Subcellular Biochemistry

1 Structures, Properties, and Possible Biological Functions of Polyadenylic Acid.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Isolation and Detection of Poly(A).- 2.1. Methodology.- 2.2. Determination of the Size of Poly(A) Segments.- 3. Messenger RNA and the 3?-Terminal Poly(A) Sequence.- 3.1. Occurrence of Poly(A) in Living Organisms.- 3.2. Poly(A) Sequences in Prokaryotes.- 3.3. Messenger RNA Lacking Poly(A).- 3.4. Complexes of Poly(A) with Amino Acids and Proteins.- 4. Possible Biological Functions of Poly(A).- 4.1. Covalent Linkage of Poly(A) RNA.- 4.2. Transport of mRNA from the Nucleus to the Cytoplasm.- 4.3. Poly(A) and the Stability of mRNA.- 4.4. Poly(A) Involvement in the Binding of mRNA to Membranes.- 4.5. 3?-Terminal Poly(A) Sequences of mRNA and Protein Synthesis.- 4.6. Summary.- 5. Structure of Poly(A).- 5.1. Poly(A) at Neutral pH.- 5.2. Acidic Forms of Poly(A).- 5.3. Effect of Substituents on Poly(A) Structure.- 5.4. Synthesis of Analogues of Poly(A).- 5.5. Influence of Metal Ions on the Structure of Poly(A).- 6. Interaction of Poly(A) with Monomers and Polymers.- 6.1. Complexes of Low-Molecular-Weight Organic Compounds and Poly(A).- 6.2. Complexes of Poly(A) and Complementary Monomers.- 6.3. Interaction of Poly(A) with Poly(U) and Other Complementary Polynucleotides.- 7. Conclusions.- 8. References.- 2 Computer Simulation of Density-Gradient Centrifugation.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Some Aspects of the Basic Theory of Gradient Centrifugation.- 3. The Indirect Approach to Simulation of Gradient Centrifugation.- 4. The Compartmental Approach to Simulation of Gradient Centrifugation.- 5. The Analytical Approach to Simulation of Gradient Centrifugation.- 6. General Discussion.- 7. References.- 3 Crown-Gall and Agrobacterium tumefaciens: Survey of a Plant-Cell-Transformation System of Interest to Medicine and Agriculture.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Overview of the Process of Plant-Cell Transformation by Agrobacterium tumefaciens.- 3. Conditions for Plant-Cell Transformation by Agrobacterium tumefaciens.- 3.1. Dicotyledonous Host Plants or Gymnosperms.- 3.2. A Temperature below 30°C.- 3.3. A Wound or Wound Stimulus.- 4. Properties and Products of Agrobacterium tumefaciens.- 4.1. Induction of Crown-Galls.- 4.2. General Properties and Classification.- 4.3. Differential Ability to Use Unusual Amino Acids as Sole Nitrogen Source.- 4.4. Production of Plant Growth Substances.- 4.5. Production of Polysaccharides.- 4.6. Production of Vitamins.- 4.7. Production of Antibiotics.- 5. Molecular Components, Genetic Systems, and Search for the Tumor-Inducing Principle (TIP) of Agrobacterium tumefaciens.- 5.1. DNA and DNA Plasmids.- 5.2. An RNA Polymerase and Its Components.- 5.3. RNA.- 5.4. Ribosomes and Their Components.- 5.5. Bacteriophages and Their Components.- 6. Attempts to Define the Crown-Gall Tumor Cell.- 6.1. Transplantability.- 6.2. Presence of Unusual Amino Acids.- 6.3. Autonomy.- 6.4. Accelerated Growth Rate.- 6.5. Limited Capacity for Differentiation.- 7. On the Genetic Basis of the Formation of the Crown-Gall Tumor Cell.- 7.1. Experiments on the Reversion and Suppression of the Tumorous State.- 7.2. Experiments Directed to the Detection of Bacterial and Bacteriophage Genes and Gene Products in Crown-Gall Tumor Cells.- 8. Medical and Agricultural Interest in Crown-Gall/ Agrobacterium Research.- 9. References.- 4 The Petite Mutation in Yeast.- 1. Discovery and Initial Characterization.- 1.1. Introduction.- 1.2. Discovery.- 1.3. Genetic and Biochemical Characterization.- 2. Cytology and Ultrastructure of Petite Mutants.- 3. Mitochondrial DNA in Petite Mutants.- 3.1. Grande Yeast Mitochondrial DNA.- 3.2. Petite Yeast Mitochondrial DNA.- 3.3. Mitochondrial DNA Synthesis.- 4. Mitochondrial RNA in Petite Mutants.- 4.1. Grande Yeast Mitochondrial RNA.- 4.2. Petite Yeast Mitochondrial RNA.- 5. Mitochondrial Proteins in Petite Mutants.- 5.1. Synthesis of Mitochondrial Proteins.- 5.2. Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle and Other Enzymes.- 5.3. Respiratory-Chain Components.- 5.4. Mitochondrial Adenosine Triphosphatase.- 5.5. Mitochondrial Transport Systems.- 6. Induction of the Petite Mutation.- 6.1. Temperature and Nutritional Effects.- 6.2. Inhibitors of Mitochondrial Macromolecular Synthesis.- 6.3. Miscellaneous Chemical Mutagens.- 6.4. Additional Mutagenic Treatments.- 6.5. Spontaneous Mutation.- 6.6. Antagonists of Petite Mutation.- 7. Petite Mutants and Mitochondrial Genetics.- 7.1. Suppressiveness.- 7.2. Petite Deletion Analysis.- 7.3. Petite Marker Rescue.- 8. Petite-Negative Yeasts.- 9. The Petite Mutation: A Broader View.- 10. Appendix: Abbreviations and Terms.- 11. References.- 5 The Role of Lipids in the Structure and Function of Membranes.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Properties of the Lipid Bilayer.- 2.1. Lamellar Systems.- 2.2. Thermotropic Phase Changes and Phase Separations.- 2.3. Lipid Viscosity.- 2.4. Summarizing Concepts.- 3. Lipid-Protein Interactions and Lipid Organization in Membranes.- 3.1. Lipid-Protein Interactions.- 3.2. Asymmetry of Membrane Components.- 3.3. Protein Mobility.- 4. Effects of Lipids and Their Physical State on the Properties of Biomembranes.- 4.1. Means Employed to Investigate the Effects of Lipids in Membrane Functions.- 4.2. Permeability and Transport.- 4.3. Lipids and Enzyme Activity.- 4.4. Effects of Lipids on Hormonal Response.- 4.5. Lipids and Other Membrane Properties.- 4.6. Coenzymatic Function of Lipids.- 5. Roles of Lipids in Membrane Functions.- 5.1. Lipids Represent a Binding Surface for Proteins.- 5.2. Latency and Compartmentation.- 5.3. Lipids Provide a Hydrophobic Medium or a Binding Interface.- 5.4. Molecularization and Membrane Formation.- 5.5. Conformational Role of Lipids.- 6. Summary.- 7. References.- 6 Dehydrogenases of the Plasma Membrane.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Extrinsic Dehydrogenases.- 2.1. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate Dehydrogenase.- 2.2. Lactic Dehydrogenase.- 2.3. Other Dehydrogenases.- 3. Intrinsic Dehydrogenases.- 3.1. NADH Dehydrogenases.- 3.2. Selective Inhibition of Plasma Membrane NADH Dehydrogenase.- 3.3. NADPH Dehydrogenases.- 3.4. Xanthine Oxidase.- 3.5. Other Dehydrogenases.- 4. Relationship of Dehydrogenases to Membrane function.- 4.1. Energy-Linked Transport.- 4.2. Metabolic Conversions.- 4.3. Peroxide or Superoxide Generation.- 4.4. Redox Control of Plasma Membrane Functions.- 5. Conclusions.- 6. References.- 7 Transport Processes in Membranes: A Consideration of Membrane Potential across Thick and Thin Membranes.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Biological and Lipid Bilayer Membranes.- 2.1. Chemical Constituents and Physical Structure.- 2.2. Properties of “Undoped” Bilayer Membranes and Biomembranes.- 2.3. Properties of “Doped” Bilayer Membranes and Biomembranes.- 3. Membrane Potential.- 3.1. Donnan Potential.- 3.2. Diffusion Potential.- 3.3. Theories of Membrane Potential.- 3.4. Distribution, Surface, or Interfacial Potentials.- 3.5. Applications of the Gouy-Chapman Double-Layer Theory.- 3.6. Adsorption Approach to Membrane Potential.- 4. Summary.- 5. Appendix: Mathematical and Electrochemical Terms and Symbols.- 6. References.- Some Recent Books in Cell Biochemistry and Biology.- 1. Molecular Biology and Cell Organelles.- 2. Membrane Research.- 3. Plant Biochemistry and Morphology.- 4. Educational Texts.