Occurrence of Horizontal Gene Transfer of PIB-type ATPase Genes among Bacteria Isolated from the Uranium Rich Deposit of Domiasiat in North East India

Uranium (U) tolerant aerobic heterotrophs were isolated from the subsurface soils of one of the pre-mined U-rich deposits at Domiasiat located in the north-eastern part of India. On screening of genomic DNA from 62 isolates exhibiting superior U and heavy metal tolerance, 32 isolates were found to be positive for P_IB-type ATPase genes. Phylogenetic incongruence and anomalous DNA base compositions revealed the acquisition of P_IB-type ATPase genes by six isolates through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Three of these instances of HGT appeared to have occurred at inter-phylum level and the other three instances indicated to have taken place at intra-phylum level. This study provides an insight into one of the possible survival strategies that bacteria might employ to adapt to environments rich in uranium and heavy metals.     

Stress contributes to the development of central insulin resistance during aging: Implications for Alzheimer’s disease

It is becoming evident that chronic exposure to stress not only might result in insulin resistance or cognitive deficits, but may also be considered a risk factor for pathologies such as depression or Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is great interest in determining the molecular mechanisms underlying interactions between stress, aging, memory and Alzheimer's disease (AD). We have used the chronic mild stress (CMS) model to study the effects of chronic stress on the aging process and the development of central insulin resistance and AD pathology. CMS aged mice showed cognitive impairments in the novel object recognition test. In addition, CMS aged mice displayed both peripheral insulin resistance, as shown by HOMA index, and decreased hippocampal levels of pIRS and downstream intracellular signaling (pAKT, pGSK and pERK1/2). Interestingly, there was a significant increase in both C99:C83 ratio and BACE1 levels in the hippocampus of CMS aged mice. Increased expression of the AD marker pTau was also found in stressed aged mice. Increased expression of the stress-activated protein kinase JNK was found in CMS aged mice, accompanied by significant decreases in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression and increases in mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) expression. It is suggested that the interaction of stress with aging should be considered when studying determinants of the onset and progression of AD.     

Proliferative response of human diploid fibroblasts to intermittent light exposure

Three- to four-hour exposure to fluorescnt light, one to three times weekly, reproducibly enhanced the proliferation rate of human diploid fibroblasts. This enhancement was observed in WI-38 and a line from whole embryo mince at late population doubling level (PDL) as well as in a line from adult skin at early PDL. Single or multiple exposures of short duration stimulated proliferation, whereas exposures of long duration were cytotoxic. This proliferative response is reversible, and is mediated through the culture medium, Dulbecco Vogt's supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. Apparently light produces some mitogenic substance(s) in the culture medium that accumulates in the cells and is toxic or growth-stimulatory depending on its concentration per cell. Another possibility is that light produces in the medium both cytotoxic and growth-stimulatory substances.     

Effect of bis[curcumino]oxovanadium complex on non-diabetic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The effect of the vanadium complex bis[curcumino]oxovanadium (BCOV) on blood glucose level, serum lipid levels, blood pressure and vascular reactivity were studied in non-diabetic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic (STZ-diabetic) rats and compared to that of vanadyl sulfate. Blood glucose level, serum lipid levels, and blood pressure were significantly increased in STZ-diabetic rats. Vascular reactivity to various agonists such as noradrenaline and acetylcholine were significantly increased in STZ-diabetic rats. Blood glucose and serum lipid levels were restored to normal in STZ-diabetic animals treated with vanadyl sulfate at a concentration of 0.5 mmol/kg/day (p.o.). However, vanadyl sulfate at a concentration of 0.2 mmol/kg/day (p.o.) did not produce any significant change in blood glucose and lipid levels. There was no significant effect of vanadyl sulfate (0.2 or 0.5 mmol/kg/day) treatment on blood pressure and vascular reactivity in STZ-diabetic rats. Vanadyl sulfate significantly reduced the body weight of non-diabetic and STZ-diabetic rats. Moreover, it also caused severe diarrhea in both groups of animals. Treatment with BCOV (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2mmol/kg/day, p.o.) significantly decreased blood glucose level and serum lipids in STZ-diabetic rats. Furthermore, administration of BCOV to STZ-diabetic rats restored the blood pressure and vascular reactivity to agonists to normal. There was no significant change in the body weight of BCOV treated non-diabetic and STZ-diabetic rats. Diarrhea was not observed in both BCOV treated groups. In conclusion, the present study shows that the vanadium complex BCOV has antidiabetic and hypolipedimic effects. In addition, it improves the cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes.     

Plants in the works of cervantes

El Ingenioso Hidalgo, Don Quijote de la Mancha, by Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616), is the best-known work of Spanish literature. We searched this and the other works of Cervantes for references to plants, plant communities, and products. These texts capture the customs, thoughts, beliefs, and traditions of Spanish culture in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. They also repeat literary themes of ancient Greek and Roman literature. Plant citations were grouped in three categories: plants as part of the environment, useful plants, and plants in symbolic expressions. A total of 150 species were registered, 102 of which appear inDon Quijote. The taxa with the highest frequency of occurrence areVitis vinifera, Phoenix dactylifera, Triticum aestivum, Laurus nobilis, Rosa spp.,Olea europaea, Quercus ilex, andArundo donax. The number of references to plants and the variety of species seem to attest to a sound and intimate knowledge of plants, their relevance as a landscape feature, and their utility. Many edible, ornamental, technological, and medicinal plants are referred to either explicitly or implicitly. Several species are mentioned in a figurative sense through references to their symbolic meaning, in proverbs, idiomatic expressions, metaphors, or by mentioning them in comparisons and literary figures of speech.     

Depot- and gender-related differences in the lipolytic pathway of adipose tissue from severely obese patients.

The present study was performed to analyze in detail gender- and site-related alterations in the adrenergic signal transduction pathway of lipolysis in fat cells isolated from subcutaneous abdominal and visceral fat depots from severely obese patients. The study group consisted of 30 morbidly obese subjects (9 men and 21 women) aged 41.1+/-1.9 years, with a body mass index (BMI) of 54.7+/-1.7 kg/m2, who had undergone abdominal surgery. Protein levels of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and adrenergic receptors (AR), as well as HSL activity and the lipolytic response to adrenergic agents were analyzed. Both fat depots had similar basal lipolysis, but the capacity of catecholamines to activate lipolysis was greater in visceral fat, both at AR and postreceptor levels. Basal lipolysis and lipolytic activity induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP were higher in men than in women. However, the visceral depot of women showed a higher maximal stimulation by noradrenaline than that of men, in accordance with higher beta1- and beta3-AR protein levels. In conclusion, the main gender-related differences were located in the visceral depot, with women exhibiting a higher sensitivity to catecholamines associated with an increased provision of beta-AR, while men showed an enhanced lipolytic capacity at the postreceptor level.