奉节脐橙果实苯丙氨酸解氨酶活性及其基因表达与果皮褐变的关系

柑橘果皮褐变严重影响果实的商品价值和耐贮性．以奉节脐橙（Citrus sinensis Osbcck）果实为材料,通过采后常温、涂蜡、低温、机械损伤等处理研究了果实果皮褐变率、苯丙氨酸解氨酶（PAL）活性及PAL上基因在果皮褐变过程中表达水平的变化。结果表明,涂蜡、损伤处理均极显著地提高果实的果皮褐变率,而低温贮藏可显著降低其发生率;贮藏期问各处理的PAL活性均呈上升趋势,损伤处理PAL活性显著高于对照。果实发生褐变或受到机械损伤后,PAL2、PAL6基因的表达均比对照明显增强。结果首次表明脐橙果实PAL活性变化以及PAL2基因的表达与果皮褐变具有非常密切的关系．     

Regulation of Glutamate Dehydrogenase and Glutamine Synthetase in Avocado Fruit during Development and Ripening

The activity, protein, and isoenzymic profiles of glutamate de-hydrogenase (GDH) and glutamine synthetase (GS) were studied during development and ripening of avocado (Percea americana Mill. cv Hass) fruit. During fruit development, the activity and protein content of both GDH and GS remained relatively constant. In contrast, considerable changes in these enzymes were observed during ripening of avocado fruit. The specific activity of GDH increased about 4-fold, coincident with a similar increase in GDH protein content and mRNA levels. On the other hand, GS specific activity showed a decline at the end of the ripening process. On the isoenzymic profile of GDH, changes in the prevalence of the seven isoenzymes were found, with a predominance of the more cathodal isoenzymes in the unripe and of the most anodal isoenzymes in the ripe fruit. Two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed that avocado fruit GDH consists of two subunits whose association gives rise to seven isoenzymes. The results support the view that the predominance of the more anodal isoenzymes in the overripe fruit was due to the accumulation of the [alpha]-polypeptide.     

Synthetic peptide analogs of skeletal troponin C: fluorescence studies of analogs of the low-affinity calcium-binding site II

Two 12-residue peptides were synthesized by the solid-phase method as structural analogs of a Ca2+-binding loop of rabbit skeletal troponin C. The sequence of the analogs corresponds to the binding loop of the Ca2+-specific low affinity binding site II (residues 63-74) but with two amino acid substitutions. In one analog, Phe-72 was replaced by tyrosine. In the other Gly-66 was substituted by serine and Phe-72 by tyrosine. The intrinsic fluorescence of the peptides was enhanced upon addition of Tb3+ or large excess of Ca2+. From the enhancement of Tb3+ emission association constants in the range (2-3) X 10(5) M-1 and a binding stoichiometry of 1 were determined for Tb3+ binding to the peptides. Large excess of Ca2+ displaced Tb3+ from the Tb3+-peptide complexes and from these results apparent stability constants of 500-700 M-1 were deduced for Ca2+ binding. Preliminary proton nuclear magnetic resonance results on one of the peptides indicated that La3+ induced considerable perturbation of the amide proton resonances of several residues, including the aspartate at position 3, the tyrosine at position 10, and the two glutamates at the C-terminus. The results suggest involvement of these residues in cation coordination.     

Anlagenplan und Regulationserscheinungen in der Keimanlage des Eies von Gryllus domesticus

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Positive genetic interactors of HMG2 identify a new set of genetic perturbations for improving sesquiterpene production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Background

Production of correctly disulfide bonded proteins to high yields remains a challenge. Recombinant protein expression in Escherichia coli is the popular choice, especially within the research community. While there is an ever growing demand for new expression strains, few strains are dedicated to post-translational modifications, such as disulfide bond formation. Thus, new protein expression strains must be engineered and the parameters involved in producing disulfide bonded proteins must be understood.

Results

We have engineered a new E. coli protein expression strain named SHuffle, dedicated to producing correctly disulfide bonded active proteins to high yields within its cytoplasm. This strain is based on the trxB gor suppressor strain SMG96 where its cytoplasmic reductive pathways have been diminished, allowing for the formation of disulfide bonds in the cytoplasm. We have further engineered a major improvement by integrating into its chromosome a signal sequenceless disulfide bond isomerase, DsbC. We probed the redox state of DsbC in the oxidizing cytoplasm and evaluated its role in assisting the formation of correctly folded multi-disulfide bonded proteins. We optimized protein expression conditions, varying temperature, induction conditions, strain background and the co-expression of various helper proteins. We found that temperature has the biggest impact on improving yields and that the E. coli B strain background of this strain was superior to the K12 version. We also discovered that auto-expression of substrate target proteins using this strain resulted in higher yields of active pure protein. Finally, we found that co-expression of mutant thioredoxins and PDI homologs improved yields of various substrate proteins.

Conclusions

This work is the first extensive characterization of the trxB gor suppressor strain. The results presented should help researchers design the appropriate protein expression conditions using SHuffle strains.     

Cellulase occurs in multiple active forms in ripe avocado fruit mesocarp

The existence of multiple forms of avocado (Persea americana Mill. cv Hass) cellulase in crude protein extracts of ripe avocado fruit is reported. Cellulase was separated into at least 11 multiple forms by native isoelectric focusing in the pH range between 4 and 7 and visualized by both activity staining using Congo red and immunostaining. The enzyme components were acidic proteins with isoelectric points in the range of pH 5.10 to 6.80, the predominant forms having isoelectric points of 5.60, 5.80, 5.95, and 6.20. All 11 forms were immunologically related with molecular masses of 54 kilodaltons.     

Synthesis and biological effect of the C-terminal pentapeptide amide of avian pancreatic hormone III (APP).

Model building studies and analogies drawn from peptides of similar biological activity have indicated that the C-terminus of avian pancreatic hormone III may possess significant biological information. To test this hypothesis, the C-terminal pentapeptide amide sequence has been synthesized by the Merrifield method. The synthesis, purification and characterization of this compound are reported here in detail. In vivo studies indicate that this synthetic segment possesses none of the secretogogic activity of the parent hormone; rather, it reduces "gastric" secretion levels even in the presence of the intact hormone.     

Vergleichende Untersuchungen Der Wildtypen Verschiedener Drosophila-Arten An Hand Von Transplantationen Der Augenanlagen

Zusammenfassung 1. Zwischen den Arten Drosophila miranda und Drosophila melanogaster wurden intra- und interspezifische Transplantationen von Augenimaginalscheiben durchgeführt. Homöo- sowie heteroplastische Transplantationen lieferten gleich gut entwickelte Implantate.2. Das autonom ausgefärbte +(mir)-Implantatauge ist dunkler als das, ebenfalls autonom ausgefärbte, +(m)-Implantatauge.3. Die (mir)-Lymphe enthält etwas mehr ca ⁺- und etwas weniger v ⁺- und cn ⁺-Stoff als die (m)-Lymphe.Mit 2 Textabbildungen.     

Effect of ascorbate oxidase over-expression on ascorbate recycling gene expression in response to agents imposing oxidative stress

Ascorbate oxidase (AO) is a cell wall-localized enzyme that uses oxygen to catalyse the oxidation of ascorbate (AA) to the unstable radical monodehydroascorbate (MDHA) which rapidly disproportionates to yield dehydroascorbate (DHA) and AA, and thus contributes to the regulation of the AA redox state. Here, it is reported that in vivo lowering of the apoplast AA redox state, through increased AO expression in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi), exerts no effects on the expression levels of genes involved in AA recycling under normal growth conditions, but plants display enhanced sensitivity to various oxidative stress-promoting agents. RNA blot analyses suggest that this response correlates with a general suppression of the plant's antioxidative metabolism as demonstrated by lower expression levels of AA recycling genes. Furthermore, studies using Botrytis cinerea reveal that transgenic plants exhibit increased sensitivity to fungal infection, although the response is not accompanied by a similar suppression of AA recycling gene expression. Our current findings, combined with previous studies which showed the contribution of AO in the regulation of AA redox state, suggest that the reduction in the AA redox state in the leaf apoplast of these transgenic plants results in shifts in their capacity to withstand oxidative stress imposed by agents imposing oxidative stress.