Effect of heterologous expression of phaG [(R)-3-hydroxyacyl-ACP-CoA transferase] on polyhydroxyalkanoate accumulation from the aromatic hydrocarbon phenylacetic acid in Pseudomonas species

Five Pseudomonas strains capable of growth with the aromatic carboxylic acid phenylacetic acid were investigated with a view to improving PHA accumulation. The overexpression of (R)-3-hydroxyacyl-ACP-CoA transferase (PhaG) from Pseudomonas putida CA-3 increased PHA accumulation in only one of the five strains tested, namely Pseudomonas jessenii C8. Recombinant P. jessenii C8 harbouring the phaG gene showed a 4.1-fold increase (9.6-39% cell dry weight) in PHA accumulation when grown on phenylacetic acid (15 mM) compared with the wild-type strain. This is the highest reported level of PHA accumulation from phenylacetic acid. This is also the first time the heterologous expression of phaG has resulted in improved PHA accumulation from an aromatic carbon source. The growth patterns of the wild type and recombinant strains were very similar, with no significant differences observed in carbon and nitrogen utilization.     

Polyphosphate accumulation by Pseudomonas putida CA-3 and other medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate-accumulating bacteria under aerobic growth conditions

Pseudomonas putida CA-3 accumulates polyphosphate (polyP) and medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate (mclPHA) concurrently under nitrogen limitation. Five other mclPHA-accumulating Pseudomonas strains are capable of simultaneous polyP and mclPHA biosynthesis. It appears that polyP is not the rate-limiting step for mclPHA accumulation in these Pseudomonas strains.     

Development of codominant simple sequence repeat, single nucleotide polymorphism and sequence characterized amplified region markers for the pea root rot pathogen, Aphanomyces euteiches

Three kinds of genetic markers including simple sequence repeats (SSRs), single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and sequence characterized amplified regions (SCARs) were developed from Aphanomyces euteiches. Of 69 loci tested, seven SSR, two SNP and two SCAR markers were codominantly polymorphic. These codominant markers and dominant markers described herein will facilitate population genetic and evolutionary studies of this important plant pathogen.     

Bridging the gaps in systems biology

Systems biology aims at creating mathematical models, i.e., computational reconstructions of biological systems and processes that will result in a new level of understanding—the elucidation of the basic and presumably conserved “design” and “engineering” principles of biomolecular systems. Thus, systems biology will move biology from a phenomenological to a predictive science. Mathematical modeling of biological networks and processes has already greatly improved our understanding of many cellular processes. However, given the massive amount of qualitative and quantitative data currently produced and number of burning questions in health care and biotechnology needed to be solved is still in its early phases. The field requires novel approaches for abstraction, for modeling bioprocesses that follow different biochemical and biophysical rules, and for combining different modules into larger models that still allow realistic simulation with the computational power available today. We have identified and discussed currently most prominent problems in systems biology: (1) how to bridge different scales of modeling abstraction, (2) how to bridge the gap between topological and mechanistic modeling, and (3) how to bridge the wet and dry laboratory gap. The future success of systems biology largely depends on bridging the recognized gaps.     

Effects of region,demography, and protection from fishing on batch fecundity of common coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus)

Batch fecundity of female Plectropomus leopardus, a coral reef fish targeted by commercial and recreational fishing, was compared between reefs open to fishing and reefs within no-take marine reserves within three regions of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia. Length, weight, and age had positive effects on batch fecundity of spawners from northern and central reefs but negligible effects on spawners from southern reefs. Females were least fecund for a given length, weight, and age in the southern GBR. Batch fecundity of a 500-mm fork length female was 430 % greater on central reefs and 207 % greater on northern reefs than on southern reefs. The effects of length and age on batch fecundity did not differ significantly between reserve and fished reefs in any region, but weight-specific fecundity was 100 % greater for large 2.0 kg females on reserve reefs compared with fished reefs in the central GBR. We hypothesize that regional variation in batch fecundity is likely driven by water temperature and prey availability. Significant regional variation in batch fecundity highlights the need for understanding spatial variation in reproductive output where single conservation or fishery management strategies cover large, potentially diverse, spatial scales.     

Common Genetic Determinants of Lung Function,Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Risk of Coronary Artery Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) independently associates with an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), but it has not been fully investigated whether this co-morbidity involves shared pathophysiological mechanisms. To identify potential common pathways across the two diseases, we tested all recently published single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with human lung function (spirometry) for association with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in 3,378 subjects with multiple CAD risk factors, and for association with CAD in a case-control study of 5,775 CAD cases and 7,265 controls. SNPs rs2865531, located in the CFDP1 gene, and rs9978142, located in the KCNE2 gene, were significantly associated with CAD. In addition, SNP rs9978142 and SNP rs3995090 located in the HTR4 gene, were associated with average and maximal cIMT measures. Genetic risk scores combining the most robustly spirometry–associated SNPs from the literature were modestly associated with CAD, (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI₉₅) = 1.06 (1.03, 1.09); P-value = 1.5×10⁻⁴, per allele). In conclusion, our study suggests that some genetic loci implicated in determining human lung function also influence cIMT and susceptibility to CAD. The present results should help elucidate the molecular underpinnings of the co-morbidity observed across COPD and CAD.     

Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy reveals unique phenotypes for human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cell lines and their progeny

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy was employed to elucidate the macromolecular phenotype of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and their differentiated progeny. Undifferentiated hESCs and hiPSC lines were found to be not clearly distinguishable from each other. However, although both hESC and hiPSC variants appeared to undergo similar changes during differentiation in terms of cell surface antigens, the derived cell types from all cell lines could be discriminated using FTIR spectroscopy. We foresee a possible future role for FTIR microspectroscopy as a powerful and objective investigative and quality control tool in regenerative medicine. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)