The ubiquitination landscape of the influenza A virus polymerase.

During influenza A virus (IAV) infections, viral proteins are targeted by cellular E3 ligases for modification with ubiquitin. Here, we decipher and functionally explore the ubiquitination landscape of the IAV polymerase proteins during infection of human alveolar epithelial cells by applying mass spectrometry analysis of immuno-purified K-ε-GG (di-glycyl)-remnant-bearing peptides. We have identified 59 modified lysines across the three subunits, PB2, PB1 and PA of the viral polymerase of which 17 distinctively affect mRNA transcription, vRNA replication and the generation of recombinant viruses via non-proteolytic mechanisms. Moreover, further functional and in silico analysis indicate that ubiquitination at K578 in the PB1 thumb domain is mechanistically linked to dynamic structural transitions of the viral polymerase that are required for vRNA replication. Mutations K578A and K578R differentially affect the generation of recombinant viruses by impeding cRNA and vRNA synthesis, NP binding as well as polymerase dimerization. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the ubiquitin-mediated charge neutralization at PB1-K578 disrupts the interaction to an unstructured loop in the PB2 N-terminus that is required to coordinate polymerase dimerization and facilitate vRNA replication. This provides evidence that IAV exploits the cellular ubiquitin system to modulate the activity of the viral polymerase for viral replication

Complete genome sequence of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius type strain (104-IA).

Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius (Darland and Brock 1971) is the type species of the larger of the two genera in the bacillal family 'Alicyclobacillaceae'. A. acidocaldarius is a free-living and non-pathogenic organism, but may also be associated with food and fruit spoilage. Due to its acidophilic nature, several enzymes from this species have since long been subjected to detailed molecular and biochemical studies. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. This is the first completed genome sequence of the family 'Alicyclobacillaceae'. The 3,205,686 bp long genome (chromosome and three plasmids) with its 3,153 protein-coding and 82 RNA genes is part of the Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea project

Pricing of consumer loans on electronic lending marketplaces - (comm-)unity is strength?

PEER-TO-PEER LENDING COMMUNITIES LIKE ZOPA, PROSPER, OR SMAVA ARE ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING WEB 2.0 APPLICATIONS IN RETAIL BANKING. WE EXAMINE WHETHER THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE ABLE TO TAKE OVER THE FUNCTION OF BANKS IN CONSUMER LENDING

Paenibacillus agarexedens sp nov., nom. rev., and Paenibacillus agaridevorans sp nov.

Twenty-two agarolytic, aerobic, spore-forming strains were characterized taxonomically by DNA-DNA reassociation experiments, riboprint analyses, 16S rDNA sequencing and phenetic similarity analyses. Based on riboprint analyses, the strains formed eight ribogroups, six of which contained 2-6 strains and two encompassed single strains. Within the multi-strain ribogroups, similarities ranged from 91-99%. Phylogenetic analyses of representatives of the eight groups by 16S rDNA sequence analysis showed that the strains were affiliated to the genus Paenibacillus, but relatedness to described Paenibacillus species was only moderate (<97.8% sequence similarity). Published DNA-DNA similarity values for most of the agarolytic strains, supplemented with new data, supported the distinctiveness of the eight ribogroups. Intragroup DNA-DNA similarity values ranged from 80 to 104%, while intergroup DNA-DNA similarities were <35%. Based on genomic distinctiveness and supported by the presence of distinguishing phenotypic properties, multi-strain groups 1 and 2 are proposed as novel species, Paenibacillus agarexedens sp. nov., nom. rev. (type strain, DSM 1327(T) = CIP 107437(T)) and Paenibacillus agaridevorans sp. nov. (type strain, DSM 1355(T) = CIP 107436(T)).5341051105