Ergot alkaloids are pharmaceutically and agriculturally important secondary metabolites produced by several species of fungi. Ergot alkaloid pathways vary among different fungal lineages, but the pathway intermediate chanoclavine-I is evolutionarily conserved among ergot alkaloid producers. At least four genes, dmaW, easF, easE, and easC, are necessary for pathway steps prior to chanoclavine-I; however, the sufficiency of these genes for chanoclavine-I synthesis has not been established. A fragment of genomic DNA containing dmaW, easF, easE, and easC was amplified from the human-pathogenic, ergot alkaloid-producing fungus Aspergillus
fumigatus and transformed into Aspergillus
nidulans, a model fungus that does not contain any of the ergot alkaloid synthesis genes. HPLC and LC-MS analyses demonstrated that transformed A. nidulans strains produced chanoclavine-I and an earlier pathway intermediate. Aspergillus
nidulans transformants containing dmaW, easF, and either easE or easC did not produce chanoclavine-I but did produce an early pathway intermediate and, in the case of the easC transformant, an additional ergot alkaloid-like compound. We conclude that dmaW, easF, easE, and easC are sufficient for the synthesis of chanoclavine-I in A. nidulans and expressing ergot alkaloid pathway genes in A. nidulans provides a novel approach to understanding the early steps in ergot alkaloid synthesis.
The purpose of this case is to enable you to design a performance measurement system using a balanced scorecard. This case is based on factual issues and decisions faced by the real-world managers and employees of Holloway Consulting Services (HCS) (names and dollar amounts have been changed). HCS is a service firm that provides its customers with managed business solutions, i.e., integrating outsourcing options with systems design and support. Currently, HCS collects several financial and operational performance measures; however, Sharon Holloway, owner of HCS, is concerned that these measures are not adequate for a firm that competes using intangible assets, especially human capital. Therefore, she plans to implement a balanced scorecard in which performance measures are linked to the firm's strategy. This case provides you with the opportunity to develop a balanced scorecard that incorporates both traditional and nontraditional performance measures within the strategic context of a knowledge-based firm.
The restructuring of local economies in the face of declining traditional industries is a major problem confronting all advanced western societies. This article contrasts the experience of two countries with very different traditions of political management of their national economies, namely the UK and Sweden. The authors argue that whilst there are important divergencies in macro political and economic objectives, there is an interesting convergence in practice in tackling the impact of restructuring at the local community level. This convergence is based on the idea of market led regeneration and bringing private interests, in the form of big business, into a policy-making and implementation role.
British urban policy emphasises the concept of partnership between different levels of government and the importance of institutional co-ordination for effective problem solving. This ignores underlying political and ideological conflicts between the objectives of central government and local authorities in the major conurbations. Examining the evolution of urban policy in Clydeside reveals two competing models of urban regeneration articulated by central and local government, reflecting different modes of interest representation and political accountability. This has particularly adverse consequences for certain communities within the conurbation. Policy prescriptions which fail to recognise these underlying conflicts are unlikely to succeed.
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