Hydrothermal synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrid materials: network structures of the bimetallic oxides [M(Hdpa)2V4O12] (M = Co, Ni, dpa = 4,4'-dipyridylamine).

The hydrothermal reactions of MCl(2).6H2O (M = Co, Ni) NaVO3, 4,4'-dipyridylamine (dpa), and H2O yield materials of the type [M(Hdpa)2V4O12] (M = Co (1), Ni (2)). The two-dimensional structures of 1 and 2 are constructed from bimetallic oxide networks (MV4O12)n2n- with monodentate Hdpa projecting the protonated ring into the interlamellar region. The oxide network may be described as ruffled chains of corner-sharing (VO4) tetrahedra linked by (NiO4N2) octahedra into the two-dimensional assembly. Crystal data: C10H10Co0.5N3O6V2(1), monoclinic P2(1)/c, a = 10.388(1) A, b = 7.6749(7) A, c = 16.702(2) A, beta = 102.516(1) degrees, Z = 4. C10H10N3Ni0.5O6V2 (2), monoclinic, P2(1)/c, c = 10.3815(2) A, b = 7.7044(2) A, c = 16.6638(4) A, beta = 102.573(1) degrees, Z = 4.

Ligand influences of the structures of molybdenum oxide networks.

The influence of organonitrogen ligands on the network structure of molybdenum oxides was examined by preparing three new molybdenum oxide phases [MoO3(4,4'-bpy)0.5] (MOXI-8), [HxMoO3(4,4'-bpy)0.5] (MOXI-9), and [MoO3(triazole)0.5] (MOXI-32). The structure of [MoO3(4,4'-bpy)0.5) consists of layers of corner-sharing MoO5N octahedra, buttressed by bridging 4,4'-bipyridyl ligands into a three-dimensional covalently bonded organic-inorganic composite material. Partial reduction of [MoO3(4,4'-bpy)0.5] yields the mixed-valence material [HxMoO3(4,4'-bpy)0.5] (x approximately 0.5). The most apparent structural change upon reduction is found in the Mo-ligand bond lengths of the MoO5N octahedra, which exhibit the usual (2 + 2 + 2) pattern in [MoO3(4,4'-bpy)0.5] and a more regular (5 + 1) pattern in [HxMoO3(4,4'-bpy)0.5]. Substitution of triazole for 4,4'-bipyridine yields [MoO3(triazole)0.5], which retains the layer motif of corner-sharing MoO5N octahedra but with distinct sinusoidal ruffling in contrast to planar layers of [MoO3(4,4'-bpy)0.5] and [HxMoO3(4,4'-bpy)0.5]. The folding reflects the ligand constraints imposed by the triazole ligand that bridges adjacent Mo sites within a layer. MOXI-8, C5H4NMoO3: monoclinic P2(1)/c, a = 7.5727(6) A, b = 7.3675(7) A, c = 22.433(3) A, beta = 90.396(8) degrees, Z = 8. MOXI-9, C5H4.5NMoO3: monoclinic I2/m, a = 5.2644(4) A, b = 5.2642(4) A, c = 22.730(2) A, beta = 90.035(1) degrees, Z = 4. MOXI-32, C2H3N3Mo2O6: orthorhombic Pbcm, a = 3.9289(5) A, b = 13.850(2) A, c = 13.366(2) A, Z = 4.

The commercial production of chemicals using pathway engineering.

Integration of metabolic pathway engineering and fermentation production technologies is necessary for the successful commercial production of chemicals. The 'toolbox' to do pathway engineering is ever expanding to enable mining of biodiversity, to maximize productivity, enhance carbon efficiency, improve product purity, expand product lines, and broaden markets. Functional genomics, proteomics, fluxomics, and physiomics are complementary to pathway engineering, and their successful applications are bound to multiply product turnover per cell, channel carbon efficiently, shrink the size of factories (i.e., reduce steel in the ground), and minimize product development cycle times to bring products to market.

High-level expression of ice nuclei in a Pseudomonas syringae strain is induced by nutrient limitation and low temperature.

Attempts were made to maximize the expression of ice nuclei in Pseudomonas syringae T1 isolated from a tomato leaf. Nutritional starvation for nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur, or iron but not carbon at 32 degrees C, coupled to a shift to 14 to 18 degrees C, led to the rapid induction of type 1 ice nuclei (i.e., ice nuclei active at temperatures warmer than -5 degrees C). Induction was most pronounced in stationary-phase cells that were grown with sorbitol as the carbon source and cooled rapidly, and under optimal conditions, the expression of type 1 ice nuclei increased from < 1 per 10(7) cells (i.e., not detectable) to 1 in every cell in 2 to 3 h. The induction was blocked by protein and RNA synthesis inhibitors, indicative of new gene expression. Pulse-labeling of nongrowing cultures with [35S]methionine after a shift to a low temperature demonstrated that the synthesis of a new set of "low-temperature" proteins was induced. Induced ice nuclei were stable at a low temperature, with no loss in activity at 4 degrees C after 8 days, but after a shift back to 32 degrees C, type 1 ice nuclei completely disappeared, with a half-life of approximately 1 h. Repeated cycles of low-temperature induction and high-temperature turnover of these ice nuclei could be demonstrated with the same nongrowing cells. Not all P. syringae strains from tomato or other plants were fully induced under the same culture conditions as strain T1, but all showed increased expression of type 1 ice nuclei after the shift to the low temperature. In support of this view, analysis of the published DNA sequence preceding the translational start site of the inaZ gene (R. L. Green and G. Warren, Nature [London] 317:645-648, 1985) suggests the presence of a gearbox-type promoter (M. Vincente, S. R. Kushner, T. Garrido, and M. Aldea, Mol. Microbiol. 5:2085-2091, 1991).

Fate of Ice Nucleation-Active Pseudomonas syringae Strains in Alpine Soils and Waters and in Synthetic Snow Samples.

The stability of the ice nucleation activity (INA) and viability of INA Pseudomonas syringae 31a, used as an ice nucleator in the manufacture of synthetic snow, was determined in snow. The viability of P. syringae 1-2b, a rifampin-resistant mutant selected from strain 31a to improve recovery from test samples, was determined in laboratory tests of three alpine soil and water samples from three different sources. Snow samples were exposed to environmental conditions or held in darkness at -20 degrees C. Samples of soil and water were maintained in darkness at 0, 7.5, or 15 degrees C. Parent strain 31a INA decreased significantly (>99.0%) in snow exposed to sunlight and freeze-thaw, while the INA of the cell population in snow held in darkness at -20 degrees C remained essentially unchanged. No viable strain 31a was detected in snow exposed to the environment after 7 days, while the viability of strain 31a in snow held in darkness at -20 degrees C decreased to <3% of the original inoculation at the test conclusion. Mutant strain 1-2b viability was undetectable or had decreased significantly 19 days postinoculation in soil samples held at 0 or 15 degrees C. In contrast, 1-2b viability remained detectable at low levels for the duration of the test in soils held at 7.5 degrees C. The 1-2b population demonstrated a significantly longer half-life in peatlike soil than in the loam soils tested. The rate of decrease in 1-2b viability was essentially the same in the three alpine water samples tested with respect to water temperature and sample location.

The beta subunit of the Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III holoenzyme interacts functionally with the catalytic core in the absence of other subunits.

We have previously demonstrated that the addition of a stoichiometric excess of the beta subunit of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III holoenzyme to DNA polymerase III or holoenzyme itself can lead to an ATP-independent increase in the processivity of these enzyme forms (Crute, J. J., LaDuca, R. J., Johanson, K. O., McHenry, C. S., and Bambara, R. A. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 11344-11349). Here, we show that the beta subunit can interact directly with the catalytic core of the holoenzyme, DNA polymerase III, generating a new form of the enzyme with enhanced catalytic and processive capabilities. The addition of saturating levels of the beta subunit to the core DNA polymerase III enzyme results in as much as a 7-fold stimulation of synthetic activity. Two populations of DNA products were generated by the DNA polymerase III X beta enzyme complex. Short products resulting from the addition of 5-10 nucleotides/primer fragment were generated by DNA polymerase III in the presence and absence of added beta subunit. A second population of much longer products was generated only in beta-supplemented DNA polymerase III reactions. The DNA polymerase III-beta reaction was inhibited by single-stranded DNA binding protein and was unaffected by ATP, distinguishing it from the holoenzyme-catalyzed reaction. Complex formation of the DNA polymerase III core enzyme with beta increased the residence time of the enzyme on synthetic DNA templates. Our results demonstrate that the beta stimulation of DNA polymerase III can be attributed to a more efficient and highly processive elongation capability of the DNA polymerase III X beta complex. They also prove that at least part of beta's normal contribution to the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme reaction takes place through interaction with DNA polymerase III core enzyme components to produce the essential complex necessary for efficient elongation in vivo.

Site-specific pausing of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis catalyzed by four forms of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III.

Sites on an fd DNA template which terminate synthesis catalyzed by each of four forms of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III have been identified at single nucleotide resolution. Results were obtained by comparing the products made by forms of DNA polymerase III with products generated from the same 3'-terminus by using the dideoxynucleotide sequencing method, on high-resolution polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Each form of DNA polymerase III generates products of distinct lengths ending at a limited number of preferred sites of synthesis termination. The addition of auxiliary subunits to the DNA polymerase III core form of the enzyme has a distinct functional effect on primer elongation and specificity of polymerase pausing. Most sites (65%) can be correlated to positions of potential secondary structure in the template arising via local hydrogen-bonding interactions. The proximity of polymerase pausing to sites adjacent to hairpin stems was related to the size of the enzyme since the smaller core form of DNA polymerase III generally paused at sites which were closer to the base of these structures than the larger holoenzyme. The occurrence of termination sites is markedly affected by the inclusion of spermidine or Escherichia coli single-stranded DNA binding protein in the reaction mixtures. Additionally, a nucleotide composition specificity of pause sites has been observed.

Excess beta subunit can bypass the ATP requirement for highly processive synthesis by the Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III holoenzyme.

We have previously shown that the processive synthesis of long DNA products on a poly(dA) X oligo(dT)10 primer-template is facilitated by formation of an isolable initiation complex between the Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III holoenzyme and DNA in the presence of ATP (Fay, P. J., Johanson, K. O., McHenry, C. S., and Bambara, R. A. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 5692-5699). Here we have demonstrated that the ATP requirement for processive synthesis can be obviated by a large excess of the beta subunit of the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme. The reaction which occurs in the presence of excess beta can be distinguished from the ATP-mediated reaction by its salt sensitivity and the lack of stabile initiation complex formation between polymerase and primed DNA. A model is presented which suggest that one of the functions of ATP in the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme reaction is to lock beta into the replicative complex such that it does not readily equilibrate with solution.

Expression of accumulated capacity for initiation of chromosome and minichromosome replication in dnaA mutants of Escherichia coli.

Chromosome and minichromosome replication were examined in temperature-sensitive dnaA mutants of Escherichia coli growing at temperatures between permissive and nonpermissive. Periodicities in [14C]thymidine uptake were detected as cultures incubated at intermediate temperatures approached late exponential-early stationary phase of growth. Exposure of the cultures to a nutritional shift-up caused a stimulation of chromosome replication associated with a rapid initiation of new rounds of replication, very similar to that observed after exposure to chloramphenicol. Addition of rifampin also caused a stimulation, but to a much lesser extent. The induced initiations of chromosome replication took place in two waves, as was the case when the cultures were simply shifted to permissive temperature. Minichromosomes were also stimulated to replicate by the addition of chloramphenicol at intermediate temperatures, providing further evidence that the chromosomal region which responded to the chloramphenicol treatment was in the vicinity of oriC. The findings are consistent with the conclusion that the initiations induced by chloramphenicol are consequences of the involvement of the dnaA gene product in a transcriptional step at initiation, as suggested by Orr et al. The results also suggest that the activity of the dnaA gene product is not normally involved in controlling the frequency of initiation of chromosome replication.