Monomers of a satellite sequence of chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs L., Aves: Passeriformes) genome contains short clusters of the TTTAGGG repeat

A novel repeated sequence of chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) designated as GS was isolated from genomic DNA after in vitro amplification of satellite DNA sequences using GSP-PCR technique. The proportion of this repeat in the chaffinch genome constitutes about 2%. Monomers are 176 to 199 bp in size and contain a short cluster of the TTAGGG telomeric tandem repeat. The oligomer of the telomeric hexanucleotide is flanked by the sequences that are significantly different in different monomers. The GS sequences are organized as tandemly repeated units and located in a number of chromomycin-positive blocks on the long arms of macrochromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, as well as on several microchromosomes. The sequences homologous to the GS satellite of chaffinch were not found in the genomes of redwing (Turdus iliacus) and house sparrow (Passer domesticus).     

Norbixin ingestion did not induce any detectable DNA breakage in liver and kidney but caused a considerable impairment in plasma glucose levels of rats and mice

From the seeds of Bixa orellana are extracted the carotenoids bixin and norbixin that have been widely used for coloring food. In this study, the toxicity of norbixin, purified or not (annatto extract containing 50% norbixin), was investigated in mice and rats after 21 days of ingestion through drinking water. Mice were exposed to doses of 56 and 351 mg/kg (annatto extract) and 0.8, 7.6, 66 and 274 mg/kg (norbixin). Rats were exposed to doses of 0.8, 7.5 and 68 mg/kg (annatto extract) and 0.8, 8.5 and 74 mg/kg (norbixin). In rats, no toxicity was detected by plasma chemistry. In mice, norbixin induced an increase in plasma alanine aminotransferase activity (ALT) while both norbixin and annatto extract induced a decrease in plasma total protein and globulins (P < 0.05). However, no signs of toxicity were detected in liver by histopathological analysis. No enhancement in DNA breakage was detected in liver or kidney from mice treated with annatto pigments, as evaluated by the comet assay. Nevertheless, there was a remarkable effect of norbixin on the glycemia of both rodent species. In rats, norbixin induced hyperglycemia that ranged from 26.9% (8.5 mg/kg norbixin, to 52.6% (74 mg/kg norbixin, P < 0.01) above control levels. In mice, norbixin induced hypoglycemia that ranged from 14.4% (0.8 mg/kg norbixin, P < 0.05) to 21.5% (66 mg/kg norbixin, P < 0.001) below control levels. Rats and mice treated with annatto pigments showed hyperinsulinemia and hypoinsulinemia, respectively indicating that pancreatic beta-cells were functional. More studies should be performed to fully understand of how species-related differences influences the biological fate of norbixin.     

In vitro migration activity of human peripheral blood neutrophils in the normal state and in immunopathology

Methodological approaches to evaluation of the migration activity of human peripheral blood neutrophils into a collagen matrix were worked out. The migration of neutrophils in healthy donors and in patients with severe bronchial asthma was studied. In the normal state there was practically no migration of intact neutrophils into the collagen matrix (1.1 +/- 0.4%). Following their stimulation by formyi peptide about a quarter of their population was drawn into the matrix in avalanche (22.0 +/- 5.9%). In the acute phase of severe bronchial asthma an increase in both spontaneous (3.3 +/- 1.5%, P < 0.01) and stimulated (35.6 +/- 4.6%, P < 0.001) cell migration occurred. Changes in the migration characteristics of the neutrophils of patients and those of the cells of healthy donors, treated with the polycytokine preparation at concentrations exceeding 100 g/ml, followed similar trends. In case of the standard asthma treatment along with positive disease dynamics further increase in spontaneous neutrophil migration (5.8 +/- 2.9%, P < 0.001) in combination with deficiency in cells reaction to formyi peptide (11.8 +/- 3.8%, P < 0.01) was registered. At the same time dexamethasone did not change the character of the in vitro migration of neutrophils into the collagen matrix. Thus the dynamics of the peripheral blood neutrophil migration during treatment of severe bronchial asthma was demonstrated; this dynamics could be indicative of the pathogenetic role of neutrophils in the development of this pathology.     

Modern methods of neuro-visualization of brain pathology in central form of Recklinghausen's disease

The paper reviews the data available in the literature on the diagnosis of brain lesions in the central form of Recklinghausen's disease (neurofibromatosis) by magnetic resonance imaging. The results of a clinical observation of 10 children suffering trom neurofibromatosis and the data of electroencephalography, computed tomography and MRI are given and analyzed. Conclusions are made on the magnitude of and the most common site of MRI changes. It is suggested that MRI shows a higher sensitivity in detecting brain lesions in Recklinghausen's disease than other diagnostic techniques.     

Graphitic Nanoshell/Mesoporous Carbon Nanohybrids as Highly Efficient and Stable Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Rechargeable Aqueous Na–Air Batteries

Efficient and cost‐effective bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are of vital importance in energy conversion and storage devices. Despite the recent progress in bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts, their unbalanced and insufficient OER and ORR activities has continued to pose challenges for the practical application of such energy devices. The design of highly integrated, high‐performance, bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts composed of highly graphitic nanoshells embedded in mesoporous carbon (GNS/MC) is reported. The GNS/MC exhibits very high oxygen electrode activity, which is one of the best performances among nonprecious metal bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts, and substantially outperforms Ir‐ and Pt‐based catalysts. Moreover, the GNS/MC shows excellent durability for both OER and ORR. In situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and square wave voltammetry reveal the roles of residual Ni and Fe entities in enhancing OER and ORR activities. Raman spectra indicate highly graphitic, defect‐rich nature of the GNS/MC, which can contribute to the enhanced OER activity and to high stability for the OER and ORR. In aqueous Na–air battery tests, the GNS/MC air cathode‐based cell exhibits superior performance to Ir/C‐ and Pt/C‐based batteries. Significantly, the GNS/MC‐based cell demonstrates the first example of rechargeable aqueous Na–air battery.     

Introduction and PCR detection of Desulfomonile tiedjei in soil slurry microcosms

The aim of this work was to test the feasibility ofintroducing an anaerobic microbial reductivedechlorination activity into non sterile soil slurrymicrocosms by inoculation with the pure anaerobicbacterial strain Desulfomonile tiedjei, which iscapable of dechlorinating 3-chlorobenzoate tobenzoate. To show that the bacterium was establishedin the microcosms we followed the expression of thereductive dechlorination activity and a molecularprobe based on PCR amplification of the 16S rDNA genewas developed. However, the success of PCRamplification of the 16S rDNA gene depends on the DNAextraction and purification methodologies applied, asshown through the use of several protocols. In thisstudy we report a DNA extraction and purificationmethod which generates sufficient and very clean DNAsuitable for PCR amplification of the D. tiedjei16S rDNA gene. The threshold of detection was about5.10³ bacteria per gram of soil slurry.Introduction of D. tiedjei in soil slurrymicrocosms proved successful since 3-chlorobenzoatedechlorination activity was established with thisbacterium in microcosms normally devoid of thisdechlorination capacity. Indeed, the addition of D. tiedjei to microcosms supplemented with acetateplus formate as cosubstrate, at their respectiveconcentrations of 5 and 6 mM, led to a totalbiotransformation of 2.5 mM of 3-chlorobenzoate within12 days. After complete 3-chlorobenzoatedechlorination, the 16S rDNA gene of this bacteriumwas specifically detected only in the inoculatedmicrocosms as shown by PCR amplification followed byrestriction mapping confirmation.     

New differences between isoenzymes A and B from Candida rugosa lipase

Water adsorption isotherms of pure lipases A and B from Candida rugosa are different and can be used to distinguish between the isoenzymes. The maximum esterification yield (50%, 20h) can be achieved at initial 0.9<1.0. Lipase B is more stereoselective (49% yield, 98% enantiomeri excess) than lipase A (47% yield, 72% enantiomerci excess) but both isoenzymes mainly esterify the (S) 2(4-isobutylphenyl)propionic acid (Ibuprofen).     

The association of prosomes with some of the intermediate filament networks of the animal cell [published erratum appears in J Cell Biol 1989 Mar;108(3):following 1175]

The small RNP complexes of defined morphology and biochemical composition termed prosomes, first isolated from the cytoplasm associated with repressed mRNA (Martins de Sa, C., M.-F. Grossi de Sa, O. Akhayat, F. Broders, and K. Scherrer. J. Mol. Biol. 1986. 187:47-493), were found also in the nucleus (Grossi de Sa, M.-F., C. Martins de Sa, F. Harper, O. Coux, O. Akhayat, P. Gounon, J. K. Pal, Y. Florentin, and K. Scherrer. 1988. J. Cell Sci. 89:151-165). Immunofluorescence, immunoelectron microscopy, and immunochemical studies using mAbs directed against some of the prosomal proteins of duck erythroblasts indicate that in the cytoplasm of HeLa and PtK cells, prosome antigens are associated with the intermediate filament network of the cytokeratin type.     

Human fetal liver fatty acid binding proteins. Role on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity

Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) may play an important role in the transport and metabolism of fatty acids during human embryogenesis. Three fractions of FABP, namely, DE-I, DE-II and DE-III, having Mr 14,200 Da each and pI values 7.8, 6.9 and 5.4, respectively, have been detected in human fetal liver. These proteins were purified by heat and butanol precipitation of fetal liver supernatant as well as by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. Fetal liver FABPs are immunochemically identical to each other. Concentrations of DE-I, DE-II and DE-III increase gradually from early gestation to term. DE-I is almost lipid-free, DE-II binds long-chain fatty acids nonspecifically and DE-III transports mainly arachidonic acid. DE-II and DE-III protect glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which furnishes NADPH for fatty acid synthesis, from the feed-back inhibition exerted by added palmitoyl-CoA and oleate. In the absence of exogenous inhibitors, this enzyme is stimulated by FABPs. DE-I has no effect on such inhibition. Thus, FABPs play a regulatory role in critical aspects of cellular physiology during human embryogenesis.