Hymenolepis diminuta: Effect of infection on ion transport in colon and blood picture of rats

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of an infection with Hymenolepis diminuta on ion transport in an isolated colon and blood picture of rats. Fifty rats were orally infected with five cysticercoids of H. diminuta. The experimental groups of rats were assigned to four groups: group I - 8 days post-infection (dpi), group II - 16 dpi, group III - 40 dpi and group IV- 60 dpi. The control group comprised non-infected rats. The experiments consisted of measuring the transepithelial electrical potential difference (PD) and the transepithelial electrical resistance (R) of the rat colon under controlled conditions as well as during mechanical stimulation (MS) using a modified Ussing chamber. Ion transport was modified using inhibitors of the epithelial sodium channel (amiloride - AMI) and the epithelial chloride channel (bumetanide - BUME), and also using capsaicin (CAPSA), a substance which activates C-fibres. The experimental data presented in this study indicates that experimental hymenolepidosis inhibits sodium and chloride ion transport in the epithelium of the rat colon, with preserved tight junction continuity (except at 40 dpi) and a decreased mechanical sensitivity. The effect of capsaicin on ion transport in the rat colon was varied. In control rats it increased ionic current, and in H. diminuta-infected rats it did not cause any changes in PD.Blood picture in this study showed a statistically significantly lower red blood cells (RBC) count and haemoglobin (HGB) concentration in infected rats in comparison to non-infected. Red cell distribution width (RDW) values and platelet (PLT) count were negatively correlated with the duration of infection, whereas mean corpuscular volume (MCV) value was positively correlated. We did not observe leukocytosis during infection, and amongst the differential leukocyte counts eosinophils and basophils showed statistically significant lower values in infected rats in comparison to non-infected.Our results indicate that hymenolepidosis is associated with the activation of inflammatory mediators and stimulation of nervous fibres, which significantly affects the function of ion channels in the epithelium of the colon in the host. At the same time, a significant decrease in eosinophil count during infection suggests that such an infection did not trigger a strong immunological reaction in rats.     

Analysis of absorption spectra of purple bacterial reaction centers in the near infrared region by higher order derivative spectroscopy

Reaction centers (RCs) of purple bacteria are uniquely suited objects to study the mechanisms of the photosynthetic conversion of light energy into chemical energy. A recently introduced method of higher order derivative spectroscopy [I.K. Mikhailyuk, H. Lokstein, A.P. Razjivin, A method of spectral subband decomposition by simultaneous fitting the initial spectrum and a set of its derivatives, J. Biochem. Biophys. Methods 63 (2005) 10-23] was used to analyze the NIR absorption spectra of RC preparations from Rhodobacter (R.) sphaeroides strain 2R and Blastochloris (B.) viridis strain KH, containing bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a and b, respectively. Q(y) bands of individual RC porphyrin components (BChls and bacteriopheophytins, BPheo) were identified. The results indicate that the upper exciton level P(y+) of the photo-active BChl dimer in RCs of R. sphaeroides has an absorption maximum of 810nm. The blue shift of a complex integral band at approximately 800nm upon oxidation of the RC is caused primarily by bleaching of P(y+), rather than by an electrochromic shift of the absorption band(s) of the monomeric BChls. Likewise, the disappearance of a band peaking at 842nm upon oxidation of RCs from B. viridis indicates that this band has to be assigned to P(y+). A blue shift of an absorption band at approximately 830nm upon oxidation of RCs of B. viridis is also essentially caused by the disappearance of P(y+), rather than by an electrochromic shift of the absorption bands of monomeric BChls. Absorption maxima of the monomeric BChls, B(B) and B(A) are at 802 and 797nm, respectively, in RCs of R. sphaeroides at room temperature. BPheo co-factors H(B) and H(A) peak at 748 and 758nm, respectively, at room temperature. For B. viridis RCs the spectral positions of H(B) and H(A) were found to be 796 and 816nm, respectively, at room temperature.     

Molecular cloning and functional expression of a sodium bicarbonate cotransporter from guinea-pig parotid glands

We recently found that the concentration of HCO3- in guinea-pig saliva is very similar to that of human saliva; however, the entity that regulates HCO3- transport has not yet been fully characterized. In order to investigate the mechanism of HCO3- transport, we identified, cloned, and characterized a sodium bicarbonate (Na(+)/HCO3- cotransporter found in guinea-pig parotid glands (gpNBC1). The gpNBC1 gene encodes a 1079-amino acid protein that has 95% and 96% homology with human and mouse parotid NBC1, respectively. Oocytes expressing gpNBC1 were exposed to HCO3- or Na(+)-free solutions, which resulted in a marked change in membrane potentials (V(m)), suggesting that gpNBC1 is electrogenic. Likewise, a gpNBC1-mediated pH recovery was observed in gpNBC1 transfected human hepatoma cells; however, in the presence of 4, 4-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid, a specific NBC1 inhibitor, such changes in V(m) and pH(i) were not observed. Together, the data show that the cloned guinea-pig gene is a functional, as well as sequence homologue of human NBC1.     

Single DNA molecule stretching measures the activity of chemicals that target the HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein

We develop a biophysical method for investigating chemical compounds that target the nucleic acid chaperone activity of HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein (NCp7). We used an optical tweezers instrument to stretch single lambda-DNA molecules through the helix-coil transition in the presence of NCp7 and various chemical compounds. The change in the helix-coil transition width induced by wild-type NCp7 and its zinc finger variants correlates with in vitro nucleic acid chaperone activity measurements and in vivo assays. The compound-NC interaction measured here reduces NCp7's capability to alter the transition width. Purified compounds from the NCI Diversity set, 119889, 119911, and 119913 reduce the chaperone activity of 5 nM NC in aqueous solution at 10, 25, and 100 nM concentrations respectively. Similarly, gallein reduced the activity of 4 nM NC at 100 nM concentration. Further analysis allows us to dissect the impact of each compound on both sequence-specific and non-sequence-specific DNA binding of NC, two of the main components of NC's nucleic acid chaperone activity. These results suggest that DNA stretching experiments can be used to screen chemical compounds targeting NC proteins and to further explore the mechanisms by which these compounds interact with NC and alter its nucleic acid chaperone activity.     

岩溶区青冈栎的年轮特征及其与环境因子的关系

为揭示岩溶区植物生长特征及其与环境因子的关系,利用年轮分析方法研究了岩溶区广泛分布的乔木树种青冈栎的年轮特征及其与环境因子的关系.结果表明:青冈栎年轮宽度和年轮指数的平均值分别为(2.565±0.028) mm和1.108±0.012.随着胸径的增大,年轮宽度和年轮指数在逐渐增大,年轮指数与气候因子的变化有着相关关系,与前一年6月份、12月份以及当年12月份的平均温度呈显著正相关,而与前一年4月份、10月份以及当年4月份的降雨量和前一年8月份、9月份以及当年2月份的日照总时数呈显著负相关.表明岩溶区青冈栎的生长可能主要受到温度变化的影响,降雨量和日照时数的变化也影响着青冈栎的年轮特征.温度,降雨量和日照时数等环境因子共同制约着岩溶区青冈栎的生长.     

Nitrogen fertilization effects on leaf morphology and evaluation of leaf area and leaf area index prediction models in sugar beet

In a two-year experiment (2002–2003), five N application rates [0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg(N) ha⁻¹, marked N₀, N₆₀, N₁₂₀, N₁₈₀, and N₂₄₀, respectively] were applied to sugar beet cv. Rizor arranged in a Randomized Complete Block design with six replications. Leaf shape parameters [leaf area (LA), maximum length (L), maximum width (W), average radial (AR), elongation (EL), and shape factor (SF)] were determined using an image analysis system, and leaf area index (LAI) was non-destructively measured every two weeks, from early August till mid-September (four times). Years, samplings, and their interaction had significant effects on the determined parameters. Fertilization at the highest dose (N₂₄₀) increased L and sampling×fertilization interaction had significant effects on LA, L, W, and SF. For this interaction, W was the best-correlated parameter with LA and LAI meaning that W is a good predictor of these parameters. Two proposed models for LA estimation were tested. The model based on both leaf dimensions [LA = 0.5083 (L×W) + 31.928] predicted LA better than that using only W (LA = 21.686 W − 112.88). Instrumentally measured LAI was highly correlated with predicted LAI values derived from a quadratic function [LAI = −0.00001 (LA)² + 0.0327 LA − 2.0413]. Thus, both LA and LAI can be reliably predicted non-destructively by using easily applied functions based on leaf dimensions (L, W) and LA estimations, respectively.     

A new rapid and simple method to determine the kinetics of electrode reactions of biologically relevant compounds from the half-peak width of the square-wave voltammograms

A new method is introduced to determine the kinetic parameters of electron transfer reactions of biologically important compounds, based on the measurements of the half-peak width (DeltaE(p/2)) of the square-wave voltammograms. A simple surface (diffusionless) redox reaction, and a simple electrode reaction occurring from dissolved state are considered as model systems. In the region of quasireversible electron transfer, the half-peak widths of theoretical square-wave voltammograms are linear functions of the logarithm of the dimensionless kinetic parameter ln(K) that characterizes the rate of the electron transfer reaction. The dimensionless kinetic parameter K is defined as K=k(s)(fD)(-0.5) for the redox reaction taking place from dissolved state, whereas for the surface redox reaction K is defined as K=k(s)/f (k(s) is the standard rate constant of electron transfer, f is the SW frequency, and D is the diffusion coefficient). A set of linear regression equations for the dependences DeltaE(p/2)vs. ln(K) are derived, which can be used for rapid and precise determination of the charge-transfer kinetic parameters. The estimated values for the standard rate constants of various biologically relevant redox systems using this approach are in very good agreement with the experimental values determined by other square-wave voltammetric methods. The square-wave voltammetric half-peak width method can be used as a simple and reliable alternative to other voltammetric methods developed for the kinetic characterization of electron transfer rates.     

Rapid ab initio prediction of RNA pseudoknots via graph tree decomposition

The prediction of RNA secondary structure including pseudoknots remains a challenge due to the intractable computation of the sequence conformation from nucleotide interactions under free energy models. Optimal algorithms often assume a restricted class for the predicted RNA structures and yet still require a high-degree polynomial time complexity, which is too expensive to use. Heuristic methods may yield time-efficient algorithms but they do not guarantee optimality of the predicted structure. This paper introduces a new and efficient algorithm for the prediction of RNA structure with pseudoknots for which the structure is not restricted. Novel prediction techniques are developed based on graph tree decomposition. In particular, based on a simplified energy model, stem overlapping relationships are defined with a graph, in which a specialized maximum independent set corresponds to the desired optimal structure. Such a graph is tree decomposable; dynamic programming over a tree decomposition of the graph leads to an efficient optimal algorithm. The final structure predictions are then based on re-ranking a list of suboptimal structures under a more comprehensive free energy model. The new algorithm is evaluated on a large number of RNA sequence sets taken from diverse resources. It demonstrates overall sensitivity and specificity that outperforms or is comparable with those of previous optimal and heuristic algorithms yet it requires significantly less time than the compared optimal algorithms. The preliminary version of this paper appeared in the proceedings of the 6th Workshop on Algorithms for Bioinformatics (WABI 2006).     

Effect of elevated [CO2] on stem wood properties of mature Norway spruce grown at different soil nutrient availability

The objective of the present study was to investigate the interactive effects of elevated [CO₂] and soil nutrient availability on secondary xylem structure and chemical composition of 41‐year‐old Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) trees. The nonfertilized and irrigated‐fertilized trees were, for 3 years, continuously exposed to elevated [CO₂] in whole‐tree chambers. Elevated [CO₂] decreased concentrations of soluble sugars, acid‐soluble lignin and nitrogen in stem wood, but the effects were not consistent between sampling height and/or fertilization. The effect of 2*ambient [CO₂] on wood structure depended on the exposure year and/or fertilization. Radial lumen diameter decreased and annual ring width increased in the second year of exposure (1999) in elevated [CO₂]. In the latter, the CO₂ effect was significant only in the nonfertilized trees. Stem wood chemistry and structure were significantly affected by fertilization. Fertilization increased the concentrations of nitrogen and gravimetric lignin, annual ring width, and radial lumen diameter. Fertilization decreased C/N ratio, mean ring density, earlywood density, latewood density, cell wall thickness, cell wall index, and latewood percentage. We conclude that elevated [CO₂] had only minor effects on wood properties while fertilization had more marked effects and thus may affect ecosystem processes and suitability of wood for different end‐use purposes.