New data on the range,biology, and abundance of skilfish Erilepis zonifer (Anoplopomatidae)

Data on the occurrence, spatial-bathymetric distribution, and size composition of skilfish Erilepis zonifer are given on the basis of the materials collected at the long-line catches on the Emperor Ridge seamounts. This fish is a large representative of fam. Anoplopomatidae (maximal length 188 cm; weight 88.5 kg). From June to July 2009, the species was found on all five sampled underwater mountains (Nintoku, Jingu, Ojin, Koko, Northern Koko). The fish was found within the depth range 370–1040 m. The initial biomass of skilfish at the studied seamounts calculated by the Leslie method is approximately 203.5 tons. The structure of the range and possible ways of the dispersion of this species in the waters of the continental slope of the North-Pacific rim are discussed.     

Novel Interaction of the Z-DNA Binding Domain of Human ADAR1 with the Oncogenic c-Myc Promoter G-Quadruplex

Both G-quadruplex and Z-DNA can be formed in G-rich and repetitive sequences on genome, and their formation and biological functions are controlled by specific proteins. Z-DNA binding proteins, such as human ADAR1, have a highly conserved Z-DNA binding domain having selective affinity to Z-DNA. Here, our study identifies the Z-DNA binding domain of human ADAR1 (hZα_ADAR1) as a novel G-quadruplex binding protein that recognizes c-myc promoter G-quadruplex formed in NHEIII₁ region and represses the gene expression. An electrophoretic migration shift assay shows the binding of hZα_ADAR1 to the intramolecular c-myc promoter G-quadruplex-forming DNA oligomer. To corroborate the binding of hZα_ADAR1 to the G-quadruplex, we conducted CD and NMR chemical shift perturbation analyses. CD results indicate that hZα_ADAR1 stabilizes the parallel-stranded conformation of the c-myc G-quadruplex. The NMR chemical shift perturbation data reveal that the G-quadruplex binding region in hZα_ADAR1 was almost identical with the Z-DNA binding region. Finally, promoter assay and Western blot analysis show that hZα_ADAR1 suppresses the c-myc expression promoted by NHEIII₁ region containing the G-quadruplex-forming sequence. This finding suggests a novel function of Z-DNA binding protein as a regulator of G-quadruplex-mediated gene expression.     

Degradation of commercial detergent products by microbial populations of the Lagos lagoon

The biodegradability potentials of three detergent products with the trade names Omo, Teepol and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) by the native bacteria of the Lagos lagoon was carried out using the lagoon die-away method. Physicochemical parameters of the water samples showed that the lagoon in Apapa was more polluted than at theUniversity of Lagos. In 12 days, approximately 30, 60 and 97% of Omo, Teepol and SDS respectively were degraded. SDS with an alkyl sulfate moiety as surfactant supported the highest growth of the detergent-utilizing organisms, indicating that the components of Omo and Teepol are more resistant to microbial attack. The detergent-utilizing bacteria identified were mainly Gram-negative and of the following genera:Vibrio, Klebsiella, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Escherichia, Enterobacter, Proteus, Shigella andCitrobacter. Vibrio was the most frequently encountered organism whileProteus was the rarest. Results of this investigation had shown that detergents made in Nigeria may still contain components that are recalcitrant to biodegradation.     

Biosynthesis of the trichothecene 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol. Identification of the oxygenation steps after isotrichodermin

Upon feeding an excess of the substrate isotrichodermin, five tricyclic metabolites accumulated in Fusarium culmorum cultures. These compounds were also identified as transient intermediates of trichothecene biosynthesis by kinetic pulse labeling. Their structures were characterized by spectroscopic techniques (1H NMR, 13C NMR, 2H NMR, and nuclear Overhauser effect difference experiments) as: 1, 15-deacylcalonectrin; 2, calonectrin; 3, 7-hydroxyisotrichodermin; 4, 8-hydroxyisotrichodermin; and 5, 7, hydroxycalonectrin. Four of these metabolites (1-4) were rigorously proven to be biosynthetic precursors to 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol. Indeed, their deuteriated derivatives were shown to be incorporated very efficiently into 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol by 2H-NMR. In addition, our experimental data suggests that the first oxygenation step after isotrichodermin is at C-15, producing 15-deacylcalonectrin.     

Does vinblastine add to the potency of alpha interferon in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma?

The combination of alpha interferon and vinblastine has been reported to yield a response rate of 30-40% in previously untreated patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. This combination was given to nine patients with advanced metastatic renal carcinoma after they failed or relapsed on alpha-interferon alone, to attempt to evaluate the role of vinblastine in this combination. Neither complete nor partial response was observed. Two patients had disease stabilization for two and seven months. Our preliminary results suggest that vinblastine did not add to the efficacy of interferon in this group of patients.     

The restricted spatial and temporal expression of a nervous-system-specific antigen involved in axon outgrowth during development of the grasshopper

To identify molecules important for pathfinding by growing axons, monoclonal antibodies (mAb) have been generated against embryonic grasshopper tissue. One mAb, 2B2, shows labeling exclusively in the nervous system. It recognizes a surface epitope on neuronal growth cones, filopodia and axons in the central nervous system (CNS). Initially, the antigen is expressed on all processes of the CNS; after 70% of embryonic development, localization of the 2B2 mAb is restricted to a small subset of axon tracts within the ganglia. Immunoprecipitation from embryonic membrane extracts with the 2B2 mAb reveals a unique band of 160 x 10(3) Mr. Functional studies with the 2B2 mAb demonstrate that the antigen is important in growth cone-axon interactions during process outgrowth. Growth cones that extend along axonal substrata are either blocked in growth or grow along an aberrant pathway when embryos are cultured in the presence of the 2B2 mAb. However, pioneer neurons that extend processes on non-neuronal substrata grow normally.     

Extracellular proteinase spectrum ofAspergillus terreus grown on various substrates

The level of proteinase activity and the ratio of proteinases I and II, secreted byAspergillus terreus, a cellulase producer, was followed during its growth on media containing various carbon sources. Correlation was found between the level of proteinase secretion and the rate of change of the cellulase complex spectrum. The extracellular proteolytic system ofA. terreus was presented mainly by proteinase II (metalloproteinase) during cultivation under conditions favoring fast accumulation of low-molar mass cellulases. The results indicate that proteinase II could be responsible for the limited proteolysis of high-molar mass cellulases ofA. terreus into smaller enzymes of the cellulolytic complex, thus changing their substrate specificity.     

Light energy supply in plate-type and light diffusing optical fiber bioreactors

The light distribution profiles of plate-type photobioreactors were investigated. Light reaching individual channels of a plate module is dependent on the orientation of the module to the sun, the position of the channel within a plate and the position of the plate. The highest incident radiation was measured at the south oriented side of the first channel of the front plate. The light intensity decreased from top to ground channels. Different types of light diffusing optical fibers (LDOF) were characterized with respect to their applicability in photobioreactor systems.