Two novel 3′-O-β-glucosylated nucleosides are identified from Streptomyces calvus fermentations prior to nucleocidin production, suggesting an early role during the biosynthesis of this antibiotic.

As is well known, controlling the local magnetic field distribution on the micrometer scale in a microfluidic chip is significant and has many applications in bioanalysis based on magnetic beads. However, it is a challenge to tailor the magnetic field introduced by external permanent magnets or electromagnets on the micrometer scale. Here, we demonstrated a simple approach to controlling the local magnetic field distribution on the micrometer scale in a microfluidic chip by nickel patterns encapsulated in a thin poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) film under the fluid channel. With the precisely controlled magnetic field, magnetic bead patterns were convenient to generate. Moreover, two kinds of fluorescent magnetic beads were patterned in the microfluidic channel, which demonstrated that it was possible to generate different functional magnetic bead patterns in situ, and could be used for the detection of multiple targets. In addition, this method was applied to generate cancer cell patterns.

Nucleoside antibiotics constitute an important family of microbial natural products bearing diverse bioactivities and unusual structural features. Their biosynthetic logics are unique with involvement of complex multi-enzymatic reactions leading to the intricate molecules from simple building blocks. Understanding how nature builds this family of antibiotics in post-genomic era sets the stage for rational enhancement of their production, and also paves the way for targeted persuasion of the cell factories to make artificial designer nucleoside drugs and leads via synthetic biology approaches. In this review, we discuss the recent progress and perspectives on the natural and engineered biosynthesis of nucleoside antibiotics.

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Genome homologies led to the identification of Streptomyces aureorectus DSM 41692 and Streptomyces virens DSM 41465 as producers of the antibiotic nucleocidin, and also 4’-fluoroadenosine.

The frequency of FUS mutations is approximately 1.0% in our SOD1-, ANG-, TARDBP-mutation-negative sporadic ALS cohort and similar to that reported in previous studies from Asia in our familial ALS cohort. [Correction added on 31 May 2012, after first online publication: the gene FUS- was changed to ANG-]. Our findings provide an overview of the occurrence of FUS mutations in Chinese sporadic and familial ALS cases and highlight the importance of screening for FUS mutations in ALS patients of Chinese origin.

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