[Effect of organic and inorganic toxic compounds on luminescence of luminous fungi].

The possibility of the development of the solid phase bioluminescent biotest using aerial mycelium of the luminous fungi was investigated. Effect of organic and inorganic toxic compounds (TC) at concentrations from 10(-6) to 1 mg/ml on luminescence of aerial mycelia of four species of luminous fungi-Armillaria borealis (Culture Collection of the Institute of Forest, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences), A. mellea, A. gallica, and Lampteromyces japonicus (Fungi Collection of the Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences)--has been studied. Culture of A. mellea was shown to be most sensitive to solutions of the model TC. It was demonstrated that the sensitivity of the luminous fungi is comparable with the sensitivity of the bacteria that are used for environmental monitoring. Use of the aerial mycelium of the luminous fungi on the solid support as a test object is a promising approach in biotesting for the development of continuous biosensors for air monitoring.

[Effect of tririum on growth and bioluminescence of P. phosphoreum bacteria].

Effect of tritium labeled amino acid valine (0.3-1.0 MBq/ml) on luminous bacteria P. Phosphoreum was studied. The amino acid was used as a nutrient medium for the bacteria. Tritium was found to suppress bacterial growth, but stimulate luminescence: luminescence intensity, quantum yield and time of light-emitting were increased. Activation of the luminescent function is explained by redistribution of electronic density at beta-decay, and affecting biochemical processes in the bacterial media. Effects of alpha- and beta-radiation on luminous bacteria are compared.

[Carbohydrate specificity of lectins from luminescent bacteria].

The presence of lectins on a cell surface was demonstrated for 70 cultures of luminescent bacteria using hemagglutination reactions. It was shown that hemagglutination of luminescent bacteria is inhibited by glucose, maltose, fructose, mannose, and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. The differences in the inhibition of hemagglutination of luminescent and nonluminescent (spontaneous mutants) symbiotic cultures by N-acetyl-D-galactosamine were revealed. The fact that N-acetyl-D-galactosamine inhibits hemagglutination of the luminescent symbiotic bacteria but does not inhibit hemagglutination of the symbiotic cultures lacking luminescence suggests that lectins with N-acetyl-D-galactosamine specificity are possibly involved in the formation and functioning of the symbiosis of luminescent bacteria with marine animals possessing luminous organs.

[Luminescent bacteria--producers of specific restriction endonucleases]. / Svetiashchiesia bakterii--produtsenty spetsificheskikh éndonukleaz restriktsii.

Luminescent bacteria isolated from the waters of the Black Sea and of the Indian and Pacific Oceans were tested for the presence of restriction endonucleases. For 12 of 19 restriction enzyme producers revealed, restriction sites were determined. The enzymes were identified as isoschizomers of AfIII, BanI, HaeIII, PstI, Sau3AI, and Sau96I. Possible participation of the restriction and modification enzymes in the interaction of bacterial symbionts with the animal macrosymbiont is discussed.