Covariation in the capsid protein of hibiscus chlorotic ringspot virus induced by serial passaging in a host that restricts movement leads to avirulence in its systemic host

Hibiscus chlorotic ringspot virus (HCRSV) from naturally infected Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. loses virulence in its experimental systemic host Hibiscus cannabinus L. (kenaf) after serial passages in a local lesion host Chenopodium quinoa. Here we report the genetic changes responsible for the loss of virulence at the molecular level. A remarkable covariation of eight site-specific amino acids was found in the HCRSV capsid protein (CP) after serial passages in C. quinoa: Val(49)-->Ile, Ile(95)-->Val, Lys(270)-->Arg, Gly(272)-->Asp, Tyr(274)-->His, Ala(311)-->Asp, Asp(334)-->Ala, and Ala(335)-->Thr. Covariation of at least three of the eight amino acids, Val(49), Ile(95), and Lys(270), caused the virus to become avirulent in kenaf. Interestingly, the nature of the covariation was consistent and reproducible at each serial passage. These data indicate that the nonsynonymous substitutions of amino acids in the HCRSV CP after serial passages in C. quinoa are not likely to be random events but may be due to host-associated positive selection or accelerated genetic drift. The observed interdependence among the three amino acids leading to avirulence in kenaf may have implications for structural or functional relationships in this virus-host interaction.     

Biological properties of a new fluorescent biphalin fragment analogue

Previous studies of structure-activity of biphalin defined fragments which expressed the full biological potency of the parent compound. The most simple fragment was Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-NH-NH<--X, where X=Phe, but it also could be other hydrophobic amino acids. This paper presents data that replacement of the phenylalanine with a dansyl (X=DNS) groups gives an analogue (AA2016) that fully preserves the high affinity of the initial analogue for both mu and delta opioid receptors. In the tail flick test in rats, intrathecal injection of the compound produces strong antinociception, comparable to the parent biphalin. Because AA2016 contains a strong fluorescent group, it can be a very useful tool for prospective studies in vivo, including biological barrier permeability, tissue distribution, metabolism and receptor-ligand complex formation.     

Forskolin fails to activate L-type calcium current in hypertrophied cardiomyocytes of chronically hypoxic rats

We have shown that the contractile, cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) and cyclic AMP (cAMP) responses to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation are attenuated in ventricular myocytes of chronically hypoxic (CH) rats. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of forskolin on the L-type Ca2+ current in CH hypertrophied ventricular myocytes. Patch-clamp recording of the L-type Ca2+ current was measured in right ventricular myocytes of normoxic control and CH rats exposed to 10% inspired oxygen for 4 weeks. The breadth, but not the length, of CH myocytes was significantly greater than that of the control group. Activation of beta-adrenoceptor with isoproterenol (0.1 microM) increased the peak Ca2+ current by 83% in the normoxic control but the increase of peak Ca2+ current was not significant in the CH myocytes. Forskolin (0.1 - 1 microM), an activator of adenylyl cyclase, increased the peak Ca2+ current by 49% - 102% in the normoxic controls but it did not cause significant change of the peak Ca2+ current in CH myocytes. These results suggest an absence of forskolin-induced activation of Ca2+ current in hypertrophied ventricular myocytes during chronic hypoxia. The failure of activation of the Ca2+ current is consistent with the idea that adenylyl cyclase function is down-regulated in CH hypertrophied myocytes.     

Cytochrome c sorption-desorption effects on the external NADH oxidation by mitochondria: experimental and computational study

The rupture of the outer mitochondrial membrane is known to be critical for cell death, but the mechanism, specifically its redox-signaling aspects, still needs to be studied in more detail. In this work, the external NADH oxidation by rat liver mitochondria was studied under the outer membrane rupture induced by the mitochondria hypotonic treatment or the inner membrane permeability transition. The saturation of the oxidation rate was observed as a function of mitochondrial protein concentration. This effect was shown to result from cytochrome c binding to the mitochondrial membranes. At a relatively high concentration of mitochondria, the oxidation rate was strongly activated by 4 mm Mg(2+) due to cytochrome c desorption from the membranes. A minimal kinetic model was developed to explain the main phenomena of the external NADH oxidation modulated by cytochrome c and Mg(2+) in mitochondria with the ruptured outer membrane. The computational behavior of the model closely agreed with the experimental data. We suggest that the redox state of the released cytochrome c, considered by other authors to be important for apoptosis, may strongly depend on its oxidation by the fraction of mitochondria with the ruptured outer membrane and on the cytoplasmic cytochrome c reductase activity.     

Cell surface targeting and clustering interactions between heterologously expressed PSD-95 and the Shal voltage-gated potassium channel, Kv4.2

Kv4.2 is a voltage-gated potassium channel that is critical in controlling the excitability of myocytes and neurons. Processes that influence trafficking and surface distribution patterns of Kv4.2 will affect its ability to contribute to cellular functions. The scaffolding/clustering protein PSD-95 regulates trafficking and distribution of several receptors and Shaker family Kv channels. We therefore investigated whether the C-terminal valine-serine-alanine-leucine (VSAL) of Kv4.2 is a novel binding motif for PSD-95. By using co-immunoprecipitation assays, we determined that full-length Kv4.2 and PSD-95 interact when co-expressed in mammalian cell lines. Mutation analysis in this heterologous expression system showed that the VSAL motif of Kv4.2 is necessary for PSD-95 binding. PSD-95 increased the surface expression of Kv4.2 protein and caused it to cluster, as shown by deconvolution microscopy and biotinylation assays. Deleting the C-terminal VSAL motif of Kv4.2 eliminated these effects, as did substituting a palmitoylation-deficient PSD-95 mutant. In addition to these effects of PSD-95 on Kv4.2 distribution, the channel itself promoted redistribution of PSD-95 to the cell surface in the heterologous expression system. This work represents the first evidence that a member of the Shal subfamily of Kv channels can bind to PSD-95, with functional consequences.     

Levels of circumsporozoite protein in the Plasmodium oocyst determine sporozoite morphology

The sporozoite stage of the Plasmodium parasite is formed by budding from a multinucleate oocyst in the mosquito midgut. During their life, sporozoites must infect the salivary glands of the mosquito vector and the liver of the mammalian host; both events depend on the major sporozoite surface protein, the circumsporozoite protein (CS). We previously reported that Plasmodium berghei oocysts in which the CS gene is inactivated do not form sporozoites. Here, we analyzed the ultrastructure of P.berghei oocyst differentiation in the wild type, recombinants that do not produce or produce reduced amounts of CS, and corresponding complemented clones. The results indicate that CS is essential for establishing polarity in the oocyst. The amounts of CS protein correlate with the extent of development of the inner membranes and associated microtubules underneath the oocyst outer membrane, which normally demarcate focal budding sites. This is a first example of a protein controlling both morphogenesis and infectivity of a parasite stage.     

Potassium-controlled synthesis of heterotopic macrocycles based on isothiosemicarbazide

The macrocyclisation reaction of 3,3′-(3,6-dioxaoctane-1,8-diyldioxy)-bis(2-hydroxybenzaldehyde) (1) with S-methylisothiosemicarbazide hydroiodide (H₂NNC(SCH₃)NH₂·HI) in the presence of potassium triflate, followed by addition of M(CH₃COO)₂·nH₂O, where M=Ni, Cu, Zn, afforded [NiLKI₃] (2), [NiLK(CF₃SO₃)] (3), [CuLK(CF₃SO₃)(CH₃OH)] (4) and [(ZnILK)₂CH₃OH] (5), respectively. Compounds 2-5 have been characterised by X-ray crystallography. IR, electronic, mass, ¹H, ¹³C{¹H} and ¹⁹F{¹H} NMR spectra are reported. Magnetic susceptibility measurements and ESR spectra of 4 indicate weak intermolecular spin-spin interactions, which are mostly dipolar in origin.     

The secE gene of Helicobacter pylori

Despite extensive annotation by two independent teams, the Helicobacter pylori genome appeared to lack a complete secretion machinery. The use of clinical isolates to substantiate in silico annotation is used here to identify the missing secE component of the major secretion machinery of Helicobacter pylori.