Adenine nucleotide content and energy charge of Bacillus megaterium during batch growth in low-phosphate medium

Abstract The effect of a low phosphate concentration on intracellular adenine nucleotides, oxygen consumption and poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid synthesis, was investigated with batch cultures of Bacillus megaterium . At low phosphate concentrations the cells contained much larger amounts of poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid, but displayed lower adenylate energy charge and oxygen uptake than did control cells. The ratio of ATP to ADP was much greater in the control cells. The levels of ATP and AMP were lower in low-phosphate cells.     

The role of lipid second messengers in aldosterone synthesis and secretion

Second messengers are small rapidly diffusing molecules or ions that relay signals between receptors and effector proteins to produce a physiological effect. Lipid messengers constitute one of the four major classes of second messengers. The hydrolysis of two main classes of lipids, glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids, generate parallel profiles of lipid second messengers: phosphatidic acid (PA), diacylglycerol (DAG), and lysophosphatidic acid versus ceramide, ceramide-1-phosphate, sphingosine, and sphingosine-1-phosphate, respectively. In this review, we examine the mechanisms by which these lipid second messengers modulate aldosterone production at multiple levels. Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid hormone responsible for maintaining fluid volume, electrolyte balance, and blood pressure homeostasis. Primary aldosteronism is a frequent endocrine cause of secondary hypertension. A thorough understanding of the signaling events regulating aldosterone biosynthesis may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets. The cumulative evidence in this literature emphasizes the critical roles of PA, DAG, and sphingolipid metabolites in aldosterone synthesis and secretion. However, it also highlights the gaps in our knowledge, such as the preference for phospholipase D-generated PA or DAG, as well as the need for further investigation to elucidate the precise mechanisms by which these lipid second messengers regulate optimal aldosterone production.     

The growth strategy of the Gram-positive rod

Abstract Bacteria grow by enlarging their envelope in such a way that osmotic pressure does not normally cause physical rupture. The strategy of Bacillus subtilis for both cylindrical elongation and pole formation is now substantially defined. Side-wall growth takes place by laying down new peptidoglycan, which is then displaced outwards, stretched and discarded; cross walls are laid down in the absence of stress, and then stretched and bulged outward as the septum is split and the pole is formed.     

Deoxyribonucleases of non-pathogenic corynebacteria

Fourteen species of non-pathogenic corynebacteria have been examined for the presence of DNases. Seven of the species were found to be DNase positive when assayed in Toluidine Blue-DNA-containing agar whereas only one, Corynebacterium callunae, could be detectable as DNase positive when the test was performed in DNA-methyl green-containing agar. Electrophoretic patterns obtained from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels containing DNA showed the presence of one or two bands of nucleolytic activity in two species of Brevibacterium and of several bands in C. callunae. Degradation of DNases by cellular proteases seem to occur in this species.     

枯草芽孢杆菌BS2对葡萄灰霉病菌抑菌机制的初步探索

对葡萄灰霉病菌的生防枯草芽孢杆菌BS2菌液成分及胞外蛋白的抑菌机制进行了初步研究,BS2对葡萄灰霉病菌具有较好的拮抗作用,其菌液成分和胞外蛋白经20°C-120°C处理后,抑菌效果存在差异。BS2的菌液成分及胞外蛋白对灰霉病菌的产孢、萌发和菌丝的生长等方面均具有较好的抑制作用,且对灰霉病菌菌丝的原生质有囊泡和颗粒化现象。由此分析,BS2抑菌活性物质是多种成分共同作用的结果,抑菌物质中含有对温度敏感的高分子蛋白质,且抑菌机制也是从多方面共同起作用。     

芽孢杆菌菌肥和菌剂对连作条件下桃幼树生长和土壤环境的影响

研究向桃树连作土壤中添加芽孢杆菌菌肥和菌剂对再植幼树生长、土壤养分、酶活性和真菌群落的影响,可为缓解桃树连作障碍提供理论依据.在盆栽条件下,以一年生普通桃'圆梦'和连作10年的桃园土壤为试材,设置8个处理,即连作土常规处理(RS)、客土常规处理(NS)、连作土常规处理基础上分别添加1％、4％、8％的芽孢杆菌菌肥(BF1...     

Structural and functional characterization of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas2 protein under different pH conditions

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins constitute an RNA-guided microbial defense system against invading foreign genetic materials. Cas2 is one of the core Cas proteins found universally in all the subtypes of CRISPR-Cas systems and is required for incorporating new spacers into CRISPR loci. Cas2 homologues from different CRISPR-Cas subtypes were characterized previously as metal-dependent nucleases with different substrate preferences, and it was proposed that a pH-dependent conformational change mediates metal binding and catalysis. Here, we report the crystal structures of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas2 at three different pHs (5.6, 6.5, and 7.5), as well as the results of its nuclease activity assay against double-stranded DNAs at varying pHs (6.0–9.0). Although S. pyogenes Cas2 exhibited strongly pH-dependent catalytic activity, there was no significant conformational difference among the three crystal structures. However, structural comparisons with other Cas2 homologues revealed structural variability and the flexible nature of its putative hinge regions, supporting the hypothesis that conformational switching is important for catalysis. Taken together, our results confirm that Cas2 proteins have pH-dependent nuclease activity against double-stranded DNAs, and provide indirect structural evidence for their conformational changes.     

解淀粉芽孢杆菌抗菌活性物质的分离纯化及抑菌活性研究

植物真菌病害给农业生产带来了巨大损失,因此对生物农药的开发迫在眉睫。从堆肥中分离得到一株解淀粉芽孢杆菌,它具有强烈的抗真菌活性。其发酵液经硫酸胺沉淀得到粗提液,粗提液经Hiprep 26/10 Desalting,HiLoad 26/10 Q Sepharose和HPLC多步柱层析,分离纯化得到一种抗真菌活性物质。ESI-MS质谱法测得其分子量为1498 Da。经活性检测发现,该纯物质对尖孢镰刀菌、草莓蛇病菌等植物病原真菌具有很强的抑制作用,对毛霉、黑曲霉等食品腐败菌也有抑制作用。经过显微镜观测,该物质可造成草莓蛇病菌菌丝生长异常,表现在菌丝弯曲,顶端膨大,分生孢子数量减少。     

Novel recombinant human lactoferrin: Differential activation of oxidative stress related gene expression

Lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein found in high concentrations in mammalian exocrine secretions, is an important component of the host defense system. It is also a major protein of the secondary granules of neutrophils from which is released upon activation. Due to its potential clinical utility, recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF) has been produced in various eukaryotic expression systems; however, none of these are fully compatible with humans. Most of the biopharmaceuticals approved by the FDA for use in humans are produced in mammalian expression systems. The Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) have become the system of choice for proteins that require post-translational modifications, such as glycoproteins.     

Effects of low electric current (LEC) treatment on pure bacterial cultures

AIMS: This research focused on the effects of low electric current (LEC) on the cell viability and metabolic activity of Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus. METHODS AND RESULTS: Different LEC intensities at fixed amperage were applied, employing either graphite or copper electrode pairs, and the effects were determined by conventional cultural methods and bioindicators. On E. coli, the LEC with graphite electrodes at 5 and 10 mA led to no significant variation, but at 20 and 40 mA there was increasing inhibition of both the enzymatic activities and growth, and a reduction in ATP content. On B. cereus, similar experiments at the lower amperages did not have any inhibitor effects, however, the 40 mA current stimulated growth, ATP content and some enzymatic activities. The LEC treatment using copper electrodes caused, already at 5 mA, inhibition of bacterial growth and metabolic and enzymatic activities in both E. coli and B. cereus. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the obtained results using different amperages and electrodes, we can conclude that E. coli seem to be more sensitive compared with B. cereus. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The study increases the knowledge on LEC treatment effects on the pure bacterial cultures.