The 16S ribosomal RNA methyltransferase enzymes that modify nucleosides in the drug binding site to provide self-resistance in aminoglycoside-producing micro-organisms have been proposed to comprise two distinct groups of S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM)-dependent RNA enzymes, namely the Kgm and Kam families. Here, the nucleoside methylation sites for three Kgm family methyltransferases, Sgm from Micromonospora zionensis, GrmA from Micromonospora echinospora and Krm from Frankia sp. Ccl3, were experimentally determined as G1405 by MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry. These results significantly extend the list of securely characterized G1405 modifying enzymes and experimentally validate their grouping into a single enzyme family. Heterologous expression of the KamB methyltransferase from Streptoalloteichus tenebrarius experimentally confirmed the requirement for an additional 60 amino acids on the deduced KamB N-terminus to produce an active methyltransferase acting at A1408, as previously suggested by an in silico analysis. Finally, the modifications at G1405 and A1408, were shown to confer partially overlapping but distinct resistance profiles in Escherichia coli. Collectively, these data provide a more secure and systematic basis for classification of new aminoglycoside resistance methyltransferases from producers and pathogenic bacteria on the basis of their sequences and resistance profiles.

In every measurement procedure, it is important to know the components of measurement uncertainty affecting the quality of measured result and reliability of quantified result. The procedure for recognizing measurement uncertainty is not universal but depends on the method and sample type. It has to be made according to good laboratory practice. This paper aims at showing the comparison of measurement uncertainty component estimations for three methods using the high-performance liquid chromatography techniques: determination of the type and content of aromatic hydrocarbons in diesel fuels and petroleum distillates by normal phase high-performance liquid chromatography, determination of nitrates in water samples by ion chromatography, and determination of molecular weights of polystyrene by size exclusion chromatography technique. Both similarity and differences were found during the measurement uncertainty component estimation, and conclusions about influences of certain components on the result uncertainty were made.

Determination of aromatics in diesel fuels by HPLC is covered by European Standard EN 12916 (April 2000). The Standard is based on former standards IP 391/90 and IP 391/95. The method used for measurements is NP HPLC and separation is performed on silica or modified silica columns with RI detection. The precision of the method was checked by determining the repeatability and reproducibility. The content of aromatics was measured in a number of commercial samples. The measurements have been performed in three different laboratories and under different working and instrumental conditions. Satisfactory agreement was established for repeatability and was slightly poorer for reproducibility. The content of polyaromatics is within the tolerance range (IP 590/99) and the content of tricyclic and higher aromatics (tri+) is close to the limit of quantitition in some samples. Clear differences in the content of polycyclic aromatics in domestic diesel and eurodiesel fuels were observed. The results have confirmed the ruggedness and robustness of the measuring method.