Purification, characterisation and cDNA sequencing of pyruvate decarboxylase from Zygosaccharomyces bisporus

Cells of the wild-type yeast strain Zygosaccharomyces bisporus CBS 702 form alpha-hydroxy ketones from aromatic amino acid precursors during fermentation, Pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC, E.C. 4.1.1.1), the key enzyme of this biotransformation catalysing the nonoxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate and other 2-oxo-acids, was purified and characterised. The active enzyme is homotetrameric (alpha(4)) with a molecular mass of about 244 kDa, Activation of PDC by its substrate pyruvate results in a sigmoidal dependence of the reaction rate from substrate concentration (apparent K-m value 1.73 mM; Hill coefficient 2.10). A cDNA library was screened using a PCR-based procedure, and a 1856 bp cDNA of PDC was identified and sequenced. The cDNA encodes a polypeptide of 563 amino acid residues (monomeric unit), Sequence alignments demonstrate high homologies (> 80%) to PDC genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces lactis and Kluyveromyces marxianus.DF

Multi-Parameter Analysis of Biobanked Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Shows Little Influence for Donor Age and Mild Comorbidities on Phenotypic and Functional Properties

Heterogeneous populations of human bone marrow-derived stromal cells (BMSC) are among the most frequently tested cellular therapeutics for treating degenerative and immune disorders, which occur predominantly in the aging population. Currently, it is unclear whether advanced donor age and commonly associated comorbidities affect the properties of ex vivo-expanded BMSCs. Thus, we stratified cells from adult and elderly donors from our biobank (n = 10 and n = 13, mean age 38 and 72 years, respectively) and compared their phenotypic and functional performance, using multiple assays typically employed as minimal criteria for defining multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). We found that BMSCs from both cohorts meet the standard criteria for MSC, exhibiting similar morphology, growth kinetics, gene expression profiles, and pro-angiogenic and immunosuppressive potential and the capacity to differentiate toward adipogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic lineages. We found no substantial differences between cells from the adult and elderly cohorts. As positive controls, we studied the impact of in vitro aging and inflammatory cytokine stimulation. Both conditions clearly affected the cellular properties, independent of donor age. We conclude that in vitro aging rather than in vivo donor aging influences BMSC characteristics

Long-term costs of biological pest control with beneficial organisms in cut flower roses

Eine wichtige Aufgabe innerhalb der Verbundvorhaben „Nützlinge“ und „Nützlinge II“ ist die ökonomische Bewertung des auf dem Nützlingseinsatz basierenden biologisch-integrierten Pflanzenschutzes im Vergleich zum konventionellen Pflanzenschutz ohne Nützlingseinsatz. Anhand ökonomischer Fallstudien soll die Größenordnung der langfristig zu erwartenden Kosten dargestellt werden. In diese ökonomische Bewertung gehen die Direktkosten für den Pflanzenschutz zweier Schnittrosen produzierender Betriebe in Hamburg über sechs Jahre ein. Höhere Erlöse für die mit Nützlingen produzierte Ware wurden nicht erzielt; auch konnte nicht getrennt nach den angewendeten Pflanzenschutzstrategien (biologisch- integriert oder konventionell) vermarktet werden. Die Umstellung auf den Nützlingseinsatz erfordert in der Anpassungsphase einen besonders hohen Aufwand an Nützlingen und Kontrollen. Zu Projektbeginn lagen die Kosten bei beiden Betrieben deutlich über denen für einen konventionellen Pflanzenschutz und betrugen insgesamt 2,79 e/m2 und 2,89 e/m2 Gewächshausfläche. Während der Projektdauer konnten die Kosten deutlich gesenkt werden, auf 1,20 e/m2 bzw. 1,27 e/m2 Gewächshausfläche. Bei der Zuordnung der Kosten zu den einzelnen Schaderregern zeigte sich, dass sich das Produktionssystem langfristig stabilisierte und einen verminderten Schädlingsdruck zur Folge hatte. Die für den Pflanzenschutz aufgewendete Arbeitszeit ist ein wichtiger Kostenfaktor. Die Ausbringung der Nützlinge erforderte zwar einen geringeren Zeitaufwand als die Ausbringung von Pflanzenschutzmitteln; allerdings war mehr Zeit für Bestandeskontrollen notwendig. Der Nützlingseinsatz hat auch einen bedeutenden, ökonomisch nicht direkt bewertbaren Nutzen. Für den Produzenten von Zierpflanzen gehören dazu: sein persönliches Gesundheitsbewusstsein; die bessere Qualität der produzierten Pflanzen sowie der Ausgleich bei einem Mangel an wirksamen chemischen Bekämpfungsmöglichkeiten oder beim Wirkungsverlust von Pflanzenschutzmitteln. Ein weiterer grundlegender Aspekt ist die langfristige sozioökonomische und unweltbezogene Vorteilhaftigkeit des biologischen Pflanzenschutzes.An important assignment within the framework of the r&d-projects “Nützlinge” (“Beneficials”) and “Nützlinge II” (“Beneficials II”) is the economic evaluation of an integrated plant protection management, which is based on the use of beneficial organisms. By means of economic case studies the dimension of the expected costs in the long-term is described. Implementing a biological control system requires a phase of reorganisation and adaption with a high input of beneficials and monitoring. This economic evaluation includes the direct costs for plant protection measures from two of five cut flower roses producing nurseries over six years. The biological-integrated plant protection management was not used as a criterion to raise the market value of the produce, as higher prices are neither achievable nor accepted on the market at present. When the project started, costs in both nurseries were remarkably higher compared to the conventional strategy with overall 2.79 e/m2 und 2.89 e/m2. During the project costs could significantly be reduced to 1.20 e/m2 and 1.27 e/m2, respectively. When costs were allocated to certain pests it became obvious that the production systems became stabilised in the long-term and showed a reduced pest pressure. Labour time for plant protection measures is another important cost factor. Releasing beneficial organisms is less labour intensive than using chemicals; however, more time was needed for monitoring the crops. Biological control systems also have other important benefits that cannot be evaluated directly. These are growers’ concerns towards their own health and safety; a better plant quality; the availability of alternatives if there is a lack of efficient pesticides or if pests become resistent. Hence, biological control has essential advantages in the long-term as well as at the social and environmental level, rather than in short-term economics

Making translation work: Harmonizing cross-species methodology in the behavioural neuroscience of Pavlovian fear conditioning

Translational neuroscience bridges insights from specific mechanisms in rodents to complex functions in humans and is key to advance our general understanding of central nervous function. A prime example of translational research is the study of cross-species mechanisms that underlie responding to learned threats, by employing Pavlovian fear conditioning protocols in rodents and humans. Hitherto, evidence for (and critique of) these cross-species comparisons in fear conditioning research was based on theoretical viewpoints. Here, we provide a perspective to substantiate these theoretical concepts with empirical considerations of cross-species methodology. This meta-research perspective is expected to foster cross-species comparability and reproducibility to ultimately facilitate successful transfer of results from basic science into clinical applications

Environmental justice and Chinese dam-building in the global South

Chinese investments in large hydropower dams have rapidly increased all over the world in the last 20 years. Some of these projects have been contested both from a technological and political point of view due to the ways in which decisions have been made, as well as in relation to the resulting social-ecological change and ecological distributional aspects. From an Environmental Justice perspective, this paper analyses the main drivers and contested aspects of Chinese hydropower investments in the global South. The paper builds on Chinese projects located in different regions of the world, by combining information from the literature and the Global Atlas of Environmental Justice – EJAtlas dataset. Based on the analysis of Chinese hydropower projects and environmental justice concerns, this paper sheds light on the current literature on drivers and multidimensional conflictive outcomes of these large hydropower dam investments

Einfluss von Zentrum-Peripherie-Strukturen auf kommunale Haushalte. Eine empirische Untersuchung am Beispiel Ostdeutschlands.

Der Einfluss von Zentrum-Peripherie-Sturkturen auf Kommunalfinanzen wird aus geographischer Sicht empirisch untersucht. Die Rechnungsergebnisse der Kommunen im Zeitraum von 2013 bis 2016 der fünf ostdeutschen Bundesländer dienen als Berechnungsgrundlage. Die Dissertation gliedert sich in vier Teile, die Fragen zu Zusammenhängen und Wechselwirkungen zwischen Zentren und Peripherien beantworten. Dabei sind vor allem planerisch festgelegte Zentrale Orte und externe Nutzer im Fokus der Untersuchungen. Im letzten Teil wird die Frage diskutiert, wie sich planerische Belange in das fiskalische Instrument „kommunaler Finanzausgleich“ integrieren lassen

Daemmpass

SIGLECopy held by FIZ Karlsruhe; available from UB/TIB Hannover / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische Informationsbibliothek9. ed.DEGerman