Engineered geranyl diphosphate methyltransferase produces 2-methyl-dimethylallyl diphosphate as a noncanonical C unit for terpenoid biosynthesis.

Terpenoids constitute the largest class of natural products with complex structures, essential functions, and versatile applications. Creation of new building blocks beyond the conventional five-carbon (C) units, dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) and isopentenyl diphosphate, expands significantly the chemical space of terpenoids. Structure-guided engineering of an -adenosylmethionine-dependent geranyl diphosphate (GPP) C2-methyltransferase from yielded variants converting DMAPP to a new C unit, 2-methyl-DMAPP.

The Sur7/PalI family transmembrane protein Tos7 (Yol019w) plays a role in secretion in budding yeast.

Tos7 (Yol019w) is a Sur7/PalI family transmembrane protein in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Since the deletion of TOS7 did not affect growth or cell morphology, the cellular roles of Tos7 have not been established previously. Here, we show that high-copy TOS7 expression suppressed the growth defect of the secretion-defective RGA1-C term-overexpressing mutant and sec15-1 mutant.

Roles of the PH, coiled-coil and SAM domains of the yeast polarity protein Boi2 in polarity-site localization and function in polarized growth.

Boi1 and Boi2 are paralogous proteins essential for bud formation in budding yeast. So far, the domains that target Boi1/Boi2 to the polarity sites and function in bud formation are not well understood. Here, we report that a coiled-coil domain of Boi2 cooperates with the adjacent PH domain to confer Boi2's bud-cortex localization and major function in cell growth.

Genetic variation of Echinococcus spp. in yaks and sheep in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China based on mitochondrial DNA.

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) in humans and livestock is caused by Echinococcus granulosus (sensu lato). In China where CE is endemic, a number of studies have shown that Echinococcus granulosus (sensu stricto) is majorly responsible for CE. However, E.

Prevalence and genetic characterization of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Giardia duodenalis in Tibetan pigs in Tibet, China.

Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Giardia duodenalis are important opportunistic enteric zoonotic pathogens that cause diarrhoea and intestinal diseases in animals and humans. China is the largest producer of pigs, but whether Tibetan pigs, a unique pig breed in Tibet, are infected with E. bieneusi and G.

Identification and characterization of new Muscodor endophytes from gramineous plants in Xishuangbanna, China.

The endophytic fungi Muscodor spp. produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can inhibit and even kill pathogenic fungi, bacteria, and nematodes. Nine endophytic fungal strains, isolated from the shoots of gramineous plants including Arthraxon hispidus, Eleusine indica, Oplismenus undulatifolius, and Oryza granulata, were identified as Muscodor through phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer.

[Helminth Infections in Goats in Nimu County of Tibet].

Postmortem examinations were made in 99 goats in Nimu County of Tibe, and parasites were collected and identified based on morphology. The collected parasites were categorized, and infection status was analyzed. The helminth infection rate was 100% among the goats, and all showed a pattern of mixed infection.