The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from two ribbon worms: Emplectonema gracile contains two 5S rRNA species differing considerably in their sequences.

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from two nemerteans (ribbon worms), Lineus geniculatus and Emplectonema gracile have been determined. Emplectonema has two 5S rRNA species that are composed of 119 and 120 nucleotides, respectively. The sequences of these two 5S rRNAs differ at 22 positions. On the other hand, only a single 5S rRNA species was found in Lineus. The sequence similarity percents are 88% (Lineus/Emplectonema longer 5S rRNA), 82% (Emplectonema longer/Emplectonema shorter) and 80% (Lineus/Emplectonema shorter). The comparisons of these sequences with those of other organisms suggest that the phylum Nemertinea is most related to the Mollusca (91%) and the Rotifera (89%), but not to fresh-water planarias (72%).     

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from three ciliated protozoa.

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from three ciliated protozoa, Paramecium tetraurelia, Tetrahymena thermophila and Blepharisma japonicum have been determined. All of them are 120 nucleotides long and the sequence of probable tRNA binding site of position 41-44 is GAAC which is characteristic of the plant 5S rRNAs. The sequence similarity percents are 87% (Paramecium/Tetrahymena), 86% (Paramecium/Blepharisma) and 79% (Tetrahymena/Blepharisma), suggesting a close relationship of these three ciliates.     

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from two red algae, Gracilaria compressa and Porphyra tenera

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNA from two red algae, Gracilaria compressa and Porphyra tenera have been determined. The two 5S rRNAs are fairly dissimilar to each other in their sequences (65% identity), although they are both composed of 121 nucleotides. Their secondary structures are generally of the eukaryotic with a prokaryotic characteristic. Judged from the 5S rRNA sequence data, the red algae are phylogenically distinct from green and brown algae, and they, Porphyra in particular, are evolutionally most ancient among the eukaryotes of which 5S rRNA sequence has been determined.     

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from a sea-cucumber, a starfish and a sea-urchin

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNA from three echinoderms, a sea-cucumber Stichopus oshimae, a starfish Asterina pectinifera and a sea-urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus have been determined. These 5S rRNAs are all 120 nucleotides long. The echinoderm sequences are more related to the sequences of proterostomes animals such as mollusc, annelids and some others (87% identity on average) than to those of vertebrates (82% identity on average).     

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from a rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, and two nematodes, Rhabditis tokai and Caenorhabditis elegans.

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from a rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, and two nematodes, Rhabditis tokai and Caenorhabditis elegans have been determined. The rotifer has two 5S rRNA species that are composed of 120 and 121 nucleotides, respectively. The sequences of these two 5S rRNAs are the same except that the latter has an additional base at its 3'-terminus. The 5S rRNAs from the two nematode species are both 119 nucleotides long. The sequence similarity percents are 79% (Brachionus/Rhabditis), 80% (Brachionus/Caenorhabditis), and 95% (Rhabditis/Caenorhabditis) among these three species. Brachionus revealed the highest similarity to Lingula (89%), but not to the nematodes (79%).     

Nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from four jellyfishes.

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from four jellyfishes, Spirocodon saltatrix, Nemopsis dofleini, Aurelia aurita and Chrysaora quinquecirrha have been determined. The sequences are highly similar to each other. A fairly high similarity was also found between these jellyfishes and a sea anemone, Anthopleura japonica.     

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from a fern Dryopteris acuminata and a horsetail Equisetum arvense

The nucleotide sequences from two Pteridophyta species, a fern Dryopteris acuminata and a horsetail Equisetum arvense have been determined. These two sequences are more related to those of the Bryophyta species (88% identity on average) than to those of seed plants (84% identity on average).     

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from a multicellular green alga, Ulva pertusa, and two brown algae, Eisenia bicyclis and Sargassum fulvellum

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNA from a multicellular green alga Ulva pertusa, and multicellular brown algae Eisenia bicyclis and Sargassum fulvellum, have been determined. The 5S rRNA from Ulva is composed of 120 nucleotides, and those from Eisenia and Sargassum have 118 nucleotides. The nucleotide sequence of Ulva 5S rRNA is rather similar to 5S rRNAs from unicellular green algae and higher plants, while those of Eisenia and Sargassum 5S rRNAs are unique.     

The nucleotide sequences of the 5 S rRNAs of seven molds and a yeast and their use in studying ascomycete phylogeny.

The sequences of the 5 S rRNAs isolated from 8 ascomycete species belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Acremonium and Candida are reported. Two of the examined strains each yielded a mixture of 3 slightly different 5 S RNAs, which were individually sequenced after fractionation. A previously published sequence for Aspergillus nidulans 5 S RNA was found to contain errors. Reconstruction of an evolutionary tree based on 5 S RNA sequences showed that the 16 presently examined ascomycetes form three clusters. The same threefold partition can be observed in the secondary structure pattern, each cluster showing a slightly different variant of the general 5-helix model for 5 S rRNA (De Wachter, Chen and Vandenberghe (1982) Biochimie 64, 311-329), and different sets of secondary structure equilibrium forms in helices C and E of the aforementioned model.     

The nucleotide sequences of 5S ribosomal RNAs from four Bryophyta-species

The nucleotide sequences of cytoplasmic 5S rRNA from four bryophytes, Marchantia polymorpha, Lophocolea heterophylla, Plagiomnium trichomanes and Anthoceros punctatus have been determined. These RNAs are 119 nucleotides long except for the Anthoceros RNA that has 118 nucleotides. Their sequences are highly similar to each other (91-99% identity) and are more related to those from seed plants (78-83% identity) than to those from green algae (61-73% identity).     

Antimicrobial effect and membrane-active mechanism of Urechistachykinins, neuropeptides derived from Urechis unicinctus

We investigated the antimicrobial effects of Urechistachykinins I and II (UI and UII) and their modes of action. UI and UII showed antimicrobial activities without a hemolytic effect. To investigate the mechanism(s) of UI and UII, cellular localization was examined. Confocal microscopy results showed that peptides were located in the cell envelope. To elucidate the physical changes of membrane induced by UI and UII in Candida albicans, flow cytometry analyses were performed by using bis-(1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid) trimethine oxonol, and changes in membrane dynamics were assessed using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. The results suggest that UI and UII may exert their antimicrobial effect by disrupting the cell membranes.     

The primary structure of oocyte and somatic 5S rRNAs from the loach Misgurnus fossilis.

Somatic and oocyte 5S rRNAs from the liver and unfertilized eggs of the loach (Misgurnus fossilis have been sequenced and found to differ in six nucleotides. All the substitutions are confined to the 5'-half of the molecules; 4 of them are pyrimidine-pyrimidine substitutions, and 2 are purine-pyrimidine ones. Considerable differences, both in the position and the character of substitutions, have been established when these 5S rRNAs were compared with somatic and oocyte 5S rRNAs from Xenopus borealis and Xenopus laevis. Among the known primary structures, somatic 5S rRNA of M. fossilis is most similar to trout 5S rRNA.     

Cloning, expression and nucleotide sequences of two xylanase genes from Paenibacillus sp.

Two genes, xynA and xynB, encoding xylanases from Paenibacillus sp. KCTC 8848P were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and their nucleotide sequences were determined. The xylanases of E. coli transformants were released into the extracellular culture fluid in the absence of xylan. The structural gene of xynA 636 bp, encoded a protein of 212 amino acids, while the xynB gene consisted of 951 bp open reading frame for a protein of 317 amino acids. The amino acid sequence of the xynAgene showed 83% similarity to the xylanase of Aeromonas caviae, and belonged to the family 11 glycosyl hydrolases. The deduced amino acid sequence of the xynB gene, however, showed 51% similarity to the xylanase of Rhodothermus marinus, and belonged to the family 10 glycosyl hydrolases.