RESUMO
Deinococcus radiodurans, an extremely radioresistant bacterium has a multipartite genome system and ploidy. Mechanisms underlying such types of bacterial genome maintenance and its role in extraordinary radioresistance are not known in this bacterium. Chromosome I (Chr I), chromosome II (Chr II) and megaplasmid (Mp) encode its own set of genome partitioning proteins. Here, we have characterized P-loop ATPases of Chr II (ParA2) and Mp (ParA3) and their roles in the maintenance of genome copies and extraordinary radioresistance. Purified ParA2 and ParA3 showed nearly similar polymerization kinetics and interaction patterns with DNA. Electron microscopic examination of purified proteins incubated with DNA showed polymerization on nicked circular dsDNA. ParA2 and ParA3 showed both homotypic and heterotypic interactions to each other, but not with ParA1 (ParA of Chr I). Similarly, ParA2 and ParA3 interacted with ParB2 and ParB3 but not with ParB1 in vivo ParB2 and ParB3 interaction with cis-elements located upstream to the corresponding parAB operon was found to be sequence-specific. Unlike single mutant of parA2 and parA3, their double mutant (ΔparA2ΔParA3) affected copy number of cognate genome elements and resistance to γ-radiation as well as hydrogen peroxide in this bacterium. These results suggested that ParA2 and ParA3 are DNA-binding ATPases producing higher order polymers on DNA and are functionally redundant in the maintenance of secondary genome elements in D. radiodurans The findings also suggest the involvement of secondary genome elements such as Chr II and Mp in the extraordinary radioresistance of D. radiodurans.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias , Cromossomos Bacterianos , DNA Bacteriano , Deinococcus , Plasmídeos , Tolerância a Radiação/genética , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Cromossomos Bacterianos/genética , Cromossomos Bacterianos/metabolismo , DNA Bacteriano/genética , DNA Bacteriano/metabolismo , Deinococcus/genética , Deinococcus/metabolismo , Plasmídeos/genética , Plasmídeos/metabolismoRESUMO
A low temperature surfactant-free solution-phase method has been successfully developed for the synthesis of ternary In2TiO5, nanoparticles using a solvothermal route. The mechanistic aspects of synthesis of In2TiO5 nanoparticles from precursors, In(acac)3 and Ti(IV) isopropoxide in benzyl alcohol at 220 degrees C under solvothermal conditions, were investigated by GC-MS and 13C{1H} NMR analysis. The N2-BET surface area of the 5-8 nm sized In2TiO5 nanoparticles was found to be 60 m2 g(-1), which decreased with increase in calcination temperature; 38 m2 g(-1) at 800 degrees C; 5 m2 g(-1) at 1200 degrees C. The High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) shows well-developed lattice fringes of the crystalline nanoparticles, and selected area electron diffraction (SAED), pattern was indexed to be orthorhombic In2TiO5. The nanoparticles show better photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water-methanol mixtures over bulk In2TiO5, anatase TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by identical route and commercial TiO2 photocatalyst (Degussa, P25) under UV-visible irradiation (16% UV + 84% visible). Photocatalytic properties as a function of crystallinity and surface area of indium titanate nanoparticles have also been investigated. The high photoactivity obtained is correlated with the electronic and crystal structure of In2TiO5.
RESUMO
The stability of ß-precipitates in the Zr-1Nb alloy has been studied under Ne ion irradiation of energy 250 keV by insitu transmission electron microscope as a function of irradiation dose. The irradiation was carried out up to â¼136 dpa at 573 K. Microstructural investigations have shown that up to â¼38 dpa, precipitates showed an increase in size, and for irradiation doses >38 dpa, the size of the precipitates was noticed to reduce. Post-irradiation energy-dispersive spectrometry of the specimens revealed the Nb concentration throughout the matrix to be â¼0.8-1.5%. Three-dimensional atom probe tomography was also carried out for irradiated specimens to look for the presence of any nanoclusters. However, Nb clustering was not observed in the specimens. It is proposed that the dissolution of the precipitates may be facilitated by an increase in the solubility limit of Nb in Zr caused by irradiation. The solubility limit may increase by the introduction of defects generated by irradiation and by the destabilization of the ß-phase. This may result in back-diffusion of Nb atoms to the matrix by radiation-enhanced diffusion to lower the strain produced by the defects, resulting in the dissolution of the precipitates.
RESUMO
The GTPase-dependent polymerization/depolymerization dynamics of FtsZ regulate bacterial cell division in vivo. Deinococcus radiodurans is better known for its extraordinary radioresistance and therefore, the characterization of FtsZ of this bacterium (FtsZDr) would be required to understand the mechanisms underlying regulation of cell division in response to DNA damage. Recombinant FtsZDr bound to GTP and showed GTPase activity. It produced bundles of protofilaments in the presence of either GTP or Mg2+ ions. But the formation of the higher size ordered structures required both GTP and Mg2+ in vitro. It showed polymerization/depolymerization dynamics as a function of GTP and Mg2+. Interestingly, ATP interacted with FtsZDr and stimulated its GTPase activity by â¼2-fold possibly by increasing both substrate affinity and rate of reaction. FtsZDr-GFP expressing in D. radiodurans produced typical Z ring perpendicular to the plane of first cell division. These results suggested that FtsZDr is a GTPase in vitro and produces typical Z ring at the mid cell position in D. radiodurans.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Proteínas do Citoesqueleto/metabolismo , Deinococcus/enzimologia , Deinococcus/efeitos da radiação , GTP Fosfo-Hidrolases/metabolismo , Carga Bacteriana , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Proteínas do Citoesqueleto/genética , Polimerização , Tolerância a Radiação , Proteínas Recombinantes/metabolismoRESUMO
When Eu(3+) ions occupy Ca(2+) sites of CaMoO(4), which has a body centered tetragonal structure with inversion symmetry, only the magnetic dipole transition ((5)D(0)â(7)F(1)) should be allowed according to Judd-Ofelt theory. Even if there are a few distortions in the Eu(3+) environment, its intensity should be more than that of the electric dipole transition ((5)D(0)â(7)F(2)). We report here the opposite effect experimentally and ascribe this to the polarizability effect of the MoO(4) tetrahedron, which is neighboring to EuO(8) (symmetric environment). The contribution of the energy transfer process from the Mo-O charge transfer band to Eu(3+) and the role of Eu(3+) over the surface of the particle could be distinguished when luminescence decay processes were measured at two different excitations (250 and 398 nm). Further, the luminescence intensities and lifetimes increase significantly with increasing heat-treatment temperature of the doped samples. This is attributed to the reduction of H(2)O from the surface of the particles and a non-radiative process after heat treatment.
RESUMO
SnO(2).xH(2)O nanoparticles were prepared at room temperature by the microemulsion route. Sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) was used as a surfactant to stabilize the nanoparticles. These nanoparticles show green luminescence at 510nm, which has been assigned to oxygen vacancies. Infrared spectra of samples heated in the temperature range 500-900 degrees C show bond formation between SnO(2) nanoparticles and SO(4)(2-), which arises from oxidation of SO(3)(-) present in AOT. This was further supported by X-ray diffraction. Shape transformations of the particles from triangular to spherical and then to rectangular was observed as the heat-treatment temperature was increased, and this is related to the surface energy of particles. An enhancement in emission intensity of Eu(3+) was observed when Eu(3+) ions were doped into the SnO(2) nanoparticles due to significant energy transfer from SnO(2) (or Eu-O) to Eu(3+) through surface-mediated energy transfer as compared to direct excitation of Eu(3+) at 397nm. Interestingly, these nanoparticles are dispersible in water, and can be incorporated into polymer-based materials such as polyvinyl alcohol to give homogeneous films, giving rise to blue and red emissions.