Development of realistic models for Double Metal Cyanide catalyst active sites

Realistic molecular models of one and two-centre catalytic active sites originating from the cleavage of a precursor material known to give rise to an active double metal cyanide catalyst are described. Via periodic density functional calculations the structure of the proposed catalytic sites are shown to be dependent on electrostatic and structural relaxation processes occurring at the surfaces of the precursor material. It is shown how these effects may be adequately captured by small molecular models of the active sites. The general methodology proposed should provide a computationally efficient basis for detailed future studies into catalytic reactions over double metal cyanide materials. Figure Reconstructed DMC [100]-surface: electrostatic potential mapped on charge density isosurface This work has been originally presented on the Modelling and Design of Molecular Materials conference in Wrocław, Poland.     

Molecular evolution of a multigene family in group A streptococci

The emm genes are members of a gene family in group A streptococci (GAS) that encode for antiphagocytic cell-surface proteins and/or immunoglobulin-binding proteins. Previously sequenced genes in this family have been named "emm," "fcrA," "enn," "arp," "protH," and "mrp"; herein they will be referred to as the "emm gene family." The genes in the emm family are located in a cluster occupying 3-6 kb between the genes mry and scpA on the chromosome of Streptococcus pyogenes. Most GAS strains contain one to three tandemly arranged copies of emm-family genes in the cluster, but the alleles within the cluster vary among different strains. Phylogenetic analysis of the conserved sequences at the 3' end of these genes differentiates all known members of this family into four evolutionarily distinct emm subfamilies. As a starting point to analyze how the different subfamilies are related evolutionarily, the structure of the emm chromosomal region was mapped in a number of diverse GAS strains by using subfamily-specific primers in the polymerase chain reaction. Nine distinct chromosomal patterns of the genes in the emm gene cluster were found. These nine chromosomal patterns support a model for the evolution of the emm gene family in which gene duplication followed by sequence divergence resulted in the generation of four major-gene subfamilies in this locus.      

The effects of food type, meal size and body weight on digestion and gastric evacuation in turbot, Scophthalmus maximus L.

Experiments were conducted on a size range of turbot using whole prey organisms. Stomach contents were serially sampled at intervals after feeding on a range of meal sizes of sandeels and sprats. Gastric evacuation was essentially linear with time, though some fluctuations were observed. Control over evacuation appeared to be by regulation of the processes leading to chyme production. Close agreement between evacuation rate and the satiation feeding rate of fish in laboratory experiments was observed. Implications of these findings for techniques of estimating the feeding rates of natural fish populations are discussed.     

High-level, heat-regulated synthesis of proteins in eukaryotic cells

Plasmids have been constructed in which promoters of 70-kDa heat-shock protein genes (hsp70) of human and Drosophila origin were linked to three different eukaryotic genes encoding human growth hormone (hGH), chicken lysozyme (cL) and a human influenza haemagglutinin (HA). Following transfection into widely divergent eukaryotic cells, the hybrid genes direct the transient, heat-regulated synthesis of the three proteins. hGH and cL are secreted into the medium. A human hsp70-hGH construct was used to establish stable mouse fibroblast lines that are capable of producing and secreting hGH at high levels following heat induction: hGH is secreted at a 500-1200-fold higher rate by heat-treated than by untreated cells.     

Selective alginate degradation by marine bacteria associated with the algal genusSargassum

Summary Alginase-secreting bacteria associated with actively growing tissues of the marine Phaeophyta speciesSargassum fluitans andS. natans have been isolated and evaluated for their ability to degrade alginate (ALG), carboxymethylcellulose, and agar. Of seven isolates selected for their ability to grow on 2% agar containing 1% sodium alginate, none were able to grow on either 2% agar or 2% agar supplemented with 0.1% carboxymethylcellulose. Two of these with fermentative potential, i.e., ALG-A and ALG-G, showed selective activities with respect to their ability to degrade native alginate and/or take up the products resulting from alginate degradation. The ALG-A isolate was able to rapidly degrade native alginate with the generation of a stable polymer fraction and small oligouronides, most of which were dissimilated for growth. The ALG-G isolate was able to completely degrade native alginate with the accumulation of significant quantities of unsaturated dimeric and trimeric oligouronides. A limit polymer was generated from the action of a polymannuronan-specific extracellular alginate lyase purified from exponential cultures of the ALG-A organism. This product proved to be an effective substrate for the alginate lyase activity obtained from the medium of exponential phase cultures of the ALG-G isolate, and upon incubation with concentrated and dialyzed ALG-G medium was converted to the products that were observed to accumulate in the medium of the ALG-G isolate grown on native alginate. These organisms represent examples of the microflora associated with actively growingSargassum tissues, each with a selective ability to degrade and dissimilate the biomass of the marine brown algae.     

X-treme loss of sequence diversity linked to neo-X chromosomes in filarial nematodes

The sequence diversity of natural and laboratory populations of Brugia pahangi and Brugia malayi was assessed with Illumina resequencing followed by mapping in order to identify single nucleotide variants and insertions/deletions. In natural and laboratory Brugia populations, there is a lack of sequence diversity on chromosome X relative to the autosomes (π_X/π_A = 0.2), which is lower than the expected (π_X/π_A = 0.75). A reduction in diversity is also observed in other filarial nematodes with neo-X chromosome fusions in the genera Onchocerca and Wuchereria, but not those without neo-X chromosome fusions in the genera Loa and Dirofilaria. In the species with neo-X chromosome fusions, chromosome X is abnormally large, containing a third of the genetic material such that a sizable portion of the genome is lacking sequence diversity. Such profound differences in genetic diversity can be consequential, having been associated with drug resistance and adaptability, with the potential to affect filarial eradication.     

The influence of feeding regime on sexual maturation, fecundity and atresia in first-time spawning turbot

Exposure of adolescent turbot Scophthalmus maximus to low rations during vitellogenesis, covering the 4 months immediately prior to spawning, led to a drop of 70% in mean ovary weight, and was associated with poor growth of the vitellogenic oocytes or, in a third of cases, the absence of vitellogenic oocytes. Exposure to low rations during the recruitment of vitellogenic oocytes, 4–8 months prior to spawning, produced a more variable response. A few of these females produced well-developed vitellogenic oocytes, but in most, vitellogenic oocytes were absent or only poorly developed and in some cases there was a high incidence of atresia. Exposure to intermediate rations throughout oocyte recritment and vitellogenesis also depressed oocyte development. In maturing females the number of non-atretic vitellogenic oocytes (relative potential fecundity) averaged 998 per g of somatic body weight of fish at the start of the spawning season in mid-June. Maturation of the males was not significantly influenced by the dietary regime. The small size of the testes and the low levels of milt production, even in fish fed high rations immediately prior to spawning, showed that reproductive investment in males was much lower than in females.