Abscisic acid, indole-3-acetic acid and cytokinin changes in buds of Pseudotsuga menziesii during bud quiescence release

Bud quiescence release, considered as the ultimate dormancy breaking phase, was achieved in Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco by a 9-week cold (5°C) treatment, under short daylength (9 h) followed by a transfer to mild temperature (22°C) under long daylength (16 h). Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), zeatin-type (Z) and isopentenyladenine-type (iPA) cytokinin (CK) levels were measured by means of an ELISA technique performed on HPLC-fractionated extracts of terminal and axillary buds. During the cold period, all hormones except IP-type CK levels decreased, whereas the opposite observation was made after transfer to mild temperature and long daylength, when buds started to grow. Some other immunoreactive compounds were also detected and quantified. The ABA-glucosyl ester (ABA-GE) level pattern was similar to that of ABA, but no accumulation occurred at mild temperatures. A putative IAA conjugate, more polar than IAA, was also detected. Its level increased transiently like IAA in terminal buds and, to a lesser extent, in axillary buds during the 10th week of the experiment. In terminal buds, isopentenyladenosine ([9R]-iP) was released by alkaline hydrolysis of a polar immunoreactive compound detected with anti-[9R]iP antibodies. This compound accumulated during the cold period and quickly dropped at 22°C. Relationships between environmental conditions and endogenous hormones are discussed.     

Aerobic degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls by Alcaligenes sp. JB1: metabolites and enzymes

In contrast to the degradation of penta-and hexachlorobiphenyls in chemostat cultures, the metabolism of PCBs by Alcaligenes sp. JB1 was shown to be restricted to PCBs with up to four chlorine substituents in resting-cell assays. Among these, the PCB congeners containing ortho chlorine substituents on both phenyl rings were found to be least degraded. Monochloro-benzoates and dichlorobenzoates were detected as metabolites. Resting cell assays with chlorobenzoates showed that JB1 could metabolize all three monochlorobenzoates and dichlorobenzoates containing only meta and para chlorine substituents, but not dichlorobenzoates possessing an ortho chlorine substituent. In enzyme activity assays, meta cleaving 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase activities were constitutive, whereas benzoate dioxygenase and ortho cleaving catechol 1,2-dioxygenase activities were induced by their substrates. No activity was found for pyrocatechase II, the enzyme that is specific for chlorocatechols. The data suggest that complete mineralization of PCBs with three or more chlorine substituents by Alcaligenes sp. JB1 is unlikely.Abbreviations PCB polychlorinated biphenyls - CBA chlorobenzoate - D di - Tr tri - Te tetra - Pe penta- - H hexa     

Affinity immunosensor for milk progesterone: identification of critical parameters

The effects of several experimental parameters on the performance characteristics of a competitive-type immunochromatographic assay of milk progesterone were studied. Increasing the size of the colloidal gold particles used as a label increased both maximal signal obtained and sensitivity of the assay measured as slope of the progesterone standard curve. The concentration of the antibody used to prepare the detection zone was found to be a critical factor, in that low concentrations of antibody resulted in a poor sensitivity. The compatibilities of various buffer systems with the assay were studied. The assay worked well with buffers having a broad pH range of 4·5–8·5.     

鼠肝抽提液中磷酸酶活性终止方法的改进

改进了一种分析磷酸酶活性的终止酶反应方法.该方法通过在酶反应进行到一定程度时,在反应混合物中加入酶反应终止液(1mol/L NaOH-0.2mol/L EDTA),从而使测定更简捷、精确.     

不同蔬菜防癌抗促活性的比较研究

本研究采用EBV-EA诱导抑制实验的方法,对40种蔬菜,60个品种,共150个样品的防癌抗促作用效果进行了筛选与比较,其中具有中等以上抑制活性的样品117个,占样品总数的78％,尤其以非洲野苋菜、辣椒、羽衣甘蓝、山药芋头、苦瓜及紫苏、罗勒等一些芳香莱的效果较好。不同品种、不同植株部位、不同提取方法以及不同产地,对蔬菜的抗促活性也有影响,值得进一步研究。     

A sensitive RNase protection assay using33P labeled antisense riboprobes

This article presents for the first time a modified protocol for RNase protection analysis that allows the substitution of³²P with³³P without loss of the high sensitivity of this method achieved with³²P. With this protocol, we were able to detect at least 1 pg of specific mRNA. In the RNase protection analysis³³P labeled riboprobes are more advantageous with regard to an easier handling and better resolution.     

在吲哚乙酸不同位点偶联载体蛋白对其抗体特异性的影响

分别选择吲哚乙醇分子上的Ｃ１位羧基和吲哚环上的Ｎ位作为偶联载体蛋白的位点,用混合酸酐法和甲醛搭桥法分别合成了两种免疫原ＩＡＡ—ＣＯ—ＮＨ一ＨＳＡ和ＩＡＡ－Ｎ－ＢＳＡ,并进而制得了对吲哚乙酸侧链识别能力不同的两种多克隆抗体,分别可特异识别甲酯化ＩＡＡ和游离态ＩＡＡ;用碳化二亚胺法和甲醛搭桥法分别合成ＩＡＡ—ＣＯ—ＮＨ－ＢＳＡｂＩＡＡ—Ｎ—ＯＶＡ两种复合物,以之为包被物,建立了两种ＩＡＡＥＬＩＳＡ。其灵敏度分别为０．３５ｐｍｏｌ和１．８０ｐｐｍｏｌ;检测范围分别为０．７８～８００ｐｍｏｌ和１．９５～２０００ｐｍｏｌ;批内变异系数分别为４．４５％和４．７９％;批间变异系数分别为１．１５％和１．５０％。笔者用这两种ＥＬＩＳＡ检测了兰花气生根和桑树苗样品中ＩＡＡ的含量,发现两种检测结果相当一致。     

Lysophosphatidic acid induces inositol phosphate and calcium signals in exocrine cells from the avian nasal salt gland

We tested lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), known to induce inositol phosphate generation and calcium signals as well as rearrangements of the cytoskeleton and mitogenic responses in fibroblasts, for its ability to activate phospholipase C in an exocrine cell system, the salt-secreting cells from the avian nasal salt gland. LPA (>10 nmol/l) caused the generation of inositol phosphates from membrane-bound phosphatidylinositides. The resulting calcium signals resembled those generated upon activation of muscarinic receptors, the physiological stimulus triggering salt secretion in these cells. However, close examination of the LPA-mediated calcium signals revealed that the initial calcium spike induced by high concentrations of LPA (>10 μmol/l) may contain a component that is not dependent upon generation of inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P₃) and may result from calcium influx from the extracellular medium induced by LPA in a direct manner. Low concentrations of LPA (<10 μmol/l), however, induce inositol phosphate generation, Ins(1,4,5)P₃-mediated release of calcium from intracellular pools and calcium entry. These effects seem to be mediated by a specific plasma membrane receptor and a G protein transducing the signal to phospholipase C in a pertussis-toxin-insensitive manner. Signaling pathways of the muscarinic receptor and the putative LPA-receptor seem to merge at the G-protein level as indicated by the fact that carbachol and LPA trigger hydrolysis of the same pool of phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP₂) and mobilize calcium from the same intracellular stores.     

Histamine H1 and Endothelin ETB Receptors Mediate Phospholipase D Stimulation in Rat Brain Hippocampal Slices

Abstract: Different neurotransmitter receptor agonists [carbachol, serotonin, noradrenaline, histamine, endothelin-1, and trans -(1 S ,3 R )-aminocyclopentyl-1,3-dicarboxylic acid ( trans -ACPD)], known as stimuli of phospholipase C in brain tissue, were tested for phospholipase D stimulation in [³²P]P_i-prelabeled rat brain cortical and hippocampal slices. The accumulation of [³²P]phosphatidylethanol was measured as an index of phospholipase D-catalyzed transphosphatidylation in the presence of ethanol. Among the six neurotransmitter receptor agonists tested, only noradrenaline, histamine, endothelin-1, and trans -ACPD stimulated phospholipase D in hippocampus and cortex, an effect that was strictly dependent of the presence of millimolar extracellular calcium concentrations. The effect of histamine (EC₅₀ 18 µ M ) was inhibited by the H₁ receptor antagonist mepyramine with a K _i constant of 0.7 n M and was resistant to H₂ and H₃ receptor antagonists (ranitidine and tioperamide, respectively). Endothelin-1-stimulated phospholipase D (EC₅₀ 44 n M ) was not blocked by BQ-123, a specific antagonist of the ET_A receptor. Endothelin-3 and the specific ET_B receptor agonist safarotoxin 6c were also able to stimulate phospholipase D with efficacies similar to that of endothelin-1, and EC₅₀ values of 16 and 3 n M , respectively. These results show that histamine and endothelin-1 stimulate phospholipase D in rat brain through H₁ and ET_B receptors, respectively.     

Isolation and Characterization of a Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 from Bovine Adrenal Medulla

Abstract: We have recently demonstrated that bovine adrenal medulla contains a soluble phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂), which is localized in the cytosol. In the present study, this PLA₂ was purified 1,097-fold using sequential concanavalin A, hydrophobic interaction, anion exchange, gel filtration, and an additional anion exchange chromatography. The enzyme is activated over the range of 20–1,000 µ M Ca²⁺ and has a pH optimum near 8.0. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the protein has a molecular mass of 26 kDa and an isoelectric point of 4.6 as revealed by isoelectric focusing. The cytosolic PLA₂ is not inhibited by NaCl, and the enzymatic activity is stimulated at low concentrations of Triton X-100 (0.01%) and deoxycholate (1 m M ) but inhibited at higher concentrations (0.1% and 3 m M , respectively) of these detergents. Furthermore, heat treatment (57°C, 5 min) reduced the enzymatic activity by 80%, whereas glycerol (30%) increased the activity. p -Bromophenacylbromide, a frequently used irreversible inhibitor of type II PLA₂, has little effect until 100 µ M , and 2–10 m M dithiothreitol totally inactivated the enzyme. The purified PLA₂ displays a preference for phosphatidylcholine as a substrate but hydrolyzes phospholipid substrates with arachidonic acid or linoleic acid esterified at the sn -2 position to the same extent. It is concluded that the chromaffin cell cytosolic PLA₂, which was isolated and characterized in this study, represents a type of PLA₂ that has not been formerly reported in chromaffin cells. Additional research on the chromaffin cell cytosolic PLA₂ will help to reveal whether the enzyme is important for exocytosis.