Alteration of ribosomal protein S5 from two spectinomycin-resistant mutants of Bacillus subtilis: deletion of one amino acid residue

Summary The ribosomal protein S5 was isolated from Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 (wild-type) and two spectinomycin-resistant mutants (BSPC 31 and BSPC 61). Analyses of the protein revealed that in each of these mutants one of the two consecutive arginine residues (position 29 or 30 in the wild-type) is missing.     

Fractionation of human milk oligosaccharides by high-performance liquid chromatography

An ion-exchange chromatographic system was used to isolate several human milk oligosaccharides, the elution being carried out with a linear gradient of a sodium borate buffer. Lacto-N-tetraose, lacto-N-neotetraose, lacto-N-fucopentaose I, II and III, lacto-N-difucohexaose I and 2'-alpha-fucosyllactose can be separated by this method.     

Molecular cloning of ribosomal protein genes from Mycoplasma capricolum

Summary A BglII-fragment from the Mycoplasma, capricolum DNA cloned into pBR322 has been found to contain a cluster of ribosomal protein genes. The recombinant plasmid, pMCB1088, includes a 9 kilobase-pair insert that codes for at least eight ribosomal proteins of M. capricolum. The protein genes are expressed in Escherichia coli cells.     

Functionally distinct melanocyte populations revealed by reconstitution of hair follicles in mice

Hair follicle reconstitution analysis was used to test the contribution of melanocytes or their precursors to regenerated hair follicles. In this study, we first confirmed the process of chimeric hair follicle regeneration by both hair keratinocytes and follicular melanocytes. Then, as first suggested from the differential growth requirements of epidermal skin melanocytes and non‐cutaneous or dermal melanocytes, we confirmed the inability of the latter to be involved as follicular melanocytes to regenerate hair follicles during the hair reconstitution assay. This clear functional discrimination between non‐cutaneous or dermal melanocytes and epidermal melanocytes suggests the presence of two different melanocyte cell lineages, a finding that might be important in the pathogenesis of melanocyte‐related diseases and melanomas.     

Phenotypic characterization of CO2-requiring strains of Streptococcus bovis from koalas.

We examined phenotypic characteristics of six mannitol-fermenting strains of Streptococcus bovis, including two unusual CO2-requiring strains isolated from koala feces. These strains did not grow in air, but grew in air supplemented with CO2 and under reduced oxygen conditions. All six strains had the same biochemical characteristics, except that the CO2-requiring strains did not produce beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase.