Draft Genome Sequence of the Methane-Oxidizing Bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus (Texas)

Methanotrophic bacteria perform major roles in global carbon cycles via their unique enzymatic activities that enable the oxidation of one-carbon compounds, most notably methane. Here we describe the annotated draft genome sequence of the aerobic methanotroph Methylococcus capsulatus (Texas), a type strain originally isolated from sewer sludge.     

Studies on the actomyosin ATPase and the role of the alkali light chains

Myosin isoenzymes, highly enriched in either alkali 1 or alkali 2 light chains have been prepared by light chain exchange in 4.7 M ammonium chloride, under conditions where there is minimal loss of ATPase activity. While the actin-activated ATPase measurements were complicated by a biphasic dependence on actin concentration, the two myosin isoenzymes behaved in a similar manner; at a variety of ionic strength conditions their maximum rates of ATP hydrolysis were nearly identical. Furthermore, under conditions where their Km values could be reliably determined, their apparent affinities for actin in the presence of ATP did not differ greatly. These results suggest that the presence of a particular alkali light chain does not influence the maximum rate of ATP turnover by actomyosin under ionic strength conditions approximating physiological.     

Purification and properties of the heat-released nucleotide-modifying group from the inactive iron protein of nitrogenase from Rhodospirillum rubrum

Nitrogenase in Rhodospirillum rubrum is regulated in vivo by the covalent modification of the Fe protein. This paper reports the isolation, purification, and properties of the modifying group that has been heat released from the Fe protein. The molecule is isolated from the heated mixture by binding to a boronate affinity column. Purification is achieved on an ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography column. Structural properties of the molecule have been investigated by using proton and phosphorus NMR, mass spectrometry, enzyme susceptibility, and chromatographic methods. The heat-released modifying group exhibits an unusual signal in the proton NMR spectrum at 1.26 ppm. The molecule also contains a functional group which can be reduced by borohydride. This group is lost on breakdown of the molecule or upon treatment of the molecule with 5'-nucleotidase. The identity of the base and the pentose of modifying group as adenine and ribose, respectively, is confirmed. Ratios of the known components of the modifying group are established.