Search results for "Coccus"
showing 10 items of 1002 documents
The NreA Protein Functions as a Nitrate Receptor in the Staphylococcal Nitrate Regulation System
2013
Staphylococci are able to use nitrate as an alternative electron acceptor during anaerobic respiration. The regulation of energy metabolism is dependent on the presence of oxygen and nitrate. Under anaerobic conditions, staphylococci employ the nitrate regulatory element (Nre) for transcriptional activation of genes involved in reduction and transport of nitrate and nitrite. Of the three proteins that constitute the Nre system, NreB has been characterized as an oxygen sensor kinase and NreC has been characterized as its cognate response regulator. Here, we present structural and functional data that establish NreA as a new type of nitrate receptor. The structure of NreA with bound nitrate w…
ERA-experiment “space biochemistry”
1995
Abstract The general goal of the experiment was to study the response of anhydrobiotic (metabolically dormant) microorganisms (spores of Bacillus subtilis, cells of Deinococcus radiodurans, conidia of Aspergillus species) and cellular constituents (plasmid DNA, proteins, purple membranes, amino acids, urea) to the extremely dehydrating conditions of open space, in some cases in combination with irradiation by solar UV-light. Methods of investigation included viability tests, analysis of DNA damages (strand breaks, DNA-protein cross-links) and analysis of chemical effects by spectroscopic, electrophoretic and chromatographic methods. The decrease in viability of the microorganisms was as exp…
3'-Arylazido-beta-alanyl-2-azido ATP, a cross-linking photoaffinity label for F1ATPases.
1989
Abstract The synthesis of the 3′-arylazido-2-azido ATP derivative 3′-O-{3-[N-(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)-amino]propionyl}2-azido-adenosine 5′-triphosphate (2,3′-DiN3ATP) is described. The bifunc tional photoreactive ATP analog is characterized spectroscopically. Photoaffinity labeling of F, ATPase from Micrococcus luteus by this analog results in the inactivation of the enzyme and in the formation of higher molecular weight cross-links,
Absorption of kininogen from human plasma by Streptococcus pyogenes is followed by the release of bradykinin.
1997
H-kininogen (high-molecular-mass kininogen, HK) is the precursor of the vasoactive peptide hormone bradykinin (BK). Previous work has demonstrated that HK binds to Streptococcus pyogenesthrough M-proteins, fibrous surface proteins and important virulence factors of these bacteria. Here we find that M-protein-expressing bacteria absorb HK from human plasma. The HK bound to the bacteria was found to be cleaved, and analysis of the degradation pattern suggested that the cleavage of HK at the bacterial surface is associated with the release of BK. Moreover, addition of activated plasma prekallikrein to bacteria preincubated with human plasma, resulted in BK release. This mechanism, by which a p…
Proton-dependent kinetics of citrate uptake in growing cells ofLactococcus lactissubsp.lactisbv.diacetylactis
1995
The kinetic analysis of citrate uptake in growing cells of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis identified a proton-dependent transport and suggested the divalent anionic species as the form of citrate transported across cell membranes. The reaction followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics for a two-substrate reaction. The limiting steps were the formation of the ternary complex and the rate of transport. Temperature modified the activity of the permease, increasing the uptake rate.
Antimicrobial activity of methylene blue and toluidine blue O covalently bound to a modified silicone polymer surface
2009
Methylene Blue or Toluidine Blue O were covalently bound to an activated silicone polymer by means of an amide condensation reaction. UV-visible absorption spectra confirmed that the dye was surface bound. The new polymers with covalently attached dye display significant bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis with a 99.999% reduction in viable bacteria after four minutes exposure to a low power laser.
The comparative behavior of Lactococcus lactis in free and immobilized culture processes
1998
This study presents the changes in the physiological state of Lactococcus lactis in different actively growing systems. The intracellular pH (pHin), NADH/NAD ratio and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were measured in free cell batch culture with or without external pH (pHout) control, and in continuous free or immobilized cell reactors. In free cell batch culture it has been shown that the pHin is dependent both on pHout and age of the culture, while in free cell continuous culture the pHin and the pHout are close together. The NADH/NAD ratio varied inversely with the growth rate, which was related to the changes in the metabolic activities in lactococci. The specificity of the immobil…
Distinct amino acids of the Oenococcus oeni small heat shock protein Lo18 are essential for damaged protein protection and membrane stabilization
2010
The small heat shock protein (smHsp) Lo18 from lactic acid bacteria Oenococcus oeni reduces in vitro thermal aggregation of proteins and modulates the membrane fluidity of native liposomes. An absence of information relating to the way in which the smHsp demonstrates a stabilizing effect for both proteins and membranes prompted this study. We expressed three Lo18 proteins with amino acid substitutions in Escherichia coli to investigate their ability to prevent E. coli protein aggregation and their capacity to stabilize E. coli whole-cell membranes. Our results showed that the alanine 123 to serine substitution induces a decrease in chaperone activity in denaturated proteins, and that the ty…
Influence of fatty acids on the growth of wine microorganisms Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Oenococcus oeni
1998
The effects of fatty acids, extracted during prefermentation grape skin-contact on Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Oenococcus oeni, were studied. The influence of skin-contact on total fatty acid content was evaluated both in Chardonnay must and in synthetic medium. Prior to alcoholic fermentation, the skin-contact contributes to a large enrichment of long-chain fatty acids (C 16 to C 18:3 ). These results induced a positive effect on yeast growth and particularly on cell viability. In the skin-contact fermented media, levels of C 12 and especially C 10 are lower and macromolecules content higher than in controls. This production of extracellular mannoproteins and the reduction of medium-chain…
Reducing of acrylamide formation in wheat biscuits supplemented with flaxseed and lupine
2016
Abstract The use of pseudo-cereals for wheat products making is to fortify the deficiency of nutritional value in wheat flour. However rich in proteins plant additives could increase acrylamide content in baked products. The present study was focused on acrylamide reduction in wheat flour biscuits supplemented with lupine and defatted flaxseed flour treated by solid state (SSF) and submerged (SMF) fermentations by Lactobacillus sakei , Pediococcus pentosaceus and Pediococcus acidilactici strains. After fermentation the decrease in asparagine was on average of 67.6 and 80.6%, and reducing sugar contents were reduced by 18 and 79.4% in flaxseed and lupine, respectively. The most effective acr…