UV-B exposure enhances senescence of wheat leaves: Modulation by photosynthetically active radiation.

The alterations in structure and function of photosystem II (PS II) during the senescence of primary leaves of wheat seedlings have been compared with the changes induced by ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation in the presence or absence of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). The results indicated that the senescence-induced loss in pigment content, thylakoid membrane integrity and carotenoid-to-chlorophyll (Car-to-Chl) energy transfer efficiency was intensified by exposure to UV-B radiation. Different parameters for the measurement of PS II activity, such as Chl a fluorescence, O2-evolution and thermoluminescence intensity, were altered during senescence and these alterations were furthered by UV-B irradiation. The damage of photosynthetic apparatus by UV-B exposure in the presence of PAR was less than the damage in absence of PAR. The activation of molecular defense mechanisms could be a factor in the alleviation of UV-B damage in the presence of PAR.

Adsorption Behavior of N(2), Water, C(6) Hydrocarbons, and Bulkier Benzene Derivative (TMB) on Na-X Zeolite and Its K(+)-, Rb(+)-, and Cs(+)-Exchanged Analogues.

The hydrothermal crystallization of X-type zeolite with a Si/Al ratio of 1.15 was achieved from the Na(2)O-Al(2)O(3)-SiO(2)-H(2)O system at 368 K under static conditions. The post-synthesis modification was carried out by a conventional ion-exchange technique to obtain K(+)-, Rb(+)-, and Cs(+)-exchanged samples with different degrees of exchange. All the samples were characterized using chemical analysis, IR, SEM, powder XRD, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, and equilibrium sorption uptakes of different probe molecules. The relative intensities of the XRD peaks of cation-exchanged zeolite were found to be affected to different extents, depending on the nature and the concentration of nonframework cationic size, without any shift in the positions of reflection. The sorptive properties of the K-, Rb-, and Cs-exchanged samples were studied using nitrogen, water, and different C(6) hydrocarbons including bulkier benzene derivative 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (TMB) as probe molecules. The trend observed in chemical potential estimated as a function of nitrogen coverage indicates different sorption selectivity because of differences in the cationic size and population. Sorption uptake kinetics for probe molecules such as water, n-hexane, cyclohexane, benzene, and TMB were also studied. The samples with higher degrees of exchange and/or cationic size have shown a decrease in hydrophilic character due to the formation of irregular networks of water molecules connected with preadsorbed water molecules, framework oxygen ions, and nonframework cations. Among C(6) hydrocarbons including TMB, the benzene molecule is found to be the most promising probe for the estimation of openness of structure and surface heterogeneity as well. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Prediction of structure and organisation of chlorophyll a/b binding polypeptides in PS I and II.

Secondary structures, functionally important residues, antigenic sites, membrane spanning segments and hydropathicity of light harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding polypeptides (LHC) are predicted by theoretical methods from the amino acid sequence of the polypeptides. The reported structural features of the Pea LHC (Lhcb 1 gene product) from electron crystallographic studies have been compared by alignment with other types of chlorophyll a/b binding polypeptides for structural prediction. Fifteen conserved residues D85, D89, E113, H116, E/Q133, E/Q181, E189, D/N233, E252, N/H255, Q/E269, E/D/Q280, N281, H285, D288 (number indicates position in the aligned sequence), are identified which are potential ligands to Mg2+ of chlorophylls. Three amino acid residues D89, E/Q131 and D/N 233 are proposed as ligands to chlorophylls b2, a7 and b2 respectively, for which ligands are not identified in electron crystallographic study.

Response of senescing wheat leaves to ultraviolet A light: changes in energy transfer efficiency and PS II photochemistry.

Response of senescing leaves of wheat seedlings to ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation (365 nm) has been examined. The results indicate that senescence-induced disorganization of thylakoid membrane, decline in carotenoid-to-chlorophyll energy transfer, and enhancement of lipid peroxidation are furthered by radiation. The senescence-induced decline in photochemical activity of photosystem II further declines on irradiation. UVA does not specifically alter any site other than those damaged by senescence.

Dihydroorotic acid dehydrogenase activity in actinomycin-D-treated and normal chick embryos.

The effect of actinomycin D on chick embryos cultivated in vitro by New's culturing method was studied. Exposure of chick embryos to actinomycin D (0.05 micrograms/ml) at the primitive streak stage (stage 4; Hamburger and Hamilton) for 6 h showed interference in orotic acid formation. The assay of the enzyme dihydroorotic acid dehydrogenase was carried out in both treated and control embryos. No enzymic activity was observed in actinomycin-D-treated embryos in contrast to the considerable activity in the controls. These observations suggest an interference by actinomycin D in the biogenesis of the enzyme dihydroorotic acid dehydrogenase.

Fractionation of histones on a metal ion equilibrated cation exchanger. I. Chromatographic profiles on an Amberlite IR-120 (A1 3+) column.

Amberlite IR-120, a polystyrene sulphonate type of cation exchanger, equilibrated with A1 3+ ions, has been employed for the fractionation of whole histone. This adsorbent permits the quantitative and reproducible recovery of whole histone in six fractions.

Studies on proteinases from Calotropis gigantea latex. I. Purification and some properties of two proteinases containing carbohydrate.

Two proteinase containing carbohydrate, called calotropain-FI and calotropain-FII, were purified from Calotropis gigantea latex by CM-Sephadex C-50 chromatography. Both calotropain-FI and FII were found to be homogeneous by rechromatography on CM-Sephadex C-50, gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel and by N-terminal amino acid analysis. Some properties of these enzymes are reported.

Studies on proteinases from Calotropis gigantea latex. II. Physico-chemichal properties of calotropain-FI and FII.

The molecular weights of purified calotropain-FI and FII were determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by filtration of Sephadex G-100. Activation of calotropain-FI and FII by different sulfhydryl activators was studied. The results obtained from inhibition studies by various enzyme-modifying reagents suggest the possible role of cysteine and histidine residues in the active site of both the enzymes. The free and total sulfhydryl contents of both the enzymes were determined by the use of 5-5'-dithio-bis-2-nitrobenzoic acid. Total amino acid compositions of both the enzymes were also determined. A comparative study of the esterase, amidase, milk-clotting and caseinolytic activities of calotropain-FI and FII are also presented.

A new method for the preparation of beta-amylase from sweet potato.

A simple method for the preparation of sweet potato beta-amylase by thymol amylose adsorption is described. The method is far more efficient and gives higher recovery of the enzyme. The crystalline enzyme thus obtained is found to be homogeneous by gel chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Separation of chymopapain from papaya latex (Carica papaya) on amberlite IR-120 (Hg2+).

The quantitative separation of chymopapain from papaya latex has been carried out by chromatography on Amberlite IR-120 (Hg2+). The product obtained was further studied to determine its homogeneity.