Selective Photocyclization of Amino Acids in Dipeptides

Amino acids in dipeptides which are substituted at the N-atom by a benzoylalkyl group can be selectively photocyclized via a triplet biradical. With valine as amino acid the cyclization leads mainly to one product out of eight possible isomers

Suppression of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization and nodulation in split‐root systems of alfalfa after pre‐inoculation and treatment with Nod factors

Roots of legumes establish symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and nodule‐inducing rhizobia. The existing nodules systemically suppress subsequent nodule formation in other parts of the root, a phenomenon termed autoregulation. Similarly, mycorrhizal roots reduce further AMF colonization on other parts of the root system. In this work, split‐ root systems of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) were used to study the autoregulation of symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti and the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae. It is shown that nodulation systemically influences AMF root colonization and vice versa. Nodules on one half of the split‐root system suppressed subsequent AMF colonization on the other half. Conversely, root systems pre‐colonized on one side by AMF exhibited reduced nodule formation on the other side. An inhibition effect was also observed with Nod factors (lipo‐chito‐oligosaccharides). NodSm‐IV(C16:2, S) purified from S. meliloti systemically suppressed both nodule formation and AMF colonization. The application of Nod factors, however, did not influence the allocation of 14C within the split‐root system, excluding competition for carbohydrates as the regulatory mechanism. These results indicate a systemic regulatory mechanism in the rhizobial and the arbuscular mycorrhizal association, which is similar in both symbiose

Symbiosis-stimulated chitinase isoenzymes of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

Isoforms of endochitinase in soybean were studied in relation to root symbiosis. Five selected cultivars differing in their nodulation potential were inoculated with two strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, the broad host-range Rhizobium sp. NGR234, and with the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae. Total chitinase activity in nodules was up to 7-fold higher than in uninoculated roots and in mycorrhizal roots. The chitinase activity in nodules varied depending on the strain-cultivar combination. On semi-native polyacrylamide gels, four acidic isoforms were identified. Two isoforms (CH 2 and CH 4) were constitutively present in all analysed tissues. The other two isoforms (CH 1 and CH 3) were strongly induced in nodules and were stimulated in mycorrhizal roots as compared to uninoculated roots. The induction of CH 1 varied in nodules depending on the soybean cultivar. This isoform was also stimulated in uninfected roots when they were treated with tri-iodobenzoic acid, rhizobial lipochitooligosaccharides (Nod factors) and chitotetraose. CH 3 was not affected by these stimuli indicating that this isoform could represent a marker for enzymes induced in later stages of the symbiotic interaction

The relative risk of second primary cancers in Switzerland

This study aims to investigate the relative risk of SPCs in cancer survivors in Switzerland combining data from all Swiss cantonal cancer registries with at least 15 years of consecutive incidence data

Identification of an Exopolysaccharide Biosynthesis Gene in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) play critical roles in rhizobium-plant interactions. However, the EPS biosynthesis pathway in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 remains elusive. Here we used transposon (Tn) mutagenesis with the aim to identify genetic elements required for EPS biosynthesis in B. diazoefficiens USDA110. Phenotypic screening of Tn5 insertion mutants grown on agar plates led to the identification of a mutant with a transposon insertion site in the blr2358 gene. This gene is predicted to encode a phosphor-glycosyltransferase that transfers a phosphosugar onto a polyprenol phosphate substrate. The disruption of the blr2358 gene resulted in defective EPS synthesis. Accordingly, the blr2358 mutant showed a reduced capacity to induce nodules and stimulate the growth of soybean plants. Glycosyltransferase genes related to blr2358 were found to be well conserved and widely distributed among strains of the Bradyrhizobium genus. In conclusion, our study resulted in identification of a gene involved in EPS biosynthesis and highlights the importance of EPS in the symbiotic interaction between USDA110 and soybeans