No abstract

The genome of Bacillus subtilis contains three different genes encoding RNase H homologs: RNases HI, HII and HIII. RNase HIII from B. subtilis degrades RNA in RNA-DNA hybrids in an Mg(2+)-dependent manner like Escherichia coli RNase HI. However, they belong to different classes; the former belongs to the 'class II' or 'large' RNase H family, while the latter belongs to the 'class I' or 'small' RNase H family. RNase HIII of B. subtilis has been overexpressed in E. coli and crystallized at 296 K using sodium formate as a precipitant. The native X-ray diffraction data have been collected to 2.8 A resolution using synchrotron radiation. The crystals are hexagonal, belonging to the space group P6(1), with unit-cell parameters a = b = 86.89, c = 214.49 A, alpha = beta = 90.0, gamma = 120.0 degrees. A self-rotation function calculation indicated the presence of two monomers of the recombinant RNase HIII in the crystallographic asymmetric unit, giving a V(M) of 3.43 A(3) Da(-1) and a solvent content of 64.2%.

There is a great deal of research interest regarding substitutes for antibiotics because of various obstacles to the efficacy and use of antibiotics. We isolated and analyzed diversity of microbiota which exhibited antibacterial activity against 23 pathogenic bacteria, to develop alternative agent of antibiotics. By investigating the microbiota from rocks on the seashore, we characterized and obtained various antibacterial material-producing bacteria. Thirty-one isolates belong to four genera and seven species, according to 16S rDNA sequence analysis, showed antibacterial activities against 23 pathogenic bacteria. The Identity of 16S rDNA sequences indicated three species of Bacillus, one species of Paenibacillus, one species of Pseudomonas and two species of Enterobacter. Two isolates were similar to Bacillus aerophilus, four isolates were similar to Bacillus pumilus, seven isolates were similar to Bacillus safensis, 15 isolates were similar to Paenibacillus polymyxa, respectively. In addition, one isolate was similar with Pseudomonas poae, one isolate was similar to Enterobacter asburiae, and one isolate was similar to Enterobacter ludwigii, respectively. Variations of antibacterial activity and level among the same species were indicated the diverse strains of isolates. Vibrio vulnificus showed the highest degree of growth inhibition by 29 isolates. Further studies regarding antibacterial materials and bacteria suggest that development of probiotic strains or alternative agents to antibiotics.