alpha-helix E of Spo0A is required for sigma(A)- but not for sigma(H)-dependent promoter activation in Bacillus subtilis

At the onset of endospore formation in Bacillus subtilis, the DNA binding protein Spo0A activates transcription from two types of promoters. The first type includes the spoIIG and spoIIE promoters, which are used by sigma(A)-RNA polymerase, whereas the second type includes the spoIIA promoter, which is used by RNA polymerase containing the secondary sigma factor sigma(H). Previous genetic analyses have identified specific amino acids in alpha-helix E of Spo0A that are important for activation of Spo0A-dependent, sigma(A)-dependent promoters. However, these amino acids are not required for activation of the sigma(H)-dependent spoIIA promoter. We now report the effects of additional single-amino-acid substitutions and the effects of deletions in alpha-helix E. The effects of alanine substitutions revealed one new position (239) in Spo0A that appears to be specifically required for activation of the sigma(A)-dependent promoters. Based on the effects of a deletion mutation, we suggest that alpha-helix E in Spo0A is not directly involved in interaction with sigma(H)-RNA polymerase

The Daughter

I get so angry at children with their mothers in the library talking loudly about how they love books..

An Analysis of the Declaration of Independence

The language and syntax of the Declaration of Independence creates a flexibility that allows the opportunity for the document to apply to other situations through its appeal to the human condition and fundamental nature of mankind. It serves as a powerful assertion that transcends time and place because its concepts reflect those lasting desires relevant still in modern history. The Declaration has influenced many groups in their resistance against oppressors including French revolutionaries in 1789, disenfranchised American women in 1848, and Vietnamese colonists in 1945. The language of the documents created during these struggles echoes that of the American Declaration demonstrating the eternal nature of this work. The purpose of this paper is to show the lasting impact of the Declaration in relation to the aforementioned political movements; demonstrating the relevance and power of this document 200 years after its conception

Conducting a Basic Intake Exam

Expert tips from The HSUS Shelter Services tea

Murals in the newspaper room. A WPA series by Gladys Brannigan

Several documents describing the W.P.A. mural paintings installed in the newspaper room of the former Hamilton Smith Library of the University of New Hampshire.https://scholars.unh.edu/wpa_murals/1000/thumbnail.jp

The Bacillus subtilis signaling protein SpoIVB defines a new family of serine peptidases

The protein SpoIVB plays a key role in signaling in the sigma (K) checkpoint of Bacillus subtilis. This regulatory mechanism coordinates late gene expression during development in this organism and we have recently shown SpoIVB to be a serine peptidase. SpoIVB signals by transiting a membrane, undergoing self-cleavage, and then by an unknown mechanism activating a zinc metalloprotease, SpoIVFB, which cleaves pro-sigma (K) to its active form, sigma (K), in the outer mother cell chamber of the developing cell. In this work we have characterized the serine peptidase domain of SpoIVB. Alignment of SpoIVB with homologues from other spore formers has allowed site-specific mutagenesis of all potential active site residues within the peptidase domain. We have defined the putative catalytic domain of the SpoIVB serine peptidase as a 160-amino-acid residue segment at the carboxyl terminus of the protein. His236 and Ser378 are the most important residues for proteolysis, with Asp363 being the most probable third member of the catalytic triad. In addition, we have shown that mutations at residues Asn290 and His394 lead to delayed signaling in the sigma (K) checkpoint. The active site residues suggest that SpoIVB and its homologues from other spore formers are members of a new family of serine peptidases of the trypsin superfamily

The effects of childhood trauma on romantic support and adult problem behavior

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a common topic in research investigating outcomes of abused or traumatized children. Previous literature on ACEs have established that high levels of ACEs are associated with both higher levels of problem behaviors in adulthood and lower quality of support in romantic relationships in adolescence/early adulthood. However, the potential for high levels of romantic support and other healthy relationship qualities to act as a buffer against the negative effects of ACEs on later problem behaviors has yet to be addressed in the literature. Thus, the present study utilizes data from an ongoing longitudinal study on social relationships and related variables to examine the moderating effect of perceived support and observed instrumental and emotional support on later engagement in problem behaviors. The results provided evidence for support to act as a buffer as was hypothesized, but they also demonstrated potential to increase further engagement in problem behaviors

Correlating Resting-State Functional Connectivity with Mental Imagery Vividness in a Healthy Population

Mental imagery is the act of using the “mind’s eyes and ears” to generate and experience sensory information that is absent in the external environment. The vividness of mental imagery varies across individuals, but not much is known about what contributes to these differences. This exploratory study investigates the possible relationship between resting-state functional connectivity and the vividness of mental imagery. We performed a seed-based connectivity analysis on resting-state scans of two groups of healthy control subjects with Brodmann area 19, the precuneus, the superior temporal gyrus, the hippocampus, and the posterior cingulate cortex as regions of interest. Although the underlying functional network connectivity was the same across groups, there was no groupwise replication of pairwise connectivities associated with either visual or auditory mental imagery vividness. The lack of replication may be due to a number of factors, but we highlight the impact of asking one group about the vividness of their imagery after each task-based trial and not the other. This may have primed the individuals in the former group to be in a self-referential state of mind during the resting-state scan, affecting the pairwise connectivity relationships to either imagery modality

A new crystal form of penicillin acylase from Escherichia coli

A new crystal form of penicillin acylase (penicillin amidohydrolase, E.C. 3.5.1.11) from Escherichia coli W (ATCC 11105) is reported. The crystals were grown using a combination of hanging-drop and streak-seeding methods. The crystals are in the monoclinic space group P2(1) with cell dimensions a = 51.52, b = 131.95, c = 64.43 Angstrom, beta = 106.12 degrees. There is one heterodimer in the asymmetric unit (Vm = 2.45 Angstrom(3) Da(-1)) and the solvent content is 49%. Preliminary data have been collected to d(min) = 2.7 Angstrom using a MAR Research image plate and a rotating-anode X-ray source. Subsequent experiments show diffraction beyond 1.3 Angstrom at a synchrotron radiation source