Genes and derived amino acid sequences of S-layer proteins from mesophilic, thermophilic, and extremely thermophilic methanococci

Cells of methanococci are covered by a single layer of protein subunits (S-layer) in hexagonal arrangement, which are directly exposed to the environment and which cannot be stabilized by cellular components. We have isolated S-layer proteins from cells of Methanococcus vannielii ( T(opt.)=37 degrees C), Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus ( T(opt.)=65 degrees C), and Methanococcus jannaschii ( T(opt.)=85 degrees C). The primary structure of the S-layer proteins was determined by sequencing the corresponding genes. According to the predicted amino acid sequence, the molecular masses of the S-layer proteins of the different methanococci are in a small range between 59,064 and 60,547 Da. Compa…

A novel ?-N-cyanate-bridged nickel dinier exhibiting ferromagnetic coupling: Di-?-cyanate-bis(aqua-2,2?:6?,2?-terpyridine)dinickel(II) hexafluorophosphate

The first successful crystallization of a prokaryotic extremely thermophilic outer surface layer glycoprotein

AbstractMethanoihermus fervidusbelongs to the group of hyperthermophilic Archaea. The Archaea comprise organisms that live under environmental extremes, like high temperature, lowpH value or high salt concentration. The outer surface of the pseudomurein sacculi of the cells ofMethanothermus fervidusis covered by glycoprotein subunits (S-layer) directly exposed to the extreme environment. The elucidation of the crystal structure of this surface glycoprotein may provide important information on the survival strategies of these unusual micro-organisms. Before our investigations neither three-dimensional crystals have been obtained nor X-ray analyses were performed. Only electron microscopic an…

Copper(II) complexes with the N,N,O-tridentate ligand 6-amino-5-formyl-1,3-dimethyluracilato-(N6)-benzoylhydrazone: synthesis, spectral and XRD studies

Abstract From reactions between different Cu(II) salts and the Schiff base 6-amino-5-formyl-1,3-dimethyluracil-benzoylhydrazone (H2BEZDO) in alcohol, six new copper complexes with simplified formulas [Cu(HBEZDO)(H2O)(MeOH)]NO3 (1), [CuCl(HBEZDO)(DMF)] (2), [CuBr(HBEZDO)]·2H2O (3), CuBr(HBEZDO) (4), Cu(ClO4)(HBEZDO)·H2O (5), and Cu(SO4)1/2(HBEZDO)·1 1 2 H2O (6) were isolated. The structures of compounds 1, 2 and 3 have been established by means of XRD diffraction methods. In the three compounds, the Schiff base acts as a tridentate monodeprotonated ligand through the N(6), N(51) and O(52) atoms, making two five- and six-membered chelate rings. In the structure of 1 and 2, the solvent molecul…

X-ray powder diffraction phase analysis and thermomechanical properties of silica and alumina porcelains

Chemical and mineralogical characterization, using the Rietveld method, of some silica and alumina rich porcelains and its relationship with thermomechanical properties have been studied in this work. X-ray powder diffraction analysis allows to differ clearly between silica and alumina porcelains. X-ray study shows that both porcelains have a content of vitreous phase. This vitreous phase is higher in the silica than in the alumina porcelain. Dilatometric studies combined with powder diffraction methods shows a strong relationship between silica content and a lower expansion coefficients and between alumina content and a higher crash resistance. Lower contents in vitreous phase in porcelain…

Synthesis and spectral studies on metal complexes with the neutral O,N,O-tridentate Schiff base 6-amino-5-formyl-1,3-dimethyluracil-benzoylhydrazone

Abstract From the reaction between different Co(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Pd(II) salts and the Schiff base 6-amino-5-formyl-1,3-dimethyluracil-benzoylhydrazone (H 2 BEZDO), in ethanol and acetone media, five complexes with M/L stoichiometry 1/1, containing the neutral organic ligand, have been obtained. These compounds have been studied by IR, 13 C and 1 H-NMR, UV-VIS-NIR and EPR spectroscopies and magnetic measurements. A single crystal X-ray diffraction study has been carried out on the compound [Cu(ClO 4 )(H 2 BEZDO)(H 2 O)]ClO 4 . The structure consists of mononuclear cations [Cu(ClO 4 )(H 2 BEZDO)(H 2 O)] + and uncoordinated perchlorate anions. The coordination environment around the Cu(…

Structure and stereochemistry of stenophyllolide, a germacrolide from Centaurea aspera var. Stenophylla

Abstract A crystalline compound, named stenophyllolide, obtained from an extract of Centaurea aspera var. stenophylla was shown to be 9β,15-dihydroxygermacra-1(10),4,11-trien-6α,12-olide by X-ray analysis. The molecular structure of stenophyllolide was solved with orthorhombic space group P2 1 2 1 2 1 , a = 11.719 (5), b = 13.389 (5), c = 8.646 (5) A for Z = 4, by direct methods and refined to a final R of 0.06 for 1198 observed reflections.

Primary Structure of Selected Archaeal Mesophilic and Extremely Thermophilic Outer Surface Layer Proteins

The archaea are recognized as a separate third domain of life together with the bacteria and eucarya. The archaea include the methanogens, extreme halophiles, thermoplasmas, Sulfate reducers and Sulfur metabolizing thermophiles, which thrive in different habitats such as anaerobic niches, salt lakes, and marine hydrothermals systems and continental solfataras. Many of these habitats represent extreme environments in respect to temperature, osmotic pressure and pH-values and remind on the conditions of the early earth. The cell envelope structures were one of the first biochemical characteristics of archaea studied in detail. The most common archaeal cell envelope is composed of a single cry…

Molecular organization of selected prokaryotic S-layer proteins.

Regular crystalline surface layers (S-layers) are widespread among prokaryotes and probably represent the earliest cell wall structures. S-layer genes have been found in approximately 400 different species of the prokaryotic domains bacteria and archaea. S-layers usually consist of a single (glyco-)protein species with molecular masses ranging from about 40 to 200 kDa that form lattices of oblique, tetragonal, or hexagonal architecture. The primary sequen ces of hyperthermophilic archaeal species exhibit some characteristic signatures. Further adaptations to their specific environments occur by various post-translational modifications, such as linkage of glycans, lipids, phosphate, and sulf…