Molecular Mechanisms of Translation Initiation in Mammals Studied by in vitroReconstruction of Initiation Complexes

Papers on the mechanisms of translation initiation in mammals studied by reconstruction of initiation complexes from individual components are reviewed. The author points to the constraints of this approach and to the pitfalls ignoring which one might come to erroneous conclusions and even artifacts. In addition, some methods employed in the field as well as some technical problems are discussed in the paper, together with the means of obviating them. The review could be a guidebook for newcomers into this quite labor-consuming field.     

Determination of field output correction factors of radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeter and CC01 ionization chamber and validation against IAEA-AAPM TRS-483 code of practice

PurposeTo determine the field output correction factors of the radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeter (RPLGD) in parallel and perpendicular orientations with reference to CC01, the ionization chamber.MethodsThe dose to a small water volume and the sensitive volume of the RPLGD and the IBA-CC01 were determined for 6-MV, 100-cm SAD, 10-cm depth using egs_chamber user-code. The RPLGD in perpendicular and parallel orientations to the beam axis were studied. The field output correction factors of each detector for 0.5 × 0.5 to 10 × 10 cm² field sizes were determined. These field output correction factors were validated by comparing field output factors against data determined from IAEA-AAPM TRS-483 code of practice.ResultsThe field output correction factors of all detectors were within 5% for field sizes down to 0.8 × 0.8 cm². For 0.5 × 0.5 cm², the field output correction factors of CC01, RPLGD in perpendicular and parallel orientations differed from unity by 14%, 19%, and 5%, respectively. The percentage difference between field output factors determined using RPLGD and CC01 data, corrected using the field output correction factors determined in this work and measurements with CC01 data corrected using TRS-483, was less than 3% for all field sizes, except for the smallest field size of RPLGD in perpendicular orientation and the CC01.ConclusionsThe field output correction factors of RPLGD and CC01 are reported. The validation proves that RPLGD in parallel orientation combined with the field output correction factors is the most suitable for determining the field output factors for the smallest field used in this study.     

Population dynamics of two small pelagic fish in the central-south area off Chile: delayed density-dependence and biological interaction

It is widely believed that environmental variability is the main cause for fluctuations in commercially exploited small pelagic fish populations around the world. Nevertheless, density-dependent factors also can drive population dynamics. In this paper, we analyzed thirteen years of a relative abundance index of two clupeoids fish populations coexisting in the central-south area off Chile, namely the common sardine, Strangomera bentincki, and anchovy, Engraulis ringens. We applied the classical diagnostic tools of time series analysis to the observed time-series. Also, the realized per capita population growth rate was studied with the aim of detecting the feedback structure that is characterizing the population dynamics of the two species. The analysis suggests that population fluctuations of the two species have an important density-dependent component, displaying first-order (direct density-dependent) and second-order (delayed density-dependent) simultaneously. The density-dependent component explained 70.5 and 55.6 % of the realized per capita population growth rate of common sardine and anchovy, respectively. The deterministic skeleton model showed an asymptotic convergence to equilibrium density. In presence of a stochastic environment, fluctuations were reproduced for the species showing a component of fluctuation with a period of 4 year. The intrinsic dynamics of each species is typical of interacting species resulting from trophic interactions. It is postulated that the second-order dynamics of S. bentincki and E. ringens in central-south Chile, may be the result from interactions with a specialist predator (the fishing fleet), interacting with exogenous environmental factors.     

Reaction of small heat-shock proteins to different kinds of cellular stress in cultured rat hippocampal neurons

Upregulation of small heat-shock proteins (sHsps) in response to cellular stress is one mechanism to increase cell viability. We previously described that cultured rat hippocampal neurons express five of the 11 family members but only upregulate two of them (HspB1 and HspB5) at the protein level after heat stress. Since neurons have to cope with many other pathological conditions, we investigated in this study the expression of all five expressed sHsps on mRNA and protein level after sublethal sodium arsenite and oxidative and hyperosmotic stress. Under all three conditions, HspB1, HspB5, HspB6, and HspB8 but not HspB11 were consistently upregulated but showed differences in the time course of upregulation. The increase of sHsps always occurred earlier on mRNA level compared with protein levels. We conclude from our data that these four upregulated sHsps (HspB1, HspB5, HspB6, HspB8) act together in different proportions in the protection of neurons from various stress conditions.     

Estimation of extremely small field radiation dose for brain stereotactic radiotherapy using the Vero4DRT system

The purpose of this study was a dosimetric validation of the Vero4DRT for brain stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) with extremely small fields calculated by the treatment planning system (TPS) iPlan (Ver.4.5.1; algorithm XVMC). Measured and calculated data (e.g. percentage depth dose [PDD], dose profile, and point dose) were compared for small square fields of 30 × 30, 20 × 20, 10 × 10 and 5 × 5 mm² using ionization chambers of 0.01 or 0.04 cm³ and a diamond detector. Dose verifications were performed using an ionization chamber and radiochromic film (EBT3; the equivalent field sizes used were 8.2, 8.7, 8.9, 9.5, and 12.9 mm²) for five brain SRT cases irradiated with dynamic conformal arcs.The PDDs and dose profiles for the measured and calculated data were in good agreement for fields larger than or equal to 10 × 10 mm² when an appropriate detector was chosen. The dose differences for point doses in fields of 30 × 30, 20 × 20, 10 × 10 and 5 × 5 mm² were +0.48%, +0.56%, −0.52%, and +11.2% respectively. In the dose verifications for the brain SRT plans, the mean dose difference between the calculated and measured doses were −0.35% (range, −0.94% to +0.47%), with the average pass rates for the gamma index under the 3%/2 mm criterion being 96.71%, 93.37%, and 97.58% for coronal, sagittal, and axial planes respectively.The Vero4DRT system provides accurate delivery of radiation dose for small fields larger than or equal to 10 × 10 mm².     

The trophic impact of small mammals in successional grasslands

The habitat use and diets of small mammals inhabiting grassland plots of different successional ages were investigated by live-trapping and faecal analysis over a period of 16 months. The contribution of the major plant life forms and the structural profile of the vegetation of each plot and the availability of insect prey were assessed. The dominant species of small mammal found on each plot were Sorex araneus, S. minutus, Apodemus sylvaticus and Microtus agrestis . Small mammals were most commonly found in the late and mid-successional stages, reflecting the habitat structure and food availability. A wide range of insects and other invertebrates were eaten by all four species and insects formed 50–62% of the animal prey taken. The incidence of certain prey in the diets differed between plots. The daily consumption rate of invertebrates by shrews and mice was estimated at some 6800 prey per ha. The greatest predatory impact came from shews but A. sylvaticus showed increased consumption of invertebrates in spring. The combined predatory impact of the grassland small mammal community on insect populations alone was estimated to average 0.01% per day and is predicted to be greatest in the mid-successional stages.     

The Na+-independentd-glucose transporter in the enterocyte basolateral membrane: Orientation and cytochalasin B binding characteristics

Summary Phloridzin-insensitive, Na⁺-independentd-glucose uptake into isolated small intestinal epithelial cells was shown to be only partially inhibited by trypsin treatment (maximum 20%). In contrast, chymotrypsin almost completely abolished hexose transport. Basolateral membrane vesicles prepared from rat small intestine by a Percoll^® gradient procedure showed almost identical susceptibility to treatment by these proteolytic enzymes, indicating that the vesicles are predominantly oriented outside-out. These vesicles with a known orientation were employed to investigate the kinetics of transport in both directions across the membrane. Uptake data (i.e. movement into the cell) showed aK _t of 48mm and aV _max of 1.14 nmol glucose/mg membrane protein/sec. Efflux data (exit from the cell) showed a lowerK _t of 23mm and aV _max of 0.20 nmol glucose/mg protein/sec.d-glucose uptake into these vesicles was found to be sodium independent and could be inhibited by cytochalasin B. TheK _t for cytochalasin B as an inhibitor of glucose transport was 0.11 m and theK _D for binding to the carrier was 0.08 m.d-glucose-sensitive binding of cytochalasin B to the membrane preparation was maximized withl- andd-glucose concentrations of 1.25m. Scatchard plots of the binding data indicated that these membranes have a binding site density of 8.3 pmol/mg membrane protein. These results indicate that the Na⁺-independent glucose transporter in the intestinal basolateral membrane is functionally and chemically asymmetric. There is an outward-facing chymotrypsin-sensitive site, and theK _t for efflux from the cell is smaller than that for entry. These characteristics would tend to favor movement of glucose from the cell towards the bloodstream.