Solubilization of lignin by the ruminal anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix patriciarum.

The ability of the ruminal anaerobic phycomycete Neocallimastix patriciarum to digest model lignin compounds and lignified structures in plant material was studied in batch culture. The fungus did not degrade or transform model lignin compounds that were representative of the predominant intermonomer linkages in lignin, nor did it solubilize acid detergent lignin that had been isolated from spear grass. In a stem fraction of sorghum, 33.6% of lignin was apparently solubilized by the fungus. Solubilization of ester- and either-linked phenolics accounted for 9.2% of the lignin released. The amounts of free phenolic acids detected in culture fluid were equivalent to the apparent loss of ester-linked phenolics from the sorghum substrate. However, the fungus was unable to cleave the ether bond in hydroxycinnamic acid bridges that cross-link lignin and polysaccharide. It is suggested that the majority of the solubilized lignin fraction was a lignin carbohydrate complex containing ether-linked hydroxycinnamic acids. The lignin carbohydrate complex was probably solubilized through dissolution of xylan in the lignin-xylan matrix rather than by lignin depolymerization.     

Human olfactory neurons respond to odor stimuli with an increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+.

The sense of smell allows terrestrial animals to collect information about the chemical nature of their environment through the detection of airborne molecules. In humans smell is believed to play an important role in protecting the organism from environmental hazards such as fire, gas leaks and spoiled food, in determining the flavor of foods, and perhaps in infant-parent bonding. In addition, the study of human olfaction is relevant to a number of medical problems that result in olfactory dysfunction, which can affect nutritional state, and to the study of the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases which manifest themselves in the olfactory epithelium. Although much is known about behavioral aspects of human olfaction, little is understood about the underlying cellular mechanisms in humans. Here we report that viable human olfactory neurons (HON) can be isolated from olfactory tissue biopsies, and we find that HON respond to odorants with an increase in intracellular calcium concentration ([Cai]).     

The Rox1 repressor of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae hypoxic genes is a specific DNA-binding protein with a high-mobility-group motif.

The ROX1 gene encodes a repressor of the hypoxic functions of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The DNA sequence of the gene was determined and found to encode a protein of 368 amino acids. The amino-terminal third of the protein contains a high-mobility-group motif characteristic of DNA-binding proteins. To determine whether the Rox1 repressor bound DNA, the gene was expressed in Escherichia coli cells as a fusion to the maltose-binding protein and this fusion was partially purified by amylose affinity chromatography. By using a gel retardation assay, both the fusion protein and Rox1 itself were found to bind specifically to a synthetic 32-bp DNA containing the hypoxic consensus sequence. We assessed the role of the general repressor Ssn6 in ANB1 repression. An ANB1-lacZ fusion was expressed constitutively in an ssn6 deletion strain, and deletion of the Rox1 binding sites in the ANB1 upstream region did not increase the level of derepression, suggesting that Ssn6 exerts its effect through Rox1. Finally, ROX1 was mapped to yeast chromosome XVI, near the ARO7-OSM2 locus.     

The 141-year period for Dr. Beal's seed viability experiment: A hybrid surprise

Premise

In 1879, Dr. William Beal buried 20 glass bottles filled with seeds and sand at a single site at Michigan State University. The goal of the experiment was to understand seed longevity in the soil, a topic of general importance in ecology, restoration, conservation, and agriculture, by periodically assaying germinability of these seeds over 100 years. The interval between germination assays has been extended and the experiment will now end after 221 years, in 2100.

Methods

We dug up the 16th bottle in April 2021 and attempted to germinate the 141-year-old seeds it contained. We grew germinants to maturity and identified these to species by vegetative and reproductive phenotypes. For the first time in the history of this experiment, genomic DNA was sequenced to confirm species identities.

Results

Twenty seeds germinated over the 244-day assay. Eight germinated in the first 11 days. All 20 belonged to the Verbascum genus: Nineteen were V. blattaria according to phenotype and ITS2 genotype; and one had a hybrid V. blattaria × V. thapsus phenotype and ITS2 genotype. In total, 20/50 (40%) of the original Verbascum seeds in the bottle germinated in year 141.

Conclusions

While most species in the Beal experiment lost all seed viability in the first 60 years, a high percentage of Verbascum seeds can still germinate after 141 years in the soil. Long-term experiments such as this one are rare and invaluable for studying seed viability in natural soil conditions.     

Development of a non-extracted ''two-site'' immunoradiometric assay for corticotropin utilizing extreme amino- and carboxy-terminally directed antibodies.

The development of a 'two-site' immunoradiometric assay (i.r.m.a.) for the direct estimation of human corticotropin-(1-39)-peptide in plasma is described. The assay is based on the simultaneous addition of 125I-labelled sheep anti-(N-terminal corticotropin) IgG (immunoglobulin G) antibodies and rabbit anti-(C-terminal corticotropin) antiserum to standards and unknowns (0.5 ml) followed by 18h incubation. The use of solid-phase reagents was avoided in order to minimize non-specific effects and the time required for reactants to reach equilibrium. Instead, the separation of corticotropin-bound from free labelled antibody is achieved by the addition of sheep anti-(rabbit IgG) antiserum, which precipitates bound labelled antibody by complex-formation with rabbit anti-corticotropin antibodies, which are also hormone-bound. Several 125I-labelled sheep anti-(N-terminal corticotropin) IgG preparations were assessed in the i.r.m.a. Although each was derived from antisera raised to a thyroglobulin conjugate of synthetic corticotropin-(1-24)-peptide (Synacthen), purification of immunoglobulins before iodination by selective immunoadsorption resulted in preparations with distinct specificities which demonstrated marked differences in binding to intact human corticotropin-(1-39)-peptide. These preparations are compared in combination with two rabbit anti-(C-terminal corticotropin) antisera. A 'two-site' assay based on the use of 125I-labelled sheep anti-[ corticotropin-(2-16)-peptide] IgG and rabbit anti-[corticotropin-(34-39)-peptide] antiserum was optimized, since steric inhibition of antibody binding was avoided with this combination and because the measurement of only intact human corticotropin-(1-39)-peptide and not fragments was assured by the use of terminal antibodies. This i.r.m.a. is characterized by rapid equilibration of reactants, a wide 'operating range' (the precision of dose estimates was less than 4% over the range 30-2200 pg/ml) and high sensitivity [8 pg of corticotropin/ml (95% confidence interval 3.7-12.0) (4 pg minimal detectable mass) can be detected directly in plasma].     

A liquid-phase two-site immunoradiometric assay for human prolactin.

The development of a 'two-site' immunoradiometric assay for human prolactin (hPrl) is described. The assay is based on the addition of radio-iodinated sheep anti-hPrl immunoglobulin G (IgG) and rabbit anti-hPrl serum to standards and unknowns followed by 3 h incubation. The use of solid phase reagents was avoided in order to minimize non-specific effects and the time required for reactants to reach equilibrium. Instead, the separation of hPrl-bound and free labelled antibody is achieved by the addition of sheep anti-(rabbit IgG) serum which precipitates bound labelled antibody by complex formation with rabbit anti-hPrl antibodies which are also hPrl-bound. Varying the order of addition of specific antibodies had a pronounced effect on the 'operating range' and sensitivity of resultant assays. This was attributed to competition between labelled and unlabelled antibodies for binding sites on the hPrl molecule. The immunoradiometric assay employing 'simultaneous addition' of specific antibodies was compared to a 'simultaneous addition' hPrl radioimmunoassay developed using the same sheep antiserum as that used to prepare the radioiodinated sheep anti-hPrl IgG. This immunoradiometric assay is characterized by rapid equilibration of reactants, a wide 'operating range' (the precision of dose estimates was less than 10% over the range 8-10000 mU/l), and high sensitivity (2.6 mU/l, 13 pg). In contrast, the hPrl radioimmunoassay required an incubation of 18 h, demonstrated a much reduced 'operating range' (the precision of dose estimates was less than 10% only over the range 25-1500 mU/l) and reduced sensitivity (9.8 mU/l, 49 pg).     

The effect of sugars on (pro)insulin biosynthesis

Rates of incorporation of [4,5-(3)H]leucine into insulin plus proinsulin, designated ;(pro)insulin', and total protein in rat pancreatic islets were measured. Glucose stimulates rates of total protein and (pro)insulin biosynthesis, but (pro)insulin biosynthesis is stimulated preferentially. Mannose and N-acetylglucosamine also stimulate (pro)insulin and total protein biosynthesis; inosine and dihydroxyacetone stimulate (pro)insulin biosynthesis specifically. Fructose does not stimulate (pro)insulin biosynthesis when tested alone, but does so in the presence of low concentrations of glucose, mannose or N-acetylglucosamine. Many glucose analogues do not stimulate (pro)insulin biosynthesis. Mannoheptulose inhibits synthesis of (pro)insulin and total protein stimulated by glucose or mannose but not by dihydroxyacetone, inosine or N-acetylglucosamine; phloretin (9mum) inhibits N-acetylglucosamine-stimulated (pro)insulin biosynthesis preferentially. The data are in agreement with the view that the same glucose-sensor mechanism may control both insulin release and biosynthesis, and ;substrate-site' model is suggested. The threshold for stimulation of biosynthesis of (pro)insulin and total protein is lower than that found for glucose-stimulated insulin release; moreover the biosynthetic response to an elevation of glucose concentration is slower than that found for insulin release. The physiological implication of these findings is discussed. Caffeine and isobutylmethylxanthine, at concentrations known to increase islet 3':5'-cyclic AMP and potentiate glucose-induced insulin release, were without effect on rates of glucose-stimulated (pro)insulin biosynthesis.