Degradation of aromatic amino acids by Rhodococcus erythropolis

A Gram-positive Rhodococcus erythropolis strain S1 was shown to assimilate aromatic amino acids such as L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, L-tryptophan, D-phenylalanine, D-tyrosine and D-tryptophan, which were utilized not only as the sole carbon source but also as a suitable nitrogen source. The highest growth on these aromatic amino acids occurred at a temperature of 30°C. L-Phenylalanine, L-tyrosine and L-tryptophan degradative pathways would appear to be independent, and to be induced alternatively. The strain S1 also showed the ability to assimilate peptides which consisted of only L-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine.     

Protective Effect of External Ca2+ on Elongation and the Intracellular Concentration of K+ in Intact Mung Bean Roots under High NaCl Stress

The effects of Ca²⁺ in the external medium on intact mung beanroots under high NaCl stress were investigated. With increasingexternal concentrations of NaCl, mung bean roots showed suppressionof elongation and a decrease in the intracellular concentrationof K⁺. Addition of Ca²⁺ to the external medium alleviated theinhibition of root elongation under the high NaCl stress andmaintained a high intracellular concentration of K⁺ in the elongatingregion of the roots. This counter effect of Ca²⁺ against theNaCl stress on roots was correlated with the ratio of [Ca²⁺]/[Na⁺]²in the external medium. A value above 5.0 ? 10^–4 mM^–1resulted in almost complete recovery of root elongation undervarious high concentrations of NaCl. Root elongation for 24h under NaCl stress was correlated with the extent to whichthe intracellular concentration of K⁺ was in excess of 10 mM.Maintenance of an adequate concentration of K⁺ in root cellsis essential for root elongation under salt stress. These findingsindicate that Ca²⁺ prevents the leakage of intracellular K⁺and thereby supports the elongation of roots under salt stress. (Received November 13, 1989; Accepted June 5, 1990)     

Characterization of the deoxyribonuclease activity of diphtheria toxin

Having discovered that the A domain of diphtheria toxin exhibits intrinsic nuclease activity (Chang, M. P., Baldwin, R. L., Bruce, B., and Wisnieski, B. J. (1989) Science 246, 1165-1168), we proceeded to examine the requirements for optimal enzymic expression. In vitro assays with linear double-stranded DNA demonstrated that optimal activity occurs at pH 7.5 and 37 degrees C. A characterization of the stringent cation-dependence of the reaction revealed increasing activity with increasing Mn2+ up to 30 mM. In contrast, activity levels with Ca2+ or Zn2+ alone peaked at 100 microM and with Mg2+ alone at 1 mM. The Zn2(+)- and Mg2(+)-stimulated activities appear to be dependent on trace amounts of Ca2+. Indeed, inclusion of 2 mM Ca2+ plus 3 mM Mg2+ in the reaction buffer promoted a high level of DNA cleavage even though very little cleavage was seen with either cation alone at 2-3 mM. Addition of 20-200 mM NaCl or KCl caused progressive inhibition. Detection of diphtheria toxin nuclease activity under physiologically relevant conditions suggests that it may be operative in vivo and supports our contention that diphtheria toxin-induced cytolysis is not a simple consequence of protein synthesis inhibition, but rather the final step in a cytolytic pathway linked to chromosomal integrity.     

Ant assemblage composition explains high predation pressure on artificial caterpillars during early night

1. Predator–prey interactions, especially those involving herbivorous insects, are of great importance in maintaining biodiversity. Predation pressure varies temporally in response to prey availability and activity. However, little is known about the patterns and drivers of fluctuations in predation pressure at fine temporal scales. 2. Artificial caterpillars (placed on plant leaves at breast height) were used to assess changes in predation pressure across four time intervals of the day in a monsoonal tropical rainforest in south-west China. The study examined how assemblage composition of arboreal ants, the dominant predators, changed across the same time intervals. The potential linkages between biotic (arboreal ants) and abiotic (temperature and light intensity) factors with predation rate were evaluated. 3. Predation rate on caterpillars during the early part of the night (19.00–01.00 hours) was significantly higher than in the morning, afternoon, or late night. Ant assemblage composition, rather than species richness or total abundance, best explained the variations in predation rate on artificial caterpillars. 4. The results help to strengthen understanding of trophic interactions by demonstrating that predation pressure fluctuates at finer timescales than previously tested, and that a particular set of ant species may play major roles in predation on caterpillars and possibly other organisms.     

DNA strand scissions by hydroxamic acids in the presence of Cu(II) ion under aerobic conditions.

Carbazolyloxyacetohydroxamic acid (1), 9,9'-decamethylene-bis-carbazolyloxyacetohydroxamic acid (2), benzohydroxamic acid (3), and acetohydroxamic acid (4) without reducing agent under aerobic conditions induced DNA strand scissions with increasing activities in the order of 4 > 3 > 2 > 1. The inhibition experiments indicated that hydrogen peroxide and superoxide participated in the reactions, but hydroxyl radical or singlet oxygen did not.     

Potential stocks of reef fish-based ecosystem services in the Kuroshio Current region: Their relationship with latitude and biodiversity

The latitudinal decline of species richness is a general spatial pattern of biodiversity, and it applies to marine species as well. Based on a latitudinal gradient of marine species richness, potential stocks of marine ecosystem services are expected to be higher in lower latitudes through increment in biodiversity. However, little is known about the relationships of the marine ecosystem services with latitude and biodiversity. We estimated the latitudinal patterns and relationships with the biodiversity of potential stocks of three major reef fish-based ecosystem services (fisheries production, aquarium fish production, and recreational diving) at ten coral habitats from tropical to temperate zones in the Kuroshio Current region (8°37′N–33°24′N) using field survey data and information from relevant websites and administrative statistics. We found a latitudinal declin from south to north in potential stocks of aquarium fish production and diving in this region, whereas the peaks of fisheries production were found around both tropical and sub-tropical zones. Our results also showed strong positive effects of biodiversity on potential stocks of the three ecosystem services, highlighting the importance of conserving diverse fish species to sustain multiple services at high levels. Broad spatial patterns of the reef fish-based ecosystem services are useful as baselines for future evaluation of their changes. As the effects of climate change on reef fishes are predicted to vary among different latitude zones, our estimates of the ecosystem services infer specific management and economic actions for the respective zones against climate change.