Genome sequence of strain HIMB30, a novel member of the marine Gammaproteobacteria

Strain HIMB30 was isolated from coastal Hawaii seawater by extinction culturing in seawater-based oligotrophic medium. It is a phylogenetically unique member of the class Gammaproteobacteria that is only distantly related to its closest cultured relatives. Here we present the genome sequence of strain HIMB30, including genes for proteorhodopsin-based phototrophy and the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle.     

Multiphasic Kinetics of Transformation of 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene at Nano- and Micromolar Concentrations by Burkholderia sp. Strain PS14

The transformation of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB) at initial concentrations in nano- and micromolar ranges was studied in batch experiments with Burkholderia sp. strain PS14. 1,2,4-TCB was metabolized from nano- and micromolar concentrations to below its detection limit of 0.5 nM. At low initial 1,2,4-TCB concentrations, a first-order relationship between specific transformation rate and substrate concentration was observed with a specific affinity (a⁰_A) of 0.32 liter · mg (dry weight)⁻¹ · h⁻¹ followed by a second one at higher concentrations with an a^o_A of 0.77 liter · mg (dry weight)⁻¹ · h⁻¹. This transition from the first-order kinetics at low initial 1,2,4-TCB concentrations to the second first-order kinetics at higher 1,2,4-TCB concentrations was shifted towards higher initial 1,2,4-TCB concentrations with increasing cell mass. At high initial concentrations of 1,2,4-TCB, a maximal transformation rate of approximately 37 nmol · min⁻¹ · mg (dry weight)⁻¹ was measured, irrespective of the cell concentration.     

Improvement of electrospray stability in negative ion mode for nano-PGC-LC-MS glycoanalysis via post-column make-up flow

Analysis of glycans via a porous graphitized carbon liquid chromatography (PGC-LC) coupled with electrospray ionization (tandem) mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(/MS)) is a powerful analytical method in the field of glycomics. Isobaric glycan structures can be identified reliably with the help of PGC-LC separation and subsequent identification by ESI-MS(/MS) in negative ion mode. In an effort to adapt PGC-LC-ESI-MS(/MS) to the nano-scale operation, spray instability along the nano-PGC-LC gradient was repeatedly observed on an LTQ Orbitrap Elite mass spectrometer equipped with a standard nano-electrospray ionization source. A stable electrospray was achieved with the implementation of a post-column make-up flow (PCMF). Thereby, acetonitrile was used to supplement the eluate from the nano-PGC-LC column. The improved spray stability enhanced detection and resolution of glycans during the analysis. This was in particular the case for smaller O-glycans which elute early in the high aqueous content regime of the nano-PGC-LC elution gradient. This study introduces PCMF as an easy-to-use instrumental adaptation to significantly improve spray stability in negative ion mode nano-PGC-LC-ESI-MS(/MS)-based analysis of glycans.     

A new molecular model for collagen elasticity based on synchrotron X-ray scattering evidence.

Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in vertebrates. The specific shape of its stress-strain curve is crucial for the function of a number of organs. Although the macroscopic mechanical behavior of collagen is well known, there is still no explanation of the elastic process at the supramolecular level. We have performed in situ synchrotron x-ray scattering experiments, which show that the amount of lateral molecular order increases upon stretching of collagen fibers. In strain cycling experiments the relation between strain and diffuse equatorial scattering was found to be linear in the "heel" region of the stress-strain curve. A new molecular model for collagen elasticity is proposed, which, based on the existence of thermally activated molecular kinks, reproduces this linearity and gives a simple explanation for the form of the stress-strain curve of collagen.     

Cell-Dependent Differences in the Production of Infectious Herpes Simplex Virus at a Supraoptimal Temperature

The replication of herpes simplex virus (HSV) was compared in rabbit and hamster cells at optimal and supraoptimal temperatures. Replication occurred in cells of either species at 33 C, but the total infectious virus yield was routinely about 10-fold greater in rabbit cells than in hamster cells. At 39 C, this difference was exaggerated to greater than 100,000-fold. Whereas infectious virus was produced and plaques formed in rabbit kidney cell monolayers at the higher temperature, neither developed in those derived from hamster embryos. Elevating the temperature from 33 C to 39 C at various time intervals after exposure of the cultures to virus revealed that production of infectious virus in hamster cells was completely heat-sensitive up to 6 hr after infection. Specific viral antigens and viral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) were synthesized in both rabbit and hamster cell cultures. In addition, cellular DNA synthesis was depressed and cytopathic effects occurred in both cell systems. These cytopathic effects were not observed in cell cultures treated with HSV previously inactivated with ultraviolet light. Compared with parallel cultures at 33 C, the amount of viral DNA synthesized at 39 C was greatly reduced in both systems. In hamster cells, the reduction was twofold greater than in rabbit cells. This cell-dependent thermal inhibition of HSV replication in hamster cells did not occur with vaccinia virus.     

Activation of a Latent Measles Virus Infection in Hamster Cells

The characteristics of infectious measles virus released from latently infected hamster embryo fibroblast cells are described. Low levels of virus were released spontaneously when the cultures were incubated at 37 C; this phenomenon was observed 19 passages after the cells had been exposed to the virus and has continued through cell passage 45. The virus yield could be significantly increased by cocultivation of the hamster cells with BSC-1 cells or incubation of the latently infected cells at 33.5 C rather than at 37 C. Measles virus released after cocultivation demonstrated increased cytopathology in cell culture and reduced temperature sensitivity when compared to the virus released at 33.5 C. After cell passage 45, there was an increase in spontaneous release of virus. However, the viruses recovered by cocultivation or temperature release after cell passage 45 were nearly identical. These observations suggest a possible mechanism for measles virus activation in cells latently infected with this virus.     

Demonstration of Cholinesterase in Teeth

Human teeth have been studied by treatment with copper thio-choline, the method developed by Koelle for demonstrating activity of both specific and nonspecific cholinesterases. Freshly extracted teeth were collected and immediately sectioned on a cutting machine designed for calcified tissues. One series of teeth was sectioned sufficiently thin for microscopic study. Another series of teeth was bisected to expose the pulp chambers to the reagents. These teeth were divided into 5 experimental groups. The first group was treated with 10^-6M di-isopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) for 30 min at 37°C and then incubated with acetylthiocholine (AThCh) for 16 to 20 hr at 37°C in order to reveal the sites of activity of the specific enzyme, AChEase. The second group was incubated in a substrate of butyrylthiocholine (BuThCh) for 12 to 16 hr at 37°C to indicate the sites of the nonspecific ChEase. The third group was incubated in AThCh for 16 to 20 hr at 37°C without previous treatment by an inhibitor in order to reveal the presence and location of both the specific and nonspecific ChEase. The fourth and fifth groups were utilized as controls. Group 4 tissues were incubated without a substrate while those of group 5 were treated with DFP and then incubated with BuThCh. The specimens then were treated with ammonium sulfide to outline the sites of ChEase activity. The thin sections were mounted directly but the series of halved teeth were decalcified, embedded in paraffin, sectioned and then mounted. By these methods the presence and location of both specific and nonspecific ChEase activity were observed in human teeth. Concentration of specific ChEase was observed along the coronal aspect of the pulp chamber and along the course of the pulpal nerves. The nonspecific ChEase was observed throughout the pulpal tissue and appeared to be concentrated along the nerves and blood vessels. Neither series of control tissues exhibited any staining in the pulp tissue.