Biosynthesis of 4-methylproline in cyanobacteria: cloning of nosE and nosF genes and biochemical characterization of the encoded dehydrogenase and reductase activities

The biosynthesis of the unusual amino acid 4-methylproline in the Nostoc genus of cyanobacteria was investigated on the genetic and enzymatic level. Two genes involved in the biosynthesis were cloned and the corresponding enzymes, a zinc-dependent long-chain dehydrogenase and a Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid (P5C) reductase homologue, were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and biochemically characterized. Putative substrates were synthesized to test enzyme substrate specificities, and deuterium labeling studies were carried out to reveal the stereospecificities of the enzymatic reactions with respect to the substrates as well as to the coenzymes.     

Thermal effects of contamination,adsorbed water and annealing on the DTA of powdered quartz

During the grinding of quartz, water is adsorbed from the atmosphere, but this water gave no detectable thermal effect on DTA because it was evolved uniformly up to 1000°. However, in conjunction with an iron contaminant, the adsorbed water was involved in an oxidation reaction causing noticeable thermal effects for quartz powdered in a vibration mill constructed of steel parts. When powdered so finely that the - inversion peak at 573° had disappeared, annealing caused a partial redevelopment of the peak but recrystallization of disrupted quartz was too small an effect to give any detectable exothermic peak on DTA.

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Zusammenfassung Während des Vermahlens von Quartz wird Wasser aus der Atmosphäre adsorbiert, jedoch ergab dieses Wasser keinen nachweisbaren thermischen Effekt in der DTA, da es bis zu 1000° gleichmässig freigesetzt wird. Im Zusammenhang mit einer Eisen-Verunreinigung wurde jedoch das adsorbierte Wasser in eine Oxidationsreaktion einbezogen, welche beim in einer aus Stahlteilen gefertigten Vibrationsmühle zerpulvertem Quartz nachweisbare thermische Effekte verursachten. Wenn so fein pulverisiert wurde, daß der --Inversions-Peak bei 573° verschwunden war, verursachte eine Wärmebehandlung eine teilweise Wiederentwicklung des Peaks, jedoch war die Rekristallisation des zerstörten Quartzes zu geringfügig um einen nachweisbaren exothermen Peak in der DTA-Kurve zu ergeben.

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Résumé Lors du broyage du quartz, il se produit une adsorption de l'eau atmosphérique mais cette eau ne donne pas d'effet thermique décelable par ATD car elle se dégage régulièrement jusqu'à 1000°. Cependant, en présence de fer comme contaminant, l'eau adsorbée intervient dans une réaction d'oxydation qui donne des effets thermiques perceptibles dans le cas de quartz pulvérisé dans un vibrobroyeur en acier. Si le quartz est en poudre assez fine pour que le pic d'inversion - à 573° disparaisse, le recuit provoque la réapparition partielle du pic. La recristallisation du quartz est cependant trop faible pour donner un effet exothermique décelable par ATD.

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, , 1000°. , , . - 573° , , , - .

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We are grateful to the Science Research Council for supporting this work.     

Pyridine-containing m-phenylene ethynylene oligomers having tunable basicities

Incorporation of a pyridine monomer into the backbone of a m-phenylene ethynylene oligomer allows functionalization of the interior binding cavity of the folded oligomer. The basicity of the inwardly directed pyridine moiety was modulated by changing the substituents on the pyridine ring and through oligomer folding, granting access to a pK(a) range of 5-14 in acetonitrile. [reaction: see text]     

Formation of Bi-Sb, Bi-Sn, and Bi-Sb-Sn Nanoclusters in Silica Xerogel Matrices from Mixed-Metal Oxide Precursors

Homogeneous mixed-metal oxides of the general formula (Bi/E/Si)O _x , where E represents a dopant element (E=Sb, Sn, or Sb/Sn), can be prepared using typical sol-gel processing techniques. Reduction of the in-situ Bi(III) and E ions by hydrogen affords nanocomposites of Bi-Sb, Bi-Sn, or Bi-Sb-Sn widely dispersed throughout the silica xerogel matrix. The materials prepared have high Bi-E metal loading of 52–60 wt. % containing Bi-E alloy nanoclusters of 12–15 nm average diameter. These results demonstrate a convenient method for the production of practical quantities of nanostructured bismuth alloy ceramic composites at high metal content.     

Instrumental neutron activation analysis of tree rings for dendrochemical studies

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was employed to determine zinc, cadmium and potassium concentrations in the growth rings of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl.) trees growing along the shores of Lake Roosevelt in Washington State, U.S.A. where mineral processing activities have resulted in high burdens of zinc and cadmium in the lake sediments. The tree growing along the contaminated waterway display elevated concentrations of zinc in its growth rings relative to a tree growing along an uncontaminated tributary of Lake Roosevelt. Cadmium concentrations in the growth rings from both sites are similar from 1988 to 1993. Water quality data indicate an increased concentration of cadmium in the lake from 1984 to 1988. The increased concentrations of cadmium in the lake water were reflected in apparent increases in concentrations of cadmium in individual rings of the tree sampled at the contaminated site. This suggests that translocation of cadmium in the sapwood of heartwood-forming species does not occur in the short term, and thus may not be a limiting factor in using trees as environmental monitors for cadmium. In addition, five-year tree ring segments were analyzed and subsequently reanalyzed as individual single-year ring segments. The analytical data obtained for the pooled individual rings are essentially the same as for the five-year segments, demonstrating the utility of NAA for dendrochemical studies.