Similarly, bacteria express a variety of regulatory RNA species ranging from trans-acting RNAs (sRNA), cis-acting RNAs (riboswitches), antisense RNAs and protein-interacting RNAs (6S RNA, CsrB-like RNAs) (Waters & Storz, 2009), and while our knowledge on these species is currently mostly based on E. coli, this is likely to change with the advent of sequencing-based transcriptomics. When combined with Navitoclax in vitro the latest developments in microarray technologies,

like high-density tiling microarrays (Rasmussen et al., 2009; Toledo-Arana et al., 2009), we now have the ability to investigate transcription at single-nucleotide resolution. This is likely to enrich our knowledge of microbial diversity, and will undoubtedly show us the many different approaches used by bacteria to solve the problems encountered in their respective niches. The author thanks the members of the research group and the collaborators, as well as three anonymous reviewers for helpful comments and suggestions. Research at the author’s laboratory is supported by the BBSRC Institute Strategic Programme Grant to the IFR. “
“Carotenoids

are a structurally diverse class of terpenoid pigments that are synthesized by many microorganisms and plants. In this study, we identified five putative carotenoid biosynthetic click here genes from the ascomycete Gibberella zeae (GzCarB, GzCarO, GzCarRA, GzCarT, and GzCarX). HPLC showed that the fungus produces two carotenoids: neurosporaxanthin and torulene. We deleted

the five genes individually to determine their functions. GzCarB, GzCarRA, and GzCarT were required for neurosporaxanthin biosynthesis, but the deletion of GzCarX or GzCarO (ΔgzcarX or ΔgzcarO) failed to alter the production of neurosporaxanthin check details or torulene. ΔgzcarRA and ΔgzcarB did not produce neurosporaxanthin or torulene. ΔgzcarB led to the accumulation of phytoene, which is an intermediate in carotenoid biosynthesis, but ΔgzcarRA did not. ΔgzcarT produced torulene but not neurosporaxanthin. Based on these functional studies and similarities to carotenoid biosynthesis genes in other fungi, we deduced the functions of the three genes and propose the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway of G. zeae. Carotenoids are important natural terpenoid pigments produced by many microorganisms and plants, but not animals. Of the >700 natural carotenoids that have been identified, most are C40 terpenoids that vary in the number of conjugated double bonds, end-group structures, and oxygen-containing functional groups (Britton et al., 2004). The interesting properties and human health benefits of carotenoids have received much attention. Carotenoids exhibit significant anticarcinogenic and antioxidant activity, and play an important role in preventing chronic disease (Landrum & Bone, 2001). Carotenoids are derived from the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway (Umeno et al., 2005).