Water storage capacity is inversely associated with xylem embolism resistance in tropical karst tree species.

Tropical karst habitats are characterized by limited and patchy soil, large rocky outcrops and porous substrates, resulting in high habitat heterogeneity and soil moisture fluctuations. Xylem hydraulic efficiency and safety can determine the drought adaptation and spatial distribution of woody plants growing in karst environments. In this study, we measured sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks), vulnerability to embolism, wood density, saturated water content, and vessel and pit anatomical characteristics in the branch stems of 12 evergreen tree species in a tropical karst seasonal rainforest in southwestern China.

Role of carnitine in adaptation of Chromohalobacter salexigens DSM 3043 and its mutants to osmotic and temperature stress in defined medium.

L-Carnitine is widespread in nature, but little information is available on its metabolism and physiological functions in moderate halophiles. In this study, we found that Chromohalobacter salexigens DSM 3043 could utilize carnitine not only as a nutrient, but also as an osmolyte. When grown at 37 °C under salt-stress conditions, the strain utilized carnitine as an osmoprotectant by enzymatically converting it into GB.

Role of ,-Dimethylglycine and Its Catabolism to Sarcosine in Chromohalobacter salexigens DSM 3043.

DSM 3043 can grow on ,-dimethylglycine (DMG) as the sole C, N, and energy source and utilize sarcosine as the sole N source under aerobic conditions. However, little is known about the genes and enzymes involved in the conversion of DMG to sarcosine in this strain. In the present study, gene disruption and complementation assays indicated that the , , , and genes are responsible for DMG degradation to sarcosine.

[Effect of ultrasound-guided acupoint electrical stimulation on diaphragmatic dysfunction associated with mechanical ventilation].

Objective: To observe the effect of ultrasound-guided acupoint electrical stimulation on the patients with diaphragmatic dysfunction associated with mechanical ventilation in ICU.

Methods: Fifty-two patients were randomly divided into an observation group (26 cases, 3 cases dropping) and a control group (26 cases). Conventional treatment was given to all patients.

Glycine Betaine Monooxygenase, an Unusual Rieske-Type Oxygenase System, Catalyzes the Oxidative -Demethylation of Glycine Betaine in Chromohalobacter salexigens DSM 3043.

Although some bacteria, including DSM 3043, can use glycine betaine (GB) as a sole source of carbon and energy, little information is available about the genes and their encoded proteins involved in the initial step of the GB degradation pathway. In the present study, the results of conserved domain analysis, construction of in-frame deletion mutants, and an functional complementation assay suggested that the open reading frames Csal_1004 and Csal_1005, designated and , respectively, may act as the terminal oxygenase and the ferredoxin reductase genes in a novel Rieske-type oxygenase system to convert GB to dimethylglycine in DSM 3043. To further verify their function, BmoA and BmoB were heterologously overexpressed in , and C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis revealed that dimethylglycine was accumulated in BL21(DE3) expressing BmoAB or BmoA.

Establishment of a markerless gene deletion system in Chromohalobacter salexigens DSM 3043.

Chromohalobacter salexigens DSM 3043 can grow over a wide range of salinity, which makes it as an excellent model organism for understanding the mechanism of prokaryotic osmoregulation. Functional analysis of C. salexigens genes is an essential way to reveal their roles in cellular osmoregulation.

Molecular basis of P450 OleT: an investigation of substrate binding mechanism and major pathways.

Cytochrome P450 OleT has attracted much attention for its ability to catalyze the decarboxylation of long chain fatty acids to generate alkenes, which are not only biofuel molecule, but also can be used broadly for making lubricants, polymers and detergents. In this study, the molecular basis of the binding mechanism of P450 OleT for arachidic acid, myristic acid, and caprylic acid was investigated by utilizing conventional molecular dynamics simulation and binding free energy calculations. Moreover, random acceleration molecular dynamics (RAMD) simulations were performed to uncover the most probable access/egress channels for different fatty acids.

[Responses of Manglietia glauca growth to soil nutrients and climatic factors].

Tree height and diameter of breast height (DBH) as growth characteristics of Manglietia glauca introduced from Vietnam were measured at many sites in south China and responses of M. glauca growth to soil nutrients and climatic factors were analyzed in this study. Annual average increments of tree height and DBH among different planted sites had significant differences.

Genome Sequence of the Fructan-Degrading Organism Marinimicrobium sp. Strain LS-A18, Isolated from a Marine Solar Saltern.

Marinimicrobium sp. strain LS-A18 is a fructan-degrading organism isolated from a brine sample from a marine solar saltern in Jiaozhou Bay, China. The draft genome sequence of this bacterium is 3,815,107 bp in length, with a G+C content of 59.

Alkaline inulinase production by a newly isolated bacterium Marinimicrobium sp. LS-A18 and inulin hydrolysis by the enzyme.

To date, all of microbial inulinases reported showed optimal activity at pH values ranging from 3.5 to 7.0.

Extracellular production of novel halotolerant, thermostable, and alkali-stable carboxymethyl cellulase by marine bacterium Marinimicrobium sp. LS-A18.

Cellulases which are active and stable under extreme conditions have attracted considerable attention because of their potential industrial applications. Marinimicrobium sp. LS-A18 showed high extracellular carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) activity when grown on mineral salt medium containing carboxymethylcellulose as the sole carbon source.