Microbiology Monthly Newsletter for Microbiology at the Department of Cell & Molecular Biology Lundberg Laboratory, Göteborg University [ January 1999 ] [ February 1999 ] [ March 1999 ] [ April 1999 ] [ May 1999 ] [ June 1999 ] [ July-August 1999 ] [ September 1999 ] [ October 1999 ] June 1999 Scientific Contributions New tools in the analysis of protein glycosylation What is the role of specific post-translational carbohydrate additions to eukaryotic proteins? This is a question that has been difficult to approach because glycoproteins normally occur as complex glycoform mixtures. A recent paper by Roslyn Bill and colleagues describes a way to approach this problem by chemoenzymatic synthesis of N-linked oligosaccharides using recombinant genetic technology. Biodiversity assessments It has been estimated that Mother Earth harbors between 3 to 30 million species of organisms. The preservation of this biodiversity is an important evolutionary and political question. But how do we make an appropriate assessment of such diversity in the light of the difficulties in determining species distinctiveness. Two measures have traditionally been employed; ‘phylogenetic diversity’ or ‘genetic diversity’. In a paper by Karsten Pedersen and colleagues, the genetic diversity measure is used to make a complete assessment of the biodiversity in a number of subterranean communities. These communities offer a unique opportunity to approach this question because they are relatively "contained", and they harbor species from the evolutionary domains (Bacteria and Archaea) which are easy to "observe" and catalogue using the "molecular binoculars" of PCR/rRNA sequencing methodology. The use of reporter gene technology Alipour, Eriksson, Norbeck and Blomberg have evaluated the quantitative reliability of one genetic reporter system; the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase system, seldom used in bacteria but often employed in studies of gene expression in Eukarya, such as Yeast. They found that the measurements were highly dependent on factors such as low-molecular-weight compounds in the yeast extracts used. Suggested Summer Reading As you all know, life away from the lab tends to be extremely dull and tedious regardless of the weather. One way to mitigate this problem during the long and boring weeks of vacation is to bring some reading companions (books not people). Below is some suggestions: The Astonishing Hypothesis; The scientific search for the soul By Francis Crick In this book Crick argues that the metaphysical aspects of what we call the soul or consciousness is really accessible to hard-core scientific reductionist investigation. A mind-opening book! Of Flies, Mice and Men By Francois Jacob Newly translated from the French version published in 1997. A book about the progress of biological science using genetic model systems animated with anecdotes from Greek mythology. In my view, not one of his best but well worth reading. The Art of Genes; How organisms make themselves By Enrico Coen This new book (1999) approaches the questions of how a tiny fertilized egg transforms itself into a human being and how an acorn turn itself into an oak tree. In other words, developmental biology in an updated and non-technical style. It contains fresh insights into the nature of evolution, development and human creativity. The Origins of Life; From the birth of life to the origin of language By John Maynard Smith & Eörs Szathmary The ideas in this book was first published 1995 in a more technical version called "The major transitions in evolution". The book attempts to explain major and important evolutionary transitions in Darwinian terms. Perhaps even better then the first version. And remember that: "Men of genius sometimes accomplish most when they work least" Leonardo Da Vinci