2,3-Butanediol (2,3-BDO) is of considerable importance in the chemical, plastic, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. The main bacterial species producing this compound are considered pathogenic, hindering large-scale productivity. The species Paenibacillus brasilensis is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and is phylogenetically similar to P. polymyxa, a species widely used for 2,3-BDO production. Here, we demonstrate, for the first time, that P. brasilensis strains produce 2,3-BDO. Total 2,3-BDO concentrations for 15 P. brasilensis strains varied from 5.5 to 7.6 g/l after 8 h incubation at 32 °C in modified YEPD medium containing 20 g/l glucose. Strain PB24 produced 8.2 g/l of 2,3-BDO within a 12-h growth period, representing a yield of 0.43 g/g and a productivity of 0.68 g/l/h. An increase in 2,3-BDO production by strain PB24 was observed using higher concentrations of glucose, reaching 27 g/l of total 2,3-BDO in YEPD containing about 80 g/l glucose within a 72-h growth period. We sequenced the genome of P. brasilensis PB24 and uncovered at least six genes related to the 2,3-BDO pathway at four distinct loci. We also compared gene sequences related to the 2,3-BDO pathway in P. brasilensis PB24 with those of other spore-forming bacteria, and found strong similarity to P. polymyxa, P. terrae, and P. peoriae 2,3-BDO-related genes. Regulatory regions upstream of these genes indicated that they are probably co-regulated. Finally, we propose a production pathway from glucose to 2,3-BDO in P. brasilensis PB24. Although the gene encoding S-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase (butA) was found in the genome of P. brasilensis PB24, only R,R-2,3- and meso-2,3-butanediol were detected by gas chromatography under the growth conditions tested here. Our findings can serve as a basis for further improvements to the metabolic capabilities of this little-studied Paenibacillus species in relation to production of the high-value chemical 2,3-butanediol.
Knowing how microevolutionary processes, such as genetic drift and natural selection, shape variation in adaptive traits is strategic for conservation measures. One way to estimate local adaptation is to compare divergences in quantitative traits (QST) and neutral loci (FST). Therefore, we have assessed the pattern of phenotypic and molecular genetic divergence among natural subpopulations of the fruit tree Eugenia dysenterica DC. A provenance and progeny test was performed to assess the quantitative traits of the subpopulations collected in a wide distribution area of the species in the Brazilian Cerrado. The sampled environments are in a biodiversity hotspot with heterogeneous soil and climate conditions. By associating quantitative trait variation in initial seedling development with neutral microsatellite marker variation, we tested the local adaptation of the traits by the QST–FST contrast. Genetic drift was prevalent in the phenotypic differentiation among the subpopulations, although the traits seedling emergence time and root green mass, which are relevant for adaptation to the Cerrado climate, showed signs of uniform selection. Our results suggest that E. dysenterica has a spatial genetic structure divided into two large groups, separated by a line that divides the Cerrado biome in a southwestern to northeastern direction. This structure must be taken into account for managing E. dysenterica genetic resources both for conservation and breeding purposes. 相似文献
We evaluated the environmental adaptability of Lavandula multifida L., a plant species presents in the Western Mediterranean Basin with a threatened peripheral population in Southern Italy. Germination capacity, activities of some hydrolyzing enzymes associated with germination and antioxidative pathway of Calabrian L. multifida were quantified in comparison with a Spanish core population. The Calabrian population showed a lower germination ability and it can be related to the small size of the population and associated inbreeding depression. Difference between two populations in enzymatic assays and antioxidative pattern during germination and early seedling development may in part explain a different ability of these two populations to respond to external cues and a diverse environmental adaptability. The study on germination strategies of isolated populations is important to define possible programmes to preserve genetic biodiversity of autochthon plants populations. 相似文献
We report the presence, in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of all of the
sexual species of the salamander family Ambystomatidae, of a shared 240- bp
intergenic spacer between tRNAThr and tRNAPro. We place the intergenic
spacer in context by presenting the sequence of 1,746 bp of mtDNA from
Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum, describe the nucleotide composition of the
intergenic spacer in all of the species of Ambystomatidae, and compare it
to other coding and noncoding regions of Ambystoma and several other
vertebrate mtDNAs. The nucleotide substitution rate of the intergenic
spacer is approximately three times faster than the substitution rate of
the control region, as shown by comparisons among six Ambystoma
macrodactylum sequences and eight members of the Ambystoma tigrinum
complex. We also found additional inserts within the intergenic spacers of
five species that varied from 87-444 bp in length. The presence of the
intergenic spacer in all sexual species of Ambystomatidae suggests that it
arose at least 20 MYA and has been a stable component of the ambystomatid
mtDNA ever since. As such, it represents one of the few examples of a large
and persistent intergenic spacer in the mtDNA of any vertebrate clade.
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We have isolated and characterised the nuclear gene that codes for the 30.4-kDa subunit of the peripheral arm of complex I
from Neurospora crassa. The single-copy gene was localised on chromosome VI of the fungal genome by restriction fragment length polymorphism mapping.
An extra copy of the gene was introduced into a strain of N. crassa by transformation. This strain was crossed with another strain in order to inactivate, by repeat-induced point mutations,
both copies of the duplication carried by the parental transformant. Ascospore progeny from the cross were analysed and a
mutant strain lacking the 30.4-kDa protein, nuo30.4, was isolated and further characterised. The mutant appears to assemble
the membrane arm of complex I, while formation of the peripheral arm is prevented. Nevertheless, the mutant grows reasonably
well – indicating that this well conserved protein is not essential for vegetative growth – and is able to mate with other
strains both as male or female. Strains with multiple mutations are readily obtained from heterozygous crosses between different
complex I mutants of N. crassa. On the other hand, homozygous crosses between several mutants, including nuo30.4, fail to produce ascospores. These results
suggest that complex I plays an essential role during the sexual phase of the life cycle of the fungus.
Received: 24 February 1997 / Accepted: 23 September 1997 相似文献
Autoradiograms of total lipid extracts from Streptococcus faecalis ATCC 9790, harvested in the stationary phase from a medium containing (32)P-orthophosphate, showed six major spots. The corresponding compounds were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol (possibly with a penta acyl structure); phosphatidylglycerol; a provisionally identified mixture of alanylphosphatidylglycerol and of the 2'-lysyl-derivative of phosphatidylglycerol; the 3'-lysyl-derivative of phosphatidylglycerol, probably together with some arginylphosphatidylglycerol; a diglucosyl derivative of phosphatidylglycerol; and a compound which was tentatively identified as the 2',3'-dilysyl derivative of phosphatidylglycerol. 相似文献
Same-sex mounting is an aspect of animal behavior that has received increased attention in recent years in an attempt to improve our limited understanding of the possible causal mechanisms. Here, to our knowledge, we review for the first time same-sex mounting in turtles and tortoises. To this end, we have compiled data on same-sex mounts in 13 chelonian species and discuss the data together with those hypotheses most commonly raised in turtle studies, namely, the intrasexual conflict, maladaptation, mistaken identify, and opposite-sex deprivation hypotheses. Compilation of the data revealed that in almost every species with reports of same-sex mounting there were dominance relationships mediated by aggressive/submissive interactions; most of these cases occurred in captivity, and the sex ratios were not skewed. We discuss future research directions, providing initial ideas of experimental testing on each hypothesis, in the hope of directing more research effort to this field. 相似文献