Overproduction from a cellulase gene with a high guanosine-plus-cytosine content in Escherichia coli

A recombinant exoglucanase was expressed in Escherichia coli to a level that exceeded 20% of total cellular protein. To obtain this level of overproduction, the exoglucanase gene coding sequence was fused to a synthetic ribosome-binding site, an initiating ATG, and placed under the control of the leftward promoter of bacteriophage lambda contained on the runaway replication plasmid vector pCP3 (E. Remaut, H. Tsao, and W. Fiers, Gene 22:103-113, 1983). With the exception of an inserted asparagine adjacent to the initiating ATG, the highly expressed exoglucanase is identical to the native exoglucanase. The overproduced exoglucanase can be isolated easily in an enriched form as insoluble aggregates, and exoglucanase activity can be recovered by solubilization of the aggregates in 6 M urea or 5 M guanidine hydrochloride. Since the codon usage of the exoglucanase gene is so markedly different from that of E. coli genes, the overproduction of the exoglucanase in E. coli indicates that codon usage may not be a major barrier to heterospecific gene expression in this organism.     

Abundance of mRNAs encoding HMG1/HMG2 class high-mobility-group DNA-binding proteins are differentially regulated in cotyledons of Pharbitis nil

The abundance of an mRNA encoding an HMG1/2 protein from Pharbitis nil (HMG1) has been previously shown to be regulated by light and an endogenous rhythm in cotyledons. A second Pharbitis nil HMG cDNA (HMG2) was characterized. The sequence of HMG2 was 82% and 86% identical to HMG1 at the nucleotide and amino acid level, respectively. As with HMG1, HMG2 mRNA was detected in all vegetative tissues and was most abundant in roots. However, unlike HMG1, HMG2 mRNA abundance did not increase upon transfer of cotyledons to darkness and did not exhibit regulation by an endogenous circadian rhythm when maintained in continuous darkness over a 68 h period. Similarly, while the abundance of HMG1 mRNA during a dark period that induced photoperiodically controlled flowering was dramatically affected by brief light exposure (night break), this treatment had no effect on HMG2 mRNA abundance. Collectively, these data are consistent with a role of HMG1 in contributing to the circadian-regulated and/or dark-regulated gene expression with constitutive expression of HMG2 playing a housekeeping role in the general regulation of gene expression in Pharbitis nil cotyledons.     

Physical and biological parameters that determine the fate of p-chlorophenol in laboratory test systems.

Shake-flask and microcosm studies were conducted to determine the fate of para-chlorophenol (p-CP) in water and sediment systems and the role of sediment and nonsediment surfaces in the biodegradation process. Biodegradation of p-CP in estuarine water samples in shake flasks was slow over incubation periods of 300 h. The addition of detrital sediment resulted in immediate and rapid degradation evidenced by the production of 14CO2 from [14C]p-CP. The addition of sterile sediment, glass beads, or sand resulted in approximately four to six times more CO2 evolution than observed in the water alone. Densities of p-CP-degrading bacteria associated with the detrital sediment were 100 times greater than those enumerated in water. Bacteria in the water and associated with the sediment after preexposure of both water and sediment of p-CP demonstrated enhanced biodegradation. In some microcosms, p-CP was degraded completely in the top 1.0 cm of intact sediment beds. Sediment reworking activities by benthic invertebrates from one site were sufficient to mix p-CP deep into the sediment bed faster than biodegradation or molecular diffusion. p-CP was persistent at lower depths of the sediment, possibly a result of reduced oxygen conditions preventing aerobic biodegradation.     

The significance of steroid metabolism in human cancer

Epidemiological and clinical evidence suggests that steroid hormones are intimately involved in the natural history of many cancers, including those of the breast, endometrium and prostate. However, it has been difficult to demonstrate that progressive changes in tumour development are related to circulating levels of steroids. This may be because further metabolism of steroids occurs locally within the tumour and its adjacent host tissue. Using the breast as an example, data has been reviewed that such local metabolism may (a) markedly change the biological potency of steroid hormones and (b) be associated with the risk, presence, pathology, stage and hormone sensitivity of cancer. The implications of these findings are discussed including the need to identify factors which regulate steroid metabolism in peripheral tissue and tumours. In this way the potential to influence the microenvironment around and within tumour cells may be realized in favour of the patient.