Random mutagenesis in the large extrinsic loop E and transmembrane α-helix VI of the CP 47 protein of Photosystem II

The intrinsic chlorophyll-protein CP 47 is a component of Photosystem II which functions in both light-harvesting and oxygen evolution. Using the Escherichia coli mutator strain XL-1 Red, we introduced mutations at 14 sites in the large extrinsic loop E of CP 47 and its adjacent transmembrane -helix VI. Four mutant cell lines were recovered in which the histidyl residues 455H, 466H and 469H were altered. The cell lines H455T, H455Y, H469Y, and the double mutant F432L,H466R exhibited phenotypes that supported the identification of the histidyl residues 455H, 466H and 469H as chlorophyll ligands. Four additional mutant cell lines were recovered which contained mutations at positions 448R in the large extrinsic loop of CP 47. These mutants, R448K, R448Q, R448S, and R448W, exhibited variable phenotypes ranging from moderate alteration of photoautotrophic growth and oxygen evolution rates to a complete inhibition of these parameters. Those mutants exhibiting photoautotrophic growth and oxygen evolution capability under standard conditions were unable to grow photoautotrophically or evolve oxygen when grown at low chloride concentrations. Finally, a mutant cell line exhibiting a substitution at position 342G was recovered. The mutant G342D exhibited moderate alterations of photoautotrophic growth and oxygen evolution. In addition to these alterations, mutants were recovered in which deletions and insertions (leading to frame shifts) and stop codons were introduced. These mutants uniformly lacked the ability to either grow photoautotrophically or evolve oxygen.     

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of another variant of the Escherichia coli Shiga-like toxin II family

Escherichia coli strain H.I.8 (O128:B12) produces low levels of a Shiga-like toxin (SLT) which we have called SLTIIva because of its close relationship with SLTIIv. The Vero cell cytotoxicity of SLTIIva is neutralized by antisera against SLTII and SLTIIv but not by antisera against SLTI. These data indicate that the SLT of strain H.I.8 is a member of the SLTII family. Since SLTIIva shares with SLTIIv the property of having low cytotoxicity to HeLa cells compared with Vero cells, it is appropriate to consider both toxins as variants of SLTII. SLTIIva differs from SLTIIv in that it is more heat-stable. Further, SLTIIv-producing strains of E. coli have only been isolated from pigs while the SLTIIva-producing E. coli strain examined in this study was isolated from a human infant with diarrhoea. The genes for this SLT were cloned from a cosmid library of total cellular DNA by screening recombinants for Vero cell toxicity and with a DNA probe derived from SLTIIv structural genes. Nucleotide sequence analysis was performed on a 2.0 kb AvaII-HincII fragment which encodes the toxin gene. The nucleotide sequence data confirm the close relationship between SLTIIva and SLTIIv: they have 98% nucleotide sequence homology in the B subunit gene and 70.6% homology in the A subunit gene. Comparison of DNA sequences indicated that SLTIIva was most closely related to SLTIIv, closely related to SLTII and less closely related to SLTI.     

Cutting edge: nonglycosidic CD1d lipid ligands activate human and murine invariant NKT cells

Invariant NKT cells (iNKT cells) recognize CD1d/glycolipid complexes. We demonstrate that the nonglycosidic compound threitolceramide efficiently activates iNKT cells, resulting in dendritic cell (DC) maturation and the priming of Ag-specific T and B cells. Threitolceramide-pulsed DCs are more resistant to iNKT cell-dependent lysis than alpha-galactosylceramide-pulsed DCs due to the weaker affinity of the human iNKT TCR for CD1d/ threitolceramide than CD1d/alpha-galactosylceramide complexes. iNKT cells stimulated with threitolceramide also recover more quickly from activation-induced anergy. Kinetic and functional experiments showed that shortening or lengthening the threitol moiety by one hydroxymethylene group modulates ligand recognition, as human and murine iNKT cells recognize glycerolceramide and arabinitolceramide differentially. Our data broaden the range of potential iNKT cell agonists. The ability of these compounds to assist the priming of Ag-specific immune responses while minimizing iNKT cell-dependent DC lysis makes them attractive adjuvants for vaccination strategies.     

Urokinase is required for the formation of mactinin,an alpha-actinin fragment that promotes monocyte/macrophage maturation

Myostatin is a recently discovered gene that inhibits muscle growth. In the present study, we characterized the myostatin locus and its expression in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). The genomic DNA and cDNA encoding the channel catfish myostatin were cloned and sequenced. The myostatin gene has three exons encoding a protein of 389 amino acids. Comparison of the genomic sequences with those of the cDNA revealed that the myostatin cDNA was 1673 base pair (bp) long with a 5'-untranslated region (UTR) and 3'-UTR of 180 and 323 bp, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences of the catfish myostatin is highly conserved with those of other organisms. The myostatin locus is highly polymorphic in channel catfish because of the presence of several microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphic sites. The myostatin gene was expressed in various tissues and developmental stages at differential levels, suggesting complex regulation of this gene and perhaps roles for myostatin in addition to those originally suggested.     

Transgenic oil palm: production and projection

Oil palm is an important economic crop for Malaysia. Genetic engineering could be applied to produce transgenic oil palms with high value-added fatty acids and novel products to ensure the sustainability of the palm oil industry. Establishment of a reliable transformation and regeneration system is essential for genetic engineering. Biolistic was initially chosen as the method for oil palm transformation as it has been the most successful method for monocotyledons to date. Optimization of physical and biological parameters, including testing of promoters and selective agents, was carried out as a prerequisite for stable transformation. This has resulted in the successful transfer of reporter genes into oil palm and the regeneration of transgenic oil palm, thus making it possible to improve the oil palm through genetic engineering. Besides application of the Biolistics method, studies on transformation mediated by Agrobacterium and utilization of the green fluorescent protein gene as a selectable marker gene have been initiated. Upon the development of a reliable transformation system, a number of useful targets are being projected for oil palm improvement. Among these targets are high-oleate and high-stearate oils, and the production of industrial feedstock such as biodegradable plastics. The efforts in oil palm genetic engineering are thus not targeted as commodity palm oil. Due to the long life cycle of the palm and the time taken to regenerate plants in tissue culture, it is envisaged that commercial planting of transgenic palms will not occur any earlier than the year 2020.     

Apparent Young's modulus of vertebral cortico-cancellous bone specimens

Up to now, due to cortical thickness and imaging resolution, it is not possible to derive subject-specific mechanical properties on the 'vertebral shell' from imaging modalities applicable in vivo. As a first step, the goal of this study was to assess the apparent Young's modulus of vertebral cortico-cancellous bone specimens using an inverse method. A total of 22 cortico-cancellous specimens were harvested from 22 vertebral bodies. All specimens were tested in compression until failure. To compute the apparent Young's modulus of the specimen from the inverse method, the boundary conditions of the biomechanical experiments were faithfully reproduced in a finite element model (FEM), and an optimisation routine was used. The results showed a mean of the apparent Young's modulus of 374?±?208?MPa, ranging from 87 to 791?MPa. By computing an apparent Young's modulus of a cortico-cancellous medium, this study gives mechanical data for an FEM of an entire vertebra including an external shell combining both bone tissues.     

Bone marrow stromal cells stimulate neurite outgrowth over neural proteoglycans (CSPG), myelin associated glycoprotein and Nogo-A

In animal models, transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells (MSC) into the spinal cord following injury enhances axonal regeneration and promotes functional recovery. How these improvements come about is currently unclear. We have examined the interaction of MSC with neurons, using an established in vitro model of nerve growth, in the presence of substrate-bound extracellular molecules that are thought to inhibit axonal regeneration, i.e., neural proteoglycans (CSPG), myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG) and Nogo-A. Each of these molecules repelled neurite outgrowth from dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in a concentration-dependent manner. However, these nerve-inhibitory effects were much reduced in MSC/DRG co-cultures. Video microscopy demonstrated that MSC acted as “cellular bridges” and also “towed” neurites over the nerve-inhibitory substrates. Whereas conditioned medium from MSC cultures stimulated DRG neurite outgrowth over type I collagen, it did not promote outgrowth over CSPG, MAG or Nogo-A. These findings suggest that MSC transplantation may promote axonal regeneration both by stimulating nerve growth via secreted factors and also by reducing the nerve-inhibitory effects of the extracellular molecules present.     

Genome re-diploidization occurs spontaneously just prior to anthesis in artificially induced auto-tetraploid maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - In this study, various concentrations of oryzalin (0, 5, 10, 50, and 100 mg l?1), trifluralin (0, 5, 10, 50, and...