Stabilization of a HemA-LacZ hybrid protein against proteolysis during carbon starvation in atp mutants of Salmonella typhimurium.

Transposon insertions that stabilize the beta-galactosidase activity of a HemA-LacZ hybrid protein following carbon starvation were mapped to the atp operon of Salmonella typhimurium. This effect is similar to that seen with nuo mutants defective in the energy-conserving type I NADH dehydrogenase. Insertions in several other genes, including such highly pleiotropic mutants as rpoS, polA, and hfq, were isolated with the same phenotypic screen, but they do not affect the beta-galactosidase activity of HemA-LacZ. All of these mutants act indirectly to alter the colony color of many different fusion strains on indicator plates.     

Genetic variation of recent Alu insertions in human populations

The Alu family of intersperesed repeats is comprised of ovr 500,000 members which may be divided into discrete subfamilies based upon mutations held in common between members. Distinct subfamilies of Alu sequences have amplified within the human genome in recent evolutionary history. Several individual Alu family members have amplified so recently in human evolution that they are variable as to presence and absence at specific loci within different human populations. Here, we report on the distribution of six polymorphic Alu insetions in a survey of 563 individuals from 14 human population groups across several continents. Our results indicate that these polymorphic Alu insertions probably have an African origin and that there is a much smaller amount of genetic variation between European populations than that found between other populations groups. Present address: Department of Pathology, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Medical Center, 1901 Perdido St., New Orleans, LA 70112 Correspondence to: M.A. Batzer     

A Bacillus subtilis malate dehydrogenase gene.

A Bacillus subtilis gene for malate dehydrogenase (citH) was found downstream of genes for citrate synthase and isocitrate dehydrogenase. Disruption of citH caused partial auxotrophy for aspartate and a requirement for aspartate during sporulation. In the absence of aspartate, citH mutant cells were blocked at a late stage of spore formation.     

Comparison of fish assemblages among an artificial reef, a natural reef and a sandy-mud bottom site on the shelf off Iwate, northern Japan

Synopsis Fish assemblages at an artificial reef site, a natural reef site and a sandy-mud bottom site, on the shelf (depth 130 m) off Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan, were surveyed by using a bottom trammel net from May 1987 to March 1993. A total of 12 173 fishes of 48 species were recorded. Physiculus maximowiczi was dominant and comprised 69% of the total numerical abundance. Total fish number was lowest in March at all the 3 sites when P. maximowiczi migrated to deeper and warmer waters. Assemblage equitability and species diversity also varied seasonally in accordance with the abundance fluctuation of P. maximowiczi. P. maximowiczi, Alcichthys alcicornis and Hexagrammos otakii were more abundant at the artificial reef and natural reef sites, while Dexistes rikuzenius and Hemitripterus villosus were more abundant at the sandy-mud bottom site; total fish abundance was largest at the artificial reef site mainly due to the large number of P. maximowiczi. Species richness was similar among sites, but equitability, and consequently species diversity, was lowest at the artificial reef site. The main effect of the artificial reef seemed the attraction of P. maximowiczi from nearby bottoms, especially from natural rocky reefs; its large abundance determined the structure of the artificial reef fish community.     

Charactererization of novel non-toxic Bacillus thuringiensis isoloates from Korea

J.Y. ROH, H.W. PARK, B.R. JIN, H.S. KIM, Y.M. YU AND S.K. KANG. 1996. Four Bacillus thuringiensis isolates from soil samples produced parasporal inclusions which were non-toxic to insects. The isolates were named B. thuringiensis NTB-1, NTB-2, NTB-3 and NTB-4. The parasporal inclusions were shown to be ovoid by phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy. The serotypes of the four isolates were determined by agglutination using 33 antisera; NTB-1 and NTB-4 seemed to be subsp. isruelensis ,and NTB-2 seemed to be subsp. pondzcheriensis . NTB-3 did not react with the 33 antisera. However, comparison of parasporal protein and plasmid DNA patterns of the four isolates with those of 15 known non-toxic B. thuringiensis strains demonstrated that the four isolates are novel.     

Role of acetylation on metal induced precipitation of alginates

Acetylation dramatically effects both the solution properties and the metal induced precipitation of alginates. The presence of acetyl groups on both bacterial and seaweed alginate polymers marginally increased the weight average molecular weight (M_w) of each polymer by 7% and 11%, respectively. Acetylated bacterial alginate showed a significant increase in solution viscosity compared to its deacetylated counterpart. However microbial acetylation of seaweed alginate did not change its solution viscosity. Acetylation altered the calcium induced precipitation of both alginates. The presence of acetyl groups decreased the ability of each polymer to bind with calcium but increased their ability to bind with ferric Ion (Fe³⁺). By controlling the degree of acetylation on the alginate chains, it was possible to modify solution viscosity and cation induced precipitation of these polymers.     

Cellobiose-oxidizing enzyme from a newly isolated cellulolytic bacterium Cytophaga sp. LX-7

Summary The cellobiose oxidizing enzyme of the newly isolated cellulolytic bacterium Cytophaga sp. LX-7 was produced extracellularly when grown on cellulose or other saccharides, which was previously noted only in fungi. The enzyme could use not only cellobiose, maltose, glucose and other saccharides but also cellulose as substrates, and use dichlorophenol indophenol and oxygen as electron acceptors.     

Comparative study of nickel toxicity to growth and photosynthesis in nickel-resistant and -sensitive strains of Scenedesmus acutus f. alternans (Chlorophyceae)

Nickel (Ni) toxicity to growth and photosynthesis was studied in four strains of Scenedesmus acutus f. alternans. Effects of Ni dosage and duration of exposure on growth and photosynthesis were strain specific. Large differences in responses of both growth and photosynthesis to Ni were detected between three resistant strains (B4, Cu-Tol, and Ni-Tol) and one sensitive strain (UTEX 72). Growth of UTEX 72 was 18 times more sensitive to Ni than those of the three resistant strains. The order of Ni dosages (fmol Ni/pg cell dry weight) causing 50% inhibition (D₁₅₀) of growth rates in the four strains was Ni-Tol (10.5) > B4 (8.19) > Cu-Tol (4.60) > UTEX 72 (0.25). The effect of Ni dosage on photosynthetic rate as percentage of control corresponded to a saturation curve and was a strong function of duration of exposure. The DI₅₀s of photosynthetic rates were 3.5 times lower in UTEX 72 than in the three resistant strains, and in all four strains they decreased sharply with the increase in duration of exposure. The order of the four strains in DI₅₀s of photosynthetic rate was B4 (58.2) > Cu-Tol (38.0) > Ni-Tol (28.9) > UTEX 72 (8.24) for 6-h exposure and Ni-Tol (2.88) > Cu-Tol (1.30) > B4 (1.01) > UTEX 72 (0.15) for 24-h exposure. The DI₅₀s of photosynthetic rate for 6-h exposure were higher than those of growth rate in all four strains, and for 24-h exposure they were lower, except in UTEX 72. Thus, the relative Ni sensitivity of growth and photosynthesis of the four strains depends on the duration of exposure. The results of factorial analysis of variance suggested that Ni toxicity to photosynthesis is a consequence of a strong interaction among strain, Ni dosage, and duration of exposure.