Philip G. Miles

A New Look at Cultivated Mushrooms

Because mushrooms have a high protein content, mushroom cultivation has the potential to increase protein for human consumption in developing countries. Attempts are being made to fruit mushrooms in culture other than the widely available Agaricus and Letinus. Mushrooms can grow on substrates primarily of agricultural and industrial wastes, require little land, and the used compost improves agricultural soil. (Accepted for publication 28 November 1983)

Interference by carbohydrate and other substances in the estimation of protein with the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent

One of the most sensitive and widely employed assays for protein is the calorimetric p.rocedure developed by Lowry et al. (l), based on the use of the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, the active constituent of which is a phosphomolybdic-tungstic mixed acid (2). Analysis of protein by this means is due originally to Wu (3). The chief shortcoming of the Lowry asay is poor specificity. A variety of substances, including phenols, purines, and hydrazines (1)) salicylates, various antibiotics, and drugs (4), histamine and other physiological amines (5, 6)) tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (7, 8)) and the free amino acids-glycine (1)) tyrosine, tryptophan, and cysteine (5, 20)) are known to interfere in this assay. Except in high concentration (g-11)) sugars generally do not interfere in the Lowry assay under the usual conditions. However, the literature on this subject (1, 3, 12-20) does not warn against the positive interference exhibited by most sugars in low concentration after exposure to hot alkali or acid despite the fact that the “molybdate blue” reaction of sugars is well known and is the basis of a clinical assay for blood glucose (21, 22). Reports occur in the literature in which the protein content of tissue preparations-are given without taking carbohydrate interference into account (23). For example, some authors recommend heating of recovered protein samples in alkali prior to analysis in order to solubilize the protein (1, 23). Others recommend heating of the assay system to increase the rate and intensity of the assay reaction (12-15). Recently, Gerhardt and Beevers (24) reported positive inte.rference by sucrose in the Miller modification (15) of the Lowry assay. We can state that this interference, which does not occur in the unmodified procedure, is due to heating of the

The identification of indigo as a pigment produced by a mutant culture of Schizophyllum commune

Abstract On the basis of solubility tests, chemical analysis, and absorption spectra, a pigment produced by a mutant culture of Schizophyllum commune has been identified as indigo. The pigment is produced on a chemically defined medium with ammonium ion as the nitrogen source.

Hyphal fusions in Schizophyllum commune. 2. Effects of environmental and chemical factors.

In this study of hyphal fusions various types were observed, but the tip-to-side type were the most prevalent. Temperature, pH, type of medium and osmotic pressure did not affect fusion frequency in Schizophyllutm commune appreciably. Concentration of sugar produced a statistically significant difference in hyphal fusion frequency with the highest frequency in the absence of any carbon source. NaAsO2, Tween-80, and deoxycholate had no observable effect upon the formation of dikaryons when compatible strains were mated. In the presence of sodium taurocholate dikaryotization took place, but frequently the dikaryotic mycelia sectored into homokaryotic mycelia. A concentration of 0.0005 M CuS04 permitted dikaryotization of compatible strains, but the resulting dikaryotic mycelia frequently sectored into homokaryotic mycelia as with sodium taurocholate. At 0.001 M CuSO4 dikaryotization of compatible strains was completely inhibited and Van Tieghem cell preparations showed no hyphal fusions.

Errors in volumetric respirometry: description of an improved microrespirometer.

Abstract 1. 1. When the capabilities for simplicity of construction and operation of the capillary volumeter are carried to extremes, certain random and constant errors appear which render the instrument unstable and insensitive. Some implications of these errors for respiration data in the literature are discussed. 2. 2. A modified microrespirometer is presented which utilizes some of the useful features of existing volumeters, but without certain of their limitations. This instrument has a capacity of 8 vessels, each calibrated to 200 μl; and volume changes, at the rate of 70 μl/hr or greater, can be measured to the nearest 1.0 μl with a precision of 2%.

Genetics and Morphogenesis in the Basidiomycetes

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