Neurofilament Proteins Are Distributed in a Diminishing Proximodistal Gradient Along Rat Sciatic Nerve

Neurofilament (NF) proteins are distributed in a diminishing proximodistal gradient along rat sciatic nerve when compared with total noncollagen or other proteins in nerve. About a twofold decline of NF proteins can be detected by quantitating nerve proteins that have been separated by gel electrophoresis. A similar decrease of immunoreactivity to each NF subunit is seen in distal nerve segments when noncollagen nerve proteins are immunoblotted. Parallel decreases occur in all three NF proteins, thereby maintaining neurofilament subunit stoichiometry along the neuraxis. The same NF gradient can be detected when the NF contents in nerve branches to the gluteus and gastrocnemius muscles are compared with each other and with those in nerve segments taken from the same proximodistal levels of the parent sciatic nerve. The gradient of NF proteins increases during postnatal development and is readily detected by postnatal day 16. During the same period of development, the heavy NF subunit appears for the first time and is rapidly incorporated throughout the sciatic nerve. Hence, the NF gradient becomes manifest during the development and maturation of the adult form of the axonal cytoskeleton. The basis for the proximodistal gradient of NF proteins in peripheral nerve is presently unknown. The extent of the gradient cannot be accounted for on the basis of diminishing numbers of nerve fibers or increasing amounts of other nerve proteins, e.g., collagen, in distal nerve. An alternative interpretation is that the gradient reflects a low level of NF protein turnover during axonal transport.     

Pharmacological and Functional Heterogeneity of Astrocytes: Regional Differences in Phospholipase C Stimulation by Neuromediators

Carbamylcholine stimulated phospholipase C activity in astrocytes in primary culture from the mesencephalon but not from the striatum or cerebral cortex of the mouse embryo. An alpha 1-adrenergic-mediated response was observed in all astrocyte populations. 2-Chloroadenosine potentiated the alpha 1-adrenergic response in mesencephalic and striatal astrocytes but not in cortical astrocytes. It also stimulated the carbamylcholine-evoked response in mesencephalic astrocytes. Through cell-cell cooperation, 2-chloroadenosine potentiated the neuronal carbamylcholine-evoked activation of phospholipase C in homotopic cocultures (neuro-glial) from the striatum but not in homotopic cocultures (neuro-glial) from the cerebral cortex or in heterotopic cocultures (cortical astrocytes-striatal neurons; striatal astrocytes-cortical neurons.     

A short-range endemic species from south-eastern Atlantic Rain Forest shows deep signature of historical events: phylogeography of harvestmen Acutisoma longipes (Arachnida: Opiliones)

The Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest is amongst the most diverse biomes in the world, but the processes that shaped its biodiversity are still poorly understood. We used one mitochondrial and two nuclear markers to evaluate the phylogeographic patterns of the endemic harvestman Acutisoma longipes and its closely related species to investigate the biogeographic history of this biome. The results showed low intrapopulation diversity and strong population structure, suggesting poor dispersion amongst locations. Phylogenetic analyses pointed to three main mitochondrial lineages congruent with the geomorphology of the south-eastern region of Brazil (Serra do Mar, Serra da Mantiqueira, and interior plateau). These older divergences occurred in the middle-Neogene, suggesting that events in this period drove the diversification of the species, but Quaternary events also affected the populations locally. We detected some congruence between A. longipes demographic patterns and the areas of endemism delimited for harvestmen, suggesting that some regions of the distribution could have been more stable in the past (especially in Serra da Mantiqueira). Our findings corroborate that harvestmen are a suitable group for the study of ancient biogeographic events in the Atlantic Rain Forest, even at small-scale ranges. Acutisoma hamatum is here considered as a new junior synonym of A. longipes.     

A highly selective and sensitive boronic acid-based sensor for detecting Pd2+ ion under mild conditions

Herein, a boronic acid-based sensor was reported selectively to recognize Pd²⁺ ion. The fluorescence intensity increased 36-fold after sensor binding with 2.47 × 10⁻⁵ M of Pd²⁺ ion. It was carried out in the 99% aqueous solution for binding tests, indicating sensor having good water solubility. In addition, it is discernible that Pd²⁺ ion turned on the blue fluorescence of sensor under a UV–lamp (365 nm), while other ions (Ag⁺, Al³⁺, Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cr²⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cs²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, K⁺, Li⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Na⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺) did not show the similar change. Furthermore, sensor has a low limit of detection (38 nM) and high selectivity, which exhibits the potential for the development of Pd²⁺ recognition in practical environments.     

Hybrid molecules based on fullerene C60 and 5Z,9Z-dienoic acids: Synthesis and cytotoxic activity

The present research project details synthesis of new hybrid methanofullerenes based on acetylene and triazole esters of malonic acid containing 5Z,9Z-dienoic acids and fullerene C₆₀ under Bingel-Hirsch conditions, including study of the cytotoxic activity with respect to Jurkat, K562, U937 and HL60 tumor cell lines. Hybrid methanofullerenes containing acetylenic fragments, unlike triazole substituents, were found to exhibit higher cytotoxicity, but are characterized by lower selectivity of action in relation to healthy cells.     

Synthesis,biological evaluation and structure-activity relationships of 5-arylidene tetramic acids with antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The steady rise of the antimicrobial resistance is a major global threat to human health that requires the urgent need for novel antibiotics. In this work we report the synthesis of a small library of 3-subsituted-5-arylidene tetramic acids in order to investigate the scope of our previously established methodology via an intermediate oxazolone and their antimicrobial activity. From this series of 14 tetramic acids, 11 derivatives are novel and one of them is a Schiff base, which was structurally characterized with single-crystal X-ray analysis and NMR spectroscopy. The compounds incorporating a lipophilic acyl group at carbon-3 of the ring showed moderate to high activity with minimum inhibitory activity of 4–32 μg/mL against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), accompanied by no human cell toxicity and hemolytic activity within the tested concentration range. The substituent at para position of the aryl ring seemed to have no or little effect on the antimicrobial activity of these compounds.     

Humulus lupulus L. cv. Cascade grown in Northern Italy: morphological and phytochemical characterization

Abstract

Several aroma hops (Humulus lupulus L.) were recently introduced in Northern Italy as a small-scale production of excellence. In this preliminary study, the American cultivar Cascade was investigated in a combined morphological and phytochemical survey. Morphological investigation on trichome structure, density and distribution was performed by scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Essential oil composition, α/β-acid and polyphenol profiles over 3 years were determined by GC-MS and HPLC analyses. Two types of non-glandular (simple and cystolithic) and glandular (peltate and bulbous) trichomes were observed on leaves and female inflorescences. The peltate trichomes resulted as the main sites of terpene production and accumulation. The essential oil profiles showed myrcene, β-caryophyllene, (E)-β-farnesene and humulene epoxide II as the dominant compounds over the three collection times, although with different relative abundances. The presence of two exclusive compounds, γ-muurolene and trans-γ-cadinene, characterized the investigated cv. Cascade, potentially enhancing herbal, woody and spicy aroma traits of this cultivation in Northern Italy. The bitter acid composition showed quantitative values consistent with literature data only for the second and third monitoring year. Qualitative differences in polyphenol content were also recorded, for the presence of quercetin-3-O-malonylglucoside and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, which may characterize this peculiar Italian cultivation.     

Lineage-Restricted Regulation of SCD and Fatty Acid Saturation by MITF Controls Melanoma Phenotypic Plasticity

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