Project description:<p>Cyclic peptides are reported to have antibacterial, antifungal and other bioactivities. Orbitides are a class of cyclic peptide that are small, head-to-tail cyclized, composed of proteinogenic amino acids, and lack disulfide bonds; they are also known in several genera of the plant family Rutaceae. Melicope xanthoxyloides is the Australian rain forest tree of the Rutaceae family in which evolidine - the first plant cyclic peptide - was discovered. Evolidine (cyclo-SFLPVNL) has subsequently been all but forgotten in the academic literature, so to redress this we used tandem mass spectrometry and de novo transcriptomics to rediscover evolidine and decipher its biosynthetic origin from a short precursor just 48 residues in length. We also identify another six M. xanthoxyloides orbitides using the same techniques. These peptides have atypically diverse C-termini consisting of residues not recognized by either of the known proteases plants use to macrocyclize peptides, suggesting new cyclizing enzymes a wait discovery. We examined the structure of two of the novel orbitides by NMR, finding one had a definable structure, whereas the other did not. Mining RNA-seq and whole genome sequencingdata from other species of the Rutaceae familyrevealed a large and diverse family of peptides is encoded by similar sequences across the family and demonstrates how powerful de novo transcriptomics can be at accelerating the discovery of new peptide families.</p>
Project description:Analysis of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples may give information of the identity of unattached (planktonic) subgingival bacteria, the 35 forefront candidates for systemic dispersal via ulcerated periodontal pocket epithelium. Our study represents the first one targeting the identity of bacteria in gingival crevicular fluid. Methodology/Principal findings: We determined bacterial species diversity in GCF samples of a group of periodontitis patients and delineated contributing bacterial and host-associated factors. Subgingival paper point (PP) samples from the same sites were taken for comparison. After DNA extraction, 16S rRNA genes were PCR amplified and DNA-DNA hybridization was performed using a microarray for over 300 bacterial species or groups. Altogether 133 species from 41 genera and 8 phyla 45 were detected with 9 to 62 and 18 to 64 species in GCF and PP samples, respectively, 46 per patient. Projection to latent structures by means of partial least squares (PLS) was applied to the multivariate data analysis. PLS regression analysis showed that species of genera including Campylobacter, Selenomonas, Porphyromonas, Catonella, Tannerella, Dialister, Peptostreptococcus, Streptococcus and Eubacterium had significant positive correlations and the number of teeth with low-grade attachment loss a significant negative correlation to species diversity in GCF samples. OPLS/O2PLS discriminant analysis revealed significant positive correlations to GCF sample group membership for species of genera Campylobacter, Leptotrichia, Prevotella, Dialister, Tannerella, Haemophilus, Fusobacterium, Eubacterium, and Actinomyces. Conclusions/Significance: Among a variety of detected species those traditionally classified as Gram-negative anaerobes growing in mature subgingival biofilms were the main predictors for species diversity in GCF samples as well as responsible for distinguishing GCF samples from PP samples. GCF bacteria may provide new prospects for studying dynamic properties of subgingival biofilms. The microbial profiles of GCF and subgingival plaque were analyzed from 17 subjects with periodontal disease.
Project description:Analysis of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples may give information of the identity of unattached (planktonic) subgingival bacteria, the 35 forefront candidates for systemic dispersal via ulcerated periodontal pocket epithelium. Our study represents the first one targeting the identity of bacteria in gingival crevicular fluid. Methodology/Principal findings: We determined bacterial species diversity in GCF samples of a group of periodontitis patients and delineated contributing bacterial and host-associated factors. Subgingival paper point (PP) samples from the same sites were taken for comparison. After DNA extraction, 16S rRNA genes were PCR amplified and DNA-DNA hybridization was performed using a microarray for over 300 bacterial species or groups. Altogether 133 species from 41 genera and 8 phyla 45 were detected with 9 to 62 and 18 to 64 species in GCF and PP samples, respectively, 46 per patient. Projection to latent structures by means of partial least squares (PLS) was applied to the multivariate data analysis. PLS regression analysis showed that species of genera including Campylobacter, Selenomonas, Porphyromonas, Catonella, Tannerella, Dialister, Peptostreptococcus, Streptococcus and Eubacterium had significant positive correlations and the number of teeth with low-grade attachment loss a significant negative correlation to species diversity in GCF samples. OPLS/O2PLS discriminant analysis revealed significant positive correlations to GCF sample group membership for species of genera Campylobacter, Leptotrichia, Prevotella, Dialister, Tannerella, Haemophilus, Fusobacterium, Eubacterium, and Actinomyces. Conclusions/Significance: Among a variety of detected species those traditionally classified as Gram-negative anaerobes growing in mature subgingival biofilms were the main predictors for species diversity in GCF samples as well as responsible for distinguishing GCF samples from PP samples. GCF bacteria may provide new prospects for studying dynamic properties of subgingival biofilms.
Project description:In the present study, we screened various fungi for their ability to degrade intact polymers, such as ether-based PU and LDPE, using Impranil and a mixture of long-chain alkanes, not only as sole carbon sources but also as enzyme indicators for polymer degradation. The agar plate screening revealed 3 fungal strains belonging to Fusarium and Aspergillus genera, which were further cultured in presence of the same carbon sources, and their secretome was utilized for polymer degradation. Especially for ether-based PU, the secreted proteins of a Fusarium species reduced the weight and the molecular weight of the sample by 24.5 and 20.4%, respectively, while at the same time the secretome of an Aspergillus species caused changes in the molecular structure of LDPE. The proteomic analysis followed proved that the enzymes induced in presence of Impranil can selectively degrade the urethane bond of ether-based PU, a discovery that offers a new alternative in PU waste treatment. Meanwhile, the mechanism of LDPE degradation was not completely understood, although the presence of oxidative enzymes probably accompanied by reactive oxygen species, could be the main factors contributing to polymer functionalization.
Project description:Phylogenomic reevaluation of Triaenonychoidea (Opiliones: Laniatores), and systematics of Triaenonychidae, including new families, genera, and species.
Project description:Centromeres are functionally conserved chromosomal loci essential for proper chromosome segregation during cell division, yet they show high sequence diversity across species. A near universal feature of centromeres is the presence of repetitive sequences, such as satellites and transposable elements (TEs). Because of their rapidly evolving karyotypes, gibbons represent a compelling model to investigate divergence of functional centromere sequences across short evolutionary timescales. Previously, we identified a novel composite retrotransposon, LAVA, that is exclusive to gibbons and expanded within the centromere regions of one gibbon genus, Hoolock. In this study, we use ChIP-seq, RNA-seq and fluorescence in situ hybridization to comprehensively investigate the repeat content of centromeres of the four extant gibbon genera (Hoolock, Hylobates, Nomascus and Siamang). We find that CENP-A nucleosomes and the DNA-protein interface with the inner kinetochore are enriched in retroelements in all gibbon genera, rather than satellite DNA. We find that LAVA in Hoolock is enriched in the centromeres of most chromosomes and shows centromere- and species-specific sequence and structural differences compared to other genera, potentially as a result of its co-option to a centromeric function. In contrast, we found that a centromeric retroelement-derived macrosatellite, SST1, corresponds with chromosome breakpoint reuse across gibbons and shows high sequence conservation across genera. Finally, using de novo assembly of centromere-specific sequences, we determine that transcripts originating from gibbon centromeres recapitulate species-specific TE diversity. Combined, our data reveals dynamic, species-specific shifts in repeat content that define gibbon centromeres and coincide with the extensive karyotypic diversity observed within this lineage.
Project description:Centromeres are functionally conserved chromosomal loci essential for proper chromosome segregation during cell division, yet they show high sequence diversity across species. A near universal feature of centromeres is the presence of repetitive sequences, such as satellites and transposable elements (TEs). Because of their rapidly evolving karyotypes, gibbons represent a compelling model to investigate divergence of functional centromere sequences across short evolutionary timescales. Previously, we identified a novel composite retrotransposon, LAVA, that is exclusive to gibbons and expanded within the centromere regions of one gibbon genus, Hoolock. In this study, we use ChIP-seq, RNA-seq and fluorescence in situ hybridization to comprehensively investigate the repeat content of centromeres of the four extant gibbon genera (Hoolock, Hylobates, Nomascus and Siamang). We find that CENP-A nucleosomes and the DNA-protein interface with the inner kinetochore are enriched in retroelements in all gibbon genera, rather than satellite DNA. We find that LAVA in Hoolock is enriched in the centromeres of most chromosomes and shows centromere- and species-specific sequence and structural differences compared to other genera, potentially as a result of its co-option to a centromeric function. In contrast, we found that a centromeric retroelement-derived macrosatellite, SST1, corresponds with chromosome breakpoint reuse across gibbons and shows high sequence conservation across genera. Finally, using de novo assembly of centromere-specific sequences, we determine that transcripts originating from gibbon centromeres recapitulate species-specific TE diversity. Combined, our data reveals dynamic, species-specific shifts in repeat content that define gibbon centromeres and coincide with the extensive karyotypic diversity observed within this lineage.