Some biochemical changes during leaf rolling in Ctenanthe setosa (Marantaceae)

The changes in the levels of proline, sugar and soluble protein during leaf rolling and its relationship to osmotic adjustment were studied in laboratory conditions. Upon irrigation of plants which have rolled leaves, many sugar crystals occurred on the abaxial surface of the leaves in Ctenanthe setosa (Rosc.) Eichler. The sugar crystals were determined to have sucrose, glucose and fructose. The levels of reducing sugars and proline are higher in rolled leaves while soluble protein levels in rolled leaves are lower than those of unrolled leaves. It was found 1–3, 9–13, 16–21 and 24–28 crystals at degree of leaf rolling 23, 28, 47 and 52%, respectively. Finally, we found a significant correlation between the crystal number and degree of leaf rolling in Ctenanthe setosa. In addition, soluble sugars are found predominant accumulating solute in the plant and are of major importance as a contributor to osmotic adjustment during leaf rolling.     

Examining the microanatomy of various fetal body parts using the orcein-picroindigocarmine staining method

It is difficult to distinguish muscle, vessel, nerve, fascia, tendon and many other structures in fetal sections. The aim of the study reported here was to research the practicability of orcein-picroindigocarmine staining for distinguishing anatomic structures in histological sections containing complex structures. Histological serial sections of hand, foot, head and neck of four 18- to 20-week old fetuses were used. Bone matrix was stained bright blue, collagen fibers tones of green to blue, elastic fibers brown, cartilage matrix tones of pink, and chondroblasts blue. Muscles and erythrocytes were stained yellow to green, epidermis reddish brown, skin appendices including hair and nail stained light yellow to green.     

Effects of Genotype on Testis, Semen Quality, and Mineral Composition of Semen in Various Ram Breeds

This study was carried out on nine 3–5-year-old rams of different species: four Norduz, two Karakas, and three Ile de France?×?Akkaraman rams. Sperm of each ram was collected by means of an artificial vagina once per month from June to October 2007. In each case, the sperm volume, pH, viscosity, mass activity, motility, concentration, abnormal spermatozoa ratio, and the sperm death/live ratio were recorder along with the animals’ testis diameter and scrotum circumferences. The concentrations of calcium, potassium, copper, magnesium, iron, and zinc levels in seminal plasma were determined. There were changes in the measured parameters according to genotype and time of sampling, which can be useful for better planning of anestrous mating programs for these ram species.     

The effects of p38 gene silencing on breast cancer cells

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) are members of the MAPK family that are activated by inflammatory cytokines and a variety of environmental stresses. It mediates various biological processes. p38 MAPK activity play important roles in tumour progression. Excessive p38 expression is observed in invasive breast cancers. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the p38 siRNA transfection of breast cancer cells is a putative preventive treatment for human breast cancer. p38 siRNA was used at a concentration of 15, 30, and 100 nM in human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) and normal fibroblast cell lines (NIH 3T3). After 48 and 72 h of transfection, the reduction in p38 expression was measured using quantitative real-time PCR. The activation of p38 signalling was measured by ELISA. XTT cell proliferation assay was performed to determine the effect of p38 silencing on MCF-7 and NIH 3T3 cell lines. The results demonstrated that approximately 96 % gene silencing occurred by the selected siRNA targeting p38 mRNA. The most effective silencing was observed at 72 h post-transfection using 30 nM p38 siRNA. The results of ELISA showed that the expression of p38 protein was inhibited by p38 siRNA at 30 nM siRNA and 100 nM at 72 h post transfection. XTT results showed that cells stimulated by 30 nM siRNA at 72 h post transfection were the lowest in proliferation. p38 siRNA can interfere with the expression of p38 at protein level in MCF-7 cells, result in inhibition of cell proliferation. p38 siRNA may be a critical regulator to promote the proliferation and protein expression in MCF-7 cells. In this study, we demonstrate that p38 silencing is a preventive maintenance for treating breast cancer.     

RSCA genotyping of MHC for high-throughput evolutionary studies in the model organism three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus

Background  

In all jawed vertebrates, highly polymorphic genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) encode antigen presenting molecules that play a key role in the adaptive immune response. Their polymorphism is composed of multiple copies of recently duplicated genes, each possessing many alleles within populations, as well as high nucleotide divergence between alleles of the same species. Experimental evidence is accumulating that MHC polymorphism is a result of balancing selection by parasites and pathogens. In order to describe MHC diversity and analyse the underlying mechanisms that maintain it, a reliable genotyping technique is required that is suitable for such highly variable genes.     

Energetics of ion permeation, rejection, binding, and block in gramicidin A from free energy simulations

The rigid force fields currently used in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of biomolecules are optimized for globular proteins. Whether they can also be used in MD simulations of membrane proteins is an important issue that needs to be resolved. Here we address this issue using the gramicidin A channel, which provides an ideal test case because of the simplicity of its structure and the availability of a wealth of functional data. Permeation properties of gramicidin A can be summarized as "it conducts monovalent cations, rejects anions, and binds divalent cations." Hence, a comprehensive test should consider the energetics of permeation for all three types of ions. To that end, we construct the potential of mean force for K(+), Cl(-), and Ca(2+) ions along the channel axis. For an independent check of the potential-of-mean-force results, we also calculate the free energy differences for these ions at the channel center and binding sites relative to bulk. We find that "rejection of anions" is satisfied but there are difficulties in accommodating the other two properties using the current MD force fields.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of gramicidin A in a lipid bilayer: from structure-function relations to force fields

Molecular dynamics simulations of membrane proteins have become a popular tool for studying their dynamic features, which are not easily accessible by experiments. Whether the force fields developed for globular proteins are adequate this purpose is an important question that is often glossed over. Here we determine the permeation properties of potassium ions in the gramicidin A channel in a lipid bilayer from free energy simulations, and compare the results to experimental data. In particular, we check the dependence of the free energy barriers ions face at the channel center on the membrane size. The results indicate that there is a serious problem with the current rigid force fields independent of the membrane size, and new, possibly polarizable, force fields need to be developed to resolve this problem.     

Specified species in gingival crevicular fluid predict bacterial diversity

Background

Analysis of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples may give information of unattached (planktonic) subgingival bacteria. Our study represents the first one targeting the identity of bacteria in GCF.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We determined bacterial species diversity in GCF samples of a group of periodontitis patients and delineated contributing bacterial and host-associated factors. Subgingival paper point (PP) samples from the same sites were taken for comparison. After DNA extraction, 16S rRNA genes were PCR amplified and DNA-DNA hybridization was performed using a microarray for over 300 bacterial species or groups. Altogether 133 species from 41 genera and 8 phyla were detected with 9 to 62 and 18 to 64 species in GCF and PP samples, respectively, per patient. Projection to latent structures by means of partial least squares (PLS) was applied to the multivariate data analysis. PLS regression analysis showed that species of genera including Campylobacter, Selenomonas, Porphyromonas, Catonella, Tannerella, Dialister, Peptostreptococcus, Streptococcus and Eubacterium had significant positive correlations and the number of teeth with low-grade attachment loss a significant negative correlation to species diversity in GCF samples. OPLS/O2PLS discriminant analysis revealed significant positive correlations to GCF sample group membership for species of genera Campylobacter, Leptotrichia, Prevotella, Dialister, Tannerella, Haemophilus, Fusobacterium, Eubacterium, and Actinomyces.

Conclusions/Significance

Among a variety of detected species those traditionally classified as Gram-negative anaerobes growing in mature subgingival biofilms were the main predictors for species diversity in GCF samples as well as responsible for distinguishing GCF samples from PP samples. GCF bacteria may provide new prospects for studying dynamic properties of subgingival biofilms.     

Assessing the influence of cycloastragenol on telomere/telomerase system of Arabidopsis thaliana

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Cycloastragenol (CAG) is a triterpenoid saponin compound that is synthesized by Astragalus species. CAG has many bioactivity, including telomerase...