One-pot selective biosynthesis of Tyrian purple in Escherichia coli.

Tyrian purple (6,6'-Dibromoindigo) is an ancient precious dye, which possesses remarkable properties as a biocompatible semiconductor material. Recently, biosynthesis has emerged as an alternative for the sustainable production of Tyrian purple from a natural substrate. However, the selectivity issue in enzymatic tryptophan (Trp) and bromotryptophan (6-Br-Trp) degradation was an obstacle for obtaining high-purity Tyrian purple in a single cell biosynthesis.

Membrane matters: The impact of a nanodisc-bilayer or a detergent microenvironment on the properties of two eubacterial rhodopsins.

Multi-spanning membrane proteins usually require solubilization to allow proper purification and characterization, which generally impairs their structural and functional integrity. We have tested the efficacy of several commonly used detergents and membrane-mimicking nanodiscs with respect to solubilization, spectral properties, thermal stability and oligomeric profile of two membrane proteins from the eubacterial rhodopsin family, green proteorhodopsin (PR) and Gloeobacter violaceus rhodopsin (GR). Good solubilization was observed for the detergents TritonX-100 and dodecylphosphocholine (DPC), but DPC in particular strongly affected the thermal stability of PR and especially GR.

Functional Expression of Rhodopsin in PSI-Less sp. PCC6803.

The approach of providing an oxygenic photosynthetic organism with a cyclic electron transfer system, i.e., a far-red light-driven proton pump, is widely proposed to maximize photosynthetic efficiency via expanding the absorption spectrum of photosynthetically active radiation.

Redshifted and Near-infrared Active Analog Pigments Based upon Archaerhodopsin-3.

Archaerhodopsin-3 (AR3) is a member of the microbial rhodopsin family of hepta-helical transmembrane proteins, containing a covalently bound molecule of all-trans retinal as a chromophore. It displays an absorbance band in the visible region of the solar spectrum (λmax 556 nm) and functions as a light-driven proton pump in the archaeon Halorubrum sodomense. AR3 and its mutants are widely used in neuroscience as optogenetic neural silencers and in particular as fluorescent indicators of transmembrane potential.

On the use of oxygenic photosynthesis for the sustainable production of commodity chemicals.

A sustainable society will have to largely refrain from the use of fossil carbon deposits. In such a regime, renewable electricity can be harvested as a primary source of energy. However, as for the synthesis of carbon-based materials from bulk chemicals, an alternative is required.

Landscape pattern evolution along terrain gradient in Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China.

Terrain is an important factor in land landscape pattern change. To reveal the spatial and temporal characteristics and variation of landscape pattern along a terrain gradient, we used three remote sensing images and digital elevation model (DEM) data of Fuzhou in 1995, 2005 and 2015 to investigate the topographic gradient effect of landscape pattern and the cause of formation based on terrain index, land use distribution index, geo-informatics map analysis and landscape index. The results showed that forestland was mainly distributed in middle-low, middle-high and higher level terrain, while farmland, water body, construction land and unused lands were mainly distributed in the low rank terrain.

Combining retinal-based and chlorophyll-based (oxygenic) photosynthesis: Proteorhodopsin expression increases growth rate and fitness of a ∆PSI strain of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803.

To fill the "green absorption gap", a green absorbing proteorhodopsin was expressed in a PSI-deletion strain (ΔPSI) of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Growth-rate measurements, competition experiments and physiological characterization of the proteorhodopsin-expressing strains, relative to the ΔPSI control strain, allow us to conclude that proteorhodopsin can enhance the rate of photoheterotrophic growth of ΔPSI Synechocystis strain.

Deletion of in Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803 Allows Formation of a Far-Red-Shifted -Proteorhodopsin .

In many pro- and eukaryotes, a retinal-based proton pump equips the cell to drive ATP synthesis with (sun)light. Such pumps, therefore, have been proposed as a plug-in for cyanobacteria to artificially increase the efficiency of oxygenic photosynthesis. However, little information on the metabolism of retinal, their chromophore, is available for these organisms.

Functional Expression of Gloeobacter Rhodopsin in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803.

Proteorhodopsins are light-driven proton pumps that occur widespread in Nature, where they function predominantly in environments with high incident irradiance. Their maximal absorbance is usually in the blue range, but can be extended into the (far)red range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Because they can be expressed heterologously, they may be exploited in studies aimed at increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis.

Retinal-Based Proton Pumping in the Near Infrared.

Proteorhodopsin (PR) and Gloeobacter rhodopsin (GR) are retinal-based light-driven proton pumps that absorb visible light (maxima at 520-540 nm). Shifting the action spectra of these proton pumps beyond 700 nm would generate new prospects in optogenetics, membrane sensor technology, and complementation of oxygenic phototrophy. We therefore investigated the effect of red-shifting analogues of retinal, combined with red-shifting mutations, on the spectral properties and pump activity of the resulting pigments.

Endophytic fungus strain 28 isolated from Houttuynia cordata possesses wide-spectrum antifungal activity.

The aim of this paper is to identify and investigate an endophytic fungus (strain 28) that was isolated from Houttuynia cordata Thunb, a famous and widely-used Traditional Chinese Medicine. Based on morphological methods and a phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequences, this strain was identified as Chaetomium globosum. An antifungal activity bioassay demonstrated that the crude ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extracts of strain 28 had a wide antifungal spectrum and strong antimicrobial activity, particularly against Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.

Expression of holo-proteorhodopsin in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

Retinal-based photosynthesis may contribute to the free energy conversion needed for growth of an organism carrying out oxygenic photosynthesis, like a cyanobacterium. After optimization, this may even enhance the overall efficiency of phototrophic growth of such organisms in sustainability applications. As a first step towards this, we here report on functional expression of the archetype proteorhodopsin in Synechocystis sp.

The expression of tachykinin receptors in the human lower esophageal sphincter.

Mammalian tachykinins are a family of neuropeptides which are potent modulators of smooth muscle function with a significant contractile effect on human smooth muscle preparations. Tachykinins act via three distinct G protein-coupled neurokinin (NK) receptors, NK1, NK2 and NK3, coded by the genes TACR1, TACR2 and TACR3 respectively. The purpose of this paper was to measure the mRNA and protein expression of these receptors and their isoforms in the clasp and sling fibers of the human lower esophageal sphincter complex and circular muscle from the adjacent distal esophagus and proximal stomach.

Fusarium redolens 6WBY3, an endophytic fungus isolated from Fritillaria unibracteata var. wabuensis, produces peimisine and imperialine-3β-D-glucoside.

The major biological active ingredients of Bulbus Fritillariae cirrhosae (BFC) are steroidal alkaloids, such as peimisine, imperialine-3β-D-glucoside, and peimine. The bulbus of Fritillaria unibracteata var. wabuensis (FUW) was officially recorded in the National Pharmacopoeia of China (2010 edition) as one of the sources of BFC because of its positive therapeutic effects and few side effects.

Modulation of spectral properties and pump activity of proteorhodopsins by retinal analogues.

Proteorhodopsins are heptahelical membrane proteins which function as light-driven proton pumps. They use all-trans-retinal A1 as a ligand and chromophore and absorb visible light (520-540 nm). In the present paper, we describe modulation of the absorbance band of the proteorhodopsin from Monterey Bay SAR 86 gammaproteobacteria (PR), its red-shifted double mutant PR-D212N/F234S (PR-DNFS) and Gloeobacter rhodopsin (GR).

Peimisine and peiminine production by endophytic fungus Fusarium sp. isolated from Fritillaria unibracteata var. wabensis.

Steroidal alkaloids, as the major biologically active components in Bulbus Fritillariae, possess a variety of toxicological and pharmacological effects on humans. The objective of this work was to determine whether endophytic fungi isolated from fresh bulbs of Fritillaria unibracteata var. wabensis can produce one or more alkaloids like its host plant.

[Testing methods for seed quality of Cyathula officinalis].

Objective: To study testing methods of seed quality, and provide a basis for establishing seed testing specification of Cyathula officinalis.

Method: Referring to the Specifications for Agricultural Seed Testing, the optimal testing methods of seed quality of C. officinalis were screened.