Outer membrane proteins of Pseudomonas

In this review, we describe the outer membrane proteins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and related strains from the Pseudomonas fluorescens rRNA homology group of the Pseudomonadaceae, with emphasis on the physiological function and biochemical characteristics of these proteins. The use of opr (for outer membrane protein) is proposed as the genetic designation for the P. aeruginosa outer membrane proteins and letters are assigned, in conjunction with this designation, to known outer membrane proteins. Proteins whose primary functions involve pore formation, transport of specific substrates, cell structure determination and membrane stabilization are discussed. The conservation of selected proteins in the above Pseudomonas species is also examined.     

Stronger dung removal in forests compared with grassland is driven by trait composition and biomass of dung beetles

1. Ecosystem processes depend on the biomass of the involved organisms, but their functional diversity may play an additional role. In particular, the exclusion of key functional groups through habitat disturbance may lead to the breakdown of ecosystem functions. Dung removal is an important process contributing to nutrient cycling and thus productivity in grazed ecosystems. 2. This study investigated the role of different functional groups of dung beetles in dung removal in different habitats within a wood-pasture in two different seasons. An experimental setting with 12 blocks and 108 dung pads was used to investigate short-term dung removal over 1 week of exposure. 3. Dung removal was most strongly affected by habitat type, with almost 40% lower levels in grassland than in adjacent forest and forest gaps. Of all assemblage characteristics, total biomass of tunneller species was the strongest predictor of dung removal, whereas functional diversity showed no significant effect. In accordance with the dung removal pattern at habitat type level, densities of large tunnellers were suppressed in grassland compared with forest. 4. It is concluded that dung removal is habitat-specific and large tunnellers play a disproportionate role in this important ecosystem function in temperate forests.     

Expression patterns of loricrin in various species and tissues

Abstract. In this study we analyzed the expression patterns of loricrin in various species and tissues using immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting and Northern blots. Loricrin is a glycine-, serine- and cysteine-rich protein expressed very late in epidermal differentiation in the granular layers of normal mouse and human epidermis. Later on in differentiation, loricrin becomes cross-linked as a major component into the cornified cell envelope by the formation of N^ɛ -(γ-glutamyl)lysine isopeptide bonds. This process either occurs directly or by the intermediate accumulation in L-keratohyaline granules of mouse epidermis and human acrosyringia. Loricrin was identified in all mammalian species analyzed by virtue of its highly conserved carboxy-terminal sequences revealing an electric mobility of ∼60 kDa in rodents, rabbit and cow and of ∼35 kDa in lamb and human on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Loricrin is expressed in the granular layer of all mammalian orthokeratinizing epithelia tested including oral, esophageal and fore-stomach mucosa of rodents, tracheal squamous metaplasia of vitamin A deficient hamster and estrogen induced squamous vaginal epithelium of ovary ectomized rats. Loricrin is also expressed in a few parakeratinizing epithelia such as BBN [N-butyl-N-(4–hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine]-induced murine bladder carcinoma and a restricted subset of oral and single vaginal epithelial cells in higher mammals. Our results provide further evidence that the program of squamous differentiation in internal epithelia of the upper alimentary tract in rodents and higher mammals differ remarkably. In addition, we also have noted the distinct distribution patterns of human loricrin and involucrin, another major precursor protein of the cornified cell envelope.     

A Survey Investigating the Infection of Fusarium langsethiae and Production of HT‐2 and T‐2 Mycotoxins in UK Oat Fields

Fusarium langsethiae is a toxigenic fungal species that has been reported in European small‐grain cereal crops such as oats, wheat and barley. Although its relative contribution to fusarium head blight (FHB) symptoms is not well understood, it is reported to contaminate these cereals with high levels of HT‐2 and T‐2 trichothecenes mycotoxins that are currently under consideration for legislation by the European Commission. Ten commercial oat fields in Shropshire and Staffordshire (two adjacent counties in the Midlands) in the UK were surveyed in the 2006/2007 growing season. Samples were taken from predetermined field locations at Zadoks growth stages 32/33, 69, 77‐85 and 90‐92 for F. langsethiae biomass and HT‐2 and T‐2 toxins quantification. The results from this study showed that oats can be heavily infected with F. langsethiae and have high concentrations of HT‐2 and T‐2 toxins with no apparent FHB symptoms. The regression of HT‐2 + T‐2 toxins on F. langsethiae DNA concentration was highly significant (P < 0.001, r² = 0.55). The results indicated that although F. langsethiae had no direct effect on crop yield, it may result in indirect economic losses where the grain can be rejected or downgraded as a result of intolerable levels of HT‐2 and T‐2 toxins, which are of human food and animal feed safety concern. The influence of cultural field practices on the infection and HT‐2 and T‐2 toxins accumulation in oats was not clear and warrants further studies to identify the sources of F. langsethiae inoculum and conditions favourable for infection and mycotoxin production.     

HYBRIDIZATION OF PANUS TIGRINUS AND LENTODIUM SQUAMULOSUM

Crosses between monokaryotic isolates of two strains of Lentodium squamulosum and one strain of Panus tigrinus showed complete intercompatibility. Hybrid fruits from crosses between monokaryotic isolates of L. squamulosum and P. tigrinus were uniformly like the P. tigrinus parent. Though both isolates of L. squamulosum showed considerable variability in form, merging toward P. tigrinus, L. squamulosum could always be distinguished from P. tigrinus from hand sections of the hymenophore. The significance of these results as they bear on the problem of inter-relationships between hymenomycetes and gasteromycetes is discussed. L. squamulosum is recognized as variety squamulosus of P. tigrinus.