Untersuchungen zum Vorkommen von Pythium spp. im Boden

Investigations on the occurrence of Pythium spp. in soil: I. The isolation of Pythium spp., their distinction to macroscopically characteristics and their determination The aim of the present paper consisted in detection of Pythium spp. directly in the soil. This was possible by using a selective medium and by crumbling smallest particles of agar-covered soil on its surface. On the basis of simple morphologically criteria (growth patterns) this method allows to decide concerning the presence of high and less pathogen or apathogen Pythium spp. in a soil sample within 48 hours. About 700 isolates have been cultivated from hyphal tips, determinated and about 230 tested for pathogenicity to sugar beet seedlings in vitro. Most of the Pythia pathogen to sugar beet belong to P. ultimum Trow followed by P. paroecandrum Drechsler and P. debaryanum sensu Drechsler non Hesse. The taxonomically characteristics are demonstrated by figures of the three species.     

A new model of primary human adipocytes reveals reduced early insulin signalling in type 2 diabetes.

The aim of this study was to establish a diabetic model of primary human adipocytes for investigating potential defects in early insulin signalling. Specimens of human subcutaneous adipose tissue were obtained during orthopaedic surgical procedures. Preadipocytes were isolated and differentiated to adipocytes. Western blot analysis and immunoprecipitation were performed to determine protein content of IRS-1, IRS-2, p85, phosphorylation of IRS-1, IRS-2, Akt and MAPK as well as association between p85 and IRS-1/IRS-2. In addition to short-term insulin stimulation, the effect of hyperinsulinaemia was investigated by treating cells with insulin over a period of 36 hours. We found a significantly reduced basal expression of IRS-1 (54 +/- 15%) in adipocytes from type 2 diabetic subjects compared to controls with a further significant reduction in expression after long-term treatment (30 +/- 12%) compared to short-term treatment. IRS-2 expression also showed a significant reduction under hyperinsulinaemic conditions (20 +/- 2%) in diabetics vs. controls. Furthermore, long-term treatment with insulin in diabetic adipocytes led to a significant reduction in the phosphorylation of IRS-1(68 +/- 11%), IRS-2 (82 +/- 11%), Akt (42 +/- 2%), and MAPK (92 +/- 12%) and in the subsequent association between p85 to IRS-1 and IRS-2 (100 +/- 16% and 96 +/- 12%) in comparison to controls. Investigating glucose uptake diabetic adipocytes revealed a significant reduction of 90 +/- 2%. In this study, we were able to establish a new diabetic model of primary human adipocytes. A defect in early insulin signalling in type 2 diabetic patients under hyperinsulinaemic conditions was determined. These results might help to give further insights in early insulin action; additionally, this human model represents a useful target for the study of new therapeutic approaches.     

Molecular cloning, functional expression and purification of a glucan branching enzyme from Neisseria denitrificans(1).

The nucleotide sequence containing the complete structural information for a glucan branching enzyme was isolated from a Neisseria denitrificans genomic library. The gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and the active recombinant protein was purified. The deduced protein of 762 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 86313 Da shows similarity to the primary protein sequences of other known glucan branching enzymes. Amino acid sequencing of the isolated protein by Edman degradation confirmed the deduced start codon of the structural gene of the glucan branching enzyme. The purified glucan branching enzyme has a stimulating effect on the Neisseria amylosucrase activity.     

Fractionation of sulfur isotopes during dissimilatory reduction of sulfate by a thermophilic gram-negative bacterium at 60 °C

Sulfur isotope (³⁴S/³²S) fractionation during reduction of dissolved sulfate was investigated with a growing batch culture of a thermophilic, gram-negative, sulfate-reducing bacterium (strain MT-96) at 60 °C. The completely oxidizing strain was isolated from geothermally heated sediments of a shallow-water hydrothermal vent in the Mediterranean Sea. The hydrogen sulfide produced in the experiments was enriched in ³²S by approximately 19‰ as compared to sulfate, which indicates that stable isotope discrimination by this thermophile is within the range found previously for mesophilic sulfate-reducing bacteria, and only slightly higher than that observed for the thermophilic gram-positive Desulfotomaculum nigrificans. Received: 1 December 1998 / Accepted: 25 May 1999     

The 3D structure of the fusion primed Sendai F-protein determined by electron cryomicroscopy

The three dimensional (3D) structure of the ectodomain of the entire fusion mediating F protein from Sendai virus [MW (trimer) approximately 177 kDa] has been determined by cryoelectron microscopy of single molecules and subsequent 3D reconstruction at a resolution of approximately 16 A. The reconstruction, which has been obtained from the native, proteolytic processed fusion primed F1+F2 form, shows the protein protruding approximately 170 A out of the membrane in a homotrimeric association. It consists of a defined approximately 65 A wide distal head and an adjacent neck, which is connected to an 70 A elongated stalk. Although the overall shape appears to be similar to the recently reported X-ray structure of the Newcastle disease virus F protein, a closer comparison reveals structural differences suggesting that the investigated Sendai F structure represents an advanced state towards the fusion active conformation.     

TRiC/CCT cooperates with different upstream chaperones in the folding of distinct protein classes

The role in protein folding of the eukaryotic chaperonin TRiC/CCT is only partially understood. Here, we show that a group of WD40 beta-propeller proteins in the yeast cytosol interact transiently with TRiC upon synthesis and require the chaperonin to reach their native state. TRiC cooperates in the folding of these proteins with the ribosome-associated heat shock protein (Hsp)70 chaperones Ssb1/2p. In contrast, newly synthesized actin and tubulins, the major known client proteins of TRiC, are independent of Ssb1/2p and instead use the co-chaperone GimC/prefoldin for efficient transfer to the chaperonin. GimC can replace Ssb1/2p in the folding of WD40 substrates such as Cdc55p, but combined deletion of SSB and GIM genes results in loss of viability. These findings expand the substrate range of the eukaryotic chaperonin by a structurally defined class of proteins and demonstrate an essential role for upstream chaperones in TRiC-assisted folding.     

Colloidal structure and stability of DNA/polycations polyplexes investigated by small angle scattering

Polyplexes of short DNA-fragments (300 b.p., 100 nm) with tailor-made amine-based polycations of different architectures (linear and hyperbranched) were investigated in buffer solution as a function of the mixing ratio with DNA. The resulting dispersed polyplexes were characterized using small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering (SANS, SAXS) as well as cryo-TEM with respect to their mesoscopic structure and their colloidal stability. The linear polyimines form rather compact structures that have a high tendency for precipitation. In contrast, the hyperbranched polycation with enzymatic-labile pentaethylenehexamine arms (PEHA) yields polyplexes colloidally stable for months. Here the polycation coating of DNA results in a homogeneous dispersion based on a fractal network with low structural organization at low polycation amount. With increasing polycation, bundles of tens of aligned DNA rods appear that are interconnected in a fractal network with a typical correlation distance on the order of 100 nm, the average length of the DNA used. With higher organization comes a decrease in stability. The 3D network built by these beams can still exhibit some stability as long as the material concentration is large enough, but the structure collapses upon dilution. SAXS shows that the complexation does not affect the local DNA structure. Interestingly, the structural findings on the DNA polyplexes apparently correlate with the transfection efficiency of corresponding siRNA complexes. In general, these finding not only show systematic trends for the colloid stability, but may allow for rational approaches to design effective transfection carriers.     

A role for fibronectin-leucine-rich transmembrane cell-surface proteins in homotypic cell adhesion

The fibronectin-leucine-rich transmembrane (FLRT) family of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins is implicated in fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling, early embryonic development and neurite outgrowth. Here, we have analysed whether FLRTs may also function in cell adhesion. We find that FLRT proteins can physically interact and that FLRT-transfected cultured cells sort out from non-transfected cells, suggesting a change in adhesive properties. A similar sorting effect is also observed in Xenopus embryos and tissue aggregates. FLRT-mediated cell sorting is calcium dependent and substrate independent. Deletion analysis indicates that cell sorting requires the LRR domains, which are dispensable for FLRT-mediated FGF signalling. Conversely, sorting is independent of the cytoplasmic domain, which is essential for FLRT-induced signalling. Therefore, FLRT-mediated FGF signal transduction and homotypic cell sorting can be molecularly uncoupled. The results indicate that FLRT proteins have a dual role, promoting FGF signalling and modulating homotypic cell adhesion.