Regulation of a plant plasma membrane sucrose transporter by phosphorylation.

The protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid (OA) either provided directly to sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) leaf discs or infiltrated in the leaf blade rapidly inhibited sucrose uptake. Methyl okadaic acid, a biologically inactive analogue of OA, had only a marginal effect on uptake. OA inhibited proton-motive force-driven uptake of sucrose into plasma membrane vesicles, without affecting their proton permeability. OA did not significantly affect the amount of sucrose transporters present in the vesicles, as estimated by ELISA with specific antibodies. It is concluded that OA directly inhibits the activity of a H+-sucrose cotransporter of the plant plasma membrane, likely by maintaining it in a phosphorylated form.

Effects of Compounds Affecting Calcium Channels on Phytochrome- and Blue Pigment-Mediated Pulvinar Movements of Cassia fasciculata.

Verapamil and nifedipine, known as calcium channel blockers, inhibited the phytochrome-mediated movements induced on Cassia fasciculata leaflets by a light-off signal, whereas they had no effect on the ;blue' pigment-mediated movements induced by a light-on signal. LaCl(3) inhibited both types of reactions, but the inhibition of light-induced opening needed a 10 times higher concentration than that of dark-induced closure. Bay K 8644, an activator of calcium channels, increased the rate of dark-induced closure, whereas it had no effect on the light-induced opening. These data suggest that calcium ions are not mobilized in the same way in the two types of movements: possibly from external stores in the phytochrome-mediated reaction and from internal stores in the ;blue' pigment-mediated reaction.

Effects of Salicylic and Acetylsalicylic Acids on the Scotonastic and Photonastic Leaflet Movements of Cassia fasciculata.

Salicylic and acetylsalicylic acids applied on excised leaves of Cassia fasciculata modify the dark-induced (scotonastic) and light-induced (photonastic) leaflet movements. They inhibit the scotonastic movements in a dose-dependent manner from 1 x 10(-4) to 1 x 10(-3) molar and they promote the photonastic movements at an optimum concentration of 5 x 10(-4) molar. These results suggest that these phenolic compounds do not act specifically on the K(+) uptake, which was shown to be inhibited by their action on other materials.

Effects of prostaglandins E, precursors and some inhibitors of prostaglandin biosynthesis on dark- and light-induced leaflet movements in Cassia fasciculata Michx.

Prostaglandin E1 and prostaglandin E2 speed up the dark-induced (scotonastic) and light-induced (photonastic) leaflet movements of Cassia fasciculata. The precursors of prostaglandin biosynthesis, homo γ-linolenic and arachidonic acids, and an intermediary product, prostaglandin-interm-5, act in the same manner on these movements. Inhibitors of prostaglandin biosynthesis, indomethacin and phenylbutazone, inhibited the scotonastic but promoted the photonastic movements in an unexpected way. Since the pulvinar movements are mediated by water and ion migrations, the observed modifications of these movements indicate that prostaglandins and their precursors may affect, as in animal cells, processes linked to a variation of membrane permeability.

[Glycemia and insulinemia of vitamin A deficient rats after administration of glucose]. / Glycémie et insulinémie du rat carencé en vitamine A aprés surcharge glucosée.

We have studied the variations of the blood glucose and insulin concentrations of control and vitamin A-deficient rats after administration of glucose by various ways. The avitaminosis decreases the initial glycaemia and insulinaemia in fasting rats. It seems that the insulin release from the pancreas of the deficient rats is normal after a moderate treatment: for example after a single injection of glucose 0,5 g/kg in the carotide, or during the digestion of a mixed meal (rats trained to eat their day's food in a short time), or during an intestinal perfusion in vivo of weak concentrated glucose solutions (0,5 to 2 g/l). But after meal feeding a glucose rich diet (65 p. cent) or during intestinal perfusions of solutions with a higher glucose content (up to 15 g/l) the hyper-insulinaemia is fleeting in the deficient rats and its appeared highest hyperglycaemia in some perfused animals. The endocrine regulations of the vitamin A-deficient rats are considered in the discussion.