Evidence for carrier-mediated,energy-dependent uptake of urea in some bacteria

Evidence for the existence of an energy-dependent urea permease was found for Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 and Klebsiella pneumoniae M5a1 by studying uptake of ¹⁴C-urea. Since intracellular urea was metabolized immediately, uptake did not result in formation of an urea pool. Evidence is based on observations that the in vivo urea uptake and in vitro urease activity differ significantly with respect to kinetic parameters, temperature optimum, pH optimum, response towards inhibitors and regulation. The K _m for urea uptake was 15–20 times lower (38 M and 13 M urea for A. eutrophus and K. pneumoniae, respectively) than the K _m of urease for urea (650 M and 280 M urea), the activity optimum for A. eutrophus was at pH 6.0 and 35°C for the uptake and pH 9.0 and 65°C for urease. Uptake but not urease activity in both organisms strongly decreased upon addition of inhibitors of energy metabolism, while in K. pneumoniae, potent inhibitors of urease (thiourea and hydroxyurea) did not affect the uptake process. Significant differences in the uptake rates were observed during growth with different nitrogen sources (ammonia, nitrate, urea) or in the absence of a nitrogen source; this suggested that a carrier is involved which is subject to nitrogen control. Some evidence for the presence of an energy-dependent uptake of urea was also obtained in Pseudomonas aeruginosa DSM 50071 and Providencia rettgeri DSM 1131, but not in Proteus vulgaris DSM 30118 and Bacillus pasteurii DSM 33.Non-standard abbreviations CCCP Carbonylcyanide-m-chlorphenylhydrazone - DCCD dicyclohexylcarbodiimide - DNP 2,4-dinitrophenole     

The distribution and interconversion of ammonium and nitrate in the Skallingen salt marsh (Denmark) and their exchange with the adjacent coastal water

The potential nitrogen sources for the primary production in the intertidal area are nitrogen compounds obtained from mineralization in the sediment and the water column, nitrogen fixation, outflow from rivers and groundwater seeping from the mainland. The available inorganic nitrogen in the adjacent coastal waters decreases from 50–80 μmol NO₃ ^-/l and 6–15 μmol NH₄ ⁺/l in early spring to ca one tenth during the growing season. In the sediment of the tidal flats available ammonia and nitrate vary between 50 and 100 μmol/1 pw. In the salt marsh available ammonia increases from 200–300 nmol NH₄ ⁺/g fwt to approximately double the amount, and the available nitrate varies from 100–300 nmol NO₃ ^-/g fwt (250–750 μmol NO₃ ^-/l pw) to ca one third during the growing season. The exchange of NH₄ ⁺, NO₂ ^- and NO₃ ^- across the sediment water interface has been estimated during tidal cycles under light and dark conditions on the tidal flats. The flux of nitrogen was dependent on the flora and fauna as well as the time of the year. The tidal activity, frequency and length of inundation are considered the driving force in a two-way process between salt marshes and adjacent coastal waters. The role of marsh sediment, tidal water and sediments of the tidal flats as sites of accumulation, consumption and remineralization of organic matter is emphasized. The possible exchange of ammonia and nitrate between the salt marsh and the different compartments of the tidal water is discussed.     

鱼腥藻HB1017株化能异养生长的研究

以葡萄糖和蔗糖为碳源,检测了六株（种）鱼腥藻的化能异养生产能力。其中鱼腥藻ＨＢ１０１７株化能异养生长较快,鱼腥藻ＨＢ０株化能异养生长缓慢,其余四种鱼腥藻不能进行化能异养生长。鱼腥藻ＨＢ１０１７株能利用果糖、葡萄糖、蔗糖为底物进行化能异养生长,但生长速率依次递减,差别显著。８磅湿热灭菌的果糖和蔗糖,与过滤灭菌的相比,只能维持低得多的化能异养生长速率。然而,８磅湿热灭菌的葡萄糖能维持比过滤法灭菌的高得     

Engineering precursor supply for the high-level production of ergothioneine in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ergothioneine (ERG) is an unusual sulfur-containing amino acid. It is a potent antioxidant, which shows great potential for ameliorating neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. L-ergothioneine is rare in nature, with mushrooms being the primary dietary source. The chemical synthesis process is complex and expensive. Alternatively, ERG can be produced by fermentation of recombinant microorganisms engineered for ERG overproduction. Here, we describe the engineering of S. cerevisiae for high-level ergothioneine production on minimal medium with glucose as the only carbon source. To this end, metabolic engineering targets in different layers of the amino acid metabolism were selected based on literature and tested. Out of 28 targets, nine were found to improve ERG production significantly by 10%–51%. These targets were then sequentially implemented to generate an ergothioneine-overproducing yeast strain capable of producing 106.2 ± 2.6 mg/L ERG in small-scale cultivations. Transporter engineering identified that the native Aqr1 transporter was capable of increasing the ERG production in a yeast strain with two copies of the ERG biosynthesis pathway, but not in the strain that was further engineered for improved precursor supply. Medium optimization indicated that additional supplementation of pantothenate improved the strain's productivity further and that no supplementation of amino acid precursors was necessary. Finally, the engineered strain produced 2.39 ± 0.08 g/L ERG in 160 h (productivity of 14.95 ± 0.49 mg/L/h) in a controlled fed-batch fermentation without supplementation of amino acids. This study paves the way for the low-cost fermentation-based production of ergothioneine.     

Individual plasma ghrelin changes in the same patients in hyperthyroid,hypothyroid and euthyroid state

Ghrelin is a multifunctional peptide of widespread expression. Since it has been shown to influence energy homeostatis, its potential role in thyroid dysfunction may have clinical significance. In this study, plasma ghrelin changes have been analyzed in the same patients in three different thyroid states for the first time. The study group consisted of 16 patients who had been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, were treated with radioiodine, developed hypothyroidism after treatment, and finally became euthyroid on l-thyroxine substitution. In the initial state of hyperthyroidism plasma ghrelin levels correlated negatively with fT₃ and fT₄. In hypothyroidism ghrelin concentration increased significantly (p < 0.05). Although the mean value of plasma ghrelin tended to decrease in the euthyroid state, the individual difference between hypothyroidism and euthyroidism was not significant. Plasma ghrelin in euthyroidism was still significantly higher than in hyperthyroidism (p < 0.05), and correlated positively with ghrelin levels in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. In our opinion, plasma ghrelin fluctuations may reflect metabolic changes in patients with thyroid dysfunction. Moreover, it cannot be excluded that in thyroid disorders ghrelin acts as a compensatory factor, helping to balance metabolic disturbances.     

三江平原不同群落小叶章种群生物量及氮、磷营养结构动态

对三江平原典型草甸和沼泽化草甸两个群落的优势植物小叶章的生物量、结构动态、不同生长阶段各器官的氮、磷含量和储量动态以及氮、磷养分限制状况进行了研究.结果表明,二者各器官生物量差异显著,但均符合模式Y=A+B_1t+B_2t2+B_3t3;二者地上各器官生物量均为单峰型,且峰值出现的时间相差15 d左右;F/C 均小于1且前者明显大于后者;二者地上各器官的全氮和全磷含量在生长季均单调下降,且叶＞叶鞘＞茎,根中全氮变化基本一致,但全磷变化差别很大;二者各器官“三氮”含量特别是NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N含量变化较大,且NH₄⁺-N/NO₃^--N＞1;根是二者氮、磷的重要储库,而茎、叶和叶鞘的氮、磷储量波动较大;两种小叶章的氮/磷＜14,表明氮是影响二者生长的限制性养分,但其对于前者的限制性程度要高于后者.     

Symptoms of nitrogen saturation in an aggrading forested watershed in western Maryland

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nitrogen (N) biogeochemistry of an 18–22 year old forested watershed in western Maryland. We hypothesized that this watershed should not exhibit symptoms of N saturation. This watershed was a strong source of nitrate (NO₃ ⁻) to the stream in all years, with a mean annual export of 9.5 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and a range of 4.4–18.4 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. During the 2001 and 2002 water years, wet deposition of inorganic N was 9.0 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 6.3 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively. Watershed N export rates in 2001 and 2002 water years were 4.2 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 5.3 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively. During the wetter water years of 2003 and 2004, the watershed exported 15.0 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 18.4 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, rates that exceeded annual wet deposition of N by a factor of two (7.5 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in 2003) and three (5.5 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in 2004). Consistent with the high rates of N export, were high concentrations (2.1–3.3%) of N in foliage, wood (0.3%) and fine roots, low C:N ratios in the forest floor (17–24) and mineral soil (14), high percentages (83–96%) of the amount of mineralized N that was nitrified and elevated N concentrations (up to 3 mg N l⁻¹) in soil solution. Although this watershed contained a young aggrading forest, it exhibited several symptoms of N saturation commonly observed in more mature forests.     

CRISPR/Cas基因编辑系统在原核微生物细胞工厂构建中的开发与应用

随着能源和环境问题的日益突出,化学品以及燃料的合成方式正逐渐由传统的化学法合成转变为以细菌为基础的生物炼制过程,其中最关键问题是需要开发出合适的基因工程工具用于构建相应的产品生产菌株。成簇的规律间隔短回文重复序列(Clusteredregularlyinterspacedshortpalindromic repeats,CRISPR)/CRISPR相关蛋白(CRISPR-associated proteins,Cas)系统是一种存在于细菌和古细菌中的免疫系统,能够用于抵御病毒和外源质粒的入侵,近年来被开发成为一种高效、便捷、精确的基因编辑工具,显示出巨大的应用潜力。本文立足于CRISPR/Cas系统的原理与最新分类,结合实例综述了CRISPR/Cas基因编辑系统在原核微生物细胞工厂构建中的建立与优化策略,以及主要的应用方向,并探讨该系统所面临的主要问题并提出了一些可行的解决方案。     

滨豇豆的生态生物学特征

为探究滨豇豆(Vignamarina)的生态生物学特性及其对热带珊瑚岛的适应性,对西沙群岛野生滨豇豆的叶片形态解剖结构、生理特征和营养成分进行了分析。结果表明,滨豇豆具有叶片厚、比叶面积小、栅栏组织发达、气孔密度大、气孔面积指数大等形态特征,对减少蒸腾、保持水分起到重要作用。滨豇豆叶片的SOD活性和脯氨酸(Pro)含量高,丙二醛(MDA)含量低,表明抗氧化能力较强;滨豇豆叶片养分含量适中但其生境土壤养分含量很低,说明其对养分有着良好的吸收利用能力,利于适应贫瘠的环境。因此,滨豇豆具有能够较好地适应珊瑚岛礁高温、干旱、贫瘠生境的形态解剖结构和生理特征,加之其具有良好的固氮和养分利用能力,可作为热带珊瑚岛植被恢复的工具种。