Ameliorating effects of biochar on photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidant defence of Phragmites karka under drought stress

Biochar (BC) has been reported to improve growth and drought resistance in many plants. However, adequate information on the drought resistance mechanism mediated of BC on Phragmites karka, a bioenergy plant, is not available. The impact of BC addition (0%, 0.75% and 2.5%) on plant growth and physiology of P. karka under drought was assessed. Soil water-holding capacity and soil water content were significantly improved with 0.75% BC as compared with the un-amended controls. This resulted in improved plant performance under drought conditions. An increase of parameters, such as plant fresh and dry biomass, root to shoot ratio and root mass fraction, was paralleled by an increase of chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis rate and water use efficiency of plants. Plants treated with 0.75% BC experienced less oxidative stress due to higher photosystem II efficiency and stimulated activity of antioxidant defense systems. Our results demonstrate that soil amendment with 0.75% BC allow the potential energy plant P. karka to grow in an arid habitat.

[Red discolouration of the urine in a dairy cattle herd as a stock problem]

After feeding a new batch of rapeseed meal (2.5 kg/cow/day) in the total mixed ration (TMR) of dairy cows on a dairy farm in Bavaria, numerous puddles of reddish fluid were found on the floor of the cubicle housing system. These were caused by a red discolouration of the urine. Directly after urination, the urine was macroscopically yellow and bright; the discolouration developed throughout the consecutive hours. Feed intake was markedly decreased and milk yield was lowered by 10%. No disturbances of the general health and blood key parameters were evident. After feeding two other cows with rapeseed meal of this batch (three times daily 1 kg each), the phenomenon occurred in one animal on the third and fourth days. Further analyses revealed evidence that the discolouration was due to substances which were excreted via the kidney and led to reddish urine after delayed reaction with the oxygen in the air.

Rotfärbung des Harns als Bestandsproblem in einer Milchviehherde

In einem Milchviehbetrieb in Bayern wurden nach Einsatz einer neuen Charge von Rapsextraktionsschrot (2,5 kg/Tier/Tag; RES) in einer Gesamtmischration (TMR) zahlreiche rötliche Flüssigkeitslachen im Laufstall gefunden, die auf eine Rotfärbung des Harns zurückzuführen waren. Unmittelbar nach dem Harnabsatz war der Harn makroskopisch unauffällig; die rötliche Verfärbung entwickelte sich erst nach einigen Stunden. Die Kühe zeigten nach Einsatz des neuen RES eine deutlich reduzierte Futteraufnahme und eine um etwa 10% verminderte Milchleistung. Störungen des Allgemeinbefindens und Abweichungen labordiagnostischer Leitparameter traten nicht auf. Bei Fütterung des RES an zwei Versuchstiere wurde das Phänomen am dritten und vierten Tag bei einem Tier reproduziert. Offenbar befanden sich Substanzen in der RES-Charge, die renal ausgeschieden und mit einer Latenz von mehreren Stunden nach Zutritt von Luftsauerstoff zu einer rötlichen Verbindung oxidiert wurden.

Seasonal variation in selenium status of different classes of grazing goats in a semi-arid region of Pakistan

The selenium status of three different classes of goats ((i) female lactating, (ii) female non-lactating, and (iii) male goats) grazing semi-arid pasture in the southern part of the Punjab province, Pakistan and that of selenium concentration of soil and dietary sources, ingested by those animals were investigated during two different seasons of the year (winter and summer). Soil, forage, feed, water from the pasture and blood plasma, urine, faeces, and (if applicable) milk from these goats were collected fortnightly. The samples were analyzed for selenium concentrations. Soil selenium showed both seasonal and sampling periods effect on its concentration while forage selenium was affected only by the seasonal changes. No significant effect of seasons or fortnights on feed selenium level was observed. In fecal samples selenium concentration in lactating and non-lactating and plasma of male goats were affected by sampling periods. While fecal selenium in male goats showed significant effect on its concentration both seasonal and within fortnights. Severe deficient level of soil selenium during both seasons and marginal deficient level of forage selenium during summer were observed. Selenium concentrations in feed slightly exceeded the requirements of ruminants in feed during both seasons of the year. Plasma selenium concentrations in all goat classes were higher in winter than that in summer showing no seasonal or fortnight variation and its concentration was slightly lower in lactating goats as compared to other classes. On the bases of these results, it is concluded that overall selenium status of the goats based on plasma selenium concentration may be considered adequate mainly due to the mineral supplement provided all over the year, since soil and forage selenium concentrations were low to deficient.

TNF-alpha dependent NF-kappa B activation in cultured canine keratinocytes is partly mediated by reactive oxygen species

The cytokine TNF-alpha plays a major role in inflammatory and immunological reactions of canine skin. With respect to a possible therapeutic modulation, we investigated the role of the transcription factor NF-kappa B and the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the TNF-alpha signalling pathway in cultured canine keratinocytes. TNF-alpha treatment resulted in activation of NF-kappa B which was partially inhibited by the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid. Using the cytochrome c reduction test no superoxide production could be detected in the supernatant of TNF-alpha stimulated keratinocytes. However, TNF-alpha dependent intracellular hydrogen peroxide production was demonstrated spectroscopically. With electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) significant hydrogen peroxide formation was detected in the mitochondria, the endoplasmic reticulum, the cytosol and partially on the plasma membrane of the keratinocytes. Hence, ROS possibly play an important role in the TNF-alpha signalling pathway leading to NF-kappa B activation in canine skin. An adjunctive therapy with natural potent antioxidants modulating NF-kappa B overactivation in canine cutaneous inflammation may be of therapeutic benefit.

Characterization of a phosphate binding domain on the alpha-subunit of chloroplast ATP synthase using the photoaffinity phosphate analogue 4-azido-2-nitrophenyl phosphate

The photoaffinity phosphate analogue 4-azido-2 nitrophenyl phosphate (ANPP) was shown previously (Pougeois, R., Lauquin, G. J.-M., and Vignais, P. V. (1983) Biochemistry 22, 1241-1245) to bind covalently and specifically to a single catalytic site on one of the three beta-subunits of the isolated chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF(1)). Modification by ANPP strongly inhibited ATP hydrolysis activity. In this study, we examined labeling of membrane-bound CF(1) by ANPP by exposing thylakoid membranes to increasing concentrations of the reagent. ANPP exhibited saturable binding to two sites on CF(1), one on the beta-subunit and one on the alpha-subunit. Labeling by ANPP resulted in the complete inhibition of both ATP synthesis and ATP hydrolysis by the membrane-bound enzyme. Labeling of both sites by ANPP was reduced by more than 80% in the presence of P(i) (> or = 10 mM) and ATP (> or = 0.5 mM). ADP was less effective in competing with ANPP for binding, giving a maximum of approximately 35% inhibition at concentrations > or = 2 mM. ANPP-labeled tryptic peptides of the alpha-subunit were isolated and sequenced. The majority of the probe was contained in three peptides corresponding to residues Gln(173) to Arg(216), Gly(217) to Arg(253), and His(256) to Arg(272) of the alpha-subunit. In the mitochondrial F(1) (Abrahams, J. P., Leslie, A. G. W., Lutter, R., and Walker, J. E. (1994) Nature 370, 621-628), all three analogous peptides are located within the nucleotide binding pocket and within close proximity to the gamma-phosphate binding site. The data indicate, however, that the azidophenyl group of bound ANPP is oriented at approximately 180 degrees in the opposite direction to the adenine binding site with reference to the phosphate binding site on the alpha-subunit. The study has confirmed that ANPP is a bona fide phosphate analogue and suggests that it specifically targets the gamma-phosphate binding site within the nucleotide binding pockets on the alpha- and beta-subunits of CF(1). The study also indicates that in the resting state of the chloroplast F(1)-F(0) complex both the alpha- and beta-subunits are structurally asymmetric.

Important subunit interactions in the chloroplast ATP synthase

General structural features of the chloroplast ATP synthase are summarized highlighting differences between the chloroplast enzyme and other ATP synthases. Much of the review is focused on the important interactions between the epsilon and gamma subunits of the chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF(1)) which are involved in regulating the ATP hydrolytic activity of the enzyme and also in transferring energy from the membrane segment, chloroplast coupling factor 0 (CF(0)), to the catalytic sites on CF(1). A simple model is presented which summarizes properties of three known states of activation of the membrane-bound form of CF(1). The three states can be explained in terms of three different bound conformational states of the epsilon subunit. One of the three states, the fully active state, is only found in the membrane-bound form of CF(1). The lack of this state in the isolated form of CF(1), together with the confirmed presence of permanent asymmetry among the alpha, beta and gamma subunits of isolated CF(1), indicate that ATP hydrolysis by isolated CF(1) may involve only two of the three potential catalytic sites on the enzyme. Thus isolated CF(1) may be different from other F(1) enzymes in that it only operates on 'two cylinders' whereby the gamma subunit does not rotate through a full 360 degrees during the catalytic cycle. On the membrane in the presence of a light-induced proton gradient the enzyme assumes a conformation which may involve all three catalytic sites and a full 360 degrees rotation of gamma during catalysis.

Nucleotide binding of an ADP analog to cooperating sites of chloroplast F1-ATPase (CF1)

Pre-steady state nucleotide binding to the chloroplast F1-ATPase (CF1) was measured in a stopped-flow apparatus by monitoring the change of fluorescence intensity of TNP-ADP upon binding. The analysis of the time courses led to the proposal of a mechanism of nucleotide binding with the following characteristics. (a) It involves three sites binding nucleotides in a concerted manner. (b) Each binding site is able to undergo a conformational change from a loose binding state into a state refraining from any direct release of the bound nucleotide into the medium. Only the reverse reaction via the loose binding state enables release out of the tight binding state. (c) Due to very strong negative cooperativity, a maximum of two of the three sites can be found in the state of tight binding. (d) Cooperativity between the three sites leads to a slower nucleotide binding of the second nucleotide compared to the first nucleotide. Furthermore, the conformational change from the loose binding state to the tight binding state is slowed down if one of the other sites already is in the tight binding state. Three-sites mechanisms in which rotation leads to an exchange of the properties of the binding sites failed to simulate the observed time courses of nucleotide binding. However, as the experimental set up was designed to prevent catalysis taking place, our results entirely agree with the current finding that rotation requires catalytic turnover of the enzyme.

Involvement of reactive oxygen species in TNF-alpha mediated activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB in canine dermal fibroblasts

The cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a major role in inflammatory and immune-pathological reactions of the skin. With respect to a possible therapeutic modulation of TNF-alpha mediated activation of Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in canine cutaneous inflammation, we investigated the role of NF-kappaB and the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the TNF-alpha signalling pathway in dermal fibroblasts of the dog. TNF-alpha treatment resulted in the activation of NF-kappaB as assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Additionally, NF-kappaB translocation was induced with butylhydroperoxide and antimycin A, but not with hydrogen peroxide. TNF-alpha stimulated NF-kappaB activation was partially inhibited by preincubation with the antioxidants alpha-lipoic acid and butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA). No superoxide generation following TNF-alpha stimulation could be detected in the supernatant of canine fibroblasts with the superoxide dismutase-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction test. In contrast, production of TNF-alpha dependent intracellular hydrogen peroxide, the dismutation product of the superoxide radical, was demonstrated spectroscopically by formation of electron dense cerium-hydroperoxide precipitates. With electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) significant cerium deposits were detected in the mitochondria, the endoplasmatic reticulum, the cytosol and to a lesser extent on the plasma membrane of canine fibroblasts indicating multiple hydrogen peroxide production sites. Peroxides, therefore, possibly play an important part in the redox-sensitive pathway of TNF-alpha dependent NF-kappaB activation in canine skin. An adjunctive therapy with appropriate antioxidants modulating NF-kappaB overactivation in cutaneous inflammation in the dog is promising.

Suppression of mycelia formation by NO produced endogenously in Candida tropicalis

In the experiments reported here we found that enzymatic NO synthesis in the yeast Candida tropicalis resembles the one in animal tissues with respect to the substrate arginine as well as its sensitivity to potential competitive inhibitors. Both, NO produced by the yeast's nitric oxide synthase and NO derived from an artificial donor, suppressed the formation of pseudomycelia. These results suggest to make use of NO as a tool in elucidating the mechanism controlling mycelia generation in this yeast. The apparent K(m) towards oxygen of the yeast's nitric oxide synthase (about 50 microM) was found to be high as compared to the apparent K(m) value of the yeast's respiratory chain (about 170 nM). From this observation it may be concluded that under conditions of little oxygen supply the nitric oxide synthase will unsuccessfully compete for oxygen with respiration. Therefore, the formation of mycelia spontaneously occurring in yeast cultures grown in sealed chambers can be attributed to a reduced internal NO level rather than limited respiratory activity.

Kinetic properties of a single nucleotide binding site on chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF1)

The kinetics of nucleotide binding to spinach chloroplast coupling factor CF1 in a fully inhibited state were investigated by stopped-flow experiments using the fluorescent trinitrophenyl analogue (NO2)3Ph-ADP. The CF1 was in a state in which two of the three binding sites on the beta subunits were irreversibly blocked with ADP, Mg2+ and fluoroaluminate, while the three binding sites on the alpha subunits were occupied by nucleotides [Garin, J., Vincon, M., Gagnon, J. & Vignais, P. V. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 3772-3777)]. Thus, it was possible to characterise a single nucleotide-binding site without superimposed nucleotide exchange or binding to an additional site. (NO2)3Ph-ADP binding to the remaining site on the third beta subunit was characterised by a high dissociation rate of 15 s(-1), leading to a very low affinity (dissociation constant higher than 150 microM). Subsequent to isolation, CF1 preparations contained two endogenously bound nucleotides. Pre-loading with ATP yielded CF1 with five tightly bound nucleotides and one free nucleotide-binding site on a beta subunit. Pre-loading with ADP, however, resulted in a CF1 preparation containing four tightly bound nucleotides and two free nucleotide binding sites. One of the two free binding sites was located on a beta subunit, while the other was probably located on an alpha subunit.

Inhibition by tentoxin of cooperativity among nucleotide binding sites on chloroplast coupling factor 1

Tentoxin, a cyclic tetrapeptide produced by the fungus Alternaria tenuis, is a potent inhibitor of the chloroplast coupling factor 1 from certain sensitive species of plants. We have shown that the beta subunit is at least partly responsible for conferring sensitivity to the toxin. This was confirmed by Avni et al. (Avni, A., Anderson, J.D., Holland, N., Rochaix, J-D., Gromet-Elhanan, Z., and Edelman, M. (1992) Science 257, 1245-1247) who demonstrated the importance for tentoxin sensitivity of an acidic amino acid residue at position 83 in the beta subunit sequence. In this paper we show that the Ca(2+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase activities of CF1 lacking the delta and epsilon subunits, CF1(-delta epsilon), were fully sensitive to tentoxin, even after the gamma subunit is cleaved by trypsin into several smaller fragments. We also show that the isolated reconstitutively active beta subunit of CF1 does not effectively compete with CF1(-delta epsilon) for tentoxin binding. The results suggest that tight tentoxin binding requires the presence of at least the alpha and beta subunits but is independent of the delta and epsilon subunits. Tentoxin inhibited the release of a tightly bound molecule of ADP from CF1, which was induced by the binding of the ATP analogue adenylyl-beta,gamma-imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP). AMP-PNP was shown previously (Shapiro, A.B., and McCarty, R.E. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 4340-4347) to cause two adenine nucleotide binding sites on CF1, sites 1 and 3, to switch their properties, possibly as part of an alternating site catalytic cooperativity mechanism (Boyer, P.D. (1989) FASEB J. 3, 2164-2178). It is proposed that the effect of tentoxin on catalytic cooperativity in CF1 results from tentoxin binding at an interface between alpha and beta subunits, preventing transfer of information between different nucleotide binding sites on the enzyme.

Uptake of Phenylalanine into Isolated Barley Vacuoles Is Driven by Both Tonoplast Adenosine Triphosphatase and Pyrophosphatase : Evidence for a Hydrophobic l-Amino Acid Carrier System

The uptake of phenylalanine was studied with vacuole isolated from barley mesophyll protoplasts. The phenylalanine transport exhibited saturation kinetics with apparent K(m)-values of 1.2 to 1.4 millimolar for ATP- or PPi-driven uptake; V(max app) was 120 to 140 nanomoles Phe per milligram of chlorophyll per hour (1 milligram of chlorophyll corresponds to 5 x 10(6) vacuoles). Half-maximal transport rates driven with ATP or PPi were reached at 0.5 millimolar ATP or 0.25 millimolar PPi. ATP-driven transport showed a distinct pH optimum at 7.3 while PPi-driven transport reached maximum rates at pH 7.8. Direct measurement of the H(+)-translocating enzyme activities revealed K(m app) values of 0.45 millimolar for ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) and 23 micromolar for pyrophosphatase (PPase) (EC 3.6.1.1). In contrast to the coupled amino acid transport, ATPase and PPase activities had relative broad pH optima between 7 to 8 for ATPase and 8 to 9 for PPase. ATPase as well as ATP-driven transport was markedly inhibited by nitrate while PPase and PPi-coupled transport was not affected. The addition of ionophores inhibited phenylalanine transport suggesting the destruction of the electrochemical proton potential difference Delta muH(+) while the rate of ATP and PPi hydrolysis was stimulated. The uptake of other lipophilic amino acids like l-Trp, l-Leu, and l-Tyr was also stimulated by ATP. They seem to compete for the same carrier system. l-Ala, l-Val, d-Phe, and d-Leu did not influence phenylalanine transport suggesting a stereospecificity of the carrier system for l-amino acids having a relatively high hydrophobicity.

A direct interaction between Photosystem I and the chloroplast coupling factor

A regulation of the ATP-synthesizing complex by electron-transport rate has been found. The site of regulation could be localized within the Photosystem I region. The regulatory effect probably is produced by direct interactions between neighbouring charged protein complexes. The primary result is an increase in the percentage of those binding sites adopting a low-affinity state. This seems to lead to an enhanced leakage of protons out of the thylakoids, especially under those experimental conditions employing low nucleotide concentrations. Changes in the P/2e ratio can be observed, especially if the total ADP + ATP concentration used in the experiment is below 200 microM.

A regulatory effect of the electron transport chain on the ATP synthase

By the application of different experimental conditions, a variation of the apparent affinity of the chloroplast coupling factors 0-1 (CF0CF1) complex toward nucleotides was observed. This effect was paralleled by varying P/e2 ratios even in presence of millimolar ADP concentrations. This observations indicates that the electron transport system has a regulatory effect on the ATP synthase system. Different effects of mobile ionophores (uncouplers) and channel forming ionophores (gramicidin), respectively, indicated that either membrane-oriented charges--probably protons--or an electric potential difference was involved in the regulatory mechanism. When measuring photosystem II-dependent effects only, no regulation of the CF0CF1 complex could be detected in physiologically intact thylakoid preparations. This means that the regulatory active site must be localized between the 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone, (DBMIB) inhibition site and the methylviologen acception site.

Acid/base-induced exchange of adenine nucleotides on chloroplast coupling factor (CF1)

Exchange of CF1-bound adenine nucleotides was shown to take place when isolated broken chloroplasts were subjected to an acid/base treatment. This process was measured in forward (in­ corporation of 14C-labeled nucleotides) as well as back exchange reactions (release of bound labeled nucleotides). In the presence of unlabeled ADP and Pi a high precentage of labeled ATP was found to be released into the medium.

Exchange is highly specific for exogenous ADP and ATP. Acid/base-induced adenylate exchange and acid/base-induced phosphorylation were measured in dependence of several external factors. The substrate constant for ADP in exchange was 1.6 μм, whereas an apparent Km of 5 μм was determined for ADP in the phosphorylation process.

Acid/base-induced exchange of adenine nucleotides and acid/base-induced phosphorylation depend in a similar way on the pH values of the acid and base stages.

Acid/base-induced ATP formation was sensitive to prolonged treatment in the acid stage whereas exchange was not. Mg2+ was strictly required in phosphorylation but less important in exchange. The phosphorylation ability decreased within seconds after acid/base transition; however, the ability of [14C]ADP incorporation persisted for minutes. The formation of ATP depended on an acid/base transition, whereas some adenylate exchange was also induced by an acid treatment alone.

The results suggest that appropriate pH values at the inner and outer side of the thylakoid membrane rather than energy from a pH gradient is sufficient for adenylate exchange to take place on membrane-bound CF1.