Structure elucidation of the O-antigenic polysaccharide from the enteroaggregative Escherichia coli strain 62D1.

The O-antigen polysaccharide of the lipopolysaccharide from the enteroaggregative Escherichia coli strain 62D1 has been determined. Sugar and methylation analysis together with 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy revealed the components of the repeating unit. Two-dimensional NOESY and heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation experiments were used to deduce the sequence. 1H and 13C NMR spectra indicate heterogeneity in the polysaccharide. Methylation analysis and 1H NMR spectra of native and Smith-degraded material show that the majority (65%) of the repeating units has the following structure: Minor resonances in the NMR spectra are consistent with the presence of repeating units which lack the alpha-d-Galp terminal residue (35%).     

The phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase of Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi epimastigotes: molecular, kinetic, and regulatory properties

The phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (ATP:oxaloacetate carboxy-lyase (transphosphorylating), EC 4.1.1.49) of the epimastigote form of Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi has been purified to homogeneity. The enzyme is composed of two apparently identical 42,000 +/- 500 subunits, is highly specific for adenine nucleotides, and has a strict requirement of Mn2+ ions for activity; the activation of the enzyme by ionic Mn2+ reveals that one Mn2+ ion required for each 42,000 subunit. Hyperbolic kinetics are observed for all substrates in the carboxylation reaction with Km (phosphoenolpyruvate) of 0.36 +/- 0.08 mM, Km (HCO-3) of 3.7 +/- 0.2 mM, and Km (Mg-ADP) of 39 +/- 1 microM. In the decarboxylation reaction the kinetics with respect to oxalacetic acid are also hyperbolic with a Km of 27 +/- 3 microM, but towards Mg-ATP there is a biphasic response: hyperbolic at low (less than 250 microM) concentrations with a Km of 39 +/- 1 microM, but at higher concentrations the nucleotide produces a strong inhibition of the enzyme activity. This inhibition is also observed with Mg-GTP and Mg-ITP which are not substrates of the reaction. The results are consistent with an important regulatory function of the enzyme in the amino-acid catabolism of T. cruzi.     

8-[3H]Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin binding sites in goldfish retina

The binding sites of 8-[³H]hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin ([³H]DPAT) were characterized in the retina of goldfish in order to evaluate the selectivity of the ligand for serotonin_1A (5HT_1A) receptors. Specificity of the binding was performed in the presence of serotonergic and dopaminergic agonists and antagonists. Buspirone, spriroxatrine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine were potent inhibitors, followed by propranolol, citalopram, imipramine and desipramine. Serotonin was not a potent inhibitor, and its interaction with the binding sites of [³H]DPAT was complex. Nomifensine displayed an important inhibition, however, other dopamine uptake blockers, such as bupropion and GBR-12909, were less potent. Haloperidol was also a good inhibitor, but the D₁ receptor agonist, SKF-38393, the D₂ receptor antagonist, sulpiride, and dopamine did not inhibit the binding. GppNHp inhibited the binding in the micromolar range. The analysis of saturation experiments by isotopic dilution, using buspirone to determine nonspecific binding, revealed two sites. The number of binding sites defined by buspirone were higher than the ones defined by nomifesine. The specific binding, using buspirone for definition, was reduced by the intraocular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine. This investigation demonstrates that [³H]DPAT labels 5HT_1A receptors in goldfish retina, but also interacts with a non-5HT receptor site. These receptors seem to be localized in dopaminergic neurons.     

Cholinergic receptors and catecholamine secretion from adrenal chromaffin cells of the toad.

1. The effects of cholinergic drugs on catecholamine (CA) secretion from adrenal chromaffin tissue of the toad were studied. 2. CA secretion was induced by ACh or nicotine, but not by muscarine. 3. Hexamethonium inhibited the CA release evoked by ACh or nicotine, while d-tubocurarine only affected the nicotinic response. Atropine did not prevent the secretory response. 4. Muscarine abolished the secretion induced by the agonists, this effect being prevented by atropine or gallamine, but not by pirenzepine. 5. In conclusion, CA secretion in the toad is stimulated by activation of nicotinic receptors. Inhibitory muscarinic receptors are present, most likely of type M2, which may play a regulatory function.     

Innate immunity orchestrates the mobilization and homing of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells by engaging purinergic signaling—an update

Purinergic Signalling - Bone marrow (BM) as an active hematopoietic organ is highly sensitive to changes in body microenvironments and responds to external physical stimuli from the surrounding...     

The Deubiquitinating Enzyme AMSH1 and the ESCRT-III Subunit VPS2.1 Are Required for Autophagic Degradation in Arabidopsis

In eukaryotes, posttranslational modification by ubiquitin regulates the activity and stability of many proteins and thus influences a variety of developmental processes as well as environmental responses. Ubiquitination also plays a critical role in intracellular trafficking by serving as a signal for endocytosis. We have previously shown that the Arabidopsis thaliana ASSOCIATED MOLECULE WITH THE SH3 DOMAIN OF STAM3 (AMSH3) is a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) that interacts with ENDOSOMAL COMPLEX REQUIRED FOR TRANSPORT-III (ESCRT-III) and is essential for intracellular transport and vacuole biogenesis. However, physiological functions of AMSH3 in the context of its ESCRT-III interaction are not well understood due to the severe seedling lethal phenotype of its null mutant. In this article, we show that Arabidopsis AMSH1, an AMSH3-related DUB, interacts with the ESCRT-III subunit VACUOLAR PROTEIN SORTING2.1 (VPS2.1) and that impairment of both AMSH1 and VPS2.1 causes early senescence and hypersensitivity to artificial carbon starvation in the dark similar to previously reported autophagy mutants. Consistent with this, both mutants accumulate autophagosome markers and accumulate less autophagic bodies in the vacuole. Taken together, our results demonstrate that AMSH1 and the ESCRT-III-subunit VPS2.1 are important for autophagic degradation and autophagy-mediated physiological processes.     

Experimental Evidence for American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) Susceptibility to Chytrid Fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis)

The emerging fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has been associated with global amphibian population declines and extinctions. American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) are widely reported to be a tolerant host and a carrier of Bd that spreads the pathogen to less tolerant hosts. Here, we examined whether bullfrogs raised from eggs to metamorphosis in outdoor mesocosms were susceptible to Bd. We experimentally exposed metamorphic juveniles to Bd in the laboratory and compared mortality rates of pathogen-exposed animals to controls (non-exposed) in two separate experiments; one using a Bd strain isolated from a Western toad and another using a strain isolated from an American bullfrog. We wanted to examine whether metamorphic bullfrogs were susceptible to either of these strains. We show that bullfrogs were susceptible to one strain of Bd and not the other. In both experiments, infection load detected in the skin decreased over time, suggesting that metamorphic bullfrogs from some populations may be inefficient long-term carriers of Bd.     

RNA secondary structure, an important bioinformatics tool to enhance multiple sequence alignment: a case study (Sordariomycetes, Fungi)

In a case study of fungi of the class Sordariomycetes, we evaluated the effect of multiple sequence alignment (MSA) on the reliability of the phylogenetic trees, topology and confidence of major phylogenetic clades. We compared two main approaches for constructing MSA based on (1) the knowledge of the secondary (2D) structure of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and (2) automatic construction of MSA by four alignment programs characterized by different algorithms and evaluation methods, CLUSTAL, MAFFT, MUSCLE, and SAM. In the primary fungal sequences of the two functional rRNA genes, the nuclear small and large ribosomal subunits (18 S and 28 S), we identified four and six, respectively, highly variable regions, which correspond mainly to hairpin loops in the 2D structure. These loops are often positioned in expansion segments, which are missing or are not completely developed in the Archaeal and Eubacterial kingdoms. Proper sorting of these sites was a key for constructing an accurate MSA. We utilized DNA sequences from 28 S as an example for one-gene analysis. Five different MSAs were created and analyzed with maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods. The phylogenies inferred from the alignments improved with 2D structure with identified homologous segments, and those constructed using the MAFFT alignment program, with all highly variable regions included, provided the most reliable phylograms with higher bootstrap support for the majority of clades. We illustrate and provide examples demonstrating that re-evaluating ambiguous positions in the consensus sequences using 2D structure and covariance is a promising means in order to improve the quality and reliability of sequence alignments.