scholarly journals SpoVG Is Necessary for Sporulation in Bacillus anthracis

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Chen ◽  
Yufei Lyu ◽  
Erling Feng ◽  
Li Zhu ◽  
Chao Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Confocal Microscopy ◽  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Galactosidase Activity ◽  
Important Process ◽  
Sequence Identity ◽  
Redundant Functions ◽  
Infectious Form ◽  
Insight Into

The Bacillus anthracis spore constitutes the infectious form of the bacterium, and sporulation is an important process in the organism’s life cycle. Herein, we show that disruption of SpoVG resulted in defective B. anthracis sporulation. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that a ΔspoVG mutant could not form an asymmetric septum, the first morphological change observed during sporulation. Moreover, levels of spoIIE mRNA were reduced in the spoVG mutant, as demonstrated using β-galactosidase activity assays. The effects on sporulation of the ΔspoVG mutation differed in B. anthracis from those in B. subtilis because of the redundant functions of SpoVG and SpoIIB in B. subtilis. SpoVG is highly conserved between B. anthracis and B. subtilis. Conversely, BA4688 (the protein tentatively assigned as SpoIIB in B. anthracis) and B. subtilis SpoIIB (SpoIIBBs) share only 27.9% sequence identity. On complementation of the B. anthracis ΔspoVG strain with spoIIBBs, the resulting strain pBspoIIBBs/ΔspoVG could not form resistant spores, but partially completed the prespore engulfment stage. In agreement with this finding, mRNA levels of the prespore engulfment gene spoIIM were significantly increased in strain pBspoIIBBs/ΔspoVG compared with the ΔspoVG strain. Transcription of the coat development gene cotE was similar in the pBspoIIBBs/ΔspoVG and ΔspoVG strains. Thus, unlike in B. subtilis, SpoVG appears to be required for sporulation in B. anthracis, which provides further insight into the sporulation mechanisms of this pathogen.

scholarly journals Odour-active compounds in liquid malt extracts for the baking industry

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine S. Rögner ◽  
Veronika Mall ◽  
Martin Steinhaus
Keyword(s):  
Threshold Value ◽  
Starting Material ◽  
Minor Amount ◽  
Malt Extract ◽  
Important Process ◽  
Gas Chromatography Olfactometry ◽  
Odour Threshold ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Baking Industry ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractAn odorant screening by gas chromatography–olfactometry (GC–O) and a crude aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) applied to the volatiles isolated from a light and a dark liquid malt extract (LME) by solvent extraction and solvent-assisted flavour evaporation (SAFE) identified 28 odorants. Fifteen major odorants were subsequently quantitated and odour activity values (OAVs) were calculated as ratio of the concentration to the respective odour threshold value (OTV). Important odorants in the light LME included 3-(methylsulfanyl)propanal (OAV 1500), (E)-β-damascenone (OAV 430), and 4-ethenyl-2-methoxyphenol (OAV 91). In the dark LME, sotolon (OAV 780), 3-(methylsulfanyl)propanal (OAV 550), (E)-β-damascenone (OAV 410), acetic acid (OAV 160), and maltol (OAV 120) were of particular importance. To get an insight into the changes during malt extract production, the quantitations were extended to the malt used as the starting material for both LMEs. Addition of a minor amount of water to malt before volatile extraction was shown to be effective to cover the free as well as the bound malt odorants. Results showed that some LME odorants originated from the starting material whereas others were formed during processing. Important process-induced LME odorants included (E)-β-damascenone and 4-ethenyl-2-methoxyphenol in the light LME as well as maltol, sotolon, (E)-β-damascenone, and 2-methoxyphenol in the dark LME. In summary, the odorant formation during LME production was shown to be more important than the transfer of odorants from the malt.

scholarly journals Comparative Study of a Life Cycle Assessment for Bio-Plastic Straws and Paper Straws: Malaysia’s Perspective

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1007
Author(s):  
Chun-Hung Moy ◽  
Lian-See Tan ◽  
Noor Fazliani Shoparwe ◽  
Azmi Mohd Shariff ◽  
Jully Tan
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Beverage Industry ◽  
Food And Beverage Industry ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Acidification Potential ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Process Simulator ◽  
Insight Into

Plastics are used for various applications, including in the food and beverage industry, for the manufacturing of plastic utensils and straws. The higher utilization of plastic straws has indirectly resulted in the significant disposal of plastic waste, which has become a serious environmental issue. Alternatively, bio-plastic and paper straws have been introduced to reduce plastic waste. However, limited studies are available on the environmental assessment of drinking straws. Life cycle assessment (LCA) studies for bio-plastic and paper straws have not been comprehensively performed previously. Therefore, the impact of both bio-plastic and paper straws on the environment are quantified and compared in this study. Parameters, such as the global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP) and eutrophication potential (EP), were evaluated. The input–output data of the bio-plastic and paper straws processes from a gate-to-grave analysis were obtained from the literature and generated using the SuperPro Designer V9 process simulator. The results show that bio-plastic straws, which are also known as polylactic acid (PLA) straws, had reduced environmental impacts compared to paper straws. The outcomes of this work provide an insight into the application of bio-plastic and paper straws in effectively reducing the impact on the environment and in promoting sustainability, especially from the perspective of Malaysia.

scholarly journals Role of two metacaspases in development and pathogenicity of the Rice Blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessie Fernandez ◽  
Victor Lopez ◽  
Lisa Kinch ◽  
Mariel A. Pfeifer ◽  
Hillery Gray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Magnaporthe Oryzae ◽  
Rice Blast ◽  
Rice Blast Disease ◽  
Blast Disease ◽  
Complex Life Cycle ◽  
Insight Into

ABSTRACTRice blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is a devastating disease of cultivated rice worldwide. Infections by this fungus lead to a significant reduction in rice yields and threats to food security. To gain better insight into growth and cell death in M. oryzae during infection, we characterized two predicted M. oryzae metacaspase proteins, MoMca1 and MoMca2. These proteins appear to be functionally redundant and are able to complement the yeast Yca1 homologue. Biochemical analysis revealed that M. oryzae metacaspases exhibited Ca2+ dependent caspase activity in vitro. Deletion of both MoMca1 and MoMca2 in M. oryzae resulted in reduced sporulation, delay in conidial germination and attenuation of disease severity. In addition, the double ΔMomca1mca2 mutant strain showed increased radial growth in the presence of oxidative stress. Interestingly, the ΔMomca1mca2 strain showed an increase accumulation of insoluble aggregates compared to the wild-type strain during vegetative growth. Our findings suggest that MoMca1 and MoMca2 promote the clearance of insoluble aggregates in M. oryzae, demonstrating the important role these metacaspases have in fungal protein homeostasis. Furthermore, these metacaspase proteins may play additional roles, like in regulating stress responses, that would help maintain the fitness of fungal cells required for host infection.IMPORTANCEMagnaporthe oryzae causes rice blast disease that threatens global food security by resulting in the severe loss of rice production every year. A tightly regulated life cycle allows M. oryzae to disarm the host plant immune system during its biotrophic stage before triggering plant cell death in its necrotrophic stage. The ways M. oryzae navigates its complex life cycle remains unclear. This work characterizes two metacaspase proteins with peptidase activity in M. oryzae that are shown to be involved in the regulation of fungal growth and development prior to infection by potentially helping maintain fungal fitness. This study provides new insight into the role of metacaspase proteins in filamentous fungi by illustrating the delays in M. oryzae morphogenesis in the absence of these proteins. Understanding the mechanisms by which M. oryzae morphology and development promote its devastating pathogenicity may lead to the emergence of proper methods for disease control.

scholarly journals CaMKII Potentiates Store-Operated Ca2+ Entry Through Enhancing STIM1 Aggregation and Interaction with Orai1

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 1042-1054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu Li ◽  
Jingyi Xue ◽  
Zhipeng Sun ◽  
Tiantian Liu ◽  
Lane Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Confocal Microscopy ◽  
Specific Inhibitor ◽  
Potential Mechanism ◽  
Additional Insight ◽  
Dependent Protein Kinase ◽  
Store Depletion ◽  
Selective Channel ◽  
Dependent Protein ◽  
Insight Into

Background/Aims: Upon Ca2+ store depletion, stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) oligomerizes, redistributes near plasmalemma to interact with Ca2+ selective channel-forming subunit (Orai1) and initiates store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a regulator of SOCE, but how CaMKII regulates SOCE remains obscure. Methods: Using Fura2, confocal microscopy, co-immunoprecipitation, specific blocker and overexpression/knockdown approaches, we evaluated STIM1 aggregation and its interaction with Orai1, and SOCE upon Ca2+ store depletion in thapsigargin (TG) treated HEK293 and HeLa cells. Results: Overexpression of CaMKIIδ enhanced TG-induced STIM1 co-localization and interaction with Orai1 as well as SOCE. In contrast, CaMKIIδ knockdown and a specific inhibitor of CaMKII suppressed them. In addition, overexpression or knockdown of CaMKIIδ in TG treated cells exhibited increased or reduced STIM1 clustering and plasmalemma redistribution, respectively. Conclusion: CaMKII up-regulates SOCE by increasing STIM1 aggregation and interaction with Orai1. This study provides an additional insight into SOCE regulation and a potential mechanism for CaMKII involvement in some pathological situations through crosstalk with SOCE.

Targeted disruption of the murine junD gene results in multiple defects in male reproductive function

Development ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Thepot ◽  
J.B. Weitzman ◽  
J. Barra ◽  
D. Segretain ◽  
M.G. Stinnakre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Postnatal Growth ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Targeted Disruption ◽  
Male Reproductive Function ◽  
Developing Heart ◽  
Redundant Functions ◽  
Transcription Factor Complex

JunD is one of three mammalian Jun proteins that contribute to the AP-1 transcription factor complex. Distinct regulation and functions have been proposed for each Jun member, but less is known about the biological functions of each of these proteins in vivo. To investigate the role of JunD, we have inactivated the murine gene by replacement with a bacterial lacZ reporter gene. Embryonic JunD expression was initially detected in the developing heart and cardiovascular system. Subsequent broadening phases of JunD expression were observed during embryonic development and expression in the adult was widespread in many tissues and cell lineages. Mutant animals lack JunD mRNA and protein and showed no evidence of upregulation of c-Jun and JunB mRNA levels. In contrast to the other two Jun members, homozygous JunD−/− mutant animals were viable and appeared healthy. However, homozygous JunD−/− animals showed a reduced postnatal growth. Furthermore, JunD−/− males exhibited multiple age-dependent defects in reproduction, hormone imbalance and impaired spermatogenesis with abnormalities in head and flagellum sperm structures. No defects in fertility were observed in JunD−/− female animals. These results provide evidence for redundant functions for members of the Jun family during development and specific functions for JunD in male reproductive function.

scholarly journals Aeolian Remobilisation of the 2011-Cordón Caulle Tephra-Fallout Deposit: Example of an Important Process in the Life Cycle of Volcanic Ash

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Dominguez ◽  
Costanza Bonadonna ◽  
Pablo Forte ◽  
Paul Antony Jarvis ◽  
Raffaello Cioni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Volcanic Ash ◽  
Important Process ◽  
Tephra Fallout

scholarly journals Atomistic insight into the kinetic pathways for Watson–Crick to Hoogsteen transitions in DNA

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (21) ◽  
pp. 11069-11076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jocelyne Vreede ◽  
Alberto Pérez de Alba Ortíz ◽  
Peter G Bolhuis ◽  
David W H Swenson
Keyword(s):  
Double Helix ◽  
Path Sampling ◽  
Important Process ◽  
Free Energies ◽  
Transition Path ◽  
Base Pairs ◽  
Transition Path Sampling ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Adenine Base ◽  
Transition Interface

Abstract DNA predominantly contains Watson–Crick (WC) base pairs, but a non-negligible fraction of base pairs are in the Hoogsteen (HG) hydrogen bonding motif at any time. In HG, the purine is rotated ∼180° relative to the WC motif. The transitions between WC and HG may play a role in recognition and replication, but are difficult to investigate experimentally because they occur quickly, but only rarely. To gain insight into the mechanisms for this process, we performed transition path sampling simulations on a model nucleotide sequence in which an AT pair changes from WC to HG. This transition can occur in two ways, both starting with loss of hydrogen bonds in the base pair, followed by rotation around the glycosidic bond. In one route the adenine base converts from WC to HG geometry while remaining entirely within the double helix. The other route involves the adenine leaving the confines of the double helix and interacting with water. Our results indicate that this outside route is more probable. We used transition interface sampling to compute rate constants and relative free energies for the transitions between WC and HG. Our results agree with experiments, and provide highly detailed insights into the mechanisms of this important process.

Analysis of the juvenile shell of Lingula anatina (Brachiopoda: Linguliformea) provides insight into the evolution of life cycles of fossil brachiopods

Paleobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Anna A. Madison ◽  
Tatyana V. Kuzmina ◽  
Elena N. Temereva
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Anterior Margin ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Egg Envelope ◽  
Evolution Of Life ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Planktotrophic Larvae ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract Inferences on the development and morphology of extinct brachiopods must be informed by the ontogeny and shell ornamentation of extant brachiopods. Although the adult shells of extant brachiopods are well studied, detailed descriptions of the embryonic and juvenile shells of extant lingulides are lacking. Here, we describe in detail the shells of juveniles of Lingula anatina Lamarck, 1801 from Vietnam and the Republic of the Philippines. The following previously unknown properties of the lingulide shell are described: (1) a distinct border between the protegulum and the brephic shell; (2) drapes that develop on both the protegulum and brephic shell; and (3) the notched anterior margin of the brephic shell. The drapes and cogs on the brephic shell may be caused by the formation of setal follicles during the planktonic stage. Specimens of L. anatina from the Philippines have larger brephic shells than those from Vietnam, probably because the former have a longer planktonic stage. Based on comparisons of the first-formed shells of extant brachiopods with published data on fossil brachiopods, we suggest that the life cycle of extant lingulides, in which planktotrophic juveniles with a shell hatch from the egg envelope, is the most evolutionarily advanced brachiopod life cycle and appeared in the early Silurian. We suggest criteria for determining the type of life cycle based on the structure of the first-formed shell of brachiopods. Finally, we consider hypothetical scenarios of life cycles of fossil brachiopods, including true planktotrophic larvae in the Cambrian linguliforms.

scholarly journals NFκB1 (p50) suppresses SOD2 expression by inhibiting FoxO3a transactivation in a miR190/PHLPP1/Akt-dependent axis

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (22) ◽  
pp. 3577-3583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kejun Du ◽  
Yonghui Yu ◽  
Dongyun Zhang ◽  
Wenjing Luo ◽  
Haishan Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
P53 Protein ◽  
Protein Translation ◽  
Protein Phosphatase 1 ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Ph Domain ◽  
Embryonic Fibroblasts ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Leucine Rich Repeat Protein ◽  
Superoxide Dismutase 2

The biological functions of nuclear factor κB1 (NFκB1; p50) have not been studied as often as those of other members of the NFκB family due to its lack of a transcriptional domain. Our recent studies showed that p50 functions as an apoptotic mediator via its inhibition of GADD45α protein degradation and increase in p53 protein translation. Here we report a novel function of p50 in its regulation of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) transcription via an NFκB-independent pathway. We find that deletion of p50 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs; p50−/−) up-regulates SOD2 expression at both protein and mRNA levels. SOD2 promoter–driven luciferase is also up-regulated in p50−/− cells compared with wild-type (WT) MEF (p50+/+) cells, suggesting p50 regulation of SOD2 at the transcriptional level. Our results also show that p50 deficiency specifically results in down-regulation of phosphorylation and increased transactivation of FoxO3a compared with WT cells. Further studies indicate that p50–down-regulated FoxO3a phosphorylation is mediated by activated Akt via up-regulation of microRNA 190 (miR190), in turn inhibiting PH domain and leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase 1 (PHLPP1) translation. Together our studies identify a novel p50 function in the regulation of SOD2 transcription by modulating the miR190/PHLPP1/Akt-FoxO3a pathway, which provides significant insight into the physiological function of p50.

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