Biochemical characterization of the biotin-dependent carboxylases, acetyl-CoA carboxylase and 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACC) catalyzes the conversion of acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA. Dicot plants have a homomeric ACC (hmACC) located in the cytosol responsible for the generation of malonyl-CoA pools for fatty acid elongation and secondary metabolites such as isoprenoids. Dicots utilize a heteromeric ACC (htACC) consisting of four subunits which as a holo-htACC generate malonyl-CoA for de novo fatty acid biosynthesis in the plastid. All ACC contain three functional domains. Biotin carboxylase (BC) catalyzes the ATP dependent carboxylation of biotin while carboxyltransferase (CT) catalyzes the transfer of the carboxyl group from biotin to acetyl-CoA. A biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP) contains the cofactor biotin that is covalently linked to a conserved lysine residue and mediates between both half reactions. Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) htACC contains natural structural diversity. Two isoforms of BCCP have been identified (CAC1A, At5g16390 encodes BCCP1, CAC1B, At5g15530 encodes BCCP2). In addition to BCCP isoforms, RNA-editing within the plastome encoded ACCD (AtCg00500 encoding CTβ) results in a serine to leucine point mutation at amino acid residue #265. Chapter II reports advancements made in the understanding of the structural diversity within Arabidopsis htACC in both BCCP and CTβ achieved through a combination of techniques including in silico molecular modeling, non-denaturing (native) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), size exclusion chromatography, circular dichroism, analytical ultracentrifugation, and mass spectrometry. Additionally, an evolutionarily related biotin-dependent carboxylase, 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (MCC), from Arabidopsis involved in leucine catabolism is included in this study. MCC is composed of two subunits (MCCA, encoded by MCCA (At1g03090) and MCCB, encoded by MCCB (At4g34030)). MCCA contains both BC and BCCP domains while MCCB contains CT functionality. MCC is of interest because it may contain a mixture of two forms of MCCA that are the result of alternative splicing of RNA from the gene MCCA that leads to either the inclusion or exclusion of the sixty nucleotide long 6th exon in Arabidopsis (MCCAL and MCCAS respectively). To date, little is known of the functional repercussions of the genetic diversity found in htACC and MCC from Arabidopsis. Chapter III describes the use of heterologous expression in E. coli to generate kinetically active subunits as determined by the use of traditional coupling assays. Additionally, BC substrate binding and characterization of BCCP1 and BCCP2 interaction with BC was studied using Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF)

Significant New Exposures of Pleistocene Deposits at Kirwin, Phillips County, Kansas

A cut-off trench excavated in 1953 by the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation at Kirwin, Phillips County, Kansas, has provided hitherto unavailable data on the Pleistocene deposits of the North Fork Solomon River Valley. The excavations cross approximately 1 mile of high terrace and reveal an abandoned and filled valley cut in Cretaceous chalks and shales. The Pleistocene deposits are classed as Grand Island and Sappa (including the Pearlette volcanic ash bed) members of the Meade formation, of Kansan age, marked in the top by the Yarmouth buried soil; the Crete-Loveland member of the Sanborn formation of Illinoian age, marked in the top by the Sangamon buried soil; and the Peoria silt member of the Sanborn formation of early Wisconsinan age. Molluscan faunas are listed from the Grand Island, Sappa, Crete-Loveland, and Peoria. These exposures show that the bedrock valley had been cut to a level below the present flood plain before deposition of the Kansan sediments

EFFICACY OF ELECTRON BEAM IRRADIATION OF PROCESSED PORK PRODUCTS

The research reported on in this paper was conducted as part of a larger project. That project is on-going and is focused on ascertaining if irradiation of processed meats would be effective and economical. It involved the examination, through modeling, of the irradiation of one of many currently produced ready-to-eat (RTE) convenience-oriented, value-added pork products, sliced boneless ham. The results and findings reported in this paper represent the initial estimates of the cost and potential profitability or economic viability of irradiation of processed meats. The results and findings in this paper should be considered preliminary with extension and verification to be reported in a later paper by the authors. The objective of the portion of that project reported on in this paper was to conduct cost analysis of alternative irradiation methods and to ascertain the cost of each of those methods. Three scenarios were considered for cost analysis. The first scenario was the installation of an X-ray irradiator at an existing meat processing plant. The second scenario was the installation of a Cobalt-60 irradiator at an existing meat processing plant. The third scenario assumed that the meat processor contracted for irradiation services from an off-site company providing such service to a number of clients. For purposes of this study it was assumed that irradiation of sliced boneless ham would result in either a $.06/pound reduction in costs from processor to consumer, a$.06/pound increase in willingness to pay [price] or an equivalent combination of reduced costs and increased price. Total cost per pound for the irradiation process applied to sliced boneless ham ranged from $0.008, at the 200 million pound annual throughput rate using Cobalt-60 irradiation, to$0.069 at the 50 million pound annual throughput rate when contracting with an off-site company.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Stratigraphy of the Ogallala Formation (Neogene) of Northern Kansas

Fluvial late Tertiary (Neogene) deposits underlie the surface of the dissected plateau that is the High Plains, and extend from Texas to South Dakota in a belt several hundred miles wide. The stratigraphy and paleontology of the Neogene Ogallala formation have been studied in northern Kansas and correlations made with type sections of the Ogallala formation, and Valentine, Ash Hollow, and Kimball members in Nebraska. Ogallala sediments were deposited by streams flowing eastward from the Rocky Mountain region in broad, relatively shallow, erosional valleys cut in Cretaceous bedrock. Initial alluviation of these valleys is represented by the Valentine member. As alluviation proceeded, sediments progressively overlapped gentle valley slopes, and minor divides were buried by sediments of the Ash Hollow member. The Kimball member transgressed most major divides, producing a coalescent alluvial plain. This surface is marked by an accumulation of calcium carbonate. The Ogallala contains fossil vertebrates, mollusks, and seeds. Fossil vertebrates, although having time significance, are of little local stratigraphic value. Molluscan faunas show an orderly progressive change bridging the interval from late Miocene (?) to earliest Pleistocene, and present distinctive assemblages in Valentine, Ash Hollow, and Kimball members. Abundant and widely dispersed fossil seeds are the most usable organic remains for regional stratigraphic work. Ten petrographically distinct volcanic ash falls occur in the Ogallala; seven have proved valuable in precise correlations throughout the region and with type localities in Nebraska. Lithologically, the Ogallala formation is heterogeneous, but each member presents certain gross characters distinguishing it from the others. The Valentine member is predominantly gray to greenish-gray feldspathic sand, only loosely cemented with calcium carbonate; it includes some clay and silt and local opal-cemented sandstone lenses. The Ash Hollow member is typified by gray to brown, feldspathic sand, silt, and gravel having irregular calcareous cementation; soft limestone; and numerous lentils of volcanic ash. The Kimball member, although containing local lentils of coarse gravel in the base, is predominantly calcareous feldspathic sandy silt capped by a massive to nodula

Petrology of the Pliocene Pisolitic Limestone of the Great Plains

Petrographic study of 34 oriented samples of pisolitic ("algal") limestone from the upper part of the late Tertiary Ogallala Formation in Kansas, Oklahoma, and west Texas indicates that the rock sampled was developed by predominantly soil-forming processes acting upon sands and silts of the uppermost Ogallala. The absence of fossils, replacement of sand grains by calcite, anomalous distribution of detrital grains with respect to oölites and bulbous structures, and the inverted orientation of the bulbous structures themselves, all argue against algal origin of the rock. The origin of the limestone is similar to that of the well-developed caliche in southeastern New Mexico described by Bretz and Horberg, except that limestone gravels were not required for formation of the Kansas rock. The concretionary structures are analogous to those formed in bauxites. Conditions favoring development of pisolitic limestone were (1) presence of rocks containing easily soluble minerals yielding residues rich in Ca2+ ion; (2) effective rock permeability; (3) deficient rainfall and long dry periods; (4) low topographic relief; and (5) time

Global communication part 1: the use of apparel CAD technology

Trends needed for improved communication systems, through the development of future computer-aided design technology (CAD) applications, is a theme that has received attention due to its perceived benefits in improving global supply chain efficiencies. This article discusses the developments of both 2D and 3D computer-aided design capabilities, found within global fashion supply chain relationships and environments. Major characteristics identified within the data suggest that CAD/CAM technology appears to be improving; however, evidence also suggest a plateau effect, which is accrediting forced profits towards information technology manufactures, and arguably compromising the industry's competitive advantage. Nevertheless, 2D CAD increases communication speed; whereas 3D human interaction technology is seen to be evolving slowly and questionably with limited success. The article discusses the findings and also presents the issues regarding human interaction; technology education; and individual communication enhancements using technology processes. These are still prevalent topics for the future developments of global strategy and cultural communication amalgamation