Large fluxes of fatty acids from membranes to triacylglycerol and back during N-deprivation and recovery in Chlamydomonas

Microalgae accumulate triacylglycerol (TAG) during nutrient deprivation and break it down after nutrient resupply, and these processes involve dramatic shifts in cellular carbon allocation. Due to the importance of algae in the global carbon cycle, and the potential of algal lipids as feedstock for chemical and fuel production, these processes are of both ecophysiological and biotechnological importance. However, the metabolism of TAG is not well understood, particularly the contributions of fatty acids (FAs) from different membrane lipids to TAG accumulation and the fate of TAG FAs during degradation. Here, we used isotopic labeling time course experiments on Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to track FA synthesis and transfer between lipid pools during nitrogen (N)-deprivation and resupply. When cells were labeled before N-deprivation, total levels of label in cellular FAs were unchanged during subsequent N-deprivation and later resupply, despite large fluxes into and out of TAG and membrane lipid pools. Detailed analyses of FA levels and labeling revealed that about one-third of acyl chains accumulating in TAG during N-deprivation derive from preexisting membrane lipids, and in total, at least 45% of TAG FAs passed through membrane lipids at one point. Notably, most acyl chains in membrane lipids during recovery after N-resupply come from TAG. Fluxes of polyunsaturated FAs from plastidic membranes into TAG during N-deprivation were particularly noteworthy. These findings demonstrate a high degree of integration of TAG and membrane lipid metabolism and highlight a role for TAG in storage and supply of membrane lipid components.

In Chlamydomonas, about a third of triacylglycerol (TAG) made during nitrogen deprivation is derived from preexisting membranes, and most membranes made after resupply are derived from TAG.     

Interfacial pH during mussel adhesive plaque formation

Mussel (Mytilus californianus) adhesion to marine surfaces involves an intricate and adaptive synergy of molecules and spatio-temporal processes. Although the molecules, such as mussel foot proteins (mfps), are well characterized, deposition details remain vague and speculative. Developing methods for the precise surveillance of conditions that apply during mfp deposition would aid both in understanding mussel adhesion and translating this adhesion into useful technologies. To probe the interfacial pH at which mussels buffer the local environment during mfp deposition, a lipid bilayer with tethered pH-sensitive fluorochromes was assembled on mica. The interfacial pH during foot contact with modified mica ranged from 2.2 to 3.3, which is well below the seawater pH of ~ 8. The acidic pH serves multiple functions: it limits mfp-Dopa oxidation, thereby enabling the catecholic functionalities to adsorb to surface oxides by H-bonding and metal ion coordination, and provides a solubility switch for mfps, most of which aggregate at pH ≥ 7–8.     

Thigmomorphogenesis: The Involvement of Auxin and Abscisic Acid in Growth Retardation Due to Mechanical Perturbation

When young bean plants are mechanically perturbed for up to10 days, they accumulate large amounts of an auxin-like substanceand increased amounts of ABA. Exogenous ethylene, applied inthe form of ethephon, produces the same result. Physiologicallymoderately high amounts of exogenously applied IAA or loweramounts of ABA cause the same sort of retardation of elongationthat is caused by either mechanical perturbation or exogenousethephon. Either mechanical perturbation or applied ethephonsignificantly retards the polar basipetal transport of ¹⁴C-IAAIt is proposed that mechanical perturbation of bean internodesinduces ethylene evolution which, in turn, induces the accumulationof high levels of IAA and the production of ABA, both of whichcontribute to the retardation of elongation of the internodes. (Received December 24, 1981; Accepted May 19, 1982)     

Higher,Stronger, Better…︁ A Review of 5 Volt Cathode Materials for Advanced Lithium‐Ion Batteries

The ever‐increasing demand for high‐performing, economical, and safe power storage for portable electronics and electric vehicles stimulates R&D in the field of chemical power sources. In the past two decades, lithium‐ion technology has proven itself a most robust technology, which delivers high energy and power capabilities. At the same time, current technology requires that the energy and power capabilities of Li‐ion batteries be ‘beefed up’ beyond the existing state of the art. Increasing the battery voltage is one of the ways to improve battery energy density; in Li‐ion cells, the objective of current research is to develop a 5‐volt cell, and at the same time to maintain high specific charge capacity, excellent cycling, and safety. Since current anode materials possess working potentials fairly close to the potential of a lithium metal, the focus is on the development of cathode materials. This work reviews and analyzes the current state of the art, achievements, and challenges in the field of high‐voltage cathode materials for Li‐ion cells. Some suggestions regarding possible approaches for future development in the field are also presented.     

Automated thermal imaging monitors the local response to cervical cancer brachytherapy

Malignant tumors have high metabolic and perfusion rates, which result in a unique temperature distribution as compared to healthy tissues. Here, we sought to characterize the thermal response of the cervix following brachytherapy in women with advanced cervical carcinoma. Six patients underwent imaging with a thermal camera before a brachytherapy treatment session and after a 7-day follow-up period. A designated algorithm was used to calculate and store the texture parameters of the examined tissues across all time points. We used supervised machine learning classification methods (K Nearest Neighbors and Support Vector Machine) and unsupervised machine learning classification (K-means). Our algorithms demonstrated a 100% detection rate for physiological changes in cervical tumors before and after brachytherapy. Thus, we showed that thermal imaging combined with advanced feature extraction could potentially be used to detect tissue-specific changes in the cervix in response to local brachytherapy for cervical cancer.     

Influence of inorganic phosphate and organic buffers on cephalosporin production by Streptomyces clavuligerus

A high concentration of potassium phosphate (75–100 mM) stabilized pH and supported extensive growth of Streptomyces clavuligerus in a chemically defined medium; such a concentration also inhibited cephalosporin production. Although Tris buffer was found to have detrimental effects on growth and antibiotic production, 3-(N-morpholino)-propane sulfonate (MOPS) or 2-(N-morpholino)-ethane sulfonate (MES) buffer provided a nontoxic buffering system. In the presence of MOPS buffer, cephalosporin production was optimal at 25 mM phosphate, whereas higher concentrations of phosphate progressively inhibited antibiotic production up to 85% without modifying the pH pattern. MOPS buffer can be used to conduct fermentations at a relatively constant pH value in shake flasks.List of Non-Common Abbreviations MOPS 3-(N-morpholino)propane sulfonic acid - MES 2-(N-morpholino)ethane sulfonic acid     

Transformation in Bacillus subtilis. A simple direct method

Summary Transformation may be accomplished by lysing previously prepared donor protoplasts with a suspension of competent recipient cells. Joint transfer of two widely separated markers is obtained with high frequency.     

Pharyngeal movements during feeding sequences inNavanax inermis: a cinematographic analysis

Summary Pharyngeal movements during feeding inNavanax inermis were filmed and correlated with known neural activity controlling the pharynx. Seven distinct components of feeding were identified. Occurrence of a component was in some cases fixed, in that once initiated the act went to completion, and in other cases reflex, in that tonic stimulus control was needed for the act to be maintained. As few as 2 or as many as 7 different motor acts could occur in a feeding sequence. The specific acts which make up a sequence were dependent upon the nature of the prey stimuli that elicited feeding: qualitatively as well as quantitatively different feeding sequences were elicited by prey of differing sizes or by prey which was withdrawn fromNavanax at different stages in a movement. The data indicate that the sequence of pharyngeal movements is not preprogrammed, but rather the sequence is appropriate to a specific type of prey. Flexibility in fitting a feeding sequence to the prey that elicits the sequence is achieved by combining in different ways a limited number of specific, fairly stereotyped motor acts.     

A temperature sensitive mutant in Bacillus subtilis with an altered elongation factor G

Summary A temperature sensitive mutant of Bacillus subtilis with an altered elongation factor G is described. The mutation is highly co-transformable with resistance to fusidic acid.This work is part of a Ph. D. Thesis to be submitted to Tel Aviv University.