Domain-specific recruitment of amide amino acids for protein synthesis

The formation of aminoacyl-transfer RNA is a crucial step in ensuring the accuracy of protein synthesis. Despite the central importance of this process in all living organisms, it remains unknown how archaea and some bacteria synthesize Asn-tRNA and Gln-tRNA. These amide aminoacyl-tRNAs can be formed by the direct acylation of tRNA, catalysed by asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase and glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase, respectively. A separate, indirect pathway involves the formation of mis-acylated Asp-tRNA(Asn) or Glu-tRNA(Gln), and the subsequent amidation of these amino acids while they are bound to tRNA, which is catalysed by amidotransferases. Here we show that all archaea possess an archaea-specific heterodimeric amidotransferase (encoded by gatD and gatE) for Gln-tRNA formation. However, Asn-tRNA synthesis in archaea is divergent: some archaea use asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase, whereas others use a heterotrimeric amidotransferase (encoded by the gatA, gatB and gatC genes). Because bacteria primarily use transamidation, and the eukaryal cytoplasm uses glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase, it appears that the three domains use different mechanisms for Gln-tRNA synthesis; as such, this is the only known step in protein synthesis where all three domains have diverged. Closer inspection of the two amidotransferases reveals that each of them recruited a metabolic enzyme to aid its function; this provides direct evidence for a relationship between amino-acid metabolism and protein biosynthesis.     

Sequence and analysis of chromosome 5 of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana

The genome of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana has been sequenced by an international collaboration, The Arabidopsis Genome Initiative. Here we report the complete sequence of chromosome 5. This chromosome is 26 megabases long; it is the second largest Arabidopsis chromosome and represents 21% of the sequenced regions of the genome. The sequence of chromosomes 2 and 4 have been reported previously and that of chromosomes 1 and 3, together with an analysis of the complete genome sequence, are reported in this issue. Analysis of the sequence of chromosome 5 yields further insights into centromere structure and the sequence determinants of heterochromatin condensation. The 5,874 genes encoded on chromosome 5 reveal several new functions in plants, and the patterns of gene organization provide insights into the mechanisms and extent of genome evolution in plants.     

Exogenous cAMP upregulates the expression of glnII and glnK-amtB genes in Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021

Sinorhizobium meliloti is a soil-borne bacterium that can lead a symbiosis life with leguminous host plants. Successful symbiont establishment requires specific recognition and progressive differentiation of both bac- teria and host cells. Once inside the plant cells of root nodules, the bacteria differentiate into non-dividing cells called bacteroids. Bacteroids obtain carbon source from the plant and, in return, they provide the plant with ammonium, and/or amino acid, as fixed nitrogen. Sign…     

Electrophoretic fractionation of chloroplast fragments in a pH gradient

Zusammenfassung Durch Zentrifugierung isolierte Fraktionen fragmentierter Spinatchloroplaste von hoher Hill-Aktivität wurden in einem pH-Gradienten elektrophoretisiert. Bei Citrat-Phosphat-Puffer vom pH-Gradienten zwischen 3,0 und 7,0 wurden drei photoaktive Bänder von verschiedenem isoelektrischem Punkt gefunden. Dies deutet auf chemische oder strukturelle Differenzen in den Untereinheiten der Fraktion.

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Supported by Air Force Systems Command, U.S. Air Force, Contract No. AF 33(616)-7255.     

Pentagastrin activation of adenylate cyclase in human gastric biopsy specimens

Summary Adenylate cyclase activity of human fundic mucosa is log-normally distributed and equally stimulated by pentagastrin and histamine. Cimetidine inhibits the histamine, but not the pentagastrin effect, which is even intensified by H₂-receptor blockade. The results indicate that pentagastrin and histamine activate adenylate cyclase via distinct receptors.Acknowledgments. This study was supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. The helpfull technical assistence of Mr W. Beer is gratefully acknowledged.     

Discovery of radio emission from the brown dwarf LP944-20

Brown dwarfs are not massive enough to sustain thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen at their centres, but are distinguished from gas-giant planets by their ability to burn deuterium. Brown dwarfs older than approximately 10 Myr are expected to possess short-lived magnetic fields and to emit radio and X-rays only very weakly from their coronae. An X-ray flare was recently detected on the brown dwarf LP944-20, whereas previous searches for optical activity (and one X-ray search) yielded negative results. Here we report the discovery of quiescent and flaring radio emission from LP944-20, with luminosities several orders of magnitude larger than predicted by the empirical relation between the X-ray and radio luminosities that has been found for many types of stars. Interpreting the radio data within the context of synchrotron emission, we show that LP944-20 has an unusually weak magnetic field in comparison to active M-dwarf stars, which might explain the previous null optical and X-ray results, as well as the strength of the radio emissions compared to those at X-ray wavelengths.