Atomic force microscopy analysis of DNA extracted from the vegetative cells and the viable, but nonculturable, cells of two mycoplasmas (Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8 and Mycoplasma hominis PG37)

This article reports on a study of some characteristics of DNA extracted from the vegetative and viable, but nonculturable (VBNC), cells of two mycoplasma species (Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8 and Mycoplasma hominis PG37) using atomic force microscopy (AFM). DNA images were obtained by operating the AFM microscope in the tapping mode. It was found that DNA from the VBNC forms of M. hominis PG37 has decreased sizes (height: 0.177 ± 0.026 nm vs. 0.391 ± 0.041 nm for the vegetative forms, and width: 1.92 ± 0.099 vs. 2.17 ± 0.156 nm for the vegetative forms) in comparison to DNA from the vegetative forms of the mycoplasma. In the case of DNA from the A. laidlawii PG8 VBNC forms, we detected a decrease in width (1.506 ± 0.076 nm vs. 1.898 ± 0.117 nm for the vegetative forms), but an increase in height (0.641 ± 0.068 nm vs. 0.255 ± 0.010 nm for the vegetative forms) of the molecule. Analyzing the obtained results, one can speculate on some similarities in the physical-chemical properties of DNA from M. hominis PG37 and M. gallisepticum S6. In turn, this implies some general mechanisms of adaptation to a severe environment. ©2010 with author. Published by TheScientificWorld

Calculation of quasi-degenerate energy levels of two-electron ions

Accurate QED calculations of the interelectron interaction corrections for the $(1s2p)2 {}^1 P_1$, $(1s2p)2 {}^3 P_1$ two-electron configurations for ions with nuclear charge numbers $10\le Z \le 92$ are performed within the line profile approach. Total energies of these configurations are evaluated. Employing the fully relativistic treatment based on the {$j$--$j$} coupling scheme these energy levels become quasi-degenerate in the region $Z\le 40$. To treat such states within the framework of QED we utilize the line profile approach. The calculations are performed within the Coulomb gauge.Comment: 22 pages, 11 figure

Polyphenol oxidase from Pectobacterium atrosepticum: identification and cloning of gene and characteristics of the enzyme

© 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim In the present study, we attempted to elucidate if the harmful phytopathogenic bacteria of Pectobacterium genus (P. atrosepticum) possess the enzymes for oxidation of phenolic compounds. Polyphenol oxidase (laccase) activity was revealed in P. atrosepticum cell lysates. Using bioinformatic analysis, an ORF encoding a putative copper-containing polyphenol oxidase of 241 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 25.9 kDa was found. This protein (named Pal1) shares significant level of identity with laccases of a new type described for several bacterial species. Cloning and expression of the pal1 gene and the analysis of corresponding recombinant protein confirmed that Pal1 possessed laccase activity. The recombinant Pal1 protein was characterized in terms of substrate specificity, kinetic parameters, pH and temperature optimum, sensitivity to inhibitors and metal content. Pal1 demonstrated alkali- and thermo-tolerance. The kinetic parameters K m and kcat for 2,6-dimethoxyphenol were 0.353 ± 0.062 mM and 98.79 ± 4.9 s −1 , respectively. The protein displayed high tolerance to sodium azide, sodium fluoride, NaCl, SDS and cinnamic acid. The transcript level of the pal1 gene in P. atrosepticum was shown to be induced by plant-derived phenolic compound (ferulic acid) and copper sulfate

Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy study of local resistive switching by a complex signal in the yttria stabilized zirconia films

This work was supported by RFBR (18-42-520059р_а)

Beat-wave generation of plasmons in semiconductor plasmas

It is shown that in semiconductor plasmas, it is possible to generate large amplitude plasma waves by the beating of two laser beams with frequency difference close to the plasma frequency. For narrow gap semiconductors (for example n-type InSb), the system can simulate the physics underlying beat wave generation in relativistic gaseous plasmas.Comment: 11 pages, LaTex, no figures, no macro

On the Spectral Index of Distant Radio Galaxies

The problems of using the spectral index of radio galaxies in various tests, in particular, in selecting distant radio sources are considered. The history of the question of choosing a criterion of searching for distant radio galaxies based on the spectral index is presented. For a new catalog of 2442 radio galaxies constructed from NED, SDSS, and CATS data, an analytical form of the sp ectral index.redshift relation has been determined for the first time. The spectral index.angular size and spectral index.flux density diagrams have also been constructed. Peculiarities of the distribution of sources on these diagrams are discussed.Comment: 7 pages,5 figure