Synthesis of polyglycerol phosphate by Bacillus stearothermophilus.

A particulate enzyme preparation from Bacillus stearothermophilus synthesized 1,3-poly(glycerol phosphage) from CDPglycerol at an optimum pH of 8.0 and the reaction was stimulated by divalent cations. Km for CDPglycerol was 0.18 mM. The synthesis was inhibited by CMP, CDP, and CTP and by concentrations of CDP-glycerol above 0.49 mM. The reaction was irreversible, The product had an average chain length of 8 glycerol units. About two thirds of the polymers were synthesized in entirety while the ramainder were attached to some acceptor by their phosphate end. The enzome was able to synthesize only a limited amount of polymer.     

The effect of additional red irradiation on the photosynthetic apparatus of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pisum sativum</Emphasis>

Pisum sativum (L.) plants were grown under “white” luminescent lamps, W [45 μ mol(quantum) m⁻² s⁻¹] or under the same irradiation supplemented with narrow spectrum red light-emitting diodes (LEDs), RE [λ_max = 660 nm, Δλ = 20 nm, 40 μmol(quantum) m⁻² s⁻¹]. Significant differences in the chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence parameters, degree of State 1–State 2 transition, and the pigment-protein contents were found in plants grown under differing spectral composition. Addition of red LEDs to the “white light” resulted in higher effective quantum yield of photosystem 2 (PS2), i.e. F′_v/F′_m, linear electron transport (ϕ_PS2), photochemical quenching (q_P), and lower non-photochemical quenching (q_N as well as NPQ). The RE plants were characterised by higher degree State 1–State 2 transition, i.e. they were more effective in radiant energy utilisation. Judging from the data of “green” electrophoresis of Chl containing pigment-protein complexes of plants grown under various irradiation qualities, the percentage of Chl in photosystem 2 (PS2) reaction centre complexes in RE plants was higher and there was no difference in the total Chl bound with Chl-proteins of light-harvesting complexes (LHC2). Because the ratio between oligomeric and monomeric LHC2 forms was higher in RE plants, we suggest higher LHC2 stability in these ones.     

Exogenous Hexoses Cause Quantitative Changes of Pigment and Glycerolipid Composition in Filamentous Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria Spirulina platensis and Nostoc linckia were grown in the presence of 5 mM and 50 mM glucose or 5 mM mannose, non-metabolisable glucose analogue that effectively triggers the repression of photosynthesis. Glucose evoked active cyanobacterial growth but chlorophyll (Chl) content decreased to some extent and porphyrins were excreted. The content of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol decreased in glucose-grown cyanobacteria and that of phosphatidylglycerol increased substantially. Mannose inhibited cyanobacteria growth as well as Chl synthesis, however, phosphatidylglycerol contents were higher than in respective control samples. In cyanobacterial cells glucose may not only inhibit photosynthetic processes, but also cause structural transformations of membranes which may be necessary for the activity of respiratory electron transport chain components under heterotrophic conditions.     

Dynamic compression counteracts IL-1β induced inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression in chondrocyte/agarose constructs

Background  

Nitric oxide and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂play pivotal roles in both the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and catabolic processes in articular cartilage. These mediators are influenced by both IL-1β and mechanical loading, and involve alterations in the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 enzymes. To identify the specific interactions that are activated by both types of stimuli, we examined the effects of dynamic compression on levels of expression of iNOS and COX-2 and involvement of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway.     

Effect of clinorotation on growth and pigment biosynthesis in etiolated barley plants

Altered gravity conditions (hyper- or hypogravity) leads to changes in metabolic processes in living organisms (Kordyum, 1997). One important subject of plant space biology is the investigation of the effects of microgravity conditions on the development of the photosynthetic apparatus. The impact of microgravity on the photosynthetic apparatus of plants has been studied in a number of space-flight experiments. Particularly, the Chl (a+b) content and Chl a/b ratio were determined in several experiments, however the results did not allow understanding how microgravity affects pigment apparatus of the plants since presented contradictory results [Laurinavichius et al. 1984; Volovik et al, 1999]. To elucidate how clinorotation affects pigment apparatus formation in etiolated plants, we studied morphological characteristics and pigment (chlorophyll and carotenoids) biosynthesis in the first period of greening of barley plants.     

Membrane system organization in the process of greening of clinorotated barley seedlings

Altered gravity affects on plastid structure and function during greening has not been studied. To elucidate how stimulated microgravity affects pigment apparatus formation in etiolated plants we have been studied clinorotation effects on morphological characteristics and chlorophylls biosynthesis in the first period of greening of barley plant. At the ultrastructural level clinorotation caused alteration of mesophyll cell parameters and organization, destruction of the fine structure of chloroplasts, changes in starch volume and lipid-protein accumulation.     

文山松毛虫质型多角体病毒形态结构及理化性质的研究

对文山松毛虫质型多角体病毒的形态结构及理化特性进行了研究,多角体大部分为六边形,少数为四边形及近园形,其大小在0.47～2.45μ之间,平均为1.1μ。病毒粒子呈球形,无囊膜,致密的核芯区由一层外壳包裹,直径为60nm。病毒粒子表面有12个刺突,放大图象可见其亚单位排列。多角体蛋白的主要成分为一种,分子量为26200道尔顿,多角体蛋白氨基酸组成中不含半胱氨酸;其碱性氨基酸与酸性氨基酸之比为1:2.16。病毒粒子结构蛋白含五条多肽组分。用SDS-热酚法提取所得核酸,其热变性紫外吸收OD_(260)值增加51.6％。抗核酸酶S_1。Tm值为86℃。在1％琼脂糖凝胶电泳中可分为9个片段,而在5％PAGE中,则可分为10个片段。各片段大小在0.66×10~6～2.85×10~6道尔顿之间,总分子量为15.35×10~6。电镜分析研究显示了CPV RNA在0.4μ、0.8μ和1.2μ处有三个分布峰。     

An Investigation into the Rate and Control of Assimilate Movement from Leaves in Pisum sativum

Export studies were made on leaves of Pisum by monitoring the¹⁴CO₂-treated source leaf at its surface at frequent intervals.Radiocarbon levels of fresh leaf samples showed a good correlationwith results from the more conventional methods of radiocarbonestimation which involve destructive analysis. The rate of export was highest in plants which had been defoliated,except for the source leaf 20 h or more before the start ofthe export study. Removal of the shoot apex reduced export andprogressive reduction in sink capacity was associated with decreasedexport rates, particularly over short time periods. Export rateswere similar in defoliated and non-defoliated plants where theshoot apex and the roots had been excised. This suggested thata decrease in the source resulted in higher export rates fromthe remaining source only when active sinks were present; thisin turn suggests that, at least under these conditions, activeremoval of photosynthate is more important in controlling exportthan the photosynthate build-up in the leaf itself. The non-destructive technique enabled comparisons to be madebetween export curves for individual plants. It was found thatin experiments replicated in time, the same relationship betweentreatments was present on different days and the shape of theexport curves was similar but the absolute values for exportedradiocarbon sometimes varied considerably.     

Chilling-induced Lipid Hydrolysis in the Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) Mesocarp

Oil palm fruits exposed to temperatures of 15 °C and belowshowed a significant increase in free fatty acid (FFA) contentin the mesocarp. This effect was most pronounced in fruits exposedto 5 °C when FFA levels exceeding 70% of the total oil wereobserved. The increase in FFA was accompanied by an increasein lipid-soluble phosphorus levels and a decrease in carotenecontent. Chilling did not have an effect on palm kernel oil.The results suggest the activation of a lipase in the mesocarpby low temperature stress. Key words: Lipase, oil palm, free fatty acid