Conversion of cyanide to formate and ammonia by a pseudomonad obtained from industrial wastewater

Summary A cyanide-degrading pseudomonad was isolated by selective enrichment in a chemostat inoculated with coke-plant activated sludge and maintained at a dilution rate of 0.042/h for 60 days with a feed of 10 mg/l cyanide. The isolate, a facultative methylotroph capable of growth on methanol and methylamine, degraded cyanide to formate and ammonia; it could utilize the released ammonia as a nitrogen source but did not further metabolize formate under the experimental conditions employed. Both cyanide-degrading enzyme activity and respiratory resistance to cyanide were inducible and were enhanced by repeated exposure to the compound. Cell-free extracts stoichiometrically converted cyanide to formate and ammonia in a reaction that did not require oxygen. Enzyme activity, lost upon dialysis, was restored by less than equimolar ratios of NAD(P)H or ascorbate to cyanide, indicating that the reductants did not function directly as co-enzymes.     

The design of single-stranded nucleic acid knots

A general strategy is described for the synthesis of single-stranded nucleic acid knots. Control of nucleic acid sequence is used to direct the formation of secondary structures that produce the target topology. The key feature of the strategy is the equation of a half-turn of double helical DNA or RNA with a node in a knot. By forming nodes from complementary DNA sequences, it appears possible to direct the assembly of any simple knot. Stabilization of individual nodes may be achieved by constructing them from long regions containing both B-DNA and Z-DNA. Control over the braiding of DNA that acts as a link between node-forming domains can be realized by condensing the nodes into well-defined DNA structures, such as extended domains of linear duplex, branched junctions, antijunctions or mesojunctions. Further topological control may be derived from the pairing of linker regions to complementary single-stranded molecules, thereby preventing them from braiding in an undesirable fashion.     

The electron transport system of Alcaligenes eutrophus H16

In a previous work (Kömen et al. 1991) it has been concluded that membrane fragments isolated from autotrophically grown Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 contain several iron-sulphur centres along with haems of a-, b-, c-, and d-type. These redox components have been proposed to be part of a branched respiratory chain leading to multiple membrane bound oxidases. Here, some of the respiratory activities catalyzed by membrane fragments from wild type cells of A. eutrophus (H16) and, for comparison, Paracoccus denitrificans, have been investigated through the use of electron transport inhibitors. Cyanide (CN^-) titration curves indicated that in A. eutrophus H16 oxidation of succinate and H₂ preferentially proceeds via the cytochrome c oxidase(s) branch (I ₅₀=2 · 10^-5 M) whereas the NADH dependent respiration started being inhibited at higher CN^- concentrations (I ₅₀=5 · 10^-4 M). In membranes isolated from both, cells harvested at late growth-phase (OD 12) and from a mutant deficient in cytochrome c oxidase activity (A. eutrophus RK1), respiration was insensitive to low CN^- concentrations (< 10^-4 M), and it was sustained by the high catalytic activities of two quinol oxidases. These alternative oxidases of b- (formally o-) and d-type showed different sensitivities to KCN (I ₅₀=10^-3 M and 10^-2 M, respectively). Interestingly, the cytochrome c oxidase(s) dependent respiration of H16 membranes was insensitive to antimycin A but largely inhibited by myxothiazol (10^-6 M). This, and previous work (Kömen et al. 1991), suggest that although the respiratory chain of A. eutrophus is endowed with a putative bc ₁ complex, its biochemical nature and role in respiration of this organism are apparently different from those of P. denitrificans. The peculiarity of the respiratory chain of A. eutrophus is confirmed by the rotenone insensitivity of the NADH oxidation in both protoplasts and membrane fragments from wild type and soluble hydrogenase deficient cells (HF14 and HF160). A tentative model of the respiratory chain of autotrophically grown A. eutrophus is presented.     

Ethylene production and β-cyanoalanine synthase activity in carnation flowers

The relationship between ethylene production and the CN^--assimilating enzyme -cyanoalanine synthase (CAS; EC 4.4.1.9) was examined in the carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) flower. In petals from cut flowers aged naturally or treated with ethylene to accelerate senescence the several hundred-fold increase in ethylene production which occurred during irreversible wilting was accompanied by a one- to twofold increase in CAS activity. The basal parts of the petal, which produced the most ethylene, had the highest CAS activity. Studies of flower parts (styles, ovaries, receptacles, petals) showed that the styles had a high level of CAS together with the ethylene-forming enzyme (EFE) system for converting 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) to ethylene. The close association between CAS and EFE found in styles could also be observed in detached petals after induction by ACC or ethylene. Treatment of the cut flowers with cycloheximide reduced synthesis of CAS and EFE. The data indicate that CAS and ethylene production are associated, and are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that CN^- is formed during the conversion of ACC to ethylene.Abbreviations ACC 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid - AVG aminoethoxyvinylglyoine - CAS -cyanoalanine synthase - CHI cycloheximide - EFE ethylene-forming enzyme     

A method for the ligation of DNA following isolation from low melting temperature agarose

A rapid, simple, and reliable method is presented for the isolation and subsequent ligation of DNA from agarose gels. The technique involves the use of low melting temperature agarose, but with the inclusion of bovine serum albumin or gelatin to the ligation reaction.     

Specificity studies of 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase

3-Mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (E.C. 2.8.1.2; MST) is an enzyme believed to function in the endogenous cyanide (CN) detoxification system because it is capable of transferring sulfur from 3-mercaptopyruvate (3-MP) to CN, forming the less toxic thiocyanate (SCN). To date, 3-MP is the only known sulfur-donor substrate for MST. In an effort to increase the understanding of what chemical properties of 3-MP affect its utilization as a substrate, in vitro enzyme kinetic studies of MST were conducted using two mercaptic acids that are structurally related to 3-MP. Neither of these compounds was able to serve as a sulfur-donor substrate for MST. Inhibitor studies determined that 3-mercaptopropionic acid did not affect the K_m of MST for 3-MP but did decrease V_max and, thus, was determined to be a noncompetitive inhibitor. Alternatively, 2-mercaptopropionic acid 2-MPA decreased K_m and V_max and was determined to be an uncompetitive inhibitor of MST with respect to 3-MP. These data indicate that the α-keto group of 3-MP is necessary for its utilization as a substrate, and the inhibitor studies suggest that the position of the sulfur may also affect the binding of these compounds to the enzyme. These observations increase the understanding of what factors can affect the utilization of a compound as a sulfur-donor substrate for MST and may aid in the development of alternative sulfur-donor substrates for MST. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Enhancement of NMDA-mediated responses by cyanide

The effect of cyanide on NMDA-activated ion current and MK801 binding was studied in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. In microfluorometric analysis using fura-2, removal of extracellular Mg²⁺ resulted in a five-fold increase in NMDA-induced peak of [Ca²⁺]_i. One mM NaCN enhanced the peak NMDA responses in the presence, but not in the absence of extracellular Mg²⁺. Cyanide enhanced the immediate rise in [Ca²⁺]_i produced by NMDA, followed over a 1–5 min period by a gradual increase of [Ca²⁺]_i. Similar results were obtained in whole-cell patch clamp recordings from hippocampal neurons. One mM KCN enhanced the NMDA-activated current in the presence, but not in the absence of extracellular Mg²⁺. This effect was independent of cyanide-mediated metabolic inhibition since the recording pipette contained ATP (2 mM). In binding assays NaCN (1 mM) increased the binding affinity of [³H]MK-801 to rat forebrain membranes in the presence of Mg²⁺, whereas in the absence of Mg²⁺, NaCN did not influence binding. These results indicate that cyanide enhances NMDA-mediated Ca²⁺ influx and inward current by interacting with the Mg²⁺ block of the NMDA receptor. The effect of cyanide can be explained by an initial interaction with the Mg²⁺ block of the NMDA receptor/ionophore which appears to be energy-independent, followed by a gradual increase in Ca²⁺ influx resulting from cellular energy reserve depletion.Abbreviations NMDA N-Methyl-D-Aspartate - EAA excitatory amino acid - MK-801 (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d] cyclohept-5,10-imine maleate     

Rare earth cerium oxide nanoparticles attenuated liver fibrosis in bile duct ligation mice model

Liver fibrosis is one of the major liver complications which eventually progresses to liver cirrhosis and liver failure. Cerium oxide nanoparticles, also known as nanoceria (NC) are nanoparticles with potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Herein, we evaluated the hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic effects of nanoceria (NC) against bile duct ligation (BDL) induced liver injury. NC were administered i.p. for 12 days (0.5 and 2 mg/kg) to C57BL/6J mice. The biochemical markers of liver injury, oxidative and nitrosative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. Fibrosis assessment and mechanistic studies were conducted to assess the hepatoprotective effects of NC. Administration of NC proved to significantly ameliorate liver injury as evident by reduction in SGOT, SGPT, ALP and bilirubin levels in the treated animals. NC treatment significantly reduced the hydroxyproline levels and expression of fibrotic markers. In summary, our findings establish the hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic effects of NC against BDL induced liver injury and liver fibrosis. These protective effects were majorly ascribed to their potential ROS inhibition and antioxidant activities through catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-mimetic properties and auto-regenerating capabilities.     

DNA末端硫修饰依赖的体外大片段DNA连接法

【背景】DNA组装技术是基因组合成中的一个关键技术。探索低成本、高效率的基因组合成技术一直是合成生物学的重要研究领域。在某些细菌如变铅青链霉菌中,DNA上有磷硫酰化修饰(简称硫修饰),而在另一些细菌如天蓝色链霉菌中存在一种含有硫修饰识别结构域(sulfur-binding domain, SBD)的识别蛋白,可以特异性识别DNA上的硫修饰,这启发了我们发展出一种新的DNA组装技术。【目的】探究在DNA末端硫修饰的连接中,T4 DNA连接酶与SBD相融合蛋白和单独的T4 DNA连接酶相比,是否有更高的连接效率。【方法】根据同源重组原理,设计硫修饰引物,扩增硫修饰的DNA片段。构建T4 DNA连接酶与SBD融合蛋白的3种表达载体T4-linker-SBD(Hga)、T4-linker-SBD(Spr)和T4-linker-SBD(Mmo),表达纯化以上3种融合蛋白。比较3组浓度梯度(2.4、0.24、0.024 mg/mL) T4 DNA连接酶与融合蛋白在2.5 kb和8.0 kb DNA片段连接上的差异。【结果】DNA末端硫修饰的2.5kb和8.0kb的两端片段均能扩增,而且3种融合蛋白...