Phototropism: a "simple" physiological response modulated by multiple interacting photosensory-response pathways

Phototropism is the process by which plants reorient growth of various organs, most notably stems, in response to lateral differences in light quantity and/or quality. The ubiquitous nature of the phototropic response in the plant kingdom implies that it provides some adaptive evolutionary advantage. Upon visual inspection it is tempting to surmise that phototropic curvatures result from a relatively simple growth response to a directional stimulus. However, detailed photophysiological, and more recently genetic and molecular, studies have demonstrated that phototropism is in fact regulated by complex interactions among several photosensory systems. At least two receptors, phototropin and a presently unidentified receptor, appear to mediate the primary photoreception of directional blue light cues in dark-grown plants. PhyB may also function as a primary receptor to detect lateral increases in far-red light in neighbor-avoidance responses of light-grown plants. Phytochromes (phyA and phyB at a minimum) also appear to function as secondary receptors to regulate adaptation processes that ultimately modulate the magnitude of curvature induced by primary photoperception. As a result of the interactions of these multiple photosensory systems plants are able to maximize the adaptive advantage of the phototropic response in ever changing light environments.     

The kinetics of radical polymerization—XXVII. Investigation of the radical reactivity of 3,3′- and 4,4′-disubstituted azobenzenes in the polymerization of vinylacetate

A study was made on the inhibition by some 3,3′- and 4,4′-disubstituted azobenzenes of the polymerization of vinylacetate initiated by azoisobutyronitrile at 50°. The inhibitory effects of these substances can be attributed to their ability to engage in radical addition giving a less reactive hydrazyl type radical. The mechanism of the inhibition has been established by ESR and kinetic (stoichiometric) measurements. The value of k₅/k₂ (characteristic of the reactivity of an inhibitor) was determined for 9 substituents. The radical reactivity of the aromatic azo group was decreased by electron donor substituents and increased by electron acceptors. The substituent effect can be well interpreted by the Hammett equation; the value of the reaction constant was ? = +0.53.     

Fluorinated dioxolanes. 3. Nucleophilic reactions of perfluoro-4-methyl-1,3-dioxolanes

Conclusions Perfluoro-2,4-dimethyl-2-fluorocarbonyl-1,3-dioxolane reacts with sodium carbonate to give perfluoro-2-methylene-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane. Under the reaction conditions, the latter dimerizes to perfluoro-2-(2,4-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-ylmethylene)-4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane, and on treatment with CsF is converted into perfluoromethyl-(1,3-dioxolany-2-yl)ketone.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 938–942, April, 1989.     

Composition of lipids of the grain of opaque-2 maize

It has been established that the change in the composition of the total lipids and the fall in the fatty acid content depend on the initial maize genotype. A decrease in the amount of unsaponifiable substances in the grain of mutants is accompanied by qualitative changes in the composition regardless of the nature of the genotype.Scientific-Research Institute of Biology Dnepropetrovsk State university. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii. No. 3. pp. 360–363. May–June, 1988.     

The mass spectra of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,4-pentanedione and its Al(III), Cr(III), Fe(III), Mn(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes

The compounds 1,1,1-trichloro-2,4-pentanedione, Cu(II)tca₂, Co(II)tca₂, Mn(II)tca₂, Al(III)tca₃, Cr(III)tca₃ and Fe(III)tca₃ (tca?1,1,1-trichloro-2,4-pentanedionato, [CCl₃COCHCOCH₃]^?) have been prepared and their mass spectra have been obtained. The mass spectral results have been compared with findings for comparable fluorinated and nonhalogenated compounds. Comparisons are made in terms of internal redox reactions and hard and soft acid base theory. Rearrangement of chloride from ligand to metal accompanied by the elimination of CO or other neutral even electron fragments emerges as an important reaction for the ions of these compounds. While the internal redox reactions characteristic of all previous β-diketonate complex mass spectra still occur, their importance appears reduced to some degree by the facility of the chlorine rearrangement.     

Chemistry of heteroanalogs of isoflavones

Condensation of 2-pyridylacetonitrile with polyphenols gave the corresponding -(2-pyridyl)-acetophenones, which were converted to the pyridine analogs of natural isoflavones and to 3-pyridylchromones with methyl, trifluoromethyl, and ethoxycarbonyl groups in the 2 position. The antimicrobial activity of 3-pyridylchromones and their reaction with alkylating and acylating agents and phosphorus pentasulfide were investigated.See [1] for communication V.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 9, pp. 1180–1185, September, 1977.     

Mikronachweis der Salicylsäure als Silbersalicylat

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine Methode beschrieben, nach der die Salicylsäure über ihr Ammonsalz als Silbersalicylat in kleinsten Mengen nachgewiesen werden kann. Es bilden sich dabei monokline Prismen in Form von Rhomboiden, die durch die Kristallwinkel, die schiefe Auslöschung und deren Beziehung zum Kristallumriß als Silbersalicylat identifiziert werden können. Erfassungsgrenze: 0,4 Salicylsäure. Ferner wird das unter Umständen ebenfalls bei der Reaktion auftretende Silbersalz der Benzoesäure und seine Unterscheidung von Silbersalicylat auf optischem Wege besprochen. Die Reaktion gelingt auch mit Mikrosublimaten.

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Summary A method is described whereby minimal amounts of salicylic acid can be detected as silver salicylate, viâ the ammonium salt. Monoclinic prisms of the form of rhomboids are produced, which may be identified as silver salicylate from the crystal angles, the oblique extinction, and the relationship of these to the crystal outline. The limit of the method is 0,4 salicylic acid. The optical method for distinguishing between silver salicylate and silver benzoate, which is also formed in certain circumstances in the course of the reaction, is discussed. The reaction may be successfully applied to micro-sublimates.

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Résumé On décrit une méthode, qui permet de déceler des plus petites quantités de l'acide salicylique comme salicylate d'argent en préparant d'abord le salicylate d'ammonium. Des prismes monoclines, en forme rhombique, se forment d'abord, qui peuvent être identifiés comme salicylate d'argent par l'angle du cristal (Kristallwinkel), l'extinction oblique (schiefe Auslöschung) et les relations de ceux aux contoures du cristal (Kristallumriß). Limite d'identification: 0,4 d'acide salicylique. Ensuite on discute aussi la différence entre le salicylate d'argent et le benzoate d'argent, qui se forme parfois au cours de la réaction, d'un mode optique. — La réaction peut être appliquée aussi à des micro-sublimés.

     

Novel polymer-bound chiral selenium electrophiles

[reaction: see text]. Polymer-bound chiral electrophilic selenium reagents have been developed and applied to stereoselective selenenylation reactions of various alkenes. Different cleavage protocols allow further functionalization of the addition products leading to improvements in selenium-based solid-phase chemistry.     

Coprecipitation/accumulation/distribution of manganese and iron, and electrochemical characteristics of Mn in calcareous seawater

A study of managanese and iron associated with particulate matter in seawaters derived from the English Channel (and North Sea). Sequential extraction procedures have been used to identify geochemical processes that govern Mn and Fe coprecipitation/accumulation/distribution in different particulate phases (carbonate; Fe-Mn(hydr)oxides; organic matter and residual phase). The oxidation states of Mn and Fe, some mechanisms of bonding and the magnetic characteristics of particles have been investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy, electron spin resonance(ESR) spectroscopy, and mass susceptibility balance. The effect of pH and redox potential on stability of different dissolved and particulate Mn species was also examined. In the these calcareous seawaters, manganese (II) is predominantly bound to the carbonate phase (calcite) in the form of Mn_xCa_1-xCO₃. However the persistent occurrence of Mn in oxidation states > 2 in these particles has suggested the existence of manganese(III) in the polymeric FeOOH structures as an intermediate entity during Mn(II) oxidation in the sea. The activity coefficient of the entity MnOOH in FeOOH has been evaluated and p-pH diagrams of Mn have been proposed under marine conditions.