Isolation, purification and properties of new restriction endonucleases from Bacillus badius and Bacillus lentus

We tentatively named two enzymes as BbaI and BleI, which were isolated and purified from Gram-positive mesophilic bacteria Bacillus badius 1458 and Bacillus lentus 1689 respectively, by ammonium sulphate precipitation, phosphocellulose and heparin-sepharose column chromatography. SDS-PAGE protein profiles for BbaI and BleI showed denatured molecular weights of 52 and 48 kDa, respectively. BbaI hydrolyzed pUC18 DNA into 1900 and 700 bp, pBR322 DNA into two fragments of 2800 and 1500 bp and Φ×174 DNA into 3800 and 1600 bp. BleI hydrolyzed pUC18 DNA into 1800 and 800 bp, pBR322 DNA into two fragments of 2700 and 1600 bp and Φ×174 DNA into 3700 and 1700 bp. The effects of temperature, ionic strength, pH and Mg²⁺ ion concentrations were studied to demonstrate some biochemical properties of BbaI and BleI. Maximum activities of these enzymes were observed at 37 °C (pH 8.0) with 100 mM NaCl and 10 mM Mg²⁺ concentrations.     

Low temperature-induced changes in antioxidative metabolism in rubber-producing shrub,guayule (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Parthenium argentatum</Emphasis> Gray)

Two-year-old rubber-producing shrub, guayule (Parthenium argentatum, cv. 11591), was treated with low temperature (15 ^°C). The leaves were harvested at regular intervals (0, 2, 4 and 6 days) and the contents of protective antioxidants (ascorbic acid, monodehydroascorbate and caroteniods) and antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidases, glutathione reductase and monodehydroascorbate reductase) were determined. Low temperature-induced significant increase in the contents of ascorbic acid, monodehydroascorbate and caroteniods as well as the activities of all antioxidative enzymes. The results show an increase in several components of the antioxidant system in cold-treated guayule plants, which may suggest a role in mitigating an increase in oxidative stress.     

Variation in Photosynthetic Rates and Biomass Productivity among Four Mulberry Cultivars

Among four mulberry (Morus alba L.) cultivars (K-2, MR-2, BC2-59, and S-13), highest net photosynthetic rate (P _N) was observed in BC2-59 while the lowest rates were recorded with K-2. Significant differences among the four cultivars were found in leaf area, biomass production, activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and sucrose phosphate synthase, and glucose and sucrose contents. The P _N and the activities of photosynthetic enzymes in the four cultivars were significantly correlated with the growth and biomass production measured as leaf yield, total shoot mass, and aerial plant biomass.     

BpaI and BpnI: novel type II restriction endonucleases from Bacillus pasteurii and Bacillus pantothenticus

Two novel type II restriction endonucleases, designated as BpaI and BpnI, were isolated from Bacillus pasteurii strain1761 and Bacillus pantothenticus strain1639, respectively. They were partially purified and SDS-PAGE indicated Mr values of 28 and 67 kDa for BpaI, 28 and 48 kDa for BpnI. The partially purified endonucleases hydrolyzed DNA into discrete fragments: pUC18 (2.6 kb for BpaI; 1.8 and 0.8 kb for BpnI), pBR322 (2.5 and 1.8 kb for BpaI; 2.6 and 1.7 kb for BpnI) and phix174 DNA (3.2 and 2.1 kb for BpaI; 4 and 1.3 kb for BpnI).     

Bsu2413I and Bfi2411I,two new thermophilic type II restriction endonucleases from Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus firmus: isolation and partial purification – Thermophilic endonucleases from two Bacillus species

Two new thermophilic type II restriction endonucleases, which we designated as Bsu2413I and Bfi2411I, have been isolated from gram-positive thermophilic bacteria Bacillus subtilis strain 2413 and Bacillus firmus strain 2411 respectively and partially purified. The restriction endonucleases were extracted from cell extracts and purified using single step purification through phosphocellulose column chromatography. SDS-PAGE profile showed denatured molecular weights of 33 and 67 kDa for the Bsu2413I and 39 and 67 kDa for the Bfi2411I. The partially purified Bsu2413I enzyme restricted pBR322 DNA into two fragments of 3250 and 1100 bp whereas Bfi2411I enzyme restricted pBR322 DNA into two fragments of 3500 and 800 bp. The activity of both endonucleases was assayed at 55 degrees C and they required Mg+2 as cofactor like other type II restriction endonucleases.     

Salinity-induced changes in two cultivars of Vigna radiata: responses of antioxidative and proline metabolism

The influence of increasing salinity stress on plant growth, antioxidant enzymes and proline metabolism in two cultivars of Vigna radiata L. (cv. Pusa Bold and cv. CO 4) was investigated. Salt stress was imposed on 30-days-old cultivars with four different concentrations of NaCl (0, 100, 200 and 300 mM). The roots and shoots of CO 4 showed greater reduction in fresh weight, dry weight and water content when compared to Pusa Bold with increasing salt stress. Under salinity stress, the roots and shoots of CO 4 exhibited higher Na⁺: K⁺ ratio than Pusa Bold. The activities of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzymes and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration were found to be higher in the leaves of Pusa Bold than in CO 4, whereas oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentration was found to be higher in the leaves of CO 4 compared to those in Pusa Bold. Our studies on oxidative damage in two Vigna cultivars showed lower levels of lipid peroxidation and H₂O₂ concentration in Pusa Bold than in CO 4 under salt stress conditions. High accumulation of proline and glycine betaine under salt stress was also observed in Pusa Bold when compared to CO 4. The activities of proline biosynthetic enzymes were significantly high in Pusa Bold. However, under salinity stress, Pusa Bold showed a greater decline in proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) activity compared to CO 4. Our data in this investigation demonstrate that oxidative stress plays a major role in salt-stressed Vigna cultivars and Pusa Bold has efficient antioxidative characteristics which could provide better protection against oxidative damage in leaves under salt-stressed conditions.     

Water stress effects on photosynthesis in different mulberry cultivars

The effect of water stress on photosynthesis was determined in five mulberry cultivars (Morus alba L. cv. K-2, MR-2, BC2-59, S-13 and TR-10). Drought was imposed by withholding water and the plants were maintained at different water potentials ranging from 0.5 -MPa to 2.0 -MPa. Photosynthetic rates, activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and sucrose phosphate synthase, photosystem II activity and chlorophyll content were used as key parameters to assess photosynthetic performance. There was a marked variation in the photosynthetic rates and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase activity among the five mulberry cultivars subjected to water stress. Photosystem II (PSII) and sucrose phosphate synthase activities were also severely reduced as measured by drought conditions. Of the five mulberry cultivars, S-13 and BC2-59 showed higher photosynthetic rates, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase activity, high sucrose phosphate synthase activity and photochemical efficiency of PSII compared to the other varieties.     

Isolation and partial purification of a novel type II restriction endonuclease Bsu121 I,from Bacillus subtilis – Bsu121I,a type II restriction endonuclease from Bacillus subtilis

A new type II restriction endonuclease which we designated as Bsu121I has been isolated from gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis strain 121 and partially purified. The restriction endonuclease was isolated from cell extracts using step-wise purification through ammonium sulfate precipitation, followed by phosphocellulose column chromatography. SDS-PAGE profile showed denatured molecular weights (23 and 67 kDa) of the endonuclease. The partially purified enzyme restricted pBR322 DNA into two fragments of 3200 and 1700 bp. The endonuclease activity required Mg⁺² as cofactor like other type II endonucleases.