Genome of the pitcher plant Cephalotus reveals genetic changes associated with carnivory.

Carnivorous plants exploit animals as a nutritional source and have inspired long-standing questions about the origin and evolution of carnivory-related traits. To investigate the molecular bases of carnivory, we sequenced the genome of the heterophyllous pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis, in which we succeeded in regulating the developmental switch between carnivorous and non-carnivorous leaves. Transcriptome comparison of the two leaf types and gene repertoire analysis identified genetic changes associated with prey attraction, capture, digestion and nutrient absorption.

Orientation-selected 15N-HYSCORE detection of weakly coupled nitrogens around the archaeal rieske [2Fe-2S] center.

The weakly coupled 15N atoms around a reduced Rieske [2Fe-2S] cluster of the uniformly 15N-labeled, hyperthermostable archaeal Rieske protein appear to produce readily observable cross-peaks in the HYSCORE spectra, with the well-resolved couplings of 0.3-0.4 MHz for the Nepsilon and 1.

Continuous cell-free protein synthesis directed by messenger DNA and catalyzed by extract of Thermus thermophilus HB27.

Polypeptide synthesis directed by DNA as the messenger in a cell-free system of Thermus thermophilus was investigated. Polypeptides were synthesized with the addition of neomycin in the presence of DNA catalyzed by the cell extract. The stability of messenger DNA was greater than that of messenger RNA.

Polypeptide synthesis directed by DNA as a messenger in cell-free polypeptide synthesis by extreme thermophiles, Thermus thermophilus HB27 and Sulfolobus tokodaii strain 7.

Polypeptide synthesis at high temperature directed by single strand DNA as a messenger was investigated using cell-free extracts of an extremely thermophilic bacterium, Thermus thermophilus strain HB27, and a hyperthermophilic, acidophilic archaeon, Sulfolobus tokodaii strain 7. Aminoglycoside antibiotics enhanced the reaction; neomycin stimulated it most effectively when the extract of the thermophilic bacterium was used, and paromomycin was the best among the antibiotics tested for the extract of the hyperthermophilic archaeon. A common correlation was found between the stimulation of DNA-directed polypeptide synthesis and the misreading rate in RNA-directed polypeptide synthesis.

Sulfolobus tokodaii sp. nov. (f. Sulfolobus sp. strain 7), a new member of the genus Sulfolobus isolated from Beppu Hot Springs, Japan.

The taxonomic position of a thermoacidophilic crenarchaeote Sulfolobus sp. strain 7, previously isolated from the Beppu Hot Springs in the geothermal area of Kyushu Island, Japan, was investigated by cloning and sequencing, by phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, by DNA-DNA homology with similar species, and by biochemical characterization of the isolate. This isolate is an obligate aerobe and grows optimally at 80 degrees C and pH2.