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Biomedical subjects

G W Miller

Publications and source records attributed to G W Miller.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Coproporphyrinogenase in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.).

1. Coproporphyrinogenase was extracted and purified from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Enzyme activity was mainly located in mitochondria rather than in chloroplasts. The enzyme was purified by differential centrifugation, ammonium sulphate fractionation, calcium phosphate gel adsorption and dialysis. A 69-fold final purification was obtained. 2. An apparent K(m) value of 3.6x10(-5)m was found, the value being largely dependent on the amount of coproporphyrin III recovered after reduction with sodium amalgam to coproporphyrinogen III. Protoporphyrin formation was linear up to 3h and decreased with further incubation. The enzyme activity increased with the concentration of enzyme protein up to 30mug/ml of solution. 3. Enzyme activity was greatly enhanced by increasing Fe(2+) concentrations up to 0.5mm, beyond which inhibition occurred. Co(2+) and Mn(2+) were also found to activate at low concentrations (0.1mm) and inhibit at higher concentrations (5mm). Fe(3+) and Cu(2+), both at 0.1mm, and o-phenanthroline and EDTA, each at 1mm, were found to be inhibitory.

Adsorption↗

Purification and general properties of delta-aminolaevulate dehydratase from Nicotiana tabacum L.

1. delta-Aminolaevulate dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.24) was purified 80-fold from tobacco leaves and its properties were studied. 2. The enzyme had optimum pH7.4 in potassium phosphate buffer, K(m)6.25x10(-4)m at 37 degrees and pH7.4, optimum temperature 45 degrees and an activation energy of 11100 cal./mole. 3. The enzyme lost activity when prepared in the absence of cysteine, and this activity was only partly restored by the later addition of thiols. Reagents for thiol groups inactivated the enzyme. 4. Mg(2+) was essential for activity, and EDTA and Fe(2+) were inhibitory; Mn(2+) was an activator or an inhibitor depending on the concentration.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Influence of Iron Chlorosis on Pigment and Protein Metabolism in Leaves of Nicotiana tabacum L.

Experiments were conducted on Nicotiana tabacum, L. to study the relation in the grana among chlorophylls, carotenoids, and proteins. The effect of iron chlorosis on protein and pigment synthesis was studied at different stages of chlorosis using glycine-U-C(14). Pigments were separated by thin layer chromatography.Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoid, and protein contents of chloroplasts from chlorotic tissue were less than those of normal tissues. A 25% decrease in protein labeling and a 45% decrease in chlorophyll labeling was noted in deficient tissue compared to normal tissue even before chlorosis was perceptible. Both normal and iron deficient leaf discs which received iron in the incubation medium incorporated higher amounts of radioactive glycine into chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b at all stages of development than their respective counterparts not supplied with iron in the incubation medium. The presence of iron in the incubation medium reduced the amount of glycine incorporated into carotenes and xanthophylls, except where the tissue was severely chlorotic. This may be attributed to active competition for glycine between the iron-dependent- (chlorophyll) and iron-independent-(carotenoid) biosynthetic pathways. Incorporation of glycine into chloroplast pigments was lowest at severe chlorosis, probably due to a reduction in the overall enzyme activity.

Journal Article↗

Effects of carbon dioxide-bicarbonate mixtures on oxidative phosphorylation by cauliflower mitochondria.

1. Carbon dioxide-bicarbonate mixtures markedly inhibited oxidation and phosphorylation rates of mitochondria prepared from cauliflower. Inhibition occurred with succinate, malate, citrate, isocitrate and NADH as substrates. 2. Indophenol-reductase systems with malate, succinate, isocitrate and NADH as substrates were inhibited by 5% and 15% carbon dioxide. Cytochrome c oxidase was not inhibited by 15% carbon dioxide.

Bicarbonates↗