Exhibited Sequence Similarity Research Articles

Lincomycin biosynthesis involves a tyrosine hydroxylating heme protein of an unusual enzyme family.

The gene lmbB2 of the lincomycin biosynthetic gene cluster of Streptomyces lincolnensis ATCC 25466 was shown to code for an unusual tyrosine hydroxylating enzyme involved in the biosynthetic pathway of this clinically important antibiotic. LmbB2 was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified near to homogeneity and shown to convert tyrosine to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA). In contrast to the well-known tyrosine hydroxylases (EC 1.14.16.2) and tyrosinases (EC 1.14.18.1), LmbB2 was identified as a heme protein. Mass spectrometry and Soret band-excited Raman spectroscopy of LmbB2 showed that LmbB2 contains heme b as prosthetic group. The CO-reduced differential absorption spectra of LmbB2 showed that the coordination of Fe was different from that of cytochrome P450 enzymes. LmbB2 exhibits sequence similarity to Orf13 of the anthramycin biosynthetic gene cluster, which has recently been classified as a heme peroxidase. Tyrosine hydroxylating activity of LmbB2 yielding DOPA in the presence of (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-biopterin (BH4) was also observed. Reaction mechanism of this unique heme peroxidases family is discussed. Also, tyrosine hydroxylation was confirmed as the first step of the amino acid branch of the lincomycin biosynthesis.

Algibacter wandonensis sp. nov., isolated from sediment around a brown algae (Undaria pinnatifida) reservoir.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-flagellated, rod-shaped bacterial strain able to move by gliding, designated WS-MY22(T), was isolated from sediment around a brown algae reservoir located on Wando in South Korea. It grew optimally at 25 °C, at pH 7.0-8.0 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain WS-MY22(T) clustered coherently with the type strains of Algibacter lectus and Algibacter undariae. It exhibited sequence similarity of 99.4 and 98.9 % to the type strains of A. lectus and A. undariae, respectively, and of 95.1-96.6 % to those of the other species of the genus Algibacter. Strain WS-MY22(T) contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain WS-MY22(T) were phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain WS-MY22(T) was 35.8 mol% and its DNA-DNA relatedness with A. lectus KCTC 12103(T) and A. undariae WS-MY9(T) was 31 and 19 %, respectively. The phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness and differential phenotypic properties revealed that strain WS-MY22(T) is separate from other species of the genus Algibacter. On the basis of the data presented, strain WS-MY22(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Algibacter, for which the name Algibacter wandonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WS-MY22(T) ( = KCTC 32381(T) = CECT 8301(T)).

Hymenobacter koreensis sp. nov. and Hymenobacter saemangeumensis sp. nov., isolated from estuarine water

Two Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile and red-pink-pigmented bacterial strains, designated GYR3077(T) and GSR0100(T), were isolated from a water sample of the Mangyung estuary enclosed by the Saemangeum Embankment in JEOLlabuk-do, South Korea, and were characterized using a polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA genes of strains GYR3077(T) and GSR0100(T) exhibited sequence similarities of 95.9 % to Hymenobacter deserti ZLB-3(T) and 96.6 % to Hymenobacter soli PB17(T), respectively, and indicated that these isolates belonged to the phylum Bacteroidetes. The major cellular fatty acids present in the two isolates were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1ω5c, summed feature 4 (iso-C17 : 1 I and/or anteiso-C17 : 1 B) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The major respiratory quinone and polyamine patterns were menaquinone-7 and sym-homospermidine, characteristic of the genus Hymenobacter. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent in both strains. The DNA G+C contents of strains GYR3077(T) and GSR0100(T) were 60.2 mol% and 61.9 mol%, respectively. The major polar lipid of strains GYR3077(T) and GSR0100(T) was phosphatidylethanolamine. Based on the morphological and physiological properties, strains GYR3077(T) and GSR0100(T) were considered to represent two novel species of the genus Hymenobacter, for which the names Hymenobacter koreensis sp. nov. (type strain GYR3077(T) = KACC 16451(T) = JCM 17924(T)) and Hymenobacter saemangeumensis sp. nov. (type strain GSR0100(T) = KACC 16452(T) = JCM 17923(T)) are proposed.

Winogradskyella undariae sp. nov., a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from a brown algae reservoir

A novel bacterial strain, designated WS-MY5(T), capable of degrading a variety of polysaccharides was isolated from a brown algae (Undaria pinnatifida) reservoir at Wando in the South Sea, South Korea. Strain WS-MY5(T) was found to grow optimally at 30°C, at pH 7.0-7.5 and in the presence of 2% (w/v) NaCl. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain WS-MY5(T) falls within the clade comprising Winogradskyella species, clustering with the type strains of Winogradskyella pacifica, Winogradskyella arenosi, Winogradskyella rapida and Winogradskyella thalassocola, with which it exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 97.3-98.8%. It exhibited sequence similarity values of 93.0-96.2% to the type strains of the other recognized Winogradskyella species. Strain WS-MY5(T) was found to contain MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and anteiso-C15:0, iso-C15:0, iso-C15:0 3-OH, iso-C17:0 3-OH and iso-C15:1 G as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain WS-MY5(T) were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified lipids and two unidentified aminolipids. The DNA G+C content of strain WS-MY5(T) was determined to be 33.2mol% and its DNA-DNA relatedness values with the type strains of W. pacifica, W. arenosi, W. rapida and W. thalassocola were in the range 16-28%. Differential phenotypic properties, together with its phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, enabled strain WS-MY5(T) to be differentiated from the recognized Winogradskyella species. On the basis of the data presented here, strain WS-MY5(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Winogradskyella, for which the name Winogradskyella undariae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WS-MY5(T) (=KCTC 32261(T)=CCUG 63832(T)).

Biomineral Proteins from Mytilus edulis Mantle Tissue Transcriptome

The common blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, has a bimineralic shell composed of approximately equal proportions of the two major polymorphs of calcium carbonate: calcite and aragonite. The exquisite biological control of polymorph production is the focus of research interest in terms of understanding the details of biomineralisation and the proteins involved in the process of complex shell formation. Recent advances in ease and availability of pyrosequencing and assembly have resulted in a sharp increase in transcriptome data for invertebrate biominerals. We have applied Roche 454 pyrosequencing technology to profile the transcriptome for the mantle tissue of the bivalve M. edulis. A comparison was made between the results of several assembly programs: Roche Newbler assembler versions 2.3, 2.5.2 and 2.6 and MIRA 3.2.1 and 3.4.0. The Newbler and MIRA assemblies were subsequently merged using the CAP3 assembler to give a higher consensus in alignments and a more accurate estimate of the true size of the M. edulis transcriptome. Comparison sequence searches show that the mantle transcripts for M. edulis encode putative proteins exhibiting sequence similarities with previously characterised shell proteins of other species of Mytilus, the Bivalvia Pinctada and haliotid gastropods. Importantly, this enhanced transcriptome has detected several transcripts that encode proteins with sequence similarity with previously described shell biomineral proteins including Shematrins and lysine-rich matrix proteins (KRMPs) not previously found in Mytilus.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10126-013-9516-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Epigenetic control of gonadal aromatase (cyp19a1) in temperature-dependent sex determination of red-eared slider turtles.

In the red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta), a species with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), the expression of the aromatase gene during gonad development is strictly limited to the female-producing temperature. The underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we identified the upstream 5′-flanking region of the aromatase gene, gonad-specific promoter, and the temperature-dependent DNA methylation signatures during gonad development in the red-eared slider turtle. The 5′-flanking region of the slider aromatase exhibited sequence similarities to the aromatase genes of the American alligator, chicken, quail, and zebra finch. A putative TATA box was located 31 bp upstream of the gonad-specific transcription start site. DNA methylation at the CpG sites between the putative binding sites of the fork head domain factor (FOX) and vertebrate steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) and adjacent TATA box in the promoter region were significantly lower in embryonic gonads at the female-producing temperature compared the male-producing temperature. A shift from male- to female-, but not from female- to male-, producing temperature changed the level of DNA methylation in gonads. Taken together these results indicate that the temperature, particularly female-producing temperature, allows demethylation at the specific CpG sites of the promoter region which leads the temperature-specific expression of aromatase during gonad development.

Algibacter miyuki sp. nov., a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from leachate of a brown algae reservoir.

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated, non-gliding and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated WS-MY6(T), was isolated from a brown algae reservoir in South Korea. Strain WS-MY6(T) grew optimally at 25°C, at pH 7.0-8.0 and in the presence of 2% (w/v) NaCl. Neighbour-joining, maximum-likelihood and maximum-parsimony phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain WS-MY6(T) clustered with the type strains of Algibacter lectus and 'Algibacter undariae', showing 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 98.1 and 98.4%, respectively. It exhibited sequence similarities of 95.4-96.7% to the type strains of the other Algibacter species, Pontirhabdus pectinovorans and Marinivirga aestuarii, whose reclassification into the genus Algibacter has been recently proposed. Strain WS-MY6(T) contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C15:1 G, anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C17:0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. It contained phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified lipids as the major polar lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain WS-MY6(T) was 35.3mol% and its DNA-DNA relatedness values with A. lectus KCTC 12103(T) and 'A. undariae' WS-MY9(T) was 21 and 13%, respectively. The phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness and differential phenotypic properties revealed that strain WS-MY6(T) is separate from existing Algibacter species. On the basis of the data presented, strain WS-MY6(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Algibacter, for which the name Algibacter miyuki sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WS-MY6(T) (=KCTC 32382(T) =CECT 8300(T)).

Alishewanella solinquinati sp. nov., Isolated from Soil Contaminated with Textile Dyes

A novel Gram-negative, motile, rod-shaped, facultative anaerobic bacterial strain, KMK6(T), was isolated from soil contaminated with textile dyes from an industrial estate located at Ichalkaranji, Maharashtra, India, and its taxonomical position was established by using a polyphasic approach. The major cellular fatty acids included C17:1ω8c, summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or iso-C15:0 2-OH), C17:0, C16:0, and C18:1ω7c. The DNA G+C content of strain KMK6(T) was 48.8mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis confirmed its placement in the genus Alishewanella, and exhibited sequence similarity levels of below 97% to the type strains of validly published Alishewanella species. On the basis of genotypic and phenotypic evidence, strains KMK6(T) is considered to be a novel species of the genus Alishewanella, for which we propose that strain KMK6(T) (=NCIM 5295(T) =BCRC 17848(T)) is assigned to a novel species, Alishewanella solinquinati sp. nov.

Molecular characterisation of Brucella species

The genus Brucella (Mayer and Shaw, 1920) currently consists often species with validly published names. Within most species further differentiation into biovars exists. Genetically, all Brucella species are highly related to each other, exhibiting sequence similarity values of 98% to 100% in aligned regions (core genome). The population structure is clonal. Despite this close genetic relatedness, the various species can be clearly distinguished from each other by application of high-resolution molecular typing tools, in addition to assessment of phenotype and host preference. Accurate species delineation can be achieved by conventional multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) or multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA). The last is also suitable for phylogenetic reconstructions, owing to the highly clonal evolution of the different species. Highly discriminatory multilocus variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) allows both species delineation and differentiation of individual isolates and thus represents a perfect first-line toolfor molecular epidemiological studies within outbreak investigations. More recently,whole genome sequencing (WGS)and the resulting global genome-wide SNP analysis have become available. These novel approaches should help in further understanding the evolution, host specificity and pathogenicity of the genus Brucella.

Glaciecola aquimarina sp. nov., a gammaproteobacterium isolated from coastal seawater

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile and ovoid or rod-shaped bacterial strain, GGW-M5(T), was isolated from seawater on the southern coast in Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. Strain GGW-M5(T) grew optimally at pH 7.0-8.0, at 30 °C and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain GGW-M5(T) belonged to the genus Glaciecola, joining the cluster comprising the type strains of G. agarilytica, G. arctica, G. chathamensis, G. mesophila, G. polaris and G. psychrophila, with which it exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 95.9-96.7 %. Strain GGW-M5(T) exhibited sequence similarity values of 93.2-94.8 % to the type strains of the other Glaciecola species. Strain GGW-M5(T) contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and C16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C15:0 2-OH, C16:0 and C14:0 2-OH as the major fatty acids. Major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and diphosphatidylglycerol. The DNA G+C content was 42.4 mol%. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic distinctiveness, demonstrated that strain GGW-M5(T) could be distinguished from other Glaciecola species. On the basis of the data presented, strain GGW-M5(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Glaciecola, for which the name Glaciecola aquimarina sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GGW-M5(T) (=KCTC 32108(T) = CCUG 62918(T)).

Характеристика и анализ транскрипции нового CC-хемокина, связанного с врожденным иммунитетом кобии (Rachycentron canadum)

Chemokines are small, secreted cytokine peptides, known principally for their ability to induce migration and activation of leukocyte populations under both pathological and physiological conditions. On the basis of previously constructed express sequence tags (ESTs) of the head kidney and spleen cDNA library of the perciform marine fish Rachycentron canadum (common name cobia). We used bi-directional rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and obtained a full-length cDNA of a new CC chemokine gene (designated RcCC3). The RcCC3 putative peptide exhibits sequence similarity to the group of CCL19/21/25 CC chemokines. The reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used in transcript expression studies of RcCC3. We examined the constitutive expression of the transcripts in 12 tissues of non-stressed cobia; RcCC3 transcripts were detected in all tissues examined, with the highest expression in gill and liver, following by head kidney, kidney, spleen, skin, intestine, muscle, stomach, heart, blood and brain. Transcript expression of RcCC3 was examined in immune-related organs, including head kidney, spleen and liver, following intraperitoneal injection of phosphate-buffered saline control, polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) and formalin-killed Vibrio carchariae (bacterial vaccine). The transcripts in these tissues were quickly up-regulated by the injection of poly(I:C) and bacterial vaccine at early time points, although with different expression profiles. These results indicate RcCC3 represents an important component of innate immunity in cobia.

ChIP‐seq and transcriptome analysis of the OmpR regulon of Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi and Typhimurium reveals accessory genes implicated in host colonization

SummaryOmpR is a multifunctional DNA binding regulator with orthologues in many enteric bacteria that exhibits classical regulator activity as well as nucleoid-associated protein-like characteristics. In the enteric pathogen Salmonella enterica, using chromatin immunoprecipitation of OmpR:FLAG and nucleotide sequencing, 43 putative OmpR binding sites were identified in S. enterica serovar Typhi, 22 of which were associated with OmpR-regulated genes. Mutation of a sequence motif (TGTWACAW) that was associated with the putative OmpR binding sites abrogated binding of OmpR:6×His to the tviA upstream region. A core set of 31 orthologous genes were found to exhibit OmpR-dependent expression in both S. Typhi and S. Typhimurium. S. Typhimurium-encoded orthologues of two divergently transcribed OmpR-regulated operons (SL1068–71 and SL1066–67) had a putative OmpR binding site in the inter-operon region in S. Typhi, and were characterized using in vitro and in vivo assays. These operons are widely distributed within S. enterica but absent from the closely related Escherichia coli. SL1066 and SL1067 were required for growth on N-acetylmuramic acid as a sole carbon source. SL1068–71 exhibited sequence similarity to sialic acid uptake systems and contributed to colonization of the ileum and caecum in the streptomycin-pretreated mouse model of colitis.

PICKLE is a CHD subfamily II ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factor

PICKLE plays a critical role in repression of genes that regulate development identity in Arabidopsis thaliana. PICKLE codes for a putative ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler that exhibits sequence similarity to members of subfamily II of animal CHD remodelers, which includes remodelers such as CHD3/Mi-2 that also restrict expression of developmental regulators. Whereas animal CHD3 remodelers are a component of the Mi-2/NuRD complex that promotes histone deacetylation, PICKLE promotes trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 suggesting that it acts via a distinct epigenetic pathway. Here, we examine whether PICKLE is also a member of a multisubunit complex and characterize the biochemical properties of recombinant PICKLE protein. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that PICKLE-related proteins in plants share a common ancestor with members of subfamily II of animal CHD remodelers. Biochemical characterization of PICKLE in planta, however, reveals that PICKLE primarily exists as a monomer. Recombinant PICKLE protein is an ATPase that is stimulated by ssDNA and mononucleosomes and binds to both naked DNA and mononucleosomes. Furthermore, recombinant PICKLE exhibits ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling activity. These studies demonstrate that subfamily II CHD proteins in plants, such as PICKLE, retain ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling activity but act through a mechanism that does not involve the ubiquitous Mi-2/NuRD complex.

Tenuibacillus halotolerans sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from a soil sample from a salt lake in Xinjiang, China and emended description of the genus Tenuibacillus

A Gram-positive, moderately halotolerant, rod-shaped bacterium, designated YIM 94025(T), was isolated from a soil sample from a salt lake in Xinjiang province, north-west China. Strain YIM 94025(T) was observed to grow at 25-45°C (optimum 37°C), 0-22% NaCl (optimum 2-10%) and pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum pH 8.0). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the organism belongs to the genus Tenuibacillus and exhibited sequence similarity of 98.0% to the closest type strain, Tenuibacillus multivorans AS 1.3442(T). The predominant menaquinone was found to be MK-7; the cell-wall peptidoglycan diamino acid was meso-diaminopimelic acid; the polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, an unidentified phospholipid and an unknown lipid; and the major fatty acids were found to contain iso-C(15:0), anteiso-C(15:0) and iso-C(16:0). The chemotaxonomic characteristics of strain YIM 94025(T) are consistent with those of the genus Tenuibacillus. The level of DNA-DNA relatedness value between YIM 94025(T) and T. multivorans AS 1.3442(T) was 36.6±4.5%. The G+C content of the strain YIM 94025(T) was determined to be 38.5%. Based on the comparative analysis of physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic data, as well as DNA-DNA hybridization results, the isolate is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Tenuibacillus, for which the name Tenuibacillus halotolerans sp. nov., is proposed, with the type strain of YIM 94025(T) (=CCTCC AB 2012860(T) = KCTC 33046(T)).

Roseovarius sediminilitoris sp. nov., isolated from seashore sediment

A Gram-negative, motile and ovoid- to rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated M-M10(T), was isolated from a seashore sediment collected from the South Sea, South Korea. Strain M-M10(T) grew optimally at pH 7.0-8.0, at 30 °C and in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. The phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain M-M10(T) clustered with the type strains of Roseovarius crassostreae, Roseovarius halocynthiae and Roseovarius marinus, with which it exhibited sequence similarities of 97.4, 97.3 and 95.1 %, respectively. It exhibited 93.2-95.1 % sequence similarity to the type strains of the other species of the genus Roseovarius. Strain M-M10(T) contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids, as observed in the genus Roseovarius. The polar lipid profile of strain M-M10(T) was similar to that of Roseovarius tolerans DSM 11457(T). The DNA G+C content of strain M-M10(T) was 63.0 mol% and its mean DNA-DNA relatedness values with Roseovarius crassostreae DSM 16950(T) and Roseovarius halocynthiae MA1-10(T) were 16 % and 22 %, respectively. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, demonstrated that strain M-M10(T) is distinct from other species of the genus Roseovarius. On the basis of the data presented, strain M-M10(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Roseovarius, for which the name Roseovarius sediminilitoris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M-M10(T) ( = KCTC 23959(T) = CCUG 62413(T)).

Characterization of wound responsive genes in Aquilaria malaccensis

We report on the isolation and characterization of several genes responsive to wounding in the tropical endangered tree Aquilaria malaccensis. Wounding triggers the formation of a fragrant substance inside the tree stem. Deduced amino acid of the cloned sequences exhibited sequence similarities to their respective homologs: transcription factors of the WRKY gene family (AmWRKY) and β-1,3-glucanase (AmGLU). A homolog to phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (AmPAL) from previous work was also included. All cDNA sequences were of partial lengths. We studied their expression profiles in a wounding-stress experiment. Mechanical wounding induces AmWRKY in an early response to wounding (3 h), and elevates AmPAL and AmGLU expressions after 16 h. It is possible that AmWRKY mediates early wounding response while AmPAL mediates response to fungal infection by co-inducing AmGLU. Their homologs in other plants are known to inhibit fungal growth. Our data provide the first insight into the mechanisms of wounding responses in Aquilaria.

Human relaxin-2: historical perspectives and role in cancer biology

One of the most recognised and studied family of peptide hormones is the insulin superfamily. Within this family is the relaxin subfamily which comprises seven members: relaxin-1, -2 and -3 and insulin-like peptides 3, 4, 5 and 6. Besides exhibiting sequence similarities, each member exists as an active A-B heterodimer linked by three disulfide bonds. This mini-review is divided into three broad themes: an overview of all insulin superfamily members (including structural similarities); roles of each superfamily member and finally, a focus on the pleiotropic peptide hormone, human relaxin-2. In addition to promoting vasodilatory effects leading to evaluation in Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of acute heart failure, relaxin has recently been shown to be highly expressed by cancer cells, aiding in their proliferation, invasiveness and metastasis. These contrary effects of relaxin are discussed together with current efforts in the development of relaxin antagonists that may possess future therapeutic potential for the treatment of certain cancers.

Useable diffraction data from a multiple microdomain-containing crystal ofAscaris suumAs-p18 fatty-acid-binding protein using a microfocus beamline

As-p18 is a fatty-acid-binding protein from the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum. Although it exhibits sequence similarity to mammalian intracellular fatty-acid-binding proteins, it contains features that are unique to nematodes. Crystals were obtained, but initial diffraction data analysis revealed that they were composed of a number of `microdomains'. Interpretable data could only be collected using a microfocus beamline with a beam size of 12 × 8 µm.

Paenibacillus thermophilus sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from a sediment of hot spring in Fujian province, China

A Gram-positive, thermophilic, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated WP-1(T), was isolated from a sediment sample from a hot spring in Fujian province of China and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Cells of strain WP-1(T) were rods (~0.6-0.8×2.5-3.5μm) and motile by means of peritrichous flagella. Endospores were ellipsoidal in terminal or subterminal positions. Strain WP-1(T) grew at 37-60°C (optimum 42-45°C), 0-3% NaCl (optimum 1%, w/v) and pH 3.0-9.0 (optimum pH 6.5-7.0). The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C(15:0), iso-C(16:0), C(16:0) and anteiso-C(17:0). The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two glycolipids, two unidentified phospholipids and two unknown polar lipids. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid (meso-DAP). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 52.5%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain WP-1(T) is a member of the genus Paenibacillus and exhibited sequence similarity of 99.3% to Paenibacillus macerans DSM 24(T) and both strains represented a separate lineage from all other Paenibacillus species. However, the level of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain WP-1(T) and P. macerans DSM 24(T) was 34.0±4.7%. On the basis of phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic analysis data, strain WP-1(T) is considered to represent as a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus thermophilus sp. nov., is proposed, with the type strain WP-1(T) (=DSM 24746(T)=JCM 17693(T)=CCTCC AB 2011115(T)).

Repetitive sequences originating from the centromere constitute large-scale heterochromatin in the telomere region in the siamang, a small ape

Chromosomes of the siamang Symphalangus syndactylus (a small ape) carry large-scale heterochromatic structures at their ends. These structures look similar, by chromosome C-banding, to chromosome-end heterochromatin found in chimpanzee, bonobo and gorilla (African great apes), of which a major component is tandem repeats of 32-bp-long, AT-rich units. In the present study, we identified repetitive sequences that are a major component of the siamang heterochromatin. Their repeat units are 171 bp in length, and exhibit sequence similarity to alpha satellite DNA, a major component of the centromeres in primates. Thus, the large-scale heterochromatic structures have different origins between the great apes and the small ape. The presence of alpha satellite DNA in the telomere region has previously been reported in the white-cheeked gibbon Nomascus leucogenys, another small ape species. There is, however, a difference in the size of the telomere-region alpha satellite DNA, which is far larger in the siamang. It is not known whether the sequences of these two species (of different genera) have a common origin because the phylogenetic relationship of genera within the small ape family is still not clear. Possible evolutionary scenarios are discussed.