SELECTIVE ABSORPTION OF CATIONS BY HIGHER PLANTS

Characterization of selective binding of alkali cations with carboxylate by x-ray absorption spectroscopy of liquid microjets.

We describe an approach for characterizing selective binding between oppositely charged ionic functional groups under biologically relevant conditions. Relative shifts in K-shell x-ray absorption spectra of aqueous cations and carboxylate anions indicate the corresponding binding strengths via perturbations of carbonyl antibonding orbitals. XAS spectra measured for aqueous formate and acetate s...

Metabolism of hydrogen cyanide by higher plants.

A survey has been made of the occurrence and distribution of three enzymes which metabolize cyanide in a variety of higher plants including both cyanogenic and non-cyanogenic species. The enzymes investigated were beta-cyanoalanine synthase, rhodanese and formamide hydrolyase. beta-Cyanoalanine synthase was found to be present in every higher plant tested whereas rhodanese was found to occur fa...

Bioremediation of Tnt Wastes by Higher Plants

The uptake and biotransformation of TNT was studied in cell suspension cultures and in whole plants of Datura innoxia and Lycopersicon peruvianum. In cell culture, TNT was rapidly removed from the growth medium and recovered from the cell extract in the form of a variety of biotransformation products resulting from nitroreduction, deamination, Nacetylation and side chain oxidation to aldehyde a...

Selective Absorption of Starlight by Interstellar Clouds.

Xcvii. Hexosephosphates Produced by Higher Plants.'

THE fact that phosphates stimulate the respiratory sugar metabolism in higher plants suggests that the formation of phosphoric esters may occur as part of this process. Stoklasa et al. [1904-1913] obtained cell-free zymase-like preparations from peas, beet-roots, potatoes etc., which actively fermented sugars. Bodnar [1916] confirmed these results under strictly aseptic conditions, since some i...