Photosynthetic action spectra and adaptation to spectral light distribution in a benthic cyanobacterial mat

We studied adaptation to spectral light distribution in undisturbed benthic communities of cyanobacterial mats growing in hypersaline ponds at Guerrero Negro, Baja California, Mexico. Microscale measurements of oxygen photosynthesis and action spectra were performed with microelectrodes; spectral radiance was measured with fiber-optic microprobes. The spatial resolution of all measurements was 0.1 mm, and the spectral resolution was 10 to 15 nm. Light attenuation spectra showed absorption predominantly by chlorophyll a (Chl a) (430 and 670 nm), phycocyanin (620 nm), and carotenoids (440 to 500 nm). Blue light (450 nm) was attenuated 10-fold more strongly than red light (600 nm). The action spectra of the surface film of diatoms accordingly showed activity over the whole spectrum, with maxima for Chl a and carotenoids. The underlying dense Microcoleus population showed almost exclusively activity dependent upon light harvesting by phycobilins at 550 to 660 nm. Maximum activity was at 580 and 650 nm, indicating absorption by phycoerythrin and phycocyanin as well as by allophycocyanin. Very little Chl a-dependent activity could be detected in the cyanobacterial action spectrum, even with additional 600-nm light to excite photosystem II. The depth distribution of photosynthesis showed detectable activity down to a depth of 0.8 to 2.5 mm, where the downwelling radiant flux at 600 nm was reduced to 0.2 to 0.6% of the surface flux.     

Carbon isotopic fractionation in heterotrophic microbial metabolism.

Differences in the natural-abundance carbon stable isotopic compositions between products from aerobic cultures of Escherichia coli K-12 were measured. Respired CO2 was 3.4% depleted in 13C relative to the glucose used as the carbon source, whereas the acetate was 12.3% enriched in 13C. The acetate 13C enrichment was solely in the carboxyl group. Even though the total cellular carbon was only 0.6% depleted in 13C, intracellular components exhibited a significant isotopic heterogeneity. The protein and lipid fractions were -1.1 and -2.7%, respectively. Aspartic and glutamic acids were -1.6 and +2.7%, respectively, yet citrate was isotopically identical to the glucose. Probable sites of carbon isotopic fractionation include the enzyme, phosphotransacetylase, and the Krebs cycle.     

Phylogenetic diversification of immunoglobulin genes and the antibody repertoire

Immunoglobulins are encoded by a large multigene system that undergoes somatic rearrangement and additional genetic change during the development of immunoglobulin-producing cells. Inducible antibody and antibody-like responses are found in all vertebrates. However, immunoglobulin possessing disulfide-bonded heavy and light chains and domain-type organization has been described only in representatives of the jawed vertebrates. High degrees of nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequence identity are evident when the segmental elements that constitute the immunoglobulin gene loci in phylogenetically divergent vertebrates are compared. However, the organization of gene loci and the manner in which the independent elements recombine (and diversify) vary markedly among different taxa. One striking pattern of gene organization is the "cluster type" that appears to be restricted to the chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes) and limits segmental rearrangement to closely linked elements. This type of gene organization is associated with both heavy- and light-chain gene loci. In some cases, the clusters are "joined" or "partially joined" in the germ line, in effect predetermining or partially predetermining, respectively, the encoded specificities (the assumption being that these are expressed) of the individual loci. By relating the sequences of transcribed gene products to their respective germ-line genes, it is evident that, in some cases, joined-type genes are expressed. This raises a question about the existence and/or nature of allelic exclusion in these species. The extensive variation in gene organization found throughout the vertebrate species may relate directly to the role of intersegmental (V<==>D<==>J) distances in the commitment of the individual antibody-producing cell to a particular genetic specificity. Thus, the evolution of this locus, perhaps more so than that of others, may reflect the interrelationships between genetic organization and function.      

The modification of a common wheat-Thinopyrum distichum translocated chromosome with a locus homoeoallelic to Lr19

Summary The Chinese Spring ph1b and ph2b mutants, as well as the nulli 5B tetra 5D stock were utilized in an attempt to effect homoeologous chromatin exchange between the Indis chromosome translocation [derived from Thinopyrum distichum (Thunb.) Löve] and chromosome arm 7DL of common wheat. A homoeoallele of Lr19 and linked genes for yellow flour-pigmentation were utilized as markers. Seven selections with recombinations involving the foreign, translocated segment were recovered. Four of these had white endosperms and were leaf-rust resistant. The remaining lines were leaf-rust resistant and had levels of endosperm pigmentation intermediate to those of Indis and Chinese Spring. The recombined translocation segments coding for white endosperm are no longer associated with chromosome 7D. The original translocated segment may, therefore, not be fully homoeologous to 7DL. The recombinants with white endosperm also lack the stem-rust resitance gene Sr25, but retained the segregation distorter locus, Sd-1. However, it seems as though an enhancer locus (or loci) of Sd-1 had been lost.     

Studies on the primary sequence requirements for PKC-alpha, -beta 1 and -gamma peptide substrates.

The substrate specificity of purified PKC-alpha, -beta and -gamma has been investigated. A series of synthetic peptides based upon the sequence surrounding serine-7 in glycogen synthase were generated and used to determine the basic residue requirements of these PKC isotypes. While PKC-alpha and -beta are indistinguishable in their phosphorylation of these peptides, PKC-gamma shows a distinct specificity profile for these synthetic substrates.     

Purification and characterisation of bovine brain protein kinase C isotypes alpha, beta and gamma

Several polyclonal antisera specific for each of the protein kinase C isotypes alpha, beta 1, beta 2 and gamma have been generated and used to monitor the purification and subsequent separation of these polypeptides. A simple protocol has been developed for the efficient co-purification of these isotypes from bovine brain. The separation of the alpha, beta 1, beta 2 and gamma isotypes has been monitored using the antibodies and pools containing pure alpha, beta 1, and gamma forms have been produced. These isotypes have been characterised for activator dependence and substrate specificity. The results indicate that while the isotypes have similar requirements for magnesium, calcium, ATP and phosphatidylserine, they differ in their dependence on phorbol esters and diacylglycerols. The isotypes also differ in their range of substrate specificities. The implications of these results are discussed.