ADSBET2: Automated Determination of Salt-Bridge Energy-Terms version 2

AvailabilityADSBET2 is freely available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/ADSBET2/ for all users.     

Estrogen receptors in medaka (Oryzias latipes) and estrogenic environmental contaminants: an in vitro-in vivo correlation

In many vertebrates, estrogens are necessary to promote the growth and differentiation of the female reproductive system during development, and have important reproductive roles in both males and females. Medaka (Oryzias latipes) has three estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes, ERα, ERβ1 and ERβ2. To evaluate the three medaka ER (mER)-ligand interactions, we applied the ERE-luciferase reporter assay system to characterize each ER subtype. In this transient transfection assay system using mammalian cells, the mER proteins displayed estrogen-dependent activation. 17β-Estradiol (E(2)) and op'-DDT showed high activation irrespective of ERs. Endosulfan also exhibited activation; with less/no transactivity measured using other pesticides, i.e., heptachlor, carbendazim, deltamethrin, acephate, dimethoate and amitraz. It was generally observed that ERβ2 had higher activation potential than ERα and ERβ1. To understand the molecular mechanism of estrogen action via ER, we also conducted E(2) treatment where we observed a trigger in ERβ2 expression upon E(2) exposure. The present data suggest that ERβ2 is essential for female gonad maintenance. The data were supported by induction of vitellogenin (VTG) mRNA in the liver and reduced VTG receptor mRNA expression in the gonad of both sexes. The present work will provide a basic tool allowing future studies to examine the receptor-ligand interactions and endocrine disrupting mechanisms, and also expands our knowledge of estrogen action on reproductive development in medaka.     

Stability and microbial community structure of a partial nitrifying fixed-film bioreactor in long run

A partial nitrification system was investigated for 471 days under DO varying concentrations for assessing its stability and population dynamics. Within 130 days of operation at feed DO concentration of 1.0 ± 0.1 mg/L, more than 85% of nitrite was accumulated. Efficiency deteriorated when the feed DO concentration was increased to 4.2 ± 0.3 mg/L. Nitrite accumulation could not be re-established on decreasing feed DO to 1.0 ± 0.1 mg/L. Even at DO concentration of <0.05 mg/L, nitrate production was observed; a condition termed as anoxic nitrification. NOB was detected in the biomass even under this condition by Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Through 16S rRNA gene sequencing a major fraction of unknown bacterial sequences closely resembling haloalkalophilic bacteria of marine origin were detected. The study indicated that these bacterial species might play a role in anoxic nitrification and that NOB could survive extreme low DO condition.     

印度尖瘤(虫兆)属一新种(弹尾纲,长角(虫兆)科)

描述尖瘤属Acrocyrtus印度1新种,陈氏尖瘤A.cheni sp.nov.。     

Activation of RAW 264.7 cells by Astraeus hygrometricus-derived heteroglucan through MAP kinase pathway

Mushroom-derived polysaccharides like β-glucan are being investigated for therapeutic properties for a long time, but their mode of action of immunomodulatory properties is not well established. In the present study, a heteroglucan from Astraeus hygrometricus designated as AE2 is investigated for its macrophage stimulatory properties using RAW 264.7 cell line. An augmentation of nitric oxide production is observed in the presence of AE2 in a dose-dependent manner due to up-regulation of iNOS (inducible NO synthase) expression; hence NF κB (nuclear factor κB) pathway is investigated. RAW 264.7 cells endured phosphorylation of Ikk (IκB kinase) and subsequently NF κB is translocated to the nucleus. Further, the PKC (protein kinase C) level of the cells enhanced significantly. We also found that AE2 could induce the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), ERK1/2 (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1/2), MEK (MAPK/ERK kinase) and JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), whereas it failed to induce phosphorylation of JAK2 (Janus kinase 2) and STAT1. These results indicated that the macrophage activation by AE2 might be exerted, at least in part, via MAPKs (mitogen-activated protein kinases) pathway of signal transduction.     

Camptothecin-somatostatin conjugates inhibit the growth of small cell lung cancer cells

The effects of camptothecin-somatostatin (CPT-SS) conjugates were investigated on small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells. CPT was coupled to a SS agonist (SSA), c(Cys-Phe-DTrp-Lys-Thr-Cys)Thr-NH2 using the built in nucleophile assisted-releasing group (L1) N-methyl-aminoethyl-Gly-Dser-Nle-Dtyr-Dser or (L2) aminoethyl-Gly-Dser-Nle-Dtyr-Dser. The resulting CPT-L1-SSA and CPT-L2-SSA inhibited the specific binding of [125I-Tyr11]SS to NCI-H69 cell membranes with IC50 values of 0.2 and 2.1 nM, respectively. [125I]CPT-L1-SSA was internalized by SCLC cells at 37 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C. CPT-L1-SSA and CPT-L2-SSA inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the increase in adenylylcyclase activity caused by 25 microM forskolin. In vitro, 0.3 microM CPT-L1-SSA half-maximally inhibited the clonal growth of SCLC cells and 1 microM CPT-L1-SSA strongly inhibited 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA and trypan-blue exclusion. These results suggest that CPT conjugated peptides such as CPT-L1-SSA may prove useful for exploring the efficacy of receptor-directed cytotoxicity to inhibit the proliferation of SCLC cells.     

Structural basis for the activation of microtubule assembly by the EB1 and p150Glued complex

Plus-end tracking proteins, such as EB1 and the dynein/dynactin complex, regulate microtubule dynamics. These proteins are thought to stabilize microtubules by forming a plus-end complex at microtubule growing ends with ill-defined mechanisms. Here we report the crystal structure of two plus-end complex components, the carboxy-terminal dimerization domain of EB1 and the microtubule binding (CAP-Gly) domain of the dynactin subunit p150Glued. Each molecule of the EB1 dimer contains two helices forming a conserved four-helix bundle, while also providing p150Glued binding sites in its flexible tail region. Combining crystallography, NMR, and mutational analyses, our studies reveal the critical interacting elements of both EB1 and p150Glued, whose mutation alters microtubule polymerization activity. Moreover, removal of the key flexible tail from EB1 activates microtubule assembly by EB1 alone, suggesting that the flexible tail negatively regulates EB1 activity. We, therefore, propose that EB1 possesses an auto-inhibited conformation, which is relieved by p150Glued as an allosteric activator.     

Immunomodulatory role of native and heat denatured agglutinin from Abrus precatorius

Lectins are known as polyclonal activators of lymphocytes and work through the induction of battery of cytokines, which vary from lectin to lectin. Most widely used biological response modifier Mistletoe lectin (ML-1) in therapy stimulates lymphocytes, macrophages, and natural killer cells and induces both TH1 and TH2 type cytokines. Abrus agglutinin, similar to ML-1 with respect to carbohydrate specificity [gal (beta1-->3) gal/Nac], was studied both in native (NA) and heat denatured (HDA) condition for murine splenocyte proliferation, cytokine secretion, NK-cell activation, and thymocyte proliferation in vitro with a view to assess its potential as an immunomodulator. Both NA and HDA activate splenocytes and induce production of cytokines like IL-2, IFN-gamma and TNF-alphabeta indicating a TH1 type of immune response. Native agglutinin and HDA induced conditioned media of adherent splenocytes could stimulate non-adherent splenocytes and vice versa. Heat denatured agglutinin was able to induce NK-cell activation at much lower concentration than that of NA, but the extent of NK-cell activation was higher for NA. Proliferation of thymocytes by NA and HDA was also observed. This study indicates that Abrus agglutinin could be a potential immunomodulator both in native as well as in heat denatured form.     

Synthesis, structure and solution chemistry of mixed-ligand oxovanadium(IV) and oxovanadium(V) complexes incorporating tridentate ONO donor hydrazone ligands

In the title family, the ONO donor ligands are the acetylhydrazones of salicylaldehyde (H₂L¹) and 2-hydroxyacetophenone (H₂L²) (general abbreviation, H₂L). The reaction of bis(acetylacetonato)oxovanadium(IV) with a mixture of tridentate H₂L and a bidentate NN donor [e.g., 2,2′-bipyridine(bpy) or 1,10-phenanthroline(phen), hereafter B] ligands in equimolar ratio afforded the tetravalent complexes of the type [V^IVO(L)(B)]; complexes (1)-(4) whereas, if B is replaced by 8-hydroxyquinoline(Hhq) (which is a bidentate ON donor ligand), the above reaction mixture yielded the pentavalent complexes of the type [V^VO(L)(hq)]; complexes (5) and (6). Aerial oxygen is most likely the oxidant (for the oxidation of V^IV → V^V) in the synthesis of pentavalent complexes (5) and (6). [V^IVO(L)(B)] complexes are one electron paramagnetic and display axial EPR spectra, while the [V^VO(L)(hq)] complexes are diamagnetic. The X-ray structure of [V^VO(L²)(hq)] (6) indicates that H₂L² ligand is bonded with the vanadium meridionally in a tridentate dinegative fashion through its phenolic-O, enolic-O and imine-N atoms. The general bond length order is: oxo < phenolato < enolato. The V-O (enolato) bond is longer than V-O (phenolato) bond by ∼0.07 Å and is identical with V-O (carboxylate) bond. ¹H NMR spectrum of (6) in CDCl₃ solution indicates that the binding nature in the solid state is also retained in solution. Complexes (1)-(4) display two ligand-field transitions in the visible region near 820 and 480 nm in DMF solution and exhibit irreversible oxidation peak near +0.60 V versus SCE in DMSO solution, while complexes (5) and (6) exhibit only LMCT band near 535 nm and display quasi-reversible one electron reduction peak near −0.10 V versus SCE in CH₂Cl₂ solution. The VO³⁺-VO²⁺E_1/2 values shift considerably to more negative values when neutral NN donor is replaced by anionic ON donor species and it also provides better VO³⁺ binding via phenolato oxygen. For a given bidentate ligand, E_1/2 increases in the order: (L²)²⁻ < (L¹)²⁻.     

A topological model of biofeedback based on catecholamine interactions

Background  

The present paper describes a topological model of biofeedback. This model incorporates input from a sensory organ and a transduction phase mediated through catecholamine production in the feedback path. The transduction phase comprises both conservative and dissipative systems, from which the appropriate output is combined in a closed loop.