Sex determination and milk protein genotyping of preimplantation stage bovine embryos using multiplex PCR

A method for determining the sex and milk protein genotypes (RFLPs) of preimplantation stage bovine embryos using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is described. Day 6 to 7 embryos were micromanipulated to isolate 5 to 6 cells. These cells were then dried in reaction tubes for transport to the laboratory. Subsequently, two sets of PCRs were performed using Y chromosome, k-casein and beta-lactoglobulin gene specific primers, followed by electrophoretic analysis of the PCR products. The presence or absence of the Y chromosome was ascertained in 90 of 92 embryos. Moreover, the k-casein specific fragment was amplified and detected in all these embryos. The PCR products were digested in order to genotype the k-casein gene. In 70% of the embryos, the beta-lactoglobulin specific fragment was amplified, although together with some unspecific fragments.     

Degradation of Extracellular beta-(1,3)(1,6)-d-Glucan by Botrytis cinerea

During growth on glucose, Botrytis cinerea produced extracellular beta-(1,3)(1,6)-d-glucan (cinerean), which formed an adhering capsule and slime. After glucose was exhausted from the medium, cinereanase activity increased from <0.4 to 30 U/liter, effecting a striking loss in the viscosity of the culture. Cinerean was cleaved into glucose and gentiobiose. Gentiobiose was then hydrolyzed to glucose. While cinereanase activity was strongest in the culture supernatant, gentiobiase activity was located mainly in the cell wall fraction. The addition of extra glucose or cycloheximide prevented the cinerean degradation caused by an effect on cinereanase formation. Cinerean degradation was accompanied by microconidiation and sclerotium formation. B. cinerea was found to grow on cinerean with the latter as its single carbon and energy source. In this case, cinerean degradation occurred during hyphal growth, and no microconidiation or sclerotium formation was observed. Growth experiments with various carbon sources indicated that cinerean had a positive effect on the formation of cinerean-degrading enzymes.     

The biology of the heat shock response in parasites

The heat shock response is a general homeostatic mechanism that protects cells and the entire organism from the deleterious effects of environmental stress. It has been shown that heat shock proteins play major roles in many cellular processes and have a unique role in several areas of cell biology, from chronic degenerative diseases to immunology and from cancer research to interactions between host and parasite. In this review, Bruno Maresca and Luisella Carratu deal with some of the unique characteristics of the heat shock response in parasitic organisms.     

Crossflow microfiltration of animal cells

Laminar shear is the primary mechanism of cell damage, limiting flow rate (and hence flux) in crossflow microfiltration of animal cells. Sensitivity to hydrodynamic and interfacial stress is reduced by the addition of 0.1% Pluronic polyol. A critical average wall shear rate of 3000 s(-1) (above which damage occurs) is found for several cell types, including mammalian and insect cells. Hydrodynamic stress also limits the maximum tip speed in a rotary lobe pump to less than 350 cm/s. Turbulent flow in the recirculation loop piping at Reynolds numbers of up to 71,000 does not cause cell damage. Maximum sustainable flux decreases with cell concentration and increases with cell size (in qualitative agreement with the hydrodynamic lift model). A flux of 30 to 75 L/m(2) h (depending on cell size) can be sustained during 20-fold concentration from 2.5 x 10(6) cells/ml, while maintaining high cell viability.     

Rapid determination of plasmid-carrying yeast cells by using an imaging sensor system

A novel imaging sensor system for the determination of plasmid carrying yeast cells was developed. The sensor system consisted of an Silicon Intensifier Target (SIT) video camera, a fluorescent microscope, and a personal computer system equipped with an image memory board. This system was based on the fact that the membrane integrity of only plasmid-carrying cells is lost following cell growth in 5-fluoro-orotic acid (5-FOA) containing medium, and consequently these target cell can be stained with fluorescent probes and detected. In this study, plasmid-carrying cells were detected and their fraction determined in a mixture of both plasmid-carring and plasmid-free cells. A good correlation was observed between the values determined by this sensor system and the conventional method in the 30%-80% range, and one assay was possible within 4 h. This sensor system could be used for the monitoring of plasmid-carrying fraction in recombinant yeast cells during cultivation.     

Optimal production of glutathione by controlling the specific growth rate of yeast in fed-batch culture

The optimal of the specific growth rate was obtained with simple mathematical model in a yeast fed-batch cultures. The model was based on the mass balance around the fed-batch system and the relationship between the specific growth rate, mu, and the specific production rate of glutathione, rho(G). The optimal profile of mu was calculated as a bang-bang type, That is mu, should start from the maximum value, mu(max) and should be kept at mu(max); then mu should be switched to mu(c), which gives a maximum value of rho(G). It was proven from the maximum principle that switching was needed only once, with the switching time from mu(max) to mu(c) depending on the final required glutathione content. Finally, this ideal profile of mu for the maximum production of glutathione was realized by manipulating the substrates feed rate in the fed-batch culture. Using the extended Kalman filter and a programmed-controller/feedback-compensator (PF) system, mu could be controlled at the optimal profile obtained. As a result, the maximum production of glutathione was accomplished fairly successfully. However, further improvement in the controller performance for mu is desired. The control strategy employed here can be applied to other batch reaction processes.     

高大山羊草Giemsa C-带的研究及对“中国春”小麦-高大山羊草异附加系、异代换系和易位系的鉴定

本文研究了高大山羊草(Aegilops longissima)的C-带带型,并对“中国春”-高大山羊草双端体异附加系(21"+t"_Bl)、双端体异代换系(20"+t"+t"_Bl)、2个二体异代换系(20"+1"_Bl)和易位系(4A/4Bl)进行了鉴定。本文还对小麦的B染色体组和4A染色体的起源进行了讨论。从带型上的明显差别可以推测高大山羊草不是B染色体组的直接供体。它们可能共同起源于一个原始的染色体组。     

A liquid emulsion membrane process for the separation of amino acids

The method of using liquid emulsion membranes featuring the cation carrier D2EHPA [di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid] for the separation of L-phenylalanine is examined. Results from experiments performed under various conditions are discussed and an optimal condition for separation is determined. The selectivity of the liquid emulsion membrane system is discussed. The effects of impurities such as sodium chloride, glucose, lactic acid, and L-tryptophan on the transport of L-phenylalanine are evaluated. It is shown that the liquid emulsion membrane system is a potential operation not only to separate L-phenylalanine but also concentrate it with great efficiency.     

Asymmetric reduction of ketones with resting cells of Sulfolobus solfataricus

The method of resting cells has been of interest in the development of biocatalysts applied to organic reactions.This article deals with the use of resting cells of a thermophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus, in the asymmetric reduction of acyclic, cyclic, and aromatic ketones. The system allows the continuous regeneration of endogenous coenzyme with the coupled substrate approach. The results indicate that the direction of hydride attack was equatorial on the re face of the carbonyl group of substrates producing (S)-alcohols with a good optical yield. A convenient system for the reuse of resting cells has been set out to synthesize (S)-alcohols on a preparative scale.