Dormancy in peach (Prunus persica L.) flower buds

Morphological studies were carried out with peach flower buds collected monthly in 1989 and 1990, from two months before leaf fall (7 March) until two to three weeks before bloom (7/8 August). Chilled (2–4°C for 30 days) and unchilled buds were exposed to 20 to 25°C, 100% RH and continuous light. Gibberellin A₃ (3 ng or 30 ng) was applied to some of the non-chilled cuttings at three days intervals. Then, 12, 19, and 26 days after they were planted, the buds were sampled and processed for histological studies. Cultured flower buds (chilled or unchilled) had accelerated anther and gynoecium morphogenesis after 12 days under controlled conditions, compared to buds processed immediately after collection from the field. Chilling treatment augmented the bud culture effect, while Gibberellin A₃ applications to the excised buds retarded bud morphogenesis to a stage comparable to that of buds collected directly from the field. This, suggests that the comparatively high levels of Gibberellin A_1/3 we previously found in mid winter [15, 18] could be at least one of the factors that controls floral bud dormancy by retarding anther and gynoecium development.     

Development of a one-step enzyme immunoassay for the quantitation of gibberellin A3 in barley seeds

The development of a sensitive and specific enzyme immunoassay for GA₃ is reported. This method was based on the use of peroxidase labelled GA₃ and immobilized antibodies. In order to obtain a rapid immunoassay, several steps of purification were analyzed to show their necessity. Barley seed extracts were assayed at different steps of purification to exhibit the effect of extract components on the assay. It was demonstrated that HPLC had to be performed when a selective quantitation of GA₃ was required. This assay allowed GA₃ to be measured with reproducibility as its unmethylated form and the quantitation of GA₃ in barley seeds with this enzyme immunoassay was correlated to a GC-MS method.Abbreviations GA₃ gibberellin A₃ - EIA enzyme immunoassay - DMF dimethylformamide - TEA tri(n)ethylamine - BSA bovine serum albumin - OVA ovalbumine - ECF ethylchloroformate - PB phosphate buffer     

Phospholipid dependence of the anion transport system of the human erythrocyte membrane. Studies on reconstituted band 3/lipid vesicles

Band 3 protein extracted from human erythrocyte membranes by Triton X-100 was recombined with the major classes of phospholipid occurring in the erythrocyte membrane. The resulting vesicle systems were characterized with respect to recoveries, phospholipid composition, protein content and vesicle size as well as capacity and activation energy of sulfate transport. Transport was classified into band-3-specific fluxes and unspecific permeability by inhibitors. Transport numbers (sulfate ions per band 3 per minute) served as a measure of functional recovery after reconstitution. The transport properties of band 3 proved to be insensitive to replacement of phosphatidylcholine by phosphatidylethanolamine, while sphingomyelin and phosphatidylserine gradually inactivated band-3-specific anion transport when present at mole fractions exceeding 30 mol%. The activation energy of transport remained unaltered in spite of the decrease in transport numbers. The results, which are discussed in terms of requirements of band 3 protein function with respect to the fluidity and surface charge of its lipid environment, provide a new piece of evidence that the transport function of band 3 protein depends on the properties of its lipid environment just as the catalytic properties of some other membrane enzymes. The well-established species differences in anion transport (Gruber, W. and Deuticke, B. (1973) J. Membrane Biol. 13, 19–36) may to some extent reflect this lipid dependence.     

In vitro growth of murine T cells. IV. Use of T-cell growth factor to clone lymphoid cells

Murine bone marrow cells can suppress the in vitro primary antibody response of normal spleen cells without apparent cytotoxicity. The bone marrow cells suppress the response to both T-dependent (SRBC) and T-independent (DNP-Ficoll) antigens. When bone marrow cells are fractionated on a sucrose density gradient, the suppressive activity is found in the residue rather than the lymphocyte fraction. The suppressive activity is either unaffected or enhanced by treatment with anti-T- and anti-B-cell serums. Pretreatment of mice with phenylhydrazine which reduces the number of pre-B cells did not reduce the suppressive activity of their bone marrow cells. Suppressive activity is abolished by irradiation of the marrow cells in vitro with 1000 R prior to assay. The activity is present in the marrow of thymus deficient (nude) mice, infant mice, and mice which have been made polycythemic by transfusion. Furthermore, the suppressor cell can phagocytize iron carbonyl particles, is slightly adherent to plastic and Sephadex G-10, and can bind to EA monolayers. We conclude that the suppressor cell is not a mature lymphocyte or granulocyte nor a member of the erythrocytic series, but is likely to be an immature cell possibly of the myeloid series. We speculate on the physiologic role of this cell.     

Isolation, partial chemical and biological characterization of thymone B

A new approach to the study of the molecular arrangements of proteins in membranes is described. Irradiation with visible light of native erythrocytes or washed erythrocyte membranes suspended in buffers containing a) riboflavin, fluorescein or fluorescein coupled to dextran and b) ³H-labelled tryptophan resulted in incorporation of radioactivity into the membrane proteins. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of solubilized membranes followed by radioactivity measurements of the separated membrane proteins revealed that in native erythrocytes the protein components known to be located at the exterior cell surface, Band 3 and the major sialoglycoproteins became specifically labelled, whereas in washed lysed cells all of the major membrane proteins were labelled.     

Some New Aspects of 2 × 2 Table Measures and Their Applications

The paper deals with the analysis of 2 × 2 table measures and describes several new possibilities for applying them. An estimate is given for HELLMICH's asymmetric K-measure and a possible extension of the contingency concept in a special 2×2 case is presented. The concept introduced and the recommended computer application of the 2×2 table measures is supported by new results obtained for the relationship between jaw joint pains and noises examined earlier by F. SCHMID and C. ZSCHEGE. With a larger number of observations the opportunity arises for a deeper analysis of this dental problem using path analysis. The plan of evaluation and the conncetion between the variables examined is illustrated by a path-diagram. The association tables determined on the basis of the (C) values introduced during the examination of jaw joint disturbances using association analysis draw attention to the special role of the left side of mastication. The paper raises ideas for further generalisations and indicates where further research is needed.     

Ca2+ ion reversibly inhibits the cytoplasmic streaming ofNitella

Summary When Ca²⁺, K⁺ or Cl^– was injected iontophoretically into the cytoplasm of intactNitella cell, only Ca²⁺ reversibly inhibited the cytoplasmic streaming. However, when an extremely large current was used, the cytoplasmic streaming was reversibly inhibited irrespective of the ion species. This inhibition may be due to a transient increase of free Ca²⁺.