Lipid Rafts in Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection

The collective properties of the lipids that form biological membranes give rise to a very high level of lateral organization within the membranes. Lipid-driven membrane organization allows the segregation of membrane-associated components into specific lipid rafts, which function as dynamic platforms for signal transduction, protein processing, and membrane turnover. A number of events essential for the functional integrity of the nervous system occur in lipid rafts and depend on lipid raft organization. Alterations of lipid composition that lead to abnormal lipid raft organization and consequent deregulation of lipid raft-dependent signaling are often associated with neurodegenerative diseases. The amyloidogenic processing of proteins involved in the pathogenesis of major nervous system diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, requires lipid raft-dependent compartmentalization at the membrane level. Improved understanding of the forces that control lipid raft organization will facilitate the development of novel strategies for the effective prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative and age-related brain diseases.     

Combined analysis of chromosomal instabilities and gene expression for colon cancer progression inference

Background

The human body plays host to a vast array of bacteria, found in oral cavities, skin, gastrointestinal tract and the vagina. Some bacteria are harmful while others are beneficial to the host. Despite the availability of many methods to identify bacteria, most of them are only applicable to specific and cultivable bacteria and are also tedious. Based on high throughput sequencing technology, this work derives 16S rRNA sequences of bacteria and analyzes probiotics and pathogens species.

Results

We constructed a database that recorded the species of probiotics and pathogens from literature, along with a modified Smith-Waterman algorithm for assigning the taxonomy of the sequenced 16S rRNA sequences. We also constructed a bacteria disease risk model for seven diseases based on 98 samples. Applicability of the proposed platform is demonstrated by collecting the microbiome in human gut of 13 samples.

Conclusions

The proposed platform provides a relatively easy means of identifying a certain amount of bacteria and their species (including uncultivable pathogens) for clinical microbiology applications. That is, detecting how probiotics and pathogens inhabit humans and how affect their health can significantly contribute to develop a diagnosis and treatment method.     

Carboxymethylcellulose-montmorillonite nanocomposite films activated with murta (Ugni molinae Turcz) leaves extract

The functionality of nanocomposite films based on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and montmorillonite (MMT) activated with murta (Ugni molinae Turcz) leaves extract was studied. Films were prepared by casting from film-forming dispersions containing CMC, glycerol (used as plasticizer) and different concentrations of MMT, using water or murta extract as solvent. The addition of MMT increased the tensile strength and the elasticity modulus of the films, and decreased their permeabilities to water vapor, oxygen and carbon dioxide. Besides the antioxidants properties provided to the films, the addition of murta leaves extract changed the gas permeability in different forms according to the MMT content, and plasticized the nanocomposite matrix.     

The artiodactyl <Emphasis Type="Italic">APOBEC3</Emphasis> innate immune repertoire shows evidence for a multi-functional domain organization that existed in the ancestor of placental mammals

Background  

APOBEC3 (A3) proteins deaminate DNA cytosines and block the replication of retroviruses and retrotransposons. Each A3 gene encodes a protein with one or two conserved zinc-coordinating motifs (Z1, Z2 or Z3). The presence of one A3 gene in mice (Z2–Z3) and seven in humans, A3A-H (Z1a, Z2a-Z1b, Z2b, Z2c-Z2d, Z2e-Z2f, Z2g-Z1c, Z3), suggests extraordinary evolutionary flexibility. To gain insights into the mechanism and timing of A3 gene expansion and into the functional modularity of these genes, we analyzed the genomic sequences, expressed cDNAs and activities of the full A3 repertoire of three artiodactyl lineages: sheep, cattle and pigs.     

Two novel mutations in a cystic fibrosis patient of Chinese origin

Cystic fibrosis is rare in non-Caucasian populations, and in such populations little is known about the spectrum of mutations and polymorphisms in the CFTR gene. We studied a 23-year-old patient of Chinese ethnicity with sweat chloride values of 104 mM/l, pancreatic sufficiency, an FEV₁ 60% of normal, sputum cultures positive for Staphylococcus aureus and Burkholderia cepacia, and a history of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Genetic screening for 31 common CFTR mutations was negative, leading us to search for unknown mutations using single-strand conformation polymorphism and heteroduplex analysis (SSCP/HA). Two novel mutations were detected. In exon 4, a deletion of 8 bp (451–458, ΔGCTTCCTA) causes a frameshift and immediately creates a stop codon. In exon 16, mutation 3041G→A causes the missense change G970D. Functional analysis using an isotopic flux assay indicated that the G970D mutation retains partial function; western blotting indicated that the protein is glycosylated. The patient is heterozygous for the common polymorphisms (2694T/G) in exon 14a and (GATT)_6/7 in intron 6a, indicating that these variants arose in ancestors common to Caucasians and Chinese. Received: 29 January 1999 / Accepted: 18 March 1999     

High-performance liquid chromatography determination of enzyme activities in the presence of small amounts of product

Enzymes can be assayed by HPLC by calculating the amount of substrate(s) left over, or product formed, through the peak area ratios with a suitable internal standard. However, sometimes the substrates used are contaminated with small amounts of products and this can lead to errors in the determination of the enzyme activity. A method for a HPLC test of such enzymes, which prevents eventual errors, uses the ratio substrate/product at time zero as internal standard and the kinetics can be followed with the aid of a simple mathematical equation. This approach was applied to the determination of the activities of papain, urokinase, NAD glycohydrolase, and pyruvate kinase samples and it was compared with the data obtained by the internal standard method, giving reproducible results in all cases.     

Regional variation in adipose tissue lipolysis in lean and obese men.

Biopsies of adipose tissue were obtained from two subcutaneous regions (abdominal and femoral) in a sample of 54 men (32 obese and 22 lean subjects). Clonidine-induced antilipolysis in femoral adipose cells was similar in both groups, whereas subcutaneous abdominal adipocytes of obese individuals showed a higher alpha 2-adrenergic response than did subcutaneous abdominal adipose cells from lean subjects. In addition, epinephrine had a biphasic effect in subcutaneous abdominal adipocytes from obese individuals, as it induced antilipolysis at low concentrations, and a net lipolytic response at higher doses. In contrast, the physiological amine promoted lipolysis in subcutaneous abdominal adipose cells of lean subjects. Epinephrine- and clonidine-induced antilipolysis of subcutaneous abdominal adipocytes was positively associated with the level of subcutaneous abdominal fat measured by computed tomography (CT). Finally, men with a high alpha 2-adrenergic response of subcutaneous abdominal fat cells were fatter than those with a low alpha 2-adrenergic component. These results suggest that, in men with a wide range of body fatness, variations in the lipolytic response of subcutaneous abdominal adipose cells to epinephrine appear to involve changes in the functional balance between alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptors.     

转基因细胞分泌乙型肝炎重组疫苗在儿童中的免疫原性初步研究

本文报告用转基因细胞B43分泌的乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原主蛋白经纯化制成的87-4批重组疫苗进行临床接种观察的结果,同时用8723-1批血源疫苗作对照。疫苗接种采用0、1、2月各接种1针的方案。重组疫苗共接种111名8～13岁儿童,分为20μg、10μg及5μg 3组,血源疫苗分为20μg、10μg 2组。所有儿童接种前检查乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原、抗体及核心抗体均阴性.20μg组1针后1个月,重组疫苗阳转率60.5％,血源疫苗为31％;2针后1个月,两种疫苗的阳转率分别为100％和72.4％;血源疫苗3针后1个月阳转率也仅79.3％。3针后1个月两种疫苗的抗体几何平均滴度(GMT)分别为492.7和207.4mIU。但重组疫苗6个月后血清抗体的GMT为628mIU。10μg组1针后1个月的阳转率重组疫苗为21.7％,血源疫苗为20.9％;2针后1个月分别为87％及62.8％;3针后1个月分别为100％及81.4％。抗体GMT分别为163.7和129.6mIU.5μg组的重组疫苗免疫后6个月100％阳转,其GMT为56mIU。结论认为无论从阳转率或几何平均滴度分析判断,重组疫苗均优于血源疫苗。     

Studies on the mitogenic effect of transferrin by membrane signal transduction

One of the earliest events leading to cell activation and growth is the hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids producing various membrane signals induced by an interaction between growth factors or hormones with their respective receptors on the cell membrane [1].To demonstrate the mitogenic action of transferrin,our results show that an addition of transferrin to “serum-deprived” rat hepatoma cells produced a rapid but transient rise in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate(IP3) level,and at the same time,an increased intracellular Ca^2 activity and a cytoplasmic alkalinization were observed.These signal transductions further lend support to the mitogenic nature of transferrin.In addition,a possible link between the receptor-mediated endocytosis of transferrin with the generation of intracellular signals is discussed herewith.