Verstetigung des de.NBI-Netzwerks

Der Aufbau einer Bioinformatik-Infrastruktur in Deutschland wird vom BMBF seit dem Jahr 2015 betrieben. Dazu wurde die Fördermaßnahme „Deutsches Netzwerk für Bioinformatik-Infrastruktur (de.NBI)” (www.denbi.de) ins Leben gerufen mit der Aufgabe, Forschenden in den Lebenswissenschaften die Analyse großer Datenmengen zu ermöglichen. Nach Einrichtung der Infrastrukturbereiche Serviceangebote, Trainingskurse und Cloud-Computing steht nun eine Verstetigung dieser Bioinformatik-Infrastruktur durch Integration in die Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft an. Die Bundesregierung hat hierzu in ihrer jüngsten Finanzplanung dem Forschungszentrum Jülich Finanzmittel zur Verfügung gestellt, um die etablierte Bioinformatik-Infrastruktur langfristig zu betreiben

Gene disruption and gene replacement in Streptomyces via single stranded DNA transformation of integration vectors

Hillemann D, Pühler A, Wohlleben W. Gene disruption and gene replacement in Streptomyces via single stranded DNA transformation of integration vectors. Nucleic Acids Research. 1991;19(4):727-731.For the isolation of single stranded plasmid DNA, various E. coli and E. coli- Streptomyces shuttle plasmids were equipped with the f1 replication origin. The transformation of some representative Streptomyces species with plasmid vectors occurred irrespective of whether single or double stranded DNA was used. In contrast, the transformation of Streptomyces was 10 to 100 times more efficient when an integration vector was in the single stranded form as opposed to the double stranded form. Streptomyces viridochromogenes was transformed by single stranded DNA integration vectors in order to replace the pat by the tsr gene and generate mutants unable to synthesize phosphinothricin - tripeptide (PTT)

Electrotransformation of intact and osmotically sensitive cells of Corynebacterium glutamicum

Wolf H, Pühler A, Neumann E. Electrotransformation of intact and osmotically sensitive cells of Corynebacterium glutamicum. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 1989;30(3):283-289

The dual transcriptional regulator CysR in Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 controls a subset of genes of the McbR regulon in response to the availability of sulphide acceptor molecules

Background: Regulation of sulphur metabolism in Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 has been studied intensively in the last few years, due to its industrial as well as scientific importance. Previously, the gene cg0156 was shown to belong to the regulon of McbR, a global transcriptional repressor of sulphur metabolism in C. glutamicum. This gene encodes a putative ROK-type regulator, a paralogue of the activator of sulphonate utilisation, SsuR. Therefore, it is an interesting candidate for study to further the understanding of the regulation of sulphur metabolism in C. glutamicum. Results: Deletion of cg0156, now designated cysR, results in the inability of the mutant to utilise sulphate and aliphatic sulphonates. DNA microarray hybridisations revealed 49 genes with significantly increased and 48 with decreased transcript levels in presence of the native CysR compared to a cysR deletion mutant. Among the genes positively controlled by CysR were the gene cluster involved in sulphate reduction, fpr2 cysIXHDNYZ, and ssuR. Gel retardation experiments demonstrated that binding of CysR to DNA depends in vitro on the presence of either O-acetyl-L-serine or O-acetyl-L-homoserine. Mapping of the transcription start points of five transcription units helped to identify a 10 bp inverted repeat as the possible CysR binding site. Subsequent in vivo tests proved this motif to be necessary for CysR-dependent transcriptional regulation. Conclusion: CysR acts as the functional analogue of the unrelated LysR-type regulator CysB from Escherichia coli, controlling sulphide production in response to acceptor availability. In both bacteria, gene duplication events seem to have taken place which resulted in the evolution of dedicated regulators for the control of sulphonate utilisation. The striking convergent evolution of network topology indicates the strong selective pressure to control the metabolism of the essential but often toxic sulphur-containing (bio-)molecules

Transgenic herbicide-resistant crops: A participatory technology assessment. Summary report

This report summarises a participatory technology assessment on transgenic herbicide-resistant crops organised by the Research Unit, Standard Setting and the Environment, at the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin, between 1991 and 1993. The technology assessment was a round table involving some fifty representatives from industry, environmental groups, regulatory agencies and science in more than ten days of controversial debate and analysis. The first part of this summary report describes the methodology used applied in analysing the deliberations of the technology assessment; the second part presents the empirical findings with respect to the performance, the risks and the benefits of transgenic herbicide-resistant crops; the third part gives an account of the ethical, legal and political discussions held in the technology assessment, as well as the recommendations for regulation advanced by the participants.Dieser Bericht ist die Zusammenfassung eines partizipativen Verfahrens zur Technikfolgenabschätzung von Kulturpflanzen mit gentechnisch erzeugter Herbizidresistenz, das von der Abteilung Normbildung und Umwelt am Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin organisiert worden war. Das Verfahren hat von 1991 bis 1993 etwa fünfzig Vertreter der Industrie, der Umweltgruppen, der zuständigen Behörden und der Wissenschaft an einem Runden Tisch versammelt, an dem die Beteiligten insgesamt fast zehn Tage kontrovers miteinander diskutiert haben. Im ersten Teil dieser Zusammenfassung wird das partizipative Verfahren beschrieben und erläutert, wie aus den Diskussionen zwischen den Beteiligten Ergebnisse für die Technikfolgenabschätzung abgeleitet wurden. Der zweite Teil enthält die empirischen Befunde zu den möglichen Risiken und zum erwartbaren Nutzen transgener herbizid-resistenter Kulturpflanzen. Der dritte Teil stellt die ethischen, rechtlichen und politischen Diskussionen dar, die zwischen den Beteiligten geführt wurden; er enthält außerdem die Empfehlungen des Verfahrens zur Regulierung herbizid-resistenter Pflanzen

Transgenic herbidcide-resistant crops: a participatory technology assessment: summary report

"Dieser Bericht ist die Zusammenfassung eines partizipativen Verfahrens zur Technikfolgenabschätzung von Kulturpflanzen mit gentechnisch erzeugter Herbizidresistenz, das von der Abteilung 'Normbildung und Umwelt' am Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin organisiert worden war. Das Verfahren hat von 1991 bis 1993 etwa fünfzig Vertreter der Industrie, der Umweltgruppen, der zuständigen Behörden und der Wissenschaft an einem 'Runden Tisch' versammelt, an dem die Beteiligten insgesamt fast zehn Tage kontrovers miteinander diskutiert haben. Im ersten Teil dieser Zusammenfassung wird das partizipative Verfahren beschrieben und erläutert, wie aus den Diskussionen zwischen den Beteiligten Ergebnisse für die Technikfolgenabschätzung abgeleitet wurden. Der zweite Teil enthält die empirischen Befunde zu den möglichen Risiken und zum erwartbaren Nutzen transgener herbizid-resistenter Kulturpflanzen. Der dritte Teil stellt die ethischen, rechtlichen und politischen Diskussionen dar, die zwischen den Beteiligten geführt wurden; er enthält außerdem die Empfehlungen des Verfahrens zur Regulierung herbizid-resistenter Pflanzen." (Autorenreferat)"This report summarises a participatory technology assessment on transgenic herbicide-resistant crops organised by the Research Unit, Standard Setting and the Environment, at the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin, between 1991 and 1993. The technology assessment was a 'round table' involving some fifty representatives from industry, environmental groups, regulatory agencies and science in more than ten days of controversial debate and analysis. The first part of this summary report describes the methodology used applied in analysing the deliberations of the technology assessment; the second part presents the empirical findings with respect to the performance, the risks and the benefits of transgenic herbicide-resistant crops; the third part gives an account of the ethical, legal and political discussions held in the technology assessment, as well as the recommendations for regulation advanced by the participants." (author's abstract

Comparative genomic analysis of Acinetobacter spp. plasmids originating from clinical settings and environmental habitats

Bacteria belonging to the genus Acinetobacter have become of clinical importance over the last decade due to the development of a multi-resistant phenotype and their ability to survive under multiple environmental conditions. The development of these traits among Acinetobacter strains occurs frequently as a result of plasmid-mediated horizontal gene transfer. In this work, plasmids from nosocomial and environmental Acinetobacter spp. collections were separately sequenced and characterized. Assembly of the sequenced data resulted in 19 complete replicons in the nosocomial collection and 77 plasmid contigs in the environmental collection. Comparative genomic analysis showed that many of them had conserved backbones. Plasmid coding sequences corresponding to plasmid specific functions were bioinformatically and functionally analyzed. Replication initiation protein analysis revealed the predominance of the Rep_3 superfamily. The phylogenetic tree constructed from all Acinetobacter Rep_3 superfamily plasmids showed 16 intermingled clades originating from nosocomial and environmental habitats. Phylogenetic analysis of relaxase proteins revealed the presence of a new sub-clade named MOBQAci, composed exclusively of Acinetobacter relaxases. Functional analysis of proteins belonging to this group showed that they behaved differently when mobilized using helper plasmids belonging to different incompatibility groups.Fil: Salto, Ileana Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Torres Tejerizo, Gonzalo Arturo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Universitat Bielefeld. Center For Biotechnology; AlemaniaFil: Wibberg, Daniel. Universitat Bielefeld. Center For Biotechnology; AlemaniaFil: Pühler, Alfred. Universitat Bielefeld. Center For Biotechnology; AlemaniaFil: Schlüter, Andreas. Universitat Bielefeld. Center For Biotechnology; AlemaniaFil: Pistorio, Mariano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentin

The individual and common repertoire of DNA-binding transcriptional regulators of Corynebacterium glutamicum, Corynebacterium efficiens, Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium jeikeium deduced from the complete genome sequences

Brune I, Brinkrolf K, Kalinowski J, Pühler A, Tauch A. The individual and common repertoire of DNA-binding transcriptional regulators of Corynebacterium glutamicum, Corynebacterium efficiens, Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium jeikeium deduced from the complete genome sequences. BMC Genomics. 2005;6(1): 86.Background: The genus Corynebacterium includes Gram-positive microorganisms of great biotechnologically importance, such as Corynebacterium glutamicum and Corynebacterium efficiens, as well as serious human pathogens, such as Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium jeikeium. Although genome sequences of the respective species have been determined recently, the knowledge about the repertoire of transcriptional regulators and the architecture of global regulatory networks is scarce. Here, we apply a combination of bioinformatic tools and a comparative genomic approach to identify and characterize a set of conserved DNA-binding transcriptional regulators in the four corynebacterial genomes. Results: A collection of 127 DNA-binding transcriptional regulators was identified in the C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 genome, whereas 103 regulators were detected in C. efficiens YS-314, 63 in C. diphtheriae NCTC 13129 and 55 in C. jeikeium K411. According to amino acid sequence similarities and protein structure predictions, the DNA-binding transcriptional regulators were grouped into 25 regulatory protein families. The common set of DNA-binding transcriptional regulators present in the four corynebacterial genomes consists of 28 proteins that are apparently involved in the regulation of cell division and septation, SOS and stress response, carbohydrate metabolism and macroelement and metal homeostasis. Conclusion: This work describes characteristic features of a set of conserved DNA-binding transcriptional regulators present within the corynebacterial core genome. The knowledge on the physiological function of these proteins should not only contribute to our understanding of the regulation of gene expression but will also provide the basis for comprehensive modeling of transcriptional regulatory networks of these species

The individual and common repertoire of DNA-binding transcriptional regulators of Corynebacterium glutamicum, Corynebacterium efficiens, Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium jeikeium deduced from the complete genome sequences

BACKGROUND: The genus Corynebacterium includes Gram-positive microorganisms of great biotechnologically importance, such as Corynebacterium glutamicum and Corynebacterium efficiens, as well as serious human pathogens, such as Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium jeikeium. Although genome sequences of the respective species have been determined recently, the knowledge about the repertoire of transcriptional regulators and the architecture of global regulatory networks is scarce. Here, we apply a combination of bioinformatic tools and a comparative genomic approach to identify and characterize a set of conserved DNA-binding transcriptional regulators in the four corynebacterial genomes. RESULTS: A collection of 127 DNA-binding transcriptional regulators was identified in the C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 genome, whereas 103 regulators were detected in C. efficiens YS-314, 63 in C. diphtheriae NCTC 13129 and 55 in C. jeikeium K411. According to amino acid sequence similarities and protein structure predictions, the DNA-binding transcriptional regulators were grouped into 25 regulatory protein families. The common set of DNA-binding transcriptional regulators present in the four corynebacterial genomes consists of 28 proteins that are apparently involved in the regulation of cell division and septation, SOS and stress response, carbohydrate metabolism and macroelement and metal homeostasis. CONCLUSION: This work describes characteristic features of a set of conserved DNA-binding transcriptional regulators present within the corynebacterial core genome. The knowledge on the physiological function of these proteins should not only contribute to our understanding of the regulation of gene expression but will also provide the basis for comprehensive modeling of transcriptional regulatory networks of these species