Cytogenetic and electrophoretic evidence for a polyploid origin of the basic chromosome number x = 14 in the genusAsphodelus (Liliaceae)

Cytogenetic and electrophoretic analyses on 2n = 28 strains ofAsphodelus cerasiferus strongly suggest that the basic number x = 14 of the genusAsphodelus is of secondary polyploid origin from x = 7.     

Changes in DNA supertwist as a response of Bacillus subtilis towards different kinds of stress

Abstract The silent parD ( kis/kid ) stability operon of plasmid R1 is normally repressed by the co-ordinated action of the Kis and Kid proteins. In this report it is shown that a mutation in repA , the gene of the plasmid replication protein, that reduces two-fold the copy number of the plasmid, leads to the derepression of the parD system. This derepression can be prevented by a suppressor mutation in copB, a copy number control gene of plasmid R1, that increases the efficiency of replication of the repA mutant. Derepression of the wild-type parD system leads to high plasmid stability. These data show the activation of a plasmid stability operon by a mutation that reduces the efficiency of wild-type plasmid replication.     

Genetic variation in nine Shorea species (Dipterocarpaceae) in Indonesia revealed by AFLPs

Shorea is the largest and most important genus of the Dipterocarpaceae. The genetic diversity and structure of nine Shorea species from two different locations, namely Nanjak Makmur in Sumatra and Sumalindo in Borneo, were evaluated using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. A total of 274 trees were investigated at 85 polymorphic AFLP loci. Levels of genetic diversity of these species ranged from  = 0.100 for S. acuminata to  = 0.165 for S. blumutensis. The population of rare species S. blumutensis possessed the highest genetic diversity suggesting that geographically restricted species can have levels of genetic variation comparable to closely related widespread common congeners. Analyses of molecular variance revealed that the genetic variation was mainly found among species in both locations (57.7% in Sumatra; 56.3% in Borneo). The unweighted pairgroup method using arithmetic averages dendrogram of all samples revealed an almost complete separation of species. Thus, AFLP markers proved appropriate for phylogenetic studies of Shorea species. Specific markers have been detected showing high-frequency differences among species and between regions within species. Sequence information of these markers can be used to develop specific polymerase chain reaction markers for wood identification. The possibility of interspecific hybridization was discussed.     

Selection of monosomic addition plants in offspring families using repetitive DNA probes in Beta L.

The distribution of two repetitive DNA probes Sat-121 and PB6-4, specific for the section Procumbentes of the genus Beta, was tested in 16 B. patellaris monosomic addition families using a dot-blot hybridization procedure. All monosomic additions were accurately distinguished from diploid sib plants with both DNA probes. The probe PB6-4, with the strongest signal after hybridization, was selected for rapid screening of an extensive number of putative monosomic additions in B. patellaris or B. procumbens addition families using a squash-blot hybridization procedure. The probe PB6-4 detected 118 monosomic additions in 640 plants (18.4%) in eight different B. procumbens addition families. The addition family with chromosome 4 of B. procumbens was semi-lethal and could not be tested. The distribution of PB6-4 in B. patellaris addition families was confirmed in 63 addition families using the squash-blot procedure. In 4580 plants of these addition families, 628 individual monosomic additions (13.7%) were found. The relationship of the morphological characteristics of monosomic addition plants to the results of the squash-blot hybridization (plants with signal) using probe PB6-4 is quite rigorous but not complete. The correlation between plants with a signal and chromosome number (2n=19) is complete. These results indicate that sequences present on PB6-4 are probably present on all chromosomes of B. patellaris and B. procumbens. The possibility of utilizing the sequence information of Sat-121 for a PCR-based assay to screen for putative monosomic addition plants was also investigated as an alternative to chromosome counting. The DNA-amplification profiles using the primers REP and REP.INV clearly distinguished monosomic addition plants from their diploid sibs.     

Cloning and expression of pkaC and pkaR,the genes encoding the cAMP-dependent protein kinase of Aspergillus fumigatus

This report describes the cloning and expression of both subunits of PKA in the opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. The predicted translation product of the regulatory subunit, pkaR, is defined as a type II regulatory subunit. The gene encoding the A. fumigatus catalytic subunit, pkaC, contains the conserved kinase and activation domains that are characteristic of PkaC proteins. Both subunit mRNAs are expressed throughout the asexual life cycle of A. fumigatus. Message levels of pkaR and pkaC are higher during co-cultivation with alveolar epithelial cells than during culture alone.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Characterization of mannitol metabolism in the mangrove red algaCaloglossa leprieurii (Montagne) J.Agardh

A metabolic pathway, known as the mannitol cycle in fungi, has been identified as a new entity in the eulittoral mangrove red algaCaloglossa leprieurii (Montagne) J. Agardh. Three specific enzymes, mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase (Mt1PDH; EC 1.1.1.17), mannitol-1-phosphatase (MtlPase; EC 3.1.3.22), mannitol dehydrogenase (MtDH; EC 1.1.1.67) and one nonspecific hexokinase (HK; EC 2.7.1.1) were determined and biochemically characterized in cell-free extracts. Mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase showed activity maxima at pH 7.0 [fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) reduction] and pH 8.5 [oxidation of mannitol-1-phosphate (Mt1P)], and a very high specificity for both carbohydrate substrates. TheK _m values were 1.4 mM for F6P, 0.09 mM for MOP, 0.020 mM for NADH and 0.023 mM for NAD⁺. For the dephosphorylation of MOP, MtlPase exhibited a pH optimum at 7.2, aK _m value of 1.2 mM and a high requirement of Mg²⁺ for activation. Mannitol dehydrogenase had activity maxima at pH 7.0 (fructose reduction) and pH 9.8 (mannitol oxidation), and was less substrate-specific than Mt1PDH and MtlPase, i.e. it also catalyzed reactions in the oxidative direction with arabitol (64.9%), sorbitol (31%) and xylitol (24.8%). This enzyme showedK _m values of 39 mM for fructose, 7.9 mM for mannitol, 0.14 mM for NADH and 0.075 mM for NAD⁺. For the non-specific HK, only theK _m values for fructose (0.19 mM) and glucose (7.5 mM) were determined. The activities of the anabolic enzymes Mt1PDH and MtlPase were always at least two orders of magnitude higher than those of the degradative enzymes, indicating a net carbon flow towards a high intracellular mannitol pool. The function of mannitol metabolism inC. leprieurii as a biochemical adaptation to the environmental extremes in the mangrove habitat is discussed.Abbreviations F6P fructose-6-phosphate - HK hexokinase - Mt1P mannitol-1-phosphate - Mt1PDH mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase - Mt1Pase mannitol-1-phosphatase - MtDH mannitol dehydrogenase     

Gaseous NO2 as a regulator for ammonia oxidation of Nitrosomonas eutropha

Cells of Nitrosomonas eutropha strain N904 that were denitrifying under anoxic conditions with hydrogen as electron donor and nitrite as electron acceptor were unable to utilize ammonium (ammonia) as an energy source. The recovery of ammonia oxidation activity was dependent on the presence of NO₂. Anaerobic ammonia oxidation activity was observed in a helium atmosphere supplemented with 25 ppm NO₂ after 20 h. Ammonia oxidation activity was detected after 2–3 days using an oxic atmosphere with 25 ppm NO₂. In contrast, ammonia consumption started after 8–9 days under oxic conditions without the addition of NO₂; in this case, small amounts of NO and NO₂ were detected and their concentrations increased with increasing ammonia oxidation activities. Hardly any ammonia oxidation was detected when nitrogen oxides were removed by intensive aeration. It would seem, therefore, that NO₂ is the master regulatory signal for ammonia oxidation in Nitrosomonas eutropha. Anaerobic ammonia oxidation activity was inhibited by the addition of NO. This inhibition was partly compensated by either increasing the NO₂ concentration or by using 2,3-dimercapto-1-propane-sulfonic acid as a NO binding substrate. DMPS was inhibitory to nitrification under oxic conditions, while increased amounts of NO or NO₂ led to increased oxidation activities.     

Calmodulin Is a Functional Regulator of Cav1.4 L-type Ca2+ Channels

Cav1.4 channels are unique among the high voltage-activated Ca²⁺ channel family because they completely lack Ca²⁺-dependent inactivation and display very slow voltage-dependent inactivation. Both properties are of crucial importance in ribbon synapses of retinal photoreceptors and bipolar cells, where sustained Ca²⁺ influx through Cav1.4 channels is required to couple slow graded changes of the membrane potential with tonic glutamate release. Loss of Cav1.4 function causes severe impairment of retinal circuitry function and has been linked to night blindness in humans and mice. Recently, an inhibitory domain (ICDI: inhibitor of Ca²⁺-dependent inactivation) in the C-terminal tail of Cav1.4 has been discovered that eliminates Ca²⁺-dependent inactivation by binding to upstream regulatory motifs within the proximal C terminus. The mechanism underlying the action of ICDI is unclear. It was proposed that ICDI competitively displaces the Ca²⁺ sensor calmodulin. Alternatively, the ICDI domain and calmodulin may bind to different portions of the C terminus and act independently of each other. In the present study, we used fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments with genetically engineered cyan fluorescent protein variants to address this issue. Our data indicate that calmodulin is preassociated with the C terminus of Cav1.4 but may be tethered in a different steric orientation as compared with other Ca²⁺ channels. We also find that calmodulin is important for Cav1.4 function because it increases current density and slows down voltage-dependent inactivation. Our data show that the ICDI domain selectively abolishes Ca²⁺-dependent inactivation, whereas it does not interfere with other calmodulin effects.Retinal photoreceptors and bipolar cells contain a highly specialized type of synapse designated ribbon synapses. Glutamate release in these synapses is controlled via graded and sustained changes in membrane potential that are maintained throughout the duration of a light stimulus (1, 2). In recent years, it became clear that Cav1.4 L-type Ca²⁺ channels are the main channel subtype converting these analog input signals into corresponding permanent glutamate release (1, 3–5). In support of this mechanism, mutations in the Cav1.4 gene have been identified in patients suffering from congenital stationary night blindness type 2 and X-linked cone rod dystrophy (6–8). Individuals displaying congenital stationary night blindness type 2 as well as mice deficient in Cav1.4 typically have abnormal electroretinograms that indicate a loss of neurotransmission from the rods to second order bipolar cells, which is attributable to a loss of Cav1.4 (3).Retinal Cav1.4 channels are set apart from other high voltage-activated (HVA)³ Ca²⁺ channels by their total lack of Ca²⁺-dependent inactivation (CDI) and their very slow voltage-dependent inactivation (VDI). Recently, we and others discovered an inhibitory domain (ICDI: inhibitor of CDI) in the C-terminal tail of the Cav1.4 channel that eliminates Ca²⁺-dependent inactivation in this channel by binding to upstream regulatory motifs (9, 10). Importantly, introducing the ICDI into the backbone of Cav1.2 or Cav1.3 almost completely abolishes the CDI of these channels. Contrasting with the clear cut function, the underlying mechanism by which ICDI abolishes CDI remains controversial. It was suggested that ICDI displaces the Ca²⁺ sensor calmodulin (CaM) from binding to the proximal C terminus (10), suggesting that the binding sites of CaM and ICDI are largely overlapping or allosterically coupled to each other. Alternatively, our own data rather suggested that CaM and the ICDI domain bind to different portions of the proximal C terminus (9). We proposed that the interaction between the ICDI domain and the EF-hand, a motif with a central role for transducing CDI (11–16), switches off CDI without impairing binding of CaM to the channel. In this study, we designed experiments to differentiate between these two models. Here, using FRET in HEK293 cells, we provide evidence that in living cells, CaM is bound to the full-length C terminus of Cav1.4 (i.e. in the presence of ICDI). Furthermore, our data suggest that the steric orientation of the CaM/Cav channel complex differs between Cav1.2 and Cav1.4 channels. We show that CaM preassociation with Cav1.4 controls current density and also affects VDI. Thus, although CaM does not trigger CDI in Cav1.4 as it does in other HVA Ca²⁺ channels, it is still an important regulator of this channel.