Laccase Production by Chaetomium elatum, a Soft-Rot Fungus

Though enzymes responsible for rotting wood have been studied for some time, the enzymes and enzymatic systems responsible for breaking down lignin have only begun to be discovered. The lignin-degrading enzymes produced by soft-rot fungi, in particular, have not been sufficiently studied. The present study presents evidence that the enzyme called laccase, known to be associated with lignin biodegradation, is produced by the species Chaetomium elatum, a soft-rot fungus. Cerrena unicolor, a positive control, and Chaetomium elatum were grown in culture. These species were tested for the presence of laccase using syringaldazine as a chromogenic substrate. As expected, Cerrena unicolor showed laccase production after two weeks of growth indicating the experimental procedures were working. After three weeks, Chaetomium elatum showed laccase production

The F-BAR domain of SRGP-1 facilitates cell–cell adhesion during C. elegans morphogenesis

SRGP-1 activity leads to outward bending and projections of membranes at cell–cell junctions, promoting robust adhesion between cells during embryonic closure events

Global urban environmental change drives adaptation in white clover

Urbanization transforms environments in ways that alter biological evolution. We examined whether urban environmental change drives parallel evolution by sampling 110,019 white clover plants from 6169 populations in 160 cities globally. Plants were assayed for a Mendelian antiherbivore defense that also affects tolerance to abiotic stressors. Urban-rural gradients were associated with the evolution of clines in defense in 47% of cities throughout the world. Variation in the strength of clines was explained by environmental changes in drought stress and vegetation cover that varied among cities. Sequencing 2074 genomes from 26 cities revealed that the evolution of urban-rural clines was best explained by adaptive evolution, but the degree of parallel adaptation varied among cities. Our results demonstrate that urbanization leads to adaptation at a global scale

Utilização da "linha púrpura" como método clínico auxiliar para avaliação da fase ativa do trabalho de parto The use of the "purple line" as an auxiliary clinical method for evaluating the active phase of delivery

OBJETIVOS: investigar a ocorrência da linha púrpura com a sua respectiva descoloração em mulheres na fase ativa do trabalho de parto e sua associação com a dilatação cervical, com o grau de descida da apresentação fetal na pelve bem como a caracterização social e obstétrica, e a opinião das mulheres quanto à utilização desse método clínico. MÉTODOS: pesquisa descritiva, prospectiva e observacional em 100 parturientes em um centro de parto normal no Estado de São Paulo. RESULTADOS: a linha púrpura ocorreu em 56 das 100 mulheres na fase ativa do trabalho de parto. Houve correlação estatística significativa entre as medidas da dilatação cervical e da linha; 22% apresentaram descoloração da linha púrpura, não havendo associação entre número de mulheres com descoloração da linha e descida da cabeça fetal. Para 81% das parturientes a avaliação não provocou nenhum desconforto. CONCLUSÕES: desde que haja a presença da linha, sua avaliação pode ser utilizada para diminuir o número de exames vaginais, especialmente quando estes tiverem o objetivo de medir unicamente a dilatação cervical.<br>OBJECTIVES: to investigate the occurrence of the purple line and its respective discoloration in women during the active phase of labor and its association with dilation of the cervix and the position of the fetus in the pelvis. METHODS: a descriptive, prospective, observational study was carried out in 100 women in labor at a normal delivery clinic in the State of São Paulo. RESULTS: the purple line appeared in 56 of the 100 women in the active phase of labor. There was a statistically significant correlation between the measurements for dilation of the cervix and those for the line; in 22% the purple line was discolored and there was no association between the number of women with this discoloration and the extent to which the head of the fetus had descended in the cervix. For 81% of the women in labor, the evaluation caused no discomfort whatsoever. CONCLUSIONS: as this line is present, measurement of it could be used to reduce the number of vaginal examinations, especially when the single aim is to measure dilation of the cervix