Structural Evidence of Active Site Adaptability towards Different Sized Substrates of Aromatic Amino Acid Aminotransferase from Psychrobacter Sp. B6

Aromatic amino acid aminotransferases present a special potential in the production of drugs and synthons, thanks to their ability to accommodate a wider range of substrates in their active site, in contrast to aliphatic amino acid aminotransferases. The mechanism of active site adjustment toward substrates of psychrophilic aromatic amino acid aminotransferase (PsyArAT) from Psychrobacter sp. B6 is discussed based on crystal structures of complexes with four hydroxy-analogs of substrates: phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan and aspartic acid. These competitive inhibitors are bound in the active center of PsyArAT but do not undergo transamination reaction, which makes them an outstanding tool for examination of the enzyme catalytic center. The use of hydroxy-acids enabled insight into substrate binding by native PsyArAT, without mutating the catalytic lysine and modifying cofactor interactions. Thus, the binding mode of substrates and the resulting analysis of the volume of the catalytic site is close to a native condition. Observation of these inhibitors’ binding allows for explanation of the enzyme’s adaptability to process various sizes of substrates and to gain knowledge about its potential biotechnological application. Depending on the character and size of the used inhibitors, the enzyme crystallized in different space groups and showed conformational changes of the active site upon ligand binding.

Moringa oleifera (horse radish tree).

M. oleifera is a small, fast-growing and short-lived tropical tree, well-known for its multi-purpose attributes, wide site adaptability and ease of establishment. Its principal value lies in its nutritional value and the use of the leaves, pods and flowers for human consumption as well as for livestock feed. The green pods are a sought-after vegetable, for example, as an essential ingredient in the making of 'sambhar', a south Indian curry and the seed oil known as 'ben-oil' is used for cooking, as a lighting fuel and for making cosmetics and soaps. The tree has attracted considerable attention in recent years with research confirming the effectiveness of using its powdered seeds as a coagulant and water purifier. The wood is of limited use. M. oleifera is grown in home gardens, as a hedging plant in and around fields and as a shade tree. It is also used for supports for vine crops such as pepper (Piper spp.).

Spike-induced ordering: Stochastic neural spikes provide immediate adaptability to the sensorimotor system

Most biological neurons exhibit stochastic and spiking action potentials. However, the benefits of stochastic spikes versus continuous signals other than noise tolerance and energy efficiency remain largely unknown. In this study, we provide an insight into the potential roles of stochastic spikes, which may be beneficial for producing on-site adaptability in biological sensorimotor agents. We developed a platform that enables parametric modulation of the stochastic and discontinuous output of a stochastically spiking neural network (sSNN) to the rate-coded smooth output. This platform was applied to a complex musculoskeletal–neural system of a bipedal walker, and we demonstrated how stochastic spikes may help improve on-site adaptability of a bipedal walker to slippery surfaces or perturbation of random external forces. We further applied our sSNN platform to more general and simple sensorimotor agents and demonstrated four basic functions provided by an sSNN: 1) synchronization to a natural frequency, 2) amplification of the resonant motion in a natural frequency, 3) basin enlargement of the behavioral goal state, and 4) rapid complexity reduction and regular motion pattern formation. We propose that the benefits of sSNNs are not limited to musculoskeletal dynamics. Indeed, a wide range of the stability and adaptability of biological systems may arise from stochastic spiking dynamics.

Ecological Vulnerability of Coral Reef Ecosystem in Wakatobi National Park During Indian Ocean Dipole Event

This research examines coral reefs vulnerability which threatening its existences and functions by climate change. The ecological vulnerability in Wakatobi (Wangi-wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko) was assessed during Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) event in 2016. Climate exposure was determined using sea surface temperature, chlorophyll-a concentration, and wind speed magnitude; sensitivity was determined using coral susceptibility, fish susceptibility, and macroalgae primary productivity rate; then adaptive capacity was developed by hard coral cover, coral size distribution, coral richness, fish biomass, herbivore diversity, and herbivore grazing relative to algal production. The values of Exposure, Sensitivity, and Adaptive capacity in Wakatobi were 0.93±0.02, 0.42±0.18, and 0.44±0.10, respectively. Site specific vulnerability scores ranged from 0.52 to 1.60 (mean 0.92±0.26). Binongko was the least vulnerable than other islands. Tomia was observed as the least adaptive capacity and Wangi-wangi was the most bleaching incidents. These results could help coral reefs monitoring priority during the event and then when the event is gone by focusing on the marked islands and sites. Sites that were observed as more vulnerable is urgently need a management strategy to overcome the vulnerability status in the future, such as increasing site adaptability.

Biotechnology for bioenergy dedicated trees: meeting future energy demands

With the increase in human demands for energy, purpose-grown woody crops could be part of the global renewable energy solution, especially in geographical regions where plantation forestry is feasible and economically important. In addition, efficient utilization of woody feedstocks would engage in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, decreasing the challenge of food and energy security, and resolving the conflict between land use for food or biofuel production. This review compiles existing knowledge on biotechnological and genomics-aided improvements of biomass performance of purpose-grown poplar, willow, eucalyptus and pine species, and their relative hybrids, for efficient and sustainable bioenergy applications. This includes advancements in tree in vitro regeneration, and stable expression or modification of selected genes encoding desirable traits, which enhanced growth and yield, wood properties, site adaptability, and biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. Genetic modifications used to alter lignin/cellulose/hemicelluloses ratio and lignin composition, towards effective lignocellulosic feedstock conversion into cellulosic ethanol, are also examined. Biotech-trees still need to pass challengeable regulatory authorities’ processes, including biosafety and risk assessment analyses prior to their commercialization release. Hence, strategies developed to contain transgenes, or to mitigate potential transgene flow risks, are discussed.