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A Fülöp

Publications and source records attributed to A Fülöp.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Anaerobic regulation of hydrogenase transcription in different bacteria.

Hydrogen metabolism is closely related to other important metabolic and energetic processes of bacterial cells, such as photosynthesis, anaerobic respiration and sulphur metabolism. Even small environmental changes influence these networks through different regulatory systems. The presence or absence of oxygen is one of the most important signals; how the cascades evolved to transmit this signal in different bacteria is summarized. In many instances, hydrogen is released only under anoxic conditions, because of bioenergetic considerations. Most [NiFe] hydrogenases are inactivated by oxygen, but many of them can be re-activated under reducing conditions. In addition to direct inactivation of the hydrogenases, oxygen can also regulate their expression. The global regulatory systems [FNR (fumarate and nitrate reduction regulator), ArcAB (aerobic respiratory control) and RegAB], which respond to alterations in oxygen content and redox conditions of the environment, have an important role in hydrogenase regulation of several bacteria. FNR-like proteins were shown to be important for the regulation of hydrogenases in Escherichia coli, Thiocapsa roseopersicina and Rhizobium leguminosarum, whereas RegA protein modulates the expression of hupSL genes in Rhodobacter capsulatus.

Anaerobiosis↗

The hydrogenases of Thiocapsa roseopersicina.

The purple sulphur phototrophic bacterium, Thiocapsa roseopersicina BBS, contains several NiFe hydrogenases. One of these enzymes (HynSL) is membrane associated, remarkably stable and can be used for practical applications. HupSL is also located in the photosynthetic membrane, its properties are similar to other known Hup-type NiFe hydrogenases. A third hydrogenase activity was located in the soluble fraction and was analogous to the NAD-reducing hydrogenases of cyanobacteria. The hoxEFUYH genes are transcribed together. HoxE is needed for the in vivo electron flow to and from the soluble hydrogenase. Some of the accessory genes were identified using random mutagenesis, and sequencing of the T. roseopersicina genome is in progress. The HupD, HynD and HoxW gene products corresponded to the proteases processing the C-termini of the three NiFe hydrogenases respectively. HypF and HupK mutants displayed significant in vivo H(2) evolution, which could be linked to the nitrogenase activity for the DeltahypF and to the bidirectional Hox activity in the DeltahupK strain. Both HypC proteins are needed for the biosynthesis of each NiFe hydrogenase. The hydrogenase expression is regulated at the transcriptional level through distinct mechanisms. The expression of hynSL is up-regulated under anaerobic conditions with the participation of an FNR (fumarate and nitrate reduction regulator)-type protein, FnrT. Although the genes encoding a typical H(2) sensor (hupUV) and a two-component regulator (hupR and hupT) are present in T. roseopersicina, the system is cryptic in the wild-type BBS strain. The hupR gene was identified in the gene cluster downstream from hupSL. Introduction of actively expressed hupT repressed the hupSL gene expression as expected by analogy with other bacteria.

Genes, Bacterial↗

Effects of a non-starch polysaccharidase enzyme preparation from Thermomyces lanuginosus on energy and protein metabolism and milk yield of dairy cattle.

Non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) form an integral part of the cell walls in plants and represent considerable available energy when degraded into absorbable mono-, di-, tri- and oligosaccharides. The ruminal microflora hydrolyses a good part of NSPs, however, recently there have been attempts to enhance the rate of utilisation by using external polysaccharidase enzymes. In the present study the effects of an enzyme preparation (Rumino-Zyme) high in xylanase activity were studied on ruminal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, parameters of energy and protein metabolism, milk yield, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and body condition score of high-yielding dairy cows. A lignolytic enzyme preparation produced by the thermophilic fungus Thermomyces lanuginosus was applied in the present experiment and fed to dairy cows at 34 g/day dosage in the period between calving and the 110th day of lactation. This preparation increased VFA concentration in the rumen from about 32 days after calving and onward. Increased VFA concentration was followed by an about 5 to 10% increase in milk production and an almost 0.1% increase in butterfat production. Increased VFA concentration produced more balanced energy metabolism in the experimental cows as indicated by the lower incidence rate of hyperketonaemia, and lower acetoacetic acid and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration in the blood of the experimental cows. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity was tendentiously higher in the control group and the proportion of cows that had AST activity higher than 100 U/l was also higher in the control group. Both control and experimental cows showed balanced protein and acid-base metabolism throughout the experiment. Enhanced VFA concentration contributed to an improvement in energy balance in the experimental cows with a resultant improvement of feed intake and feed utilisation. Due to the more balanced energy metabolism postparturient body condition loss of the treated cows was reduced.

Acetoacetates↗

Risk-indifferent foraging behaviour in honeybees.

We studied the influence of variance in reward volume on choice behaviour of honeybees, Apis mellifera carnica, by training bees to collect sucrose solution from four newly developed artificial feeders. The feeders were electromechanical devices, each controlled by a microprocessor, which monitored the experiments, controlled reward delivery and stored the data. The parameters that varied between the feeders were the amount and variance of reward. The four feeders were arranged in two pairs, with the two feeders in each pair set to the same reward parameters. Constant feeders offered a fixed amount of sucrose solution at each bee visit; variable feeders offered a normally distributed reward with a standard deviation equal to the mean. We tested three reward combinations under two variance conditions. The bees matched their choice frequencies to the mean amount of reward. This applied both to the constant and the variable feeders. Thus the bees were able to discriminate feeders by the amount of reward and were able to estimate the mean reward for the variable flowers. The proportion of immediate returns to the same feeder increased with the amount of sucrose solution imbibed at each visit, indicating that bees were able to perceive the amount of reward at each visit. However, there was no influence of variance on the choice behaviour of the bees, ruling out the possibility that bees are risk sensitive under these conditions. We discuss risk indifference in choice behaviour of bees in the context of several models of risk sensitivity. Copyright 2000 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.

Journal Article↗

Exogenous superoxide dismutase uptake by the myocardium and kidney in an ischaemic reperfusion model in dogs.

The renal and cardiac tissues of dogs were examined with autoradiographic method in ischaemic reperfusion trials with the aim of studying the access of exogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme to the cells. Penetration of SOD into the cells was demonstrated. The enzyme showed special affinity to the mitochondira and myofilaments in the myocardium and it was seen both in the glomeruli and the tubules in the kidney. In both organs the uptake of the enzyme was most abundant in the ischaemic regions than in tissues with intact circulation.

Animals↗