If the injurious effect of 2-methylpyridine-4-carboxylic acid on plant growth is entirely caused by its intermolecular chelation with metal ion, then this effect must be eliminated by addition of metal ion. On this consideration authors discussed in this paper on the elimination of injurious effect of this acid on plant growth, on respiration, on the formation of catalase and peroxidase, and authenticated that the injurious action of this acid was considerably eliminated by addition of equivalent CaO and then perfectly by addition of Fe^... with a little amount of Cu^.., Mn^.. and Ca^.. by 5% level of significance.

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(1) The sweet potato infected by Ceratostomella fimbriata accumulates, in consequence of abnormal metabolism, the substances fluorescing blue under ultra-violet light in the sound part.
(2) These substances were isolated and identified to be umbelliferon (7-hydroxy coumarin) and scopoletin (6-methoxy-7-hydroxy coumarin), and the existence of esculetin (6, 7-dihy-droxycoumarin) was also suggested by paper chromatography.
(3) The penetration of the fungus brought about some variations in the platoplasm of the tissue. Consequently the metabolic action becames active, causing the accumulation of these coumarin compounds.
(4) It was hypothesized that these substances were produced in the following scheme, umbelliferon→esculetin→scopoletin.
(5) Since these substances inhibited the growth ofthe fungus in a concentration of 1/1000……1/4000, they might play a roll in resistance against the fungus.
(6) The appearance of blue fluorescence under ultra-violet light can be used to distinguish the sound sweet potato from the injured which is infected not only by Ceratortomella fimbriata but other pathogenes.
It is a pleasure for us to acknowledge the advice given by Prof. Yusuke SUMIKI.

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(1) Besides chlorogenic acid reported previously, two more polyphenols accumulated in sound part, adjacent to the injured, of the black-rotted sweet potato were isolated and identified to be caffeic acid and methyl caffeate.
(2) It implies biochemical significance that caffeic acid, which is a component of chlorogenic acid and regarded as the precursor of other polyphenols, was isolated.
(3) The amount of methyl caffeate in injured sweet potato was smaller than the other polyphenols, and the substance was produced more abundantly by enzyme action when the injured part was dipped in dil. methyl alcohol.
(4) The presence of three other polyphenols, besides chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and methyl caffeate, was known, as the result of paper chromatography.
(5) The polyphenols could be identified in concentration of ca. 5% by paper chromatography with the detective method utilizing the color of prussian blue occuered in consequence of the oxidation of the polyphenols by K₃FeCN₆ followed by Fe₂(SO₄)₃.

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1. The souna part of sweet potatoes injured by Geratostometla fmbriata increasec its respiration amounts from two to three times more than the control.
2. As for the oxygen absorption curves. Okinawa No. 100 showed a line a little ascending, while Norin No. 1 gave clearly a descending one. The results mean that the former was slower than the latter in forming wound tissue at the cut surface.
3. The respiration quotient (R. Q.) of the sound part of rotted sweet potatoes was about 1.0, but that of the fungus itself which grew on steamed sweet potatoes was 1.1_??_1.2.
4. It is assumed that the respiration of rotted sweet potatoes may be increased through the following processes: (1) the protoplasm of the tissue was subjected to the colloid chemical changes by the penetration of the fungus, (2) the respiratory enzymes such as oxidase, peroxidase, and cytochrome oxidase were activated, and the respiration was increased by them, and (3) by the energy resulted from the above processes, both the enzymes concerning the regpirations and the intermediate substances such as polyphenols and vitamin C were synthesized.

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Five strains of bacteria, Bac. cereus, Bact. mutabile, Bac. subiilis, Bac. subtilis sp. and Mc. epidermidis, were isolated from infected submerged mold cultures. Of these strains, Bac. cereus and Me. epidermidis were recognized to degradate mold amylase greatly.
Mc. epidermidis was an acid producing strain, and by this acid mold amylase activity was degradated. Bac. cereus produced acids slightly, but the ratio of the production of protease to amylase is higher than those of other bacteria.
We obtained protease from Bac. cereus culture, and reacted it on each amylase obtained from Asp. oryzae, Asp. awamori and Rh. javanicus. Amylase from Asp. oryzae was degradated most, and those of Asp. ewamori and Rh. javanicus followed.
Amino-N was produced in the reaction of the bacterial protease on the mold amylase, and the ratio of the increase of-amino-N to the decrease of amylase activity was almost constant. By these experiments, we assumed the mold amylase was degradated by bacterial protease. For the purpose of confirming this assumption, we shall examine the reaction between each pure enzyme crystal.

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Amylolytic enzymes of Aspergillus oryzde and Aspergillvs usamii were fractionated by repeated salting-out with ammonium sulfate, precipitation with acetone, and specific precipitation of α-amylase with rivanol. Variations in the activities of dextrinogenic and saccharogenic amylases, limit dextrinase, and maltase were followed during the fractionation procedure, special attention being paid on the relation of limit dextrinase àctivity (LDA) and other enzyme activities. α-Amylase activity and LDA could be easily separated by various treatments. But the latter was always accompanied with saccharogenic activity. No enzyme fraction was obtained, which showed only LDA. α-Amylase was purified to be almost free from LDA, but even the crystalline α-amylase showed very low LDA.
The limit of hydrolysis by LDA was estimated on a malt limit dextrin of the mean polymerization degree of 7.3. This dextrin was split to about 85% by prolonged action of the enzyme, leaving a residue which had a polymerization degree of 2. The fact would suggest that 1, 6-glucosidic linkages were resistant to LDA.
The optimum conditions for LDA and saccharogenic amylase activity were about the same, i, e., at pH 4.8 and 65°C, while those of α-amylase were different, i, e., at pH 5.6 and 70°C. α-Amylase was more sensitive than the other activities to the inhibition by mercuric chloride.
Following conclusion was given on the basis of foregoing results: The LDA in mold enzyme might not be ascribed to the presence of an independent enzyme, limit dextrinase, but rather to the auxiliary action of ordinary amylases, among which the effect of saccha-rogenic amylase predominated.

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The reaction of diazobenzene sulfonic acid with cysteine was investigated as a model reaction of the former with the assumed free SH groups in the amylase (so-called SH-enzyme) molecule.
Three reaction products were isglated: (I) yellow colored plates, (II) cystine, and (III), colorless stable prisms (the yield of (III) was higher than that of (II) ). (I) was unstable to heating as it was decomposed to evolve nitrogen gas when heated at 100° in water. Here (II) and (III) could be separated again from the reaction mixture. (III) was richer in yield than (II). Physical and chemical properties indicated that (III) had the structure:_??_(I) must be an intermediate to (II) and (III) and had perhaps the structure:_??_Thus it is supposed that if diazobenzene sulfonic acid acts on the free -SH groups in the amylase molecule, it might couple with -SH rather than oxidizes them. This reaction may play some role in the inhibitive action of diazobenzene sulfonic acid on amylase.

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Previously, we(¹) reported about the chemical and physical properties of oils contained in various parts of a sperm whale body, and found noticeable differences among these oils.
This time, we studied on the quantitative composition of fatty acids of sperm whale head. cavity oil. The results obtained are shown in Table 1 to Table 8. The following facts were noticeable. The amounts of saturated and unsaturated acids were nearly equal. Very large quantity of lower fatty acids (less than C₁₄) was present.

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The composition of fatty acids of the sperm whale bone oil (from Table 1 to Table 4) and the large intestine oil (from Table 5 to Table 10) has been examined. According to the resdlts shown in Table 11 and Table 12, considerable differnces in the composition of fatty acids are found in the fats from different parts of one animal, indicating a highly selective formation of the fat deposits.

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Using a strain of Pseydomonas fluorescens, the author devised the tnanometric determination of phenylacetic acid (PAA) on the basis of the following experiments.
(1) The author divided Ps. fluorescens which could grow on PAA media into three types. For the determination of PAA, the author selected the strain which had powerful ability of PAA oxidation only when it grew on PAA medium.
(2) The ratio of O₂ consumption per a definite amount of PAA used was constant, i. e., 100μg of PAA is equivalent to 95 ul of O₂ uptake.
(3) The amount of O₂ uptake was propertional to the PAA content in the range from 50μg to 400μg.
(4) The recovery of PAA from a penicillin culture broth was 89%, when the extraction was repeated twice with acidic ether.
(5) The selected strain which was cultivated on PAA medium showed little consumption of oxygen, when various organic acids except PAA were added as substrates.

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(1) By means of diazo-test and the manometric determination of phenylacetieacid (PPA) the author found that PAA added in penicillin (Pc) culture broth rapidly disappeared. At the end of culture, the PAA metabolized was about 92_??_96%, but the PAA utilized for Pc-G formation was only 4_??_5%.
(2) The metabolism of FAA by Penicillium chrysogenum Q-176 was performed oxidatively. By Thunberg technique, it was presumed that the first step of this metabolic pathway was an anaerobic dehydrogenation of PAA.
(3) For the PAA oxidation, the optimal concentration of phosphate buffer was below 40.05 M.
(4) For the FAA oxidation, the optimal pH was about 5.6_??_5.8. When the pH wa inclined, to move toward acid side, the oxidative ability of PAA decreased remarkably.
(5) For the PAA oxidation, the optimal concentration of the substrate was about 0.007_??_0.01 M.
(6) Metabolism of PAA was carried on by one adaptive enzyme or more.
(7) Metallic ions such as Fe⁺⁺, Zn⁺⁺, Cu⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺, Ca⁺⁺, Co⁺⁺, and Mn⁺⁺ had no influence on the PAA oxidation.
(8) Among the various vitamins, L-ascorbic acid showed a little stimulation of the PAA oxidation.
(9) The PAA oxidation was inhibited by malonic acid, hydrogen cyanide, mondiodo acetic acid and 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, but the inhibitors such as urethane, azide hydroxylamine, fluoride, 2, 4-dinitrophenol and α, α'-dipyridyl, showed little toxicity.
(10) When 1 molecule of PAA was oxidized, 4_??_5 molecules of oxygen were consumed an 3_??_4 molecules of carbon dioxide were excreted. From the fact that no less than 3 molecules of carbon dioxide (3C) were produced per molecule of PAA (C₈), it was proved the the PAA oxidation fell into the rupture of the arómatic ring.
(11) During the tank fermentation, the maximum activity of the PAA oxidation was achieved at the logarithmic growth phase of the mycelia, and it was reduced gradually with the progress of cultivation.
(12) The oxidative abilities of simple aromatic compounds by the PAA adapted myceli were compared. The homologous compounds, viz., 2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, salicylic and anthranilic acid, were oxidized well comparatively. On the other hand, phenols suc as phenol, catechol, hydroquinone, resorcinol and pyrogallol-, inhibited the respirator activity. Other aromatic compounds such as mandetic acid, benzyl alcohol, benzoic aci and tyrosine, were little oxidized as substrates.
From the results described above, the author presumes that the oxidative metabolis .of PAA by Penicillium chrysogenum Q-176 follows neither the rupture of homogentisic aci (2, 5-dihydorxyphenylacetic acid) which has been studied by S_UDA, T_AKEDA^(13)(14) and RAVDIN, C_RANDELL⁽¹⁵⁾, nor the rupture of catechol which has been studied by E_VANS^(16)(17) K_ILBY^(18)(19) and S_TANIER⁽²⁰⁾.

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Starch formation in leaf was studied using leaf discs floating on various sbstrate solutions under various conditions.
The effects of many organic acids were illustrated in Table 1, as well as the availabilities of sugars and sugar alcohols. Addition of malonate or succinate decreased the power of starch formation from glucose, (see Table 2) the effect, however, was dependent on the cation present and the conditions of illumination. The necessity of oxygen for the starch formation in leaf discs from glucose was observed by the data shown in Table 3 and 4. Further more, the tables show that the arsenate or 2, 4-dinitrophenol inhibited the synthesis completely, without any marked effect on respiration. These data together with the previous report⁽¹⁾ seem to suggest the possibility that in higher plants too, oxidative phosphorylation should play an essential role for energy translation.

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It was found that extracts of higher plant tissues inhibit the oxidative phosphorylation in animal tissue homogenate system. (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3)
The inhibitor was identified as Ca''. (Table 1, Table 2) The inhibiting action of Ca'' was eliminated most effectively by the previous addition of NaF. (Table 3, Table 4)

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