Vandachostylis ‘Sri-Siam’: an intergeneric hybrid with superior qualities as evidenced by its biochemical fragrance and transcriptome profiles

Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Vandachostylis ‘Sri-Siam’ is a fragrant orchid, suitable as a potted plant for the floriculture and perfumery industries due to its...     

Kinesin-13 regulates the quantity and quality of tubulin inside cilia

Kinesin-13, an end depolymerizer of cytoplasmic and spindle microtubules, also affects the length of cilia. However, in different models, depletion of kinesin-13 either lengthens or shortens cilia, and therefore the exact function of kinesin-13 in cilia remains unclear. We generated null mutations of all kinesin-13 paralogues in the ciliate Tetrahymena. One of the paralogues, Kin13Ap, localizes to the nuclei and is essential for nuclear divisions. The remaining two paralogues, Kin13Bp and Kin13Cp, localize to the cell body and inside assembling cilia. Loss of both Kin13Bp and Kin13Cp resulted in slow cell multiplication and motility, overgrowth of cell body microtubules, shortening of cilia, and synthetic lethality with either paclitaxel or a deletion of MEC-17/ATAT1, the α-tubulin acetyltransferase. The mutant cilia assembled slowly and contained abnormal tubulin, characterized by altered posttranslational modifications and hypersensitivity to paclitaxel. The mutant cilia beat slowly and axonemes showed reduced velocity of microtubule sliding. Thus kinesin-13 positively regulates the axoneme length, influences the properties of ciliary tubulin, and likely indirectly, through its effects on the axonemal microtubules, affects the ciliary dynein-dependent motility.     

Degradation of labelled lignins and veratrylglycerol-beta-guaiacyl ether by Acinetobacter sp

Acinetobacter sp. evolved 14CO2 from 14C-(ring)DHP lignin and 14C-teakwood lignin. Veratrylglycerol-beta-guaiacyl ether, a lignin model compound with beta-o-4 linkage was cleaved by Acinetobacter sp. Veratrylglycerol-beta-guaiacyl ether into 2(o-methoxyphenoxy) ethanol and veratrylalcohol 2(o-methoxyphenoxy) ethanol was degraded to guaiacol and then to catechol whereas veratrylalcohol was converted to veratraldehyde, veratric acid, vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid and catechol. Both catechol 1,2-dioxygenase and protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase were detected in veratrylglycerol-beta-guaiacyl ether grown cultures.     

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor produced in recombinant baculovirus infected Sf9 insect cells couples with endogenous G-proteins to activate ion channels.

Following the infection of insect ovarian cells (Sf9) with recombinant bearing the cDNA coding for the rat muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor subtype m3, ionic flux across the membrane in response to the application of ACh was examined electrophysiologically. We show that ACh activates potassium currents. The response is abolished when cells are treated with pertussis toxin. No ACh-induced currents are observed from uninfected cells or cells infected with virus which do not contain the cDNA coding for ACh receptors in its genome. The characteristics of single channel currents show time-dependent changes following the application of ACh. Initially, ACh activates brief channel currents with a conductance of about 5 pS. The conductance level of channels gradually increases in steps to 10 pS and then to 20 pS and 40 pS. At the same time, channel open probability also increases. Thereafter, additional channels appear, opening and closing independently of, or at times in synchrony with, the original channel.     

A new genus and species of arboreal toad with phytotelmonous larvae,from the Andaman Islands,India (Lissamphibia,Anura, Bufonidae)

A new bufonid amphibian, belonging to a new monotypic genus, is described from the Andaman Islands, in the Bay of Bengal, Republic of India, based on unique external morphological and skeletal characters which are compared with those of known Oriental and other relevant bufonid genera. Blythophryne gen. n. is distinguished from other bufonid genera by its small adult size (mean SVL 24.02 mm), the presence of six presacral vertebrae, an absence of coccygeal expansions, presence of an elongated pair of parotoid glands, expanded discs at digit tips and phytotelmonous tadpoles that lack oral denticles. The taxonomic and phylogenetic position of the new taxon (that we named as Blythophryne beryet gen. et sp. n.) was ascertained by comparing its 12S and 16S partial genes with those of Oriental and other relevant bufonid lineages. Resulting molecular phylogeny supports the erection of a novel monotypic genus for this lineage from the Andaman Islands of India.     

Purification and functional characterization of the human beta 2-adrenergic receptor produced in baculovirus-infected insect cells.

A human cDNA fragment bearing the complete coding region for the beta 2-adrenergic receptor was introduced into the genome of Autographa california nuclear polyhedrosis virus under the control of the polyhedrin promoter. Binding studies using [125I]iodocyanopindolol showed that Sf9 insect cells infected with the recombinant virus expressed approximately 1 x 10(6) beta 2-adrenergic receptors on their cell surface. Photoaffinity labeling of whole cells and membranes revealed a molecular weight of approximately 46,000 for the expressed receptor. The receptor produced in insect cells is glycosylated but the extent and pattern differ from that of the receptor from human tissue. The heterologously expressed receptor was purified by alprenolol affinity chromatography, and was able to activate isolated Gs-protein.     

Isolation and identification of secondary metabolites of a strain ofAspergillus terreus,a common food contaminant

2-Hydroxy 3-methyl 1,4-benzoquinone 5,6 epoxide was identified as secondary metabolite of a strain ofAspergillus terreus, a common contaminant of animal feeds. In addition, the following compounds were also tentatively identified to be produced by this organism: 2-hYdroxy 3-methyl 1,4-benzoquinone; 2-methyl 1,4-benzoquinone 5,6-epoxide; naphthazarin epoxide; and 2-hydroxy 3-methyl 1,4-benzoquinone 5, 6-epoxide.