Absence of Variable Fluorescence from Guard Cell Chloroplasts of Stenotaphrum secundatum

The lack of detectable variable fluorescence from guard cell chloroplasts in both the albino and green portions of variegated leaves of St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum var variegatum A.S. Hitchc.) is reported. Fluorescence was measured either with a highly sensitive, modified fluorescence microscope which was capable of recording fluorescence induction curves from single chloroplasts, or with a spectrofluorometer. Both fast and slow fluorescence transients from S. secundatum guard cells showed a rapid rise and then remained at a steady level. Neither variable fluorescence increase (induction) nor decrease (quenching), properties normally associated with photosystem II, was observed from these chloroplasts. These fluorescence kinetics did not change either with alterations of the specimen preparation procedure or with alterations of the excitation light intensities and wavelengths. These results indicate that guard cell chloroplasts in this variety of S. secundatum do not conduct normal photosystem II electron transport. Light regulation of stomatal conductance in intact leaves of this plant did occur, however, and was similar to light regulation observed in other species. The conductance of the green portion of the leaves was much greater in the light than in the dark, and was much greater than the conductance of the albino portion of the leaves. Stomata in the green portion of the leaves also showed greater opening in blue light than in red light. These results provide evidence that stomatal regulation in this variety of S. secundatum does not rely on photosystem II electron transport in guard cell chloroplasts.

Quantitation of intracellular free calcium in single adult cardiomyocytes by fura-2 fluorescence microscopy: calibration of fura-2 ratios

Isolated rat myocytes incubated with the acetoxy methyl ester of fura 2 contained partially hydrolyzed esters, necessitating in vivo calibration of the signals obtained by fluorescence microscopy for calculation of pCa. Ionophores did not produce reliable R'max and R'min values in respiring myocytes, and elevated free calcium caused individual cells to hypercontract and burst. These difficulties were overcome by superfusion with a glucose-free buffer containing an inhibitor and an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation. R'max and R'min values obtained by ionophore treatment of deenergized myocytes were normalized to an in vitro calibration curve. Resting pCa derived from the individual curves averaged 6.9 for calcium-tolerant rod-shaped myocytes.

Occupational exposure to benzene in China

Of a total of 528,729 workers exposed to benzene or benzene mixtures in China, 508,818 (96.23%) were examined. Altogether 2,676 cases of benzene poisoning were found, a prevalence of 0.15%. A higher prevalence of benzene poisoning was found in the cities of Hangjou, Hefei, Nanjing, Shenyang, and Xian. The geometric mean concentration of benzene in 50,255 workplaces was 18.1 mg/m3 but 64.6% of the workplaces had less than 40 mg/m3. There was a positive correlation between the prevalence of benzene poisoning and the concentration in shoemaking factories. The prevalence of benzene induced aplastic anaemia in shoemakers was about 5.8 times that occurring in the general population. The results of this investigation show the need for a practicable hygiene standard to prevent benzene poisoning.

Nucleotide sequence of 16-kilobase pairs of DNA 5' to the human epsilon-globin gene

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of a 16-kilobase pair (kb) region of DNA on the 5' side of the human embryonic globin gene (epsilon). This sequence, when combined with previously published sequences, gives an uninterrupted sequence of 21 kb extending from approximately 19.5 kb upstream of the epsilon-globin gene to 0.3 kb 3' to its poly(A)-addition site. Computer-assisted analysis of this DNA reveals no large regions of self-homology but it shows the presence of seven members of the Alu family of repeated DNA, two very short members of the Kpn family of repeated DNA, one unusual direct repeat of 39 base pairs, and two potential stem and loop structures. The overall frequencies of mono- and dinucleotides within the 21 kb approximate those found in the total human genome but the distribution of (G + C)-rich regions signal many sequences of interest. The occurrences of some of the polynucleotides and polydinucleotides also differ appreciably from randomness, and the region contains several large stretches of these simple sequences. We found no evidence of strand asymmetry in the region. Homology between the nucleotide sequences of the human epsilon- and G gamma-globin genes extends only 100 base pairs 5' to the genes. One region, about 10 kb upstream of the gene, shows an apparent clustering of unusual sequence features. We discuss our sequence data in relation to the studies by others of DNAase hypersensitive sites and 5' transcription endpoints in this part of the beta-globin gene cluster.

The "beta-like-globin" gene domain in human erythroid cells

We have mapped the distribution of the major and minor DNase I-hypersensitive sites in the human "beta-like-globin" gene domain. The minor DNase I-hypersensitive sites map close to the 5' end of each of the beta-like-globin genes. Their presence is specifically associated with the transcription of the immediate downstream beta-like-globin genes. The major DNase I-hypersensitive sites map in what appear to be the 5' and 3' boundary areas of the human beta-like-globin gene domain, a region estimated to span at least 90 kilobases of DNA. These major sites are present in various erythroid cells, which express predominantly either the embryonic, the fetal, or the adult beta-like-globin genes, and seem to be involved in defining the active beta-like-globin genes domain in cells of erythroid lineage. The four major DNase I-hypersensitive sites in the 5' boundary area, when correlated with sequencing data, are shown to be located in DNA regions containing enhancer core-like sequences and alternating purine and pyrimidine bases.

A correlation between proton pumping and the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle

In an attempt to establish a relationship between proton pumping and the photocycle intermediates of bacteriorhodopsin, we have studied the effects of pH and temperature on flash-induced proton pumping and the photointermediates O640 and M412. The relative quantum yield of flash-induced proton pumping is both pH and temperature dependent. It is high in the acid pH range and at low temperatures but decreases in the basic pH range and at high temperatures. The decay of M412 is biphasic. The amplitude of the slowly decaying component (Ms) was found to be pH dependent with a pK similar to that of the delta pH. The pH dependence of the fast-decaying component (Mf) is opposite to that of Ms and delta pH. Like that of Ms, the amplitude of O640 is high in the acid pH range, but unlike the amplitude of Ms, it declines very rapidly at pHs greater than 6.5; the amplitude of O640 becomes zero around pH 8. The temperature dependence of the amplitude of Ms was found to be similar to that of delta pH, being high at low temperatures and low in the high-temperature range. The temperature dependence of Mf and O640 is opposite to that of delta pH and Ms. Whereas, O640 and Ms seem to be likely candidates (from the pH dependence) for coupling between proton pumping and the photocycle, Ms is more likely because (i) the relative quantum yield of both Ms and delta pH seem not to go to zero at higher pHs and (ii) Ms and delta pH have similar temperature dependence.