Bronchodilating properties of the prostaglandin F2β in the guinea pig and cat

The bronchodilating properties of PGF_2β (a stereo-isomer of the naturally occurring bronchoconstrictor (PGF_2α) are described in the guinea pig and cat. The possible physiologic implications of this finding are discussed.     

Effects of stress on human mating preferences: stressed individuals prefer dissimilar mates

Although humans usually prefer mates that resemble themselves, mating preferences can vary with context. Stress has been shown to alter mating preferences in animals, but the effects of stress on human mating preferences are unknown. Here, we investigated whether stress alters men''s preference for self-resembling mates. Participants first underwent a cold-pressor test (stress induction) or a control procedure. Then, participants viewed either neutral pictures or pictures of erotic female nudes whose facial characteristics were computer-modified to resemble either the participant or another participant, or were not modified, while startle eyeblink responses were elicited by noise probes. Erotic pictures were rated as being pleasant, and reduced startle magnitude compared with neutral pictures. In the control group, startle magnitude was smaller during foreground presentation of photographs of self-resembling female nudes compared with other-resembling female nudes and non-manipulated female nudes, indicating a higher approach motivation to self-resembling mates. In the stress group, startle magnitude was larger during foreground presentation of self-resembling female nudes compared with other-resembling female nudes and non-manipulated female nudes, indicating a higher approach motivation to dissimilar mates. Our findings show that stress affects human mating preferences: unstressed individuals showed the expected preference for similar mates, but stressed individuals seem to prefer dissimilar mates.     

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-specific glutamate dehydrogenase of Neurospora. III. Inactivation by nitration of a tyrosine residue involved in coenzyme binding.

Neurospora glutamate dehydrogenase (NADP-specific) is rapidly inactivated upon reaction with tetranitromethane. This inactivation is completely prevented by the presence of coenzyme (NADP) or nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) but not by substrate. NADH, or 2'-monophosphoadenosine-5'-diphosphoribose. Amino acid analysis indicates that the primary effect of modification is nitration of a single residue of tyrosine per polypeptide chain. We have identified the reactive tyrosine by isolation of a single, uniquely labeled peptide after hydrolysis with trypsin followed by cleavage with cyanogen bromide. The modified residue proved to be tyrosine-168 in the linear sequence. This residue is not present in the part of the sequence that had been previously implicated as involved in the binding of the adenylate portion of the coenzyme. Both NMN and 2-monophosphoadenosine-5'-diphosphoribose act as competitive inhibitors of NADP in the oxidation of glutamate with Ki values of 4.65 x 10(-4) M and 4.30 x 10(-4) M, respectively. Thus, the specific protection afforded by NADP and NMN, but not by 2'-monophosphoadenosine-5'-diphosphoribose, indicates that tyrosine-168 is involved in binding the nicotinamide portion of the coenzyme.     

Binding of Cerebratulus cytolysin A-III to human erythrocyte membranes

Binding of Cerebratulus lacteus cytolysin A-III to intact human erythrocytes and erythrocyte membranes has been investigated. Binding to ghosts is essentially complete within 2.5 min of mixing which is slightly faster than the rate of hemolysis measured with intact cells. Approximately 4 X 10(4) binding sites per cell, exhibiting a K 0.5 of 0.7 microM exist; this compares with 50% hematocrit of about 0.3 microM for A-III. Binding is absent in ghosts extracted with Nonidet P-40, but is unaffected by pretreatment of ghosts with either trypsin or elastase.     

Ezrin/Radixin/Moesin Are Required for the Purinergic P2X7 Receptor (P2X7R)-dependent Processing of the Amyloid Precursor Protein

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) can be cleaved by α-secretases in neural cells to produce the soluble APP ectodomain (sAPPα), which is neuroprotective. We have shown previously that activation of the purinergic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) triggers sAPPα shedding from neural cells. Here, we demonstrate that the activation of ezrin, radixin, and moesin (ERM) proteins is required for the P2X7R-dependent proteolytic processing of APP leading to sAPPα release. Indeed, the down-regulation of ERM by siRNA blocked the P2X7R-dependent shedding of sAPPα. We also show that P2X7R stimulation triggered the phosphorylation of ERM. Thus, ezrin translocates to the plasma membrane to interact with P2X7R. Using specific pharmacological inhibitors, we established the order in which several enzymes trigger the P2X7R-dependent release of sAPPα. Thus, a Rho kinase and the MAPK modules ERK1/2 and JNK act upstream of ERM, whereas a PI3K activity is triggered downstream. For the first time, this work identifies ERM as major partners in the regulated non-amyloidogenic processing of APP.     

Life‐history constraints in grassland plant species: a growth‐defence trade‐off is the norm

Plant growth can be limited by resource acquisition and defence against consumers, leading to contrasting trade‐off possibilities. The competition‐defence hypothesis posits a trade‐off between competitive ability and defence against enemies (e.g. herbivores and pathogens). The growth‐defence hypothesis suggests that strong competitors for nutrients are also defended against enemies, at a cost to growth rate. We tested these hypotheses using observations of 706 plant populations of over 500 species before and following identical fertilisation and fencing treatments at 39 grassland sites worldwide. Strong positive covariance in species responses to both treatments provided support for a growth‐defence trade‐off: populations that increased with the removal of nutrient limitation (poor competitors) also increased following removal of consumers. This result held globally across 4 years within plant life‐history groups and within the majority of individual sites. Thus, a growth‐defence trade‐off appears to be the norm, and mechanisms maintaining grassland biodiversity may operate within this constraint.