A tRNA Val(GAC) gene of chloroplast origin in sunflower mitochondria is not transcribed

A tRNA^Val (GAC) gene is located in opposite orientation 552 nucleotides (nt) down-stream of the cytochrome oxidase subunit III (coxIII) gene in sunflower mitochondria. The comparison with the homologous chloroplast DNA revealed that the tRNA^Val gene is part of a 417 nucleotides DNA insertion of chloroplast origin in the mitochondrial genome. No tRNA^Val is encoded in monocot mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), whereas two tRNA^Val species are coded for by potato mtDNA. The mitochondrial genomes of different plant species thus seem to encode unique sets of tRNAs and must thus be competent in importing the missing differing sets of tRNAs.     

谷氨酸钠流化床吸附脱色的柱过程研究

以颗粒活性炭(GAC)为吸附剂,采用多柱串联流化床进行味精中和液脱色,对柱过程进行了模拟研究。测定了平衡数据、传质动力学及流体流动参数,建立了具有广泛适应性的,包括颗粒分级、粒度分布、内外扩散及两相返混的宽粒度液固流化床吸附过程模型。对所研究体系的模拟计算与实验结果符合较好。     

A novel function of anaphase promoting complex subunit 10 in tumor progression in non-small cell lung cancer

The anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), a cell cycle-regulated E3 ubiquitin ligase, is responsible for the transition from metaphase to anaphase and the exit from mitosis. The anaphase promoting complex subunit 10 (APC10), a subunit of the APC/C, executes a vital function in substrate recognition. However, no research has reported the connection between APC10 and cancer until now. In this study, we uncovered a novel, unprecedented role of APC10 in tumor progression, which is independent of APC/C. First, aberrant increase of APC10 expression was validated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and tissues, and the absence of APC10 repressed cell proliferation and migration. Of great interest, we found that APC10 inhibition induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and reduced the expression of the APC/C substrate, Cyclin B1; this finding is different from the conventional concept of the accumulation of Cyclin B1 and cell cycle arrest in metaphase. Further, APC10 was found to interact with glutaminase C (GAC), and the inhibition of APC10 weakened glutamine metabolism and induced excessive autophagy. Taken together, these findings identify a novel function of APC10 in the regulation of NSCLC tumorigenesis and point to the possibility of APC10 as a new target for cancer therapy.     

Structural properties of DNA oligomers containing (GACX)(n) and (GAXC)(n) tandem repeats

The antisense DNA sequence of mature mouse micro RNA, miR341, includes three repeats of the tetranucleotide (GACC). The -GAC- repeat is known to form a parallel duplex, in acidic environments. The thermal melting profile of miR341 DNA, at pH 4, 5, and 6 indicates the formation of a very stable structure, which loses its stability when pH is increased. Thus, the addition of a cytosine at the 3' end of the (GAC) motif preserves the molecule's potential to fold into an unusual structure at low pH. The effect of modifying the nucleotide composition of the GACC sequence on the secondary structures formed by oligomers containing seven tandem repeats of the altered motifs was examined here. UV melting profiles were determined, as a function of pH, for 28-mers of the two series (GAXC)(7) and (GACX)(7) (X= A/C/T/G)(.) The sequence (GACC)(7) was found to be extremely sensitive to pH variations, with a stable structure formed at pH 5 (T(m) ≥ 60°C). NMR spectroscopy established that the low pH structure is not B-DNA. (GACA)(7) and (GACT)(7) also formed stable structures at low pH but the addition of guanine at the 3'end, as seen in the (GACG) series resulted in the loss of this property. Introducing a break in the 5'-GAC-3' motif, explored in the (GAXC) series, also inhibits formation of stable structures under acidic conditions.     

Applying Life Cycle Tools and Process Engineering to Determine the Most Adequate Treatment Process Conditions. A Tool in Environmental Policy (12 pp)

Background The analysis of a wastewater treatment technology, under a expanded boundaries system which includes both the technology and the inputs required for its operation, quantifies the overall environmental impact that may result from the treatment of a wastewater stream. This is particularly useful for environmental policy makers being that a expanded boundaries system tends to provide a holistic view. The former view can be highly enriched with the use of process engineering tools, such as mathematical process modelling, process design, performance assessment and cost optimised models. Main Features The traditional approach used to assess waste treatment technologies is contrasted with a life cycle analysis (LCA) approach. The optimal design of a granular activated carbon adsorption (GAC) process is used as a model system to demonstrate the advantages of LCA approaches over traditional approaches. Further sections of the paper describe a mathematical framework for the assessment of technologies, design considerations applied in the cost optimised carbon adsorption model, the use of LCA techniques to perform an inventory of all emissions associated to the process system and, some of its environmental impacts. Results Economic and environmental considerations regarding the optimum process design are introduced as a basis for decision towards the selection and operating conditions of wastewater treatment technologies. Moreover, the use of LCA has revealed that the environmental burden associated with the wastewater treatment may produce a higher environmental impact than one that can be caused by untreated discharges. Conclusion The paper highlights the string advantages that environmental policy makers may have by combining LCA and process engineering tools. Furthermore, this approach can be incorporated into other existing treatment processes or for process designers.     

Analytical Integration Procedures for the Derivation of Risk-Based Generic Assessment Criteria for Soil

Risk assessment models commonly used in contaminated sites employ a simple integration procedure by only partially combining exposure pathways from surface soil with vapor pathways from subsurface soil being excluded in the combination. The simplified approach can approximate the integrated generic assessment criteria only when there is a dominant exposure pathway. But these models are often based on a simple partitioning of a chemical in soil between the sorbed, dissolved, and vapor phases without consideration of the presence of non-aqueous phase liquid, and critically fail to consider non-soil background exposure for non-carcinogenic compounds. As a result, the generic assessment criteria derived may not be considered protective of human health. This article describes analytical integration procedures for the derivation of the generic assessment criteria that consider non-soil background exposure while limiting the average daily exposure for vapor pathways calculated from soil saturation limits. Significance of consideration of soil saturation limits for the derivation of the generic assessment criteria using an integrated approach is illustrated for organic compounds having varied levels of background exposure and soil saturations. The analytical integration procedures for the derivation of the soil generic assessment criteria under the linear chemical partition approach are also reviewed aiming to provide a single source of complete integration procedures for the derivation of the integrated generic assessment criteria.     

The Identification of the Determinants of the Cyclic, Sequential Binding of Elongation Factors Tu and G to the Ribosome

Experiments dedicated to gaining an understanding of the mechanism underlying the orderly, sequential association of elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) and elongation factor G (EF-G) with the ribosome during protein synthesis were undertaken. The binding of one EF is always followed by the binding of the other, despite the two sharing the same—or a largely overlapping—site and despite the two having isosteric structures. Aminoacyl-tRNA, peptidyl-tRNA, and deacylated-tRNA were bound in various combinations to the A-site, P-site, or E-site of ribosomes, and their effect on conformation in the peptidyl transferase center, the GTPase-associated center, and the sarcin/ricin domain (SRD) was determined. In addition, the effect of the ribosome complexes on sensitivity to the ribotoxins sarcin and pokeweed antiviral protein and on the binding of EF-G•GTP were assessed. The results support the following conclusions: the EF-Tu ternary complex binds to the A-site whenever it is vacant and the P-site has peptidyl-tRNA; and association of the EF-Tu ternary complex is prevented, simply by steric hindrance, when the A-site is occupied by peptidyl-tRNA. On the other hand, the affinity of the ribosome for EF-G•GTP is increased when peptidyl-tRNA is in the A-site, and the increase is the result of a conformational change in the SRD. We propose that peptidyl-tRNA in the A-site is an effector that initiates a series of changes in tertiary interactions between nucleotides in the peptidyl transferase center, the SRD, and the GTPase-associated center of 23S rRNA; and that the signal, transmitted through a transduction pathway, informs the ribosome of the position of peptidyl-tRNA and leads to a conformational change in the SRD that favors binding of EF-G.     

Recovery strategies for tackling the impact of phenolic compounds in a UASB reactor treating coal gasification wastewater

The impact of phenolic compounds (around 3.2 g/L) resulted in a completely failed performance in a mesophilic UASB reactor treating coal gasification wastewater. The recovery strategies, including extension of HRT, dilution, oxygen-limited aeration, and addition of powdered activated carbon were evaluated in batch tests, in order to obtain the most appropriate way for the quick recovery of the failed reactor performance. Results indicated that addition of powdered activated carbon and oxygen-limited aeration were the best recovery strategies in the batch tests. In the UASB reactor, addition of powdered activated carbon of 1 g/L shortened the recovery time from 25 to 9 days and oxygen-limited aeration of 0-0.5 mgO₂/L reduced the recovery time to 17 days. Reduction of bioavailable concentration of phenolic compounds and recovery of sludge activity were the decisive factors for the recovery strategies to tackle the impact of phenolic compounds in anaerobic treatment of coal gasification wastewater.     

Polaromonas and Hydrogenophaga species are the predominant bacteria cultured from granular activated carbon filters in water treatment

Aim:  Identification of the predominating cultivable bacteria in granular activated carbon (GAC) filters used in a variety of water treatment plants for selecting representative strains to study the role of bacteria in the removal of dissolved organic matter.
Methods and Results:  Bacterial isolates were collected from 21 GAC filters in nine water treatment plants treating either ground water or surface water with or without oxidative pretreatment. Enrichment of samples in dilute liquid medium improved culturability of the bacteria by approximately log unit, to 9% up to 70% of the total cell counts. Genomic fingerprinting and 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed that most (68%) of the isolates belonged to the Betaproteobacteria and 25% were identified as Alphaproteobacteria . The number of different genera within the Betaproteobacteria was higher in the GAC filters treating ozonated water than in the filters treating nonozonated water. Polaromonas was observed in nearly all of the GAC filters (86%), and the genera Hydrogenophaga , Sphingomonas and Afipia were observed in 43%, 33% and 29% of the filter beds, respectively. AFLP analysis revealed that the predominating genus Polaromonas included a total of 23 different genotypes.
Conclusions:  This study is the first to demonstrate that Polaromonas , which has mainly been observed in ultraoligotrophic freshwater environments, is a common component of the microbial community in GAC filters used in water treatment.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  The predominance of ultraoligotrophic bacteria in the GAC filters indicates that very low concentrations of substrates are available for microbial growth. Polaromonas species are suited for further studies on the nutritional versatility and growth kinetics enabling the modelling of biodegradation processes in GAC filters.     

In vivo formation of Plasmodium falciparum ribosomal stalk — A unique mode of assembly without stable heterodimeric intermediates

Background

The ribosomal stalk composed of P-proteins constitutes a structure on the large ribosomal particle responsible for recruitment of translation factors and stimulation of factor-dependent GTP hydrolysis during translation. The main components of the stalk are P-proteins, which form a pentamer. Despite the conserved basic function of the stalk, the P-proteins do not form a uniform entity, displaying heterogeneity in the primary structure across the eukaryotic lineage. The P-proteins from protozoan parasites are among the most evolutionarily divergent stalk proteins.

Methods

We have assembled P-stalk complex of Plasmodium falciparum in vivo in bacterial system using tricistronic expression cassette and provided its characteristics by biochemical and biophysical methods.

Results

All three individual P-proteins, namely uL10/P0, P1 and P2, are indispensable for acquisition of a stable structure of the P stalk complex and the pentameric uL10/P0-(P1-P2)₂ form represents the most favorable architecture for parasite P-proteins.

Conclusion

The formation of P. falciparum P-stalk is driven by trilateral interaction between individual elements which represents unique mode of assembling, without stable P1–P2 heterodimeric intermediate.

General significance

On the basis of our mass-spectrometry analysis supported by the bacterial two-hybrid assay and biophysical analyses, a unique pathway of the parasite stalk assembling has been proposed. We suggest that the absence of P1/P2 heterodimer, and the formation of a stable pentamer in the presence of all three proteins, indicate a one-step formation to be the main pathway for the vital ribosomal stalk assembly, whereas the P2 homo-oligomer may represent an off-pathway product with physiologically important nonribosomal role.