The gene coding for the 109-amino-acid, non-glycosylated form of mavicyanin was synthesized and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein refolded from E. coli inclusion bodies was purified and characterized. Its spectroscopic properties are fully identical to those of mavicyanin isolated from zucchini, even in the absence of its carbohydrate moiety. The blue cooper center of mavic...

The study evaluated the quantity of Polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) present in aqueous ethanol (Aq. EtOH), dichloromethane (DCM), and n-hexane (n-hex) extracts pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seed. Aliquots dried extracts, gotten from ground C. pepo, were subjected to Gas Chromatography Flame-Ionization Detector (GC-FID) analysis for quantitative identification polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) s...

Mutualisms are key interactions that affect population dynamics and structure communities, but the extent to which mutualists can attract potential partners may depend on community context. Many studies have shown that leaf herbivory reduces pollinator visitation and have focused on reduced floral visual display and rewards as potential mechanisms. However, olfactory display plays a critical ro...

A gene encoding an endopeptidase from Streptococcus parasanguis FW213 has been cloned and shown to have high sequence homology to genes encoding mammalian metalloendopeptidases. The gene, designated S. parasanguis pepO, was cloned into the pET28a expression vector, resulting in a fusion of vector sequences encoding a hexahistidine tag at the carboxyl terminus. The recombinant PepO (rPepO) was e...

The nucleotide sequence of a chromosomal DNA fragment of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis SSL135, previously implicated in peptide utilization, has been determined. The genes oppDFBCA, encoding the oligopeptide transport system (Opp), and that encoding the endopeptidase PepO were located on this 8.9-kb DNA fragment. The oppDFBCA and pepO genes are probably organized in an operon. Analysis of th...