Application of fluorescence internal transcribed spacer-PCR (f-ITS) for the cluster analysis of bacteria isolated from air and deteriorated fresco surfaces

The aim of this work was the evaluation of fluorescence ITS-PCR (f-ITS) as a molecular tool to analyze the microbial community involved in the biodeterioration of cultural heritage surfaces. As a case study we analyzed by f-ITS ninety-two bacterial strains isolated from a medieval fresco and the surrounding air environment. The internal transcribed spacer between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes was amplified, and then the fluorescently labeled PCR products were separated by capillary electrophoresis. Bacterial strains were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing. The f-ITS electropherograms showed different profiles coherent with the affiliation of the strains at the genus and species levels. Among the isolates obtained from the fresco surface, those belonging to the genus Bacillus were the most prevailing exhibiting 8 different f-ITS profiles. The airborne bacilli exhibited only 2 of these 8 profiles. Staphylococcus were mostly isolated from air and produced 4 different profiles. Pseudomonas isolates presented 3 different profiles, and one of them was typical of Pseudomonas putida. Members of the other genera produced their distinctive profiles. Our results show that f-ITS is a promising molecular tool for the rapid selection and clustering of strains isolated from different sources.     

A transient species of poly(A)+ RNA detected by a myosin heavy chain cDNA probe in muscle cell culture during terminal differentiation

Primary cell cultures were prepared from breast muscles of 11 day 4 hour-embryonic chicks. Cytoplasmic RNAs were isolated from the cultured cells at various time intervals from day 3 to day 8. A [P32] DNA probe complementary to messenger RNA of myosin heavy chain was used to hybridize with the RNAs after gel electrophoresis. A transient species of polyadenylated RNA with a decreased mobility in electrophoresis was detected during a period of time when contractions of syncytial fibers were first observed.     

A NATURALLY OCCURRING DEVELOPMENTAL SYNERGISM BETWEEN THE CELLULAR SLIME MOLD,DICTYOSTELIUM MUCOROIDES AND THE FUNGUS,MUCOR HIEMALIS

We here report the second record of a developmentally aberrant strain of a cellular slime mold from natural populations and demonstrate that this Dictyostelium mucoroides variant is capable of undergoing normal morphogenesis in the presence of the phycomycete fungus, Mucor hiemalis. The synergism is induced by an extracellular product(s) which is diffusable through thin agar membranes and is released by the fungus. The presence of the fungus not only induces stalk formation in this stalkless variant, but also increases the rate of sorocarp formation in 3 of 5 additional species of cellular slime molds assayed.     

Single-cell landscape of the ecosystem in early-relapse hepatocellular carcinoma

1. Download : Download high-res image (233KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Metamorphosestudien an Batrachierlarven

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Formin-like 1 (FMNL1) Is Regulated by N-terminal Myristoylation and Induces Polarized Membrane Blebbing

The formin protein formin-like 1 (FMNL1) is highly restrictedly expressed in hematopoietic lineage-derived cells and has been previously identified as a tumor-associated antigen. However, function and regulation of FMNL1 are not well defined. We have identified a novel splice variant (FMNL1γ) containing an intron retention at the C terminus affecting the diaphanous autoinhibitory domain (DAD). FMNL1γ is specifically located at the cell membrane and cortex in diverse cell lines. Similar localization of FMNL1 was observed for a mutant lacking the DAD domain (FMNL1ΔDAD), indicating that deregulation of autoinhibition is effective in FMNL1γ. Expression of both FMNL1γ and FMNL1ΔDAD induces polarized nonapoptotic blebbing that is dependent on N-terminal myristoylation of FMNL1 but independent of Src and ROCK activity. Thus, our results describe N-myristoylation as a regulative mechanism of FMNL1 responsible for membrane trafficking potentially involved in a diversity of polarized processes of hematopoietic lineage-derived cells.     

Vacuum ultraviolet circular dichroism of poly(galacturonic acid), sodium polygalacturonate and calcium polygalacturonate

Vacuum ultraviolet circular dichroism spectra are reported for poly(galacturonic acid) solution and film, sodium polygalacturonate solution and film, and calcium polygalacturonate gel. In addition to the positive c.d. band near 208 nm previously observed, we find a pair of higher energy bands at 170 180 nm (negative) and 145 nm (positive). The low energy band, assigned to an $\text{n-π}{}^1$ carboxyl transition, is blue-shifted upon gelation or film formation.