Tunicamycin-resistant mutants of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens are deficient in amylase, protease and penicillinase synthesis and have altered sensitivity to antibiotics and autolysis

Mutants of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens resistant to at least 10 micrograms/ml of tunicamycin were isolated and shown to be pleiotropic. The mutants were more resistant to streptomycin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin and neomycin than was the parent strain but less resistant to penicillin G and tetracycline. They were more autolytic, presumably due to an altered cell wall. The mutants produced reduced levels of amylase, penicillinase and both metal and serine protease besides having an enhanced sporulation frequency and being more motile.     

DNA sequence plays a major role in determining nucleosome positions in yeast CUP1 chromatin.

The role of DNA sequence in determining nucleosome positions in vivo was investigated by comparing the positions adopted by nucleosomes reconstituted on a yeast plasmid in vitro using purified core histones with those in native chromatin containing the same DNA, described previously. Nucleosomes were reconstituted on a 2.5 kilobase pair DNA sequence containing the yeast TRP1ARS1 plasmid with CUP1 as an insert (TAC-DNA). Multiple, alternative, overlapping nucleosome positions were mapped on TAC-DNA. For the 58 positioned nucleosomes identified, the relative positioning strengths and the stabilities to salt and temperature were determined. These positions were, with a few exceptions, identical to those observed in native, remodeled TAC chromatin containing an activated CUP1 gene. Only some of these positions are utilized in native, unremodeled chromatin. These observations suggest that DNA sequence is likely to play a very important role in positioning nucleosomes in vivo. We suggest that events occurring in yeast CUP1 chromatin determine which positions are occupied in vivo and when they are occupied.     

Decreased expression of J11d antigen during monocytic differentiation of M1 myeloid leukemic cells.

Four myeloid cell lines (M1, WEHI-3B D+, FDC-P1, and 32D) were screened for the presence of J11d antigen. One of these cell lines, the myeloid leukemia M1, was found to express a high level of J11d antigen on the cell surface. Recombinant mouse leukemic inhibitory factor (rm-LIF), recombinant human LIF (rh-LIF), and steroids (hydrocortisone and dexamethasone) could induce M1 cells to undergo monocytic differentiation. The level of J11d antigen was greatly reduced after treatment of the cells with LIF or steroids. Western blotting revealed that the apparent molecular weight of the J11d antigen on M1 cells was 45-48 kDa. Furthermore, the level of J11d mRNA was also reduced during LIF-induced differentiation of M1 cells.     

Role of Soils in Determining Sites for Lowland Heathland Reconstruction in England

No guidelines are currently available that advise which soil properties of arable land can be used to suggest suitable locations for heathland reconstruction. This paper reviews studies comparing soil properties of heathland or semi-natural grassland with those of adjacent arable fields, investigations in the autecology of the dominant heathland plant, Calluna vulgaris (common heather), and long-term experiments of fertilizer inputs on arable soils. Three properties must be assessed before the suitability of a field can be determined: extractable phosphorus, exchangeable calcium, and pH. A number of other nutrients may also be important, but evidence is currently insufficient to substantiate this. Natural changes in levels of extractable phosphorus, exchangeable calcium, and pH appear to be very slow, so nutrient stripping and acidification will be necessary where recommended levels are exceeded to successfully restore heathland vegetation.