The deep-subsurface sulfate reducer Desulfotomaculum kuznetsovii employs two methanol-degrading pathways

Methanol is generally metabolized through a pathway initiated by a cobalamine-containing methanol methyltransferase by anaerobic methylotrophs (such as methanogens and acetogens), or through oxidation to formaldehyde using a methanol dehydrogenase by aerobes. Methanol is an important substrate in deep-subsurface environments, where thermophilic sulfate-reducing bacteria of the genus Desulfotomaculum have key roles. Here, we study the methanol metabolism of Desulfotomaculum kuznetsovii strain 17T, isolated from a 3000-m deep geothermal water reservoir. We use proteomics to analyze cells grown with methanol and sulfate in the presence and absence of cobalt and vitamin B12. The results indicate the presence of two methanol-degrading pathways in D. kuznetsovii, a cobalt-dependent methanol methyltransferase and a cobalt-independent methanol dehydrogenase, which is further confirmed by stable isotope fractionation. This is the first report of a microorganism utilizing two distinct methanol conversion pathways. We hypothesize that this gives D. kuznetsovii a competitive advantage in its natural environment.Research was funded by grants of the Division of Chemical Sciences (CW-TOP 700.55.343) and Earth and Life Sciences (ALW 819.02.014) of The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), the European Research Council (ERC grant 323009), and the Gravitation grant (024.002.002) of the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture and Scienceinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Primary Nitramines Related to Nitroglycerine: 1-Nitramino-2,3-dinitroxypropane and 1,2,3-Trinitraminopropane

The title compounds 1-nitramino-2,3-dinitroxypropane (NG-N1) and 1,2,3-trinitraminopropane (NG-N3) were formed by multi-step reaction from the corresponding amine. Both compounds were fully characterized by means of multinuclear NMR (1 H, 13 C, 14 N) N), vibrational spectroscopy, elemental analysis and mass spectrometry. For prediction of the energetic properties ΔHc values are determined by oxygen bomb calorimetry and validated by quantum theoretical methods. Both compounds are superior in their performance data to nitroglycerine (NG) and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). In comparison to nitroglycerine the sensitivities towards mechanical stimuli is greatly reduced. X-ray diffraction elucidated the molecular structure of both compounds. NG-N1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21 with a density of 1.799 g/cm(3), NG-N3 in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with a density of 1.783 g/cm(3). The thermal behavior and long term stabilities were checked using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric measurements. NG-N1, shows for primary nitramines, exceptional stability in the molten phase making this compound suitable for melt-cast application (Tmp: 65 C, Tdec: 170 C)

Structures of Energetic Acetylene Derivatives HC CCH2ONO2, (NO2)(3)CCH2C CCH2C(NO2)(3) and Trinitroethane, (NO2)(3)CCH3

Klapoetke TM, Krumm B, Moll R, et al. Structures of Energetic Acetylene Derivatives HC CCH2ONO2, (NO2)(3)CCH2C CCH2C(NO2)(3) and Trinitroethane, (NO2)(3)CCH3. Zeitschrift Fur Naturforschung Section B-A Journal Of Chemical Sciences. 2013;68b(5-6):719-731.The molecular structures and relative ratios of the two conformers (anti and gauche) of HCCCH2ONO2 detected in the gas phase at room temperature have been determined by electron diffraction. The results are discussed on the basis of quantum chemical calculations. The molecular structures of (NO2)(3)CCH2C CCH2C(NO2)(3) and (NO2)(3)CCH3 have been determined by X-ray diffraction. A Ag-109 NMR study was performed for silver trinitromethanide Ag[C(NO2)(3)] in various polar solvents

Strategic Information Management Plans: The Basis for Systematic Information Management in Hospitals

Information management in hospitals is a complex task. In order to reduce complexity, we distinguish strategic, tactical, and operational information management. This is essential, because each of these information management levels views hospital information systems from different perspectives, and therefore uses other methods and tools. Since all these management activities deal only in part with computers, but mainly with human beings and their social behavior, we define a hospital information system as a sociotechnical subsystem of a hospital. Without proper strategic planning it would be a matter of chance, if a hospital information system would fulfil the information strategies goals. In order to support strategic planning and to reduce efforts for creating strategic plans, we propose a practicable structure. 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd

Sequence analysis of bile salt export pump (ABCB11) and multidrug resistance p-glycoprotein 3 (ABCB4, MDR3) in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a liver disorder associated with increased risk of intrauterine fetal death and prematurity. There is increasing evidence that genetically determined dysfunction in the canalicular ABC transporters bile salt export pump (BSEP, ABCB11) and multidrug resistance protein 3 (MDR3, ABCB4) might be risk factors for ICP development. This study aimed to (i). describe the extent of genetic variability in BSEP and MDR3 in ICP and (ii). identify new disease-causing mutations. Twenty-one women with ICP and 40 women with uneventful pregnancies were recruited between April 2001 and April 2003. Sequencing of BSEP and MDR3 spanned 8-10 kb per gene and comprised the promoter region and 100-350 bp of the flanking intronic region around each exon. DNA sequencing of polymerase chain reaction fragments was performed on an ABI3700 capillary sequencer. MDR3 promoter activity of promoter constructs carrying different ICP-specific mutations was studied using reporter assays. A total of 37 and 51 variant sites were detected in BSEP and MDR3, respectively. Three non-synonymous sites in codons for evolutionarily conserved amino acids were specific for the ICP collective (BSEP, N591S; MDR3, S320F and G762E). Furthermore, four ICP-specific splicing mutations were detected in MDR3 [intron 21, G(+1)A; intron 25, G(+5)C and C(-3)G; and intron 26, T(+2)A]. Activity of the mutated MDR3 promoter was similar to that observed for the wild-type promoter. Our data further support an involvement of MDR3 genetic variation in the pathogenesis of ICP, whereas analysis of BSEP sequence variation indicates that this gene is probably less important for the development of pregnancy-associated cholestasis