The Stress Relaxation of Concentrated Poly γ-Benzyl-l-Glutamate

The effect of temperature and concentration on the relaxation of poly γ-benzyl-l-glutamate (PBLG-mol. wt. 394,000 to 397,000) was examined as a model of protein behavior under “stress” leading to the definition of intra- and inter-molecular forces involved. The relaxation of PBLG, unlike that of the random coil polymers, takes places in two stages. The lower the temperature and concentration of the polymer, the greater is the shift of the inflexion point towards the lower values.

The distribution spectrum of relaxation has a three zone characteristic. The possible significance of each of them is discussed.     

When Does Stress End? Evidence of a Prolonged Stress Reaction in Shiftworking Truck Drivers

This study aimed to analyze individual cortisol levels in relation to work conditions, sleep, and health parameters among truck drivers working day shifts (n?=?21) compared to those working irregular shifts (n?=?21). A total of 42 male truck drivers (39.8?±?6.2 yrs) completed questionnaires about sociodemographics, job content, work environment, health, and lifestyle. Rest-activity profiles were measured using actigraphy, and cardiovascular blood parameters were collected. Salivary cortisol samples were obtained: (i) at waking time, (ii) 30?min after waking, and (iii) at bedtime, during both one workday and one day off from work. Irregular-shift workers, compared to day-shift workers, showed significantly higher waist-hip ratio, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, tiredness after work, years working as a driver, truck vibration, and less job demand (p?<?.05). High cortisol levels in irregular-shift workers were correlated with certain stressors, such as short sleep duration and low job satisfaction, and to metabolic parameters, such as total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), VLDL, and triglycerides. Day-shift workers had higher cortisol levels collected 30?min after waking (p?=?.03) and a higher cortisol awakening response (CAR; p?=?.02) during workdays compared to off days. Irregular-shift workers had higher cortisol levels on their off days compared to day-shift workers (p?=?.03). In conclusion, for the day-shift workers, a higher cortisol response was observed on workdays compared to off days. Although no direct comparisons could be made between groups for work days, on off days the irregular-shift workers had higher cortisol levels compared to day-shift workers, suggesting a prolonged stress response in the irregular-shift group. In addition, cortisol levels were correlated with stressors and metabolic parameters. Future studies are warranted to investigate further stress responses in the context of irregular work hours. (Author correspondence: crmoreno@usp.br)     

Effects of Chronic Restraint Stress and 17-β-Estradiol Replacement on Oxidative Stress in the Spinal Cord of Ovariectomized Female Rats

Previous studies have shown sex-specific oxidative changes in spinal cord of rats submitted to chronic stress, which may be due to gonadal hormones. Here, we assessed total radical-trapping potential (TRAP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and lipid peroxidation (evaluated by the TBARS test) in the spinal cord of ovariectomized (OVX) female rats. Female rats were subjected to OVX, and half of the animals received estradiol replacement. Animals were subdivided into controls and chronically stressed (for 40 days). Our findings demonstrate that chronic stress decreased TRAP, and increased SOD activity in spinal cord homogenates from ovariectomized female rats and had no effect on GPx activity. On the other hand, groups receiving 17β-estradiol replacement presented a decreased GPx activity, but no alteration in TRAP and in SOD activity. No differences in the TBARS test were found in any of the groups analyzed. In conclusion, our results support the idea that chronic stress induces an imbalance between SOD and GPx activities, additionally decreasing TRAP. Estradiol replacement did not reverse the effects of chronic stress, but induced a decrease in GPx activity. Therefore, estradiol replacement in ovariectomized chronically stressed rats could make the spinal cord more susceptible to oxidative injury.     

The Effects of Water Stress on Photosystem Ⅱ in Wheat

The fluorescence yield at room temperature, the capacity of excitation energy distribution between photosystem Ⅰ and Ⅱ by Mg2+, variable fluorescence yield, variable fluorescence quenching rate and fluorescence complementary area were decreased under water stress. These indicated that photosystem Il was impaired. The inhibited variable fluorescence yield could be partly recovered by the addition of artificial electron donor DPC. Therefore, water stress inhibited not only the oxidizing site of photosystem Ⅱ but also impaired partly the reaction center of photosystem Ⅱ.     

Differential Sensitivity of Macrocarpa and Microcarpa Types of Chickpea （Cicer arietinum L.） to Water Stress： Association of Contrasting Stress Response with Oxidative Injury

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is particularly sensitive to water stress at its reproductive phase and, under conditions of water stress, will abort flowers and pods, thus reducing yield potential. There are two types of chickpea: (i) Macrocarpa (“Kabuli”), which has large, rams head‐shaped, light brown seeds; and (ii) Microcarpa (“Desi”), which has small, angular and dark‐brown seeds. Relatively speaking, “Kabuli” has been reported to be more sensitive to water stress than “Desi”. The underlying mechanisms associated with contrasting sensitivity to water stress at the metabolic level are not well understood. We hypothesized that one of the reasons for contrasting water stress sensitivity in the two types of chickpea may be a variation in oxidative injury. In the present study, plants of both types were water stressed at the reproductive stage for 14 d. As a result of the stress, the “Kabuli” type exhibited an 80% reduction in seed yield over control compared with a 64% reduction observed for the “Desi” type. The decrease in leaf water potential (Ψ_w) was faster in the “Kabuli” compared with the “Desi” type. At the end of the water stress period, Ψ_w was reduced to ?2.9 and ?3.1 MPa in the “Desi” and “Kabuli” types, respectively, without any significant difference between them. On the last day of stress, “Kabuli” experienced 20% more membrane injury than “Desi”. The chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate were significantly greater in “Desi” compared with “Kabuli”. The malondialdehyde and H₂O₂ content were markedly higher at the end of the water stress in “Kabuli” compared with “Desi”, indicating greater oxidative stress in the former. Levels of anti‐oxidants, such as ascorbic acid and glutathione, were significantly higher in “Desi” than “Kabuli”. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activity did not differ significantly between the two types of chickpea, whereas on the 10th day, the activities of ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione reductase were higher in “Desi”. These findings indicate that the greater stress tolerance in the “Desi” type may be ascribed to its superior ability to maintain better water status, which results in less oxidative damage. In addition, laboratory studies conducted by subjecting both types of chickpea to similar levels of polyethylene glycol‐induced water stress and to 10 μ.mol/L abscisic acid indicated a greater capacity of the “Desi” type to deal with oxidative stress than the “Kabuli” type. (Managing editor: Ping He)     

Are Fatty Acid Patterns Characteristic of Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency Indicative of Oxidative Stress?

Several unrelated diseases show plasma and tissue fatty acid patterns characteristic of those seen in Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency Disease (EFADD). A common feature occurring in all these diseases is oxidative stress. We hypothesize that reactive oxygen species or products of oxidative damage, particularly those derived from lipids, act as signal molecules to alter desaturase enzymes and induce the fatty acid patterns characteristic of EFADD.     

Toxicity of Amyloid β Peptide: Tales of Calcium,Mitochondria, and Oxidative Stress

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptides. Although the disease undoubtedly reflects the interaction of complex multifactorial processes, Abeta itself is toxic to neurons in vitro and the load of Abeta in vivo correlates well with the degree of cognitive impairment. There has therefore been considerable interest in the mechanism(s) of Abeta neurotoxicity. We here review the basic biology of Abeta processing and consider some of the major areas of focus of this research. It is clear that both AD and Abeta toxicity are characterized by oxidative stress, alterations in the activity of enzymes of intermediary metabolism, and mitochondrial dysfunction, especially impaired activity of cytochrome c oxidase. Studies in vitro also show alterations in cellular calcium signaling. We consider the mechanisms proposed to mediate cell injury and explore evidence to indicate which of these many changes in function are primary and which secondary.     

Effect of Exogenous ABA on the Salt Tolerance of Corn Seedlings Under Salt Stress

The exogenous ABA in different concentrations was used to spray Zea mays L. (cv. Luyu 11) seedlings under different salinity. The growth status, osomotic potential and osmotic regulatory activity, the contents of Na+ and K+, soluble sugars and proline were determined at different time after treatment. The results were shown as follows: The exogenous ABA gave an increase in salt resistance and dry weight of corn seedlings under different salinity, this increase was as a result of inhanced osmotic adjustment activity and exclusion of sodium ions from the shoot through the action of exogenous ABA, resulting an accumulation of sodium in the roots. Moreover, the decrease of osmotic potential and the increase of osmotic regulatory activity were for reasons of enhancement of organic osmotors, instead inorganic, e.g. Na+ and K+ osmotors. The mechanism of sodium exclusion from the shoot was also discussed.     

Defective Autophagy in Parkinson’s Disease: Role of Oxidative Stress

Parkinson??s disease (PD) is a paradigmatic example of neurodegenerative disorder with a critical role of oxidative stress in its etiopathogenesis. Genetic susceptibility factors of PD, such as mutations in Parkin, PTEN-induced kinase 1, and DJ-1 as well as the exposure to pesticides and heavy metals, both contribute to altered redox balance and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Dysregulation of autophagy, a lysosomal-driven process of self degradation of cellular organelles and protein aggregates, is also implicated in PD and PD-related mutations, and environmental toxins deregulate autophagy. However, experimental evidence suggests a complex and ambiguous role of autophagy in PD since either impaired or abnormally upregulated autophagic flux has been shown to cause neuronal loss. Finally, it is generally believed that oxidative stress is a strong proautophagic stimulus. However, some evidence coming from neurobiology as well as from other fields indicate an inhibitory role of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species on the autophagic machinery. This review examines the scientific evidence supporting different concepts on how autophagy is dysregulated in PD and attempts to reconcile apparently contradictory views on the role of oxidative stress in autophagy regulation. The complex relationship between autophagy and oxidative stress is also considered in the context of the ongoing search for a novel PD therapy.     

Is Hemin Responsible for the Susceptibility of Plasmodia to Oxidant Stress?

Based on the unusually high and stage-dependant susceptibility of Plasmodia to oxidant stress it has been proposed that during parasite development, increasing levels of redox-active forms of iron are gradually released. The purpose of this study was to examine this proposal by using an assay monitoring the levels of available forms of iron for redox reactions. Ascorbate-driven and iron-mediated degradation of adventitious DNA served as the basis for this functional assay.

Incubation of DNA with lysate from infected RBC caused massive degradation, which was dose, time-and parasite-stage dependent. In contrast, lysate from non-infected RBC did not induce DNA degradation. Likewise, lysate only from infected RBC enhanced the aerobic oxidation of ascorbate. These effects on both reactions, DNA degradation and ascorbate oxidation, could be reconstructed with hemin, instead of lysate. Also, chelators exerted similar effects on both reactions.

The results suggest that increased levels of redox-active forms of iron are liberated during parasite development. We propose that hemin or hemin-like structures are the appropriate candidates which could catalyze oxidative stress and deregulate the delicate redox balance of the host-parasite system.     

Role of Oxidative Stress in the Etiology of Parkinson’s Disease: Advanced Therapeutic Products

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - The etiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is not exactly known. However, oxidative stress was identified as a key factor that initiates and...