Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) synthase (PhaC1) is the key enzyme of PHB synthesis in Ralstonia eutropha and other PHB-accumulating bacteria and catalyzes the polymerization of 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA to PHB. Activity assays of R. eutropha PHB synthase are characterized by the presence of lag phases and by low specific activity. It is assumed that the lag phase is caused by the time necessary to co...

The first quantitative characterization of the interaction of NO2(-) with the Cu-containing dissimilatory nitrite reductase (NiR) of Alcaligenes xylosoxidans using steady-state kinetics, equilibrium gel filtration and EPR spectroscopy is described. Each molecule of this protein consists of three equivalent subunits, each containing a type-1 Cu atom and also a type-2 Cu atom at each subunit inte...

rRNA gene sequencing and PCR assays indicated that 215 isolates of root nodule bacteria from two Mimosa species at three sites in Costa Rica belonged to the genera Burkholderia, Cupriavidus, and Rhizobium. This is the first report of Cupriavidus sp. nodule symbionts for Mimosa populations within their native geographic range in the neotropics. Burkholderia spp. predominated among samples from M...

Grapevine powdery mildew, caused by the ascomycete Erysiphe necator, is a major threat to grapes worldwide. Despite its global impact on grape production, E. necator is sensitive to adverse environmental conditions, such as excess heat, free water and UV radiation. Using detached leaf co-culture assays, 3-d-old single colonies of E. necator were exposed to 1, 2 or 3 consecutive d of punctuated ...

A number of the micro-organisms are capable of producing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA’s) as storage food reserve under unbalanced growth conditions. The mechanical properties of PHA’s are similar to that of synthetic plastics like polyethylene, polypropylene etc. The advantage of using PHA’s over synthetic plastic is that PHA’s are completely mineralized into carbon dioxide and water through the ...

PcpR is a LysR-type transcription factor from Sphingobium chlorophenolicum L-1 that is responsible for the activation of several genes involved in polychlorophenol degradation. PcpR responds to several polychlorophenols in vivo. Here, we report the crystal structures of the inducer-binding domain of PcpR in the apo-form and binary complexes with pentachlorophenol (PCP) and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol...

There is an increasing demand for bio-based polymers that are developed from recycled materials. The production of biodegradable polymers can include bio-technological (utilizing microorganisms or enzymes) or chemical synthesis procedures. This report demonstrates the corroboration of the molecular structure of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) obtained by the conversion of waste polyethylene (PE) v...