We investigated the similarity of a single Euglena myxocylindracea strain, isolated originally by Bold and MacEntee, to several Euglena geniculata strains on both morphological and DNA levels. We found the three DNA stretches, consisting of fragments coding for the parts of cytoplasmic and chloroplast small subunit rRNA, and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of cytoplasmic rDNA, with the combined length of 4332 nucleotides, are identical in E. myxocylindracea and E. geniculata, strain SAG 1224‐4b. Morphological differences between E. myxocylindracea and any E. geniculata strain examined were well within the range of E. geniculata variability as well. The only difference behind the distinction of E. myxocylindracea from E. geniculata is the presence of the second chloroplast in the latter. However, we were able to induce the appearance of the second chloroplast in the cells of E. myxocylindracea and its disappearance in the cells of E. geniculata by changing the composition of the culture media. We therefore conclude that E. myxocylindracea Bold and MacEntee should be regarded as an environmental form of E. geniculata Dujardin. For the first time the morphology of E. geniculata chloroplasts was shown as revealed by confocal laser microscopy.

Polaromonas is one of the most abundant genera found on glacier surfaces, yet its ecology remains poorly described. Investigations made to date point towards a uniform distribution of Polaromonas phylotypes across the globe. We compared 43 Polaromonas isolates obtained from surfaces of Arctic and Antarctic glaciers to address this issue. 16S rRNA gene sequences, intergenic transcribed spacers (ITS) and metabolic fingerprinting showed great differences between hemispheres but also between neighboring glaciers. Phylogenetic distance between Arctic and Antarctic isolates indicated separate species. The Arctic group clustered similarly, when constructing dendrograms based on 16S rRNA gene and ITS sequences, as well as metabolic traits. The Antarctic strains, although almost identical considering 16S rRNA genes, diverged into 2 groups based on the ITS sequences and metabolic traits, suggesting recent niche separation. Certain phenotypic traits pointed towards cell adaptation to specific conditions on a particular glacier, like varying pH levels. Collected data suggest, that seeding of glacial surfaces with Polaromonas cells transported by various means, is of greater efficiency on local than global scales. Selection mechanisms present of glacial surfaces reduce the deposited Polaromonas diversity, causing subsequent adaptation to prevailing environmental conditions. Furthermore, interactions with other supraglacial microbiota, like algae cells may drive postselectional niche separation and microevolution within the Polaromonas genus.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00792-016-0831-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Glacier forelands are excellent sites in which to study microbial succession because conditions change rapidly in the emerging soil. Development of the bacterial community was studied along two transects on lateral moraines of Ecology Glacier, King George Island, by culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches (denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis). Environmental conditions such as cryoturbation and soil composition affected both abundance and phylogenetic diversity of bacterial communities. Microbiocenosis structure along transect 1 (severe cryoturbation) differed markedly from that along transect 2 (minor cryoturbation). Soil physical and chemical factors changed along the chronosequence (time since exposure) and influenced the taxonomic diversity of cultivated bacteria, particularly along transect 2. Arthrobacter spp. played a pioneer role and were present in all soil samples, but were most abundant along transect 1. Cultivated bacteria isolated from transect 2 were taxonomically more diverse than those cultivated from transect 1; those from transect 1 tended to express a broader range of enzyme and assimilation activities. Our data suggest that cryoturbation is a major factor in controlling bacterial community development in postglacial soils, shed light on microbial succession in glacier forelands, and add a new parameter to models that describe succession phenomena.

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The total number of bacteria and culturable bacteria in Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) guano was determined during 42 days of decomposition in a location adjacent to the rookery in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. Of the culturable bacteria, 72 randomly selected colonies were described using 49 morpho-physiological tests, 27 of which were subsequently considered significant in characterizing and differentiating the isolates. On the basis of the nucleotide sequence of a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene in each of 72 pure isolates, three major phylogenetic groups were identified, namely the Moraxellaceae/Pseudomonadaceae (29 isolates), the Flavobacteriaceae (14), and the Micrococcaceae (29). Grouping of the isolates on the basis of morpho-physiological tests (whether 49 or 27 parameters) showed similar results to those based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Clusters were characterized by considerable intra-cluster variation in both 16S rRNA gene sequences and morpho-physiological responses. High diversity in abundance and morphometry of total bacterial communities during penguin guano decomposition was supported by image analysis of epifluorescence micrographs. The results indicate that the bacterial community in penguin guano is not only one of the richest in Antarctica, but is extremely diverse, both phylogenetically and morpho-physiologically.

Expression of the arginase structural gene (agaA) in Aspergillus nidulans is subject to complex transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. Arginase mRNA has a long 5'-UTR sequence. Analysis of this sequence in silico revealed its putative complex secondary structure, the presence of arginine-binding motifs (arginine aptamers) and a short intron with two potential 3' splicing sites. In this report we present evidence that L-arginine (i) binds directly to the arginase 5'-UTR; (ii) invokes drastic changes in the secondary structure of the 5'-UTR, unlike several other L-amino acids and D-arginine; and (iii) forces the selection of one of two 3' splice sites of an intron present in the 5'-UTR. We postulate that expression of the eukaryotic structural gene coding for arginase in A. nidulans is regulated at the level of mRNA stability, depending on riboswitch-mediated alternative splicing of the 5'-UTR intron.

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We have cloned and analysed the arcA gene which encodes a transcriptional activator necessary for the high-level expression of two genes for enzymes of the arginine catabolic pathway in Aspergillus nidulans: agaA (for arginase) and otaA (for ornithine transaminase, OTAse). Here we present complete genomic and cDNA sequences for, and describe the pattern of expression of, the arcA gene. This gene contains one intron and encodes a polypeptide of 600 amino acids. The deduced protein belongs to the family of Zn(2)Cys(6) fungal regulatory proteins. ARCA is the first known protein of this family that has glycine instead of the conserved proline at the fifth position in the second, six-residue, loop of the Zn cluster domain. We have established that transcription of the arcA gene is not self-regulated and does not depend on arginine. Two mutations in arcA, one gain-of-function and one loss-of-function, have been sequenced and the effects of these mutations on the expression of the agaA gene at the transcriptional level are reported.