Thermophilic bacteria, Thermus ruber, that produce a bright orange pigment

A non-sporeforming gram-negative bacterium isolated from soils of Africa was shown to belong to the species Thermus ruber in its morphologo-cytological and physiologobiochemical properties. It differed from the Thermus ruber species described elsewhere (Loginova et al., 1975; Loginova and Egorova, 1975) only on colour: the former contained a bright-red pigment while the latter produced bright-orange pigments.     

North-south regional variation in phospholipase A activity in the venom of Crotalus ruber.

1. Twenty-seven individual venoms from the rattlesnake species Crotalus ruber from different regions were comparatively analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC and analyzed for phospholipase A (PLA) content using a polarographic assay. 2. Two fractions containing PLA activity were detected by HPLC in the venoms of all the C. ruber specimens from southern Baja, Mexico, but specimens from southern California, U.S.A., were lacking corresponding fractions and were extremely low or lacking in PLA activity in their venoms. 3. The north-south regional variation in PLA content in C. ruber venom does not correlate with the north-south ranges (based on external morphology) of the subspecies C. ruber ruber and C. ruber lucasensis.     

Alkaline Bohr effect of bird hemoglobins: the case of the flamingo

The hemoglobin (Hb) substitution His-->Gln at position alpha89, very common in avian Hbs, is considered to be responsible for the weak Bohr effect of avian Hbs. Phoenicopterus ruber ruber is one of the few avian Hbs that possesses His at alpha89, but it has not been functionally characterized yet. In the present study the Hb system of the greater flamingo (P. ruber roseus), a bird that lives in Mediterranean areas, has been investigated to obtain further insight into the role played by the alpha89 residue in determining the strong reduction of the Bohr effect. Functional analysis of the two purified Hb components (HbA and HbD) of P. ruber roseus showed that both are characterized by high oxygen affinity in the absence of organic phosphates, a strong modulating effect of inositol hexaphosphate, and a reduced Bohr effect. Indeed, in spite of the close phylogenetic relationship between the two flamingo species, structural analysis based on tandem mass spectrometry of the alpha(A) chain of P. ruber roseus Hb showed that a Gln residue is present at position alpha89.     

红色亚栖热菌TPS/TPP海藻糖合成途径中相关基因的克隆、表达及功能鉴定

通过构建红色亚栖热菌(Meiothermus ruberCBS-01)的基因组DNA文库,克隆得到该嗜热菌海藻糖合成途径中的磷酸海藻糖合成酶(TPS)和磷酸海藻糖磷酸酯酶(TPP)基因。以pET21a为表达载体,将磷酸海藻糖合成酶和磷酸海藻糖磷酸酯酶在大肠杆菌中进行表达并纯化,利用薄层层析的方法验证了这两个酶的活性。同时,本研究检测了红色亚栖热菌在各种环境压力下细胞内含物成分的变化情况,发现在高渗环境压力的诱导下,该菌会在胞内积累大量的6-磷酸海藻糖,而并非海藻糖,这为进一步研究TPS/TPP和TreS途径在细胞体内的作用奠定了基础。     

Comparative study of two arginine ester hydrolases, E-I and E-II from the venom of Crotalus ruber ruber (red rattlesnake)

1. Two arginine ester hydrolases, E-I and E-II from the venom of Crotalus ruber ruber were isolated and characterized. 2. E-I and E-II have molecular weights of 32,000 and 33,000, and isoelectric points of 5.2 and 4.6, respectively. 3. E-I and E-II are active upon the glandular kallikrein substrate, but neither enzyme was shown to have plasma kallikrein substrate hydrolytic activity. 4. E-I has minimal fibrinogen-clotting activity. It was found to induce clotting by catalyzing the hydrolysis of only the A fibrinopeptide from the A alpha-chain of fibrinogen.     

The occurrence of Acanthurus monroviae(Perciformes: Acanthuridae) in the south‐western Atlantic, with comments on other eastern Atlantic reef fishes occurring in Brazil

The presence of 'vagrants' of the eastern Atlantic surgeonfish Acanthurus monrovia e is confirmed for the south‐eastern coast of Brazil. Three other species, Aulostomus strigosus (Aulostomidae), Parablennius pilicornis (Blenniidae) and Epinephelus marginatus (Serranidae) have apparently also crossed the Atlantic from east to west, whereas the great majority of 'amphi‐Atlantic' species appears to have their origin in the western Atlantic.     

Helminth parasites of Madeiran rockpool fishes,with a redescription of Schikhobalotrema longivesiculatum Orecchia & Paggi, 1975 (Digenea: Haplosplanchnidae), and some comments on their zoogeographical relationships

Seven species of Madeiran rockpool fishes were examined for their helminth parasites. Only two of these harboured helminth parasites. The most frequently encountered parasite was the digenean Schikhobalotrema longivesiculatum Orecchia & Paggi, 1975 from Parablennius parvicornis; this species is redescribed and discussed. The paucity of the parasite fauna of Madeiran rockpool fishes and the zoogeographical relationships of the digenean fauna of Madeiran marine fishes are commented upon.     

赤红球菌二鸟苷酸环化酶基因的克隆、信息学分析和转录变化研究

本研究通过克隆赤红球菌SD3的二鸟苷酸环化酶(DGC)基因,并对该酶进行生物信息学分析,研究其在甲苯和苯酚胁迫下的转录水平变化,为进一步研究该酶和赤红球菌SD3有机溶剂耐受性之间的关系奠定基础。综合使用煮沸法和冻融法提取赤红球菌SD3的总DNA,利用PCR扩增和T载体克隆获得DGC基因序列;利用生物信息学手段对DGC的理化性质和结构特征进行分析;利用邻位相连法构建进化树;采用Discovery studio 3.5将DGC与底物GTP进行分子对接;采用qPCR方法分析DGC基因在甲苯和苯酚胁迫下的转录变化情况。克隆获得了赤红球菌SD3的DGC基因序列,在GenBank中的序列登录号为MH482549。该基因的开放阅读框长为1 332 bp,编码443个氨基酸,预测蛋白分子量为46.95 kD,是疏水性蛋白。无信号肽和二硫键,含有6段跨膜区,第181~316位氨基酸之间存在一个GGDEF保守结构域和c-di-GMP结合抑制位点(Ⅰ位点)。亚细胞定位分析表明,DGC属于质膜蛋白。DGC中超过50%的氨基酸参与形成α螺旋结构。进化树分析表明Rhodococcus ruber SD3和Rhodococcus aetherivorans的DGC聚为一簇,推测赤红球菌SD3的DGC也属于ClassⅢnucleotidyl cyclases家族,具有类似的分子功能。分子对接表明DGC和GTP分子通过疏水作用和氢键产生相互作用。qPCR结果表明在甲苯和苯酚胁迫下,赤红球菌SD3中DGC基因的转录分别上调了1.57倍和8.71倍。研究表明,赤红球菌SD3中的DGC催化GTP产生c-di-GMP,并且DGC基因的转录在有机溶剂胁迫下发生显著上调,这暗示c-di-GMP与赤红球菌SD3的有机溶剂耐受性可能相关。     

Genetic characterization in four sciaenid species from the Arabian Sea

Four sciaenid species Johnieops dussumieri, Kathala axillaris, Pennahia macropthalmus and Otolithes ruber were analysed electrophoretically for genetic variation at 18 loci (16 in P. macropthalmus and O. ruber ). Twelve loci were polymorphic in J. dussumieri , 10 in K. axillaris , three in P. macropthalmus and 12 in O. ruber ( P <0·99). Average heterozygosity ranged from 0·033 ± 0·100 to 0·070 ± 0·122. The allele frequencies of 14 loci were used to estimate Nei's genetic distance (). The values ranged from 0·334 to 0·612. Three isozyme loci ( LDH-B*, MDH-2* and G3PDH-1* ) were found to be the most reliable species-specific markers.     

Composition, structure and distribution of the ichthyoplankton in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon

The species composition and assemblage structure of the ichthyoplankton from the Mar Menor Lagoon in south‐east Spain are given. The fish larvae were sorted from zooplankton samples collected at 20 stations with a plankton net (50 cm mouth diameter and 500 μm mesh) during 36 surveys between February and December 1997. A total of 39 575 fish larvae representing 14 families, 22 genera and 36 species were identified. Gobiidae was the most dominant family (77·0%) followed by Blenniidae (19·4%) and Atherinidae (1·3%). The most abundant species were Gobius niger and Gobius paganellus , which accounted for 42·7 and 19·3% of the total respectively. These species were followed in order of relative abundance by Pomatoschistus marmoratus (13·9%), Parablennius pilicornis (9·4%), Lipophrys pavo (7·7%), Atherina boyeri (1·3%) and Parablennius tentacularis (1·3%). The high species diversity (2·0–2·8 bits individual⁻¹ for the annual diversity spectra at each sampling station) reflected a diverse assemblage of species. The main commercial species in the lagoon (Sparidae and Mugilidae) were poorly represented among the ichthyoplankton and they probably enter the lagoon on the bottom as recruits. Chlorophyll a concentration in the water column was the main factor explaining the seasonal variation in larval abundance. Spatial distribution of larvae was related to hydrographical circulation patterns in the lagoon and the movement of marine‐spawned larvae through the channels connecting the lagoon with the Mediterranean Sea.     

Production of oil-processing compounds by microorganisms from the Daqing oil field,China

Twenty pure cultures isolated from formation waters of the Daqing oil field were studied with respect to their capacity to produce surface-active compounds in media with individual hydrocarbons, lower alcohols, and fatty acids. Aerobic saprotrophic bacteria belonging to the genera Bacillus, Brevibacillus, Rhodococcus, Dietzia, Kocuria, Gordonia, Cellulomonas, Clavibacter, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter decreased the surface tension of cultivation media from 55-63 to 28-44 mN/m. Strains of Bacillus cereus, Rhodococcus ruber, and Bacillus licheniformis produced biosurfactants most actively. Bacteria of the genera Rhodococcus, Dietzia, Kocuria, and Gordonia produced exopolysaccharides in media with hydrocarbons. Culture liquids of the strains of R. ruber and B. licheniformis exhibited oil-releasing effect. Thus, the Daqing oil field is inhabited by aerobic bacteria capable of producing effective oil-releasing agents.     

Co-occurrence of three species of Choricotyle (Monogenea: Diclidophoridae) in the grunt Orthopristis ruber and their host-specificity

A total of 881 marine fish belonging to 11 species were examined for Choricotyle. Haemulon steindachneri was infected with C. reynoldsi (12%) and Orthopristis ruber with three species of Choricotyle: C. aspinachorda (40.6%), C. cynoscioni (15.2%) and C. reynoldsi (8.7%). Frequent co-occurrences of two or three species in O. ruber were observed, but without any apparent sign of antagonism. Although Choricotyle was found in O. ruber (46%) and H. steindachneri (12%), no parasites were recovered from any of the 556 fish of the other nine species.     

On a Finding of the Weevil Orchestes ruber (T.-M.) (Coleoptera,Curculionidae: Rhamphini) on the Siberian Elm in Abakan

Entomological Review - In July 2021, a flea-weevil Orchestes ruber (T.-M.) was found in numbers on the Siberian elm in Abakan, Khakassia. The species was formerly known only from the south of...     

Thermostability of alkaline phosphatase of Meithermus ruber bacteria: cloning of the gene, expression in Escherichia coli cells and biochemical characterization of the recombinant protein

The Meiothermus ruber alkaline phosphatase gene was cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli cells, and sequenced. The enzyme precursor, including the putative signal peptide, was shown to consist of 503 residues (deduced molecular mass 54,229 Da). The recombinant enzyme showed the maximal activity at 60-65 degrees C and pH 11.0 and had K(m) = 0.055 mM as estimated with p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP). The enzyme proved to be moderately thermostable, retaining 50% activity after 6 h incubation at 60 degrees C and being completely inactivated in 2 h at 80 degrees C. In substrate specificity assays, the highest enzymic activity was observed with pNPP and dATP. Vanadate, inorganic phosphate, and SDS inhibited M. ruber alkaline phosphatase, while thiol-reducing agents had virtually no effect. The enzymic activity strongly depended on exogenous Mg2+ and declined in the presence of EDTA.     

Identification, cloning and sequence analysis of the poly(3-hydroxyalkanoic acid) synthase gene of the Gram-positive bacterium Rhodococcus ruber

The first polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA) synthase gene (phbCRr) of a Gram-positive bacterium was cloned from a genomic library of Rhodococcus ruber in the broad-host-range plasmid vector pRK404. The hybrid plasmid harboring phbCRr allowed the expression of polyhydroxybutyric acid (PHB) synthase activity and restored the ability of PHB synthesis in a PHB-negative mutant of Alcaligenes eutrophus. Nucleotide sequence analysis of phbCRr revealed an open reading frame of 1686 bp starting with the rare codon TTG and encoding a protein of relative molecular mass 61,371. The deduced amino acid sequence of phbCRr exhibited homologies to the primary structures of the PHA synthases of A. eutrophus and Pseudomonas oleovorans. Preparation of PHA granules by discontinuous density gradient centrifugation of crude cellular extracts revealed four major bands in an SDS polyacrylamide gel. A Mr 61,000 protein was identified as the PHA synthase of R. ruber by N-terminal amino acid sequence determination.