Requirements to produce fumarprotocetraric acid using alginate-immobilized cells of Cladonia verticillaris

The biosynthesis of the depsidone, fumarprotocetraric acid, a compound previously considered to be only produced by lichens, has been confirmed by using alginate-immobilized cells of Cladonia verticillaris. Immobilized cells only produce the depsidone when they are supplemented with FMN and acetate. This implies that fumaric acid which esterifies an alcohol function in the C3 of a depsidone precursor is added through a reducing, flavin-dependent, coupling reaction that uses the pool of succinyl-CoA from the fungal partner.     

Comment on: risky subjects: narrative,literary <Emphasis Type="Italic">testimonio</Emphasis> and legal testimony by Shonna Trinch

Vicente Lecuna comments on the Shonna Trinch's contribution about what it might be called the destructive power of narrative. Trinch’s contribution shows us that a power gaining process involves a process of destruction, that constructing an (dialectical) argument in favor of the cause of a subaltern group or class is risky, and could end in a power loss for the witness of violence and narrator of her experience.     

A pyruvate decarboxylase gene from Aspergillus parasiticus

Abstract A gene encoding a putative pyruvate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.1) was isolated from a genomic library of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus parasiticus strain SU-1. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 37% homology to PDC1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Although A. parasiticus has an obligate growth requirement for oxygen, it produced ethanol in shake flask cultures indicating a response to anoxic conditions mediated by pyruvate decarboxylase.     

The effect of the nutritional energy concentration on embryonic and fetal losses in the female rabbit]

The laparoscopy technique was used to examine the effects of feeding 2 concentrations of energy and protein on the reproductive parameters in the doe rabbit. Forty-one does were laparoscopized on day 12 of gestation in order to estimate the ovulation rate and embryo number. Diets 1 and 2 contained 13.0 and 9.7 MJ digestible energy per kg DM and 159 and 135 g crude protein per kg DM respectively. The ovulation rate, number of implanted embryos at 12 d and total litter size at birth were similar for diets 1 and 2 (13.4 vs 14.2, 12.6 vs 12.8 and 9.1 vs 10.8), but the live litter size at birth was higher for diet 2 (7.1 vs 9.8). Laparoscopy is invaluable in determining the effects of diets on oestrus and birth rates in living and sexually active does.     

Mapping impaired olive tree development using electromagnetic induction surveys

Background and aims

Future success of olive cropping in the Mediterranean depends critically on improving yield, reducing production costs, and preventing infestation by soil-borne pathogens. In order to put forward adequate soil management practices accurate knowledge of the spatial distribution of soil properties is required. The aims of this study were to delimit areas with constrained tree development in an olive orchard using electromagnetic induction (EMI), and to identify the causal relationships between apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) and soil properties.

Methods

The experimental field was exhaustively sampled for different soil properties and ECa was measured in 2011 and 2012 under dry and wetter soil conditions, respectively.

Results

The spatial ECa distribution matched the observed canopy coverage pattern well. Three zones were delimited according to ECa values from 0 to 27.5, from 27.5 to 57.5, and greater than 57.5 mS m^?1. All ECa signals, regardless of soil-water status, exhibited a common dominant ECa pattern. The area with the lowest ECa values (0–27.5 mS m^?1) showed optimal tree growth (45 % canopy coverage) and presented significantly lower average clay contents than the other two areas. Intermediate ECa values (27.5–57.5 mS m^?1) identified accurately the area with deficient tree development and tree die-off (12 % canopy coverage), and corresponded with an area along the drainage pathway where profile-averaged soil-water, clay, stone and organic matter content were highest.

Conclusions

EMI surveys detected subtle differences in soil properties and provided useful information to delimit areas with constrained tree development. The approach can be used as a screening technique before installing tree plantations.