Optimization of extracellular thermotolerant alkaline protease produced by marine <Emphasis Type="Italic">Roseobacter</Emphasis> sp. (MMD040)

Marine endosymbiontic Roseobacter sp. (MMD040), which produced high yields of protease, was isolated from marine sponge Fasciospongia cavernosa, collected from the peninsular coast of India. Maximum production of enzyme was obtained in Luria-Bertani broth. Catabolite repression was observed when the medium was supplemented with readily available carbon sources. The optimum temperature and pH for the enzyme production was 37 degrees C and 7.0, respectively. The enzyme exhibited maximum activity in pH range of 6-9 with an optimum pH of 8.0 and retained nearly 92.5% activity at pH 9.0. The enzyme was stable at 40 degrees C and showed 89% activity at 50 degrees C. Based on the present findings, the enzyme was characterized as thermotolerant alkaline protease, which can be developed for industrial applications.     

An Antifungal Protein Purified from Pearl Millet Seeds Shows Sequence Homology to Lipid Transfer Proteins

In the course of a search for antifungal proteins from plant seeds, we observed inhibition of mycelial growth of Trichoderma viride with extracts of pearl millet. We have identified several proteins with antifungal properties in the seeds of pearl millet. One of these proteins has been purified to homogeneity and characterized. The purified protein has a molecular mass of 25 kDa. The N-terminal sequence of the protein (25 residues) shows homology to non-specific lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) of cotton, wheat and barley. The purified LTP inhibited mycelial growth of T. viride and the rice sheath blight fungus, Rhizoctonia solani in vitro.     

A rapid protocol for somatic embryogenesis from immature leaflets of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Summary Plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis was developed in two groundnut varieties. Somatic embryogenesis was induced from immature leaflets on MS medium with different concentrations of the auxins 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) or naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) in combination with 0.5 mg/l of the cytokinin BA. The highest frequency of somatic embryo formation occurred on MS medium fortified with 20 mg 2,4-D per l. Of the two auxins tested individually 2,4-D was more effective for induction of embryogenesis as well as production of embryos. Embryo development and maturation was achieved on MS medium supplemented with N⁶-benzyladenine (BA) (0.5–2.0 mg/l) and 2,4-D (0.5 mg/l). Plant conversion frequency from somatic embryos was highest in presence of 2.0 mg BA per l and 0.5 mg NAA per l. The frequency of embryogenesis and plant regeneration was higher in the VRI-2 cultivar than in the other cultivar tested. Regenerated plants were transferred to soil, grown to maturity, and produced viable seeds.     

The proximal proteome of 17 SARS-CoV-2 proteins links to disrupted antiviral signaling and host translation

Viral proteins localize within subcellular compartments to subvert host machinery and promote pathogenesis. To study SARS-CoV-2 biology, we generated an atlas of 2422 human proteins vicinal to 17 SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins using proximity proteomics. This identified viral proteins at specific intracellular locations, such as association of accessary proteins with intracellular membranes, and projected SARS-CoV-2 impacts on innate immune signaling, ER-Golgi transport, and protein translation. It identified viral protein adjacency to specific host proteins whose regulatory variants are linked to COVID-19 severity, including the TRIM4 interferon signaling regulator which was found proximal to the SARS-CoV-2 M protein. Viral NSP1 protein adjacency to the EIF3 complex was associated with inhibited host protein translation whereas ORF6 localization with MAVS was associated with inhibited RIG-I 2CARD-mediated IFNB1 promoter activation. Quantitative proteomics identified candidate host targets for the NSP5 protease, with specific functional cleavage sequences in host proteins CWC22 and FANCD2. This data resource identifies host factors proximal to viral proteins in living human cells and nominates pathogenic mechanisms employed by SARS-CoV-2.     

Down-regulation of adenylate cyclase-coupled response to native bovine parathyroid hormone and fragments in the osteoblast-like cell line UMR-106.

1. Parathyroid hormone-induced down-regulation was studied in the osteosarcoma cell line UMR-106. 2. A maximal priming does of bPTH (1-84) down-regulated PTH-responsiveness to 40% of its initial value; bPTH (1-41) was less effective than bPTH (1-84), whereas bPTH (42-84) had no effect, alone or in combination with bPTH (1-41). 3. A tentative model for the function of different domains of parathyroid hormone in down-regulation is suggested.     

Stability of the larvicidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis: amino acid modification and denaturants

The Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis mosquito larvicidal toxin is not a sulfhydryl-activated toxin. The protein disulfide bonds were cleaved and blocked without loss of toxicity. In contrast, modification of the lysine side chains eliminated toxicity. Additionally, the toxin was resistant to high concentrations of salt (8 M NaBr), organic solvents (40% methanol), denaturants (4 M urea), and neutral detergents (10% Triton X-100). However, it was inactivated by both positively and negatively charged detergents and by guanidine hydrochloride.     

The glycoprotein toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis indicates a lectinlike receptor in the larval mosquito gut.

The mosquito-active protein crystals produced by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis contain covalently attached aminosugars which are critical for their larvicidal activity. The 50% lethal concentrations toward Aedes aegypti larvae were increased up to 10-fold by mild periodate treatment, up to 40-fold by forming the protein crystals in the presence of tunicamycin, and up to 7-fold by the presence during the mosquito bioassays of N-acetylglucosamine or its trimer, triacetylchitotriose. Periodate-treated crystals and crystals formed in the presence of tunicamycin had greatly reduced binding capacities for wheat germ agglutinin, an N-acetylglucosamine-specific lectin. These results suggest that the B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis glycoprotein toxin binds to a lectinlike receptor in the larval mosquito gut. Furthermore, the distinct lectin-binding patterns exhibited by diptera-active versus lepidoptera-active B. thuringiensis crystals suggest that host specificity for the microbial insecticides is determined, in part, by the carbohydrate portion of their glycoprotein crystals.     

Ca(II)-calmodulin regulation of morphological commitment in Ceratocystis ulmi

Abstract The commitment phenomenon exhibited by Ceratocystis ulmi is a manifestation of the requirement for a Ca(II)-calmodulin interaction for mycelial growth. Under otherwise identical conditions, addition of CaCl₂(10 mM) to committed yeasts caused them to germinate, while addition of the calmodulin antagonists chlorpromazine (80 μM), dibucaine (750 μM), or trifluoperazine (60 μM) to committed mycelia caused them to bud.     

Biological inductions of systemic resistance to collar rot of peppermint caused by Sclerotium rolfsii

The efficacy of eight fungal and eight bacterial isolates was tested for their ability to inhibit the growth of Sclerotium rolfsii, the causal agent of collar rot of peppermint. In vitro studies revealed that Trichoderma harzianum (THA) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (PFM) showed the highest inhibition of mycelial growth (68.28; 74.25 %) of S. rolfsii. The antagonists T. harzianum and P. fluorescens were compatible with each other and they were tested alone and together in in vivo for the control of S. rolfsii. Besides, the induction of defense-related enzymes such as peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and the accumulation of phenolics in peppermint plants due to the application of bioagents were also studied. Combined application of talc-based formulation of bioagents and challenge inoculation with S. rolfsii recorded maximum induction of defense-related enzymes, and accumulation of phenolics as compared with individual application. This study suggests that the increased induction of defense-related enzymes (two- to threefold) and phenolic content (threefold) due to the combination treatment of bioagents might be involved in the reduction of collar rot incidence.