Insights into the Pamamycin Biosynthesis

Pamamycins are macrodiolides of polyketide origin with antibacterial activities. Their biosynthesis has been proposed to utilize succinate as a building block. However, the mechanism of succinate incorporation into a polyketide was unclear. Here, we report identification of a pamamycin biosynthesis gene cluster by aligning genomes of two pamamycin‐producing strains. This unique cluster contains polyketide synthase (PKS) genes encoding seven discrete ketosynthase (KS) enzymes and one acyl‐carrier protein (ACP)‐encoding gene. A cosmid containing the entire set of genes required for pamamycin biosynthesis was successfully expressed in a heterologous host. Genetic and biochemical studies allowed complete delineation of pamamycin biosynthesis. The pathway proceeds through 3‐oxoadipyl‐CoA, a key intermediate in the primary metabolism of the degradation of aromatic compounds. 3‐Oxoadipyl‐CoA could be used as an extender unit in polyketide assembly to facilitate the incorporation of succinate.     

Ätzuntersuchungen an Verneuilspinellen

The quality of (100), (110), and (111) oriented spinel substrates in the composition range MgO × 3.3-3.5 Al₂O₃ is examined by chemical etching. The investigation shows that KHSO₄, H₃PO₄, and Na₂B₄O₇ cause dislocation etch pits on (111), and only KHSO₄ on (100) faces. The little rod-shaped defects revealed by etching on (100), (110), and (111) faces were found to be Al₂O₃ precipitates.     

Epitaktische Abscheidung von GaAs im System Ga(CH3)3?AsH3?H2 (I) Autoepitaktische Abscheidung

Some aspects of Ga(CH₃)₃/AsH₃/H₂ pyrolysis are described. The quality of the epitaxial GaAs layers on GaAs substrates is examined by chemical etching, X-ray technique and observation of the surface morphology. The investigations show a relation between the quality of the layers and growth conditions (As/Ga-proportion, substrate temperature).     

Lumineszenzeigenschaften von pyrolytisch abgeschiedenem GaN

The pyrolytic deposition process of GaN on insulating substrate materials results in metallic black to nearly colourless layers. Morphology and growth rates are influenced by growth temperature, nature and flow rates of the carrier gases. In the cathodoluminecence characteristic emission bands wer found from E(P) = 3.54 to 3.10 eV and E(P) = 2.21 to 2.07 eV, the relative intensities of which depend on the flow rate of the used carrier gas. Yellow and colourless layers exhibit, partly alone, a peak at E(P) = 2.48 eV. The external quantum yield reaches a maximum for dark, metallic layers. Between the growth parameters and the concentration of vacancies and incorporation of impurities also, a connection exists in a manner shown by the spectra.     

Low-abundance plasma and urinary [(15)N]urea enrichments analyzed by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry

We report a method for determining plasma und urinary [(15)N]urea enrichments in an abundance range between 0.37 and 0.52 (15)N atom% (0-0.15 atom% excess (APE) (15)N) using a dimethylaminomethylene derivative. Compared with conventional off-line preparation and (15)N analysis of urea, this method requires only small sample volumes (0.5 ml of plasma and 25 microl of urine). The (15)N/(14)N ratio of urea derivatives was measured by gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS). Two peaks were separated; one was identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) as the complete derivatized urea. Calibration of the complete urea derivative was performed by linear regression of enrichment values of known standard mixtures. Replicate standard (6-465 per thousand delta(15)N) derivatizations showed a relative standard deviation ranging from 0.1 to 7%. In order to test the feasibility of the method, human subjects and rats ingested a single meal containing either 200 mg of [(15)N]glycine (95 AP (15)N) or 0.4 mg of [(15)N]-alpha-lysine (95 AP (15)N), respectively. Urine and plasma were collected at hourly intervals over 7 h after the meal intake. After (15)N glycine intake, maximum urinary urea (15)N enrichments were 330 and 430 per thousand delta(15)N (0.12 and 0.16 APE (15)N) measured by GC/C/IRMS, whereas plasma [(15)N]glycine enrichments were 2.5 and 3.3 APE (15)N in the two human subjects 2 h after the meal. (15)N enrichments of total urine and urine samples devoid of ammonia were higher enriched than urinary [(15)N]urea measured by GC/C/IRMS, reflecting the presence of other urinary N-containing substances (e.g. creatinine). In rats plasma urea (15)N enrichments were 15-20 times higher than those in urinary urea (10-20 per thousand delta(15)N). The different [(15)N]urea enrichments observed after ingestion of [(15)N]-labeled glycine and lysine confirm known differences in the metabolism of these amino acids.     

Amino Acid (15)n/(14)n analysis at natural abundances: a new tool for soil organic matter studies in agricultural systems

Abstract The effects of landuse, fertilizer history and soil type on the quantity and isotopic quality of hydrolysable soil amino acids were examined in 3 grassland and 2 arable soils. Results showed, (i) that overall concentrations of individual amino acids were highest in the grassland soils, (ii) that ‰δ(15)N values of the individual amino acids differed considerably between the five soils, and (iii) that the combination of amino acid ‰δ(15)N values and concentrations could be used to distinguish between landuse, crop type and fertilizer history. This preliminary study indicates that the pathways of transformation of soil amino acid N are influenced by long term N inputs and that associated biological processes are reflected in differences in concentrations and ‰δ(15)N values of individual soil amino acids.