Three metaltolerance Halobacillus sp. isolated from salt lakes in Shaanxi, China

Three Gram positive, spore forming, halophilic bacterial strains were isolated from a salt lake in shanxi China and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Strains A375, A381 and A389 grew in the presence of 0~24% (w/v) NaCl in complex medium. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strains A375, A381 and A389 were located in the genus Halobacillus. Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between the isolated strains and the type trains of Halobacillus species were in range 91.6%~98.9%. On the basis of phenotypic and chemotaxonomic properties and phylogenetic analysis, strains A375, A381 and A389 should be placed in the Halobacillus species. Metaltolerance test verify that all strains can tolerate different levels of metal salts.     

What Is the Core Oscillator in the Speract-Activated Pathway of the Strongylocentrotus purpuratus Sperm Flagellum?

Sperm chemotaxis has an important role in fertilization. Most of our knowledge regarding this phenomenon comes from studies in organisms whose fertilization occurs externally, like sea urchins. Sea urchin spermatozoa respond to sperm-activating peptides, which diffuse from the egg jelly coat and interact with their receptor in the flagellum, triggering several physiological responses: changes in membrane potential, intracellular pH, cyclic nucleotide levels, and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]). In particular, flagellar [Ca2+] has been shown to oscillate. These [Ca2+] oscillations are correlated with changes in the flagellar shape and so with the regulation of the sperm swimming paths. In this study, we demonstrate, from a mathematical modeling perspective, that the reported speract-activated signaling pathway in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (speract being a sperm-activating peptide specific to this species) has the necessary elements to replicate the reported [Ca2+] oscillations. We further investigate which elements of this signaling pathway constitute the core oscillator.     

Draft genome sequence of Herbaspirillum lusitanum P6-12, an endophyte isolated from root nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris

Herbaspirillum lusitanum strain P6-12 (DSM 17154) is, so far, the only species of Herbaspirillum isolated from plant root nodules. Here we report a draft genome sequence of this organism.     

Effects of molecular structure of the resins on the volumetric shrinkage and the mechanical strength of dental restorative composites

To prepare a dental composite that has a low amount of curing shrinkage and excellent mechanical strength, various 2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxy propoxy) phenyl] propane (Bis-GMA) derivatives were synthesized via molecular structure design, and afterward, properties of their mixtures were explored. Bis-GMA derivatives, which were obtained by substituting methyl groups for hydrogen on the phenyl ring in the Bis-GMA, exhibited lower curing shrinkage than Bis-GMA, whereas their viscosities were higher than that of Bis-GMA. Other Bis-GMA derivatives, which contained a glycidyl methacrylate as a molecular end group exhibited reduced curing shrinkage and viscosity. Methoxy substitution for hydroxyl groups on the Bis-GMA derivatives was performed for the further reduction of the viscosity and curing shrinkage. Various resin mixtures, which had the same viscosity as the commercial one, were prepared, and their curing shrinkage was examined. A resin mixture containing 2,2-bis[3,5-dimethyl, 4-(2-methoxy-3-methacryloyloxy propoxy) phenyl] propane] (TMBis-M-GMA) as a base resin and 4-tert-butylphenoxy-2-methyoxypropyl methacrylate (t-BP-M-GMA) as a diluent exhibited the lowest curing shrinkage among them. The composite prepared from this resin mixture also exhibited the lowest curing shrinkage along with enhanced mechanical properties.     

A novel ubiquitin carboxyl terminal hydrolase is involved in toad oocyte maturation

p28, a 28kD protein from toad (Bufo bufo gargarizans) oocytes, was identified by using p13sucl-agarose affinity chromatography. Sequence homology analysis of the full-length cDNA of p28 (Gene Bank accession number: AF 314091) indicated that it encodes a protein containing 224 amino-acids with about 55% identities and more than 70% positives to human, rat or mouse UCH-L1, and contains homological functional domains of UCH family. Anti-p28 monoclonal antibody, on injecting into the oocytes, could inhibit the progesterone-induced resumption of meiotic division in a dose-dependent manner. The recombinant protein p28 showed similar SDS/PAGE behaviors to the native one, and promoted ubiquitin ethyl ester hydrolysis, a classical catalytic reaction for ubiquitin carboxyl terminal hydrolases (UCHs). The results in this paper reveal that a novel protein, p28, exists in the toad oocytes, is a UCH L1 homolog, was engaged in the process of progesterone-induced oocyte maturation possibly through an involvement in prot     

Regulation of cellular adhesion molecule expression in murine oocytes,peri-implantation and post-implantation embryos

Expression of the adhesion molecules, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, NCAM, CD44, CD49d (VLA-4, α chain),and CD11a (LFA-1, α chain) on mouse oocytes, and pre- and peri-implantation stage embryos was exam-ined by quantitative indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. ICAM-1 was most strongly expressed at theoocyte stage, gradually declining almost to undetectable levels by the expanded blastocyst stage. NCAM,also expressed maximally on the oocyte, declined to undetectable levels beyond the morula stage. On theother hand, CD44 declined from highest expression at the oocyte stage to show a second maximum at thecompacted 8-cell/morula. This molecule exhibited high expression around contact areas between trophecto-derm and zona pellucida during blastocyst hatching. CD49d was highly expressed in the oocyte, remainedsignificantly expressed throughout and after blastocyst hatching was expressed on the polar trophecto-derm. Like CD44, CD49d declined to undetectable levels at the blastocyst outgrowth stage. Expression ofboth VCAM-1 and CD11a was undetectable throughout. The diametrical temporal expression pattern ofICAM-1 and NCAM compared to CD44 and CD49d suggest that dynamic changes in expression of adhesionmolecules may be important for interaction of the embryo with the maternal cellular environment as wellas for continuing development and survival of the early embryo.     

Construction of a host range-expanded hybrid baculovirus of BmNPV and AcNPV, and knockout of cysteinase gene for more efficient expression

The four main gene expression systems currently used to produce recombinant proteins are the prokary-otic, yeast, insect cell, and mammalian cell expression systems. The baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) is a protein production system which uses a recombinant baculovirus harboring a foreign gene of interest to produce recombinant protein in an insect or its cultured cells. BEVS has many advantages: (i) BEVS requires less time to establish the production system than is needed in a…