Evidence for root Fe nutrition in Hydrilla verticillata Royle

Summary The uptake of Fe by roots and apical leaves of the submersed aquatic plant Hydrilla verticillata Royle was studied using ⁵⁹FeEDTA. ⁵⁹FeEDTA was absorbed by both roots and apical leaves, and translocated to the other parts of the plant. Approximately 3% of the total ⁵⁹FeEDTA absorbed by the roots over a period of 60 h was translocated to the leaves. Downward translocation of ⁵⁹FeEDTA from the apical portion of the plant to the lower leaves was approximately 21% of the amount absorbed.Published as Journal Series No 333 of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station.     

A small molecule that disrupts S. Typhimurium membrane voltage without cell lysis reduces bacterial colonization of mice

As pathogenic bacteria become increasingly resistant to antibiotics, antimicrobials with mechanisms of action distinct from current clinical antibiotics are needed. Gram-negative bacteria pose a particular problem because they defend themselves against chemicals with a minimally permeable outer membrane and with efflux pumps. During infection, innate immune defense molecules increase bacterial vulnerability to chemicals by permeabilizing the outer membrane and occupying efflux pumps. Therefore, screens for compounds that reduce bacterial colonization of mammalian cells have the potential to reveal unexplored therapeutic avenues. Here we describe a new small molecule, D66, that prevents the survival of a human Gram-negative pathogen in macrophages. D66 inhibits bacterial growth under conditions wherein the bacterial outer membrane or efflux pumps are compromised, but not in standard microbiological media. The compound disrupts voltage across the bacterial inner membrane at concentrations that do not permeabilize the inner membrane or lyse cells. Selection for bacterial clones resistant to D66 activity suggested that outer membrane integrity and efflux are the two major bacterial defense mechanisms against this compound. Treatment of mammalian cells with D66 does not permeabilize the mammalian cell membrane but does cause stress, as revealed by hyperpolarization of mitochondrial membranes. Nevertheless, the compound is tolerated in mice and reduces bacterial tissue load. These data suggest that the inner membrane could be a viable target for anti-Gram-negative antimicrobials, and that disruption of bacterial membrane voltage without lysis is sufficient to enable clearance from the host.     

Two genes encode the major membrane-associated protein of methanol-induced peroxisomes from Candida boidinii

A massive proliferation of peroxisomes occurs in the yeast Candida boidinii when methanol is utilized as the sole carbon source; these peroxisomes contain the enzymes which catalyze the initial steps of methanol utilization. The most abundant peroxisomal membrane-associated protein has an apparent molecular mass of 20 kDa and is termed PMP20. We report the isolation of two genes that encode very similar forms of PMP20; this is the first report of genes that encode proteins associated with peroxisomal membranes. Southern analysis demonstrates that the two genes are on different loci, although there are several homologous regions of both 5'- and 3'-untranslated sequence. One of the areas of 5' homology is within the untranslated region of the mRNA. Within the coding region there are 35 base differences between the two genes that are reflected in only five amino acid differences. The mRNAs representing both genes of PMP20 are induced in cells grown in methanol-containing medium and are below detection in cells grown in glucose. S1 nuclease protection analysis indicates that there is a 2.5-fold difference in mRNA expression between the two genes when induced. The predicted sequences of both PMP20 genes show the absence of a cleaved amino-terminal leader sequence and the presence of only 1 cysteine residue. In agreement with previous biochemical data suggesting a peripheral association of this protein with the membrane (Goodman, J. M., Maher, J., Silver, P. A., Pacifico, A., and Sanders, D. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 3464-3468), there are no obvious membrane spanning regions predicted in the sequences. Both PMP20 gene products contain the carboxyl-terminal sequence AKL, similar to the putative SKL peroxisomal sorting sequence (Gould, S. J., Keller, G.-A., and Subramani, S. (1988) J. Cell Biol. 107, 897-905).     

Mitochondrial DNA structure and colony expansion dynamics of New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri) around Banks Peninsula

New Zealand fur seals are one of many pinniped species that survived the commercial sealing of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in dangerously low numbers. After the enforcement of a series of protection measures in the early twentieth century, New Zealand fur seals began to recover from the brink of extinction. We examined the New Zealand fur seal populations of Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand using the mitochondrial DNA control region. We identified a panmictic population structure around Banks Peninsula. The most abundant haplotype in the area showed a slight significant aggregated structure. The Horseshoe Bay colony showed the least number of shared haplotypes with other colonies, suggesting a different origin of re-colonisation of this specific colony. The effective population size of the New Zealand fur seal population at Banks Peninsula was estimated at approximately 2500 individuals. The exponential population growth rate parameter for the area was 35, which corresponds to an expanding population. In general, samples from adjacent colonies shared 4.4 haplotypes while samples collected from colonies separated by between five and eight bays shared 1.9 haplotypes. The genetic data support the spill-over dynamics of colony expansion already suggested for this species. Approximate Bayesian computations analysis suggests re-colonisation of the area from two main clades identified across New Zealand with a most likely admixture coefficient of 0.41 to form the Banks Peninsula population. Approximate Bayesian computations analysis estimated a founder population size of approximately 372 breeding individuals for the area, which then rapidly increased in size with successive waves of external recruitment. The population of fur seals in the area is probably in the late phase of maturity in the colony expansion dynamic.