Transcriptional regulation of the antioxidant protein 2 gene, a thiol-specific antioxidant, by lens epithelium-derived growth factor to protect cells from oxidative stress.

Antioxidant protein 2 (AOP2), a member of the newly defined family of thiol-specific antioxidant proteins, has been shown to remove H(2)O(2) and protect proteins and DNA from oxidative stress. Here we report that LEDGF is one of the regulatory factors for the AOP2 gene. We found that LEDGF bound to the heat shock element and to stress-related elements in the AOP2 promoter. It trans-activated expression of AOP2-CAT in COS-7 cells and lens epithelial cells overexpressing LEDGF. Mutations in the heat shock element and stress-related elements of the AOP2 promoter reduced LEDGF-dependent trans-activation. Lens epithelial cells showed a higher level of AOP2 mRNA in the presence of LEDGF. Cells overexpressing LEDGF exhibited a higher level of AOP2 protein, the level of which was directly related to the increase in cellular protection. Thus, LEDGF, by activating the AOP2 gene, protected and enhanced the survival of cells under oxidative stress.     

Time of day effect on balance performance,functional capacities and risk of fall in women with rheumatoid arthritis

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study explored the time of day effect of balance performance, functional capacities and risk of fall in three different times in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the association between these variations and those of RA symptoms.

Methods: A “discontinual” protocol, composed of three test sessions, carried out at 6 am, 2 pm and 10 pm was set up, in order to investigate the time of day effect of balance performance, functional capacities, risk of fall, stiffness, range of motion, swollen and painful joints in women with RA.

Results: Time Up and Go Test (TUGT), Functional Reach Test (FRT) and tinetti test scores were significantly higher (p < .01) at 6 am and at 10 pm compared to 2 pm. Stiffness, range of motion, swollen and painful joints values were significantly higher (p < .01) at 6 am and at 10 pm compared to 2 pm. A significant difference was observed on the stiffness, range of motion and swollen joints values between 6 am and 10 pm that were higher at 6 am (p < .05).

Using Pearson’s coefficient, correlations were found between RA symptom values; and TUGT, FRT and Tinetti test scores.

Conclusion: Results showed a time of day effect of balance performance, functional capacities and risk of falls in women with RA. This variation indicates an alteration of performance at 6 am and 10 pm. Fluctuations of stiffness, limited range of motion, swollen and painful joints noted are concomitant to those of balance performance, functional capacities, and risk of fall.

Abbreviations: RA: rheumatoid arthritis; H&O questionnaire: Horne and Ostberg questionnaire; PSQI: Pittsburgh sleep quality index; HAQ: health assessment questionnaire; SF-36: the short form-36; WOMAC: Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index; TUGT: Time Up and Go Test; FRT: Functional Reach Test     

Differential accumulation of four phaseolin glycoforms in transgenic tobacco

An intron-less phaseolin gene [15] was used to express phaseolin polypeptides in transgenic tobacco plants. The corresponding amounts of phaseolin immunoreactive polypeptides and mRNA were similar to those found in plants transformed with a bean genomic DNA sequence that encodes an identical -phaseolin subunit. These results justified the use of the intron-less gene for engineering of the phaseolin protein by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. Each and both of the two Asn residues that serve as glycan acceptors in wild-type phaseolin were modified to prevent N-linked glycosylation. Wild-type (wt^i–) and mutant phaseolin glycoforms (dgly ₁, dgly ₂ and dgly _1,2) were localized to the protein body matrix by immunogold microscopy. Although quantitative slot-blot hybridization analysis showed similar levels of phaseolin mRNA in transgenic seed derived from all constructs, seed from the dgly ₁ and dgly ₂ mutations contained only 41% and 73% of that expressed from the wild-type control; even less (23%) was present in seed of plants transformed with the phaseolin dgly _1,2 gene. Additionally, the profile of 25–29 kDa processed peptides was different for each of the glycoforms, indicating that processing of the full-length phaseolin polypeptides was modified. Thus, although targeting of phaseolin to the protein body was not eliminated by removal of the glycan side-chains, decreased accumulation and stability of the full-length phaseolin protein in transgenic tobacco seed were evident.Abbreviations bp base pair(s) - DAF days after flowering - GUS -glucuronidase - kb kilobase - kDa kilodalton     

The expected changes in the frequency of alleles affecting the sex ratio

An equation is derived giving the changes per generation in the frequency of alleles affecting the sex ratio. The alleles considered are assumed to be those of an autosomal locus and to act only in one sex. The results indicate that alleles determining the production of more males should always be more common in males than in females.     

Meiotic behavior of an unequal bivalent in the grasshopper Calliptamus palaestinensis Bdhr.

Summary Unequal bivalents were found in two of four populations of the short horned grasshopper, Calliptamus palaestinensis bdhr. sampled in Israel.The inequality of the homologues was due to an extra segment which was heterochromatic and apparently terminal. Pairing configurations at pachytene and position of chiasmata at later stages revealed however that the extra segment was interstitial, and the long member terminated in a minute segment homologous to the terminal part of its normal partner. The percentage of reductional divisions at anaphase I corresponded well with the percentage of terminal chiasmata (i.e. distal to the extra segment) observed at diakinesis.The assumption of an interstitial position of the extra segment would explain the previously puzzling examples of unequal bivalents in Orthoptera whose reductional divisions have not been readily accounted for otherwise.     

The protective effect of arbutin against potassium bromate-induced oxidative damage in the rat brain

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of arbutin (ARB) against brain injury induced in rats with potassium bromate (KBrO₃). The rats were divided into four groups as Group 1: Control (0.9% NaCl ml/kg/day p.), Group 2: KBrO₃ (100 mg/kg (gavage), Group 3: ARB (50 mg/kg/day p.), and Group 4: KBrO₃ + ARB (100 mg/kg (gavage) + 50 mg/kg/day p.). At the end of the fifth day of the study, the rats in all groups were killed, and their brain tissues were collected. In the collected brain tissues, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) levels were measured, and routine histopathological examinations were made. The MDA levels in the group that was exposed to KBrO₃ were significantly higher than those in the control group (p ˂ 0.001). In comparison to the KBrO₃ group, the MDA levels in the KBrO₃ + ARB group were significantly lower (p ˂ 0.001). It was observed that SOD and CAT enzyme activity levels were significantly lower in the KBrO₃ group compared to the control group (p ˂ 0.001), while these levels were significantly higher in the KBrO₃ + ARB group than in the KBrO₃ group (p ˂ 0.001). Additionally, the group that was subjected to KBrO₃ toxicity, as well as ARB administration, had much lower levels of histopathologic signs than the group that was subjected to KBrO₃ toxicity only. Consequently, it was found that KBrO₃ exposure led to injury in the brain tissues of the rats, and using ARB was effective in preventing this injury.     

THE CONSEQUENCES OF BROOD SIZE FOR BREEDING BLUE TITS. III. MEASURING THE COST OF REPRODUCTION: SURVIVAL,FUTURE FECUNDITY,AND DIFFERENTIAL DISPERSAL

To determine how the cost of reproduction varies with brood size, a population of blue tits (Parus caeruleus) breeding in Wytham Wood, England, was manipulated over a three year period. Two hundred sixteen pairs were randomly assigned 3, 6, 9, 12, or 15 nestlings; nestlings were exchanged soon after hatching. Survival of adult females (as measured by the proportion recaptured in the following winter and/or spring) declined significantly with increasing brood size in two out of three years; there was significant year-to-year variation in the relationship of recapture rate to brood size. Mean female recapture rates (averaged over the three years) declined in a linear fashion (P < 0.01). There was no significant linear or curvilinear relationship between male-recapture rate and brood size in any of the three years nor was there a significant linear or curvilinear relationship for the data averaged over the three years. Nevertheless, recapture proportions for males differed significantly with respect to brood size (χ² test, P < 0.05). The possibility that experimental brood size influences subsequent dispersal (and therefore biases measures of survival based on recapture rates to differing degrees) was examined by comparing distances moved by breeding adults from one year to the next. There was no relationship between brood size and dispersal distance within the study area for either sex, except that females given broods of three were significantly more likely to move more than 300 m than were those given broods of 6–15 young. Both males and females showed evidence of a cost with respect to future fecundity: as brood size increased, the number of surviving offspring produced in the following year decreased from 1.5–1.6 (for adults that had reared 3–6 young) to 0.4 (for those that had reared 15 young). The relationship of future reproductive success to experimental brood size did not differ among years or between the sexes. The number of eggs laid and number of young hatched in year n + 1 did not differ significantly with respect to brood size in year n; rather, differences in future fecundity reflected differences in the survival prospects of young reared in year n + 1.     

Aerotaxis and chemotaxis ofAzospirillum brasilense: A note

Azospirillum brasilense was attracted to capillaries containing either phosphate buffer, distilled water, or saline. The number of bacteria in these capillaries was 3–4×10⁴, after 1 h of incubation. In the presence of phosphate buffer + attractants, the number of cells accumulated in the capillary increased only to 5×10⁴–1.1×10⁵ cells. It was not possible, therefore, to measure chemotaxis inA. brasilense as distinct from aerotaxis by the capillary method. Chemotaxis was observed in semi-solid agar plates and was determined by a growth band oriented towards the attractant. Positive chemotactic response was obtained with peptone, tryptone, yeast extract, amino acids, organic acids, arabinose and galactose.     

Survival of Curvularia lunata var. aeria in soil

Spore suspensions from 7 day old cultures of Curvularia lunata (Wakker) Boedijn var. aeria (Batista, Lima and Vasconcelos) M.B. Ellis were added to soil samples originally devoid of Curvularia propagules. The test fungus disappeared after six weeks of inoculation irrespective of soil amendments, like the application of green manure, urea, superphosphate, or soil cropped to Sorghum (dura) or cotton seedlings.     

LEDGF binds to heat shock and stress-related element to activate the expression of stress-related genes

We have investigated the mechanism by which LEDGF protects cells against environmental stress. Our earlier report showed that a low level of LEDGF was present in the nucleus of most cell types and significant elevation of LEDGF level was induced by heat and oxidative stress. The cells overexpressing LEDGF-activated expression of heat shock proteins and enhanced survival of many cell types. Here we show that LEDGF binds to heat shock element (HSE) and stress-related regulatory element (STRE) to activate the expression of stress-related genes (Hsp27 and alphaB-crystallin). Apparently, HSE and STRE are present in promoters of many stress-related genes. Elevation of many stress-related proteins (STRPs) induced by LEDGF may protect cells against environmental stress. In yeast, it has been demonstrated that a single stress can activate the expression of multiple STRPs. This is known as "cross-protection," and now similar mechanism has been found in mammalian cells and LEDGF plays a vital role in it.