Preprosubtilisin Carlsberg processing and secretion is blocked after deletion of amino acids 97-101 in the mature part of the enzyme

During an investigation into the substrate specificity and processing of subtilisin Carlsberg from Bacillus licheniformis, two major independent findings were made: (i) as has been shown previously, a stretch of five amino acids (residues 97-101 of the mature enzyme) that loops out into the binding cleft is involved in substrate binding by subtilisin Carlsberg. In order to see whether this loop element also determines substrate specificity, the coding region for these five amino acids was deleted from the cloned gene for subtilisin Carlsberg by site-directed mutagenesis. Unexpectedly the resulting mutant preproenzyme (P42c, Mr=42 kDa) was not processed to the mature form (Mr = 30 kDa) and was not released into the medium by a proteasedeficient B. subtilis host strain; rather, it accumulated in the cell membrane. This result demonstrates that the integrity of this loop element, which is very distant from the processing cleavage sites in the preproenzyme, is required for secretion of subtilisin Carlsberg. (ii) In culture supernatants from B. subtilis harbouring the cloned wild-type subtilisin Carlsberg gene the transient appearance (at 0-3 h after onset of stationary phase) of a processing intermediate (P38c, Mr = 38 kDa) oftbis protease could be demonstrated. P38c very probably represents a genuine proform of subtilisin Carlsberg

Proton MR Spectroscopy of Neural Stem Cells: Does the Proton-NMR Peak at 1.28 ppm Function As a Biomarker for Cell Type or State?

Recently, a peak at 1.28 ppm in proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (^1H-MRS) of neural stem cells (NSCs) was introduced as a noninterventional biomarker for neurogenesis in vivo. This would be an urgently needed requisite for translational studies in humans regarding the beneficial role of adult neurogenesis for the structural and functional integrity of the brain. However, many concerns have risen about the validity of the proposed signal as a specific marker for NSCs. The peak has also been related to cell-type-independent phenomena such as apoptosis or necrosis. Thus, we compared the 1.28-ppm peak in various immature stem cell populations, including embryonic stem cells, mouse embryonic fibroblasts, embryonic stem cell– and induced pluripotent stem cell–derived NSCs, ex vivo isolated embryonic NSCs, as well as mature and tumor cell types from different germ layers. To correlate the integral peak intensity with cell death, we induced both apoptosis with camptothecin and necrosis with sodium azide. A peak at 1.28 ppm was found in most cell types, and in most, but not all, NSCH cultures, demonstrating no specificity for NSCs. The intensities of the 1.28-ppm resonance significantly correlated with the rate of apoptosis, but not with the rate of necrosis, cell cycle phase distribution, cell size, or type. Multiple regression analysis displayed a significant predictive value of the peak intensity for apoptosis only. In this context, its specificity for apoptosis as a major selection process during neurogenesis may suggest this resonance as an indirect marker for neurogenesis in vivo

Innovative und nachhaltige weidebasierte Haltungssysteme für Milchkühe (GrazyDaiSy): Biodiversität auf der Weide

Beweidung schafft eine Biodiversität, die sich in einer spezifischen Artenzusammensetzung manifestiert. Diese Biodiversität auf den Weiden wiederum garantiert eine effecktive Form der Nahrungsbereitstellung für Weidetiere

Strategieoptionen zur Realisierung einer 100%igen Biofütterung bei Monogastriern im ökologischen Landbau

Die Umstellung auf 100%ige Biofütterung innerhalb der nächsten drei Jahre stellt eine große Herausforderung in der Monogastrierfütterung dar. Die in diesem Dossier vorgestellten Lösungsoptionen sind hinsichtlich ihrer Implementierungsmöglichkeit sehr unterschiedlich zu bewerten: Manche Optionen, wie beispielsweise die bakterielle Aminosäureherstellung, setzen noch erhebliche Forschungsarbeiten voraus, andere, wie die Verfütterung von bestimmten Silagen, sind bereits bewerte Praxis bei der Fütterung von Wiederkäuern, müssen allerdings erst noch auf Monogastrier angepasst werden. Während für die bakterielle Aminosäureherstellung entsprechende Bakterienstämme in ihrer Leistungsfähigkeit optimiert und geeignete Biosubstrate gefunden werden müssen, müssen bei der Silagebereitung und -verfütterung vor allem noch verbesserte technische Lösungen gefunden und installiert werden, damit das darin vorhandene Potenzial zur Entfaltung kommt

Die Anwendung der Beers List in der Praxis

Die Beers List beinhaltet Arzneistoffe, die mit Vorsicht angewandt werden sollen bzw. gänzlich am Patienten über 65 Jahre vermieden werden sollen. Anhand dieser ursprünglichen Listen und diversen anderen Publikationen wurden zwei Listen erstellt mit denen auf der Akutgeriatrie gearbeitet wurde. Patienten wurden sowohl bei ihrer Aufnahme auf die Station als auch bei der Entlassung bezüglich ihrer Medikation befragt. Weiters wurden die Laborparameter aller Patienten erfasst. Ausgewertet wurde anhand der Häufigkeit der Verschreibungen der eigentlich zu vermeidenden Arzneimittel sowie anhand der Laborparameter der mit Vorsicht anzuwendenden Arzneistoffe

Evaluation of non-chemical seed treatment methods for the control of Alternaria dauci and A. radicina on carrot seeds

The current study was initiated to evaluate the efficacy of physical methods (hot water, aerated steam, electron treatment) and agents of natural origin (resistance inducers, plant derived products, micro-organisms) as seed treatments of carrots for control of Alternaria dauci and A. radicina. Control of both Alternaria species by seed treatment with the resistance inducers was generally poor. Results were also not satisfactory with most of the formulated commercial micro-organism preparations. Based on the average of five field trials, one of these, BA 2552 (Pseudomonas chlororaphis), provided a low but significant increase in plant stand. Among the experimental micro-organisms, the best results were obtained with Pseudomonas sp. strain MF 416 and Clonostachys rosea strain IK726. A similar level of efficacy was provided by seed treatment with an emulsion (1%) of thyme oil in water. Good and consistent control was generally achieved with the physical methods aerated steam, hot water and electron treatment. Aerated steam treatment was, apart from the thiram-containing chemical standard, the best single treatment, and its performance may at least partially be due to extensive pre-testing, resulting in dosages optimally adapted to the respective seed lot. In some of the experiments the effect of the hot water treatment, which was tested at a fixed, not specifically adapted dosage, was significantly improved when combined with a Pseudomonas sp. MF 416 or C. rosea IK726 treatment. The results are discussed in relation to the outcome of experiments in which the same seed treatment methods and agents were tested in other seed-borne vegetable pathosystems

Fluxes of zooplankton biomass between a tidal estuary and the sea in Northeastern Brazil

The objective of this study was to quantify the zooplankton biomass transport between the Santa Cruz Channel (SCC) at Catuama north inlet and the adjacent shelf located in Itamaracá estuarine ecosystem, Pernambuco State, Northeastern Brazil. Sampling was carried out in August 2001 at spring and neap tides at three stations every 3-hour interval. Collections were made in three depths with a plankton pump coupled to a 300 µm mesh size net. Current data were obtained with an ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler). In laboratory, samples were filtered for wet weigh determination. High biomass variation was recorded, with highest values at nocturnal flood and ebb during spring tide. The average instantaneous biomass transport was 139.48 ± 72.58 mg.m-2s-1, during spring tide and 36.63 ± 27.66 mg.m-2s-1, during neap tide. No significant difference was registered between importation and exportation flows (p >; 0.05), showing that the estuary both exports and imports high biomass during the rainy season. It can be concluded that the outwelling at SCC is high, however, differently from other places, importation is also high, probably due to the presence of reefs and patches of seagrass (Halodule wrightii) toward the shelf that create a distinct productive environment.Este trabalho objetivou quantificar o transporte da biomassa zooplanctônica entre o Canal de Santa Cruz (CSC), na Barra de Catuama, e a plataforma adjacente no sistema estuarino de Itamaracá, Nordeste do Brasil. As coletas foram realizadas em agosto/2001 durante as marés de sizígia e quadratura em três estações a cada 3 horas. As coletas foram em três profundidades com auxílio de bomba acoplada à rede de plâncton com 300 µm de abertura de malha. Dados de corrente foram obtidos com perfilador acústico de corrente (ADCP). Em laboratório, as amostras foram pesadas para obter o peso úmido. Foram registradas grandes variações na biomassa com valores mais altos nas marés enchente e vazante noturna durante maré de sizígia. O transporte instantâneo médio da biomassa foi de 139,48 ± 72,58 mg.m-2.s-1, durante a sizígia, e de 36,63 ± 27,66 mg.m-2.s-1, durante a quadratura. Os fluxos de importação e exportação não apresentaram diferenças significativas (p >; 0,05), evidenciando exportação e importação de grande quantidade de biomassa no período chuvoso. Conclui-se que a exportação do CSC é alta, porém diferentemente de outros locais, a importação também é alta, possivelmente pela presença de recifes e prados de fanerógamas (Halodule wrightii) em direção à plataforma, criando um ambiente produtivo distinto

Optimisation of different physical methods for control of seed-borne pathogens in organic vegetable production

In the last decade, a lot of work has been done to develop new measures or to optimise existing seed treatment methods for use in organic farming. In the field of vegetable seed protection, national research projects as well as the EU-funded project “STOVE” (“Seed Treatments for Organic Vegetable Produc-tion”) are currently carried out. Among the physical methods, hot water, humid hot air and electron treatment are being investigated. All three physical treatment methods show clear reduc-ing effects on pathogens of infested vegetable seeds. Degree of effectiveness connected with a good com-patibility depends on the treatment method and on the host-pathogen-system, but also on the cultivar and even on the seed lot

Industry-specific impacts of global drivers in the European Arctic

Natural resource-based industries in the European Arctic operate in an increasingly competitive and globalized Arctic. Knowledge of key drivers and their industrial impacts provide industries, companies, communities, and decision-makers at multiple levels with information on how to plan, manage and collaborate for the future. In this study, we explore the global drivers that affect key industries in the European Arctic – aquaculture, forestry, mining and tourism – and what impacts these drivers have on the specific industries. The study identifies eight common global drivers affecting all four industries, after applying thematic analysis of an extensive interview material with national industrial specialists in the European Arctic countries and at EU level. The global drivers identified, impact the development of key industries in the European Arctic differently and point to context-specific developments as well as a considerable uncertainty what the future holds.publishedVersio