Growth Responses ofNeurospora crassato Increased Partial Pressures of the Noble Gases and Nitrogen

Abstract

BUCHHEIT, R. G. (Union Carbide Corp., Tonawanda, N.Y.), H. R. SCHREINER, AND G. F. DOEBBLER. Growth responses of Neurospora crassa to increased partial pressures of the noble gases and nitrogen. J. Bacteriol. 91:622-627. 1966.-Growth rate of the fungus Neurospora crassa depends in part on the nature of metabolically "inert gas" present in its environment. At high partial pressures, the noble gas elements (helium, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon) inhibit growth in the order: Xe > Kr > Ar >> Ne >> He. Nitrogen (N2) closely resembles He in inhibitory effectiveness. Partial pressures required for 50% inhibition of growth were: Xe (0.8 atm), Kr (1.6 atm), Ar (3.8 atm), Ne (35 atm), and He (-300 atm). With respect to inhibition of growth, the noble gases and N2 differ qualitatively and quantitatively from the order of effectiveness found with other biological effects, i.e., narcosis, inhibition of insect development, depression of 02-dependent radiation sensitivity, and effects on tissue-slice glycolysis and respiration. Partial pressures giving 50% inhibition of N. crassa growth parallel various physical properties (i.e., solubilities, solubility ratios, etc.) of the noble gases. Linear correlation of 50% inhibition pressures to the polarizability and of the logarithm of pressure to the first and second ionization potentials suggests the involvement of weak intermolecular interactions or charge-transfer in the biological activity of the noble gases.

Effectiveness of pure argon for renal transplant preservation in a preclinical pig model of heterotopic autotransplantation

“…On one hand, oxygen has been used during hypothermic preservation in experimental and clinical models of kidney transplantation but the protective effects against organ injury are still in debate [ 9 ]. On the other hand, noble gases, e.g., argon and xenon, have been used to preserve perishable foods by limiting oxidation [ 10 ] prior to their development for graft preservation [ 6 , 11 ]. Following this latter approach and using a rat model of kidney transplantation with a short cold-ischemia time (6 h), we reported that the use of the preservation solution Celsior saturated with pure argon (Argon-Celsior) improves graft functional recovery and limits IRI compared with the use of Celsior saturated with atmospheric air (Air-Celsior) [ 6 ].…”

Enzyme‐Catalyzed Reactions as Influenced by Inert Gases at High Pressures

“…High-pressure inert gases such as NZ, N?O, He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe have been studied to determine their effects on biological systems. Studies of this type have included the growth rate of the mold Nmrospora cra.s~a (Schreiner et al, 1962;Schreiner et al, 1963;and Buchheit et al, 1966), the growth of protozoans (Sears et al, 1961), the oxygen dependent radio sensitivity of plants (Ebert et al,19.58), the growth rate of mammalian epithelial cells (Bruemmer et al, 1967) and the activity of tyrosinase (Schreiner, 1965).…”

Microbial Growth Modification by Compressed Gases and Hydrostatic Pressure

“…This inhibitory series for germination is similar to the series for narcotic potency and also to the series reported for growth inhibition. For example, Buchheit et al (3) presented a series for inhibition of growth of Neurospora crassa with Xe > Kr > Ar >> Ne >> He > N2; the partial pressures required for 50% inhibition of growth were, respectively: 0.08, 0.16, 0.38, 3.5, and ca. 30 MPa, with no value determined for N2 because it was not possible to achieve 50% growth inhibition with N2.…”