Tracing paternal ancestry in mice, using the Y-linked, sex-determining locus, Sry

The molecular evolution of mammalian Y-linked DNA sequences is of special interest because of their unique mode of inheritance: most Y- linked sequences are clonally inherited from father to son. Here we investigate the use of Y-linked sequences for phylogenetic inference. We describe a comparative analysis of a 515-bp region from the male sex- determining locus, Sry, in 22 murine rodents (subfamily Murinae, family Muridae), including representatives from nine species of Mus, and from two additional murine genera--Mastomys and Hylomyscus. Percent sequence divergence was < 0.01% for comparisons between populations within a species and was 0.19%-8.16% for comparisons between species. Our phylogenetic analysis of 12 murine taxa resulted in a single most- parsimonius tree that is highly concordant with phylogenies based on mitochondrial DNA and allozymes. A total evidence tree based on the combined data from Sry, mitochondrial DNA, and allozymes supports (1) the monophyly of the subgenus Mus, (2) its division into a Palearctic group (M. musculus, M. domesticus, M. spicilegus, M. Macedonicus, and M. spretus) and an Oriental group (M. cookii++, M. cervicolor, and M. caroli), and (3) sister-group relationships between M. spicilegus and M. macedonicus and between M. cookii and M. cervicolor. We argue that Y- chromosome DNA sequences represent a valuable new source of characters for phylogenetic inference.      

Le ionophore A23187

The acrosomic status of spermatozoa prepared for IVF has been evaluated by means of immunofluorescence test from Fenichel and Hsi using calcium A 23187 ionophore as inductor of acrosome reaction (AR). The spontaneous AR remains slight, even after 6 hour-incubation in Menezo B2 (6,8+2,7%). The response to ionophore, moderate before (11,2+9%), frankly increases after a 6h-capacitation (28,9+8,3%) in a group of 25 IVF couples (tubal indication, normal semen, positive fertilization). Nevertheless, it remains slight or null in 4 cases of unexplained repeated failure of fertilization. The response to ionophore A 23187 allows to explore the kinetics of capacitation of spermatozoa and their ability to perform AR. Its significance in terms of fecondance remains to be precised.     

Plant natural fragments,an innovative approach for drug discovery

Plant natural products (PNP) (e.g., secondary vegetal metabolites and their derivatives) have been a productive source of active ingredients for the pharmaceutical industry. The High Throughput Screening of Plant Natural Products (PNP-HTS) with extracts or isolated compounds has shown to be time consuming, expensive, and not as successful as expected. Recently building upon the innovative fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) a disruptive approach was developed based on PNP. The fragment approach involves elaboration and/or isolation of weakly binding small molecules with molecular weights between 150 and 250 Da. This method is fundamentally different from HTS in almost every aspect (i.e., size of the compound library, screening methods, and optimization steps from hit to lead). Due to their nature, vegetal natural fragments have unique three-dimensional (3D) properties, high Fsp³, low aromaticity, and large chemo-diversities which represent potential opportunities for developing novel drugs. Preliminary results using vegetal natural fragments appear to be a promising and emerging field which offers valuable prospects for developing new drugs.

     

One year of exercise training promotes distinct adaptations in right and left ventricle of female Sprague-Dawley rats

Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry - Aerobic exercise training induces a unique cardioprotective phenotype, but it is becoming clear that it does not promote the same structural, functional,...     

Behavioural and chemical mechanisms behind a Mediterranean ant–ant association

1. Interspecific competition among ants is common, and so is competitive exclusion among dominant ant species. In contrast, specific associations between non‐parasitic ant species are rare, especially in the temperate zones. As an exception, the subordinate ant Camponotus lateralis frequently co‐occurs with the dominant Crematogaster scutellaris but rarely with other dominant ants. 2. This association is one of various associations between Camponotus and Crematogaster species across the world. However, the mechanisms behind these co‐occurences are largely unknown. 3. In the present study, we therefore investigated the association of Ca. lateralis and Cr. scutellaris. We studied the spatial association of the nests, interspecific aggression, both species' cuticular hydrocarbon profiles, and their propensity to follow the other species' pheromone trails. 4. Crematogaster scutellaris usually attacked and displaced the generally submissive Ca. lateralis, but was significantly less aggressive at jointly used trails. Camponotus nests were always in close proximity to Crematogaster nests. 5. The cuticular hydrocarbons of both species consisted of alkanes with chain lengths between C21 and C35. The two species had 25 hydrocarbons in common, including mono‐, di‐, and tetramethyl alkanes. Despite this qualitative similarity, however, the quantitative hydrocarbon composition differed between the two species. 6. Camponotus lateralis followed artificial trails containing trail pheromones of Cr. scutellaris, but the latter did not follow Ca. lateralis trail pheromones. Interspecific trail‐following by Camponotus, but not vice versa, has been observed in another Camponotus–Crematogaster association and may be a more general mechanism that facilitates associations between the two ant genera.     

Protein extraction and comparison of stain protocols for analysis of two-dimensional electrophoresis gels

Protein extraction and the proteome of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus were studied using different stains. The reversible silver staining technique was shown to be more sensitive than the irreversible silver stain. Coomassie colloidal was demonstrated to be as sensitive as reversible silver stain; however, the Coomassie colloidal blue solution developed a higher background and for sample preparation was more time-consuming.     

Pancreatic hepatocytes in hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) infected with Trypanosoma cruzi

Hepatocytic metaplasia may be induced in hamsters by carcinogens, and associated with aging, diabetes or chronic pancreatitis. By means of histopathologic and immunohistochemic studies, we observed pancreatic hepatocytes in hamsters infected and reinfected with Trypanosoma cruzi. The change was seen in 18 (19%) out of 94 infected animals, and was not found among 53 controls, Normal islet cells were immunoreactive for neuron-specific enolase and not reactive for NCL-HAS. Metaplastic cells were immunoreactive for NCL-HAS and not reactive for islet hormones and enolase. No relationship was observed between number of inoculations and metaplasia; however, the intensity of the inflammatory process and sequels seems to favor the development of metaplastic cells. Hamsters infected with T. cruzi may be useful to study hepatocytic metaplasia, and contribute to clarify aspects of Chagas' disease and pancreatic changes. Our data indicate that aging, in addition to inflammation and atrophy, plays a role in this change.     

Iron Metallodrugs: Stability,Redox Activity and Toxicity against Artemia salina

Iron metallodrugs comprise mineral supplements, anti-hypertensive agents and, more recently, magnetic nanomaterials, with both therapeutic and diagnostic roles. As biologically-active metal compounds, concern has been raised regarding the impact of these compounds when emitted to the environment and associated ecotoxicological effects for the fauna. In this work we assessed the relative stability of several iron compounds (supplements based on glucoheptonate, dextran or glycinate, as well as 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyl (TMH) derivatives of ferrocene) against high affinity models of biological binding, calcein and aprotransferrin, via a fluorimetric method. Also, the redox-activity of each compound was determined in a physiologically relevant medium. Toxicity toward Artemia salina at different developmental stages was measured, as well as the amount of lipid peroxidation. Our results show that polymer-coated iron metallodrugs are stable, non-redox-active and non-toxic at the concentrations studied (up to 300 µM). However, TMH derivatives of ferrocene were less stable and more redox-active than the parent compound, and TMH-ferrocene displayed toxicity and lipid peroxidation to A. salina, unlike the other compounds. Our results indicate that iron metallodrugs based on polymer coating do not present direct toxicity at low levels of emission; however other iron species (eg. metallocenes), may be deleterious for aquatic organisms. We suggest that ecotoxicity depends more on metal speciation than on the total amount of metal present in the metallodrugs. Future studies with discarded metallodrugs should consider the chemical speciation of the metal present in the composition of the drug.     

Subsarcolemmal and intermyofibrillar mitochondria proteome differences disclose functional specializations in skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle is a highly specialized tissue that contains two distinct mitochondria subpopulations, the subsarcolemmal (SS) and the intermyofibrillar (IMF) mitochondria. Although it is established that these mitochondrial subpopulations differ functionally in several ways, limited information exists about the proteomic differences underlying these functional differences. Therefore, the objective of this study was to biochemically characterize the SS and IMF mitochondria isolated from rat red gastrocnemius skeletal muscle. We separated the two mitochondrial subpopulations from skeletal muscle using a refined method that provides an excellent division of these unique mitochondrial subpopulations. Using proteomics of mitochondria and its subfractions (intermembrane space, matrix and inner membrane), a total of 325 distinct proteins were identified, most of which belong to the functional clusters of oxidative phosphorylation, metabolism and signal transduction. Although more gel spots were observed in SS mitochondria, 38 of the identified proteins were differentially expressed between the SS and IMF subpopulations. Compared to the SS mitochondrial, IMF mitochondria expressed a higher level of proteins associated with oxidative phosphorylation. This observation, coupled with the finding of a higher respiratory chain complex activity in IMF mitochondria, suggests a specialization of IMF mitochondria toward energy production for contractile activity.