The archaeal division protein CdvB1 assembles into polymers that are depolymerized by CdvC

The Cdv proteins constitute the cell-division system of the Crenarchaea, in a protein machinery that is closely related to the ESCRT system of eukaryotes. The CdvB paralog CdvB1 is believed to play a major role in the constricting ring that is the central actor in cell division in the crenarchaea. Here, we present an in vitro study of purified CdvB1 from the crenarchaeon M. sedula with a combination of TEM imaging and biochemical assays. We show that CdvB1 self-assembles into filamentous polymers that are depolymerized by the action of the Vps4-homolog ATPase CdvC. Using liposome flotation assays, we show that CdvB1 binds to negatively charged lipid membranes and can be detached from the membrane by the action of CdvC. Interestingly, we find that the polymerization and the membrane binding are mutually exclusive properties of the protein. Our findings provide novel insight into one of the main components of the archaeal cell division machinery.

Targeting Bacterial Cell Division: A Binding Site-Centered Approach to the Most Promising Inhibitors of the Essential Protein FtsZ

Binary fission is the most common mode of bacterial cell division and is mediated by a multiprotein complex denominated the divisome. The constriction of the Z-ring splits the mother bacterial cell into two daughter cells of the same size. The Z-ring is formed by the polymerization of FtsZ, a bacterial protein homologue of eukaryotic tubulin, and it represents the first step of bacterial cytokinesis. The high grade of conservation of FtsZ in most prokaryotic organisms and its relevance in orchestrating the whole division system make this protein a fascinating target in antibiotic research. Indeed, FtsZ inhibition results in the complete blockage of the division system and, consequently, in a bacteriostatic or a bactericidal effect. Since many papers and reviews already discussed the physiology of FtsZ and its auxiliary proteins, as well as the molecular mechanisms in which they are involved, here, we focus on the discussion of the most compelling FtsZ inhibitors, classified by their main protein binding sites and following a medicinal chemistry approach.

Postantique Soils as a Source of Land Use Information: A Case Study of an Ancient Greek Agricultural Area on the Northern Black Sea Coast

As an effect of intensive agricultural development of the steppes of the northern Black Sea coast, the finds of postantique agricultural landscapes that preserve relic elements of ancient land-use infrastructure are extremely rare. To these belongs the uniquely preserved ancient Greek land division system on the Tarkhankut Peninsula (north-western Crimea), which was studied using the methods of soil science and biomorphic analysis. This paper explores ancient land-use practices in order to reconstruct the original parameters of the land division system, as well as agricultural techniques employed. For postantique agricultural landscapes, an integrated geoarchaeological approach that includes GIS and remote sensing methodologies, in-field study of microrelief and soil registrograms, pedochronological dating technique, and physicochemical, geochemical, and biomorphic soil analyses has been developed and tested. The soil-geomorphological reconstruction shows that the Hellenistic land division system included a 4.5–4.9 m wide strip of land bordered by a 4.1–4.7 m wide (at the base) and c. 0.2 m high wall and a c. 2 m wide and over 15 cm deep trench, which controlled surface runoff and erosion. Ancient agricultural practices of slope farming resembled the modern ones. Surface runoff and soil erosion were controlled by dividing the catchment area into narrow plots, the borders of which on arable land were marked by simple earthen structures (low walls with shallow trenches). The biomorphic analysis of soil sampled atop these structures indicates that in ancient times, these earthen walls were not cultivated. The study of conservative properties preserved in pedomemory of postagrogenic soils provided valuable evidence of agricultural techniques used in the palaeogeographic conditions of the 4th and 3rd centuries BC.

Using of historical cartography, remote sensing data and GIS for studying of land division system of Taurian Chersonesos

The article presents the results of work on the use of historical cartography data, German captured aerial photographs of Luftwaffe 1941–1944, a satellite image of 1966 and geographic information systems (GIS) for a detailed reconstruction and identification of the basic principles of the ancient land division system of the ancient chora (rural area) of Tauric Chersonesos in Crimea. Based on the integrated GIS, it was possible to reconstruct an ancient grid of 4- and 6-hecatogygos blocks linked to the terrain, separated by roads. The creation of plans for intra-unit land surveying was carried out on the basis of the analysis of multi-temporal aerial and satellite imagery in the ArcGIS geographic information environment. It was carried out by creating and further processing a group of vector layers, the main of which included a grid of roads, the rest — dividing blocks into plots and single hector modules. The analysis in the GIS of the mutual arrangement of the elements of this grid made it possible to determine the sequence of development and delimitation of the territory of the Heraclean Peninsula in the 4th century BC. The study of the internal surveying of blocks by mosaic of aerial photographs of 1941–1944, integrated into the GIS, made it possible to trace the dynamics of changes in the 3rd century BC of internal division of blocs from individual civil plots (hectators) to large land holdings, sometimes reaching and even exceeding the size of the whole block. As a result of a comprehensive study using historical cartography, archival aerial photographs of the 1940s and a satellite image of 1966, collected in a single geographic information system, it was possible to determine the basic principles and identify the modules of the Taurian Chersonesos land surveying: a single civil plots (hecatogygos) and a unit of measurement of areas (aroura).

Biotechnological Processes Digitalization in Animal Husbandry

The article analyzes the agrarian enterprises business processes management and enterprises which providing their activity, based on the digitization technologies and other innovative solutions. High rates of technological and technological upgrades for their implementation require constant monitoring and implementation of innovative solutions in the agricultural management field and established economic links with organizations, which create and spread such innovations. The innovation implementation in a broad sense contributes to the labor productivity growth, saving resources, reducing costs, increasing production and sales, and improving efficiency. Authors propose to consider the digitalization technologies application in embryo transplant enterprises (laboratories) that provide agricultural enterprises with cattle embryos. The software, in combination with the biotechnology laser embryo division system, allows authors to automate the process and ensure its high quality, and the mathematical model formalization - to transfer the process methodology to almost all areas of animal husbandry. The result within Ukraine is the livestock herds restoration and higher productivity level transition in the direction of the slaughter weight and milk yield increasing, and improving the corresponding indicators of enterprises, industry, economy of the country. Such technologies form the requirements for agrarian management system, a qualitatively new level of professional education and behavior of specialists, which motivates to the end result. The formation of the agrarian management system as a whole requires the dititalization tools involvement in the process of innovations implementation. Thus, embryo transplant enterprises (laboratories) can and should make extensive use in addition to special (surgical) equipment and state-of-the-art laser equipment, digital equipment, software, IT tools. The state of embryo transplantation technologies development in animal husbandry and its improvement possibility through biotechnological processes automation and digitization with the use of a laser embryo division system allows to increase the process’ quality indicators. Algorithms that visualize the process of laser control and laser beam focusing are implemented by computer software. It is the "brain" of the biotechnological system and requires optimization of all system components’ parameters. Therefore, authors have solved the problem of technical means operating parameters optimization by biotechnological process utomation and digitization means of elite farm animals’ embryos laser division.