A cattle-human comparative map built with cattle BAC-ends and human genome sequence.

As a step toward the goal of adding the cattle genome to those available for multispecies comparative genome analysis, 40,224 cattle BAC clones were end-sequenced, yielding 60,547 sequences (BAC end sequences, BESs) after trimming with an average read length of 515 bp. Cattle BACs were anchored to the human and mouse genome sequences by BLASTN search, revealing 29.4% and 10.1% significant hits (E < e-5), respectively. More than 60% of all cattle BES hits in both the human and mouse genomes are located within known genes. In order to confirm in silico predictions of orthologyand their relative position on cattle chromosomes, 84 cattle BESs with similarity to sequences on HSA11 were mapped using a cattle-hamster radiation hybrid (RH) panel. Resulting RH maps of BTA15 and BTA29 cover approximately 85% of HSA11 sequence, revealing a complex patchwork shuffling of segments not explained by a simple translocation followed by internal rearrangements. Overlay of the mouse conserved syntenies onto HSA11 revealed that segmental boundaries appear to be conserved in all three species. The BAC clone-based comparative map provides a foundation for the evolutionary analysis of mammalian karyotypes and for sequencing of the cattle genome.

Production of acetone butanol ethanol from degermed corn using Clostridium beijerinckii BA101.

In this article we report on acetone butanol ethanol (ABE) fermentation characteristics of degermed corn when using Clostridium beijerinckii BA101. Recent economic studies suggested that recovery of germ from corn and hence corn oil would help to make the ABE fermentation process more economical. C. beijerinckii BA101 ferments corn mash efficiently to produce ABE under appropriate nutritional and environmental conditions. Corn mash contains germ/corn oil that is, possibly, ancillary to the production of butanol during the ABE fermentation process. Since the presence of corn oil is not a critical factor in solvent fermentation, it can be removed and this will allow for byproduct credit. Batch fermentation of degermed corn resulted in 8.93 g/L of total ABE production as compared with 24.80 g/L of total ABE when supplemented with P2 medium nutrients. During the course of the germ separation process, corn steeping is required prior to grinding and removing the germ. It is likely that some nutrients from the corn are leached out during the steeping process. This may reduce the rate of fermentation and impact the final concentration of butanol/ABE that can be achieved. Fermentation of degermed corn with corn steep liquor resulted in the production of 19.28 g/L of ABE.