Dinosaur Tracks as Paleogeographic Constraints: New Scenarios for the Cretaceous Geography of the Periadriatic Region

A really unexpected finding of sauropod and theropod footprints in southern Latium raises to four the number of the trampled levels recognized in central and southern Italy. After the recent findings in Latest Jurassic and Early, mid and Late Cretaceous carbonate platform deposits of the Periadriatic region, dinosaur footprints seem to provide very important paleogeographic constraints for reconstructing the geodynamic history of the Mediterranean area. The presence of a varied ichnoassociation makes acceptance of the current paleogeographic models concerning the relative and absolute position of the Laziale-Abruzzese-Campano and of Apulian-Dinaric domains during the Late Cretaceous more and more problematic. Dinosaur footprints, combined with other paleontological data, demonstrate that these areas were never completely pulled apart by deep seaways, while frequent or continuous links between them, and to southern and northern mainlands, probably persisted. These data also allowed us to improve our understanding of the timing of the Mesozoic plate motion in this segment of the Western Tethys.     

The insect trace fossil Tonganoxichnus from the middle Pennsylvanian of Indiana: Paleobiologic and paleoenvironmental implications

The ichnogenus Tonganoxichnus, produced by one or more monuran insect taxa, is now recorded from the Middle Pennsylvanian Mansfield Formation of Indiana. Tonganoxichnus is a resting trace that has three important implications. First, it represents a recurrent behavioral pattern in Upper Carboniferous to Lower Permian marginal marine environments of North America. Second, it provides finely resolved anatomical information for axial and appendicular body structures and behaviors that are difficult to determine from body‐fossil material alone. Third, integrated sedimentologic and ichnologic observations indicate that the Tonganoxichnus assemblage, inclusive of other ichnotaxa, is common in tidal rhythmites that were developed under freshwater conditions, probably in the innermost part of estuarine systems, close to or at the fluvioestuarine transition.     

Cryo-electron tomography of the magnetotactic vibrio Magnetovibrio blakemorei: Insights into the biomineralization of prismatic magnetosomes

We examined the structure and biomineralization of prismatic magnetosomes in the magnetotactic marine vibrio Magnetovibrio blakemorei strain MV-1 and a non-magnetotactic mutant derived from it, using a combination of cryo-electron tomography and freeze-fracture. The vesicles enveloping the Magnetovibrio magnetosomes were elongated and detached from the cell membrane. Magnetosome crystal formation appeared to be initiated at a nucleation site on the membrane inner surface. Interestingly, while scattered filaments were observed in the surrounding cytoplasm, their association with the magnetosome chains could not be unequivocally established. Our data suggest fundamental differences between prismatic and octahedral magnetosomes in their mechanisms of nucleation and crystal growth as well as in their structural relationships with the cytoplasm and plasma membrane.     

Iron mobilization by succinylacetone methyl ester in rats. A model study for hereditary tyrosinemia and porphyrias characterized by 5-Aminolevulinic acid overload

Accumulation of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is an event characteristic of porphyrias that may contribute to their pathological manifestations. To investigate effects of ALA independent of porphyrin accumulation we treated rats with the methyl ester of succinylacetone, an inhibitor of 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase that accumulates in the porphyric-like syndrome hereditary tyrosinemia. Acute 2-day treatment of fasted rats with succinylacetone methyl ester (SAME) promoted a 27% increase in plasma ALA. This increase in plasma ALA was accompanied by augmentation of the level of total nonheme iron in liver (37%) and brain (20%). Mobilization of iron was also indicated by 49% increase in plasma iron and a 77% increase in plasma transferrin saturation. Liver responded with a mild (12%) increase in ferritin. Under these acute conditions, some indications of oxidative stress were evident: a 15% increase in liver reactive protein carbonyls, and a 42% increase in brain subcellular membrane TBARS. Brain also showed a 44% increase in CuZnSOD activity, consistent with observations in treatment with ALA. Overall, the data indicate that SAME promotes ALA-driven changes in iron metabolism that could lead to increased production of free radicals. The findings support other evidence that accumulation of ALA in porphyrias and hereditary tyrosinemia may induce iron-dependent biological damage that contributes to neuropathy and hepatoma.     

Cyanidin-3- O -β-glucopyranoside Protects Myocardium and Erythrocytes from Oxygen Radical-mediated Damages

The cyanidin-3- O - &#103 -glucopyranoside (C-3-G) antioxidant capacity towards reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated damages was assessed in tissue and cells submitted to increased oxidative stress. In the isolated ischemic and reperfused rat heart, 10 or 30 &#119 M C-3-G protected from both lipid peroxidation (66.7 and 94% inhibition of malondialdehyde (MDA) generation in 10 and 30 &#119 M C-3-G-reperfused hearts, respectively, in comparison with control reperfused hearts) and energy metabolism impairment (higher ATP concentration in 10 and 30 &#119 M C-3-G-reperfused hearts than in control reperfused hearts). These effects were associated to C-3-G permeation within myocardial cells, as indicated by results obtained in the isolated rat heart perfused for 30 min in the recirculating Langendorff mode under normoxia with 10 and 30 &#119 M C-3-G. Protective effects were exerted, in a dose-dependent manner, by C-3-G also in 2 mM hydrogen peroxide-treated human erythrocytes. With respect to MDA formation, an apparent IC 50 of 5.12 &#119 M was calculated for C-3-G (the polyphenol resveratrol used for comparison showed an apparent IC 50 of 38.43 &#119 M). The general indications are that C-3-G (largely diffused in dietary plants and fruits, such as pigmented oranges very common in the Mediterranean diet) represents a powerful natural antioxidant with beneficial effects in case of increased oxidative stress, and at pharmacological concentrations it is able to decrease tissue damages occurring in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.     

Selective Autophagy: Talking with the UPS

Far from now are the days when investigators raced to identify the proteolytic system responsible for the degradation of their favorite protein. Nowadays, it is well accepted that a given protein can be degraded by different systems depending on factors such as cell type, cellular conditions, or functionality of each proteolytic pathway. The realization of this sharing of substrates among pathways has also helped to unveil deeper levels of communication among the different proteolytic systems. Thus, cells often respond to blockage of one degradative mechanism by upregulating any of the other available pathways. In addition, effectors and regulators of one proteolytic system can be degraded by a different proteolytic pathway that exerts, in this way, a regulatory function. In this mini review, we describe the different levels of cross-talk among autophagic pathways and the ubiquitin/proteasome system. We also provide examples of how this proteolytic communication is used for compensatory purposes in different pathological conditions and discuss the possible therapeutic potential of targeting the modulators of the cross-talk among proteolytic pathways.     

The Cytotoxic and Proapoptotic Activities of Hypnophilin are Associated with Calcium Signaling in UACC‐62 Cells

Hypnophilin (HNP) is a sesquiterpene that is isolated from Lentinus cf. strigosus and has cytotoxic activities. Here, we studied the calcium signaling and cytotoxic effects of HNP in UACC‐62 cells, a human skin melanoma cell line. HNP was able to increase the intracellular calcium concentration in UACC‐62 cells, which was blocked in cells stimulated in Ca²⁺‐free media. HNP treatment with BAPTA‐AM, an intracellular Ca²⁺ chelator, caused an increase in calcium signals. HNP showed cytotoxicity against UACC‐62 cells in which it induced DNA fragmentation and morphological alterations, including changes in the nuclear chromatin profile and increased cytoplasmatic vacuolization, but it had no effect on the plasma membrane integrity. These data suggest that cytotoxicity in UACC‐62 cells, after treatment with HNP, is associated with Ca²⁺ influx. Together, these findings suggest that HNP is a relevant tool for the further investigation of new anticancer approaches. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J BiochemMol Toxicol 27:479‐485, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/jbt.21507     

Frammenti cotiledonari di Aesculus hippocastanum L. coltivati in vitro. Primi dati sul comportamento dell'amido e dell'escina

Abstract

Fragments of Aesculus hippocastanum L. cotyledons grown in vitro. First results about starch and aescin characteristic features.—Cotyledon fragments of Aesculus hippocastanum grown in vitro in different media have been able to form callus and roots. The starch granules in the new cells are compound in structure and morphologically different from the simple cotyledon granules, whereas they are similar to the granules of the other parts of the plant in toto. Moreover, the callus has no aescin even though it originates from the cotyledor tissues.     

Osservazioni ecologiche preliminari su Petagnia saniculifolia Guss., raro endemismo siculo

Abstract

Preliminary ecological observations on Petagnia saniculifolia Guss., a rare sicilian endemism. — The Authors present the preliminary results of some observations on the anatomy and ecology of Petagnia saniculifolia Guss. and a synthetic phytosociological table in which some species of Molinio-Arrhenatheretea and Querco-Fagetea are present. The particular needs of this species and the precarious environmental conditions are pointed out.