Excitable Active Electrogenic Ion-Transport Units in the Plasmalemma of Nitellopsis obtusa

With the use of voltage clamp and current clamp techniques thesupposition was proved that during the hyperpolarizing response(HR) N. obtusa cells generate active electromotive force (emf)at the expense of metabolic energy. Threshold inward currentsent through the plasmalemma of the cell which was depolarizedwith 100 mol m^–3 KG resulted in the HR with the transferof the membrane's excitable units from the high-conductive stateto the low-conductive state. During the HR the membrane potentialV_m increased from –135±10 mV to –290±15mV, the membrane resistance increased from 3.3±1.5 kOhmcm² to 5.8±1.2 kOhm cm² and the membrane emf E_m increasedfrom –20±4 mV to –93± 15 mV. Changesin the external concentration of K^–, Na⁺, Cl^– andH^– did not affect the patterns of HR. Cells which weredepolarized by light also generated HR (in normal medium) whichwas accompanied with the increase of V_m, R_m and E_m. The highvalue of Em generated during the HR can be explained only withthe involvement of active electrogenic charge transfer acrossthe membrane. 0.05 mol m^–3 DCCD added to the externalmedium inhibited the HR in both cases. Key words: Active ion transport, Hyperpolarizing response, Nitellopsis obtusa     

DNA-Dependent RNA Synthesis in Isolated Macronuclei of Blepharisma intermedium (Ciliata)

SYNOPSIS. Autoradiographic studies on DNA-dependent RNA synthesis in isolated macronuclei of Blepharisma intermedium in vitro are described. Isolated macronuclei incubated in a medium containing RNA precursors incorporated cystidine and uridine into RNA. Uptake of cystidine was greater than that of uridine. Addition of ATP did not appreciably affect the uptake of precursors into RNA. Actinomycin D (5 μg/ml) blocked incorporation of cystidine and uridine. It is concluded that in isolated macronuclei of Blepharisma , RNA precursors are 1st converted into triphosphates and then incorporated into RNA thru DNA-dependent RNA polymerase.     

Some Factors Governing Feeding Behavior of Homalozoon vermiculare (Ciliophora, Holotricha)

SYNOPSIS. Feeding activity of Homalozoon vermiculare on Paramecium and Blepharisma and on a number of non-living materials was compared in order to understand its feeding behavior and some of the factors governing it. During a given period it involves a series of feeding responses, each response being completed in 5 stages: (i) contact of prey or non-living particles with the oral rim of Homalozoon, (ii) ejection of toxin by Homalozoon, if the food is a living organism, (iii) paralysis of the prey, (iv) grasping, and (v) swallowing. The feeding activity of Homalozoon differs from one food to another and also on any one food at different times. These differences are governed by (i) the physiologic condition of Homalozoon and (ii) certain food characteristics. Its starvation, but not its developmental stage, markedly influences its feeding activity on any food. The food characteristics most important for feeding by Homalozoon are: (i) concentration of prey or non-living particles in the medium, insuring their adequate contact with the organism's mouth, (b) susceptibility of living organisms to paralysis by the toxin, (c) suitability of particle size for accommodation in the organism's mouth, and (d) suitability of the food material to stimulate the grasping and swallowing responses. Homalozoon much prefers Paramecium to Blepharisma on account of (i) a greater susceptibility of Paramecium to paralysis by the toxin, and (ii) certain differences in the chemical characteristics of the certain proteins, particularly albumins, hemoglobin, etc., of the 2 organisms.     

Relationship between the olfactory sensilla of Papilio demoleus L. larvae and their orientation responses to different odours

Papilio demoleus larvae showed maximum attraction to odours of citral, cirtonellal and citronellol, slightly less to geraniol and 1-limonene, and low attraction to hydroxy-citronellal and geranyl acetate. These chemicals (except the last) are the main odorous constituents of the insect's host plant (Citrus) leaves. Phellandrene was almost inert, whereas farnesol and d-limonene elicited a low, and linalool, eugenol and clove oil a high repulsion. Larvae deprived of one antenna and both maxillary palps were similar to normal larvae in their orientational responses. Normal larval responses changed with the inactivation of one or more of the three specific antennal sensilla. A full complement of the three sensilla was not essential for the normal larval response to certain chemicals. Any of the sensilla singly or in combination with any other sensillum could mediate the normal larval response (attraction) to citral and geraniol. For a few other chemicals, certain specific sensilla, singly or in a combination of two, mediated the normal response. Only for d-limonene were all three sensilla essential for the normal response.     

The first genetic map of pigeon pea based on diversity arrays technology (DArT) markers

With an objective to develop a genetic map in pigeon pea (Cajanus spp.), a total of 554 diversity arrays technology (DArT) markers showed polymorphism in a pigeon pea F₂ mapping population of 72 progenies derived from an interspecific cross of ICP 28 (Cajanus cajan) and ICPW 94 (Cajanus scarabaeoides). Approximately 13% of markers did not conform to expected segregation ratio. The total number of DArT marker loci segregating in Mendelian manner was 405 with 73.1% (P > 0.001) of DArT markers having unique segregation patterns. Two groups of genetic maps were generated using DArT markers. While the maternal genetic linkage map had 122 unique DArT maternal marker loci, the paternal genetic linkage map has a total of 172 unique DArT paternal marker loci. The length of these two maps covered 270.0 cM and 451.6 cM, respectively. These are the first genetic linkage maps developed for pigeon pea, and this is the first report of genetic mapping in any grain legume using diversity arrays technology.     

Seed handling behaviours of native and invasive seed‐dispersing ants differentially influence seedling emergence in an introduced plant

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