Circadian rhythm of airways caliber and its autonomic modulation

ABSTRACT

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is one of the effector pathways for circadian variation of many physiological parameters. Autonomic tone and airways caliber have been reported to exhibit circadian variation in separate studies. A simultaneous investigation of heart rate variability (HRV) and airway caliber might ascertain how airway caliber is modulated by autonomic tone. This study was planned to identify the variations in airway caliber and autonomic function tone during a 24-hour span. A total of 56 healthy male subjects with almost similar daily routines were studied. Time domain, frequency domain and nonlinear analysis of R-R interval from 5 min electrocardiogram (ECG) was done seven times during the daytime wake span at 3-hour intervals starting at 05:00 h in the morning until 23:00 h in the night. Simultaneously peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was determined using a mini Wright’s peak flow meter. Rhythmometric analysis was done for PEFR and HRV parameters. Significant circadian variation in low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) variance was identified in this group of healthy subjects. The circadian rhythm of LF variance was characterized by a gradual increase and corresponding reciprocal change in HF variance from morning until night. The LF/HF ratio and SD2/SD1 ratio reflecting sympatho-vagal balance showed low to high values from morning to evening. The acrophase of the PEFR temporal pattern is similar to that of LF power and almost opposite in phase to that of HF power. PEFR is positively correlated with LF power. The circadian rhythm of airway caliber co-varies with cardiac autonomic tone. It appears that the temporal pattern of cardiac autonomic tone precedes in time that of airways caliber, thereby suggesting the latter operates under the modulatory effect of the 24-hour pattern in sympatho-vagal balance.     

Topological and phenomenological classification of bursting oscillations

We describe a classification scheme for bursting oscillations which encompasses many of those found in the literature on bursting in excitable media. This is an extension of the scheme of Rinzel (inMathematical Topics in Population Biology, Springer, Berlin, 1987), put in the context of a sequence of horizontal cuts through a two-parameter bifurcation diagram. We use this to describe the phenomenological character of different types of bursting, addressing the issue of how well the bursting can be characterized given the limited amount of information often available in experimental settings.     

The Nck-interacting kinase NIK increases Arp2/3 complex activity by phosphorylating the Arp2 subunit

The nucleating activity of the Arp2/3 complex promotes the assembly of branched actin filaments that drive plasma membrane protrusion in migrating cells. Arp2/3 complex binding to nucleation-promoting factors of the WASP and WAVE families was previously thought to be sufficient to increase nucleating activity. However, phosphorylation of the Arp2 subunit was recently shown to be necessary for Arp2/3 complex activity. We show in mammary carcinoma cells that mutant Arp2 lacking phosphorylation assembled with endogenous subunits and dominantly suppressed actin filament assembly and membrane protrusion. We also report that Nck-interacting kinase (NIK), a MAP4K4, binds and directly phosphorylates the Arp2 subunit, which increases the nucleating activity of the Arp2/3 complex. In cells, NIK kinase activity was necessary for increased Arp2 phosphorylation and plasma membrane protrusion in response to epidermal growth factor. NIK is the first kinase shown to phosphorylate and increase the activity of the Arp2/3 complex, and our findings suggest that it integrates growth factor regulation of actin filament dynamics.     

Cloning and characterization of thermotolerant xylitol dehydrogenases from yeast Pichia angusta

Pichia angusta (syn. Hansenula polymorpha) represents one of the rare yeast that can grow and ferment both xylose and glucose at higher temperature (50°C). However, little is known about the enzymes involved in xylose utilization from this species. Previous studies indicated the presence of one xylose reductase and two xylitol dehydrogenase genes in P. angusta. In this study, we have expressed both xylitol dehydrogenases (PaXdh1p and PaXdh2p) in Escherichia coli and purified them as 6X-Histidine-tagged proteins. Biochemical characterization of the recombinant proteins reveals that both PaXdh1p and PaXdh2p are thermotolerant enzymes. PaXdh2p contains a catalytic and a structural Zn atom. However, the structural Zn atom is not present in PaXdh1p. Both enzymes also differ in their affinity for the substrate as well as in the catalytic efficiency. Through mutagenesis and modeling approaches, we have also identified residues important for catalysis and substrate binding.     

Identification of a Live Attenuated Vaccine Candidate for Tularemia Prophylaxis

Francisella tularensis is the causative agent of a fatal human disease, tularemia. F. tularensis was used in bioweapon programs in the past and is now classified as a category A select agent owing to its possible use in bioterror attacks. Despite over a century since its discovery, an effective vaccine is yet to be developed. In this study four transposon insertion mutants of F. tularensis live vaccine strain (LVS) in Na/H antiporter (FTL_0304), aromatic amino acid transporter (FTL_0291), outer membrane protein A (OmpA)-like family protein (FTL_0325) and a conserved hypothetical membrane protein gene (FTL_0057) were evaluated for their attenuation and protective efficacy against F. tularensis SchuS4 strain. All four mutants were 100–1000 fold attenuated for virulence in mice than parental F. tularensis. Except for the FTL_0304, single intranasal immunization with the other three mutants provided 100% protection in BALB/c mice against intranasal challenge with virulent F. tularensis SchuS4. Differences in the protective ability of the FTL_0325 and FTL_0304 mutant which failed to provide protection against SchuS4 were investigated further. The results indicated that an early pro-inflammatory response and persistence in host tissues established a protective immunity against F. tularensis SchuS4 in the FTL_0325 immunized mice. No differences were observed in the levels of serum IgG antibodies amongst the two vaccinated groups. Recall response studies demonstrated that splenocytes from the FTL_0325 mutant immunized mice induced significantly higher levels of IFN-γ and IL-17 cytokines than the FTL_0304 immunized counterparts indicating development of an effective memory response. Collectively, this study demonstrates that persistence of the vaccine strain together with its ability to induce an early pro-inflammatory innate immune response and strong memory responses can discriminate between successful and failed vaccinations against tularemia. This study describes a live attenuated vaccine which may prove to be an ideal vaccine candidate for prevention of respiratory tularemia.     

Molecular cloning, characterization, and engineering of xylitol dehydrogenase from Debaryomyces hansenii

Because of its natural ability to utilize both xylose and arabinose, the halotolerant and osmotolerant yeast Debaryomyces hansenii is considered as a potential microbial platform for exploiting lignocellulosic biomass. To gain better understanding of the xylose metabolism in D. hansenii, we have cloned and characterized a xylitol dehydrogenase gene (DhXDH). The cloned gene appeared to be essential for xylose metabolism in D. hansenii as the deletion of this gene abolished the growth of the cells on xylose. The expression of DhXDH was strongly upregulated in the presence of xylose. Recombinant DhXdhp was expressed and purified from Escherichia coli. DhXdhp was highly active against xylitol and sorbitol as substrate. Our results showed that DhXdhp was thermo-sensitive, and except this, its biochemical properties were quite comparable with XDH from other yeast species. Furthermore, to make this enzyme suitable for metabolic engineering of D. hansenii, we have improved its thermotolerance and modified cofactor requirement through modelling and mutagenesis approach.     

Acetate and Bicarbonate Assimilation and Metabolite Formation in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: A 13C-NMR Study

Cellular metabolite analyses by ¹³C-NMR showed that C. reinhardtii cells assimilate acetate at a faster rate in heterotrophy than in mixotrophy. While heterotrophic cells produced bicarbonate and CO₂ ^aq, mixotrophy cells produced bicarbonate alone as predominant metabolite. Experiments with singly ¹³C-labelled acetate (¹³CH₃-COOH or CH₃-¹³COOH) supported that both the ¹³C nuclei give rise to bicarbonate and CO₂ ^aq. The observed metabolite(s) upon further incubation led to the production of starch and triacylglycerol (TAG) in mixotrophy, whereas in heterotrophy the TAG production was minimal with substantial accumulation of glycerol and starch. Prolonged incubation up to eight days, without the addition of fresh acetate, led to an increased TAG production at the expense of bicarbonate, akin to that of nitrogen-starvation. However, such TAG production was substantially high in mixotrophy as compared to that in heterotrophy. Addition of mitochondrial un-coupler blocked the formation of bicarbonate and CO₂ ^aq in heterotrophic cells, even though acetate uptake ensued. Addition of PSII-inhibitor to mixotrophic cells resulted in partial conversion of bicarbonate into CO₂ ^aq, which were found to be in equilibrium. In an independent experiment, we have monitored assimilation of bicarbonate via photoautotrophy and found that the cells indeed produce starch and TAG at a much faster rate as compared to that in mixotrophy and heterotrophy. Further, we noticed that the accumulation of starch is relatively more as compared to TAG. Based on these observations, we suggest that acetate assimilation in C. reinhardtii does not directly lead to TAG formation but via bicarbonate/CO₂ ^aq pathways. Photoautotrophic mode is found to be the best growth condition for the production of starch and TAG and starch in C. reinhardtii.     

Automated counting of mammalian cell colonies by means of a flat bed scanner and image processing.

BACKGROUND: Clonogenic assays are used frequently to measure the cell killing and mutagenic effects of radiation and other agents. Clonogenic assays carried out manually are tedious and time-consuming and involve a significant element of subjectivity. However, several commercial automatic colony counters are available. Based on CCD video imaging and image analysis they are relatively expensive and can analyze only one petri dish at a time. METHOD: We have developed a cheaper and more efficient device, which employs a flat bed scanner to image 12 60-mm petri dishes at a time. Two major problems in automated colony counting are the clustering of colonies and edge effects. By using standard image analysis and implementing an inflection point algorithm, these problems were greatly diminished. The resulting system was compared with two manual colony counts, as well as with automated counts with the Oxford Optronix ColCount colony counter for cell lines V79 and HaCaT. RESULTS: Comparisons assuming the manual counts to be correct showed that our automatic counter was slightly more accurate than the commercial unit. CONCLUSIONS: As a whole, our automated colony counter performed significantly better than the commercial unit with regard to processing time, cost and accuracy.     

Genomics of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); Exploring the SNPs of Protease-Antiprotease Pathway

The COPD has been an important respiratory condition that affects people worldwide and its incidence has been alarming. The increasing incidence of this disorder has been attributed to global industrialization and environmental pollution. Although the exposures to environmental pollutants and smoking have been important triggers, the genetic component of individuals has been shown to be important for development and progression of COPD. Recent literature reported that protease-antiprotease imbalance to be important in etiopathogenesis of COPD. The enzymes namely neutrophil elastase and matrix metalloprotienases are considered to be foremost proteolytic molecules released by neutrophils and macrophages during inflammatory events in COPD. Normally, the lungs remain protected from the destructive effect of these two antiproteases by α₁-antitrypsin (α₁AT) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) respectively. In this review, we are trying to highlight the work by various research groups in exploring the SNPs of various genes of inflammatory pathways and the protease-antiprotease pathway, which may have some degree of association with COPD.