RESUMO
Redox chemistry is central to the primary functions of chloroplasts and mitochondria, that is, to energy conversion in photosynthesis and respiration. However, these bioenergetic organelles always contain very small, specialized genetic systems, relics of their bacterial origin. At huge cost, organellar genomes contain, typically, a mere 0.1% of the genetic information in a eukaryotic cell. There is evidence that chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes encode proteins whose function and biogenesis are particularly tightly governed by electron transfer. We have identified nuclear genes for 'bacterial' histidine sensor kinases and aspartate response regulators that seem to be targeted to chloroplast and mitochondrial membranes. Sequence similarities to cyanobacterial redox signalling components indicate homology and suggest conserved sensory and signalling functions. Two-component redox signalling pathways might be ancient, conserved mechanisms that permit endogenous control over the biogenesis, in situ, of bioenergetic complexes of chloroplasts and mitochondria.
Assuntos
Cloroplastos/metabolismo , Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Organelas/metabolismo , Oxirredução , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Arabidopsis/enzimologia , Cloroplastos/genética , Cianobactérias/enzimologia , Transporte de Elétrons , Histidina Quinase , Membranas Intracelulares/metabolismo , Mitocôndrias/genética , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Organelas/genética , Proteínas Quinases/química , Proteínas Quinases/genética , Proteínas Quinases/metabolismo , Alinhamento de Sequência , Homologia de Sequência de Aminoácidos , Transdução de SinaisRESUMO
Major intrinsic proteins (MIPs) facilitate the passive transport of small polar molecules across membranes. MIPs constitute a very old family of proteins and different forms have been found in all kinds of living organisms, including bacteria, fungi, animals, and plants. In the genomic sequence of Arabidopsis, we have identified 35 different MIP-encoding genes. Based on sequence similarity, these 35 proteins are divided into four different subfamilies: plasma membrane intrinsic proteins, tonoplast intrinsic proteins, NOD26-like intrinsic proteins also called NOD26-like MIPs, and the recently discovered small basic intrinsic proteins. In Arabidopsis, there are 13 plasma membrane intrinsic proteins, 10 tonoplast intrinsic proteins, nine NOD26-like intrinsic proteins, and three small basic intrinsic proteins. The gene structure in general is conserved within each subfamily, although there is a tendency to lose introns. Based on phylogenetic comparisons of maize (Zea mays) and Arabidopsis MIPs (AtMIPs), it is argued that the general intron patterns in the subfamilies were formed before the split of monocotyledons and dicotyledons. Although the gene structure is unique for each subfamily, there is a common pattern in how transmembrane helices are encoded on the exons in three of the subfamilies. The nomenclature for plant MIPs varies widely between different species but also between subfamilies in the same species. Based on the phylogeny of all AtMIPs, a new and more consistent nomenclature is proposed. The complete set of AtMIPs, together with the new nomenclature, will facilitate the isolation, classification, and labeling of plant MIPs from other species.
Assuntos
Aquaporinas , Proteínas de Arabidopsis , Arabidopsis/genética , Canais Iônicos/genética , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Algoritmos , Transporte Biológico , Membrana Celular/genética , Membrana Celular/fisiologia , Éxons , Genes de Plantas , Íntrons , Canais Iônicos/classificação , Canais Iônicos/isolamento & purificação , Canais Iônicos/fisiologia , Proteínas de Membrana/fisiologia , Filogenia , Proteínas de Plantas/classificação , Proteínas de Plantas/isolamento & purificação , Proteínas de Plantas/fisiologia , Alinhamento de Sequência , Especificidade da Espécie , Frações Subcelulares/fisiologia , Terminologia como AssuntoRESUMO
Two members of the aquaporin family, PM28A and a new one, PM28C, were isolated and shown to be the major constituents of spinach leaf plasma membranes. These two isoforms were identified and characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry. Edman degradation yielded the amino acid sequence of two domains belonging to the new isoform. PM28B, a previously described isoform, was not found in our preparations. Scanning transmission electron microscopy mass analysis revealed both PM28 isoforms to be tetrameric. Two types of particles, a larger and a smaller one, were found by transmission electron microscopy of negatively stained solubilized proteins and by atomic force microscopy of PM28 two-dimensional crystals. The ratio of larger to smaller particles observed by transmission electron microscopy and single particle analysis correlated with the ratio of PM28A to PM28C determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry. The absence of PM28B and the ratio of PM28A to PM28C indicate that these plasma membrane intrinsic proteins are differentially expressed in spinach leaves. These findings suggest that differential expression of the various aquaporin isoforms may regulate the water flux across the plasma membrane, in addition to the known mechanism of regulation by phosphorylation.
Assuntos
Aquaporinas/química , Spinacia oleracea/química , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Membrana Celular/química , Microscopia de Força Atômica , Microscopia Eletrônica , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Folhas de Planta/química , Conformação Proteica , Homologia de Sequência de Aminoácidos , Espectrometria de Massas por Ionização e Dessorção a Laser Assistida por MatrizRESUMO
Four different combinations of 9644Ru and 9640Zr nuclei, both as projectile and target, were investigated at the same bombarding energy of 400A MeV using a 4pi detector. The degree of isospin mixing between projectile and target nucleons is mapped across a large portion of the phase space using two different isospin-tracer observables, the number of measured protons and the tritium to 3He yield ratio. The experimental results show that the global equilibrium is not reached even in the most central collisions. Quantitative measures of stopping and mixing are extracted from the data. They are found to exhibit a quite strong sensitivity to the in-medium ( n,n) cross section used in microscopic transport calculations.
RESUMO
An atrazine-tolerant mutant and an atrazine-sensitive cultivar of Brassica napus L. were grown under visible radiation (400 mumol m-2 s-1, photosynthetically active radiation, PAR) and then subjected to treatment conditions. These included short-term high PAR (1600 mumol m-2 s-1) which was given for 4 h either alone or in combination with an enhanced level of UV-BBE radiation (4.6 kJ m-2 h-1 biologically effective UV-B, 280-320 nm). Recovery from the radiation treatment was studied for 4 h under the light conditions for growth. Since it is known that the atrazine-tolerant mutant is susceptible to photoinhibition, one of the aims of the present study was to determine the effects of a supplemental, enhanced level of UV-B radiation with regard to the mutant. The results indicate an additive effect of UV-B radiation on Fv/Fm, photochemical yield and photosynthetic oxygen evolution during both exposure and recovery, and also a higher susceptibility of the mutant to photoinhibitory PAR conditions alone and in combination with UV-B, which may have implications in a changing environment. Both cultivars also showed a higher D1 turnover during the radiation stress than during recovery, as shown by immunoblotting and 35S-methionine incorporation measurements.
Assuntos
Atrazina/farmacologia , Brassica/efeitos da radiação , Luz , Fotossíntese/efeitos da radiação , Raios Ultravioleta , Adaptação Fisiológica , Brassica/efeitos dos fármacos , Brassica/fisiologia , Pigmentos BiológicosRESUMO
Experimental results concerning proton production in nuclear collisions, obtained at Saturne with the Diogene 4 pi facility, are compared with the predictions of a thermodynamical model, using collective velocity distributions combined with a statistical thermodynamics in local rest frames. Experimental differential cross sections for alpha + nucleus and Neon + nucleus central collisions at incident energies between 200 and 800 MeV per nucleon are well reproduced by the model, for an angular range 30-110 degrees in the laboratory system. Extracted values of the temperatures are compared with those given by other authors.
Assuntos
Modelos Teóricos , Física Nuclear , Prótons , Termodinâmica , Estatística como AssuntoRESUMO
Triple-differential cross sections of charged pions were measured for collisions of Ne projectiles at E/A = 800 MeV with NaF, Nb, and Pb targets. The reaction plane was estimated event by event from the light-baryon momentum distribution. For heavy targets, preferential emission of charged pions away from the interaction zone towards the projectile side was observed in the transverse direction. Such a preferential emission, which is not predicted by cascade calculations, may be attributed to a stronger pion absorption by the heavier spectator remnant.
Assuntos
Transferência de Energia , Mésons , Modelos Teóricos , Neônio , Partículas Elementares , Chumbo , Física NuclearRESUMO
Proton-proton small angle correlations have been measured in neon-nucleus collisions, using the 4 pi detector Diogene, at 400 and 800 MeV per nucleon incident energies. Values of the size of the emitting region are obtained by comparison with the Koonin formula, taking into account the biases of the apparatus. The dependence of the density on target mass and incident energy is also analysed.
Assuntos
Transferência de Energia , Neônio , Física Nuclear , Prótons , Carbono , Partículas Elementares , Chumbo , Modelos Teóricos , Nióbio , Aceleradores de Partículas , Fluoreto de SódioRESUMO
Mean multiplicities of pi+ and pi- in 4He collisions with C, Cu, and Pb at 200, 600, and 800 MeV/u, and with C and Pb at 400 MeV/u have been measured using the large solid angle detector Diogene. The independence of pion multiplicity on projectile incident energy, target mass and proton multiplicity is studied in comparison with intra-nuclear cascade predictions. The discrepancy between experimental results and theory is pointed out and discussed.
Assuntos
Hélio , Mésons , Modelos Teóricos , Prótons , Radiometria , Carbono , Cobre , Transferência de Energia , Íons , Chumbo , Método de Monte Carlo , Física NuclearRESUMO
Diogene, an electronic 4 pi detector, has been built and installed at the Saturne synchrotron in Saclay. The forward angular range (0 degree-6 degrees) is covered by 48 time-of-flight scintillator telescopes that provide charge identification. The trajectories of fragments emitted at larger angles are recorded in a cylindrical 0.4-m3 Pictorial Drift Chamber (PDC) surrounding the target. The PDC is inside a 1-T magnetic field; the axis of the PDC cylinder and the magnetic field are parallel to the beam. Good identification has been obtained for both positive and negative pi mesons and for hydrogen and helium isotopes. Multiplicities in relativistic nucleus-nucleus reactions up to 40 have been detected, limited mainly by the present electronics.