Results of the study of selected head measurements of Jena children]

Secular changes of head measurements (frontal breadth, bizygomatic breadth, bigonial breadth, auricular height, morphological facial height, lower face height) are analysed. The data are based on the Jena anthropological investigations of school children from 1975 and 1985. The inclusion of the data of the Jena longitudinal study carried out since 1985 allows an analysis of the further secular trend. Noticeable changes are proved in most of the analysed traits (frontal breadth, bigonial breadth, auricular height, morphological facial height, lower face height) between 1975 and 1985. The vertical measurements show greater percentage differences than the horizontal measurements, which, among other things, results in a relative narrowing of the face. In some head measurements (frontal breadth, bigonial breadth, auricular height) the trends continue after 1985. The secular trends show no obvious connection with the temporal acceleration of the dentition in the probands of the longitudinal study. However, a connection seems to be possible between the accelerated puberal growth spurt of the body height and the puberal growth spurt in some head dimensions.     

Cloning and characterization of the fur gene from Helicobacter pylori

The fur homologue of Helicobacter pylori was isolated by screening a plasmid-based, genomic DNA library using the Fur titration assay (FURTA). The analysis of the DNA sequence revealed significant homology with Fur proteins from various other bacterial species. The highest degree of homology was observed for the Fur protein from Campylobacter jejuni. The H. pylori fur gene on a plasmid could partially complement the fur mutation in Escherichia coli strain H1681. The repressor activity depended on addition of iron to the medium indicating that iron acts as a co-repressor for the H. pylori protein similar to Fur from other bacteria. Comparison of Fur from H. pylori strain NCTC11638 with the recently published genomic DNA sequence of another strain (26695) confirmed the identity of the fur homologue and revealed that the fur locus is highly conserved in both strains.     

Cdc42‐Borg4‐Septin7 axis regulates HSC polarity and function

Aging of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is caused by the elevated activity of the small RhoGTPase Cdc42 and an apolar distribution of proteins. Mechanisms by which Cdc42 activity controls polarity of HSCs are not known. Binder of RhoGTPases proteins (Borgs) are known effector proteins of Cdc42 that are able to regulate the cytoskeletal Septin network. Here, we show that Cdc42 interacts with Borg4, which in turn interacts with Septin7 to regulate the polar distribution of Cdc42, Borg4, and Septin7 within HSCs. Genetic deletion of either Borg4 or Septin7 results in a reduced frequency of HSCs polar for Cdc42 or Borg4 or Septin7, a reduced engraftment potential and decreased lymphoid‐primed multipotent progenitor (LMPP) frequency in the bone marrow. Taken together, our data identify a Cdc42‐Borg4‐Septin7 axis essential for the maintenance of polarity within HSCs and for HSC function and provide a rationale for further investigating the role of Borgs and Septins in the regulation of compartmentalization within stem cells.     

Monitoring of aphid flight activities in?seed?potato?crops?in Serbia

Aphid flight activities in seed potato fields have been studied by the yellow water traps. It is a good method for monitoring aphids as vectors of viruses, but this study also showed it is a suitable method for insect-diversity research. During the four-year studies, over 11.500 specimens were collected and a total of 107 different taxa of aphids were identified. The most abundant species were polyphagous species, such as: Acyrthosiphon pisum (Haris), Aphis fabae Scopoli, Aphis gossypii Gloverand Brachycaudus helichrysi (Kaltenbach). The results of the studies show that diversity of aphids in different regions of Serbia is similar regardless of the altitude and the diversity of terrain. At most sites it ranged from 2 to 3. The highest value was recorded in Begeč, locality in northern part of Serbia, in year 2008, and it was 2.92. The maximum values of the Shannon-Weaver diversity index at all sites were recorded in the first weeks of the monitoring of aphid flight activities. Morisita-Horn similarity index shows no significant differences between sites regardless of altitudes. The sites are grouped by year, not by similarity of relief. In spite of these results, the Chi-square analysis showed highly significant difference in vector frequencies among seasons and sites with more pronounced differences for PVY. As a consequence of differences in vector frequencies, the vector pressure index in some regions was different also. The number of vectors and vector pressure index vary depending on the altitude of localities. At localities at altitudes under 1000 m, they were high. The highest index was at Kotraža, locality in central part of Serbia, in 2007, when PVY index exceeded the value of 180, while for PLRV it was 60. At high altitudes on mountain Golija, above 1100 m, the number of aphids was low, as well as the vector pressure index which indicates that these regions are suitable for producing virus-free seed potato.     

Bartonella henselae trimeric autotransporter adhesin BadA expression interferes with effector translocation by the VirB/D4 type IV secretion system

The Gram‐negative, zoonotic pathogen Bartonella henselae is the aetiological agent of cat scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis and peliosis hepatis in humans. Two pathogenicity factors of B. henselae – each displaying multiple functions in host cell interaction – have been characterized in greater detail: the trimeric autotransporter Bartonella adhesin A (BadA) and the type IV secretion system VirB/D4 (VirB/D4 T4SS). BadA mediates, e.g. binding to fibronectin (Fn), adherence to endothelial cells (ECs) and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VirB/D4 translocates several Bartonella effector proteins (Beps) into the cytoplasm of infected ECs, resulting, e.g. in uptake of bacterial aggregates via the invasome structure, inhibition of apoptosis and activation of a proangiogenic phenotype. Despite this knowledge of the individual activities of BadA or VirB/D4 it is unknown whether these major virulence factors affect each other in their specific activities. In this study, expression and function of BadA and VirB/D4 were analysed in a variety of clinical B. henselae isolates. Data revealed that mostisolates have lost expression of either BadA or VirB/D4 during in vitro passages. However, the phenotypic effects of coexpression of both virulence factors was studied in one clinical isolate that was found to stably coexpress BadA and VirB/D4, as well as by ectopic expression of BadA in a strain expressing VirB/D4 but not BadA. BadA, which forms a dense layer on the bacterial surface, negatively affected VirB/D4‐dependent Bep translocation and invasome formation by likely preventing close contact between the bacterial cell envelope and the host cell membrane. In contrast, BadA‐dependent Fn binding, adhesion to ECs and VEGF secretion were not affected by a functional VirB/D4 T4SS. The obtained data imply that the essential virulence factors BadA and VirB/D4 are likely differentially expressed during different stages of the infection cycle of Bartonella.     

The Cytoplasmic Domain of the T-Cell Receptor zeta Subunit Does Not Form Disordered Dimers

Intrinsically disordered regions in proteins play active roles in recognition, signaling and molecular sorting. They often undergo coupled folding and binding giving rise to largely ordered interfaces with their binding partners. The cytoplasmic region of the T-cell receptor zeta subunit (ζ_cyt) has been previously proposed to specifically dimerize in the absence of a disorder-to-order transition, suggesting an intriguing dimerization mechanism that may involve multiple transient interfaces. We show here using analytical ultracentrifugation, NMR, size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and multi-angle light scattering that neither ζ_cyt nor the cytoplasmic region of CD3ε significantly populates a dimeric state but that they are mostly monomers in solution up to millimolar concentrations. They experience a salt- and concentration-dependent shift of their elution volume in SEC previously interpreted as dimerization. Our data show that ζ_cyt does not form a highly disordered protein complex and leaves open the question as to whether completely disordered dimers (or other oligomers) exist in nature.     

Yarrowia lipolytica dehydrogenase/reductase: An enzyme tolerant for lipophilic compounds and carbohydrate substrates

Yarrowia lipolytica short chain dehydrogenase/reductase (YlSDR) was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and characterized in vitro. The substrate scope for YlSDR mediated oxidation was investigated with alcohols and unprotected carbohydrates spectrophotometrically, revealing a preference for secondary compared to primary alcohols. In reduction direction, YlSDR was highly active on ribulose and fructose, suggesting that the enzyme is a mannitol-2-dehydrogenase. In order to explore substrate tolerance especially for space-demanding, lipophilic protecting groups, 5-O-trityl-d-ribitol and 5-O-trityl-α,β-d-ribose were investigated as substrates: YlSDR oxidized 5-O-trityl-d-ribitol and 5-O-trityl-α,β-d-ribose and reduced the latter at the expense of NADP(H).     

Excision of pyrimidine dimers from the DNA of Neurospora

Summary Germinated conidia of Neurospora have been monitored for their ability to excise pyrimidine dimers. Dimer concentration was measured in DNA extracted immediately after UV treatment, and it was compared to that of DNA from cells which had a post-UV incubation before extraction. Two methods were used to assay dimer level in DNA: 1) measurement of the number of single-strand breaks (as revealed in alkaline sucrose gradients) produced by a dimer-specific endonuclease; 2) monitoring the ability to compete for binding to dimer-specific antibodies in a radioimmuno assay. Both methods showed efficient excision of dimers by wild-type and by uvs-2, even though an earlier study had reported that uvs-2 was unable to excise dimers.UV-induced mutation shows a dose-rate effect: acute UV yields several times as many mutations as does the same dose of chronic UV. There is a parallel effect on dimer accumulation. The concentration of dimers at the conclusion of the UV treatment shows a strong correlation with the resultant mutation frequency.