Highly repetitive sequences in B chromosomes of Secale cereale revealed by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

An analysis of the presence and distribution of the rye and wheat repeated sequences in rye B chromosomes was carried out by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Probes used consisted of three highly repetitive sequences from rye (pSc119.2, pSc74, and pSc34) and the multigene families for the 25S-5.8S-18S and 5S rDNA from wheat (pTa71 and pTa794, respectively). pSc74 and pSc119.2 showed hybridization signals in the telomeric regions of rye B chromosomes. The remaining DNA clones did not hybridize to the B chromosomes.     

Seagrass ecosystem multifunctionality under the rise of a flagship marine megaherbivore

Large grazers (megaherbivores) have a profound impact on ecosystem functioning. However, how ecosystem multifunctionality is affected by changes in megaherbivore populations remains poorly understood. Understanding the total impact on ecosystem multifunctionality requires an integrative ecosystem approach, which is especially challenging to obtain in marine systems. We assessed the effects of experimentally simulated grazing intensity scenarios on ecosystem functions and multifunctionality in a tropical Caribbean seagrass ecosystem. As a model, we selected a key marine megaherbivore, the green turtle, whose ecological role is rapidly unfolding in numerous foraging areas where populations are recovering through conservation after centuries of decline, with an increase in recorded overgrazing episodes. To quantify the effects, we employed a novel integrated index of seagrass ecosystem multifunctionality based upon multiple, well-recognized measures of seagrass ecosystem functions that reflect ecosystem services. Experiments revealed that intermediate turtle grazing resulted in the highest rates of nutrient cycling and carbon storage, while sediment stabilization, decomposition rates, epifauna richness, and fish biomass are highest in the absence of turtle grazing. In contrast, intense grazing resulted in disproportionally large effects on ecosystem functions and a collapse of multifunctionality. These results imply that (i) the return of a megaherbivore can exert strong effects on coastal ecosystem functions and multifunctionality, (ii) conservation efforts that are skewed toward megaherbivores, but ignore their key drivers like predators or habitat, will likely result in overgrazing-induced loss of multifunctionality, and (iii) the multifunctionality index shows great potential as a quantitative tool to assess ecosystem performance. Considerable and rapid alterations in megaherbivore abundance (both through extinction and conservation) cause an imbalance in ecosystem functioning and substantially alter or even compromise ecosystem services that help to negate global change effects. An integrative ecosystem approach in environmental management is urgently required to protect and enhance ecosystem multifunctionality.     

Schizophyllan (SPG)-treated macrophages and anti-tumor activities against syngeneic and allogeneic tumor cells

We tested anti-tumor activities of macrophages treated with a neutral polysaccharide, schizophyllan (SPG), against syngeneic and allogeneic tumor cell lines. SPG was a macrophage stimulant which was not mitogenic to lymphocytes. That made a sharp contrast with the data that Corynebacterium parvum, BCG, and muramyl dipeptide (MDF) were macrophage stimulants which had lymphocyte-activating properties. Treatment of SPG-treated PEC with Thy12 monoclonal antibody and guinea pig complement did not affect the capabilities of tumor-cell-growth suppression by the treated PEC. Thus, the effector cells were peritoneal adherent cells (macrophages morphologically) and effector-to-target contact seemed to be necessary for effective tumor-cell-growth inhibition, although contradictory data exist for this. Murine peritoneal adherent cells harvested 4 days after a single IP injection of SPG at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight of mouse showed the most prominent cytostatic and cytotoxic activities against syngeneic and allogeneic tumor cells. The distribution of anti-tumor activity in macrophages of various sizes followed the same pattern as macrophages treated with C. Parvum, i.e., larger macrophages showed more remarkable anti-tumor activity. Crude nonadherent peritoneal cells incubated with SPG at a concentration of 10 micrograms/ml, 100 micrograms/ml, or 1 mg/ml did not secrete lymphokine that rendered macrophages cytotoxic, while ConA-treated nonadherent cells did so. Furthermore, spleen cells treated with SPG in vivo did not secrete macrophage-activating lymphokine in the presence of SPG. On the other hand, addition of 1 mg/ml of SPG-treated peritoneal adherent cells and bone-marrow-derived macrophages in vitro rendered them cytotoxic to a moderate degree. This implies that SPG may activate macrophages directly, allowing them to become cytotoxic in the peritoneal cavity. Lastly, SPG could induce production of II-1-like factor to a moderate degree. SPG, whose molecular structure is well elucidated, will provide us with a strong tool to analyze the mechanism of macrophage activation both in vitro and in vivo.     

A study of the binding of Mn2+ to bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease I and to deoxyribonucleic acid by electron paramagnetic resonance.

EPR studies of Mn2+ binding to bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease I show that the enzyme can bind three Mn2+ ions at pH 7.5 and 2 degrees. Two sites bind Mn2+ strongly, with a Kd of 10(-4)M, and the third binds Mn2+ weakly, with a Kd of 10(-3)M. Ca2+ competes with the two strong sites, whereas Mg2+ competes only with one of them, indicating that both sites are not equivalent. Mn2+ binding to DNA has been confirmed by EPR measurements. Two types of sites, with different affinities for Mn2+ binding, were found on DNA molecules, one with a Kd of 1.2 times 10(-4)M and the other with a Kd of 10(-3)M. Mg2+ ions can displace Mn2+ from the high affinity sites, but not from the low affinity sites. These results suggest the Mn2+ binds not only to the phosphate groups, but also to the electron donor groups of the base rings.     

New insights into halophilic prokaryotes isolated from salting–ripening anchovies (Engraulis anchoita) process focused on histamine-degrading strains

Salted and ripened fish foods are susceptible to cause histamine poisoning. The present study focuses on microbial histamine degradation from high salted fermented fishery products to deepen our understanding about this new and growing field of research. As a result of this first study related to salted–ripened anchovies (Engraulis anchoita), fifty seven moderate and extreme halophilic microbial isolates from salt and salted–ripened anchovy processes were characterized in terms of their phenotype and histamine-degrading capacity. Only 7%—4 isolates—were able to degrade histamine. None of the histamine-degrading isolates presented proteolytic and/or lipolytic activity. One of them designated A18 was chemotactic toward histamine, an interesting property not previously reported for that chemoattractant. However, the S18 and A18 isolates, genotypically identified as Halobacterium sp. and Halomonas sp. respectively, produced indole and/or H₂S, both undesirable characteristics associated to off-flavors occurrence. On the other hand, A28 and S20, identified as Halovibrio sp. and Halobacterium sp. respectively, presented desirable properties, such as cytochrome oxidase and catalase activity, and non-production of H₂S and indole. These strains also showed characteristics previously reported as dominant in the ripened stage. The results are promising, and A28 and S20 may have the desirable features to improve the anchovy salting–ripening process.

     

Unbiased proteomic profiling of host cell extracellular vesicle composition and dynamics upon HIV‐1 infection

Cells release diverse types of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which transfer complex signals to surrounding cells. Specific markers to distinguish different EVs (e.g. exosomes, ectosomes, enveloped viruses like HIV) are still lacking. We have developed a proteomic profiling approach for characterizing EV subtype composition and applied it to human Jurkat T cells. We generated an interactive database to define groups of proteins with similar profiles, suggesting release in similar EVs. Biochemical validation confirmed the presence of preferred partners of commonly used exosome markers in EVs: CD81/ADAM10/ITGB1, and CD63/syntenin. We then compared EVs from control and HIV‐1‐infected cells. HIV infection altered EV profiles of several cellular proteins, including MOV10 and SPN, which became incorporated into HIV virions, and SERINC3, which was re‐routed to non‐viral EVs in a Nef‐dependent manner. Furthermore, we found that SERINC3 controls the surface composition of EVs. Our workflow provides an unbiased approach for identifying candidate markers and potential regulators of EV subtypes. It can be widely applied to in vitro experimental systems for investigating physiological or pathological modifications of EV release.     

Revising the Absolute Configurations of Coatlines via Density Functional Theory Calculations of Electronic Circular Dichroism Spectra

Coatline A ( 1 ) and α‐epi‐coatline A ( 4 ) co‐occur in the trunk extract of Andira coriacea. Inspection of their chiroptical properties led to intriguing results. After a careful examination of the experimental data used for the previously reported absolute configuration of these compounds, some uncertainties were identified. A combined theoretical approach including conformational analyses and calculation of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra, in addition with experimental data obtained for schoepfin A ( 5 ) and the new schoepfin D ( 6 ) isolated from Senna quinquangulata, allowed the revision of the absolute configuration of coatlines A ( 1 ) and B ( 2 ). Chirality 25:180–184, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) Domain Protein Endophilin B2 Interacts with Plectin and Controls Perinuclear Cytoskeletal Architecture

Proteins of the Bin/amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) domain superfamily are essential in controlling the shape and dynamics of intracellular membranes. Here, we present evidence for the unconventional function of a member of the endophilin family of BAR and Src homology 3 domain-containing proteins, namely endophilin B2, in the perinuclear organization of intermediate filaments. Using mass spectrometry analysis based on capturing endophilin B2 partners in in situ pre-established complexes in cells, we unravel the interaction of endophilin B2 with plectin 1, a variant of the cytoskeleton linker protein plectin as well as with vimentin. Endophilin B2 directly binds the N-terminal region of plectin 1 via Src homology 3-mediated interaction and vimentin indirectly via plectin-mediated interaction. The relevance of these interactions is strengthened by the selective and drastic reorganization of vimentin around nuclei upon overexpression of endophilin B2 and by the extensive colocalization of both proteins in a meshwork of perinuclear filamentous structures. By generating mutants of the endophilin B2 BAR domain, we show that this phenotype requires the BAR-mediated membrane binding activity of endophilin B2. Plectin 1 or endophilin B2 knockdown using RNA interference disturbed the perinuclear organization of vimentin. Altogether, these data suggest that the endophilin B2-plectin 1 complex functions as a membrane-anchoring device organizing and stabilizing the perinuclear network of vimentin filaments. Finally, we present evidence for the involvement of endophilin B2 and plectin 1 in nuclear positioning in individual cells. This points to the potential importance of the endophilin B2-plectin complex in the biological functions depending on nuclear migration and positioning.