A 28-fold increase in secretory protein synthesis is associated with DNA puff activity in the salivary gland of Bradysia hygida (Diptera, Sciaridae)

When the first group of DNA puffs is active in the salivary gland regions S1 and S3 of Bradysia hygida larvae, there is a large increase in the production and secretion of new salivary proteins demonstrable by [3H]-Leu incorporation. The present study shows that protein separation by SDS-PAGE and detection by fluorography demonstrated that these polypeptides range in molecular mass from about 23 to 100 kDa. Furthermore, these proteins were synthesized mainly in the S1 and S3 salivary gland regions where the DNA puffs C7, C5, C4 and B10 are conspicuous, while in the S2 region protein synthesis was very low. Others have shown that the extent of amplification for DNA sequences that code for mRNA in the DNA puffs C4 and B10 was about 22 and 10 times, respectively. The present data for this group of DNA puffs are consistent with the proposition that gene amplification is necessary to provide some cells with additional gene copies for the production of massive amounts of proteins within a short period of time (Spradling AC and Mahowald AP (1980) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 77: 1096-1100).

Distribution of versican and hyaluronan in the mouse uterus during decidualization

Preparation for embryo implantation requires extensive adaptation of the uterine microenvironment. This process consists of cell proliferation and cell differentiation resulting in the transformation of endometrial fibroblasts into a new type of cell called decidual cell. In the present study, we followed the space-time distribution of versican and hyaluronan (HA) in different tissues of the uterus before and after embryo implantation. Fragments of mouse uteri obtained on the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh days of pregnancy were fixed in Methacarn, embedded in Paraplast and cut into 5-µm thick sections. HA was detected using a biotinylated fragment of the proteoglycan aggrecan, which binds to this glycosaminoglycan with high affinity and specificity. Versican was detected by a polyclonal antibody. Both reactions were developed by peroxidase methods. Before embryo implantation, both HA and versican were present in the endometrial stroma. However, after embryo implantation, HA disappeared from the decidual region immediately surrounding the implantation chamber, whereas versican accumulated in the same region. The differences observed in the expression of HA and versican suggest that both molecules may participate in the process of endometrial decidualization and/or embryo implantation.

Prevalence of deltaF508, G551D, G542X, and R553X mutations among cystic fibrosis patients in the North of Brazil

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common genetic disease among Caucasians and is rare among sub-Saharan Africans. The Brazilian population is not ethnically homogeneous but it is the result of three-way ethnic admixture of Europeans, Africans and Amerindians in varying proportions, depending on the region. In the present study, we investigated 33 patients who had been diagnosed and are currently under treatment for CF at the University Hospital João de Barros Barreto, Belém, Pará State. The molecular analysis for G542X, G551D and R553X mutations was performed by PCR followed by RFLP using BstNI, HincII and MboI, respectively, in polyacrylamide gel eletrophoresis and stained with AgNO3. ThedeltaF508 mutation (a deletion of 3 bp) was only analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and stained with AgNO3. Each sample was analyzed for regions of interest in the CFTR gene using amplified by PCR and specific primers. The deltaF508 and G551D mutations presented frequencies of 22.7 and 3%, respectively. In 74.3% of the remaining patients, none of the mutations investigated was found. The present study characterized in a sample of patients with an established clinical diagnosis of CF (asthma, repeated bronchopneumonia, disorders of nutritional status, etc.) the most frequent mutation ( deltaF508) in the North region of Brazil and is also the first report of the G551D mutation. In spite of the wide spectrum of CF mutations and the heterogeneous ethnic origin of the Amazon population, the molecular diagnosis is a helpful additional tool for the diagnosis and treatment of CF patients.

Distribution of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtypes in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, and subtype C identification

Few studies have reported the molecular epidemiological characterization of HIV-1 in the Northern region of Brazil. The present study reports the molecular and epidemiological characterization of 31 HIV-1 isolates from blood donors from the State of Amazonas who donated blood between April 2006 and March 2007. Serum/plasma samples from all donors were screened for HIV antibodies by ELISA and the results confirmed by Western blot analysis. Genomic DNA was extracted from the buffy coat using the Super Quik-Gene-DNA Isolation kit. Nested PCR was performed on the env, gag, and pol regions of HIV-1 using the Gene Amp PCR System 9700. Sequencing reactions were performed using the inner PCR primers and the DYEnamic™ ET Dye Terminator Kit, and phylogenetic analysis was performed using the gag, pol, and env gene sequences. We collected samples from 31 blood donors who tested positive for HIV-1 in confirmatory experiments. The male:female ratio of blood donors was 3.4:1, and the mean age was 32.4 years (range: 19 to 61 years). Phylogenetic analysis showed that subtype B is the most prevalent among Northern Brazilian HIV-1-seropositive blood donors. One HIV-1 subtype C and one circulating recombinant form (CRF_BF) of HIV-1 were identified in the State of Amazonas. This is the first study showing the occurrence of a possible "homogenous" subtype C in this region of Brazil. This finding could contribute to a better characterization of the HIV-1 strains that circulate in the country.

Accuracy of dose planning for prostate radiotherapy in the presence of metallic implants evaluated by electron spin resonance dosimetry

Radiotherapy is one of the main approaches to cure prostate cancer, and its success depends on the accuracy of dose planning. A complicating factor is the presence of a metallic prosthesis in the femur and pelvis, which is becoming more common in elderly populations. The goal of this work was to perform dose measurements to check the accuracy of radiotherapy treatment planning under these complicated conditions. To accomplish this, a scale phantom of an adult pelvic region was used with alanine dosimeters inserted in the prostate region. This phantom was irradiated according to the planned treatment under the following three conditions: with two metallic prostheses in the region of the femur head, with only one prosthesis, and without any prostheses. The combined relative standard uncertainty of dose measurement by electron spin resonance (ESR)/alanine was 5.05%, whereas the combined relative standard uncertainty of the applied dose was 3.35%, resulting in a combined relative standard uncertainty of the whole process of 6.06%. The ESR dosimetry indicated that there was no difference (P>0.05, ANOVA) in dosage between the planned dose and treatments. The results are in the range of the planned dose, within the combined relative uncertainty, demonstrating that the treatment-planning system compensates for the effects caused by the presence of femur and hip metal prostheses.

Mineral characterization of native fruits from the southern region of Brazil

Although the greatest variety of Brazilian flora is in the Amazon region, the Southern region of Brazil also has an estimated number of at least 5,000 species of vascular native plants. These species have been neglected as potential food sources, remaining unknown and under-utilized and limiting the potential variety in the diet of Brazilians and other peoples. Therefore the aim of this study was to characterize the mineral composition and content present in seven native fruit species of Southern Brazil using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The essential element concentrations in the fruit samples were higher or similar to the values reported for traditional fruits. The araticum-do-mato fruit samples had high concentrations of the elements Ca, K, and Cu, and trace elements such as Pb and Sr. Mandacaru-de-três-quinas had predominance of Ba, Bi, and Ga, and the essential elements Mg and Mn. Uvaia and guabiroba had the highest levels of Al and Cr, but uvaia had high levels of Fe and Zn. The pindo palm had high amounts of Cd and Ni, and the yellow guava had high concentrations of Na, while red guava had high levels of Co.

Changes in the magnitude and pattern of translocation of photoassimilated ¹CO in soybean plants following an acute exposure to gamma radiation /

Young soybean plants (Glycine ~. L. cultivar Harosoy '63), grown under controlled conditions, were exposed to gamma radiation on a single occasion. One hour following exposure to 3,750 rads, the mature trifoliate leaf of the soybean plant was isolated in a closed system and permitted to photoassimilate approximately 1-5 pCi of 14C02 for 15 minutes. After an additional 45 minute-period, the plant was sacrificed and the magnitude of translocation and distribution pattern of 14C determined. In the non-irradiated plants 18~ of the total 14C recovered was outside the fed leaf blades and of this translocated 14c, 28~ was above the node of the fed leaf, 38~ in the stem below the node, 28~ in the roots and 7~ in the petiole. As well, in the irradiated plants, a smaller per cent (6~) of the total 14 C recovered was exported out of the source leaf blades. Of this translocated 14c , a smaller per cent (20~) was found in the apical region above the node of the source leaf and a higher per cent (45~) was recovered from the stem below the node and in the petiole (11~). The per cent of exported 14 C recovered from the root was unaffected by the radiation. Replacement of the shoot apex with 20 ppm IAA immediately following irradiation, only J partially increased the magnitude of translocation but did completely restore the pattern of distribution to that observed in the non-irradiated plants. From supplementary studies showing a radiationinduced reduction of photosynthetic rates in the source leaf and a reduction of the cumulative stem and leaf lengths in the apical sink region, the observed effects of radiation on the translocation process have been correlated to damage incurred by the source and sink regions. These data suggest that the reduction in the magnitude of translocation is the result of damage to both the source and sink regions rather than the phloem conducting tissue itself, whereas the change in the pattern of translocation is probably the result of a reduced rate of 14C-assimilate movement caused by a radiation-induced decrease of sink metabolism, especially the decrease in the metabolism of the apical sink.

Orientation of Non-Native 2-Monosubstituted and 2,3-Disubstituted 1,4-Naphthoquinones in the A1 binding site of PSI and the effect on the rate of electron transfer : an electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy study

The proce-ss ofoxygenic photosynthesis is vital to life on Earth. the central event in photosynthesis is light induced electron transfer that converts light into energy for growth. Ofparticular significance is the membrane bound multisubunit protein known as Photosystem I (PSI). PSI is a reaction centre that is responsible for the transfer of electrons across the membrane to reduce NADP+ to NADPH. The recent publication ofa high resolution X-ray structure of PSI has shown new information about the structure, in particular the electron transfer cofactors, which allows us to study it in more detail. In PSI, the secondary acceptor is crucial for forward electron transfer. In this thesis, the effect of removing the native acceptor phylloquinone and replacing it with a series of structurally related quinones was investigated via transient electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments. The orientation of non native quinones in the binding site and their ability to function in the electron transfer process was determined. It was found that PSI will readily accept alkyl naphthoquinones and anthraquinone. Q band EPR experiments revealed that the non-native quinones are incorporated into the binding site with the same orientation of the headgroup as in the native system. X band EPR spectra and deuteration experiments indicate that monosubstituted naphthoquinones are bound to the Al site with their side group in the position occupied by the methyl group in native PSI (meta to the hydrogen bonded carbonyl oxygen). X band EPR experiments show that 2, 3- disubstituted methyl naphthoquinones are also incorporated into the Al site in the same orientation as phylloquinone, even with the presence of a halogen- or sulfur-containing side chain in the position normally occupied by the phytyl tail ofphylloquinone. The exception to this is 2-bromo-3-methyl --.- _. -. - -- - - 4 _._ _ _ - _ _ naphthoquinone which has a poorly resolved spectrum, making determination of the orientation difficuh. All of the non-native quinones studied act as efficient electron acceptors. However, forward electron transfer past the quinone could only be demonstrated for anthraquinone, which has a more negative midpoint potential than phylloquinone. In the case of anthraquinone, an increased rate of forward electron transfer compared to native PSI was found. From these results we can conclude that the rate ofelectron transfer from Al to Fx in native PSI lies in the normal region ofthe Marcus Curve.

High-Spin and Emissive Molecular Materials: Synthesis and Characterization of New Polynuclear Ni(II) Complexes from the Use of Aromatic Schiff Bases as Bridging Ligands

The employment of the bridging/chelating Schiff bases, N-salicylidene-4-methyl-o-aminophenol (samphH2) and N-naphthalidene-2-amino-5-chlorobenzoic acid (nacbH2), in nickel cluster chemistry has afforded eight polynuclear Ni(II) complexes with new structural motifs, interesting magnetic and optical properties, and unexpected organic ligand transformations. In the present thesis, Chapter 1 deals with all the fundamental aspects of polynuclear metal complexes, molecular magnetism and optics, while research results are reported in Chapters 2 and 3. In the first project (Chapter 2), I investigated the coordination chemistry of the organic chelating/bridging ligand, N-salicylidene-4-methyl-o-aminophenol (samphH2). The general NiII/tBuCO2-/samphH2 reaction system afforded two new tetranuclear NiII clusters, namely [Ni4(samph)4(EtOH)4] (1) and [Ni4(samph)4(DMF)2] (2), with different structural motifs. Complex 1 possessed a cubane core while in complex 2 the four NiII ions were located at the four vertices of a defective dicubane. The nature of the organic solvent was found to be of pivotal importance, leading to compounds with the same nuclearity, but different structural topologies and magnetic properties. The second project, the results of which are summarized in Chapter 3, included the systematic study of a new optically-active Schiff base ligand, N-naphthalidene-2-amino-5-chlorobenzoic acid (nacbH2), in NiII cluster chemistry. Various reactions between NiX2 (X- = inorganic anions) and nacbH2 were performed under basic conditions to yield six new polynuclear NiII complexes, namely (NHEt3)[Ni12(nacb)12(H2O)4](ClO4) (3), (NHEt3)2[Ni5(nacb)4(L)(LH)2(MeOH)] (4), [Ni5(OH)2(nacb)4(DMF)4] (5), [Ni5(OMe)Cl(nacb)4(MeOH)3(MeCN)] (6), (NHEt3)2[Ni6(OH)2(nacb)6(H2O)4] (7), and [Ni6(nacb)6(H2O)3(MeOH)6] (8). The nature of the solvent, the inorganic anion, X-, and the organic base were all found to be of critical importance, leading to products with different structural topologies and nuclearities (i.e., {Ni5}, {Ni6} and {Ni12}). Magnetic studies on all synthesized complexes revealed an overall ferromagnetic behavior for complexes 4 and 8, with the remaining complexes being dominated by antiferromagnetic exchange interactions. In order to assess the optical efficiency of the organic ligand when bound to the metal centers, photoluminescence studies were performed on all synthesized compounds. Complexes 4 and 5 show strong emission in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Finally, the ligand nacbH2 allowed for some unexpected organic transformations to occur; for instance, the pentanuclear compound 5 comprises both nacb2- groups and a new organic chelate, namely the anion of 5-chloro-2-[(3-hydroxy-4-oxo-1,4-dihydronaphthalen-1-yl)amino]benzoic acid. In the last section of this thesis, an attempt to compare the NiII cluster chemistry of the N-naphthalidene-2-amino-5-chlorobenzoic acid ligand with that of the structurally similar but less bulky, N-salicylidene-2-amino-5-chlorobenzoic acid (sacbH2), was made.

Regulation of gene expression in the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum

Les dinoflagellés sont des eucaryotes unicellulaires que l’on retrouve autant en eau douce qu’en milieu marin. Ils sont particulièrement connus pour causer des fleurs d’algues toxiques nommées ‘marée-rouge’, ainsi que pour leur symbiose avec les coraux et pour leur importante contribution à la fixation du carbone dans les océans. Au point de vue moléculaire, ils sont aussi connus pour leur caractéristiques nucléaires uniques, car on retrouve généralement une quantité immense d’ADN dans leurs chromosomes et ceux-ci sont empaquetés et condensés sous une forme cristalline liquide au lieu de nucléosomes. Les gènes encodés par le noyau sont souvent présents en multiples copies et arrangés en tandem et aucun élément de régulation transcriptionnelle, y compris la boite TATA, n’a encore été observé. L’organisation unique de la chromatine des dinoflagellés suggère que différentes stratégies sont nécessaires pour contrôler l’expression des gènes de ces organismes. Dans cette étude, j’ai abordé ce problème en utilisant le dinoflagellé photosynthétique Lingulodinium polyedrum comme modèle. L. polyedrum est d’un intérêt particulier, car il a plusieurs rythmes circadiens (journalier). À ce jour, toutes les études sur l’expression des gènes lors des changements circadiens ont démontrées une régulation à un niveau traductionnel. Pour mes recherches, j’ai utilisé les approches transcriptomique, protéomique et phosphoprotéomique ainsi que des études biochimiques pour donner un aperçu de la mécanique de la régulation des gènes des dinoflagellés, ceci en mettant l’accent sur l’importance de la phosphorylation du système circadien de L. polyedrum. L’absence des protéines histones et des nucléosomes est une particularité des dinoflagellés. En utilisant la technologie RNA-Seq, j’ai trouvé des séquences complètes encodant des histones et des enzymes modifiant les histones. L polyedrum exprime donc des séquences conservées codantes pour les histones, mais le niveau d’expression protéique est plus faible que les limites de détection par immunodétection de type Western. Les données de séquençage RNA-Seq ont également été utilisées pour générer un transcriptome, qui est une liste des gènes exprimés par L. polyedrum. Une recherche par homologie de séquences a d’abord été effectuée pour classifier les transcrits en diverses catégories (Gene Ontology; GO). Cette analyse a révélé une faible abondance des facteurs de transcription et une surprenante prédominance, parmi ceux-ci, des séquences à domaine Cold Shock. Chez L. polyedrum, plusieurs gènes sont répétés en tandem. Un alignement des séquences obtenues par RNA-Seq avec les copies génomiques de gènes organisés en tandem a été réalisé pour examiner la présence de transcrits polycistroniques, une hypothèse formulée pour expliquer le manque d’élément promoteur dans la région intergénique de la séquence de ces gènes. Cette analyse a également démontré une très haute conservation des séquences codantes des gènes organisés en tandem. Le transcriptome a également été utilisé pour aider à l’identification de protéines après leur séquençage par spectrométrie de masse, et une fraction enrichie en phosphoprotéines a été déterminée comme particulièrement bien adapté aux approches d’analyse à haut débit. La comparaison des phosphoprotéomes provenant de deux périodes différentes de la journée a révélée qu’une grande partie des protéines pour lesquelles l’état de phosphorylation varie avec le temps est reliées aux catégories de liaison à l’ARN et de la traduction. Le transcriptome a aussi été utilisé pour définir le spectre des kinases présentes chez L. polyedrum, qui a ensuite été utilisé pour classifier les différents peptides phosphorylés qui sont potentiellement les cibles de ces kinases. Plusieurs peptides identifiés comme étant phosphorylés par la Casein Kinase 2 (CK2), une kinase connue pour être impliquée dans l’horloge circadienne des eucaryotes, proviennent de diverses protéines de liaison à l’ARN. Pour évaluer la possibilité que quelques-unes des multiples protéines à domaine Cold Shock identifiées dans le transcriptome puissent moduler l’expression des gènes de L. polyedrum, tel qu’observé chez plusieurs autres systèmes procaryotiques et eucaryotiques, la réponse des cellules à des températures froides a été examinée. Les températures froides ont permis d’induire rapidement un enkystement, condition dans laquelle ces cellules deviennent métaboliquement inactives afin de résister aux conditions environnementales défavorables. Les changements dans le profil des phosphoprotéines seraient le facteur majeur causant la formation de kystes. Les phosphosites prédits pour être phosphorylés par la CK2 sont la classe la plus fortement réduite dans les kystes, une découverte intéressante, car le rythme de la bioluminescence confirme que l’horloge a été arrêtée dans le kyste.

Decreased 5-F{T1fti Receor Gene Expression and 5-F4T11 Receptor Protein in the Cerebra'' Cortex and Brain Stem during Pancreatic Regenera tion in Rats

The present study was to investigate the rote of central 5-11T and 5-HT,:v receptor Lindin4o and acne expression in it 'at mo(lel of pancreatic regeneration using 60" -, pancreatcutumy. The pancreatic regeneration was evaluated by 5-HT content and 5-HT,,receptor gene expression in the cerebral cortex (CC) and brain stem MS) of Alain opcrate,t, 7 It utd 7 (.lays panereatectomised rats. 5-11T content significantly increased in the CC' (I' 1.1)11 and 13S (P 0.05) of 72 Ii p.ntcreateetomiscd rats. Sympathetic activity was decreased as indicated by the significantly decreased norcpiuephrine (NIi) and epinephrine (FTI) Icvcl (1' < 0.001 and P < 0.05) in the plasma of 72 h panereateetomised rats. 5-111 ,^, receptor density and affinity was decreased in the CC (P < 0.01) and BS (P < 0.01). These rh:)nge; correlated with a diminished 5-IITIA receptor mRNA expression in the brain region. studied. Our resuils suggest that the brain 5-11T through 5-HTin receptor has it funcuon:0 rule iii 11w pi+ncreatic regcner:ttion through the sympathetic regulation.

New Spectrophotometric Methods for the Determination of Nimesulide

Two simple and sensitive spectrophotometric methods (A and B)in the visible region have been developed for the determination of nimesulide in bulk and in dosage forms.Method A is based on the reaction of reduced nimesulide with nitrous acid followed by its coupling with phloroglucinol to yield an yellow colored azo dye with an absorption maximum of 400 nm and method B is based on the reaction of reduced nimesulide with p-dimethylamino benzaldehyde(PDAB) to form an yellow colored chromogen wiht an absorption maximum of 415 nm.When pharmaceutical preparations (Tablets and suspension) were analysed, the results obtained by the proposed methods are in good agreement with the labelled amounts and are comparable with the results obtained by a reported method.recovery in both the method is 98-101 %.

Optical properties of phthalocyanine molecules in cyano acrylate polymer matrix

Optical absorption and emission spectral studies of various phthalocyanine molecules, viz., LaPc, NdPc, SmPc, EuPc, CuPc and ZnPc in a polymer matrix of cyano acrylate are reported for the first time. All the absorption spectra show an intense B band (Soret) in the UV region followed by a weaker Q band in the visible region. The positions of the Q and B bands are found to have dependence on the metallic substitution. Values of the important spectral parameters, viz., molar extinction coefficient (ϵ), oscillator strength (f), radiative transition rate and decay time of the excited singlet state are also presented and compared with other solid matrices. The recorded fluorescence spectrum shows two broad emission bands in the case of NdPc, whereas for ZnPc only a very weak band is observed. The absence of emission bands for the other metallated phthalocyanines is attributed to increased spin orbit interaction and intersystem crossing.

Regulation of GABA(A) and glutamate receptor expression, synaptic facilitation and long-term potentiation in the hippocampus of prion mutant mice

Background: Prionopathies are characterized by spongiform brain degeneration, myoclonia, dementia, and periodic electroencephalographic (EEG) disturbances. The hallmark of prioniopathies is the presence of an abnormal conformational isoform (PrP(sc)) of the natural cellular prion protein (PrP(c)) encoded by the Prnp gene. Although several roles have been attributed to PrP(c), its putative functions in neuronal excitability are unknown. Although early studies of the behavior of Prnp knockout mice described minor changes, later studies report altered behavior. To date, most functional PrP(c) studies on synaptic plasticity have been performed in vitro. To our knowledge, only one electrophysiological study has been performed in vivo in anesthetized mice, by Curtis and coworkers. They reported no significant differences in paired-pulse facilitation or LTP in the CA1 region after Schaffer collateral/commissural pathway stimulation. Principal Findings: Here we explore the role of PrP(c) expression in neurotransmission and neural excitability using wild-type, Prnp -/- and PrP(c)-overexpressing mice (Tg20 strain). By correlating histopathology with electrophysiology in living behaving mice, we demonstrate that both Prnp -/- mice but, more relevantly Tg20 mice show increased susceptibility to KA, leading to significant cell death in the hippocampus. This finding correlates with enhanced synaptic facilitation in paired-pulse experiments and hippocampal LTP in living behaving mutant mice. Gene expression profiling using Illumina microarrays and Ingenuity pathways analysis showed that 129 genes involved in canonical pathways such as Ubiquitination or Neurotransmission were co-regulated in Prnp -/- and Tg20 mice. Lastly, RT-qPCR of neurotransmission-related genes indicated that subunits of GABA(A) and AMPA-kainate receptors are co-regulated in both Prnp -/- and Tg20 mice. Conclusions/Significance: Present results demonstrate that PrP(c) is necessary for the proper homeostatic functioning of hippocampal circuits, because of its relationships with GABA(A) and AMPA-Kainate neurotransmission. New PrP(c) functions have recently been described, which point to PrP(c) as a target for putative therapies in Alzheimer's disease. However, our results indicate that a "gain of function" strategy in Alzheimer's disease, or a "loss of function" in prionopathies, may impair PrP(c) function, with devastating effects. In conclusion, we believe that present data should be taken into account in the development of future therapies.

Impact of climate change on hetrotrophic bacterial communities in the water and sediment of kongsfjord in norwegian artic

Considering the extent of warming in the artic region and the resultant changes in the dynamic marine enviornments there is a need to monitor the bacterial diversity in the fjord enviornments especially in terms of cultivable bacteria. The present study reports the diversity of cultivable hetrotrophic bacteria from the water and sediment samples of kongsfjord their growth responses to important enviornmental variables and ability to produce industrially important hydrolytic enzymes.