Decomposition Patterns of Foliar Litter and Deadwood in Managed and Unmanaged Stands: A 13-Year Experiment in Boreal Mixedwoods

Litter decomposition is a major driver of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles in forest ecosystems and has major implications for C sequestration and nutrient availability. However, empirical information regarding long-term decomposition rates of foliage and wood remains rare. In this study, we assessed long-term C and N dynamics (12–13 years) during decomposition of foliage and wood for three boreal tree species, under a range of harvesting intensities and slash treatments. We used model selection based on the second-order Akaike’s Information Criterion to determine which decomposition model had the most support. The double-exponential model provided a good fit to C mass loss for foliage of trembling aspen, white spruce, and balsam fir, as well as aspen wood. These litters underwent a rapid initial phase of leaching and mineralisation, followed by a slow decomposition. In contrast, for spruce and fir wood, the single-exponential model had the most support. The long-term average decay rate of wood was faster than that of foliage for aspen, but not of conifers. However, we found no evidence that fir and spruce wood decomposed at slower rates than the recalcitrant fraction of their foliage. The critical C:N ratios, at which net N mineralisation began, were higher for wood than for foliage. Long-term decay rates following clear-cutting were either similar or faster than those observed in control stands, depending on litter material, tree species, and slash treatment. The critical C:N ratios were reached later and decreased for all conifer litters following stem-only clear-cutting, indicating increased N retention in harvested sites with high slash loads. Partial harvesting had weak effects on C and N dynamics of decaying litters. A comprehensive understanding of the long-term patterns and controls of C and N dynamics following forest disturbance would improve our ability to forecast the implications of forest harvesting for C sequestration and nutrient availability.     

Pharmacological receptors for substance P and neurokinins

The three neurokinins identified in mammals, substance P, neurokinin A and neurokinin B, as well as their C-terminal biologically active fragments, have been used to characterize the responses of a variety of isolated organs. Three preparations selective either for substance P (the dog carotid artery), or for neurokinin A (the rabbit pulmonary artery) or for neurokinin B (the rat portal vein) are described. A neurokinin receptor classification is attempted using the neurokinins and their fragments to determine the order of potency of agonists. Three receptor subtypes have been identified: the NK-P, on which substance P (SP) is more active than neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin B (NKB), and the neurokinins are more active than their respective fragments; the NK-A on which NKA greater than NKB greater than SP, and some NKA fragments are more discriminative than their precursor; the NK-B on which NKB greater than NKA greater than SP, and fragments of NKB are less active than their precursor. Among the peptides studied, some potent compounds have been identified that could provide selective receptor ligands.     

Regulation of cell division in Escherichia coli K-12: probable interactions among proteins FtsQ, FtsA, and FtsZ.

In Escherichia coli, the FtsQ, FtsA, and FtsZ proteins are believed to play essential roles in the regulation of cell division. Of the three proteins, FtsZ has received the most attention, particularly because of its interactions with SfiA. Double mutants which carry mutations located in the ftsQ, ftsA, or ftsZ gene in combination with the lon-1 mutation were constructed. In the presence of the lon-1 mutation, which is known to stabilize SfiA, the ftsQ1 mutant cells were not capable of forming colonies on a rich agar medium, whereas mutant cells harboring either one of the mutations grew well on this medium. Examination of lon-1 fts double-mutant cells for sensitivity to UV light revealed that those carrying the ftsA10 allele were resistant. It was also observed that in the presence of a multicopy plasmid containing a wild-type ftsZ gene, the ftsQ1 mutant filamented markedly following a nutritional shift-up and that the division rate of ftsZ84 mutant cells was slightly reduced when they harbored a wild-type ftsQ-containing plasmid. The possibility that the Fts proteins are interacting with one another and forming a molecular complex is discussed.     

Economic assessment of plant cell culture for the production of ajmalicine

Cost estimates have been prepared for commercial-scale production of ajmalicine-rich Catnaranthus roseus biomass using plant cell culture. At the current state of the technology the cost would be approximately $7.30/lb dry biomass ($3215/kg ajmalicine). Naturally-grown C. roseus roots have a 50% lower ajmalicine concentration but would cost only ca. $0.70/lb ($619/kg ajmalicine). The principal reason for the high cost of the plant cell culture route is not the slow specific growth rate (0.35 day(-1)), but rather the slow specific product accumulation rate (0.26 mg/g day). This rate will have to be increased by a factor of 40 to make the process competitive.     

Effects of lowering extracellular and cytosolic pH on calcium fluxes, cytosolic calcium levels, and transmitter release in presynaptic nerve terminals isolated from rat brain

We examined the effects of extracellular and intracellular pH changes on the influx of radioactive 45Ca, the concentration of ionized Ca (pCai) as monitored with the Ca-sensitive fluorescent indicator fura-2, and the efflux of dopamine in presynaptic nerve endings (synaptosomes) isolated from rat brain corpora striata and preloaded with [3H]dopamine. Cytosolic pH (pHi) was monitored by loading the synaptosomes with the H+-sensitive fluorescent indicator 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) (see Nachshen, D. A., and P. Drapeau, 1988, Journal of General Physiology, 91:289-303). An abrupt decrease of the pH of the external medium, from 7.4 to 5.5, produced a slow decrease of pHi (over a 5-min period) from an initial value of 7.2 to a steady state level of approximately 5.8. When 20 mM acetate was present in acidic media, pHi dropped as fast as could be measured (within 2 s) to a level similar to that reached (more slowly) in the absence of acetate. It was therefore possible to lower pHi over short time periods to different levels depending on whether or not acetate was present upon extracellular acidification. Extracellular acidification to pH 5.5 (in the absence of acetate) had no significant effect on pCai and dopamine release over a 30-s period (pHi = 6.4). Acidification in the presence of acetate lowered pHi to 5.8 without affecting pCai, but dopamine efflux increased approximately 20-fold. This increase in basal dopamine release was also observed in the absence of extracellular Ca. Thus, intraterminal, but not extracellular, acidification could stimulate the efflux of dopamine in a Ca-independent manner. The high Q10 (3.6) of acid-stimulated dopamine efflux in the presence of nomifensine (which blocks the dopamine carrier) was consistent with an activation of vesicular dopamine release by H+. When synaptosomes were both depolarized for 2 s in high-K (77.5 mM) solutions and acidified (in the absence of acetate), there was a parallel block of 45Ca entry and evoked dopamine release (50% block at pH 6.0 with 0.2 mM external Ca). When acetate was included in the acidic media to further reduce pHi, Ca entry remained blocked, but evoked dopamine release was increased. Therefore, extracellular, but not cytosolic, acidification inhibited the release of dopamine by blocking voltage-gated Ca channels. The stimulation by cytosolic acidification of both basal and evoked dopamine release suggests that vesicular release in resting and depolarized synaptosomes was directly activated by cytoplasmic H+.     

Kallidin applied to the human nasal mucosa produces algesic response not blocked by capsaicin desensitization.

Various kinins (dissolved in 50 microliters) were applied to the nasal mucosa of healthy human volunteers to test the algesic and proinflammatory effects of these peptides in an intact human tissue. [des-Arg9]-bradykinin (0.5 mumol) was found to be inactive, while bradykinin (0.05-0.5 mumol) and especially kallidin (0.005-0.5 mumol) induced: (a) a mild painful sensation described as burning and pricking (latency 30 s, duration 3-5 min), (b) perception of pulsatility and obstruction in the nasal cavity (onset 1 min, duration 6-8 min). Substance P (0.5 mumol) and neurokinin A (0.5 mumol) produced slight obstruction and weak pulsatile sensation but not pain. Capsaicin (0.05 nmol) produced pain and secretion of fluid, but not pulsatile sensation. The effects of kallidin were not affected by repeated (to induce desensitization) applications of capsaicin (0.5 mumol). Likewise, ipratropium bromide (80 mg in 100 microliters) did not affect responses to kallidin. In an intact human tissue, kallidin produces various effects, including an algesic response, that are apparently independent from activation of B1 receptors and from desensitization of capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents.     

An Ustilago maydis Mutant Partially Blocked in P45014DM Activity Is Hypersensitive to Azole Fungicides

An Ustilago maydis ergosterol biosynthesis mutant (A14) which is partially blocked in sterol 14alpha-demethylase (P45014DM) activity is described. This mutant accumulated the abnormal 14alpha-methyl sterols, eburicol, 14alpha-methylfecosterol, and obtusifoliol, along with significant amounts of ergosterol. Although the A14 mutant grew nearly as well as the wild type, it was impaired in cell extension growth, which indicated a dysfunction in apical cell wall synthesis. The mutant was also found to be hypersensitive to the azole fungicides penconazole and tebuconazole.     

Sodium and potassium interactions with Na+-ATPase of inside-out membrane vesicles from high-K+ and low-K+ sheep red cells

Na⁺-ATPase of high-K⁺ and low-K⁺ sheep red cells was examined with respect to the sidedness of Na⁺ and K⁺ effects, using inside-out membrane vesicles and very low ATP concentrations (?2 μM). With varying amounts of Na⁺ in the medium, i.e., at the cytoplasmic surface, Na_cyt⁺, the activation curves show that high-K⁺ Na⁺-ATPase has a higher affinity for Na_cyt⁺ compared to low-K⁺. The apparent affinity for Na_cyt⁺ is also increased by increasing the ATP concentrations in high-K⁺ but not low-K⁺. With Na_cyt⁺ present, Na⁺-ATPase is stimulated by intravesicular Na⁺, i.e., Na⁺ at the originally external surface, Na_ext⁺, to a greater extent in low-K⁺ than high-K⁺. Intravesicular K⁺ (K_ext⁺) activates Na⁺-ATPase in high-K⁺ but not in low-K⁺ vesicles and extravesicular K⁺ (K_cyt⁺) inhibits low-K⁺ but not high-K⁺ Na⁺-ATPase. Thus, the genetic difference between high-K⁺ and low-K⁺ is expressed as differences in apparent affinities for both Na⁺ and K⁺ and these differences are evident at both cytoplasmic and external membrane surfaces.     

Hexazonium pararosaniline as a fixative for animal tissues

Hexazonium pararosaniline is a valuable reagent that has been used in enzyme activity histochemistry for 50 years. It is an aqueous solution containing the tris-diazonium ion derived from pararosaniline, an aminotriarylmethane dye, and it contains an excess of nitrous acid that was not consumed in the diazotization reaction. Other investigators have found that immersion for 2 min in an acidic (pH 3.5) 0.0015 M hexazonium pararosaniline solution can protect cryostat sections of unfixed animal tissues from the deleterious effects of aqueous reagents such as buffered solutions used in immunohistochemistry, while preserving specific affinities for antibodies. In the present investigation hexazonium pararosaniline protected lymphoid tissue and striated muscle against the damaging effects of water or saline. The same protection was conferred on unfixed sections treated with dilute nitrous or hydrochloric acid in concentrations similar to those in hexazonium pararosaniline solutions. Model tissues (solutions, gels or films containing gelatin and/or bovine albumin) responded predictably to well known cross-linking (formaldehyde) or coagulant (mercuric chloride) fixatives. Hexazonium pararosaniline solutions prevented the dissolution of protein gels in water only after 9 or more days of contact, during which time considerable swelling occurred. It is concluded that there is no evidence for a “fixative” action of hexazonium pararosaniline. The protective effect on frozen sections of unfixed tissue is attributable probably to the low pH of the solution.