Tenuibacillus halotolerans sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from a soil sample from a salt lake in Xinjiang, China and emended description of the genus Tenuibacillus

A Gram-positive, moderately halotolerant, rod-shaped bacterium, designated YIM 94025^T, was isolated from a soil sample from a salt lake in Xinjiang province, north-west China. Strain YIM 94025^T was observed to grow at 25–45 °C (optimum 37 °C), 0–22 % NaCl (optimum 2–10 %) and pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum pH 8.0). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the organism belongs to the genus Tenuibacillus and exhibited sequence similarity of 98.0 % to the closest type strain, Tenuibacillus multivorans AS 1.3442^T. The predominant menaquinone was found to be MK-7; the cell-wall peptidoglycan diamino acid was meso-diaminopimelic acid; the polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, an unidentified phospholipid and an unknown lipid; and the major fatty acids were found to contain iso-C_15:0, anteiso-C_15:0 and iso-C_16:0. The chemotaxonomic characteristics of strain YIM 94025^T are consistent with those of the genus Tenuibacillus. The level of DNA–DNA relatedness value between YIM 94025^T and T. multivorans AS 1.3442^T was 36.6 ± 4.5 %. The G+C content of the strain YIM 94025^T was determined to be 38.5 %. Based on the comparative analysis of physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic data, as well as DNA–DNA hybridization results, the isolate is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Tenuibacillus, for which the name Tenuibacillus halotolerans sp. nov., is proposed, with the type strain of YIM 94025^T (=CCTCC AB 2012860^T = KCTC 33046^T).     

An Efficient Rice Mutagenesis System Based on Suspension-Cultured Cells

Plant mutants are important bio-resources for crop breeding and gene functional studies. Conventional methods for generating mutant libraries by mutagenesis of seeds with physical or chemical agents are of low efficiency. Here, we developed a highly-efficient ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis system based on suspension-cultured cells, with rice (Oryza sativa L.) as an example. We show that treatment of suspension-cultured tiny cell clusters with 0.4% EMS for 18-22h followed by differentiation and regeneration produced as high as 29.4% independent mutant lines with visible phenotypic variations, including a number of important agronomic traits such as grain size, panicle size, grain or panicle shape, tiller number and angle, heading date, male sterility, and disease sensitivity. No mosaic mutant was observed in the mutant lines tested. In this mutant library, we obtained a mutant with an abnormally elongated uppermost internode. Sequencing and functional analysis revealed that this is a new allelic mutant of eui (elongated uppermost internode) caused by two point mutations in the first exon of the EUI gene, representing a successful example of this mutagenesis system.     

昆明、武定地区早寒武世关山动物群的双瓣壳节肢动物

报道采自昆明、武定地区下寒武统沧浪铺阶乌龙箐组下部黄绿色页岩层中的双瓣壳节肢动物Tuzoia和Isoxys,讨论Tuzoia和Isoxys两属的特征和种群、地质、地理分布、软体附肢、分类位置、古生态及其演化趋势。详细描述关山动物群中Tuzoia和Isoxys的3种(其中2新种):TuzoiasinensisP’an,1957,T.tylodesaLuoetHusp.nov.,IsoxyswudingensisLuoetHusp.nov.,和I.sp.。     

Protease-activated receptor-1-induced calcium signaling in gingival fibroblasts is mediated by sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release and extracellular calcium influx

Thrombin is a serine protease activated during injury and inflammation. Thrombin and other proteases generated by periodontal pathogens affect the behavior of periodontal cells via activation of protease-activated receptors (PARs). We noted that thrombin and PAR-1 agonist peptide stimulated intracellular calcium levels ([Ca2+]i) of gingival fibroblasts (GF). This increase of [Ca2+]i was inhibited by EGTA and verapamil. U73122 and neomycin inhibited thrombin- and PAR-1-induced [Ca2+]i. Furthermore, 2-APB (75-100 microM, inositol triphosphate [IP3] receptor antagonist), thapsigargin (1 microM), SKF-96365 (200 microM) and W7 (50 and 100 microM) also suppressed the PAR-1- and thrombin-induced [Ca2+]i. However, H7 (100, 200 microM) and ryanodine showed little effects. Blocking Ca2+ efflux from mitochondria by CGP37157 (50, 100 microM) inhibited both thrombin- and PAR-1-induced [Ca2+]i. Thrombin induced the IP3 production of GF within 30-seconds of exposure, which was inhibited by U73122. These results indicate that mitochondrial calcium efflux and calcium-calmodulin pathways are related to thrombin and PAR-1 induced [Ca2+]i in GF. Thrombin-induced [Ca2+]i of GF is mainly due to PAR-1 activation, extracellular calcium influx via L-type calcium channel, PLC activation, then IP3 binding to IP3 receptor in sarcoplasmic reticulum, which leads to intracellular calcium release and subsequently alters cell membrane capacitative calcium entry.     

Synthesis and characterization of homochiral polymeric S-malato molybdate(VI): toward the potentially stereospecific formation and absolute configuration of iron-molybdenum cofactor in nitrogenase

Reaction of sodium or potassium molybdate and excess malic acid in a wide range of pH values (pH 4.0–7.0) resulted in the isolation of two cis-dioxo-bis(malato)-Mo(VI) complexes, viz. Na₃[MoO₂H(S-mal)₂] and K₃[MoO₂H(S-mal)₂]·H₂O (H₃mal=malic acid). The sodium complex is also characterized by an X-ray structure analysis, showing that the mononuclear Mo units are linked together via very strong symmetric CO₂···H··· O₂C-hydrogen bond [2.432(5) Å], forming a polymeric chain. The molybdenum atoms are quasi-octahedrally coordinated by two cis-oxo groups and two bidentate malate ligands via its alkoxy and -carboxyl groups, while the β-carboxylic and carboxylate groups remain uncomplexed, as the coordination of vicinal carboxylate and alkoxide of homocitrate in FeMo cofactor of nitrogenase. The absolute configuration of the metal center in this S-malato complex is assigned as Λ and the homochirality within the chain is established as a homochiral form ···Λ_S–Λ_S–Λ_S–Λ_S···. It is proposed that the chiral configuration of the metal center in wild-type FeMo-co biosynthesis might be induced by the early coordination of the chiral R-homocitric acid, while a mixture of raceme might be obtained in the biosynthesis of NifV⁻ FeMo-cofactor. The absolute configuration of wild-type FeMo-cofactor is assigned as Δ_R.     

基于混合模型的红松人工林枝条动态研究

采用孟家岗林场79株人工红松4 987个枝条的枝解析数据,分别构建了人工红松枝条基径、枝长线性混合效应模型和枝条基径、枝长生长混合效应模型。利用SAS9.22统计软件对模型参数进行求解,并通过AIC、BIC及LRT对收敛的非线性模型之间的差异性进行显著性检验。结果表明:对于基径和枝长的线性混合效应模型,模型中所有参数的t检验均显著,参数的标准误差比较小,模型的稳定性很好。对于基径生长的非线性混合效应模型,在不考虑样地效应的条件下,对于模型参数b1和b3的组合,无论是AIC还是BIC都比较小。当考虑到样地效应的过程中,同样是参数b1和b3的组合形式取得最小的AIC和BIC,因此在考虑到样地效应时,这种参数的随机效应组合形式是最优模型。对于人工红松枝条枝长生长的非线性混合效应模型,当没有考虑样地效应时,通过比较不同参数的随机组合的随机效应,可以得知,当参数b1和b3组合的过程中,无论是AIC还是BIC都比较小。当考虑到样地效应的过程中,参数b3和b4的组合形式取得最小的AIC和BIC,因此在考虑到样地效应时,这种参数的随机效应组合形式是最优模型。     

龙葵上柑橘木虱存活观察与黄龙病检测

柑橘木虱Diaphorina citri是毁灭性病害黄龙病的媒介,其寄主范围比较严格,仅为芸香科内的一些植物。研究发现,在自然状态下,柑橘木虱成虫可在柑橘园中常见茄科Solanaceae杂草-龙葵Solanum nigrum上停留。对比试验显示,木虱成虫在龙葵上的存活期最长可达45 d,而在假臭草Eupatorium catarium、含水海绵和无水海绵上分别为24 d、9 d和2 d;通过实时荧光PCR检测发现部分龙葵叶片中含有黄龙病病原菌。这些非寄主植物可能有助于柑橘木虱躲避不良环境或长距离迁移扩散,成为柑橘木虱和黄龙病的潜在库源。     

Bedside Diagnosis for Disseminated Deep Dermatophytosis: a Case Series Study

Mycopathologia - Deep cutaneous fungal infections including deep dermatophytosis are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised patients. Variable and...     

Crystal structure and substrate-binding mode of cellulase 12A from Thermotoga maritima

Cellulases have been used in many applications to treat various carbohydrate-containing materials. Thermotoga maritima cellulase 12A (TmCel12A) belongs to the GH12 family of glycoside hydrolases. It is a β-1,4-endoglucanase that degrades cellulose molecules into smaller fragments, facilitating further utilization of the carbohydrate. Because of its hyperthermophilic nature, the enzyme is especially suitable for industrial applications. Here the crystal structure of TmCel12A was determined by using an active-site mutant E134C and its mercury-containing derivatives. It adopts a β-jellyroll protein fold typical of the GH12-family enzymes, with two curved β-sheets A and B and a central active-site cleft. Structural comparison with other GH12 enzymes shows significant differences, as found in two longer and highly twisted β-strands B8 and B9 and several loops. A unique Loop A3-B3 that contains Arg60 and Tyr61 stabilizes the substrate by hydrogen bonding and stacking, as observed in the complex crystals with cellotetraose and cellobiose. The high-resolution structures allow clear elucidation of the network of interactions between the enzyme and its substrate. The sugar residues bound to the enzyme appear to be more ordered in the -2 and -1 subsites than in the +1, +2 and -3 subsites. In the E134C crystals the bound -1 sugar at the cleavage site consistently show the α-anomeric configuration, implicating an intermediate-like structure.