Oscillations in photosynthesis are initiated and supported by imbalances in the supply of ATP and NADPH to the Calvin cycle

Oscillations in the rate of photosynthesis of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) leaves were induced by subjecting leaves, whose photosynthetic apparatus had been activated, to a sudden transition from darkness or low light to high-intensity illumination, or by transfering them in the light from air to an atmosphere containing saturating CO₂. It was found that at the first maximum, light-and CO₂-saturated photosynthesis can be much faster than steady-state photosynthesis. Both Q_A in the reaction center of PS II and P₇₀₀ in the reaction center of PS I of the chloroplast electron-transport chain were more oxidized during the maxima of photosynthesis than during the minima. Maxima of P₇₀₀ oxidation slightly preceded maxima in photosynthesis. During a transition from low to high irradiance, the assimilatory force F_A, which was calculated from ratios of dihydroxyacetone phosphate to phosphoglycerate under the assumption that the reactions catalyzed by NADP-dependent glyceraldehydephosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate kinase and triosephosphate isomerase are close to equilibrium, oscillated in parallel with photosynthesis. However, only one of its components, the calculated phosphorylation potential (ATP)/(ADP)(P_i), paralleled photosynthesis, whereas calculated NADPH/NADP ratios exhibited antiparallel behaviour. When photosynthetic oscillations were initiated by a transition from low to high CO₂, the assimilatory force F_A declined, was very low at the first minimum of photosynthesis and increased as photosynthesis rose to its second maximum. The observations indicate that the minima in photosynthesis are caused by lack of ATP. This leads to overreduction of the electron-transport chain which is indicated by the reduction of P₇₀₀. During photosynthetic oscillations the chloroplast thylakoid system is unable to adjust the supply of ATP and NADPH rapidly to demand at the stoichiometric relationship required by the carbonreduction cycle.Abbreviations PGA 3-phosphoglycerate - DHAP dihydroxyacetone phosphate - P₇₀₀ electron-donor pigment in the reaction enter of PS I - Q_A quinone acceptor in the reaction center of PS II This work received support from the Estonian Academy of Sciences, the Bavarian Ministry of Science and Art and the Sonderforschungsbereich 251 of the University of Würzburg. We are grateful for criticism by D.A. Walker, Robert Hill Institute, University of Sheffield, U.K. and by Mark Stitt, Institute of Botany, University of Heidelberg, FRG.     

Studies on well-coupled Photosystem I-enriched subchloroplast vesicles — energy-dependent switching between two different active states of the proton-translocation adenosine triphosphatase

Single-turnover flash-induced ATP synthesis coupled to natural cyclic electron flow in Photosystem I-enriched subchloroplast vesicles (from spinach) was continuously followed by the luciferin-luciferase luminescence. The ATP yield per flash was maximal (1 ATP per s per 1000 Chl) around a flash frequency of 0.5–2 Hz. It decreased both at lower and higher flash frequencies. The decrease at high flash frequency was due to limitation by the electron-transfer rate, while the decrease at low flash frequency was directly due to intrinsic properties of the ATPase itself. Carbonylcyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) decreased the yield at low frequency more than at high frequency. The same behaviour was observed if electron transfer was artificially mediated by pyocyanin. If the ADP concentration was increased from 40 to at least 80 μM, or if the vesicles were preincubated with 5 mM dithiothreitol (DTT), the decrease of the yield at flash frequencies below 0.5 Hz was no longer observed. Incubation with DTT increased the rates of ATP hydrolysis and synthesis at any flash frequency. The decrease of the yield could be elicited again by addition of 50 nM FCCP. It is concluded that at low levels of the protonmotive force (Δ gm_H⁺), the ATPase is converted into an active ATP-hydrolyzing state in which ATP synthesis activity is decreased due to a decreased affinity towards ADP and/or to a decreased release of newly synthesized ATP, that can be cancelled by increasing the ADP concentration or by addition of DTT in the absence of uncoupler.     

Taurine Levels in Discrete Brain Nuclei of Rats

Concentrations of taurine have been measured in 44 microdissected rat brain nuclei or areas. Taurine is ubiquitously present and distributed unevenly in the rat brain: the ratio of the highest (pyriform cortex) to lowest (midbrain reticular formation) concentrations is 4.7:1. High taurine levels were found in cerebral cortical areas, caudate-putamen, cerebellum, median eminence, and supraoptic nucleus. Acute pain stress reduced taurine levels in the hypothalamus and the lower brainstem nuclei but not in cortical areas. Increased locomotor and behavioral activities following a high dose of amphetamine elevated taurine concentrations significantly in the substantia nigra and locus ceruleus.     

Population dynamics of gyrinid beetles

Summary Survival chances have been estimated for populations of the waterbeetle Gyrinus marinus Gyll. from capture-recapture sequences in 1974–1978. The average weekly survival chance is estimated as 0.9247 in spring, decreasing to 0.7701 in autumn; males survive longer than females. Survival shows little variation in time or space (variation coefficient V<0.1). Survival chance did not significantly decrease with age. Freshly emerged tenerals apparently have a lower survival chance than older beetles. The survival chance during hibernation (October–April) is about 0.33, with a greater variation between years (V=0.7) than between populations (V=0.4).Communication N⁰ 301 of the Biological Station, Wijster     

Microbial responses to salt-induced osmotic stress

Summary Soil columns were exposed to balanced (low Na⁺) or unbalanced (high Na⁺) high-salt solutions for a period of 7 days followed by 7 days of stress reflief. Total numbers of bacteria released into the perfusates rose under both types of stress, but the proportion of displaced bacteria that were viable fell significantly. Relief from both types of stress stimulated rapid increases in the number of viable micro-organisms released from soil. Examination of the soils at the end of the relief periods revealed that soils exposed to stress contained more viable bacteria than the non-stressed controls. However, high levels of balanced stress led to a significant decrease in species diversity within the microbial population, but a similar effect was not observed in soils exposed to unbalanced, high Na⁺ stress. These results suggest that, while salt stress may cause a significant reduction in the number of microorganisms in a soil, a large portion of the microbial population can rapidly adapt to marked changes in salinity.     

论生态平衡和林火烈度

 本文探讨林火对森林生态系统的干扰,提出火烈度指标作为衡量标准。建议采用林木蓄积量作为森林生态系统的状态指数。根据林火蔓延过程的物理分析,导出一种模型化的燃烧蔓延方程,并对兴安落叶松(Larix gmelinii)在不同蔓延速度下计算了火烈度。结合火烧迹地调查资料指出在不同火烈度下,林火对森林生态系统的影响及其对策。