Splenic gene expression profiling in White Leghorn layer inoculated with the Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) is a foodborne pathogen that can threaten human health through contaminated poultry products. Live poultry, chicken eggs and meat are primary sources of human salmonellosis. To understand the genetic resistance of egg‐type chickens in response to SE inoculation, global gene expression in the spleen of 20‐week‐old White Leghorn was measured using the Agilent 4 × 44 K chicken microarray at 7 and 14 days following SE inoculation (dpi). Results showed that there were 1363 genes significantly differentially expressed between inoculated and non‐inoculated groups at 7 dpi (I7/N7), of which 682 were up‐regulated and 681 were down‐regulated genes. By contrast, 688 differentially expressed genes were observed at 14 dpi (I14/N14), of which 371 were up‐regulated genes and 317 were down‐regulated genes. There were 33 and 28 immune‐related genes significantly differentially expressed in the comparisons of I7/N7 and I14/N14 respectively. Functional annotation revealed that several Gene Ontology (GO) terms related to immunity were significantly enriched between the inoculated and non‐inoculated groups at 14 dpi but not at 7 dpi, despite a similar number of immune‐related genes identified between I7/N7 and I14/N14. The immune response to SE inoculation changes with different time points following SE inoculation. The complicated interaction between the immune system and metabolism contributes to the immune responses to SE inoculation of egg‐type chickens at 14 dpi at the onset of lay. GC, TNFSF8, CD86, CD274, BLB1 and BLB2 play important roles in response to SE inoculation. The results from this study will deepen the current understanding of the genetic response of the egg‐type chicken to SE inoculation at the onset of egg laying.     

Diffusion of extracellular K+ can synchronize bursting oscillations in a model islet of Langerhans.

Electrical bursting oscillations of mammalian pancreatic beta-cells are synchronous among cells within an islet. While electrical coupling among cells via gap junctions has been demonstrated, its extent and topology are unclear. The beta-cells also share an extracellular compartment in which oscillations of K+ concentration have been measured (Perez-Armendariz and Atwater, 1985). These oscillations (1-2 mM) are synchronous with the burst pattern, and apparently are caused by the oscillating voltage-dependent membrane currents: Extracellular K+ concentration (Ke) rises during the depolarized active (spiking) phase and falls during the hyperpolarized silent phase. Because raising Ke depolarizes the cell membrane by increasing the potassium reversal potential (VK), any cell in the active phase should recruit nonspiking cells into the active phase. The opposite is predicted for the silent phase. This positive feedback system might couple the cells' electrical activity and synchronize bursting. We have explored this possibility using a theoretical model for bursting of beta-cells (Sherman et al., 1988) and K+ diffusion in the extracellular space of an islet. Computer simulations demonstrate that the bursts synchronize very quickly (within one burst) without gap junctional coupling among the cells. The shape and amplitude of computed Ke oscillations resemble those seen in experiments for certain parameter ranges. The model cells synchronize with exterior cells leading, though incorporating heterogeneous cell properties can allow interior cells to lead. The model islet can also be forced to oscillate at both faster and slower frequencies using periodic pulses of higher K+ in the medium surrounding the islet. Phase plane analysis was used to understand the synchronization mechanism. The results of our model suggest that diffusion of extracellular K+ may contribute to coupling and synchronization of electrical oscillations in beta-cells within an islet.     

Mechanistic studies on aromatase and related C---C bond cleaving P-450 enzymes

Some P-450 systems, notably aromatase and 14-demethylase catalyse not only the hydroxylate reaction but also the oxidation of an alcohol into a carbonyl compound as well as a C---C bond cleavage process. All these reactions occur at the same active site. A somewhat analogous situation is noted with 17-hydroxylase-17,20-lyase that participates in hydroxylation as well as C---C bond cleavage process. The C---C bond cleavage reactions catalysed by the above enzymes conform to the general equation:

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It is argued that all three types of reaction catalyzed by these enzymes may be viewed as variations on a common theme. In P-450 dependent hydroxylation the initially formed Fe^III---O---O^. species is converted into Fe^III---O---OH and the heterolysis of the oxygen—oxygen bond of the latter then gives the oxo-derivative for which a number of canonical structures are possible; for example Fe^V = O ↔ (+^.)Fe^IV = O ↔ Fe^IV---O^.. One of these, Fe^IV---O^. behaves like an alkoxyl radical and participates in hydrogen abstraction from C---H bond to produce Fe^IV---OH and carbon radical. The latter is then quenched by the delivery of hydroxyl radical from Fe^IV---OH. The latter species may thus be regarded as a carrier of hydroxyl radical. We have proposed that the C---C bond cleavage reaction occurs through the participation of the Fe^III---O---OH species that is trapped by the electrophilic property of the carbonyl compound giving a peroxide adduct that fragments to produce an acyl—carbon cleavage. Scientific developments leading up to this conclusion are considered. In the first author's views,

“The study of mechanisms is not a scientific but a cultural activity. Mechanisms do not aim at an absolute truth but are intended to be a “running” commentary on the status of knowledge in a field. As the structural knowledge in a field advances Mechanisms evolve to take note of the new findings. Just as a constructive “running” commentary provides the stimulus for higher standards of performance, so Mechanisms call for better and firmer structural information from their practitioners”.     

Functional and genetic plasticities of the poliovirus genome: quasi-infectious RNAs modified in the 5'-untranslated region yield a variety of pseudorevertants.

Poliovirus RNA species with nucleotides 564 to 571 deleted or with a secondary structure domain (positions 564 to 629) replaced by a shorter irregular oligonucleotide have been engineered previously; these RNAs have been considered quasi-infectious (yielding a single late revertant plaque) and dead, respectively (E. Pilipenko, A. Gmyl, Y. Svitkin, S. Maslova, A. Sinyakov, and V. Agol, Cell 68:119-131, 1992). By using large amounts of these RNAs for transfections, revertant clones with a great variety of genetic changes (point mutations, insertions of foreign sequences, short or extended deletions) were isolated. The pattern of these changes supported the notion that an appropriately spaced oligopyrimidine-AUG tandem is important for efficient poliovirus RNA translation. Structural features within and around this tandem modulated the initiation efficiency. The functional and genetic plasticities of the poliovirus genome are briefly discussed.