Enhanced cell lysis due to plasmid carriage was ruled out as the mechanism for eDNA release. We report, for the first time, that carriage of a conjugative plasmid leads to increased biofilm formation by production of eDNA. The ubiquitous soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida can metabolize a wide range of natural and synthetic organic compounds and may play a central role in the natural degradation of soil pollutants. Pseudomonas putida’s natural niche is in soils, where it colonizes and forms biofilms on roots or soil particles. When examined in laboratory flow cells, P. putida strains are often poor biofilm formers, yielding patchy, thin, discontinuous, and weak biofilms (Tolker-Nielsen et al.,

2000; Gjermansen et al., 2005; Chang et al., 2007; Rochex & Lebeault, 2007). The ability to form biofilms is, however, a prerequisite for a see more number of industrial and environmental applications, driving the interest in understanding

the molecular and environmental factors that govern biofilm formation in P. putida. The consensus is that biofilm formation can be described as a sequential process that involves (1) transport of cells to a surface, (2) initial reversible attachment, (3) formation of microcolonies, and (4) the further expansion and maturation of the biofilm (O’Toole et al., 2000). Working with various model organisms, it has been demonstrated that several physiological events are important or essential in the initial development and maturation of biofilms, such as cellular motility, synthesis of exopolymeric substances, synthesis of adhesins, and cell-to-cell signalling (O’Toole et al., 2000; Monds Sirolimus supplier & O’Toole, 2009). The genetic elements underlying these processes, as well as the environmental cues controlling their expression, have been increasingly documented. Nevertheless, it appears that

multiple pathways might exist for biofilm development, even within a single species, and that environmental conditions may play a significant role (Karatan & Watnick, 2009). In a seminal paper, Ghigo (2001) demonstrated that derepressed conjugal plasmids Non-specific serine/threonine protein kinase have a stimulatory effect on Escherichia coli K-12 biofilm formation: using the F plasmid, the presence and expression of the traA gene was shown to be sufficient and necessary to observe the stimulatory effect, and the direct involvement of conjugal pili was inferred. It was later documented that expression of conjugal pili alone obviates the need for expression of other cellular factors typically assumed to be necessary for biofilm formation (e.g. flagella, fimbriae, curli) in E. coli (Reisner et al., 2003). The observation that carriage of conjugal plasmids can enhance biofilm formation, then, suggests a simple way by which an organism can be engineered into a stronger biofilm former. This is especially interesting for strains such as P. putida, which can be host to a variety of catabolic conjugal plasmids (Sevastsyanovich et al.

These results provide further evidence for increased bihemispheric contributions to motor

control in patients with MS relative to healthy controls. They further suggest that multicentre fMRI studies of FC changes are possible, and provide a potential imaging biomarker for use in experimental therapeutic studies directed at enhancing adaptive plasticity in the disease. “
“Metabolic signals related to feeding and body temperature regulation have profound effects on vigilance. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a key effector organ in the regulation of metabolism in several species, including rats and Anti-diabetic Compound Library solubility dmso mice. Significant amounts of active BAT are also present throughout adulthood in humans. The metabolic activity of BAT is due to the tissue-specific presence of the uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1). To test the involvement of BAT thermogenesis in sleep regulation, we investigated the effects of two sleep-promoting stimuli in UCP-1-deficient mice. Sleep

deprivation by gentle handling increased UCP-1 mRNA expression in BAT and elicited rebound increases in non-rapid-eye-movement sleep and rapid-eye-movement sleep accompanied by elevated slow-wave activity of the electroencephalogram. selleck products The rebound sleep increases were significantly attenuated, by ~ 35–45%, in UCP-1-knockout (KO) mice. Wild-type (WT) mice with capsaicin-induced sensory denervation of the interscapular BAT pads showed similar impairments in restorative sleep responses after sleep deprivation, suggesting a role of neuronal sleep-promoting ASK1 signaling from the BAT. Exposure of WT mice to 35 °C ambient temperature for 5 days led to increased sleep and body temperature and suppressed feeding and energy expenditure. Sleep increases in the warm environment were significantly suppressed, by ~ 50%, in UCP-1-KO animals while their food intake and energy expenditure did not differ from those of the WTs. These results

suggest that the metabolic activity of the BAT plays a role in generating a metabolic environment that is permissive for optimal sleep. Impaired BAT function may be a common underlying cause of sleep insufficiency and metabolic disorders. “
“Key questions remain regarding the processes governing gliogenesis following central nervous system injury that are critical to understanding both beneficial brain repair mechanisms and any long-term detrimental effects, including increased risk of seizures. We have used cortical injury produced by intracranial electrodes (ICEs) to study the time-course and localization of gliosis and gliogenesis in surgically resected human brain tissue. Seventeen cases with ICE injuries of 4–301 days age were selected.

These can pose numerous challenges for the clinician. There is no published protocol on the management of double teeth. Aim.  To review the published literature and also patients managed at the Eastman Dental Hospital (EDH) and to develop a clinical protocol for the management of double teeth

in children and adolescents. Design.  Literature was searched (Medline and Embase) selleck and data collated. Patient notes of cases managed at the EDH were reviewed. Results.  Eighty-one teeth from 53 papers and 22 patients were included in the review. Success criteria were only reported in 32 papers and were variable. Twenty-three papers had no follow-up period. The main factor in determining the management of a double tooth was root and root canal system morphology. The treatment Selumetinib supplier of choice in teeth with separate roots was hemisection and in those with a single root was crown modification or extraction. Conclusion.  It was not possible to determine the best management strategies because of the variable reporting in the literature. The authors have proposed a protocol for management and a data collection sheet for essential information needed when reporting on double teeth cases. “
“International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2012; 22: 211–216 Objective.  The aim of this study was to evaluate

the knowledge of emergency medical physicians employed in hospital emergency rooms as to their potential role in the treatment for traumatic teeth

avulsion injuries (TTAI). Methods.  A 15-item questionnaire was distributed to the emergency rooms of one university and 10 public hospitals. The questionnaire gathered data on the respondents’ professional profiles and self-assessed perceived knowledge and actual knowledge of the emergency management of TTAIs. Results.  The study was implemented with 69 emergency physicians present at their workplaces during the time of data collection. Of these, 55 (79.7%) were employed at public hospitals and 14 (20.3%) at a university hospital. The professional profiles indicated Adenosine triphosphate that 47 (68.1%) of the participants were general practitioners and the remaining 22 (31.9%) were distributed among various other medical specialties. Overall, 28 respondents (40.6%) assessed their knowledge regarding medical treatment for TTAI as insufficient, and the majority (78.3%) stated that they would like further education. Importantly, a large majority of practitioners could not provide correct answers to questions related to the emergency management of TTAI. Conclusion.  There is a need to improve the knowledge of emergency medical physicians regarding the emergency treatment for TTAI. “
“International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2012; 22: 280–285 Background.

These can pose numerous challenges for the clinician. There is no published protocol on the management of double teeth. Aim.  To review the published literature and also patients managed at the Eastman Dental Hospital (EDH) and to develop a clinical protocol for the management of double teeth

in children and adolescents. Design.  Literature was searched (Medline and Embase) Small molecule library molecular weight and data collated. Patient notes of cases managed at the EDH were reviewed. Results.  Eighty-one teeth from 53 papers and 22 patients were included in the review. Success criteria were only reported in 32 papers and were variable. Twenty-three papers had no follow-up period. The main factor in determining the management of a double tooth was root and root canal system morphology. The treatment find more of choice in teeth with separate roots was hemisection and in those with a single root was crown modification or extraction. Conclusion.  It was not possible to determine the best management strategies because of the variable reporting in the literature. The authors have proposed a protocol for management and a data collection sheet for essential information needed when reporting on double teeth cases. “
“International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2012; 22: 211–216 Objective.  The aim of this study was to evaluate

the knowledge of emergency medical physicians employed in hospital emergency rooms as to their potential role in the treatment for traumatic teeth

avulsion injuries (TTAI). Methods.  A 15-item questionnaire was distributed to the emergency rooms of one university and 10 public hospitals. The questionnaire gathered data on the respondents’ professional profiles and self-assessed perceived knowledge and actual knowledge of the emergency management of TTAIs. Results.  The study was implemented with 69 emergency physicians present at their workplaces during the time of data collection. Of these, 55 (79.7%) were employed at public hospitals and 14 (20.3%) at a university hospital. The professional profiles indicated 5-Fluoracil chemical structure that 47 (68.1%) of the participants were general practitioners and the remaining 22 (31.9%) were distributed among various other medical specialties. Overall, 28 respondents (40.6%) assessed their knowledge regarding medical treatment for TTAI as insufficient, and the majority (78.3%) stated that they would like further education. Importantly, a large majority of practitioners could not provide correct answers to questions related to the emergency management of TTAI. Conclusion.  There is a need to improve the knowledge of emergency medical physicians regarding the emergency treatment for TTAI. “
“International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2012; 22: 280–285 Background.

CRF interactions with the DA system in the amygdala may represent

a fundamental neurochemical and cellular mechanism linking stress to cocaine-induced neuronal plasticity. “
“In this study, we demonstrate that d-serine interacts with N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) coagonist sites of retinal ganglion cells of the tiger salamander retina by showing that exogenous d-serine overcomes the competitive antagonism of 7-chlorokynurenic acid for this site. Additionally, we show that exogenous d-serine was more than 30 times as effective at potentiating NMDAR currents compared with glycine. LBH589 molecular weight We thus examined the importance of glycine transport through the application of selective antagonists of the GlyT1 (NFPS) and GlyT2 (ALX-5670) transport systems, while simultaneously evaluating the degree of occupancy of the NMDAR coagonist binding sites. Analysis was carried out with electrophysiological recordings from the inner retina, including whole-cell recordings from retinal ganglion cells and extracellular recordings of the proximal negative GKT137831 in vitro field potential. Blocking the GlyT2 transport system had no effect on the light-evoked NMDAR currents or on the sensitivity of these currents to exogenous d-serine. In contrast, when the GlyT1 system was blocked, the coagonist sites of NMDARs

showed full occupancy. These findings clearly establish the importance of the GlyT1 transporter as an essential component for maintaining the coagonist sites of NMDARs in a non-saturated state. The normal, unsaturated state of the NMDAR coagonist binding sites allows modulation of the NMDAR currents, by release of either d-serine or glycine. These results are discussed in light of contemporary Osimertinib mw findings which favor d-serine over glycine as the major coagonist of the NMDARs found in ganglion cells of the tiger salamander retina. “
“Huntington’s disease

(HD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded polyglutamine repeat within the N-terminus of the huntingtin protein. It is characterized by a selective loss of medium spiny neurons in the striatum. It has been suggested that impaired proteasome function and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress play important roles in mutant huntingtin (mHtt)-induced cell death. However, the molecular link involved is poorly understood. In the present study, we identified the essential role of the extra long form of Bim (Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death), BimEL, in mHtt-induced cell death. BimEL protein expression level was significantly increased in cell lines expressing the N-terminus of mHtt and in a mouse model of HD. Although quantitative RT-PCR analysis indicated that BimEL mRNA was increased in cells expressing mHtt, we provided evidence showing that, at the post-translational level, phosphorylation of BimEL played a more important role in regulating BimEL expression.

neutrophilus resulted in the formation of 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, but neither dehydration to

crotonyl-CoA catalyzed by 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase nor any (S)- nor (R)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase activity were observed (data not shown). These findings exclude the functioning of the hydroxypropionate/hydroxybutyrate Ku0059436 or the dicarboxylate/hydroxybutyrate cycle in ‘A. lithotrophicus’. The presence of the 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase gene in Crenarchaeota is always accompanied by autotrophy via either the hydroxypropionate/hydroxybutyrate or the dicarboxylate/hydroxybutyrate cycle. The homologues of this gene in Archaeoglobus (three in A. fulgidus) must play another role. These genes probably encode functional proteins, because putative 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratases from A. fulgidus contain conserved amino acid residues that are covalently linked to the Fe atoms of the [4Fe–4S]2+ cluster and are important for catalysis: Cys-99, Cys-103, Cys-299 and His-292 (numbering

according to the enzyme from Clostridium aminobutyricum) (Martins et al., 2004; for alignment, see Berg et al., 2007). Interestingly, five genes encoding homologues of 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase were found in the deltaproteobacterium Desulfatibacillum signaling pathway alkenivorans, which degrades alkenes coupled to sulfate reduction (Cravo-Laureau et al., 2004). Similarly, A. fulgidus is able to grow on a wide range of alkenes (Khelifi et al., 2010), and many Archaeoglobaceae GNA12 were found in or isolated from the environments enriched in aliphatic compounds (Stetter et al., 1993; Kashefi et al., 2002; Slobodkina et al., 2009; Steinsbu et al., 2010). In contrast, A. profundus probably does not metabolize these compounds, because its genome lacks two of four key enzymes for β-oxidation and the

4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase gene homologue as well (Von Jan et al., 2010). These circumstances point to a possible role of the Archaeoglobus 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase homologues in the oxidation of aliphatic compounds by adding or eliminating water. Note that 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase also has vinylacetyl-CoA δ-isomerase activity (Scherf et al., 1994). Such an isomerase may play a role in alkene degradation. Proteins from cell extracts of ‘A. lithotrophicus’ and A. fulgidus were separated by SDS-PAGE and blotted to detect biotin-containing proteins using the avidin technique. The cell extract of autotrophically grown M. sedula was used as a positive control for the presence of the biotin carrier protein of acetyl-CoA/propionyl-CoA carboxylase. A single band of biotin-containing protein was detected in ‘A. lithotrophicus’ as well as in A. fulgidus (Fig. 2). Interestingly, the apparent molecular mass of the ‘A. lithotrophicus’ protein (25 kDa) was significantly higher than that of A. fulgidus and M. sedula (20 kDa, respectively). This may indicate a possible difference in the functions of the corresponding proteins in autotrophically grown ‘A.

25 for each resident. Nearly half the recommendations 731 (48%) could be considered clerical, with the aim of improving record keeping. The most common clerical recommendation was to remove medicines from records which were no longer used 232 (65.9%) and changing the dose or directions 148 (42%) was the most common clinical intervention. For 80 residents (22.7 %) the multi-professional selleck chemicals llc review team recommended a further review or follow-up following the medication review. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis suggests that recommending

a further review (B = 0.28 (95% CI) 0.13–0.38) and changing medication (B = 0.40 (95% CI) 0.10–1.70) were the only significant predictors of emergency hospital admissions. Many of the recommendations for further review were for a specialist member of the wider healthcare team to review the resident, specific medication or condition; or where the GP wanted to further consider a recommendation from the multi-professional review. Details collected regarding the hospital admissions were not sufficient to determine the nature of the relationship to the interventions

made. The results of this exploratory analysis suggest that there are a significant number of interventions that are implemented when GPs, pharmacists and care home staff conduct a multi-professional medication review together. The majority of interventions were to improve the quality of documentation for each resident so that all professionals involved in their care knew what should be happening PLX4032 with their medication. When the multi-professional medication review team identified residents with problems that could not be resolved during the meeting, a further review was recorded as an intervention. This intervention may be a marker for residents who require specialist input. Therefore if frail care home residents are going to stay out of hospital, more responsive specialist models of care may need to be developed. 1. Desborough J, Houghton J, Wood J, Wright D, Holland R, Sach T et al. Multi-professional clinical medication reviews in care homes for the elderly: study protocol

for a randomised controlled trial with cost effectiveness analysis. Trials 2011; 12: Neratinib supplier 218. This abstract presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme (Grant Reference Number PB-PG-0808-16065). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. P. Rivers, J. Waterfield, A. Afsar, M. Ali, H. Davgun, N. Fazal De Montfort University, Leicester, UK The purpose of the study was establish whether care home staff function within a stress and blame-free culture that is conducive towards the avoidance of medication errors A noteworthy minority of care workers were concerned about being blamed for making a mistake.

112). In lateral sites, musical sounds (both NAT and ROT) elicited a larger N1 over the right than over the left hemisphere sites (hemisphere by sound type, F1,34 = 7.376, P = 0.01, ηp2 = 0.178; hemisphere, F1,34 = 6.094, P = 0.019, ηp2 = 0.152) while the N1 amplitude elicited by vocal sounds was similar across the two hemispheres. Lastly, the group by hemisphere by site interaction was marginally significant (F3,102 = 3.172, P = 0.055, ηp2 = 0.085) due to the fact

that the two groups differed across a larger array of electrodes over the right as compared with the left hemisphere. Musicians had a significantly larger N1 peak amplitude than non-musicians at frontal, fronto-temporal and temporal–parietal sites (F1,34 = 4.294–5.953, P = 0.02–0.046, ηp2 = 0.112-0.149) selleck chemical over the right hemisphere, but only at frontal sites (F1,34 = 7.793, P < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.186) over the left. The two groups did not differ in N1 peak latency. There was also no group by naturalness interaction (midline, F1,34 < 1; mid-lateral, F1,34 < 1; lateral, F1,34 = 2.259, P = 0.142). The analysis yielded only one significant finding – namely, deviant sounds elicited N1 with a longer peak latency (midline, F1,34 = 55.942, P < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.622; mid-lateral, F1,34 = 52.275, P < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.606; lateral, F1,34 = 23.724, P < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.411). In summary, musicians had a significantly larger

N1 peak amplitude Nintedanib molecular weight to all sound and stimulus types in both these the NAT and the ROT conditions. At lateral sites, this difference was present over a larger array of electrodes over the right as compared with the left hemisphere. The two groups did not differ in the peak latency of N1. Musicians and non-musicians did not differ in the mean amplitude of the P3a component. Additionally, the factor of group did not interact with other factors. The amplitude of P3a was larger to NAT as compared to ROT sounds (F1,34 = 25.833, P < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.432). This difference was probably due to the reduced timbre distinctiveness between standards and deviants in the ROT condition. The P3b analysis yielded no group effect and no interactions between group and other factors. The

only significant finding was that its mean amplitude was significantly larger to NAT as compared to ROT sounds (midline, F1,34 = 9.892, P < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.225; mid-lateral, F1,34 = 12.248, P < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.265; lateral, F1,34 = 11.458, P < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.252). This finding is parallel to that in the P3a analysis and is likewise probably due to the reduced timbre distinctiveness between standards and deviants in the ROT condition. In summary, musicians and non-musicians did not differ in the mean amplitude of either P3a or P3b components. Musicians tended to have a marginally larger mean amplitude of RON compared with non-musicians over mid-lateral and lateral sites (mid-lateral, F1,34 = 3.211, P = 0.082, ηp2 = 0.086; lateral, F1,34 = 3.676, P = 0.064, ηp2 = 0.

The main difference

is the presence of a 29-nucleotide gap in the ITS1 region of P. nostocoides www.selleckchem.com/products/bgj398-nvp-bgj398.html (GenBank AB104884). The ITS regions of the ex-type culture of P. nostocoides (DTO 149E4) were reanalyzed in this study, and in contrast to the sequence deposited on GenBank, these data could not confirm the presence of this 29-nucleotide gap in the ITS1 region. The absence of this gap and the high similarity of the partial TEF sequence of this strain to other P. lilacinus indicates that P. nostocoides is conspecific with P. lilacinus. Furthermore, N. atypicola is phylogenetically related to P. lilacinus (Sung et al., 2007) and possesses lavender-colored conidia similar to those of P. lilacinus (Hywel-Jones & Sivichai, 1995). The taxonomy of the genus Purpureocillium, including the phylogenetic relationship between I. takamizusanensis, N. atypicola, P. nostocoides and P. lilacinus, will be treated elsewhere. Purpureocillium Luangsa-ard, Hywel-Jones, Houbraken & Samson gen.

nov. Mycobank MB 519529 =Paecillium Luangsa-ard, Hywel-Jones & Samson nomen provisorium– Compendium of soil fungi, 2nd edn, p. 322, 2007. Type: Penicillium lilacinum Thom. Latin diagnosis: Conidiophora ex hyphis submersis oriunda, seu mononematosa, phialibus vix in collulum extensi, seu laxis synnematibus connexa, rigida, verticillata; phialidibus collulo distincte angustato praeditis. Conidia in catenis siccis divergentibus adhaerentia, cylindrica Trametinib datasheet (recta vel modice curvata) vel ellipsoidea vel fusiformia, rugulosa, hyalina, aggregata purpurea. Etymology: The generic name refers to the purple colored conidia produced by its type species, Purpureocillium lilacinum. Branched chain aminotransferase Colonies on MEA moderately to fast growing consisting of either a basal or compact crustose felt of numerous conidiophores with a floccose overgrowth of aerial mycelium. Colonies at first white, becoming pink and lilac with the onset of sporulation. Reverse usually in shades of purple or yellow. Conidiophores

arising from submerged hyphae, mononematous, stiff, verticillate; phialides ovate to cylindric with distinct neck or erect and densely grouped, forming verticils of branches and cylindrical phialides without or with very short necks. Conidia in dry divergent chains, straight to slightly curved or ellipsoidal to fusiform, slightly roughened, purple in mass. Purpureocillium lilacinum (Thom) Luangsa-ard, Houbraken, Hywel-Jones & Samson, comb. nov. Mycobank MB 519530 Basionym: Penicillium lilacinum Thom –Bull Bur Anim Ind US Dep Agric, 118: 73 (1910). =Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom) Samson –Stud Mycol6: 58 (1974). =Paecilomyces nostocoides Dunn –Mycologia75: 179 (1983). Colonies on MEA (Oxoid) fast growing, attaining a diameter of 25–35 mm after 7 days at 25 °C; no or restricted growth at 37 °C, 0–10 (−20) mm. Colonies consisting of a basal felt with or without floccose aerial overgrowth (Fig. 3a and b), some isolates strongly floccose (Fig.

Of note, the primer set employed for the assay with THI4 was position C (Fig. 1a) different from that (position B) for the assay for V5-tagged Pdc2p, and the pdc2Δ mutant was used instead of strain thi2Δ. We confirmed that the protein level of thi2p was also unchanged by the experimental conditions (data not shown). As expected,

V5-tagged Thi2p coimmunoprecipitated with all the THI genes except PDC5 (Fig. 1d). The association with the target DNA was also decreased by thiamin in the medium and the absence of Thi3p or, in this case, Pdc2p. These findings strongly suggest that both Pdc2p and Tanespimycin mouse Thi2p alone can bind target DNA and assist each other in recruitment to the THI promoters via interaction with Thi3p. We next intended to map the DNA-binding domain learn more in Pdc2p. Pdc2p is 925 amino acids (aa) long with an internal (aa 407–581) transactivation domain and C-terminal (aa 668–889) Thi3p-interacting domain (Nosaka et al., 2008). In addition, Pdc2p possesses putative DNA-binding

domains at the N-terminus. We constructed plasmids to produce a truncated Pdc2p with a V5-tag and used them in ChIP assays. As expected from the presumed sequence, when the N-terminal 406 aa were removed, no association with THI genes and PDC5 was detected (Fig. 1e). Conversely, V5-tagged Pdc2p(1–406) coimmunoprecipitated with all the genes tested, although very weakly as compared with intact Pdc2p (Fig. 1e). In particular, its association with THI genes was markedly reduced. The Decitabine elimination of the first ten N- or C-terminal aa from Pdc2p(1–406) led to abolishment of the ChIP signal (data not shown). Thus, the 1–406 aa region is necessary for Pdc2p to bind with target

DNA. However, this region alone may not be adequate to exert full binding activity. Alternatively, because of a lack of the Thi3p-interacting domain (Nosaka et al., 2008), it is assumed that the recruitment of Pdc2p(1–406) to the promoter regions of THI genes was decreased. Meanwhile, we attempted to locate the promoter region responsible for the expression of PDC5. Although two ethanol-repression sequence (ERA) sites are recognized in the upstream region of PDC5 (Liesen et al., 1996), it is unclear whether these cis-acting elements are involved in the induction of PDC5 gene expression in response to thiamin starvation. We constructed a series of plasmids containing terminal and internal deletions of the PDC5 promoter and used the β-galactosidase activity to monitor their promoter activities. The results are summarized in Fig. 2. The LacZ gene with PDC5′s upstream region truncated at position −418 from the start codon conferred almost full promoter activity. However, the upstream region truncated at position −390 showed significantly less promoter activity, and that at position −345 barely showed any activity. Furthermore, the deletion of the upstream region from −397 to −346 almost completely abolished the activity.