Complete genomic sequence of nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the genome of a symbiotic bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 was determined. The genome of B. japonicum was a single circular chromosome 9,105,828 bp in length with an average GC content of 64.1%. No plasmid was detected. The chromosome comprises 8317 potential protein-coding genes, one set of rRNA genes and 50 tRNA genes. Fifty-two percent of the potential protein genes showed sequence similarity to genes of known function and 30% to hypothetical genes. The remaining 18% had no apparent similarity to reported genes. Thirty-four percent of the B. japonicum genes showed significant sequence similarity to those of both Mesorhizobium loti and Sinorhizobium meliloti, while 23% were unique to this species. A presumptive symbiosis island 681 kb in length, which includes a 410-kb symbiotic region previously reported by G?ttfert et al., was identified. Six hundred fifty-five putative protein-coding genes were assigned in this region, and the functions of 301 genes, including those related to symbiotic nitrogen fixation and DNA transmission, were deduced. A total of 167 genes for transposases/104 copies of insertion sequences were identified in the genome. It was remarkable that 100 out of 167 transposase genes are located in the presumptive symbiotic island. DNA segments of 4 to 97 kb inserted into tRNA genes were found at 14 locations in the genome, which generates partial duplication of the target tRNA genes. These observations suggest plasticity of the B. japonicum genome, which is probably due to complex genome rearrangements such as horizontal transfer and insertion of various DNA elements, and to homologous recombination.     

Short tandem repeat polymorphism in the flanking region of the human phosphoglycerate kinase gene in a Japanese population

The human phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK1) gene is located within Xqll-Xql3 and is closely linked to the androgen receptor gene within a region implicated in a number of X-chromosome-linked urologic disorders. A polymorphism of a TATC short tandem repeat (STR) is present downstream from the PGK1 3' nuclease-sensitive site. We present the PGK1 flanking STR sequence and population genetic data for 190 Japanese males and 83 Japanese females. Ten STR alleles and 29 genotypes were identified in the population. Five alleles--*10, *11, *12, *13, and *14--were common in the Japanese with frequencies greater than 10%. No significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were established. The power of discrimination was 0.993 for females and 0.819 for males; heterozygosity was 0.759 for females; and the polymorphic information content was 0.936. These data indicate that this STR locus shows a high degree of polymorphism in this Japanese population and may prove to be a useful genetic marker in forensic medicine, in determining the clonality of neoplasms, and potentially in studying predisposition to prostate cancer and other urologic diseases.     

Studies on the Amino Acids Fermentation of Pentose Materials

Fundamental studies on the cultural conditions for the amino acids production from pentoses and hexoses employing a strain of our new isolates named Brevibacterium pentoso-aminoacidicum nov. sp. were carried out.

As a result of these experiments, it became possible to obtain about 30% of alanine and 10% of L-glutamic acid based on xylose, and alanine from glucose with a yield of about 40% in the proper conditions.     

Taxonomy of Producing Organism,and Production,Isolation, Physico-chemical Properties and Biological Activities of Cirratiomycin A and B

The new peptide antibiotics have been obtained from the culture filtrate of a streptomycete, strain 248-Sq2, isolated from a soil sample collected at Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

On the basis of taxonomic studies, the producing organisms is designated as Streptomyces cirratus. Two active principles are named cirratiomycin A and B.

These antibiotics exhibit a narrow range of activities against Lactobacillus casei and some strains of Streptococcus and Mycobacterium.     

Isolation and Identification of Two β-Hydroxy-pyridine Derivatives from the Nondialyzable Melanoidin-hydrolyzate

The hydrolyzate of the melanoidin prepared from glucose-ammonia system (kept in pH 5.3~6.0 during the reaction) was fractionated into the two fractions of non-adsorbate and adsorbate on Amberlite IR-120 (H⁺-form). In the present paper, the adsorbed fraction (Fraction B) was examined.

Paper chromatographic examination of the Fraction B indicated the presence of at least eight compounds positive to diazotized sulphanilic acid reagent. The two compounds of them (indicated orange and orange-yellow color) were isolated and identified as 2-methyl-5-hydroxy-pyridine and 2-hydroxymethyl-5-hydroxy-pyridine, respectively.

It is probable that these compounds would loosely be bound as a small moiety in the melanoidin molecule.     

Biosynthesis of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) from threonine.

A series of copolyesters of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) was biosynthesized by Alcaligenes eutrophus from an amino acid, threonine. The 3HV content of these polyesters ranged from less than 0.1% to 30%.     

Induction of Salicylic Acid {beta}-Glucosidase in Tobacco Leaves by Exogenous Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid (SA) has been proposed to be an endogenous signalfor systemic acquired resistance to infection by pathogens inplants. In general, most SA is found in an inactive form asSA ß-glucoside (SAG). SAG seems to be a storage formof SA from which bioactive SA can be generated. Recent reportsindicate that ß-glucosidase might be involved in regulatingthe signaling activity of phytohormones. Therefore, it seemslikely that SA ß-glucosidase, the enzyme that hydrolyzesSAG to yield free SA, might also play an important role by regulatingthe level of free SA. Since hydrolysis of SAG seems to occurin intercellular spaces, we attempted to isolate SA ß-glucosidaseactivity from the intercellular spaces of SA-treated tobaccoleaves, where we found considerable amounts of the enzymaticactivity. Furthermore, increased levels of SA and SA ß-glucosidaseactivity were found in the leaves after treatment with exogenousSA. The role of SA ß-glucosidase in plant defensesystems is discussed. (Received November 15, 1994; Accepted January 20, 1995)     

Prey kills predator: Counter-attack success of a spider mite against its specific phytoseiid predator

Success of counter-attack by the spider mite,Schizotetranychus celarius (Banks), against its specific phytoseiid predator,Typhlodromus bambusae Ehara, was examined under experimental conditions. The success of counter-attack by prey females (mothers) against a predaceous larva depended upon the former's density per nest. About 30% of the predaceous larvae were killed when they intruded into a nest containing eight females and their offspring. On the other hand, the prey males (fathers) effectively killed the predators, i.e. one male in the nest killed ca. 40% of the predators while two or three males destroyed up to 80%.The presence of prey parents in a nest considerably enhanced the success of the counter-attack. One male and two young females could kill 70% of the predator's larvae, while two males and two females killed 90% of such larvae. This suggests a kind of cooperative brood defence amongstS. celarius parents.Although more robust, protonymphs of the predator also suffered damage by the prey's counter-attack. However, prey male and female could not destroy the predator's eggs and adult females, whilst the latter often killed spider mite adults.From these as well as previous experiments, it is concluded thatS. celarius has evolved some kind of biparental care for its offspring. It is further proposed that the predator—prey interactions observed in this study provide a unique contribution towards understanding predator—prey coevolution.     

A galactoglucomannan from extracellular polysaccharides of suspension-cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum

A polysaccharide containing d-xylose, l-arabinose, d-mannose, d-galactose and d-glucose residues in the molar ratio of 0.07:0.16:1.