Spherical particles of halophilic archaea correlate with exposure to low water activity--implications for microbial survival in fluid inclusions of ancient halite.

Viable extremely halophilic archaea (haloarchaea) have been isolated from million-year-old salt deposits around the world; however, an explanation of their supposed longevity remains a fundamental challenge. Recently small roundish particles in fluid inclusions of 22 000- to 34 000-year-old halite were identified as haloarchaea capable of proliferation (Schubert BA, Lowenstein TK, Timofeeff MN, Parker MA, 2010, Environmental Microbiology, 12, 440-454). Searching for a method to produce such particles in the laboratory, we exposed rod-shaped cells of Halobacterium species to reduced external water activity (a(w)). Gradual formation of spheres of about 0.4 µm diameter occurred in 4 M NaCl buffer of a(w) ≤ 0.75, but exposure to buffered 4 M LiCl (a(w) ≤ 0.73) split cells into spheres within seconds, with concomitant release of several proteins. From one rod, three or four spheres emerged, which re-grew to normal rods in nutrient media. Biochemical properties of rods and spheres were similar, except for a markedly reduced ATP content (about 50-fold) and an increased lag phase of spheres, as is known from dormant bacteria. The presence of viable particles of similar sizes in ancient fluid inclusions suggested that spheres might represent dormant states of haloarchaea. The easy production of spheres by lowering a(w) should facilitate their investigation and could help to understand the mechanisms for microbial survival over geological times.

Immobilising of Cd, Pb, and Zn contaminated arable soils close to a former Pb/Zn smelter: a field study in Austria over 5 years.

Numerous smelter sites are surrounded by rural land. The entrance of non-essential metals such as lead or cadmium into the food chain is very likely as well as phytotoxicity effects of zinc. Finding a realistic solution for these large-scale contaminations was one aim of this study. Previous results from pot experiments showed a high potential for the reduction of metals entering the food chain via crops grown on smelter-contaminated soils from Arnoldstein, Austria, by the use of amendments for immobilisation. A further aim was to optimise a field experiment for overcoming the gap between pot and field experiments and to look for long-term efficiency of the treatments [lime (CA), red mud (RM), gravel sludge + red mud (GS + RM)]. Field experiment results were obtained for 5 years. Besides soil and soil pore water samples, the following harvests were yielded: spring barley (Hordeum distichon ssp. L.) (2004-2005), narrowleaf plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) (2006-2007) and velvet grass (Holcus lanatus L.) (2007-2008). The long-term efficiency of GS + RM led us to conclude that their application seems to be a realistic and practical measure for extensively contaminated land, best in combination with metal excluding cultivars.

Remediation of contaminated agricultural soils near a former Pb/Zn smelter in Austria: batch, pot and field experiments.

Metal contaminated crops from contaminated soils are possible hazards for the food chain. The aim of this study was to find practical and cost-effective measures to reduce metal uptake in crops grown on metal contaminated soils near a former metal smelter in Austria. Metal-inefficient cultivars of crop plants commonly grown in the area were investigated in combination with in-situ soil amendments. A laboratory batch experiment using 15 potential amendments was used to select 5 amendments to treat contaminated soil in a pot study using two Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars that differed in their ability to accumulate cadmium. Results from this experiment identified 3 of these amendments for use in a field trial. In the pot experiment a reduction in ammonium nitrate extractable Cd (<41%) and Pb (<49%) compared to the controls was measured, with a concurrent reduction of uptake into barley grain (Cd<62%, Pb<68%). In the field extractable fractions of Cd, Pb, and Zn were reduced by up to 96%, 99%, and 99%, respectively in amended soils.

Orthodontic-plastic surgical collaboration in aesthetic facial remodelling.

The following case report describes an individual with severe bimaxillary protrusion and a prominent nose who was treated successfully through orthodontic correction of the bimaxillary protrusion followed by rhinoplasty.

Glutamine-binding subunit of glutamate synthase and partial reactions catalyzed by this glutamine amidotransferase.

In the course of studies on glutamine-dependent carbamyl phosphate synthetase from Aerobacter aerogenes, we purified another protein which was found to be glutamate synthase (EC 2.6.1.53). The enzyme, obtained in apparently homogeneous form (monomer molecular weight about 227,000; s(20,omega) = 17.6 S), was found to be a typical glutamine amidotransferase in that it exhibits glutaminase activity and can utilize ammonia in place of glutamine as a nitrogen donor. The enzyme also catalyzes at low rates the oxidative deamination of glutamate in the presence of TPN, and it exhibits TPNH oxidase activity. The enzyme is similar to the glutamate synthase found in Escherichia coli in that it is an iron-sulfide flavoprotein. Treatment of the enzyme with sodium dodecyl sulfate or potassium thiocyanate dissociates it into nonidentical subunits exhibiting molecular weights of about 175,000 and 51,500. The glutamine-dependent activity of the enzyme is inhibited by L-2-amino-4-oxo-5-chloropentanoic acid, but this chloroketone analog of glutamine does not affect the ammonia-dependent glutamate synthase activity. Studies with [(14)C]chloroketone show that the reagent binds to the heavy subunit only. Inhibition by the chloroketone and its binding to the heavy subunit are markedly reduced in the presence of L-glutamine. Sedimentation velocity studies carried out in potassium thiocyanate indicate that iron-sulfide and flavin sites are also located on the heavy subunit. While these studies show that glutamate synthase resembles other glutamine amidotransferases in certain of its catalytic properties, the findings indicate that the light subunit of this enzyme, in contrast to that of several other glutamine amidotransferases, does not function to bind glutamine. It is of interest that the enzyme exhibits an unusually high affinity for ammonia as compared to a number of other glutamine amidotransferases. Glutamate synthase is inhibited (competitively with respect to glutamine) by low concentrations of methionine sulfone, methionine sulfoximine, and methionine sulfoxide.