Photocontrol of the hypocotyl hook opening of Sinapis alba seedlings. Involvement of phytochrome and a high irradiance response

Baumgartner, N. and Fondeville, J. C. 1989. Photocontrol of the hypocotyl hook opening of Sinapis alba seedlings. Involvement of phytochrome and a high irradiance response.
A statistical evaluation of the hypocotyl hook opening (hook opening index) was used for measurement of the hook angle in lots of etiolated Sinapis alba L. cv. Albatros seedlings. Studies of the kinetics for hook opening were carried out in continuous fluorescent white, blue and red light (6, 15 and 40 μmol m^-2s^-1) with 2-day-old dark-grown seedlings. At the beginning of the irradiation period the photoresponse in red light was the opposite to that in blue (low photon fluences). Blue rapidly induced the hook opening (in less than 20 min), while red produced hook tightening (photon fluences up to 70 mmol m^-2), which precedes the normal progressive hook opening. For low fluences, the data were consistent with the involvement of phytochrome and a specific blue light photoreceptor. A phytochrome effect was observed in the hook opening, dependent upon a high irradiance response (HIR). This HIR (like that for the inhibition of the hypocotyl elongation) was characterized by a wavelength response curve with maxima in the blue and far-red regions of the spectrum.     

Effect of storage, photoperiod and mechanical scarification on seed germination in Ocimum americanum

Seeds of Ocimum americanum L. display an absolute light requirement for germination. The minimal length of the daily photoperiod required to induce a high germination decreased with increasing seed age, but the length of the photoperiod under potential control of terminal far-red light inhibition remained unchanged. There was a gradual escape from the far-red inhibition with increase in the length of the photoperiod. Seeds developed flash photosensitivity after the first 13 h photoperiod. Scarification treatment did not allow the seeds to bypass the light requirement, but it enhanced the germination considerably. Under conditions of natural day length in the field, weakening of the testa by sand may abolish the need for a second exposure to light for most of the seed population, thus rendering them non-photoperiodic.     

The effect of kinetin in relation to photocontrol of anthocyani biosynthesis in Brassica oleracea

Kinetin stimulates the synthesis of anthocyanin in dark-grown seedlings of red-cabbage. When applied for only 15 min its effect resembles that of 5 min R light and can be nullified by a subsequent exposure to 5 min FR. However, kinetin fails to stimulate PAL activity in the dark-grown seedlings. It is suggested that the effect of kinetin, like that of R light, may be to increase membrane permeability, allowing a pool of endogenous substrate to reach the site of anthocyanin biosynthesis.     

Photocontrol of spore germination in the fern Thelypteris kunthii

The light requirement for germination in spores of the fern Thelypteris kunthii (Desv.) Morton was fully satisfied by a long period of continuous red light or partially by intermittent, short periods of red light. Red light-potentiated spore germination was inhibited by brief far-red light irradiation, indicating phytochrome involvement. Repeated exposure of spores to prolonged red and short far-red irradiations, or exposure of red-potentiated spores to far-red light after an extended period in darkness, led to their escape from inhibition of germination by far-red light. Prolonged irradiation of spores with blue light before or after red light treatment partially antagonized the effect of red light.     

Photocontrol of chlorogenic acid biosynthesis in potato tuber discs

The appearance of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity and the accumulation of chlorogenic acid in potato tuber discs are stimulated by illumination with white light, whereas the appearance of cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase activity is unaffected by illumination. The photosensitive step in chlorogenic acid biosynthesis may be by-passed by treatment of discs with exogenous supplies of cinnamic acid, whereas treatment of discs with phenylalanine does not isolate the photosensitive step. Therefore, the site of photocontrol of chlorogenic acid biosynthesis in potato tuber discs is the reaction catalysed by phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. Cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase activity in vitro is unaffected by p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid or chlorogenic acid. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity in vitro is sensitive to inhibition by cinnamic acid. The in vitro properties of the two enzymes are also consistent with the hypothesis that phenylalanine ammonia-lyase rather than cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase is important in the regulation of chlorogenic acid biosynthesis in potato tuber discs.     

蛋白质环化的研究进展

天然蛋白质在生物体内主要以线性形式存在,由于多数蛋白质(酶)热稳定性较差,制约了其在工业催化、食品制造、医药领域的高效应用。自然界中发现的天然环肽类物质具有首尾相连的环化结构,使蛋白质具有较高的稳定性,为改造酶的结构、提高其热稳定性及拓宽其应用范围提供了新思路。本文根据国内外在蛋白质环化领域的新动态并结合本实验室的研究,系统介绍了内含肽介导的蛋白质反式剪接、表达蛋白连接、转肽酶催化的转肽作用等几种传统蛋白质环化方法,着重介绍了基于新型超强分子粘合剂Spy Tag/Spy Catcher介导的蛋白质环化的研究。     

Effect of red and far-red irradiation on ABA and IAA content in Pinus sylvestris L. seed during the escape time period from photocontrol

The time-course of ABA and IAA dynamics in the photosensitive Scots pine (Pinus silvestris L.) seed was followed during the escape time period from photocontrol, with recordings of the respective hormone immediately before and after a 15-min red irradiation (R) stimulus and after subsequent dark incubation for periods of 10 min, 30 min, 4 h, 8 h and 24 h. The control treatment was exposure to R as above immediately followed by exposure to 5-min far-red irradiation (FR), and its effect was recorded in parallel. The hormones were identified on a gas chromatograph with a mass selective detector, and quantified on a high performance liquid chromatograph with UV detector and spectrofluorophotometer, respectively. Only ABA responded differently to the two irradiation treatments. The difference in ABA content between paired treatments with R and R + FR was significant after 6 to 8 with an enhanced decrease in ABA content in seeds that received a dormancy-breaking R treatment. The IAA content in the seeds decreased during the experimental period regardless of the type of irradiation treatment.     

Occurrence,location and development of anthocyanoplasts

Intensely pigmented organelles (anthocyanoplasts) have been found in anthocyanin-producing cells of more than 70 species representing at least 33 families of angiosperms. When fully developed these structures are typically spherical and normally only one is present in each pigmenented cell. The development of the anthocyanoplast has been studied in both light and dark-grown red cabbage seedlings and the location of the mature organelle has been shown, by the use of isolated protoplasts and vacuoles, to be within the main cell vacuole. Evidence is presented which suggests that the anthocyanoplast is membrane-bounded and that it is the site of anthocyanin biosynthesis.     

Isocitrate lyase in germinating spores of the fern Anemia phyllitidis

Isocitrate lyase was partially purified from germinating spores of the fern Anemia phyllitidis. The enzyme requires Mg²⁺ and thiol compounds for maximal activity and has a pH optimum between 6.5 and 7.5. The K_m of the enzyme for threo-Δ_s-isocitrate is 0.5 mM. Succinate inhibits the enzyme non-competitively (K_i. 1.8 mM). The increase of isocitrate lyase activity is closely correlated with the induction of the germination process. The fall of enzyme activity during germination is associated with the decline in triglyceride reserves.