Combinatorial biochemistry in plants: the case of O-methyltransferases

Combinatorial chemistry is common place today in chemical synthesis. Virtually thousands of derivatives of a molecule can be achieved by automated systems. The use of biological systems to exploit combinatorial chemistry (combinatorial biochemistry) now has multiple examples in the polyketide field. The modular functional domain structure of polyketide synthases have been recombined through genetic engineering into unnatural constellations in heterologous hosts in order to produce polyketide structures not yet discovered in nature. We present herein an example for a potential type of combinatorial biochemistry in alkaloidal systems using various combinations of Thalictrum tuberosum (meadow rue) O-methyltransferase subunits that result in heterodimeric enzymes with substrate specificities that differ from those of the homodimeric native enzymes.     

Separation of multiple components of HeLa cell nuclear extracts required for pre-messenger RNA splicing

Components essential for nuclear pre-messenger RNA splicing have been partially purified from HeLa cell nuclear extracts by chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, heparin-Sepharose, Mono Q, and Mono S. We have obtained six fractions which, when combined, efficiently splice a synthetic adenovirus 2 major late RNA substrate in vitro. All fractions contain components that support the formation of splicing intermediates (the cleaved 5' exon and the intron-exon 2 lariat). At least one of the fractions also contains an activity that is essential for the second step in the splicing reaction, namely cleavage at the 3' splice site and exon ligation. Two of the fractions are enriched in the major small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles U1, U2, U4/U6, and U5. They participate in the formation of the splicing complexes which precedes the cleavage and ligation reactions. The remaining four fractions appear to contain protein factors, as suggested by their resistance to micrococcal nuclease.     

The diet of two species of Isoperla (Plecoptera: Perlodidae) in relation to season,site, and sympatry

The seasonal change in gut contents of nymphs of Isoperla grammatica and I. difformis from six streams in southern Sweden was analysed. Both species had ingested a variety of benthic prey and vegetable matter, predominantly diatoms. Some seasonality was evident with high percentages of diatoms in spring in I. grammatica, and in autumn in I. difformis. The scope of food was larger in the latter species which contained about equal proportions of vegetable matter, chironomids, mayfly, stonefly, and black fly larvae. In I. grammatica plant matter and chironomids dominated strongly, comprising > 50% of the gut contents on an annual basis, > 90 % in spring. While small nymphs of I. difformis contained a low proportion of animal matter, only gradually increasing with size, the nymphs of I. grammatica were carnivorous from very early instars. Both species switched to a temporarily strong utilization of algae in spring. This differed among sites, and appeared to reflect differences in insolation and thus the availability of algae. There was a significant negative relationship between the mean densities of Isoperla nymphs and the proportion of animal material found in the guts of I. grammatica (R ² = 0.86). Considering the density of I. grammatica alone, the relationship was weaker (R ² = 0.56). A positive correlation between predator and prey size was observed. With chironomid prey the size range increased with predator size. With simuliid prey, however, prey size increased with predator size in such a way that it suggests selection rather than just an expanding prey size range. Correlations were stronger and regression coefficients significantly higher for I. grammatica than for I. difformis. We suggest that I. grammatica, which ingests a much wider size range of prey might choose prey of optimal sizes more readily than the more synchronously developing I. difformis. Although the life cycles of the two species are staggered, overlap in size distribution indicates that competition for food could be important in spring. However, observed differences in diet should facilitate coexistence. Gut content differences might in turn be accomplished through microhabitat segregation.     

Semiautomated enzymic microassay for plasma L-alanine.

Plasma L-alanine is deaminated by bacterial alanine-dehydrogenase; the resulting ammonia is dialyzed out and measured by use of a continuous flow phenol-hypochlorite colorimetric microassay. Concentrations in the range of 10-1,000 mumol alanine/l can be determined in a 50-microliter sample. The optimal conditions for the assay are specified. Study of the analytical qualities of the technique shows high specificity, good reproducibility , and a detection limit of 6 mumol/l. Usual values in human plasma from arterial or venous blood are respectively 296 +/- 166 and 376 +/- 214 mumol alanine/l (x +/- 2 SD). The usual values in rats are close to those found in man.     

Plasma estradiol-17beta level in the domestic fowl

Using healthy white Leghorn chickens the estradiol-17β level in plasma were determined by radioimmunoassay and the dependency on age and sex examined. In one and two year old laying hens average values between 48.0 and 54.4 pg/ml were found. The estradiol level in cocks of the same age were between 6.0 and 7.3 pg/ml. Significant difference with respect to the estradiol level were already noticeable in sexually immature 4 month old chickens ♀: 8.1 pg/ml, ♂: 1.0 pg/ml). The significance of the estradiol-17β level with respect to plasma lipids and electrophoretic mobility of serum lipoprotein is shown.