Iron-sulfur centers in the photosynthetic reaction center complex fromChlorobium vibrioforme. Differences from and similarities to the iron-sulfur centers in Photosystem I

The photosynthetic reaction center complex from the green sulfur bacteriumChlorobium vibrioforme has been isolated under anaerobic conditions. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis reveals polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 80, 40, 30, 18, 15, and 9 kDa. The 80- and 18-kDa polypeptides are identified as the reaction center polypeptide and the secondary donor cytochromec ₅₅₁ encoded by thepscA andpscC genes, respectively. N-terminal amino acid sequences identify the 40-kDa polypeptide as the bacteriochlorophylla-protein of the baseplate (the Fenna-Matthews-Olson protein) and the 30-kDa polypeptide as the putative 2[4Fe-4S] protein encoded bypscB. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis shows the presence of an iron-sulfur cluster which is irreversibly photoreduced at 9K. Photoaccumulation at higher temperature shows the presence of an additional photoreduced cluster. The EPR spectra of the two iron-sulfur clusters resemble those of F_A and F_B of Photosystem I, but also show significantly differentg-values, lineshapes, and temperature and power dependencies. We suggest that the two centers are designated Center I (with calculatedg-values of 2.085, 1.898, 1.841), and Center II (with calculatedg-values of 2.083, 1.941, 1.878). The data suggest that Centers I and II are bound to thepscB polypeptide.     

The effects of dispersal limitation and topographic heterogeneity on beta diversity and phylobetadiversity in a subtropical forest

We assessed the effects of topographic heterogeneity and stem density on species composition between grains of different sizes (20 × 20, 50 × 50, and 100 × 100 m), based on partial Mantel tests. Similarity in species composition was measured by the abundance-based Jaccard index (C_J) and by an index that incorporates phylogenetic information into C_J (pC_J). Plants were divided into five groups, arbor, subarbor, and shrub according to life form and two other groups: species that produce dry fruits (PDF) and that produce fleshy fruits (PFF). C_J and pC_J between any two grains at each grain size were calculated separately for these groups and for all species combined. In order to examine what influences C_J and pC_J, we analyzed their correlations with topographic heterogeneity variables and two dispersal limitation-related variables (stem and topographic resistance). Our data indicate that at all three grain sizes, C_J and pC_J decrease with increasing distance for all plant groups. Dispersal limitation and topographic heterogeneity were both important at 20 × 20 and 50 × 50 m grain sizes for C_J and pC_J of all plant groups; and at 100 × 100 m grain size, topographic heterogeneity dominates over dispersal limitation for some plant groups. C_J and pC_J of PDFs are less negatively correlated with stem resistance than those of PFFs. We conclude that both beta diversity and phylobetadiversity are dependent on plant groups and grain sizes.     

A 31P MAS NMR study of cytidine 2'-phosphate bound to ribonuclease A in the crystalline state

31P CP/MAS spectra have been obtained from 2'-CMP bound to ribonuclease A in the crystalline state. The chemical shift value is closely similar to that found in solution NMR studies under similar conditions, and corresponds to that of the dianionic state of the free compound. It is suggested that the NMR approach may be of general applicability for the comparison of the binding properties of small molecules to proteins in crystals and solution.     

Ribonuclease A--a complete proton NMR fingerprint using TOCSY and NOESY experiments in water

In our attempts to obtain total sequential assignment of the 1H NMR spectrum of ribonuclease A, several published water suppression techniques were tested and assessed. The jump- and-return sequence and its echo hybrid were used with considerable success in both the TOCSY and NOESY experiments on 3mM ribonuclease A solutions. The NMR approach used here may be of general applicability for 1H NMR studies of proteins in water of concentrations under 5mM.     

Paternal age and the occurrence of birth defects

The association between paternal age and the occurrence of birth defects was studied using data collected in Metropolitan Atlanta. Paternal-age information for babies born with defects was obtained from birth certificates, hospital records, and interviews with mothers; for babies born without defects, the information was obtained from birth certificates. Several statistical techniques were used to evaluate the paternal-age-birth-defects associations for 86 groups of defects. Logistic regression analysis that controlled for maternal age and race indicated that older fathers had a somewhat higher risk for having babies with defects, when all types of defects were combined; an equivalent association for older mothers was not found. Logistic regression analyses also indicated modestly higher risks for older fathers for having babies with ventricular septal defects and atrial septal defects and substantially higher risks for having babies with defects classified in the category chondrodystrophy (largely sporadic achondroplasia) and babies with situs inversus. An association between elevated paternal age and situs inversus has not been reported before; the magnitude of the estimated increased risk for situs inversus was about the same as that found in this study for chondrodystrophy.     

斯氏狸殖吸虫螺类宿主新记录:洪山拟钉螺新种记述

本文报道斯氏狸殖吸虫新的螺类宿主——洪山拟钉螺Tricula hongshanensis sp. nov.的特点:螺壳较宽而短,体螺层较高大,壳口上缘成锐角,触角伸展时较长,收缩吋有环状皱褶,雄性阴茎较粗短,末端钝圆,齿舌公式不同于其它拟钉螺。     

Ribonuclease A: carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance assignments, binding sites, and conformational flexibility

Assignments have been made for 11 methyl, one Gln-C gamma, one Thr-C beta, and all six Tyr-C zeta carbon resonances of ribonuclease A. These partially serve to delineate the binding sites for Cu2+, Mn2+, phosphate, cytidine and its 2'-, 3'-, and 5'-phosphates (Cyd and Cyd-2'-P, -3'-P, and -5'-P), and one or a few urea molecules at low concentration. Evidence is presented for a conformational change, and hence flexibility, in the active site region around the optimum pD for enzymic activity and another such change at around the optimum temperature. The binding of cytidine-containing ligands is shown to have extensive conformational consequences for methyl groups but less for hydrophobic aromatic residues, implying that the former make a special contribution to molecular flexibility. The cytosine ring in Cyd-2'-P, -3'-P, and -5'-P is found to be close but far from parallel to the ring of Phe-120. In contrast to previous claims, ribonuclease A is shown not to unfold even partially before denaturation. On denaturation, it passes to a new but structured state.     

Behaviour of photosynthetic products associated with growth and grain production in the rice plant

Summary A study of the behaviour of the photosynthetic products assimilated at different growth stages was conducted in the field and in the greenhouse using C¹⁴ tracer.In general, the assimilated carbon is translocated to and accumulates in the growing organs. The carbon assimilated at the maximum tiller number stage is distributed mostly to the lower leaves. The carbon assimilated at the booting stage is distributed mostly to the spikelet, certain leaf sheaths and culms. The carbon accumulated in the form of carbohydrates in the leaf sheaths and the culm before flowering is retranslocated to the panicle after flowering. However, because of the consumption by respiration, the efficiency of this type of carbohydrate in grain production is not very high. The carbon assimilated after flowering accumulated mostly and efficiently in the brown rice.The release of the assimilated carbon as CO₂ is most intense immediately after assimilation. Thirty-five to 60 per cent of the assimilated carbon is consumed through respiration under the conditions of this experiment. As the carbon, which is in the form of sugars, rapidly changes to other forms, and also is consumed by respiration, the consumption declines rapidly. The retention percentage of assimilated carbon decreases as mutual shading increases.The large proportion of carbon released through respiration indicates the importance of studies on the significance of respiration in relation to growth.A portion of the thesis for the Master of Science degree submitted by Mr. Shen Lian to the Graduate School, University of the Philippines, College of Agriculture.