Structural analysis of the fundamental polymer of the sheath constructed by Sphaerotilus natans.

The sheath of Sphaerotilus natans is composed of cysteine-rich peptide and polysaccharide moieties. The polysaccharide was prepared by treating the sheath with hydrazine, and was determined to be a mucopolysaccharide containing beta-D-GlcA, beta-D-Glc, alpha-D-GalN, and beta-D-GalN. To elucidate the structure of the peptide, the sheath was labeled with a thiol-selective fluorogenic reagent, 4-(aminosulfonyl)-7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole. Enantiomeric determination of the S-derivatized Cys in the fluorescent sheath suggested that it contained L-Cys mainly. Fluorescent cysteinylglycine was detected in the partial acid hydrolysate of the fluorescent sheath. The sheath-degrading enzyme secreted by Paenibacillus koleovorans produced a fluorescent disaccharide-dipeptide composed of GalN, Gly, and N-acetylated Cys from the fluorescent sheath. The disaccharide and dipeptide moieties were found to be connected by an amide bond. Based on these results, the sheath was deduced to be formed by association of a mucopolysaccharide modified with N-acetyl-L-cysteinylglycine.

Autonomic nervous activity of patients with gagging problems during dental mirror insertion.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate autonomic nervous activities in patients with gagging problem. METHODS: Subjects were 12 and 12 individuals, graded as Group G2 (mild gagging problem) and Group G3 (middle gagging problem), respectively, according to the Classification of Gagging Problem index (CGP) and compared with 15 normal patients. Heart rate (HR), low-frequency/high-frequency ratio (L/H), the coefficient of component variation for high frequency (CCVHF), and the coefficient of variation of R-R intervals (CVRR) were assessed by heart rate variability on electrocardiogram. The measurement was recorded continuously for 1 min before and after dental mirror insertion. RESULTS: The insertion did not affect HR, L/H, CCVH, and CVRR in Group G2. HR did not change despite both increases in L/H and CCVHF after the insertion in Group G3. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a gagging problem in G3, dental mirror insertion increased both parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous activities, despite no change in HR.

Balneomonas flocculans gen. nov., sp. nov., a new cellulose-producing member of the alpha-2 subclass of Proteobacteria.

A new bacterial strain capable of producing cellulose was isolated from a hot spring. The isolate was Gram-negative, aerobic, and rod-shaped. The optimum temperature for growth was 40-45 degrees C. Methanol, glucose and other common carbohydrates were not utilized as sole growth substrates. Thiosulfate was not oxidized. The G+C content of the DNA was determined to be 64.0 mol%. Comparative 16S rDNA analysis indicated that Bosea thiooxidans and some strains of the genus Methylobacterium were the nearest relatives. The isolate can be distinguished from these relatives by its defectiveness in methanol utilization and thiosulfate oxidation. On the basis of its phenotypic properties and phylogeny, it is proposed that the isolate be designated Balneomonas flocculans gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is TFBT (= JCM 11936T, = KCTC 12101T, = IAM 15034T, = ATCC BAA-817T).

Presence of alternating glucosaminoglucan in the sheath of Thiothrix nivea.

A sheath-forming sulfa oxidizer, Thiothrix nivea, was mixotrophically cultured in a medium supplemented with acetic acid and sodium disulfide. Its sheath, a microtube-like extracellular supermolecule, was prepared by selectively removing the cells with lysozyme, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and sodium hydroxide. The sheath was not visibly affected by hydrazine treatment, suggesting that it is not a proteinous supermolecule. From the acid hydrolysate of the sheath, glucose and glucosamine were detected in an approximate molar ratio of 1:1. Three other saccharic compounds were detected and recovered by HPLC as fluorescent derivatives prepared by reaction with 4-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis suggested that one of the derivatives was derived from an unidentified deoxypentose. NMR analysis for the other 2 derivatives showed that they were derived from ß-1,4-linked disaccharides and tetrasaccharides, which were composed of glucose and glucosamine. The sheath was readily broken down by weak HCl treatment, releasing an unidentified deoxypentose and polymer. Chemical analysis showed the presence of ß-1,4-linked D-Glcp and D-GlcNp in the polymer. NMR analysis revealed that the polymer had a repeating unit of →4)-D-Glcp-(ß1→4)-D-GlcNp-(ß1→. The solid-state 1D-(13)C NMR spectrum of the polymer in N-acetylated form supported this result. The molecular weight of the polymer was estimated to be 8.2×10(4) by size exclusion chromatography. Based on these results, the sheath of T. nivea is hypothesized to be assembled from alternately ß-1,4-linked glucosaminoglucan grafted with unidentified deoxypentose.

Caldimonas manganoxidans gen. nov., sp. nov., a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-degrading, manganese-oxidizing thermophile.

A poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)-degrading, gram-negative, aerobic bacterium, strain HS(T), was isolated from a hot spring and chemotaxonomically and phylogenetically characterized. The oxidase-positive, weakly catalase-positive, non-pigmented cells (0.6 x 2.6 microm) exhibited a single polar flagellum and accumulated PHB granules. Strain HS(T) was capable of manganese oxidation. Highest growth rate was attained at 50 degrees C. The optimum pH for growth was 7-8. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8 and major cellular fatty acids were C16:0, C16:1 and C18:1. The G+C content of the DNA was 66.2 mol%. Comparative 16S rDNA analysis indicated that strain HS(T) is related to the Rubrivivax subgroup and the family Comamonadaceae. The nearest phylogenetic relatives were Ideonella dechloratans (92.1% similarity), Leptothrix discophora (93.6%), Roseateles depolymerans (92.4%) and Rubrivivax gelatinosus (92.2%). On the basis of its phylogenetic and phenotypic properties, it is proposed that this isolate be designated Caldimonas manganoxidans gen. nov., sp. nov.; the type strain is HS(T) (= JCM 10698T = IFO 16448T = ATCC BAA-369T).