Escherichia coli molybdoenzymes can be activated by protein FA from several gram-negative bacteria

Six Gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Erwinia chrysanthemi, Proteus vulgaris, Serratia marescens, Salmonella typhimurium, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were shown to contain an FA-type protein capable of activating aponitrate reductase, apotrimethylamine N-oxide reductase and apoformate dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli. Protein FA activity was highest in Erwinia chrysanthemi and lowest in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All the species also contained the low-Mr (less than or equal to 1500) heat-resistant material previously reported to be necessary for the protein-FA-dependent activation of E. coli chlB nitrate reductase.     

Cytokinin dynamics in xylem sap and leaves of fruiting and de-fruited sunflower hybrids of contrasting post-anthesis canopy senescence patterns during flowering and grain-filling

Plant and Soil - To determine whether xylem sap and leaf cytokinin levels were associated with live root length density (LRLD) and leaf senescence, these variables were measured in intact (control)...     

Carbon Sequestration of Caesalpinia platyloba S. Watt (Leguminosae) (Lott 1985) in the Tropical Deciduous Forest

Caesalpinia platyloba was evaluated as an alternative for the retention of atmospheric carbon and as a feasible and viable economic activity in terms of income for tropical deciduous forest (TDF) peasants in the carbon markets. A total of 110 trees of C. platyloba from plantations and a TDF in the Northwest of Mexico were sampled. Growth (increase in height, diameter, and volume curves) was adjusted to assess their growth. Growth of individuals (height, diameter at breast height [DBH], age, and tree crown cover) was recorded. The Schumacher model (H = β₀e^β₁•E-1), by means of the guided curve method, was used to adjust growth models. Information analysis was made through the non-linear procedure with the multivariate secant or false position (DUD) method using the SAS software. Growth and increase models revealed acceptable adjustments (pseudo R²>0.8). C. platyloba reaches >8m of height with 12cm in diameter and 550cm³ of volume, presenting the highest increase at 11 years considered as basal age. Highest significant density of wood was in good quality sites (0.80g•cm^-3), with a carbon content (average of 99.15tC•ha^-1) at the highest density of 2500 trees•ha^-1 (without thinning). Average incomes of US$483.33tC•ha^-1 are expected. The profitability values (NPW = US$81,646.65, IRR = 472%, and B/C = 0.82) for C. platyloba make its cultivation a viable and profitable activity, considering a management scheme of the income derived from wood selling and from carbon credits.     

Assay of zofenopril and its active metabolite zofenoprilat by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry

Zofenopril is a pro-drug designed to undergo metabolic hydrolysis yielding the active free sulfhydryl compound zofenoprilat, which is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, endowed also with a marked cardioprotective activity. A simple, highly sensitive specific LC–MS–MS method was developed for the determination of zofenopril and zofenoprilat in human plasma. In order to prevent oxidative degradation of zofenoprilat and its internal standard, their free sulfhydryl groups were protected by treatment with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), which produced the succinimide derivatives. The compounds and their corresponding fluorine derivatives, used as internal standards, were extracted from plasma with toluene. The reconstituted dried extracts were chromatographed and then monitored by a triple-stage-quadrupole instrument operating in the negative ion spray ionization mode. The method was validated over the concentration range of 1–300 ng/ml for zofenopril and 2–600 ng/ml for zofenoprilat. Inter- and intra-assay precision and accuracy of both zofenopril and zofenoprilat were better than 10%. The limit of quantitation was 1 ng/ml with zofenopril and 2 ng/ml with zofenoprilat. Extraction recovery proved to be on average 84.8% with zofenopril and 70.1% with zofenoprilat. Similar recoveries were shown by the above two internal standards. The method was applied to measure plasma concentrations of zofenopril and zofenoprilat in 18 healthy volunteers treated orally with zofenopril calcium salt at the dose of 60 mg.     

Heavy Metals and Trace Element Concentrations in Intertidal Soils of Four Estuaries of SW Iberian Peninsula

Soils from four estuaries of SW Iberian Peninsula, affected by anthropogenic influence (urban, industrial and agricultural activities), were analyzed for the occurrence of a variety of metals and trace elements including Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S and Zn. The soils presented very high levels of salinity (high concentrations of Na, K and Mg), organic matter and, consequently, of C and N concentrations. In contrast, very low values of CaCO₃, Ca and P were found. In addition, it should be highlighted that in certain localities (Piedras 1 and 2 and Guadiana in Huelva, Spain, and Ria Formosa, Faro, Portugal) the concentrations of Pb, S and Zn were extremely high, reaching levels of pollution.     

Apical Chlorosis Disease of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) Caused by Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus in Brazil

A severe new disease was observed in field-grown chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plants in Brasilia-DF, central Brazil. Symptoms were mainly general chlorosis accompanied by necrosis of the new growth and plant stunting, but pods were symptomless. Host range studies, serology, particle morphology, and cytopathology showed that tomato-spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV) was the cause of the disease. This is apparently the first report of a chickpea disease caused by natural infection of a tospovirus.     

‘Cool’ adaptations to cold environments: globins in Notothenioidei (Actynopterygii,Perciformes)

Notothenioidei, the taxonomic group of teleosts that dominates the Southern Ocean and dwell in the Ross Sea at large, provide an example of marine species that underwent unique adaptations to life at low temperatures and high oxygen concentrations, resulting in morphological, physiological, genomic, and biochemical peculiarities in comparison with warm-water fish. Global Warming raises concerns over the fate of these stenothermal fish, as their adaptation has been accompanied by irreversible genomic losses, which suggest a poor genetic potential to adapt to warmer climates. Specifically, this review focuses on adaptation of proteins belonging to the globin superfamily, which include the respiratory proteins hemoglobin and myoglobin and the non-respiratory proteins neuroglobin and cytoglobin. Here, we describe their molecular adaptations to cold temperatures in the framework of the physiology of oxygen transport and management of oxidative stress in fish species largely populating the Ross Sea.