Caffeic acid-containing medium for identification of Cryptococcus neoformans

A new growth medium containing caffeic acid and ferric citrate is described. The pigment produced on this medium is specific for the identification of Cryptococcus neoformans and differentiates it from other cryptococci. The medium is more easily compounded and requires less time for pigment formation than the conventional Guizotia extract media. The medium is stable in the dry form as well as in the prepared form.

Six-hour pigmentation test for the identification of Cryptococcus neoformans

Cryptococcus neoformans colonies can be identified within 6 h using paper disks containing caffeic acid and ferric citrate. Indentification is based on the development of a dark brown pigment. Saprophytic Cryptococcus species and common clinically isolated yeasts do not develop the brown color. The concentration of the reagents and the method of storage of the impregnated paper disks are critical for the rapid and specific development of the pigment.

Hydroxylation of p-Coumaric acid by illuminated chloroplasts. The role of superoxide

1. Chloroplasts isolated from leaves of spinach-beet (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. vulgaris) do not catalyse the hydroxylation of p-coumaric acid in the dark unless a reductant (such as ascorbate, NADH or NADPH) is added. Superoxide dismutase has no effect on this reaction. 2. Illuminated chloroplasts catalyse the hydroxylation in the absence of added reductant. This reaction is completely inhibited by superoxide dismutase, but catalase has little effect. 3. Both hydroxylation in the light and hydroxylation in the dark in the presence of reductants are inhibited by diethyldithiocarbamate, EDTA, cyanide and 2-mercaptoethanol. 4. It is proposed that O-2- generated by illuminated chloroplasts is involved in the provision of a reductant to the enzyme phenolase.

[Cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase and 0-methyltransferase activities in leaves of hypersensitive tobacco plants infected by tobacco mosaic virus]

Tobacco leaves of Nicotiana tabacum L., variety Samsun NN, show a low cinnamic acid-4-hydroxylase activity and a rather high O-methyltransferase activity. Caffeic acid, the substrate of the latter enzyme, is methylated specifically in the meta position. In TMV-infected leaves a strong increase in the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and of these two enzymes occurs at the time of appearance and development of the necrotic reaction.