The Escherichia coli glycophage display system

We describe a phage display technique that allows the production and selective enrichment of phages that display an N-glycoprotein (glycophages). We applied glycophage display to select functional glycosylation sequons from a pool of randomized acceptor sequences. Our system provides a genetic platform to study and engineer different steps in the pathway of bacterial N-linked protein glycosylatio

Iteratively Acting Glycosyltransferases Involved in the Hexasaccharide Biosynthesis of Landomycin A

SummaryDetailed studies on the biosynthesis of the hexasaccharide side chain of landomycin A, produced by S. cyanogenus S136, revealed the function of each glycosyltransferase gene of the biosynthetic gene cluster. Analyses of generated mutants as well as feeding experiments allowed us to determine that LanGT2 and LanGT3 catalyze the attachment of one sugar, whereas LanGT1 and LanGT4 attach two sugars during landomycin A biosynthesis. The generation of a lanZ2 deletion mutant provided evidence that LanZ2 is controlling the elongation of the saccharide side chain

Biosynthesis of the Terpene Phenalinolactone in Streptomyces sp. Tü6071: Analysis of the Gene Cluster and Generation of Derivatives

SummaryPhenalinolactones are terpene glycosides with antibacterial activity. A striking structural feature is a highly oxidized γ-butyrolactone of elusive biosynthetic origin. To investigate the genetic basis of the phenalinolactones biosynthesis, we cloned and sequenced the corresponding gene cluster from the producer strain Streptomyces sp. Tü6071. Spanning a 42 kbp region, 35 candidate genes could be assigned to putatively encode biosynthetic, regulatory, and resistance-conferring functions. Targeted gene inactivations were carried out to specifically manipulate the phenalinolactones pathway. The inactivation of a sugar methyltransferase gene and a cytochrome P450 monoxygenase gene led to the production of modified phenalinolactone derivatives. The inactivation of a Fe(II)/α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase gene disrupted the biosynthetic pathway within γ-butyrolactone formation. The structure elucidation of the accumulating intermediate indicated that pyruvate is the biosynthetic precursor of the γ butyrolactone moiety

The Escherichia coli glycophage display system

ISSN:0959-665

Chemistry and electronic properties of ferromagnetic metal-organic semiconductor interfaces: Fe on CuPc

The chemistry and electronic properties of the interfaces formed between the ferromagnetic metal (Fe) and the model organic semiconductor copper phthalocyanine are investigated in ultra-high vacuum conditions for the case of metal deposition onto the organic molecular thin film. The studies were performed by means of core-level and valence-band high-resolution photoemission electron spectroscopy (PES) as well as near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure using synchrotron radiation. Metal overlayer formation on the top of the organic semiconductor was observed without substantial penetration of deposited metal species into the organic film. At the thin interface layer the ferromagnetic metal shows strong chemical interaction with the nitrogen and carbon of the organic films. Moreover, our results infer that, as a consequence of Fe deposition onto CuPc, central copper atoms of the organic molecules at the interface are reduced from Cu(II) to Cu(I), while Fe atoms are oxidized and/or the ferromagnetic metal replaces this central Cu atom. Further optimization of such an interface is thus required to allow and/or facilitate the injection of spin-polarized carriers into organic semiconductors

Triangular relationship between sleep spindle activity, general cognitive ability and the efficiency of declarative learning

EEG sleep spindle activity (SpA) during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep has been reported to be associated with measures of intelligence and overnight performance improvements. The reticular nucleus of the thalamus is generating sleep spindles in interaction with thalamocortical connections. The same system enables efficient encoding and processing during wakefulness. Thus, we examined if the triangular relationship between SpA, measures of intelligence and declarative learning reflect the efficiency of the thalamocortical system. As expected, SpA was associated with general cognitive ability, e.g. information processing speed. SpA was also associated with learning efficiency, however, not with overnight performance improvement in a declarative memory task. SpA might therefore reflect the efficiency of the thalamocortical network and can be seen as a marker for learning during encoding in wakefulness, i.e. learning efficiency