Efficient heterocyclisation by (di)terpene synthases

While cyclic ether forming terpene synthases are known, the basis for such heterocyclisation is unclear. Here it is reported that numerous (di)terpene synthases, particularly including the ancestral ent-kaurene synthase, efficiently produce isomers of manoyl oxide from the stereochemically appropriate substrate. Accordingly, such heterocyclisation is easily accomplished by terpene synthases. Indeed, the use of single residue changes to induce production of the appropriate substrate in the upstream active site leads to efficient bifunctional enzymes producing isomers of manoyl oxide, representing novel enzymatic activity

Experimental verification of multipartite entanglement in quantum networks

Multipartite entangled states are a fundamental resource for a wide range of quantum information processing tasks. In particular, in quantum networks it is essential for the parties involved to be able to verify if entanglement is present before they carry out a given distributed task. Here we design and experimentally demonstrate a protocol that allows any party in a network to check if a source is distributing a genuinely multipartite entangled state, even in the presence of untrusted parties. The protocol remains secure against dishonest behaviour of the source and other parties, including the use of system imperfections to their advantage. We demonstrate the verification protocol in a three- and four-party setting using polarization-entangled photons, highlighting its potential for realistic photonic quantum communication and networking applications.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Limited choices: an exploratory study on paraffin use in KwaZulu-Natal

Commissioned by the Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa (PASASA) Regional Summit, Royal Hotel, Durban, 29 Ma

The Importance of Frame Participation in Rehabilitating Regarded Uluguru Mountain Slopes: The Experiences from Magadu and Towero Villages in Morogoro Region, Tanzania

The land of the Uluguru mountain slopes located above the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) main campus is characterized by degraded poor soils with deep gullies endangering the University infrastructures and the lives of the local people. To curb further damage to the environment, SUA initiated the Uluguru Mountain Integrated Soil Conservation Project (UMISCP). Farmers from two villages were involved from the beginning in carrying out rehabilitation and land management activities. Through participation, farmers identified themselves with the project and were able to determine and implement the strategies deemed relevant for rehabilitating the degraded areas. The strategies which were used to involve farmers and the achievements attained due to farmer participation in the project are described in this article. Authors are of the opinion that some of the experiences encountered could provide lessons to similar development oriented projects

Efficient heterocyclisation by (di)terpene synthases

While cyclic ether forming terpene synthases are known, the basis for such heterocyclisation is unclear. Here it is reported that numerous (di)terpene synthases, particularly including the ancestral ent-kaurene synthase, efficiently produce isomers of manoyl oxide from the stereochemically appropriate substrate. Accordingly, such heterocyclisation is easily accomplished by terpene synthases. Indeed, the use of single residue changes to induce production of the appropriate substrate in the upstream active site leads to efficient bifunctional enzymes producing isomers of manoyl oxide, representing novel enzymatic activity.This is a manuscript of an article published as Mafu, S., K. C. Potter, M. L. Hillwig, S. Schulte, J. Criswell, and R. J. Peters. "Efficient heterocyclisation by (di) terpene synthases." Chemical communications 51, no. 70 (2015): 13485-13487. doi: 10.1039/C5CC05754J. Posted with permission.</p