High resolution X-ray structure of dTDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratase from Streptomyces venezuelae

Desosamine is a 3-(dimethylamino)-3,4,6-trideoxyhexose found in some macrolide antibiotics. In Streptomyces venezuelae, there are seven genes required for the biosynthesis of this unusual sugar. One of the genes, desIV, codes for a dTDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratase, which is referred to as DesIV. The reaction mechanisms for these types of dehydratases are quite complicated with proton abstraction from the sugar 4'-hydroxyl group and hydride transfer to NAD+, proton abstraction at C-5, and elimination of the hydroxyl group at C-6 of the sugar, and finally return of a proton to C-5 and a hydride from NADH to C-6. Here we describe the cloning, overexpression, and purification, and high resolution x-ray crystallographic analysis to 1.44 A of wild-type DesIV complexed with dTDP. Additionally, for this study, a double site-directed mutant protein (D128N/E129Q) was prepared, crystallized as a complex with NAD+ and the substrate dTDP-glucose and its structure determined to 1.35 A resolution. In DesIV, the phenolate group of Tyr(151) and O(gamma) of Thr(127) lie at 2.7 and 2.6 A, respectively from the 4'-hydroxyl group of the dTDP-glucose substrate. The side chain of Asp(128) is in the correct position to function as a general acid for proton donation to the 6'-hydroxyl group while the side chain of Glu(129) is ideally situated to serve as the general base for proton abstraction at C-5. This investigation provides further detailed information for understanding the exquisite chemistry that occurs in these remarkable enzymes.     

Ca(2+) influx and opening of Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels in muscle fibers from control and mdx mice

Using the patch-clamp technique, we demonstrate that, in depolarized cell-attached patches from mouse skeletal muscle fibers, a short hyperpolarization to resting value is followed by a transient activation of Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (K(Ca)) upon return to depolarized levels. These results indicate that sparse sites of passive Ca(2+) influx at resting potentials are responsible for a subsarcolemmal Ca(2+) load high enough to induce K(Ca) channel activation upon muscle activation. We then investigate this phenomenon in mdx dystrophin-deficient muscle fibers, in which an elevated Ca(2+) influx and a subsequent subsarcolemmal Ca(2+) overload are suspected. The number of Ca(2+) entry sites detected with K(Ca) was found to be greater in mdx muscle. K(Ca) activity reflecting subsarcolemmal Ca(2+) load was also found to be independent of the activity of leak channels carrying inward currents at negative potentials in mdx muscle. These results indicate that the sites of passive Ca(2+) influx newly described in this study could represent the Ca(2+) influx pathways responsible for the subsarcolemmal Ca(2+) overload in mdx muscle fibers.     

Effect of crystalloid administration on oxygen extraction in endotoxemic pigs

We asked whethercrystalloid administration improves tissue oxygen extraction inendotoxicosis. Four groups of anesthetized pigs(n = 8/group) received either normalsaline infusion or no saline and either endotoxin or no endotoxin. Wemeasured whole body (WB) and gut oxygen delivery and consumption duringhemorrhage to determine the critical oxygen extraction ratio(ER_O2 crit). Just after onset of ischemia (critical oxygen delivery rate), gut was removed for determination of area fraction of interstitial edema and capillary hematocrit. Radiolabeled microspheres were used todetermine erythrocyte transit time for the gut. Endotoxin decreased WBER_O2 crit(0.82 ± 0.06 to 0.55 ± 0.08, P < 0.05) and gutER_O2 crit(0.77 ± 0.07 to 0.52 ± 0.06, P < 0.05). Unexpectedly, saline administration also decreased WBER_O2 crit (0.82 ± 0.06 to 0.62 ± 0.08, P < 0.05) and gutER_O2 crit (0.77 ± 0.07 to 0.67 ± 0.06, P < 0.05) in nonendotoxin pigs. Saline administration increased thearea fraction of interstitial space (P < 0.05) and resulted in arterial hemodilution(P < 0.05) but not capillaryhemodilution (P > 0.05). Salineincreased the relative dispersion of erythrocyte transit times from0.33 ± 0.08 to 0.72 ± 0.53 (P < 0.05). Thus saline administration impairs tissue oxygen extractionpossibly by increasing interstitial edema or increasing heterogeneityof microvascular erythrocyte transit times.

     

Environmental Factors Influencing Human Viral Pathogens and Their Potential Indicator Organisms in the Blue Mussel, Mytilus edulis: the First Scandinavian Report

This study was carried out in order to investigate human enteric virus contaminants in mussels from three sites on the west coast of Sweden, representing a gradient of anthropogenic influence. Mussels were sampled monthly during the period from February 2000 to July 2001 and analyzed for adeno-, entero-, Norwalk-like, and hepatitis A viruses as well as the potential viral indicator organisms somatic coliphages, F-specific RNA bacteriophages, bacteriophages infecting Bacteroides fragilis, and Escherichia coli. The influence of environmental factors such as water temperature, salinity, and land runoff on the occurrence of these microbes was also included in this study. Enteric viruses were found in 50 to 60% of the mussel samples, and there were no pronounced differences between the samples from the three sites. E. coli counts exceeded the limit for category A for shellfish sanitary safety in 40% of the samples from the sites situated in fjords. However, at the site in the outer archipelago, this limit was exceeded only once, in March 2001, when extremely high levels of atypical indole-negative strains of E. coli were registered at all three sites. The environmental factors influenced the occurrence of viruses and phages differently, and therefore, it was hard to find a coexistence between them. This study shows that, for risk assessment, separate modeling should be done for every specific area, with special emphasis on environmental factors such as temperature and land runoff. The present standard for human fecal contamination, E. coli, seems to be an acceptable indicator of only local sanitary contamination; it is not a reliable indicator of viral contaminants in mussels. To protect consumers and get verification of “clean” mussels, it seems necessary to analyze for viruses as well. The use of a molecular index of the human contamination of Swedish shellfish underscores the need for reference laboratories with high-technology facilities.     

Pollination ecology and breeding system of the very narrow coastal endemic Seseli farrenyi (Apiaceae). Effects of population fragmentation

The reproductive biology of Seseli farrenyi (Apiaceae), a very narrow endemic to Cape Creus (Catalonia, Spain), including flowering timing patterns, quantity and quality of pollination services (type and frequency of pollinators, pollen carryover, pollen deposition on stigmas and reproductive success measured as fruit set), and breeding system was studied. Given the decline of population size detected in the last twenty years, we also analyzed the effects of fragmentation on pollination mechanisms. Protandry along with strong synchrony of floral development within umbels and sequential inflorescence emission within individual stalks, produces sexual phase alternation that promotes a strong outcrossing despite its non-specific pollination system and its (at least partial) self-compatibility. This pronounced xenogamy is supported by results of the insect exclusion test, hand-pollination experiments, and high P/O ratio. S. farrenyi flowers received visits from at least 28 species of insects, including wasps, small bees, ants, flies, syrphid flies, beetles and stink bugs, with different pollen carry-overs. Heterospecific pollen on stigmas decreased notably during the season (50% to 2.5%), averaging 12%. In the small population the stigmatic pollen loads and seed set decreased, but there was no effect of pollinator visitation rates. It was more affected by the composition of pollinators and their efficiency. The wind had a considerable effect on the plant. Some conservation measures are proposed.     

Interactions between a soil fungus,Trichoderma harzianum,and IIb metals—adsorption to mycelium and production of complexing metabolites

Fungi are capable of accumulating metals and, in soil, such accumulation may influence metal speciation and transport. The interactions between a common soil fungus, Trichoderma harzianum, and IIb elements were studied in the present investigation. The accumulation of the metals zinc, cadmium and mercury by starved and non-starved mycelium at different pH was determined by a batch technique using radioactive tracers; uptake of the metals was found to be large, with respective distribution coefficients of about 10^3.5, 10^2.5 and 10^4.0 for zinc, cadmium and mercury, respectively. Metal accumulation by a starved system was largely independent of pH in the range 3–9, where in a non-starved system an increased accumulation of zinc (at 10^– m) was observed at low pH (3–5). Potentiometric titrations performed on the two systems revealed significant differences in acid capacities, i.e. values close to zero for the starved system and 500–800 meq kg^– for the non-starved system. The maximum metal uptake was at least 50 mmol kg^– at pH 6.5 (calculated from adsorption isotherms). The present findings suggests that in the non-starved system a metabolite is produced and then released when the pH is within a certain range.