Ester production in E. coli and C. acetobutylicum

Genetic engineering has improved the product yield of a variety of compounds by overexpressing, inactivating, or introducing new genes in microbial systems. The production of flavor-enhancing ester compounds is an emerging area of heterologous gene expression for desired product yield in Escherichia coli. Isoamyl acetate, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and butyl butyrate are reported here to be produced by expressing Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes ATF1 or ATF2 and the strawberry gene SAAT in E. coli when the appropriate substrates are provided. Increasing the concentration of alcohol added to the reaction generally resulted in increased ester production. ATF1 expression was found to produce more isoamyl acetate and butyl acetate than ATF2 expression or SAAT expression in the strains and culture conditions examined. Additionally, SAAT expression resulted in greater isoamyl acetate and butyl acetate production than ATF2 expression. Butyl butyrate is produced by cell-free extracts of E. coli harboring SAAT but not ATF1 or ATF2.     

Chemical composition, in situ ruminal degradability and post-ruminal disappearance of dry matter and crude protein from the halophytic plants Kochia scoparia, Atriplex dimorphostegia, Suaeda arcuata and Gamanthus gamacarpus

Samples of Kochia (K. scoparia), Atriplex (A. dimorphostegia), Suaeda (S. arcuata) and Gamanthus (G. gamacarpus) were collected and analyzed for chemical composition including crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), ash, neutral detergent fiber (NDFom), acid detergent fiber (ADFom), non-protein N (NPN), Ca, P, Na, K, Cl, Mg, Fe, Cu and Se. In addition, in situ ruminal degradability and post-ruminal disappearance of dry matter (DM) and CP of the samples using a mobile bag technique were determined. Results indicate that the chemical composition of Kochia and Atriplex was notably different from those of Suaeda and Gamanthus. All of these halophytic plants had high concentrations of Na, K, Cl, Cu and Se, and low levels of Ca, P and Mg. The rapidly degradable fractions of DM and CP (g/g) of Kochia (0.31 and 0.35, respectively) and Atriplex (0.39 and 0.50, respectively) were lower than for Suaeda (0.53 and 0.55, respectively) and Gamanthus (0.56 and 0.66, respectively). Ruminal DM and CP disappearance of Kochia (444 and 517 g/kg, respectively) and Atriplex (472 and 529 g/kg, respectively) were lower (P<0.05) than those of Suaeda (553 and 577 g/kg, respectively) and Gamanthus (663 and 677 g/kg, respectively) (P<0.05) using the mobile bag technique. Suaeda had the lowest (P<0.05) NDFom and ADFom disappearance (214 and 232 g/kg, respectively) in the rumen. Kochia scoparia and Atriplex dimorphostegia have more beneficial chemical nutritive components and digestible values versus Suaeda arcuata and Gamanthus gamacarpus.     

Flavonoids of Astilbe and Rodgersia compared to Aruncus

The flavonoid profiles of Astilbe (four taxa studied) and Rodgersia (two taxa studied) are based on simple flavonol glycosides. Astilbe has 3-O-mono-, 3-O-di-, and 3-O-triglycosides of kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin, while Rodgersia has only mono- and diglycosides of kaempferol and quercetin. Astilbe×arendsii was also shown to accumulate dihydrochalcone glycosides. The flavonoid profile of Rodgersia is the simplest recorded so far in the herbaceous Saxifragaceae. The flavonoids of two species of Aruncus were shown to be based upon kaempferol and quercetin 3-O-mono- and 3-O-diglycosides. One of the species also exhibited an eriodictyol glycoside. The triglycoside differences were not considered important, but the differences in myricetin occurrences were taken as evidence against derivation of Saxifragaceae from an Aruncus-like ancestor. Should such an event be proposed, however, serious consideration would have to be given to the current pattern of myricetin occurrence in the two families.     

Multiple invasions of Gypsy and Micropia retroelements in genus Zaprionus and melanogaster subgroup of the genus Drosophila

Background  

The Zaprionus genus shares evolutionary features with the melanogaster subgroup, such as space and time of origin. Although little information about the transposable element content in the Zaprionus genus had been accumulated, some of their elements appear to be more closely related with those of the melanogaster subgroup, indicating that these two groups of species were involved in horizontal transfer events during their evolution. Among these elements, the Gypsy and the Micropia retroelements were chosen for screening in seven species of the two Zaprionus subgenera, Anaprionus and Zaprionus.     

百合LbCAT和LbGPX基因的克隆与表达分析

以切花百合(Lilium brownii var. viridulum)‘卡瓦纳’cDNA为模板,克隆了过氧化氢酶(LbCAT)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(LbGPX)基因。序列分析表明,这2个基因分别包含1 479 bp和519 bp的开放阅读框(ORF),编码492个和172个氨基酸。进化分析结果表明,LbCAT蛋白与岷江百合CAT蛋白的氨基酸序列相似性最高(99.19%),且亲缘关系最近;LbGPX蛋白与油棕GPX蛋白的氨基酸序列相似性最高(78.61%),亲缘关系最近。qRT PCR结果显示,LbCAT和LbGPX在百合根、鳞茎、叶和花中都有表达。LbCAT在叶中表达量最高,LbGPX在花中表达量最高。这2个基因在百合花蕾的生长发育过程中均有表达,且表达量逐渐增加;在PEG处理后2个基因的转录水平升高,但独角金内酯(SLs)处理却显著降低了这2个基因的转录水平;该结果为百合抗逆性机理研究以及抗逆育种奠定了基础。     

Quinua and Relatives (Chenopodium sect.Chenopodium subsect.Celluloid)

Traditionally viewed as an Andean grain crop,Chenopodium quinoa Willd. includes domesticated populations that are not Andean, and Andean populations that are not domesticated. Comparative analysis of leaf morphology and allozyme frequencies have demonstrated that Andean populations, both domesticated(quinua) and free-living(ajara), represent an exceptionally homogeneous unit that is well differentiated from allied domesticates of coastal Chile(quingua) and freeliving populations of the Argentine lowlands(C. hircinum). This pattern of relationships indicates that Andean populations represent a monophyletic crop/weed system that has possibly developed through cyclic differentiation (natural vs. human selection) and introgressive hybridization. Relative levels of variation suggest that this complex originated in the southern Andes, possibly from wild types allied withC. hircinum, with subsequent dispersal north to Colombia and south to the Chilean coast. Coastal populations were apparently isolated from post-dispersal differentiation and homogenization that occurred in the Andes. Other data point toward a center of origin in the northern Andes with secondary centers of genetic diversity subsequently developing in the southern Andes and the plains of Argentina. Comparative linkage of South American taxa, all tetraploid, with North American tetraploids of the subsection will eventually clarify this problem. While the possibility of a direct phyletic connection betweenC. quinoa and the Mexican domesticate(C. berlandieri subsp. nuttalliae,) cannot be excluded, available evidence indicates that the latter represents an autonomous lineage that is associated with the basal tetraploid, C. b. subsp.berlandieri, through var.sinuatum, whereas South American taxa show possible affinities to either var. zschackei or var.berlandieri. An extinct domesticate of eastern North America,C. b. subsp.jonesianum, represents either another instance of independent domestication, possibly from subsp. b. var.zschackei, or a northeastern outlier of subsp.nuttalliae.     

Cloning and characterization of femA and femB from Staphylococcus epidermidis

A DNA fragment was identified and cloned from Staphylococcus epidermidis (Se) using femA from S. aureus (Sa) as a heterologous hybridization probe. DNA sequence analysis of a portion of this clone revealed two complete ORFs highly related to femA and femB of Sa. The genomic arrangement of the Se femA/B complex was nearly identical to that observed in Sa. Intra- and interspecies relatedness of these genes and conservation of genomic organization were consistent with gene duplication of one of these genes in an ancestral organism. Recombinant FEMA, produced in Escherichia coli (Ec), was purified to near homogeneity. Identity of the purified protein was verified by N-terminal amino acid (aa) sequence analysis.     

水椰八角铁甲和椰心叶甲对椰子和银海枣的寄主选择性

【目的】水椰八角铁甲和椰心叶甲均为棕榈科植物的重要入侵害虫,两者的外部形态、取食部位和危害特征相似。研究它们的寄主选择性有助于了解这2种害虫的扩散和成灾机制。【方法】在室内用椰子和银海枣2种寄主植物分别饲养水椰八角铁甲和椰心叶甲,研究在不同寄主植物上水椰八角铁甲和椰心叶甲的存活率、产卵率、发育历期等以及这2种害虫对不同寄主植物的选择性。【结果】水椰八角铁甲在2种寄主上的存活率差异显著,除了卵期和蛹期之外,幼虫期各虫态在银海枣上的存活率明显比在椰子上的存活率高;椰心叶甲在椰子上的存活率高于银海枣,各虫态平均存活率分别为95%和86%。取食银海枣的水椰八角铁甲达标准卵量概率为0.23,取食椰子不产卵,无法完成整个世代;取食椰子的椰心叶甲达标准卵量概率为0.86,取食银海枣不产卵,也无法完成整个世代;水椰八角铁甲取食银海枣完成世代的实验种群趋势指数为12.55,椰心叶甲取食椰子完成世代的实验种群趋势指数为66.55。【结论】水椰八角铁甲和椰心叶甲分别对银海枣和椰子这2种寄主植物具有明显的选择性。在海南椰子树的数量远远超过银海枣,该实验结果在一定程度上解释了椰心叶甲在海南岛广泛分布而水椰八角铁甲只是零星发生的原因。     

Australopithecus, Meganthropus and Ramapithecus

The South African members of Australopithecus form a single group, trending from earlier, more gracile or smaller forms, to later, more robust or larger forms, in accordance with the “Law of Cope”. This is supported by the evidence of the lower first deciduous molar: it is only slightly molarized in the earlier, smaller forms and astonishingly heavily molarized in the later, robust forms, such as that of Kromdraai. Hence, Robinson's view that two different genera are represented by the gracile and robust forms is not supported here. A. robustus is seen as a late offshoot of the Australopithecus stem. The resemblance of the Taung dm₁ to that of Sinanthropus, except for the more differentiated talonid of the Taung specimen, suggests that the separation of the Australopithecinae and Homininae must have taken place at an earlier stage than that represented by the oldest South African Australopithecinae. The lower jaw of Meganthropus of Java combines certain characteristics of A. africanus with those of A. robustus: Meganthropus might provisionally be called “Australopithecoid”. The geographically intermediate India has yielded a hominid, Ramapithecus punjabicus, but the author does not consider “Kenyapithecus” to be a hominid. “K. wickeri” is a pongid species of its own and “K. africanus” a Proconsul. Ramapithecus sensu stricto is known only from the Indian Siwaliks and the author suggests that the transition from Ramapithecus to a still unknown Australopithecus took place in the same region prior to their migration into Africa and Southeast Asia.     

Coccystes undoxylophus

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Effects of MULTIFOLIATE-PINNA, AFILA, TENDRIL-LESS and UNIFOLIATA genes on leafblade architecture in Pisum sativum

In order to dissect the genetic regulation of leafblade morphogenesis, 16 genotypes of pea, constructed by combining the wild-type and mutant alleles of MFP, AF, TL and UNI genes, were quantitatively phenotyped. The morphological features of the three domains of leafblades of four genotypes, unknown earlier, were described. All the genotypes were found to differ in leafblade morphology. It was evident that MFP and TL functions acted as repressor of pinna ramification, in the distal domain. These functions, with and without interaction with UNI, also repressed the ramification of proximal pinnae in the absence of AF function. The expression of MFP and TL required UNI function. AF function was found to control leafblade architecture multifariously. The earlier identified role of AF as a repressor of UNI in the proximal domain was confirmed. Negative control of AF on the UNI-dependent pinna ramification in the distal domain was revealed. It was found that AF establishes a boundary between proximal and distal domains and activates formation of leaflet pinnae in the proximal domain.     

In vitro organogenesis of Citrus volkameriana and Citrus aurantium

In vitro organogenesis of Citrus volkameriana and C. aurantium was studied considering three explant types: epicotyl segment, internodal segment, and hypocotyl segment with attached cotyledon fragment. The explants were cultured in medium according to Grosser and Gmitter (EME) supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mg dm^{− 3} 6-benzyl-aminopurine (BAP), incubated firstly in darkness for 4 weeks, and then transferred to 16-h photoperiod for 2 weeks. Comparing epicotyl and internodal segments, a higher percentage of responsive explants and a higher number of shoots per explant were obtained with epicotyl segments, regardless of the BAP concentration. For C. volkameriana the highest percentage of responsive epicotyl segments (42 %) was obtained in EME with 1.0 mg dm⁻³ BAP, while for C. aurantium (59 %) in EME with 0.5 mg dm⁻³ BAP. The organogenesis efficiency was the best with the use of the hypocotyl segment with attached cotyledon fragment (77 % for C. volkameriana and to 75 % for C. aurantium). With this explant the morphogenesis occurred only in the hypocotyl region. The in vitro organogenesis was characterized by histological analyses showing that the morphogenic process started in the cambium region near the explant cut end.     

Characterisation of cell wall polysaccharides, arabinogalactans-proteins (AGPs) and phenolics of Cola nitida, Cola acuminata and Garcinia kola seeds

Many Cola plant species are endemic to West and Central Africa. Cola acuminata and Cola nitida are used as masticatory when fresh, while the dried nuts are used for beverages and pharmaceutical purposes in Europe and North America. Garcinia kola seeds, that serve as a substitute for the true kola nuts, are used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including colic, headache and liver cirrhosis. Seeds extracts of G. kola are also known for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral properties. To gain information on the chemical properties of the kolas, we have isolated and analyzed cell wall polysaccharides, arabinogalactan-proteins and phenolic substances from the seeds of the three kola species. The sugar composition of cell wall material of C. acuminata, C. nitida and G. kola revealed that Gal (up to 30%), Ara, GalA and Glc as the predominant monosaccharides, representing approximately 90% by mol of the total hydrolysable sugar present in this material. In Ammonium oxalate cell wall fraction, GalA was found to be the major sugar present in all kola species. In the alkali-soluble fraction, there were significant differences in the level of Glc and Gal. The level of Glc was high in C. acuminata and C. nitida while the level of Gal and Xyl were high in C. nitida and G. cola. Isolation and quantification of arabinogalactan-proteins demonstrate that G. kola seeds contained four to eight times more of these proteoglycans than the seeds of the other two species. Finally, analysis of soluble phenolic substances shows that caffeine and catechin were largely represented in C. acumina and C. nitida seeds, with caffeine accounting for 50% of all soluble phenolics. These findings indicate that the three Kola seeds are highly enriched in pectins and proteoglycans and that C. acuminata and C. nitida can be used as a possible source of caffeine and catechin.     

Presence of Rhizobium Etli bv . Phaseoli and Rhizobium Gallicum bv . Gallicum in Egyptian Soils

Seven bean rhizobial strains EBRI 2, 3, 21, 24, 26, 27 and 29 identified as Rhizobium etli, and EBRI 32 identified as Rhizobium gallicum, isolated from Egyptian soils and which nodulated Phaseolus vulgaris efficiently, were subjected to hybridization with a nifH probe in order to estimate the copy number of this gene. Seven strains (EBRI 2, 3, 21, 24, 26, 27 and 29) which were only able to nodulate Phaseolus vulgaris, contained three copies of the nifH gene, consistent with their identification as Rhizobium etli bv. phaseoli. Only one strain (EBRI 32) which nodulated both Phaseolus vulgaris and Leucaena leucocephala, had one copy of nifH gene. This confirmed the classification of this strain as Rhizobium gallicum bv. gallicum.     

Multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of enterococcal genes vanA and vanB and staphylococcal genes mecA, ileS-2 and femB

The experimental transfer of the vanA gene cluster from Enterococcus faecalis to Staphylococcus aureus has raised fears about the occurrence of such genetic transfer in clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant staphylococci. Recently, infections by a S. aureus strain carrying the enterococcal vancomycin resistance vanA gene cluster were reported. The possible emergence and dissemination of these strains is a serious health threat and makes optimization of prevention strategies and fast detection methods absolutely necessary. In the present study, we developed a PCR protocol for simultaneous detection of enterococcal vanA and vanB genes , the staphylococcal methicillin and mupirocin resistance markers mecA and ileS-2, and identification of S. aureus. As no vancomycin-resistant S. aureus isolates were available for our study, we used mixtures of enterococcal and staphylococcal colonies that harbored the different resistance markers to show that these genes could be detected simultaneously. This protocol could be used to facilitate the detection and identification of predictable S. aureus or methicillin-resistant strains carrying vanA or vanB.