Autophagy triggered by magnolol derivative negatively regulates angiogenesis

Angiogenesis has a key role in the tumor progression and metastasis; targeting endothelial cell proliferation has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for the prevention of cancer. Previous studies have revealed a complex association between the process of angiogenesis and autophagy and its outcome on tumorigenesis. Autophagy, also known as type-II cell death, has been identified as an alternative way of cell killing in apoptotic-resistant cancer cells. However, its involvement in chemoresistance and tumor promotion is also well known. In this study, we used a derivate of natural product magnolol (Ery5), a potent autophagy inducer, to study the association between the autophagy and angiogenesis in both in vitro and in vivo model system. We found that the robust autophagy triggered by Ery5, inhibited angiogenesis and caused cell death independent of the apoptosis in human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells and PC-3 cells. Ery5 induced autophagy effectively inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion and tube formation. We further demonstrated that Ery5-mediated autophagy and subsequent inhibition of angiogenesis was reversed when autophagy was inhibited through 3-methyl adenine and knocking down of key autophagy proteins ATG7 and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3. While evaluating the negative regulation of autophagy on angiogenesis, it was interesting to find that angiogenic environment produced by the treatment of VEGF and CoCl2 remarkably downregulated the autophagy and autophagic cell death induced by Ery5. These studies, while disclosing the vital role of autophagy in the regulation of angiogenesis, also suggest that the potent modulators of autophagy can lead to the development of effective therapeutics in apoptosis-resistant cancer.     

Modelling shifts in agroclimate and crop cultivar response under climate change

This paper aims: (i) to identify at national scale areas where crop yield formation is currently most prone to climate‐induced stresses, (ii) to evaluate how the severity of these stresses is likely to develop in time and space, and (iii) to appraise and quantify the performance of two strategies for adapting crop cultivation to a wide range of (uncertain) climate change projections. To this end we made use of extensive climate, crop, and soil data, and of two modelling tools: N‐AgriCLIM and the WOFOST crop simulation model. N‐AgriCLIM was developed for the automatic generation of indicators describing basic agroclimatic conditions and was applied over the whole of Finland. WOFOST was used to simulate detailed crop responses at four representative locations. N‐AgriCLIM calculations have been performed nationally for 3829 grid boxes at a 10 × 10 km resolution and for 32 climate scenarios. Ranges of projected shifts in indicator values for heat, drought and other crop‐relevant stresses across the scenarios vary widely – so do the spatial patterns of change. Overall, under reference climate the most risk‐prone areas for spring cereals are found in south‐west Finland, shifting to south‐east Finland towards the end of this century. Conditions for grass are likely to improve. WOFOST simulation results suggest that CO₂ fertilization and adjusted sowing combined can lead to small yield increases of current barley cultivars under most climate scenarios on favourable soils, but not under extreme climate scenarios and poor soils. This information can be valuable for appraising alternative adaptation strategies. It facilitates the identification of regions in which climatic changes might be rapid or otherwise notable for crop production, requiring a more detailed evaluation of adaptation measures. The results also suggest that utilizing the diversity of cultivar responses seems beneficial given the high uncertainty in climate change projections.     

Effect of enzyme dehydration on alcalase‐catalyzed dipeptide synthesis in near‐anhydrous organic media

The effect of enzyme dehydration by molecular sieves on the coupling of phenylalanine amide and the carbamoylmethyl ester of N‐protected phenylalanine in near‐anhydrous tetrahydrofuran was investigated. This coupling was catalyzed by Alcalase covalently immobilized onto macroporous acrylic beads (Cov); these immobilized enzymes were hydrated prior to use. The dehydration kinetics of Cov by molecular sieve powder were determined by incubating Cov with different amounts of molecular sieve powder for different periods of time (0–80 h). Subsequently, the remaining coupling activity of Cov was measured. Dehydration‐induced inactivation of Cov by molecular sieve powder was found to occur in three phases: (1) an initial, rapid, major dehydration‐induced inactivation that takes place during the first activity measurement, (2) a phase of first‐order inactivation, and (3) a plateau phase in activity. These dehydration kinetics were incorporated into a previously found reaction kinetics model. The resulting model was then used to fit progress curve data of the coupling in the presence of different amounts of molecular sieve powder. Upon establishment of parameter values, the model was used to predict independent data sets and found to work well. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 29:870–875, 2013     

Enhancing operational stability and exhibition of enzyme activity by removing water in the immobilized lipase‐catalyzed production of erythorbyl laurate

Erythorbyl laurate was continuously synthesized by esterification in a packed‐bed enzyme reactor with immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica. Response surface methodology based on a five‐level three‐factor central composite design was adopted to optimize conditions for the enzymatic esterification. The reaction variables, such as reaction temperature (10–70°C), substrate molar ratio ([lauric acid]/[erythorbic acid], 5–15), and residence time (8–40 min) were evaluated and their optimum conditions were found to be 56.2°C, 14.3, and 24.2 min, respectively. Under the optimum conditions, the molar conversion yield was 83.4%, which was not significantly different (P < 0.05) from the value predicted (84.4%). Especially, continuous water removal by adsorption on an ion‐exchange resin in a packed‐bed enzyme reactor improved operational stability, resulting in prolongation of half‐life (2.02 times longer compared to the control without water‐removal system). Furthermore, in the case of batch‐type reactor, it exhibited significant increase in initial velocity of molar conversion from 1.58% to 2.04%/min. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 29:882–889, 2013     

Shedding light on moths: shorter wavelengths attract noctuids more than geometrids

With moth declines reported across Europe, and parallel changes in the amount and spectra of street lighting, it is important to understand exactly how artificial lights affect moth populations. We therefore compared the relative attractiveness of shorter wavelength (SW) and longer wavelength (LW) lighting to macromoths. SW light attracted significantly more individuals and species of moth, either when used alone or in competition with LW lighting. We also found striking differences in the relative attractiveness of different wavelengths to different moth groups. SW lighting attracted significantly more Noctuidae than LW, whereas both wavelengths were equally attractive to Geometridae. Understanding the extent to which different groups of moth are attracted to different wavelengths of light will be useful in determining the impact of artificial light on moth populations.     

Effects of keratinase supplementation of corn-soybean meal based diets on apparent ileal amino acid digestibility in growing pigs and serum amino acids,cytokines, immunoglobulin levels and loin muscle area in nursery pigs

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate effects of keratinase for growing and nursery pigs. In Exp. 1, six pigs (32.3 ± 2.8 kg body weight), fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum, were assigned to one of two 3 × 3 Latin squares involving three periods and three diets including a basal diet and the same diets supplemented with 0, 0.05 or 0.1% keratinase. Dietary keratinase supplementation increased the apparent ileal digestibility of crude protein (CP), arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, alanine, glutamic acid and proline (p < 0.05). Digestibility coefficients did not differ between pigs fed 0.05 and 0.1% keratinase. In Exp. 2, 24piglets weaned at 30 ± 2 d of age were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design experiment with two CP concentrations (19 vs. 22%) and two levels of keratinase supplementation (0 vs. 0.05%). Keratinase supplementation increased (p < 0.05) average daily gain, serum arginine concentration and loin muscle area but decreased (p < 0.05) serum interleukin-10 concentrations. The reduction in dietary CP level decreased (p < 0.05) serum urea nitrogen concentrations, isoleucine, serine and proline concentrations, but increased serum arginine concentrations. Few interactions between keratinase supplementation and dietary CP concentration were observed. This study indicated that dietary keratinase supplementation improved apparent ileal amino acid digestibility for growing pigs and had a positive effect on weight gain, immune response and loin muscle area for nursery pigs.     

Rat aversion to isoflurane versus carbon dioxide

Some experts suggest that sedation of laboratory rodents with isoflurane before euthanasia with carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a humane alternative to euthanasia with CO₂ alone, but little research has compared aversion with these agents. Albino rats were tested in a light–dark box where they had the choice between remaining in a dark compartment filling with isoflurane or CO₂, or escaping to a lit compartment. Experiment 1 validated the procedure by confirming that rats responded to agent and light intensity. In experiment 2, 9/16 and 0/16 rats remained in the dark compartment until recumbent when initially exposed to isoflurane and CO₂, respectively. In experiment 3, more rats remained in the dark compartment until recumbent during initial (10/16) versus re-exposure (1/16) to isoflurane. These results indicate that initial exposure to CO₂ is more aversive than isoflurane, and that re-exposure to isoflurane is more aversive than initial exposure. We conclude that sedation with isoflurane is a refinement over euthanasia with CO₂ alone for rats that have not been previously exposed to inhalant anaesthetics.     

Kolmogorov-type competition model with finitely supported allocation profiles and its applications to plant competition for sunlight

A Kolmogorov-type competition model featuring allocation profiles, gain functions, and cost parameters is examined. For plant species that compete for sunlight according to the canopy partitioning model [R.R. Vance and A.L. Nevai, Plant population growth and competition in a light gradient: a mathematical model of canopy partitioning, J. Theor. Biol. 245 (2007), pp. 210–219] the allocation profiles describe vertical leaf placement, the gain functions represent rates of leaf photosynthesis at different heights, and the cost parameters signify the energetic expense of maintaining tall stems necessary for gaining a competitive advantage in the light gradient. The allocation profiles studied here, being supported on three alternating intervals, determine “interior” and “exterior” species. When the allocation profile of the interior species is a delta function (a big leaf) then either competitive exclusion or coexistence at a single globally attracting equilibrium point occurs. However, if the allocation profile of the interior species is piecewise continuous or a weighted sum of delta functions (multiple big leaves) then multiple coexistence states may also occur.     

Potential cotton aphid,Aphis gossypii,population suppression by arthropod predators in upland cotton

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, predation rate of convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guerin‐Meneville, was determined by assigning a single predator randomly to each of four prey density treatments in the laboratory. Prey densities included 25, 50, 100, and 200 aphids per Petri dish arena. Predation response was recorded at 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 h after assigning predators to their prey treatments. Rate of consumption increased through time, with all 25 aphids consumed during the first 4 h of the experiment. At the highest density, adult lady beetle consumed on average 49, 99, 131, 163, 183, and 200 aphids within 1, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 h, respectively. Predators showed a curvilinear feeding response in relation to total available time, indicating that convergent lady beetles have the potential to suppress larger populations of aphids through continuous feeding by regulating their predation efficiency during feeding. The analysis of age‐specific mortality in absence of prey revealed that lady beetles could survive for an extended period of time (more than 2 weeks) without prey. The ability of a predator to survive without prey delays or prevents the rebound of pest populations that is a significant factor in natural biological control. A two‐year field sampling of 10 cotton arthropod predator species showed that spiders (27%) were the most dominant foliage dwelling predators in the Texas High Plains cotton followed by convergent lady beetles (23.5%), hooded beetles (13.5%), minute pirate bugs (11%), green lacewings (9.5%), bigeyed bugs (7.5%), scymnus beetles (3%), soft‐winged flower beetles (2%), damsel bugs (1.5%), and assassin bugs (1.5%). A field cage study showed that one H. convergens adult per plant released at prey density of one aphid per leaf kept the aphid population below economic threshold for the entire growing season.