The influence of spermine on the structural dynamics of yeast tRNA

A tRNA^Phe derivative carrying ethidium at position 37 in the anticodon loop has been used to study the effect of spermine on conformational transitions of the tRNA. As previously reported (Ehrenberg, M., Rigler, R. and Wintermeyer, W. (1979) Biochemistry 18, 4588–4599) in the tRNA derivative the ethidium is present in three states (T₁–T₃) characterized by different fluorescence decay rates. T-jump experiments show two transitions between the states, a fast one (relaxation time 10–100 ms) between T₁ and T₂, and a slow one (100–1000 ms) between T₂ and T₃. In the presence of spermine the fast transition shows a negative temperature coefficient indicating the existence of a preequilibrium with a negative reaction enthalpy. Spermine shifts the distribution of states towards T₃, as does Mg²⁺, but the final ratio obtained with spermine is higher than with Mg²⁺, which we tentatively interpret to mean that spermine stabilizes one particular conformation of the anticodon loop.     

The influence of spermine on the structural dynamics of yeast tRNAPhe

A tRNA^Phe derivative carrying ethidium at position 37 in the anticodon loop has been used to study the effect of spermine on conformational transitions of the tRNA. As previously reported (Ehrenberg, M., Rigler, R. and Wintermeyer, W. (1979) Biochemistry 18, 4588–4599) in the tRNA derivative the ethidium is present in three states (T₁–T₃) characterized by different fluorescence decay rates. T-jump experiments show two transitions between the states, a fast one (relaxation time 10–100 ms) between T₁ and T₂, and a slow one (100–1000 ms) between T₂ and T₃. In the presence of spermine the fast transition shows a negative temperature coefficient indicating the existence of a preequilibrium with a negative reaction enthalpy. Spermine shifts the distribution of states towards T₃, as does Mg²⁺, but the final ratio $\text{[}\text{T}{}_2\text{]}\text{[}\text{T}{}_1\text{]}$ obtained with spermine is higher than with Mg²⁺, which we tentatively interpret to mean that spermine stabilizes one particular conformation of the anticodon loop.     

The Fine Structure of Secretion by Plasmodium knowlesi Merozoites during Red Cell Invasion

The secretory organelles of Plasmodium knowlesi were studied ultrastructurally to examine their mode of action during invasion. The formation of lamellar structures in merozoite rhoptries within late stage schizonts is prevented by the protease inhibitors chymostatin and leupeptin. Under normal conditions vesicles lined by 6-nm membranes are formed in rhoptries during erythrocyte invasion. Stereoscopic viewing of tilted sections shows that where the merozoite apex contacts the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) membrane during invasion, a domed elevation of the PV surface lies within the mouth of the rhoptry duct in contact with the secretory matrix. The membrane of the early invasion pit is thinner (6 nm) than the red cell membrane elsewhere, and sheets of lamellar material are frequently present on the invasion pit surface. These findings support the proposal that the rhoptry-microneme complex is capable of generating membranous material and inserting it into the red cell surface in a controlled manner to create the parasitophorous vacuole. On the basis of this model, measurements from serial sections show that the rhoptries could provide enough material to create a membrane lining the parasitophorous vacuole, and, with the contribution of the microspheres, could double it to accommodate the early ring stage of the parasite.     

酵母鉴定程序在酵母分类鉴定中的应用

本文介绍了Barnett等1985年编制并由剑桥大学发行的计算机软件《酵母鉴定程序》,以及如何使用该程序在IBM PC DOS操作系统上进行酵母菌的分类鉴定。我们使用该程序对从云南鸡足山和紫金山两地森林土壤中分离到的82株酵母菌进行了分类鉴定,其中:鉴定到种的有47株,占总株数的57.3％;鉴定到属但未能直接定到种的有21株,占总株数的25.6％;暂未定名的有14株,占总株数的17.1％。     

Cu(I)-thionein release from copper-loaded yeast cells

Summary The release of intact CU(I)₈-thionein from copper-resistant copper-loaded yeast cells, strain X 2180-1Aa, has been shown. This copper(I)-thiolate-rich protein was characterized and compared with the chemical and physicochemical properties of intracellular yeast Cu-thionein. The same molecular mass and stoichiometry of 8 mol copper atoms/mol protein was found. No detectable difference between the Cu-thioneins was seen in luminescence emission, electronic absorption in the ultraviolet region, chiroptical data or amino acid composition. The importance of stable Cu(I)-thiolates in Cu-thionein as a safe vehicle for transporting copper in a non-reactive manner is confirmed.     

广东肝血簇虫在宿主内脏裂体生殖时期超微结构的研究

本文详细描述了广东肝血簇虫(Hepatozoon guangdongensis)在实验宿主、中国水蛇肺部裂体生殖整个发育过程各期虫体的超微结构。成熟裂殖体内的裂殖子与肺部毛细血管内皮细胞内的裂殖子的超微结构是相似的。裂殖子(3.4×1.3μm)外被由外膜和内膜构成的表膜,它与球虫一样具有包括类锥体在内的完全顶复结构。内皮细胞内的裂殖子和滋养体都没有围虫泡和围虫泡膜包绕。具有内膜的长形滋养体变圆,并外被由宿主细胞产生的围虫泡和围虫泡膜包绕,转变成为圆形的幼期裂殖体,然后发育成为成熟的裂殖体。成熟裂殖体(23×10μm)内含30—50个裂殖子。裂殖体内没有观察到残余体存在。     

Changes in the Subcellular Distribution of Free Amino Acids in Relation to Light Conditions in Cells of Chara corallina

Subcellular concentrations of free amino acids in internodal cells of a Characeae, Chara corallina, were measured in the dark and in the light. Using an intracellular perfusion technique, we measured concentrations of amino acids in the vacuole, in the flowing sol endoplasm and in the cortical gel layer. The sol endoplasm was predominantly the cytosol. On the basis of microscopic observations, the gel layer appeared to be occupied predominantly by a layer of chloroplasts, while the sol endoplasm was free from chloroplasts. Both in the light and in darkness, the major amino acids in the internodal cells were isoasparagine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, serine, glycine and alanine, as reported by Sakano and Tazawa (1984). The same major amino acids are found in each of the three compartments. The pattern of distribution of amino acids in the vacuole was similar to that in the sol endoplasm, but quite different from that in the gel layer. The total level of amino acids in the light was lower than that in darkness. The amino acid composition did not change very much, but the subcellular distribution of amino acids differed significantly between cells subjected to illumination and those kept in the dark. Concentrations of amino acids in both the vacuole and the gel layer decreased, whereas those in the sol endoplasm were almost constant.