Horseradish peroxidase: a reliable or a misleading tool for the investigations on the origin of the proteins of the aqueous humor?

The concept of the blood-aqueous barrier is largely based on the use of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The present investigation was designed to check its reliability as a macromolecular tracer, especially with regard to the transport of plasma proteins. Rabbits were killed 5 min to 24 h after being intravenously injected with HRP. The tracer diffused rapidly, reaching the aqueous humor of the eye in 3 min or less and was detected at high concentration in the narrow space between the outer epithelial layer of the ciliary epithelium and the wall of the pervious capillaries in the stroma of the processes. HRP appeared to migrate from the blood to the posterior chamber, permeating the tight junctions, viz., the anatomical basis of the blood-aqueous barrier. It was detected at higher concentration at the anterior surface of the iris, at short time intervals; this was interpreted as penetration of the tracer from the aqueous humor of the anterior chamber. The choroid was also labeled in continuation with the reaction in the stroma of the pars plana of the ciliary body which, in turn, sometimes reached the iris root. Therefore, the pervious blood vessels of the choroid could be a source of macromolecules for the iris root. HRP also induced the formation of lysosomes in the ciliary epithelium. This can hardly be accepted as the way in which plasma proteins are physiologically transported to the aqueous humor. However, the pathway of HRP migration over short time intervals seems to be in agreement with previous research indicating that the entrance of serum albumin into the posterior chamber is the first step of its incorporation into the aqueous humor. Received: 7 June 1996 / Accepted: 15 January 1997     

Formation of zeatin allylic phosphate by the microsomal fractions of bulb disks of Iris × hollandica Tub. and tubers of Helianthus tuberosus L.

It is shown that in bulbous Iris zeatin originates from a nucleotide. This nucleotide is probably zeatin-allylic-phosphate, in which a phosphate group is attached to the isoprenoid side-chain of zeatin. The formation of zeatin-allylic-phosphate from t-zeatin and 8-[¹⁴C]-zeatin by the microsomal fractions of Iris bulb disks and Helianthus tubers was demonstrated. The responsible enzyme was partially purified. 5-AMP was found to be a phosphate group delivering substrate. Adenosine and adenine inhibited the enzyme reaction. The significance of the results is discussed in relation to cytokinin biosynthesis and the occurrence of bud blast in Iris.     

The influence of habitat use and foraging on the replacement of one introduced wasp species by another in New Zealand

Abstract.

• 1 New Zealand was colonized by the German wasp, Vespula germanica (F.), in the 1940s and it subsequently became established throughout the country. The common wasp, V.vulgaris (L), colonized in the late 1970s and is still spreading.
• 2 The common wasp has replaced the German wasp in some habitats in New Zealand. Samples from a nationwide postal survey indicate that the common wasp is now the more abundant species in honeydew beech forests (Nothofagus spp.), and to a lesser extent in other native forests. The German wasp is still the more abundant wasp in rural areas (excluding forest). The two species are at present co-dominant in urban areas, although this may be a transient phase.
• 3 In honeydew beech forest the two species show different foraging patterns that provide the potential for local coexistence. Although both species are generalist feeders, the German wasp is more commonly found foraging for protein amongst the forest litter, whereas the common wasp forages more on shrubs and tree saplings. Despite this difference, the common wasp can still replace the German wasp in honeydew beech forest within a few years of invasion.
• 4 In honeydew beech forests in which the German wasp is the more abundant species it dominates honeydew trunks (sugar resource), whereas the common wasp dominates honeydew trunks in areas where it is the more abundant species. The change from German to common wasp domination of honeydew trunks is more rapid than the change in dominance in other microhabitats. Aggressive interactions may be taking place on this high quality, potentially defensible sugar resource.

     

Effects of Corticotropin-(1–24)-Tetracosapeptide on Polyphosphoinositide Metabolism and Protein Phosphorylation in Rabbit Iris Subcellular Fractions

Abstract: Effects of the neuropeptide corticotropin-(1–24) -tetracosapeptide (ACTH) on the endogenous and exogenous phosphorylation of lipids and endogenous phosphorylation of proteins were investigated in microsomes and a 110,000 ×g supernatant fraction [30–50% (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitate; ASP_30–50] obtained from rabbit iris smooth muscle. Subcellular distribution studies revealed that both of these fractions are enriched in diphosphoinositide (DPI) kinase. The ³²P labeling of lipids and proteins was measured by incubation of the subcellular fractions with [γ-³²P]ATP. The labeled lipids, which consisted of triphosphoinositide (TPI), DPI, and phosphatidic acid (PA) were isolated by TLC. The microsomal and ASP_30–50 fractions were resolved into six and nine labeled phosphoprotein bands, respectively, by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The basal labeling of both lipids and proteins was rapid (30–60 s), and it was dependent on the presence of Mg²⁺ in the incubation medium; in general it was inhibited by high concentrations (>0.2 mM) of Ca²⁺. ACTH stimulated the labeling of TPI and inhibited that of PA in a dose-dependent manner, with maximal effect observed at 50–100 μ of the peptide. ACTH appears to increase TPI labeling by stimulating the DPI kinase. Under the same experimental conditions ACTH (100 μM) inhibited significantly the endogenous phosphorylation of six microsomal phosphoproteins (100K, 84K, 65K, 53K, 48K, and 17K). In the ASP_30–50 fraction, ACTH inhibited the phosphorylation of three phosphoproteins (53K, 48K, and 17K) and stimulated the labeling of six phosphoprotein bands (117K, 100K, 84K, 65K, 42K, and 35K). The effects of ACTH on lipid and protein phosphorylation are probably Ca²⁺-independent; thus the neuropeptide effects were not influenced by either 1 μM EGTA or low concentrations of Ca²⁺ (50 μ.M). We conclude that a relationship may exist between polyphosphoinositide metabolism and protein phosphorylation in the rabbit iris smooth muscle.     

Comparison of carbohydrate utilization and energy charge in the yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) and garden iris (Iris germanica) under anoxia

Carbohydrate and energy metabolism of the flooding- and anoxia-tolerant Iris pseudacorus and the intolerant Iris germanica rhizomes were investigated under experimental anoxic conditions. Rhizomes of I. pseudacorus and I. Germanica were incubated in the absence of oxygen from 0 to 60 and 16 days, respectively. Amounts of glucose, total reducing sugars and non-reducing sugars (starch, fructan and oligosaccharides) in the rhizomes were measured. Ethanol concentration and adenylate energy charge were determined enzymatically. Glucose content of I. pseudacorus rhizomes decreased gradually during the first 30 days under anoxia and then increased at the same time as adenylate energy charge values started to decline. In I. germanica rhizomes the changes were more dramatic and the time scale was much shorter than in I. pseudacorus but the changes were similar. Non-reducing sugar content of I. pseudacorus rhizomes decreased rapidly during the first 15 days under oxygen deprivation and then increased again, to near starting levels at 35 days. In I. germanica the amount of non-reducing sugars decreased gradually during the anoxic incubation. Under aerobic control conditions, adenylate energy charge (AEC) of I. pseudacorus and I. germanica rhizome tissue was 0.87±0.01 and 0.81±0.01, respectively. In I. pseudacorus AEC remained high until 30 days under anoxia. In contrast, the energy charge of I. germanica rhizome tissue remained above 0.6 for 4 days only. Large amounts of ethanol were found in anoxic rhizome tissues of I. pseudacorus (up to 0.21 M ) and I. germanica (0.06 M ) after 45 days and 8 days, respectively. The results are discussed in relation to flooding tolerance of these species.     

Reflective organelles in the anterior pigment epithelium of the iris of the European starling Sturnus vulgaris

The ultrastructure and chemical composition of reflective organelles in the anterior pigment epithelium of the iris of the European starling Sturnus vulgaris were examined. The reflective organelles produced a diffuse white reflectance at the iris mid-section which was visible only when the stroma was removed. The pigment granules were clear, angular, and birefringent under the light microscope. In electron micrographs the granules were irregular in shape and density, sometimes crystalline in appearance, but more often they were lost during sectioning or staining. Guanine was abundant in the modified pigment epithelium of the starling, but not in the pigment epithelia of other birds that lacked birefringent granules. Pteridines, such as xanthopterin and leucopterin, were present in small amounts. Pteridines were also present in the iris stroma which had no reflective organelles. The reflective organelles in the starling pigment epithelium resemble both the reflecting platelets of lower vertebrate chromatophores and the reflective granules in the tapeta of various vertebrates. Possible derivation of the organelles from these sources is discussed.     

缙云山不同生境蝴蝶花(Iris japonica Thumb.)分株种群格局及对草本多样性的影响

运用空间格局、生态位及多样性分析,探讨了重庆缙云山自然保护区林缘旷地(OAFE)、竹林(BF)及常绿阔叶林(EBF)3类生境蝴蝶花(Iris japonica Thumb.)自然种群分株格局特征及对草本多样性的影响机制.结果表明:方差均值比(V/m)和Moristia指数(Iδ)的格局判别分析表明,3类生境中蝴蝶花分株种群从0.5 m×0.5 m至2 m×2 m尺度均为聚集分布;从林缘旷地-竹林-常绿阔叶林,种群分株密度逐渐降低,总体格局规模与格局强度(PI)在各尺度均呈下降趋势.林缘旷地与竹林生境中,蝴蝶花的分布,降低了原优势种的优势度,并显著降低草本层物种多样性(p<0.05),但在常绿阔叶林生境中对原优势种的优势度及草本物种多样性的影响很小.不同生境中蝴蝶花种群格局对草本多样性的影响机制各不相同:林缘旷地生境,通过强的更新生态位(地上空间与根生态位)与营养生态位(获取水分与养分资源)竞争,降低草本物种丰富度尤其是偶见种丰富度;竹林生境,通过更新生态位(根生态位)与营养生态位(获取光与养分资源)竞争,降低了草本偶见种丰富度;常绿阔叶林生境,物种间生态位重叠较低,表现一定的资源竞争,但对草本多样性影响很小.林冠决定蝴蝶花分株种群格局强度、克隆生长的强弱及林下土壤状况,从而影响蝴蝶花与草本层其它物种之间生态位竞争的强弱是决定蝴蝶花种群对草本层物种多样性影响机制的重要因素.     

四种植物精油对德国小蠊的驱避效果

室内测定4种蚊虫驱避效果较好的植物精油(香叶醇、芳樟醇、柠檬醛和茴香醛)对德国小蠊雄性成虫的驱避性,并与传统上常用的驱避剂DEET作对比研究,以期从中筛选出对德国小蠊驱避效果较好的驱避剂。每种植物精油设置4个剂量,即1,10,100和1000μg/cm2。结果表明,每种植物精油的驱避性均随剂量的增加而升高,4种精油的驱避性均高于DEET,驱避性最好的是芳樟醇;当剂量为100和1000μg/cm2时,每种植物精油的驱避性与对照组相比均有显著差异(P<0·05);除芳樟醇外,其余植物精油在剂量为1000μg/cm2时的驱避性与100μg/cm2的驱避性相比差异显著(P<0·05)。提示芳樟醇可能是一种很有发展前景的德国小蠊驱避剂。     

鸢尾柄锈菌一新变种及柄锈属国内一新记录

本文报道采自东北地区的鸢尾柄锈菌一新变种和柄锈属一国内新记录种。新变种命名为鸢尾柄锈菌多孔变种[Puccinia iridis(DC.)Wallr.var.polyporis W.C.Liu var.nov.],区别于原变种的主要特征是其夏孢子小,芽孔5—7个,散生;而后者夏孢子较大,芽孔2—4个,赤道生。新记录种是短果茴芹柄锈菌(Puccinia pimpinellae-brachycarpae Tranzsch.et Ere-meeva),寄生在短果茴芹(Pimpinella brachycarpa Nakai)上。标本保存于沈阳农业大学真菌标本室和中国科学院微生物研究所真菌标本室。     

Improved detection of iris severe mosaic virus in secondarily-infected iris bulbs

The influence of wounding and high-temperature treatment on the detection of iris severe mosaic virus (ISMV) in secondarily ISMV-infected iris bulbs was studied. Wounding of the bulbs just after lifting, followed by storage for 3 wk at 17°C or 20°C, increased the detectability of ISMV to 100% reliability. High-temperature treatment and consecutive storage at 17°C induced a similar improvement of detection. It is concluded that a certain degree of stress, such as wounding or high-temperature treatment, ultimately leads to an increase in viral antigens and thus to improvement of detection. It is hypothesised that the virus titre increases by the altered metabolism during the repair reactions as a response to stress applied to the bulbs.