Glutamine synthetase regulation by dexamethasone,RU486, and compound A in astrocytes derived from aged mouse cerebral hemispheres is mediated via glucocorticoid receptor

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Glucocorticoids (GCs) regulate astrocyte function, while glutamine synthetase (GS), an enzyme highly expressed in astrocytes, is one of the most remarkable...     

Metal ion- and phosphate-mediated transport of glucose by insulin.

Insulin, in the presence of Mg²⁺ and Pi, can transport D-glucose across a bulk phase separating two aqueous phases. All three molecular species (Mg²⁺, Pi, D-glucose) are transported simulataneously in 1:1:1 stoichiometry. The same system will transport D-galactose and L-arabinose, but not L-glucose, D-arabinose, D-mannitol, D-fructose and 3-0-methyl glucose. Phloridzin completely suppresses transport, not only of glucose, but also of Mg²⁺ and Pi. Other divalent metal ions are less efficient (Mg²⁺ >Mn²⁺ >Ca²⁺ >Zn²⁺). The capability of insulin for transport of D-glucose is not duplicated by proinsulin or glucagon. Amino acids and citric cycle substrates are also transported, some as rapidly as D-glucose. Pi is replaceable by phosphate esters such as AMP, ADP and ATP, less efficiently with Mg²⁺, but more efficiently with Ca²⁺ as metal ion. The transport of D-glucose in the systems formed by insulin, Ca²⁺ and nucleotide is less sensitive to phloridzin than the standard Mg²⁺, Pi system.     

First demonstration of the neuroepithelial cells and their chemical code in the accessory respiratory organ and the gill of the sharptooth catfish,Clarias gariepinus: A preliminary study

Available studies that have examined O₂ sensing in fish have indicated that oxygen-sensitive neuroepithelial cells (NECs) are O₂ sensors in the gills and initiate cardiorespiratory reflexes in aquatic vertebrates. This is the first study describing the occurrence of NECs in accessory respiratory organs in the air-breathing catfish Clarias gariepinus. Immunocytochemical stainings with specific neuronal markers such as nNOS, VAchT, 5-HT and TH have been shown to be very useful for location and distribution of these cells in the gill fans and suprabranchial chamber that take origin from the transformation of the gill tissue. But the response of these putative O₂ chemoreceptors, their role in the respiratory reflexes and their innervation await investigation.     

Initial Trends of Bird Assemblages Before and After River Diversion in an Endemic-rich African Forest

The Lower Kihansi Hydropower Project in southern Tanzania caused the diversion of the Kihansi River from the Kihansi Gorge in the year 2000. By sampling the understorey avifauna prior to diversion, we examined (i) whether the adjacent Udagaje Gorge was an adequate control for observations in the Kihansi Gorge; (ii) which species of conservation interest occurred; and, (iii) which season best suited annual monitoring. Species composition and capture rates at three and two elevational transects in the Kihansi Gorge and Udagaje Gorge, respectively, confirmed that Udagaje had a comparable avifaunal assemblage to Kihansi. The cold season was most appropriate for population monitoring because >2 times more individuals were captured in the cold than hot season at both gorges, and at least four altitudinal migrants were present in the cold but not hot season. Post-diversion sampling revealed that only the Upper Kihansi transect suffered a significant decrease in number of individuals, a result that was driven largely by a decline in the Little Greenbul, Andropadus virens. This transect is closest to the Kihansi waterfall and associated spray zone which were lost after river diversion. Lack of differences in bird communities at other transects after diversion illustrates that early post-diversion effects on birds are probably concentrated near the base of the main falls. Together with studies of other biota in Kihansi, we propose that long-term monitoring is necessary to understand the factors that regulate changes in species composition of this threatened forest site.     

Intra-plant versus Inter-plant Root Competition in Beans: avoidance,resource matching or tragedy of the commons

Root competition inhibits root proliferation. All else equal, a plant should invest roots in a nutrient patch devoid of roots rather than one already occupied by roots. Less clear is how a plant should respond to intra-plant versus inter-plant root competition. We consider three responses for how a plant may select habitats based on intra-versus inter-plant root competition: inter-plant avoidance, resource matching, or intra-plant avoidance. The first assumes that plants prefer to have their own space and preferentially proliferate roots away from neighboring plants. The second response, based on the ideal free distribution, assumes that plants invest so as to equalize average returns from roots, regardless of the identity of the neighboring roots. The third, based on game theory, assumes that the plant proliferates roots so as to maximize whole-plant fitness, in which case it is better to proliferate plants among a neighbor's roots than to continue proliferating amongst one's own roots. To test among these models we grew beans (Phaseolus varigaris, var. Kenya) in a greenhouse under two planting scenarios. Both scenario were tested under 0.5 and 0.1 strength of nutrient solution. Under scenario A (fence-sitters), two split-root plants each shared two patches by virtue of having roots in each. Under scenario B (owners) two plants each had their own patch. The results supported the game theory model of intra-plant avoidance (whole plant habitat selection). Fence-sitters produced 150% more root mass per individual than owners. Owners produced 90% more yield (dry mass of pods) than fence-sitters. Furthermore, owners had significantly higher shoot-root ratios than fence-sitters. These effects did not vary with high or low nutrient levels. The over-proliferation of roots under inter-plant competition (fence-sitters) was manifest by the tenth day after planting. In short, the fence-sitters engaged in a tragedy of the commons in which they competed with each other through root proliferation. At the ESS, the fitness maximizing strategy of the individual is to sacrifice collective yield in a quest to `steal' nutrients from its neighbor. The research has three implications. First, plants may be able to assess and respond to local opportunities in a manner that maximizes the good of the whole plant. Second, nutrient foraging as a game may provide a fresh perceptive for viewing root competition either intra-specifically or inter-specifically. Third, it may be possible to increase the yield of certain crop species by breeding more `docile' cultivars that do not overproduce roots in response to inter-plant competition.     

Locations, ultrastructural morphology, and putative functions of the branchial podocytes of the fresh water crab Potamon niloticus - Savigy (crustacea, decapoda, potamonidae)

The gills of the African fresh water crab, Potamon niloticus, were investigated by transmission electron microscopy to verify the presence, outline the location(s) of, and describe the ultrastructural attributes of the branchial podocytes (BPs). Topographically, the cells were diffusely distributed in the gills. They were found at the arterial ends of the intralamellar spaces (ILSs), in the efferent hemolymphatic vessel (EHV), in the gill shaft, and in the marginal and central ILSs. In the EHV and the terminal ends of the ILSs, the BPs occurred in cohesive clusters of from three to eight large cells which were affixed to the vessel wall by small fibrocytic cells and bands of myofibrils. In the clusters, the BPs attached directly across interspersed junctional complexes (separated by wide intercellular spaces) and indirectly over a common basement membrane. Abundant heteromorphic, variably electron-dense vacuoles were scattered in the cytoplasm, apparently displacing the nuclei peripherally. The plasmalemma of the BPs were amplified into feet processes (pedicels) which inserted onto a basement membrane. The feet were joined by a thin unit membrane (diaphragm), leaving subcisternal spaces which contained flocculent to granular electron-dense material. The general ultrastructural morphology of the BPs of Potamon was similar to that of other crustaceans. However, atypically, a labyrinth of intercellular spaces (reckoned to be filtratory channels) was observed in the cell clusters. An ultrafiltration role was attested by the characteristic specializations of the plasmalemma and a phagocytic one inferred from the conspicuous intracytoplasmic vacuolation, presence of phagosomes, and overt necrosis and desquamation of the outlying cells of the clusters. The topographic location of the BPs in the EHV and at the terminal ends of the ILSs was perceived to be a strategic arrangement for promoting the detoxification and destruction of harmful materials and invasive agents which pass through the gills, an organ that presents an extensive surface area that interfaces with the ambient medium.     

Coupling Met to specific pathways results in distinct developmental outcomes.

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) mediate distinct biological responses by stimulating similar intracellular signaling pathways. Whether the specificity of the response is determined by qualitative or quantitative differences in signaling output is not known. We addressed this question in vivo by replacing the multifunctional docking sites of Met, the receptor for hepatocyte growth factor, with specific binding motifs for phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, Src tyrosine kinase, or Grb2 (Met(2P), Met(2S), and Met(2G), respectively). All three mutants retained normal signaling through the multiadaptor Gab1, but differentially recruited specific effectors. While Met(2G) mice developed normally, Met(2P) and Met(2S) mice were loss-of-function mutants displaying different phenotypes and rescue of distinct tissues. These data indicate that RTK-mediated activation of specific signaling pathways is required to fulfill cell-specific functions in vivo.     

High-throughput screening-based identification of paramyxovirus inhibitors

Several members of the paramyxovirus family constitute major human pathogens that, collectively, are responsible for major morbidity and mortality worldwide. In an effort to develop novel therapeutics against measles virus (MV), a prominent member of the paramyxovirus family, the authors report a high-throughput screening protocol that uses a nonrecombinant primary MV strain as targets. Implementation of the assay has yielded 60 hit candidates from a 137,500-entry library. Counterscreening and generation of dose-response curves narrows this pool to 35 compounds with active concentrations 500. Library mining for structural analogs of several confirmed hits combined with retesting of identified candidates reveals a high accuracy of primary hit identification. Eleven of the confirmed hits interfere with viral entry, whereas the remaining 24 compounds target postentry steps of the viral life cycle. Activity testing against selected members of the paramyxovirus family reveals 3 patterns of activity: 1) exclusively MV-specific blockers, 2) inhibitors of MV and related viruses of the same genus, and 3) broader range inhibitors with activity against a different Paramyxovirinae genus. Representatives of the last class may open avenues for the development of broad-range paramyxovirus inhibitors through hit-to-lead chemistry. ( Journal of Biomolecular Screening 2008:591-608).