Oxidation and aromatic ring cleavage of 4-methoxy and 3,4-dimethoxycennamic acid by Lentinus edodes

Several products of metabolism and aromatic ring cleavage of 3-methoxy and 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid from ligninolytic cultures of Lentinus edodes were isolated and identified.     

Phosphorus depletion in the rhizosphere as influenced by soil moisture

To study the influence of soil moisture on phosphorus (P) depletion in the rhizosphere, maize (Zea mays cv. Trak) was pre-grown in vermiculite filled-PVC tubes for 9 days and then the plants with the tubes were transplanted into soil columns maintained at two soil moisture levels () of 0.14 and 0.20 cm³ cm^–3 for 10 days. The soil columns were separated at 1 cm depth by a nylon screen of 53 m inner mesh size, into 1 cm soil layer above and 3 cm soil column below screen. A root mat developed over the screen, but root hairs only could penetrate it. Regardless of the soil moisture level in the columns, and adequate and equal water and nutrients supply was maintained via wicks from an external nutrient solution to the plant roots in vermiculite. After 10 days, the soil columns were separated from the root mats, quickly frozen in liquid nitrogen and sliced into thin layers (0.2mm) using a refrigerated microtome to give soil samples at defined distances from the root mats for analyses. Lower soil moisture (=0.14) resulted in narrower and steeper depletion profile of 0.5 M NaHCO₃ extractable P (NaHCO₃-P_i) as compared to higher soil moisture (=0.20). Depletion of P in soil solution in the immediate vicinity of root mats did not differ much but the extension of the depletion zones was 0.10 cm at =0.14 and 0.20 cm at =0.20. The depletion up to 0.05cm with =0.14 and up to 0.07 cm with =0.20 was uniform, and may be attributed to the depletion in the root hair zone. Beyond the root hair zones, the theory of diffusion and mass flow was able to explain the observed differences in shape and extent of the P depletion profiles at the two soil moisture levels.     

Mitochondrial DNA control region polymorphisms: genetic markers for ecological studies of marine turtles

We describe a rapid and sensitive method for the detection of population-specific genetic markers in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the use of such markers to analyse population structure of marine turtles. A series of oligonucleotide primers specific for the amplification of the mtDNA control region in Cheloniid turtles were designed from preliminary sequence data. Using two of these primers, a 384–385-bp sequence was amplified from the 5′ portion of the mtDNA control region of 15 green turtles Chelonia mydas from 12 different Indo-Pacific rookeries. Fourteen of the 15 individuals, including some with identical whole-genome restriction fragment patterns, had sequences that differed by one or more base substitutions. Analysis of sequence variation among individuals identified a total of 41 nucleotide substitutions and a 1-bp insertion/deletion. Comparison with evidence from whole-genome restriction enzyme analysis of the same individuals indicated that this portion of the control region is evolving approximately eight times faster than the average rate and that the sequence analysis detected approximately one fifth of the total variation present in the genome. Restriction enzyme analysis of amplified products from an additional 256 individuals revealed significant geographic structuring in the distribution of mtDNA genotypes among five of the 10 rookeries surveyed extensively. Additional geographic structuring of genotypes was identified through denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of amplified products. Only two of the 10 rookeries surveyed could not be differentiated, indicating that the Indo-Pacific C. mydas include a number of genetically differentiated populations, with minimal female-mediated gene flow among them. Important applications for genetic markers in the conservation and management of marine turtles include the identification of appropriate demographic units for research and management (i.e. genetically discrete populations) and assessment of the composition of feeding and harvested populations.     

两种钙藻热解产出的气态和液态烃类

在２００℃至４００℃高温和还原条件下分别对仙掌藻和乳节藻两种钙质藻类进行热模拟降解实验,分离获得气态和液态烃类化合物。随着热解温度升高,两种钙藻产烃气量明显上升,其中甲烷与乙烷气的增加最多,同时两种钙藻产出的乙烷与乙烯比值都有规律地增加,但仙掌藻产烃气量高于乳节藻。这表明钙质藻类可能是天然气的一种重要母质来源。虽然这两种钙藻随温度增加热解产出的可溶有机质及族组分的变化规律不明显,但它们的正烷烃分布特征具有相类似的变化。未经热解时它们都以Ｃ１７为主峰的低碳数正烷烃占优势;当热解温度从２００℃增加到４００℃时,它们都又表现出以Ｃ２５或Ｃ２３为主峰的较高碳数正烷烃占优势的分布特征。这与富含钙藻化石的沉积岩样品中正烷烃的分布特征相一致,说明Ｃ２５或Ｃ２３为主峰的较高碳数正烷烃占优势的分布特征可能是钙藻热解有机质的一种判识标志．     

Ethylbenzene degradation by Pseudomonas fluorescens strain CA-4

Abstract Pseudomonas fluorescens strain CA-4 is a bioreactor isolate capable of ethylbenzene degradation. Transposon mutagenesis and enzyme assays have been performed which allow us to propose the ethylbenzene degradative pathway in operation in this strain. Ethylbenzene is initially converted to 2-phenylethanol. This is degraded to phenylacetaldehyde and then to phenylacetic acid. The major inducer of the pathway is ethylbenzene itself. The pathway is regulated by the presence of non-aromatic carbon sources. Oxidation of ethylbenzene is repressed by glutamate, but not by citrate or glucose. A clone from a chromosomal library has been found to complement a mutant deficient in the ability to convert ethylbenzene to 2-phenylethanol.     

Purification and characterization of a thiol-protease induced during senescence of unpollinated ovaries of Pisum sativum

A senescence-specific protease has been purified from senescent unpollinated ovaries of Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska by acidic extraction. (NH₄)₂SO₄ fractionation, ion exchange chromatography on CM-Sephadex, and affinity chromatography on ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco)-Sepharose. Characterization of the purified protease indicated that it is a thiol-endoprotease (EC 3. 4. 22 class) active over a wide pH range. Purified antibodies against this protease inhibit the degradation of Rubisco in autodigested extracts of senescent ovaries, suggesting that Rubisco might be a substrate for the protease in senescent pea ovaries. The relative levels of the protease were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) along the processes of ovary senescence and gibberellic acid (GA)-induced fruit development, indicating its induction at the beginning of senescence and the suppression of its synthesis by GA treatment.     

Carotenoids in photosynthesis: Protection of D1 degradation in the light

Photosynthesis has been determined with mutants of Anacystis which form different amounts of carotenoids. With these cultures a highly significant correlation between photosynthetic oxygen evolution and the amounts of synthesized carotenoids was observed. In addition, the influence of carotenoids on light-dependent degradation of thylakoid proteins was investigated with Scenedesmus cultures grown in darkness in the presence of norflurazon, an inhibitor of carotenoid biosynthesis. Pre-illumination of cells resulted in decrease of photosynthetic activity accompanied by loss of the D1 protein. This effect is dependent on the length of illumination, and the light intensity, and increased when carotenoid content was lowered during previous growth of the norflurazon-treated cultures.Abbreviations BSA bovine serum albumin - D1 32 kDa Q_B-binding protein - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - LHCII light-harvesting complex II - PMSF phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride - PS photosystem - tricine N-[tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl] glycine     

Segmental differences in short-chain fatty acid transport in rabbit colon: Effect of pH and Na

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the predominant luminal anion in the mammalian colon. Although they are rapidly absorbed in vivo, little is known about the mechanisms of transepithelial transport in vitro. Previous studies have suggested that SCFA transport may be linked to Na absorption or an anion exchange mechanism. We compared the transport of propionate under short-circuit conditions in rabbit proximal and distal colon to determine whether there were segmental differences, how SCFAs may be linked to either Na absorption or anion transport, and whether SCFAs, as weak electrolytes, may be affected by transepithelial pH gradients. In distal colon, propionate transport was not significantly altered by stimulation of electrogenic Na absorption, epinephrine or Cl removal. However, a modest transepithelial pH gradient (luminal 6.8/serosal 7.4) stimulated propionate absorption. In proximal colon, propionate transport was significantly altered by manuevers that either stimulated (lowered [Na] in the bathing media) or inhibited (theophylline) apical Na−H exchange. Neither Cl removal, nor the anion exchange inhibitor DIDS, nor a transepithelial bicarbonate gradient, altered propionate transport. A transepithelial pH gradient inhibited propionate secretion, but not in a manner entirely consistent with the effect of pH on the distribution of a weak electrolyte. These results suggest that there is significant segmental heterogeneity in colonic SCFA transport; that transepithelial propionate fluxes are altered by changes in pH or electroneutral Na absorption (Na−H exchange), but not by chloride removal, bicarbonate gradients or electrogenic Na absorption. Regulation of SCFA transport may be an important factor in the physiology of colonic fluid balance.     

Saponin-like substances inhibit α-galactosidase production in the endosperm of fenugreek seeds

When fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) endosperms plus testa (endosperms), which had been isolated from 5-h-imbibed seeds, were incubated for at least 2 h under germination conditions, they leaked substances which, like exogenous abscisic acid (ABA), inhibited the production of fenugreek endosperm -galactosidase. However, unlike ABA, 8 h treatment with these inhibitors had no effect on fenugreek endosperms which had been isolated from 15-h-imbibed seeds and leached for 2 h. This indicated that either their inhibitory action was on processes which were related to the production of -galactosidase and had been completed by this time, or that there might be factors present which inactivate these inhibitors. It was also concluded that the action of the endosperm leachate could not be attributed to the presence of ABA. The activity of the leachate decreased when it originated from endosperms imbibed for periods longer than 25 h and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) of extracts from these endosperms showed decreased contents of the leachable inhibitors as imbibition proceeded. From the seed leachate, which had a TLC pattern and inhibitory action similar to that of the endosperm, were isolated three substances which, when applied to endosperms, inhibited the production of -galactosidase activity. According to their chromatographic behaviour and their reaction with specific reagents, there are strong indications that these substances are saponins. These diffusible saponin-like substances were located in both endosperm and perisperm and their physiological role is discussed.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - PEG polyethylenglycol - TLC thin-layer chromatography We wish to thank the Alexander S. Onasis Public Benefit Foundation for a grant to K.Z. and Dr. J.S.G. Reid (University of Stirling, Scotland) for a kind gift of fenugreek seeds.     

Anaerobic degradation of dimethylsulfoniopropionate to 3-S-methylmercaptopropionate by a marine Desulfobacterium strain

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate, an osmolyte of marine algae, is thought to be the major precursor of dimethyl sulfide, which plays a dominant role in biogenic sulfur emission. The marine sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfobacterium strain PM4 was found to degrade dimethylsulfoniopropionate to 3-S-methylmercaptopropionate. The oxidation of one of the methyl groups of dimethylsulfoniopropionate was coupled to the reduction of sulfate; this process is similar to the degradation betaine to dimethylglycine which was described earlier for the same strain. Desulfobacterium PM4 is the first example of an anaerobic marine bacterium that is able to demethylate dimethylsulfoniopropionate.Abbreviations DMSP dimethylsulfoniopropionate - DMS dimethyl sulfide - MMPA 3-S-methylmercaptopropionate