Human lipoproteins comprise at least 12 different classes that are lognormally distributed.

This study presents the results of HPLC, a gentler and rapid separation method in comparison with the conventional ultracentrifugation, for 55 human serum samples. The elution patterns were analysed parametrically, and the attribute of each class was confirmed biochemically. Human samples contained 12 classes of lipoproteins, each of which may consist primarily of proteins.

Water and CO₂ permeability of SsAqpZ, the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7942 aquaporin.

Background Information: Cyanobacteria possess Aquaporin-Z (AqpZ) membrane channels which have been suggested to mediate the water efflux underlying osmostress-inducible gene expression and to be essential for glucose metabolism under photomixotrophic growth. However, preliminary observations suggest that the biophy-sical properties of transport and physiological meaning of AqpZ in such photosynthetic microorganisms are not yet completely assessed.

Results: In this study, we used Xenopus laevis oocyte and proteoliposome systems to directly demonstrate the water permeability of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp.

New Compounds Induce Brassinosteroid Deficient-like Phenotypes in Rice.

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are steroidal plant hormones with potent plant growth promoting activity. Because BR-deficient mutants of rice exhibit altered plant architecture and important agronomic traits, we conducted a systemic search for specific inhibitors of BR biosynthesis to manipulate the BR levels in plant tissues. Although previous studies have been conducted with BR biosynthesis inhibitors in dicots, little is known regarding the effects of BR biosynthesis inhibition in monocot plants.

Aquaporin OsPIP1;1 promotes rice salt resistance and seed germination.

OsPIP1;1 is one of the most abundant aquaporins in rice leaves and roots and is highly responsible to environmental stresses. However, its biochemical and physiological functions are still largely unknown. The oocyte assay data showed OsPIP1;1 had lower water channel activity in contrast to OsPIP2;1.

Carbohydrate metabolism in mutants of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 defective in glycogen synthesis.

ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) and glycogen synthase (GS) catalyze the first two reactions of glycogen synthesis in cyanobacteria. Mutants defective in each of these enzymes in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 were constructed and characterized. Activities of the corresponding enzymes in the selected mutants were virtually undetectable, and their ability to synthesize glycogen was entirely abolished.

Mechanism of strong quenching of photosystem II chlorophyll fluorescence under drought stress in a lichen, Physciella melanchla, studied by subpicosecond fluorescence spectroscopy.

The mechanism of the severe quenching of chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence under drought stress was studied in a lichen Physciella melanchla, which contains a photobiont green alga, Trebouxia sp., using a streak camera and a reflection-mode fluorescence up-conversion system. We detected a large 0.

Role of the aquaporin PIP1 subfamily in the chilling tolerance of rice.

Although an association between chilling tolerance and aquaporins has been reported, the exact mechanisms involved in this relationship remain unclear. We compared the expression profiles of aquaporin genes between a chilling-tolerant and a low temperature-sensitive rice variety using real-time PCR and identified seven genes that closely correlated with chilling tolerance. Chemical treatment experiments, by which rice plants were induced to lose their chilling tolerance, implicated the PIP1 (plasma membrane intrinsic protein 1) subfamily member genes in chilling tolerance.

Historical perspective on microalgal and cyanobacterial acclimation to low- and extremely high-CO(2) conditions.

Reports in the 1970s from several laboratories revealed that the affinity of photosynthetic machinery for dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) was greatly increased when unicellular green microalgae were transferred from high to low-CO(2) conditions. This increase was due to the induction of carbonic anhydrase (CA) and the active transport of CO(2) and/or HCO(3) (-) which increased the internal DIC concentration. The feature is referred to as the 'CO(2)-concentrating mechanism (CCM)'.

Functional expression and characterization of an archaeal aquaporin. AqpM from methanothermobacter marburgensis.

Researchers have described aquaporin water channels from diverse eubacterial and eukaryotic species but not from the third division of life, Archaea. Methanothermobacter marburgensis is a methanogenic archaeon that thrives under anaerobic conditions at 65 degrees C. After transfer to hypertonic media, M.