Using Au(111) and Au(100) single-crystal electrodes modified with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), the direct electron transfer reaction of bilirubin oxidase (BOD) adsorbed onto their surfaces was investigated. The BOD adsorbed onto the Au(111), Au(100) and gold /mica electrodes, and the BOD adsorbed onto Au(111) electrodes modified with C(3)-SO(3)H and C(n)-COOH (n = 2, 5 and 7), showed the electrocatalytic currents of dioxygen reduction based on the direct electron transfer reaction. The BOD adsorbed onto Au(111) electrodes modified with C(6)-NH(2), C(6)-OH and C(5)-CH(3) did not show any electrocatalytic current. Negatively charged electrode surfaces can give a suitable molecular orientation for the direct electron transfer of BOD. The k degrees values evaluated by an analysis of the steady-state voltammogram with a simulated fitting method did not depend on the crystal structure of the gold electrode surface. Using a C(n)-COOH (n = 2, 5, 7) modified Au(111) electrode, the k degrees values decreased with an increasing alkyl chain length of C(n)-COOH. Based on the k degrees values obtained from the C(n)-COOH (n = 2, 5, 7) modified Au(111) electrodes, the electron tunneling distance was evaluated. The average distance between the type 1 Cu site of BOD and the outside of the BOD protein structure was evaluated to be 17 (+/-2) A.

Nucleoporins are components of the nuclear pore complexes, channels that regulate the transport of macromolecules between the nucleus and cytoplasm. The nucleoporin GLE1 (GLFG lethal1) functions in the export of messenger RNAs containing poly(A) tails from the nucleus into the cytoplasm. Here we investigated a mutant of the model legume Lotus japonicus that was defective in GLE1, which we designated Ljgle1. The growth of Ljgle1 was retarded under symbiotic association with rhizobia, and the nitrogen‐fixation activities of the nodules were around one‐third of those in the wild‐type plant. The growth of Ljgle1 was not substantialy recovered by supplemention of combined nitrogen. Nodules formed on the Ljgle1 were smaller than those on the wild‐type and colored faint pink. The numbers of infected cells of nodules on the Ljgle1 were smaller than on the wild‐type plant, and the former cells remained undeveloped. Rhizobia in the cells of the Ljgle1 exhibited disordered forms, and the symbiosome membrane was closely attached to the bacterial membrane. These results indicate that GLE1 plays a distinct role in the symbiotic association between legumes and rhizobia.

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