Chlorophyll thermoluminescence of leaf discs: simple instruments and progress in signal interpretation open the way to new ecophysiological indicators

Luminescence from photosynthetic material observed in darkness following illumination is a delayed fluorescence produced by a recombination of charge pairs stored in photosystem II, i.e. the back-reaction of photosynthetic charge separation. Thermoluminescence (TL) is a technique consisting of a rapid cooling followed by the progressive warming of a preilluminated sample to reveal the different types of charge pairs as successive emission bands, which are resolved better than the corresponding decay phases recorded at constant temperatures. Progress in thermoelectric Peltier elements and in compact light detectors made the development of simple, affordable and transportable instruments possible. These instruments take advantage of multifurcated light guides for combined TL, fluorescence and absorbance/reflectance measurements. Meanwhile, experiments on unfrozen leaf discs, with excitation by single turn-over flashes or far red light and infiltration by specific inhibitors/uncouplers, have led to a better understanding of in vivo TL signals. Much like chlorophyll fluorescence and in a complementary way, TL in the 0-60 degrees C temperature range not only informs on the state of photosystem II in leaf tissues and its possible alterations, but also gives a broader insight into the energetic state inside the chloroplast by probing (1) the light-induced or dark-stable thylakoid proton gradient through the protonation of the Mn oxygen-evolving complex, (2) the induction of cyclic/chlororespiratory electron flow towards the plastoquinone pool, (3) the [NADPH+ATP] assimilatory potential. By a different mechanism, warming above 60 degrees C without preillumination reveals chemiluminescence high temperature thermoluminescence (HTL) bands due to the radiative thermolysis of peroxides, which are indicators of oxidative stress in leaves.     

A maurotoxin with constrained standard disulfide bridging: innovative strategy of chemical synthesis,pharmacology, and docking on K+ channels

Maurotoxin (MTX) is a 34-residue toxin that has been isolated initially from the venom of the scorpion Scorpio maurus palmatus. It presents a large number of pharmacological targets, including small conductance Ca2+-activated and voltage-gated K+ channels. Contrary to other toxins of the alpha-KTx6 family (Pi1, Pi4, Pi7, and HsTx1), MTX exhibits a unique disulfide bridge organization of the type C1-C5, C2-C6, C3-C4, and C7-C8 (instead of the conventional C1-C5, C2-C6, C3-C7, and C4-C8, herein referred to as Pi1-like) that does not prevent its folding along the classic alpha/beta scaffold of scorpion toxins. Here, we developed an innovative strategy of chemical peptide synthesis to produce an MTX variant (MTXPi1) with a conventional pattern of disulfide bridging without any alteration of the toxin chemical structure. This strategy was used solely to address the impact of half-cystine pairings on MTX structural properties and pharmacology. The data indicate that MTXPi1 displays some marked changes in affinities toward the target K+ channels. Computed docking analyses using molecular models of both MTXPi1 and the various voltage-gated K+ channel subtypes (Shaker B, Kv1.2, and Kv1.3) were found to correlate with MTXPi1 pharmacology. A functional map detailing the interaction between MTXPi1 and Shaker B channel was generated in line with docking experiments.     

M phase phosphoprotein 1 is a human plus-end-directed kinesin-related protein required for cytokinesis

The human M phase phosphoprotein 1 (MPP1), previously identified through a screening of a subset of proteins specifically phosphorylated at the G2/M transition (Matsumoto-Taniura, N., Pirollet, F., Monroe, R., Gerace, L., and Westendorf, J. M. (1996) Mol. Biol. Cell 7, 1455-1469), is characterized as a plus-end-directed kinesin-related protein. Recombinant MPP1 exhibits in vitro microtubule-binding and microtubule-bundling properties as well as microtubule-stimulated ATPase activity. In gliding experiments using polarity-marked microtubules, MPP1 is a slow molecular motor that moves toward the microtubule plus-end at a 0.07 microm/s speed. In cycling cells, MPP1 localizes mainly to the nuclei in interphase. During mitosis, MPP1 is diffuse throughout the cytoplasm in metaphase and subsequently localizes to the midzone to further concentrate on the midbody. MPP1 suppression by RNA interference induces failure of cell division late in cytokinesis. We conclude that MPP1 is a new mitotic molecular motor required for completion of cytokinesis.     

Skeletal muscle repair by adult human mesenchymal stem cells from synovial membrane

We have demonstrated previously that adult human synovial membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hSM-MSCs) have myogenic potential in vitro (De Bari, C., F. Dell'Accio, P. Tylzanowski, and F.P. Luyten. 2001. Arthritis Rheum. 44:1928-1942). In the present study, we have characterized their myogenic differentiation in a nude mouse model of skeletal muscle regeneration and provide proof of principle of their potential use for muscle repair in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. When implanted into regenerating nude mouse muscle, hSM-MSCs contributed to myofibers and to long term persisting functional satellite cells. No nuclear fusion hybrids were observed between donor human cells and host mouse muscle cells. Myogenic differentiation proceeded through a molecular cascade resembling embryonic muscle development. Differentiation was sensitive to environmental cues, since hSM-MSCs injected into the bloodstream engrafted in several tissues, but acquired the muscle phenotype only within skeletal muscle. When administered into dystrophic muscles of immunosuppressed mdx mice, hSM-MSCs restored sarcolemmal expression of dystrophin, reduced central nucleation, and rescued the expression of mouse mechano growth factor.     

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma,giant cell type,of the breast mimicking metaplastic carcinoma. A case report

BACKGROUND: We report a case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, giant cell type (MFHGC), of the breast. A review of the literature failed to reveal cytology-based reports on this entity. The cytologic similarity of breast MFHGC on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) to other malignant breast neoplasms, including carcinoma with osteoclastlike giant cells, metaplastic carcinoma and breast sarcomas, as well as benign reactive processes, makes the recognition of this tumor challenging. CASE: A 72-year-old woman presented with a 5-month history of an enlarging breast mass. FNAB of the mass showed a hypercellular smear composed of cohesive, branching clusters of spindle cells with ovoid, focally hyperchromatic nuclei and inconspicuous nucleoli. Interspersed osteoclastlike giant cells, some associated with clusters of spindle cells, were uniformly seen throughout the smear. The background was hemorrhagic, with cellular debris and occasional spindle cells and lymphocytes. No ductal epithelial or myoepithelial cells were seen. An incisional biopsy was performed, followed by radical mastectomy. The histologic examination was diagnostic of MFHGC. The diagnosis was supported by immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies. CONCLUSION: MFHGC, also called primary giant cell tumor of soft tissues, is composed of a mixture of histiocytes, fibroblasts and bland-appearing osteoclastlike giant cells with a multinodular growth pattern. Although MFHGC rarely occurs in the breast and the definitive diagnosis is difficult based on cytology alone, the diagnosis can be considered when a cytologic examination reveals a hypercellular, spindle cell smear with osteoclastlike giant cells in the absence of ductal epithelial or myoepithelial cells.     

Characterization of the yeast peroxiredoxin Ahp1 in its reduced active and overoxidized inactive forms using NMR

Peroxiredoxins (Prx's) are a superfamily of thiol-specific antioxidant proteins present in all organisms and involved in the hydroperoxide detoxification of the cell. The catalytic cysteine of Prx's reduces hydroperoxides and is transformed into a transient sulfenic acid (Cys-SOH). At high hydroperoxide concentration, the sulfenic acid can be overoxidized into a sulfinate, or even a sulfonate. We present here the first peroxiredoxin characterization by solution NMR of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae alkylhydroperoxide reductase (Ahp1) in its reduced and in vitro overoxidized forms. NMR (15)N relaxation data and ultracentrifugation experiments indicate that the protein behaves principally as a homodimer (2 x 19 kDa) in solution, regardless of the redox state. In vitro treatment of Ahp1 by a large excess of tBuOOH leads to an inactive form, with the catalytic cysteine overoxidized into sulfonate, as demonstrated by (13)C NMR. Depending on the amino acid sequence of their active site, Prx's are classified into five different families. In this classification, Ahp1 is a member of the scarcely studied D-type Prx's. Ahp1 is unique among the D-type Prx's in its ability to form an intermolecular disulfide. The peptidic sequence of Ahp1 was analyzed and compared to other D-type Prx sequences.     

A putative consensus sequence for the nucleotide-binding site of annexin A6

Reaction-induced infrared difference spectroscopy (RIDS) has been used to investigate the nature of interactions of human annexin A6 (ANXA6) with nucleotides. RIDS results for ANXA6, obtained after the photorelease of GTP-gamma-S, ATP, or P(i) from the respective caged compounds, were identical, suggesting that the interactions between the nucleotide and ANXA6 were dominated by the phosphate groups. Phosphate-induced structural changes in ANXA6 were small and affected only seven or eight amino acid residues. The GTP fluorescent analogue, 2'(3')-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)guanosine 5'-triphosphate (TNP-GTP), quenched tryptophan fluorescence of ANXA6 when bound to the protein. A binding stoichiometry of 1 mol of nucleotide/mol ANXA6 was established with a K(D) value of 2.8 microM for TNP-GTP. The bands observed on RIDS of ANXA6 halves (e.g., N-terminal half, ANXA6a, and C-terminal half, ANXA6b) were similar to those of the whole molecule. However, their amplitudes were smaller by a factor of 2 compared to those of whole ANXA6. TNP-GTP bound to both fragments of ANXA6 with a stoichiometry of 0.5 mol/mol. However, the binding affinities of ANXA6a and ANXA6b differed from that of ANXA6. Simulated molecular modeling revealed a nucleotide-binding site which was distributed in two distinct domains. Residues K296, Y297, K598, and K644 of ANXA6 were less than 3 A from the bound phosphate groups of either GTP or ATP. The presence of two identical sequences in ANXA6 with the F-X-X-K-Y-D/E-K-S-L motif, located in the middle of ANXA6, at residues 293-301 (within ANXA6a) and at 641-649 (within ANXA6b), suggested that the F-X-X-K-Y-D/E-K-S-L motif was the putative sequence in ANXA6 for nucleotide binding.     

Maurocalcine and peptide A stabilize distinct subconductance states of ryanodine receptor type 1, revealing a proportional gating mechanism

Maurocalcine (MCa) isolated from Scorpio maurus palmatus venom shares 82% sequence identity with imperatoxin A. Both scorpion toxins are putative mimics of the II-III loop peptide (termed peptide A (pA)) of alpha(1s)-dihydropyridine receptor and are thought to act at a common site on ryanodine receptor type 1 (RyR1) important for skeletal muscle EC coupling. The relationship between the actions of synthetic MCa (sMCa) and pA on RyR1 were examined. sMCa released Ca(2+) from SR vesicles (EC(50) = 17.5 nm) in a manner inhibited by micromolar ryanodine or ruthenium red. pA (0.5-40 microm) failed to induce SR Ca(2+) release. Rather, pA enhanced Ca(2+) loading into SR and fully inhibited Ca(2+)-, caffeine-, and sMCa-induced Ca(2+) release. The two peptides modified single channel gating behavior in distinct ways. With Cs(+)-carrying current, 10 nm to 1 microm sMCa induced long lived subconductances having 48% of the characteristic full open state and occasional transitions to 29% at either positive or negative holding potentials. In contrast, pA stabilized long lived channel closures with occasional burst transitions to 65% (s1) and 86% (s2) of the full conductance. The actions of pA and sMCa were observed in tandem. sMCa stabilized additional subconductance states proportional to pA-induced subconductances (i.e. 43% of pA-modified s1 and s2 substates), revealing a proportional gating mechanism. [(3)H]Ryanodine binding and surface plasmon resonance analyses indicated that the peptides did not interact by simple competition for a single class of mutually exclusive sites on RyR1 to produce proportional gating. The actions of sMCa were also observed with ryanodine-modified channels and channels deficient in immunophilin 12-kDa FK506-binding protein. These results provide evidence that sMCa and pA stabilize distinct RyR1 channel states through distinct mechanisms that allosterically stabilize gating states having proportional conductance.