Bacterial iron detoxification at the molecular level

Iron is an essential micronutrient, and, in the case of bacteria, its availability is commonly a growth-limiting factor. However, correct functioning of cells requires that the labile pool of chelatable “free” iron be tightly regulated. Correct metalation of proteins requiring iron as a cofactor demands that such a readily accessible source of iron exist, but overaccumulation results in an oxidative burden that, if unchecked, would lead to cell death. The toxicity of iron stems from its potential to catalyze formation of reactive oxygen species that, in addition to causing damage to biological molecules, can also lead to the formation of reactive nitrogen species. To avoid iron-mediated oxidative stress, bacteria utilize iron-dependent global regulators to sense the iron status of the cell and regulate the expression of proteins involved in the acquisition, storage, and efflux of iron accordingly. Here, we survey the current understanding of the structure and mechanism of the important members of each of these classes of protein. Diversity in the details of iron homeostasis mechanisms reflect the differing nutritional stresses resulting from the wide variety of ecological niches that bacteria inhabit. However, in this review, we seek to highlight the similarities of iron homeostasis between different bacteria, while acknowledging important variations. In this way, we hope to illustrate how bacteria have evolved common approaches to overcome the dual problems of the insolubility and potential toxicity of iron.     

The impact of seaweed life phase and postharvest storage duration on the chemical and rheological properties of hybrid carrageenans isolated from Portuguese Mastocarpus stellatus

Variations in chemical and gelling characteristics of hybrid carrageenan extracted from Mastocarpus stellatus seaweeds are studied in order to explore potential links between the seaweeds life phase, the seaweeds postharvest storage duration and the phycocolloids properties. Chemical structures of phycocolloids were assessed by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Rheological properties of hybrid carrageenans, such as intrinsic viscosity ([η]), gel elasticity (G₀), gel setting temperature (T_g) and gel melting temperature (T_m), were measured with a stress rheometer. Seasonal variation in the degree of sulphates of native extracts and in their corresponding gelling properties is found. The minimum in gelling properties coincides with a minimum of fructified gametophytes in populations harvested during the cold season. Alkali treated extracts also show minimum gelling properties during the cold season but no correlation with variations in the chemical characteristics could be identified. The gel setting temperature is the only significant change in the properties of hybrid carrageenans extracted from dried seaweeds stored over 39 months in opaque and sealed plastic bags. These results point to non trivial relationships between the life stages of M. stellatus seaweeds, the chemical structure and gel properties of the alkali-extracted phycocolloids, and suggest a route towards the sustainable exploitation of the natural resource.     

Cryopreserved human haematopoietic stem cells retain engraftment potential after extended (5-14 years) cryostorage

Harvesting of stem cells during the early phases of treatment with no immediate intention to perform a stem cell transplant is becoming an increasingly common practice. Such "insurance" harvests are often stored for many years before being needed for transplant in a subsequent relapse. The effect of long-term cryostorage (5-14 years) on the viability and functional capacity of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) was investigated in 40 bone marrow and peripheral blood harvests using standard in vitro methods, the colony forming unit-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM) assay and a single platform viable CD34(+) cell absolute count by flow cytometry. Forty percent of harvests had CD34(+) HSC counts of at least 0.7 x 10(6)/kg bodyweight and 85% had CFU-GM counts of at least 1.0 x 10(5)/kg bodyweight, these values representing our institutional minimum requirements for safe transplantation. Based on these results, it appears that HSC collections can remain adequate for safe transplantation after up to 14 years of cryostorage. However, as deterioration of HSC quality and viability may occur, some precautions may be warranted, namely harvesting higher than normal numbers of HSCs in collections intended for long-term storage and repeating in vitro assays on harvests after long-term storage prior to transplantation.     

鼎湖山马尾松、荷木混交林生态系统碳素积累和分配特征

选取鼎湖山保护区3个马尾松9Pinus massoniana),荷木（Schima superba)针阔混交林样地,研究其生态系统的碳素积累和分配特征。结果表明,鼎湖山马尾松,荷木混交林乔木尾生物量（thm^-2)为：174.41-270.11。平均227.36,且均以马尾松的生物量居多（占54.9%-84.4%)。林下层植物生物量和地表现存凋落物量（thm^-2)分别为7.41-28.28和7.06-11.56。平均14.41和9.03。三个混交林生态系统总碳贮量（thm^-2)分别为146.35,215.30和205.79。平均为189.15,其中植被层碳贮量贡献率最大,依次占62.9%,61.9%和69.9%。平均65.0%;土壤层贡献率次之,依次占34.3%,35.5%和28.5%。平均32.8%;而地表现存凋落物层的贡献最小,仅占2.8%,2.6%和1.6%。平均为2.3%。此外,本文还对该生态系统植被碳吸存潜力进行了讨论。     

Carbon accumulation and distribution in Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata mixed forest ecosystem in Daqingshan, Guangxi, China

Carbon accumulation and distribution were studied at three sampling plots in a 13-year-old mixed planatation of Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata in Daqingshan, Guangxi, China. The results showed that carbon content varied with tissues and tree species, but the total carbon content of Pinus massoniana was higher than that of Cunninghamia lanceolata. The average tissue carbon contents of Pinus massoniana were: wood (58.6%) > root (56.3%) > branch (51.2%) > bark (49.8%) > leaf (46.8%), while those of Cunninghamia lanceolata were: bark (52.2%) > leaf (51.8%) > wood (50.2%) > root (47.5%) > branch (46.7%). The carbon contents of the soil (at a depth of 60cm) ranged from 1.45% to 1.84% with an average of 1.70%. Carbon contents were higher in the surface soil (0–20cm) than in the deep layer (below 20cm). The average carbon contents were the highest for trees (51.1%), followed by litter (48.3%), shrubs (44.1%), and herbs (33.0%). The biomass of the trees in the three plots ranged from 85.35 t hm^-2 to 101.35 t hm^-2 with an average of 93.83 t hm^-2, in which 75.7%–82.6% was Pinus massoniana. The biomass of the understory was 2.10–3.95 t hm^-2 with an average of 2.72 t hm^-2, while the standing stock of ground litter was 5.49–7.91 t hm^-2 with an average of 6.75 t hm^-2. The carbon storage in the mixed plantation reached the maximum in the soil layer (69.02%), followed by vegetation (29.03%), and standing litter (1.82%). The carbon storage in the tree layer occupied 23.90% of the total ecosystem and 97.7% of the vegetation layer. Pinus massoniana accounted for 65.39% of the total carbon storage in the tree layer. Tissue carbon storage was directly related to the corresponding amount of biomass. Trunks had the highest carbon storage, accounting for 53.23% of the trees in Pinus massoniana and 55.57% in Cunninghamia lanceolata, respectively. Roots accounted for about 19.22% of the total tree carbon. The annual net productivity of the mixed plantation was 11.46 t hm^-2a^-1, and that of sequestered carbon was 5.96 t hm^-2a^-1, which was equivalent to fixing CO₂ of 21.88 t hm^-2a^-1. The plantation was found to be an important sink of atmospheric CO₂.     

Nutritional and hormonal effects on storage proteins in the silkworm,Bombyx mori L.

Starvation of 48 h old fifth instar larvae depressed storage protein titres initially for 48 h but retained the levels comparable to control thereafter, possibly due to nutrients obtained during the 48 h feeding after fourth ecdysis. After an initial decline ligated larvae accumulated maximum storage proteins in haemolymph. This is because of inhibitory juvenile hormone titre at the basal level besides the appropriate release of 20-hydroxyecdysone from the ectopic source(s). Injection of methoprene (10 Μg/larva) repressed accumulation of storage proteins while 20-hydroxyecdysone (10 Μg/larva) increased the same. P-soyatose injection to starved and ligated larvae accelerated storage protein accumulation in haemolymph, signalling nutrient indispensability for initiation of storage protein synthesis at the appropriate time of last instar development inBombyx mori.     

A gene from the Sec2 (Gli-R2) locus of a wheat 2RS.2BL chromosomal translocation line

A genomic DNA clone coding for a rye secalin gene (gSec2A) was isolated from a wheat translocation line carrying the 2RS.2BL chromosome, using a previously identified partial secalin (Sec2) cDNA clone as a probe. The predicted N-terminal amino-acid sequence of the gSec2A gene was identical to the N-terminal sequence obtained for Sec2 polypeptide bands isolated from SDS-PAGE gels. Bacterially expressed gSec2A protein was identical in size to that of the smallest Sec2 polypeptide band observed on SDS PAGE gels and is recognized by a monoclonal antibody specific for Mr 75000 2RS γ-secalins. Overall, the predicted protein sequence of gSec2A was most similar (50%) to the family of γ-gliadins and consists of a short N-terminal region containing one cysteine residue followed by a glutamine/proline-rich repetitive domain and a long C-terminal domain containing eight cysteine residues. The repetitive domain can be divided into two regions. One region coded for 15 units, each consisting of eight amino acids similar in sequence to that found in the ω-secalins and C-hordeins. The second region coded for 17 units each consisting of a sequence of 7–10 amino acids similar to that observed in γ-gliadins. Received: 31 February 2000 / Accepted: 21 May 2000     

Queen-worker differences in spermatheca reservoir of phylogenetically basal ants

Ant queens mate when young and store sperm in their spermatheca to fertilize eggs for several years until their death. In contrast, workers in most species never mate. We have compared the histological organization of spermathecae in 25 poneromorph species exhibiting various degrees of queen-worker dimorphism. The spermathecae of both castes in all species are similar in having a reservoir connected by a sperm duct to the ovary, and a paired gland opening into this duct. The reservoir of queens typically has a columnar epithelium in the hilar region (near the opening of the sperm duct), whereas the epithelium in the distal region is cuboidal. Abundant mitochondria together with apical microvilli and basal invaginations indicate an osmoregulatory function. In contrast, the reservoir epithelium of workers is flattened throughout and lacks these transport characteristics. This single difference shows the importance of a columnar epithelium in the reservoir for sperm storage. However, our data have not revealed inter-specific variations in the development of the hilar region linked with higher fecundity. We have found no consistent differences in associated structures, such as the spermatheca gland or sperm ducts, or in the musculature between queens and workers.This work was funded by IWT, FWO, KULeuven OT and JSPS.