Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

V A Saunders

Publications and source records attributed to V A Saunders.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Extrachromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid in wild-type and photosynthetically incompetent strains of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides.

Three covalently closed circular species of extrachromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid have been identified by electron microscopic analysis in strains of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides. The weights of these plasmids, as determined from contour length, are about 75 X 10(6), 66 X 10(6), and 28 X 10(6) daltons for both aerobically grown and photosynthetically grown R. spheroides strain 2.4.1 (NRS) and for the photosynthetically incompetent strain V-2 (obtained by N-methyl-N-nitro-N'nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis) and 74 X 10(6), 66 X 10(6) and 34 X 10(6) daltons for a second photosynthetically incompetent strain, SLS I (obtained by incubating strain 2.4.1 [NRS] in medium containing sodium lauryl sulfate). Buoyant densities uere found to be 1.717 g/cm3 (58% guanine plus cytosine) for the plasmids of 66 X 10(6), 28 X 10(6), and 34 X 10(6) daltons in weight and 1.724 g/cm3 (65% guanine plus cytosine) for those weighing about 75 X 10(6) daltons. Possible functions of these plasmids are discussed.

Aerobiosis

Detection of two further beta-type cytochromes in Rhodopseudomonas spheroides.

The photosynthetically-incompetent mutant V-2 of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides which is incapable of synthesising bacteriochlorophyll was grown aerobically under conditions of both high and low aeration. Potentiometric titration a at 560 nm minus 570 nm revealed the presence of several different components tentatively identified as b-type cytochromes. Two such components of oxidation-reduction midpoint potentials of +390 mV +/- 10 mV and +255 mV +/- 7mV have not previously been detected in membranes of Rps. spheroides. These components have also been resolved by difference spectra at controlled oxidation-reduction potentials and fourth derivative spectra. Neither component appeared to react with CO. With increasing aeration of the culture medium the relative concentration of these two b-type cytochromes diminished, whilst that of the a-type oxidase increased.

Ascorbic Acid