Biophysical Features of Bacillithiol, the Glutathione Surrogate of Bacillus subtilis and other Firmicutes

Bacillithiol (BSH) is the major low-molecular-weight (LMW) thiol in many low-G+C Gram-positive bacteria (Firmicutes). Evidence now emerging suggests that BSH functions as an important LMW thiol in redox regulation and xenobiotic detoxification, analogous to what is already known for glutathione and mycothiol in other microorganisms. The biophysical properties and cellular concentrations of such LMW thiols are important determinants of their biochemical efficiency both as biochemical nucleophiles and as redox buffers. Here, BSH has been characterised and compared with other LMW thiols in terms of its thiol pKa, redox potential and thiol–disulfide exchange reactivity. Both the thiol pKa and the standard thiol redox potential of BSH are shown to be significantly lower than those of glutathione whereas the reactivities of the two compounds in thiol–disulfide reactions are comparable. The cellular concentration of BSH in Bacillus subtilis varied over different growth phases and reached up to 5 mM, which is significantly greater than previously observed from single measurements taken during mid-exponential growth. These results demonstrate that the biophysical characteristics of BSH are distinctively different from those of GSH and that its cellular concentrations can reach levels much higher than previously reported

Experimental verification of minima in excited long-range Rydberg states of Rb_2

Recent theoretical studies with alkali atoms A$^{\ast}$ excited to high Rydberg states predicted the existence of ultra long-range molecular bound states. Such excited dimers have large electric dipole moments which, in combination with their long radiative lifetimes, make them excellent candidates for manipulation in applications. This letter reports on experimental investigations of the self-broadening of Rb principal series lines, which revealed multiple satellites in the line wings. The positions of the satellites agree quantitatively with theoretically-predicted minima in the excited long-range Rydberg states of Rb$_2$.Comment: 3 figures, 5 pages in two-column forma

Lower Coverdale and Gaytons: Middle Devonian and possibly older anorthosite-ferronorite, gabbro, and quartz monzonite intrusions in southeastern New Brunswick

The Lower Coverdale intrusion near Moncton, New Brunswick, has been intersected in drill holes at depths of 100–200 m below unconformably overlying Carboniferous sandstone, onglomerate and, locally, limestone of the Windsor, Mabou, and Cumberland groups. A large positive aeromagnetic anomaly suggests that the intrusion has a subsurface area of at least 30–40 km2. As revealed by drill core and cuttings, the intrusion consists of interlayered coarse-grained anorthosite and ferronorite, both intruded by gabbro, quartz monzonite, and minor felsic dykes. The ferronorite is high in Ti and P, and contains interstitial patite and ilmenite/magnetite and layers of apatite-ilmenite rock (nelsonite) up to several metres thick. Much of the core shows pervasive effects of metamorphism and alteration but microprobe analyses of the freshest samples revealed that the plagioclase in both anorthosite and ferronorite has andesine composition. The anorthosite and ferronorite are chemically distinct, but their close spatial association suggests a genetic link. In contrast, the younger gabbroic rocks differ in mineralogy and chemistry from, and appear unrelated to, the anorthosite and ferronorite. They are altered but not metamorphosed, and preserve intergranular textures. They contain more calcic plagioclase and augite, and have low Ti and P. The deepest drill hole in the Lower Coverdale intrusion encountered highly altered coarse-grained quartz monzonite at a depth of 1095–1206 m. The quartz monzonite is mineralogically and chemically similar to quartz monzonite in quarries near Gaytons, 20 km to the east. Virtually identical Middle Devonian U-Pb zircon ages of 90.6 ± 1.0 Ma and 390.0 ± 0.5 Ma were obtained for samples from the Lower Coverdale and Gaytons quartz monzonite, espectively. However, the anorthosite-ferronoritegabbro is likely considerably older: perhaps ca. 540 Ma like gabbroic rocks elsewhere in the Brookville terrane; or possibly esoproterozoic, like intrusions with similar characteristics in Grenvillian parts of the Precambrian shield. RÉSUMÉ On a croisé l’intrusion de Lower Coverdale près de Moncton (Nouveau-Brunswick) dans des puits forés à des profondeurs de 100 à 200 m au-dessous de grès du Carbonifère sus-jacent non concordant, de conglomérat et, par endroits, de calcaire des groupes de Windsor, de Mabou et de Cumberland. Une anomalie aéromagnétique positive étendue permet de supposer que l’intrusion a une superficie souterraine d’au moins 30 à 40 kilomètres carrés. Les carottes de forage et les déblais révèlent que l’intrusion est constituée de ferronorite et d’anorthosite à grains grossiers interstratifiées, toutes deux pénétrées par du gabbro, de l’adamellite et des dykes felsiques secondaires. La ferronorite est riche en Ti et en P et renferme de ’ilménite/magnétite et de l’apatite interstitielles ainsi que des couches d’ilménite-apatite (nelsonite) pouvant avoir plusieurs mètres d’épaisseur. Une vaste part des carottes témoignent des effets intenses d’un métamorphisme et d’une altération, mais des analyses à la microsonde des échantillons les plus frais ont révélé que le plagioclase à l’intérieur de l’anorthosite et de la ferronorite est composé d’andésine. L’anorthosite et la ferronorite sont chimiquement distinctes, mais leur association spatiale étroite laisse supposer un lien génétique. Par contre, les roches gabbroïques plus récentes ont une composition minéralogique et chimique différant de celles de l’anorthosite et de la ferronorite et elles ne semblent pas y être apparentées. Elles sont altérées mais ne sont pas métamorphisées et elles conservent des textures intergranulaires. Elles renferment plus de plagioclase calcique et d’augite et ont une faible teneur en Ti et en P. Le puits de forage le plus profond dans l’intrusion de Lower Coverdale a recoupé de l’adamellite à grains grossiers fortement altérée à une profondeur de 1 095 à 1 206 m. L’adamellite est minéralogiquement et chimiquement similaire à l’adamellite des carrières situées près de Gaytons, à 20 kilomètres à l’est. On a obtenu des datations U-Pb sur zircon pratiquement identiques du Dévonien moyen de 390,6 ± 1,0 Ma et de 390,0 ± 0,5 Ma d’échantillons d’adamellite de Lower Coverdale et de Gaytons, respectivement. Le gabbro l’anorthosite-ferronorite, toutefois, est probablement beaucoup plus âgé : il a peut-être 540 Ma, comme les roches gabbroïques d’ailleurs à l’intérieur du terrane de Brookville, ou il pourrait remonter au Mésoprotérozoïque, comme les intrusions présentant des caractéristiques analogues dans les parties grenvilliennes du bouclier précambrien

Granitoid plutons of the Brookville terrane, southern New Brunswick: petrology, age, and tectonic setting

Latest Neoproterozoic and Cambrian plutons in the Brookville terrane of southern New Brunswick are termed the Golden Grove Plutonic Suite. Four groups are recognized on the basis of composition: gabbro (2 plutons), diorite - granodiorite (17 plutons), granodiorite - monzogranite (8 plutons), and syenogranite - monzogranite (7 plutons). The dioritic to granodioritic and most of the granodioritic to monzogranitic plutons form linear trends on chemical variation diagrams, suggesting that magma evolution was dominated by plagioclase and amphibole fractionation. These plutons appear to constitute a typical I-type, calc-alkaline suite characteristic of continental margin subduction zones. This interpretation is supported by U-Pb zircon ages, which show that these plutons have ages between 540 Ma and 526 Ma. A new U-Pb age of 539.6 ± 1.2 Ma from one of the gabbroic plutons shows that the gabbroic plutons are co-genetic with the dioritic to granitic plutons, although they show varied ultramafic to anorthositic and dioritic compositions as a result of crystal accumulation. The syenogranitic to monzogranitic plutons and two of the granodioritic and monzogranitic plutons, as well as felsic volcanic rocks of the Dipper Harbour volcanic unit, show chemical trends that differ from the other plutons in having A-type characteristics. A U-Pb age of 548 ± 2 Ma for the Fairville Granite, as well as similar ages for a syenogranitic pluton and the Dipper Harbour volcanic unit, suggests that these units represent early stages of magmatism in the Golden Grove Plutonic Suite. RESUMÉ Les plutons du Cambrien et des périodes les plus anciennes du Néoprotérozoïque à l'intérieur du terrane de Brookville dans le Sud du Nouveau-Brunswick sont désignés sous le nom de « cortège plutonique de Golden Grove ». On y distingue quatre groupes en fonction de leur composition : ceux à base de gabbro (deux plutons), de diorite - granodiorite (17 plutons), de granodiorite - monzogranite (huit plutons) et de syénogranite - monzogranite (sept plutons). Les plutons dioritiques à granodioritiques et la majorité des plutons granodioritiques à monzogranitiques forment des tracés linéaires sur les schémas de diversité de la composition chimique, ce qui laisse supposer que l'évolution magmatique a été dominée par une cristallisation fractionnée des plagioclases et des amphiboles. Ces plutons semblent constituer un cortège calco-alcalin intrusif typique, caractéristique des zones de subduction de la marge continentale. Cette interprétation est corroborée par la datation au U-Pb, obtenue à partir de zircon, qui révèle que ces plutons ont des âges entre 540 Ma et 526 Ma. Une nouvelle datation au U-Pb obtenue à partir de zircon situant à 539,6 ± 1,2 Ma l'âge de l'un des plutons gabbroïques, signale que les plutons gabbroïques sont cogénétiques avec les plutons dioritiques à granitiques, même s'ils présentent des compositions ultramafi ques à anorthositiques et dioritiques diversifi ées par suite d'une accumulation de cristaux. Les plutons syénogranitiques à monzogranitiques et deux des plutons granodioritiques et monzogranitiques, de même que les roches volcanofelsiques de l'unité volcanique de Dipper Harbour, livrent des tracés chimiques différents des autres plutons du fait qu'ils possèdent les caractéristiques des plutons de type anorogénique. L'âge au U-Pb de 548 ± 2 Ma du granite de Fairville ainsi que les âges similaires d'un pluton syénogranitique et de l'unité volcanique de Dipper Harbour permettent de supposer que ces unités représentent les stades précoces du magmatisme à l'intérieur du cortège plutonique de Golden Grove

Beyond the plane-parallel and Newtonian approach: Wide-angle redshift distortions and convergence in general relativity

We extend previous analyses of wide-angle correlations in the galaxy power spectrum in redshift space to include all general relativistic effects. These general relativistic corrections to the standard approach become important on large scales and at high redshifts, and they lead to new terms in the wide-angle correlations. We show that in principle the new terms can produce corrections of nearly 10 % on Gpc scales over the usual Newtonian approximation. General relativistic corrections will be important for future large-volume surveys such as SKA and Euclid, although the problem of cosmic variance will present a challenge in observing this.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures; Typo in equation 5 corrected; results unaffecte

The Evolution of Anti-Bat Sensory Illusions in Moths

Prey transmit sensory illusions to redirect predatory strikes, creating a discrepancy between what a predator perceives and reality. We use the acoustic arms race between bats and moths to investigate the evolution and function of a sensory illusion. The spinning hindwing tails of silk moths (Saturniidae) divert bat attack by reflecting sonar to create a misleading echoic target. We characterized geometric morphometrics of moth hindwings across silk moths, mapped these traits onto a new, robust phylogeny, and found that elaborated hindwing structures have converged on four adaptive shape peaks. To test the mechanism underlying these anti-bat traits, we pit bats against three species of silk moths with experimentally altered hindwings that created a representative gradient of ancestral and extant hindwing shapes. High-speed videography of battles reveals that moths with longer hindwings and tails more successfully divert bat attack. We postulate that sensory illusions are widespread and are underappreciated drivers of diversity across systems

Action on the ground: A review of community environmental groups’ restoration objectives, activities and partnerships in New Zealand

More than 600 community environmental groups across New Zealand are engaged in restoring degraded sites and improving and protecting habitat for native species. In the face of ongoing biodiversity declines, resource management agencies are increasing their reliance on these groups to enhance conservation outcomes nationally. However, little is known about community groups and their activities beyond local or regional studies. Our aim was to develop a profile of community groups and their projects through examining group and project characteristics, objectives, activities and the support provided by project partners. A total of 296 community groups from all mainland regions of New Zealand responded to an online questionnaire. Nearly 80% of these groups were established for ≥6 years and 72% operated with ≤20 participants (e.g. staff, members, and unpaid volunteers). For over half (54%) of groups, participants were mostly aged 51–65 years. Small groupsizes, combined with ageing participants, may threaten groups’ longevity. More than 20% of groups’ projects covered areas > 501 ha. Ecosystems represented within groups’ project areas included forests (64.0%), streams (42.0%) and freshwater wetlands (33.2%). Over one-third (37.2%) of freshwater wetland restoration projects occurred on private or Maori-owned land. Nearly 70% of groups carried out weed/pest control, native tree planting and advocacy/educational activities, underscoring the combination of social and ecological dimensions shaping most groups’ projects. Over 90% of groups were supported by project partners (e.g. resource management agencies for site visits, funding and technical support), highlighting the interdependence between groups and their partners. Developing a more complete profile of New Zealand community groups and their projects will assist with improving the delivery of support to groups by project partners and developing an inclusive and cohesive sector based on meaningful partnerships. These two factors combined will ultimately enhance groups’ environmental outcomes at the local level, while contributing to national biodiversity conservation goals

Differential localization and anabolic responsiveness of mTOR complexes in human skeletal muscle in response to feeding and exercise

Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) resides as two complexes within skeletal muscle. mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1-Raptor positive) regulates skeletal muscle growth, whereas mTORC2 (Rictor positive) regulates insulin sensitivity. To examine the regulation of these complexes in human skeletal muscle, we utilised immunohistochemical analysis to study the localisation of mTOR complexes prior to and following protein-carbohydrate feeding (FED) and resistance exercise plus protein-carbohydrate feeding (EXFED) in unilateral exercise model. In basal samples, mTOR and the lysosomal marker LAMP2 were highly co-localized and remained so throughout. In the FED and EXFED states, mTOR/LAMP2 complexes were redistributed to the cell periphery (WGA positive staining) (time effect; p=.025), with 39\% (FED) and 26\% (EXFED) increases in mTOR/WGA association observed 1h post-feeding/exercise. mTOR/WGA colocalisation continued to increase in EXFED at 3h (48\% above baseline) whereas colocalisation decreased in FED (21\% above baseline). A significant effect of condition (p=.05) was noted suggesting mTOR/WGA co-localization was greater during EXFED. This pattern was replicated in Raptor/WGA association, where a significant difference between EXFED and FED was noted at 3h post-exercise/feeding (p=.014). Rictor/WGA colocalization remained unaltered throughout the trial. Alterations in mTORC1 cellular location coincided with elevated S6K1 kinase activity, which rose to a greater extent in EXFED compared to FED at 1h post-exercise/feeding (p<.001), and only remained elevated in EXFED at the 3h time point (p=.037). Collectively these data suggest that mTORC1 redistribution within the cell is a fundamental response to resistance exercise and feeding, whereas mTORC2 is predominantly situated at the sarcolemma and does not alter localisation

The transcriptome of Euglena gracilis reveals unexpected metabolic capabilities for carbohydrate and natural product biochemistry

Euglena gracilis is a highly complex alga belonging to the green plant line that shows characteristics of both plants and animals, while in evolutionary terms it is most closely related to the protozoan parasites Trypanosoma and Leishmania. This well-studied organism has long been known as a rich source of vitamins A, C and E, as well as amino acids that are essential for the human diet. Here we present de novo transcriptome sequencing and preliminary analysis, providing a basis for the molecular and functional genomics studies that will be required to direct metabolic engineering efforts aimed at enhancing the quality and quantity of high value products from E. gracilis. The transcriptome contains over 30?000 protein-encoding genes, supporting metabolic pathways for lipids, amino acids, carbohydrates and vitamins, along with capabilities for polyketide and non-ribosomal peptide biosynthesis. The metabolic and environmental robustness of Euglena is supported by a substantial capacity for responding to biotic and abiotic stress: it has the capacity to deploy three separate pathways for vitamin C (ascorbate) production, as well as producing vitamin E (?-tocopherol) and, in addition to glutathione, the redox-active thiols nor-trypanothione and ovothiol