abetd-Xylose metabolism in Aureobasidium pullulans: effects of aeration and vitamins

Summary The yeast-like organism Aureobasidium pullulans efficiently converted abetd-xylose to cell mass (Y _X/S=0.45 g·g^–1) with negligible production of polyols (Y _P/S=0.003 g·g^–1) under aerobic conditions. A. pullulans grown semiaerobically exhibited different fermentation capacities in seven basal (vitaminless) medium and medium containing a mixture of seven vitamins. It was found that under semiaerobic conditions a mixture of vitamins significantly enhanced production of ethanol from abetd-xylose, resulting in a 15-fold higher yield coefficient of ethanol (Y _E/S=0.22 g·g^–1) as compared to that achieved in vitaminless medium. This increase in ethanol production was accomplished at the expense of cell mass. A. pullulans produced extremely low amounts of polyols throughout all aerobic and semiaerobic experiments. A. pullulans displayed strictly NADPH-linked xylose reductase and NAD⁺-linked xylitol dehydrogenase activities.     

Transformation of a new Gram-positive methylotroph,Brevibacterium methylicum,by plasmid DNA

Summary Brevibacterium methylicum is a newly isolated Gram-positive facultatively methylotrophic bacterium that uses the NAD⁺-dependent methanol dehydrogenase for methanol oxidation and assimilates its carbon via the ribulose monophosphate cycle. Protoplasts prepared by lysozyme treatment of B. methylicum cells grown in the presence of glycine were transformed by plasmid shuttle vectors pCEM500 (16.5 kb; Sm^r/Sp^r, Km^r/Gm^r) and pEC71 (7.1 kb; Km^r/Nm^r) constructed on the basis of B. lactofermentum plasmid pAM330 and replicating in Escherichia coli and in amino-acid-producing coryneform bacteria. The resistance markers were found to be expressed in B. methylicum and autonomous plasmid DNAs of various size were isolated from the transformants. The presence of the pAM330 replicon in these plasmids was demonstrated by DNA-DNA hybridization experiments. Offprint requests to: J. Nevera     

Assessment of membrane potential changes using the carbocyanine dye,diS-C3-(5): synchronous excitation spectroscopy studies

The fluorescence of the voltage sensitive dye, diS-C₃-(5), has been analyzed by means of synchronous excitation spectroscopy. Using this rather rare fluorescence technique we have been able to distinguish between the slightly shifted spectra of diS-C₃-(5) fluorescence from cells and from the supernatant. It has been found that diS-C₃-(5) fluorescence in the supernatant can be selectively monitored at _exc = 630 nm and _em= 650 nm, while the cell associated fluorescence can be observed at _exc= 690 nm and _em = 710 nm. A modified theory for the diSC₃-(5) fluorescence response to the membrane potential is presented, according to which a linear relationship exists between the logarithmic increment of the dye fluorescence intensity in the supernatant, In I/I°, and the underlying change in the plasma membrane potential, _p=_p-°_p. The theory has been tested on human myeloid leukemia cells (line ML-1) in which membrane potential changes were induced by valinomycin clamping in various K⁺ gradients. It has been demonstrated that the membrane potential change, _p,can be measured on an absolute scale. Offprint requests to: J. Plasek     

The human fibroblast growth factor receptor genes: a common structural arrangement underlies the mechanisms for generating receptor forms that differ in their third immunoglobulin domain.

To determine the mechanisms by which multiple forms of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors are generated, we have mapped the arrangement of exons and introns in the human FGF receptor 1 (FGFR 1) gene (flg). We found three alternative exons encoding a portion of the third immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domain of the receptor. One of these alternatives encodes a sequence that is part of a secreted form of FGFR 1. The other two encode sequences that are likely part of transmembrane forms of FGFR 1. One of these forms has not been previously reported in published cDNAs. Also, we have determined the structural organization of a portion of the human FGFR 2 gene (bek) and found a similar arrangement of alternative exons for the third Ig-like domain. The arrangement of these genes suggests that there are conserved mechanisms governing the expression of secreted FGF receptors as well as the expression of at least two distinct membrane-spanning forms of the FGF receptors. The diverse forms appear to be generated by alternative splicing of mRNA and selective use of polyadenylation signals.     

氟中毒抑制大鼠泌鼠的实验研究

The effect of fluorosis on lactation, lactotroph function and ultrastructure were studied in lactating rats. The results were as follows: 1) Inhibition of lactation in lactating rats with chronic fluorosis was assessed by stunting growth of pups and decrease in the amount of milk suckled by pups in 30 min. Metoclopramide, a blocker of dopamine receptor, could improve lactation in these rats. 2) During chronic fluorosis serum PRL level was decreased, however, PRL content in pituitary was increased. Electronmicroscopic examination showed accumulation of large mature secretory granules and appearance of extremely large abnormal secretory granules in lactotroph cytoplasma. These findings indicate that hormone release of pituitary lactotrophs is obstructed in lactating rats with fluorosis, and the toxic effect of fluoride is mediated by an enhanced function of dopaminergic system in hypothalamus.     

Microflora participating in the decomposition of carboxymethyl cellulose continuously added to the soil

The microbial community in the soil was analyzed during four weeks of a continuous enrichment of structural chernozem soil samples with a 0.1% solution of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) under aerobic and semianaerobic conditions. During the first 14 d, the total amount of the aerobic and anaerobic, cellulose-degrading microorganisms increased significantly. Various metabolic pathways were u‘ed te decompose the substrate: diverse metabolic systems were activated and different groups of microorganisms preferred in dependence on the presence of oxygen or the source of mineral nitrogen. In the later phases of cultivation, a decrease in the concentration of zymogenous microflora and in the level of substrate mineralization was observed ovon though CM-cellulase activity remained high. During the fourth week of cultivation, a conspicuous increase in the numbers of oligothropic bacteria occurring in the colcnies of the microorganisms degrading cellulose was found. The representatives of prosthecobacteria (Caulobacter, Hyphomicrobium, Prosthecomicrobium spp.) andSeliberia sp. were thus identified. This “microflora of dispersion” attends the zymogenous microbes degrading CMC and indicates later phases of the process of decomposition.     

Effect of detergents on aspartate ammonia-lyase activity inEscherichia alcalescens

The effect of twelve detergents on aspartate ammonia-lyase activity of Escherichia alcalescens used for the production of L-aspartic acid was tested. Best permeabilization was found with Triton X-100, Slovafol 910 and Corona, a mixed commercial preparation. In contrast to Triton X-100 and Slovafol 910, a much narrower range of suitable concentrations was observed with Corona.     

Osmotic adjustment in tobacco plantlets

UsingNicotiana tabacum L. plantlets cultivatedin vitro as a model system it was proved that osmotic adjustment may be caused by a decrease in water potential of substrate as well as by a decrease in air humidity.