Magnesium isotope fractionation during microbially enhanced forsterite dissolution

Bacillus subtilis endospore‐mediated forsterite dissolution experiments were performed to assess the effects of cell surface reactivity on Mg isotope fractionation during chemical weathering. Endospores present a unique opportunity to study the isolated impact of cell surface reactivity because they exhibit extremely low metabolic activity. In abiotic control assays, ²⁴Mg was preferentially released into solution during forsterite dissolution, producing an isotopically light liquid phase (δ²⁶Mg = ?0.39 ± 0.06 to ?0.26 ± 0.09‰) relative to the initial mineral composition (δ²⁶Mg = ?0.24 ± 0.03‰). The presence of endospores did not have an apparent effect on Mg isotope fractionation associated with the release of Mg from the solid into the aqueous phase. However, the endospore surfaces preferentially adsorbed ²⁴Mg from the dissolution products, which resulted in relatively heavy aqueous Mg isotope compositions. These aqueous Mg isotope compositions increased proportional to the fraction of dissolved Mg that was adsorbed, with the highest measured δ²⁶Mg (?0.08 ± 0.07‰) corresponding to the highest degree of adsorption (~76%). The Mg isotope composition of the adsorbed fraction was correspondingly light, at an average δ²⁶Mg of ?0.49‰. Secondary mineral precipitation and Mg adsorption onto secondary minerals had a minimal effect on Mg isotopes at these experimental conditions. Results demonstrate the isolated effects of cell surface reactivity on Mg isotope fractionation separate from other common biological processes, such as metabolism and organic acid production. With further study, Mg isotopes could be used to elucidate the role of the biosphere on Mg cycling in the environment.     

Construction and characterization of different fusion proteins between cellulases and β-glucosidase to improve glucose production and thermostability

A β-glucosidase from Clostridium cellulovorans (CcBG) was fused with one of three different types of cellulases from Clostridium thermocellum, including a cellulosomal endoglucanase CelD (CtCD), a cellulosomal exoglucanase CBHA (CtCA) and a non-cellulosomal endoglucanase Cel9I (CtC9I). Six bifunctional enzymes were constructed with either β-glucosidase or cellulase in the upstream. CtCD-CcBG showed the favorable specific activities on phosphoric acid swollen cellulose (PASC), an amorphous cellulose, with more glucose production (2 folds) and less cellobiose accumulation (3 folds) when compared with mixture of the single enzymes. Moreover, CtCD-CcBG had significantly improved thermal stability with a melting temperature (T_m) of 10.9 °C higher than that of CcBG (54.5 °C) based on the CD unfolding experiments. This bifunctional enzyme is thus useful in industrial application to convert cellulose to glucose.     

无色素腺棉籽蛋白粉与棉子油的制备

低棉酚棉籽为高蛋白含油的植物资源,适宜于水溶法制备油及蛋白粉,出油率一般可达９５％。     

贵州高原红枫湖水库浮游植物功能分组及其时空分布特征

为了解贵州高原水源红枫湖水库的浮游植物功能类群及其时空分布特征,于2012年至2013年枯水期(11月)、平水期(4月)、丰水期(7月)对红枫湖浮游植物与水体进行分层采样分析。研究结果表明,水库浮游植物可分为25个功能群,其中S1、F、J、B、D、S2、Y、LM是红枫湖主要代表性功能群,而W1、A、W2、K、X3出现频率较低,主要功能群生境特征都适应于中富营养水体,S1适应于透明度较低、混合程度较高的中富营养水体,F适应于深层混合的中至富营养湖泊,J适应于混合的高富营养浅水水体,B对分层敏感适应于中营养水体;各采样点主要浮游植物功能群季节变化大体相同,枯水期、平水期各采样点功能群较少,丰水期功能群最为丰富;水温是影响红枫湖浮游植物功能类群分布变化的主要因子;浮游植物生长策略变化规律为:枯水期CR/R/S策略藻种→平水期R/CR/CS策略藻种→丰水期R/CR/CRS/C策略藻种,水体浮游植物优势功能群在物质供给、能量输入均较理想的条件下能充分生长,随着能量限制程度的增加而较其他类群更具耐受性;通过浮游植物功能群与水体环境相互关系可以得出:红枫湖水体处于中富营养状态。     

The Complete Genome and Proteome of Laribacter hongkongensis Reveal Potential Mechanisms for Adaptations to Different Temperatures and Habitats

Laribacter hongkongensis is a newly discovered Gram-negative bacillus of the Neisseriaceae family associated with freshwater fish–borne gastroenteritis and traveler's diarrhea. The complete genome sequence of L. hongkongensis HLHK9, recovered from an immunocompetent patient with severe gastroenteritis, consists of a 3,169-kb chromosome with G+C content of 62.35%. Genome analysis reveals different mechanisms potentially important for its adaptation to diverse habitats of human and freshwater fish intestines and freshwater environments. The gene contents support its phenotypic properties and suggest that amino acids and fatty acids can be used as carbon sources. The extensive variety of transporters, including multidrug efflux and heavy metal transporters as well as genes involved in chemotaxis, may enable L. hongkongensis to survive in different environmental niches. Genes encoding urease, bile salts efflux pump, adhesin, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and other putative virulence factors—such as hemolysins, RTX toxins, patatin-like proteins, phospholipase A1, and collagenases—are present. Proteomes of L. hongkongensis HLHK9 cultured at 37°C (human body temperature) and 20°C (freshwater habitat temperature) showed differential gene expression, including two homologous copies of argB, argB-20, and argB-37, which encode two isoenzymes of N-acetyl-L-glutamate kinase (NAGK)—NAGK-20 and NAGK-37—in the arginine biosynthesis pathway. NAGK-20 showed higher expression at 20°C, whereas NAGK-37 showed higher expression at 37°C. NAGK-20 also had a lower optimal temperature for enzymatic activities and was inhibited by arginine probably as negative-feedback control. Similar duplicated copies of argB are also observed in bacteria from hot springs such as Thermus thermophilus, Deinococcus geothermalis, Deinococcus radiodurans, and Roseiflexus castenholzii, suggesting that similar mechanisms for temperature adaptation may be employed by other bacteria. Genome and proteome analysis of L. hongkongensis revealed novel mechanisms for adaptations to survival at different temperatures and habitats.     

油桐尺蠖核型多角体病毒多角体蛋白的理化性质及二级结构预测

由SDS及梯度胶电泳测得油桐尺蠖核型多角体病毒（BsNPV）多角体蛋白天然状态及亚基分子量分别为363kD与31.5kD,从而推断此蛋白为十二聚体,亚基间无二硫键作用．BsNPV多角体蛋白的远紫外圆二色谱显示,它的二级结构含有31．7％的α螺旋,23．8％的β折叠及44．5％的无规卷曲,与二级结构预测结果相符．通过荧光光谱实验推知,BsNPV多角体蛋白的表面疏水性弱,其色氨酸残基位于蛋白疏水核内部．     

Expression and characterization of dextransucrase gene dsrX from Leuconostoc mesenteroides in Escherichia coli

The dextransucrase gene dsrX from Leuconostoc mesenteroides CGMCC 1.544 was cloned into the vector pET-28a(+) and expressed as a N-terminal His(6)-tag fusion protein of 167.57 kDa in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). DsrX with the high volumetric activity of 8.8 U ml(-1) culture and the specific activity of 97.37 U mg(-1) crude enzyme extracts was measured in the optimized recombinant expression system. The resultant expression level of the fusion protein amounted to 24.5% of the total cell proteins. The results of affinity chromatography and western blotting indicated that the three sensitive sites of proteolysis existed in the N-terminal catalytic domain of DsrX. Both the recombinant and native enzyme activity were slightly activated by 1 mmol l(-1) Mn(2+) and strongly inhibited by 1 mmol l(-1) Cu(2+) or Al(3+), and their optimum pH values were 5.4. The optimum temperature of the recombinant enzyme for dextran synthesis was 30 degrees C, which was 10 degrees C less than that of the native one. The transglucosylation products of two enzymes were studied by using thin layer chromatography and high-performance anion exchange chromatography. It could be concluded that the better sample-pretreatment temperature in SDS-PAGE was 37 degrees C, which significantly improved the detection of thermal instable enzyme than that of 100 degrees C.     

Gene expression patterns in ovarian carcinomas

We used DNA microarrays to characterize the global gene expression patterns in surface epithelial cancers of the ovary. We identified groups of genes that distinguished the clear cell subtype from other ovarian carcinomas, grade I and II from grade III serous papillary carcinomas, and ovarian from breast carcinomas. Six clear cell carcinomas were distinguished from 36 other ovarian carcinomas (predominantly serous papillary) based on their gene expression patterns. The differences may yield insights into the worse prognosis and therapeutic resistance associated with clear cell carcinomas. A comparison of the gene expression patterns in the ovarian cancers to published data of gene expression in breast cancers revealed a large number of differentially expressed genes. We identified a group of 62 genes that correctly classified all 125 breast and ovarian cancer specimens. Among the best discriminators more highly expressed in the ovarian carcinomas were PAX8 (paired box gene 8), mesothelin, and ephrin-B1 (EFNB1). Although estrogen receptor was expressed in both the ovarian and breast cancers, genes that are coregulated with the estrogen receptor in breast cancers, including GATA-3, LIV-1, and X-box binding protein 1, did not show a similar pattern of coexpression in the ovarian cancers.