different between groups. Heart rate increased to the same level for all three treatments. Stroke volume decreased across the full time period for control and HDT, but only at 3 and 9 min for HUT. There was a higher total peripheral resistance in the HDT group than control or HUT. The pre-ejection period to left ventricular ejection time ratio was less in HDT than for control or HUT groups. These data indicate a rapid adaptation of the cardiovascular system to 4 h HDT that appears to be inappropriate on reapplication of a head to foot gravity vector. We speculate that the cause of the impaired orthostatic tolerance is decreased tone in venous capacitance vessels so that venous return is inadequate.     

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.     

Influence of salt concentration and temperature on the fatty acid compositions of Ectothiorhodospira and other halophilic phototrophic purple bacteria

Influences of the salt concentration on the fatty acid composition of Ectothiorhodospira species and other phototrophic purple bacteria have been analysed. Major fatty acids in bacteria of the genera Rhodobacter, Rhodopseudomonas, Chromatium, and Ectothiorhodospira were straight chain saturated and monounsaturated C-16 and C-18 fatty acids. Salt-dependent responses of all investigated bacteria revealed relations to their salt optima. Minimum values of C-16 and saturated fatty acids and maximum values of C-18 and unsaturated fatty acids were found at or close to the salt optima. Responses of Ectothiorhodospira mobilis upon changes in salinity were nearly identical, whether cells were grown in batch culture or in continuous culture with identical dilution rates at all salt concentrations. With increasing temperature, the fatty acid composition of Ectothiorhodospira mobilis and Ectothiorhodospira halophila strains showed decreasing portions of C-18 and of unsaturated fatty acids, while the contents of C-16 and saturated fatty acids increased. The results are discussed with respect to bilayer stabilisation and membrane fluidity.Abbreviations PC phosphatidylcholine - PG phosphatidylglycerol - CL cardiolipin - PE phosphatidylethanolamine     

Incorporation of fatty acids by Streptococcus mutans

In a series of investigations into the cariogenicity of Streptococcus mutans, we studied the incorporation of exogenous fatty acids with reference to glucosyltransferase secretion and membrane fatty acid changes. When cells were grown with different fatty acids, both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were readily incorporated into the membrane lipids and were biotransformed and elongated preferentially to the longer 16- and 18-carbon-chain fatty acids. This incorporation and chain-elongation led to significant changes in fatty acids composition. By adding fatty acids to the medium, it was possible to appropriately modify the degree of unsaturation and the relative ratio between specific fatty acids in the membrane lipids of S. mutans.     

The membrane potential modulates the ATP-dependent Ca pump of cardiac sarcolemma

The effect of membrane potential on the activity of the ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ pump of isolated canine ventricular sarcolemmal vesicles were investigated. The membrane potential was controlled by the intravesicular and extravesicular concentration of K⁺, and the initial rates of Ca²⁺ uptake both in the presence and the absence of valinomycin were determined. The rate of Ca²⁺ uptake was stimulated by a inside-negative potential induced in the presence of valinomycin. The valinomycin-dependent stimulation was enhanced by the addition of K⁺ channel blocker, tetraethylammonium ion or Ba²⁺. The electrogenicity of cardiac sarcolemmal ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ pump is suggested from the increase of Ca²⁺ uptake by negative potential induced by valinomycin.