Selenium hyperaccumulation reduces plant arthropod loads in the field

The elemental defense hypothesis proposes that some plants hyperaccumulate toxic elements as a defense mechanism. In this study the effectiveness of selenium (Se) as an arthropod deterrent was investigated under field conditions. Arthropod loads were measured over two growing seasons in Se hyperaccumulator habitats in Colorado, USA, comparing Se hyperaccumulator species (Astragalus bisulcatus and Stanleya pinnata) with nonhyperaccumulators (Camelina microcarpa, Astragalus americanus, Descurainia pinnata, Medicago sativa, and Helianthus pumilus). The Se hyperaccumulating plant species, which contained 1000-14 000 microg Se g(-1) DW, harbored significantly fewer arthropods (c. twofold) and fewer arthropod species (c. 1.5-fold) compared with nonhyperaccumulator species that contained < 30 microg Se g(-1) DW. Arthropods collected on Se-hyperaccumulating plants contained three- to 10-fold higher Se concentrations than those found on nonhyperaccumulating species, but > 10-fold lower Se concentrations than their hyperaccumulator hosts. Several arthropod species contained > 100 microg Se g(-1) DW, indicating Se tolerance and perhaps feeding specialization. These results support the elemental defense hypothesis and suggest that invertebrate herbivory may have contributed to the evolution of Se hyperaccumulation.     

Differential and synergistic effects of xylanase and laccase mediator system (LMS) in bleaching of soda and waste pulps

AIMS: Investigation of waste pulps and soda pulp bleaching with xylanase (X) and laccase mediator system (LMS) alone and in conjunction (one after the other) (XLMS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Soda and different grades of waste pulp fibres [used for making three-layered duplex sheets - top layer (TL), protective layer (PL) and bottom layer (BL)] when pretreated with either xylanase (40.0 IU g(-1)) or LMS (up to 200.0 U g(-1)) alone and in combination (one after the other) (XLMS) exhibited an increase in release of reducing sugars [up to 881.0% soda pulp; up to 736.6% (TL), up to 215.7% (PL) and up to 198.0% (BL) waste pulp], reduction in kappa number [up to 17.6% soda pulp; up to 14.0% (TL), up to 25.3% (PL) and up to 10.9% (BL), waste pulp], improvement in brightness [up to 20.4% soda pulp; up to 23.6% (TL), up to 8.6% (PL) and up to 5.0% (BL), waste pulp] when compared with the respective controls. The usage of XLMS along with 15% reduced level of hypochlorite at CEHHXLMS/EHHXLMS bleaching stage reduced kappa number [5.5% soda pulp; 11.4% (TL), 7.9% (PL), waste pulp] and improved brightness [1.0% soda pulp; 0.9% (TL), 1.4% (PL) waste pulp] when compared with the controls. Scanning electron microscopic studies revealed development of cracks, flakes, pores and peeling off the fibres in the enzyme-treated pulp samples. These modifications of the fibre surface during enzymatic bleaching in turn indicated the removal of lignin and derived compounds from the fibre cell wall. CONCLUSIONS: The work describes synergistic action of xylanase with LMS for bleaching of waste and nonwood pulps for eco-friendly production of paper and thus reveals a new unexploited arena for enzyme-based pulp bleaching. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The drastic improvement in pulp properties obtained after xylanase and LMS treatment would improve the competitiveness of enzyme-based, environmentally benign processes over chemicals both economically and environmentally.     

四种菊头蝠染色体组型分析

本文分析了皮氏菊头蝠(R. pearsoni chinensis),鲁氏菊头蝠(R.rouxi sinicus),角菊头蝠(R.cornutus pumilus)及中菊头蝠(R.affinis)的常规核型,现报道如下。     

短小芽孢杆菌A-30耐碱性木聚糖酶的纯化及性质研究

木聚糖广泛存在于自然界 ,通常占高等植物干重的 1 5%～ 30 % ,由木糖经β- 1 ,4-糖苷键连接起来形成主链 ,并由阿拉伯糖、乙酰基甘露糖、葡萄糖醛酸等复杂侧链共同组成 .在众多可降解木聚糖的酶中 ,β-内切木聚糖酶 ( E.C3.2 .1 .8,β- 1 ,4- xylanxylanohydrolase)起主要作用 .在纺织、制浆造纸、饲料及食品等工业中具有潜在的应用价值 .近年来 ,欧美等国已将其应用在造纸制浆工业 ,降低了漂白时氯的用量 ,改善了纸张性能 ,并且减少了环境污染 .对木聚糖酶的研究成为生物技术领域研究的热点之一 .国内外对来源于不同菌种的木聚糖酶的分离…     

培养条件对Bacillus pumilus转化油酸生产羟基脂肪酸的影响

利用一株Bacillus pumilus 突变株(简写为BP M-F641),在摇瓶条件下考察了碳源葡萄糖、底物油酸(OA)、亚油酸(LA)、种龄、溶氧和Mn2+ 离子对转化脂肪酸生成ω-1,2,3-羟基脂肪酸( 简写为ω-1,2,3-HFA) 的影响.试验了OA 添加时间对ω-1,2,3-HFA 产量和转化率的影响.结果表明,细胞生长最佳的葡萄糖浓度为8g/L ;OA 和LA 对菌株细胞生长有明显的抑制作用;培养菌龄对脂肪酸羟基化有明显的影响;溶氧变化对细胞生长有轻微的影响,但对ω-1,2,3-HHFA 的生成影响较大.在表面活性剂十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)或吐温-80 存在下,能增加油酸的消耗量,但ω-1,2,3-HFA 的生成并没有增加,表明阴离子和非离子表面活性剂不能改进羟基化反应的能力;Mn2+ 是细胞生长和HFA 形成的一个重要影响因素,Mn2+ 浓度为0.2g/L 时细胞生长和HFA 形成最佳.这些研究结果对进一步改进脂肪酸微生物转化生产HFA 策略的运用具有重要作用.     

短小芽孢杆菌碱性蛋白酶BP的纯化和性质

短小芽孢杆菌产生的碱性蛋白酶BP经CM—Sephadex-C-50和Sephadex-G75两个柱层析,得到了聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳纯的酶组分,比活力从1307μ/mg提高到5538μ/mg.活力回收为21%,酶水解酪蛋白的最适反应温度为50℃,最适pH为9.5,Mn^2+、Ca^2+对酶有激活作用,Hg2+、Ag^+对酶有抑制作用.酶的热稳定性不高,但在Ca^2+保护下,热稳定性明显提高.酶的最适作用底物为酪蛋白,对血红蛋白、蛇毒蛋白、牛血清蛋白、卵蛋白、核糖核酸酶也有水解作用.对酪蛋白的Km为0.62%,V_max为50μg/min.DFP可完全抑制酶活性,PMSF和NBS也严重抑制酶活力,PCMB、_o-PTH和EDTA几乎不抑制酶活力.纯酶的分子量为25000Dal.该酶蛋白含有17种氨基酸,其中甘氨酸(Gly)和丙氨酸(Ala)为主要氨基酸.     

Single-site substitutions improve cold activity and increase thermostability of the dehairing alkaline protease (DHAP)

To engineer dehairing alkaline protease (DHAP) variants to improve cold activity and increase thermostability so these variants are suitable for the leather processing industry. Based on previous studies with bacterial alkaline proteases, double-site mutations (W106K/V149I and W106K/M124L) were introduced into the DHAP from Bacillus pumilus. Compared with the wild-type DHAP hydrolytic activity, the double-site variant W106K/V149I showed an increase in specific hydrolytic activity at 15 °C by 2.3-fold toward casein in terms of hydrolytic rate and 2.7-fold toward the synthetic peptide AAPF-pN by means of k_cat/K_m value. The thermostability of the variant (W106K/V149I) was improved with the half-life at 60 and 70 °C increased by 2.7- and 5.0-fold, respectively, when compared with the thermostability of the wild-type DHAP. Conclusively, an increase in the cold activity and thermostability of a bacterial alkaline protease was achieved by protein engineering.     

短小芽孢杆菌(Bacillus pumilus) WHK4以羽毛粉为底物产蛋白酶条件的优化

探索Bacillus pumilusWHK4以羽毛粉为底物产酶的最佳条件和最佳培养基组成。以羽毛粉发酵培养基为基础,首先采用单因子试验考察底物浓度、初始pH、接种量、外加碳源、外加氮源对WHK4产酶活力的影响。在单因子试验的基础上采用正交试验设计对底物浓度、温度、初始pH、接种量、外加(NH4)2SO4、外加麦芽糖进行优化。结果显示:Bacillus pumilusWHK4最佳的产酶条件为初始pH7.38,菌龄16 h,接种量5%,37℃。最佳的培养基组成为:1 L基础发酵培养基,40.0 g羽毛粉,10.0 g(NH4)2SO4和10.0 g麦芽糖。在优化的条件下Bacillus pumilusWHK4 24 h产蛋白酶活力为每毫升90 U。对培养条件和培养基的优化为Bacillus pumilusWHK4产蛋白酶的分离纯化奠定了基础。     

Screening of the regioselectivity of acetyl xylan esterase from Bacillus pumilus as a catalyst for the deacetylation of glycoside acetates

Regioselective deacetylations of nine glycosides catalyzed by acetyl xylan esterase from Bacillus pumilus have been studied. The glycosides were methyl and benzyl glycosides of the tetraacetates of α-D-glucopyranose, α-D-galactopyranose and α-D-mannopyranose, and the methyl glycosides of tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranose, tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranose and tetra-O-acetyl-α-D-glucopyranose. The kinetics of successive deacetylations was monitored by GLC and 21 sugar acetates have been identified.     

Induction of resistance in Camellia sinensis against Sclerotium rolfsii by dual application of Rhizophagus fasciculatus and Bacillus pumilus

Rhizophagus fasciculatus and Bacillus pumilus, isolated from rhizosphere of tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O.Kuntze) bushes, were selected for the present study. Inoculation of tea bushes with any of the two micro-organisms increased growth of plants but significant increase was obtained in case of dual application. B. pumilus exhibited plant growth promoting rhizobacterial traits and antagonistic activity against Sclerotium rolfsii in vitro. Disease reduction following application of R. fasciculatus and B. pumilus was obtained when applied individually but joint application gave more significant results. A sharp increase was found in polyphenolic accumulation and activities of four defence enzymes which play a key role in disease suppression. Immunodetection of S. rolfsii in soil was done after treatments with bioinoculants using PAb of S. rolfsii and its population was significantly reduced owing to application of B. pumilus and R. fasciculatus.