Mutant analysis of luminescence and autoinduction in a marine bacterium

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution December 1994The marine symbiotic bacterium Vibrio fischeri is striking for its ability both to emit light and to dramatically regulate light emission using a cell-to-cell signalling mechanism called autoinduction. The latter is mediated by a signal molecule called the "autoinducer". The mechanistic bases of both luminescence and autoinduction are well known in V. fischeri, but this knowledge is mostly derived from studies of the cloned luminescence and autoinduction genes expressed in Escherichia coli. In this study, luminescence and autoinduction mutations were systematically generated in V. fischeri to explore aspects of luminescence and autoinduction not addressable in E. coli, such as the adaptive significance of luminescence. Most dramatically, the mutants revealed the presence of multiple autoinducers and autoinducer synthases in V. fischeri. One of the autoinducers (autoinducer-2, or AI-2) was chemically purified and shown to be Noctanoyi- L-homoserine lactone. The genetic locus encoding the AI-2 synthase was cloned and designated ain (autoinducer). Manipulation of ain and AI-2 in V. jischeri demonstrated that the function of AI-2 appears to be to inhibit rather than to promote autoinduction.The WHOI Ocean Ventures Fund and the WHOI Molecular Biology Fund

Mutant analysis of luminescence and autoinduction in a marine bacterium

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Biology, 1995.10713454Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-80).by Alan Kuo.Ph.D

Method for fabricating carbon/lithium-ion electrode for rechargeable lithium cell

The method includes steps for forming a carbon electrode composed of graphitic carbon particles adhered by an ethylene propylene diene monomer binder. An effective binder composition is disclosed for achieving a carbon electrode capable of subsequent intercalation by lithium ions. The method also includes steps for reacting the carbon electrode with lithium ions to incorporate lithium ions into graphitic carbon particles of the electrode. An electrical current is repeatedly applied to the carbon electrode to initially cause a surface reaction between the lithium ions and to the carbon and subsequently cause intercalation of the lithium ions into crystalline layers of the graphitic carbon particles. With repeated application of the electrical current, intercalation is achieved to near a theoretical maximum. Two differing multi-stage intercalation processes are disclosed. In the first, a fixed current is reapplied. In the second, a high current is initially applied, followed by a single subsequent lower current stage. Resulting carbon/lithium-ion electrodes are well suited for use as an anode in a reversible, ambient temperature, lithium cell

Anode for rechargeable ambient temperature lithium cells

An ambient room temperature, high density, rechargeable lithium battery includes a Li(x)Mg2Si negative anode which intercalates lithium to form a single crystalline phase when x is up to 1.0 and an amorphous phase when x is from 1 to 2.0. The electrode has good reversibility and mechanical strength after cycling

Overcharge and overdischarge protection of ambient temperature secondary lithium cells

A cathode additive is provided for protecting an ambient temperature secondary lithium cell from overcharging or overdischarging. The cathode additive is chosen to create an upper voltage plateau which is slightly higher than a characteristic charge cutoff voltage of the cathode of the cell. The cathode additive additionally creates a lower voltage plateau which is slightly lower than the characteristic discharge cutoff voltage of the cell. Preferably, the cathode additive is a transition metal oxide or a sulfide and may, for example, include a mixture of Li2Mn2O4 and Li(0.1)MoO2

Phylogenomic analyses of non-Dikarya fungi supports horizontal gene transfer driving diversification of secondary metabolism in the amphibian gastrointestinal symbiont, Basidiobolus

Research into secondary metabolism (SM) production by fungi has resulted in the discovery of diverse, biologically active compounds with significant medicinal applications. However, the fungi rich in SM production are taxonomically restricted to Dikarya, two phyla of Kingdom Fungi, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Here, we explore the potential for SM production in Mucoromycota and Zoopagomycota, two phyla of nonflagellated fungi that are not members of Dikarya, by predicting and identifying core genes and gene clusters involved in SM. The majority of non-Dikarya have few genes and gene clusters involved in SM production except for the amphibian gut symbionts in the genus Basidiobolus . Basidiobolus genomes exhibit an enrichment of SM genes involved in siderophore, surfactin-like, and terpene cyclase production, all these with evidence of constitutive gene expression. Gene expression and chemical assays confirm that Basidiobolus has significant siderophore activity. The expansion of SMs in Basidiobolus are partially due to horizontal gene transfer from bacteria, likely as a consequence of its ecology as an amphibian gut endosymbiont