Distinctive communication networks in inactive states of β2-adrenergic receptor: Mutual information and entropy transfer analysis

Mutual information and entropy transfer analysis employed on two inactive states of human beta-2 adrenergic receptor (β₂-AR) unraveled distinct communication pathways. Previously, a so-called “highly” inactive state of the receptor was observed during 1.5 microsecond long molecular dynamics simulation where the largest intracellular loop (ICL3) was swiftly packed onto the G-protein binding cavity, becoming entirely inaccessible. Mutual information quantifying the degree of correspondence between backbone-C_α fluctuations was mostly shared between intra- and extra-cellular loop regions in the original inactive state, but shifted to entirely different regions in this latest inactive state. Interestingly, the largest amount of mutual information was always shared among the mobile regions. Irrespective of the conformational state, polar residues always contributed more to mutual information than hydrophobic residues, and also the number of polar-polar residue pairs shared the highest degree of mutual information compared to those incorporating hydrophobic residues. Entropy transfer, quantifying the correspondence between backbone-C_α fluctuations at different timesteps, revealed a distinctive pathway directed from the extracellular site toward intracellular portions in this recently exposed inactive state for which the direction of information flow was the reverse of that observed in the original inactive state where the mobile ICL3 and its intracellular surroundings drove the future fluctuations of extracellular regions.     

Quantitative proteomic profiling identifies global protein network dynamics in murine embryonic heart development

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Metabolic Reconfiguration in C. elegans Suggests a Pathway for Widespread Sterol Auxotrophy in the Animal Kingdom

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Effects of a participatory approach,with systematic impact matrix analysis in herd health planning in organic dairy cattle herds

The animal health and welfare status in European organic dairy production does not in all aspects meet the organic principles and consumers’ expectations and needs to be improved. To achieve this, tailored herd health planning, targeted to the specific situation of individual farms could be of use. The aim of this study was to apply herd health planning in a structured participatory approach, with impact matrix analysis, not previously used in this context, in European organic dairy farms and to assess changes in animal health and welfare. Herd health planning farm visits were conducted on 122 organic dairy farms in France, Germany and Sweden. The farmer, the herd veterinarian and/or an advisor took part in the farm discussions. The researcher served as facilitator. Baseline data on the animal health status of the individual farm, collected from national milk recording schemes, were presented as an input for the discussion. Thereafter a systematic impact matrix analysis was performed. This was to capture the complexity of individual farms with the aim to identify the farm-specific factors that could have a strong impact on animal health. The participants (i.e. farmer, veterinarian and advisor) jointly identified areas in need of improvement, taking the health status and the interconnected farm system components into account, and appropriate actions were jointly identified. The researcher took minutes during the discussions, and these were shared with the participants. No intervention was made by the researcher, and further actions were left with the participants. The number of actions per farm ranged from 0 to 22. The change in mortality, metabolic diseases, reproductive performance and udder health was assessed at two time points, and potential determinators of the change were evaluated with linear regression models. A significant association was seen between change in udder health, as measured by the somatic cell count, and country. At the first follow-up, a significant association was also found between change in the proportion of prolonged calving interval and the farmers’ desire to improve reproductive health as well as with an increase in herd size, but this was not seen at the second follow-up. The degree of implementation of the actions was good (median 67%, lower quartile 40%, upper quartile 83%). To conclude, the degree of implementation was quite high, improvement of animal health could not be linked to the herd health planning approach. However, the approach was highly appreciated by the participants and deserves further study.     

Review: What innovations in pain measurement and control might be possible if we could quantify the neuroimmune synapse?

It has taken more than 40 years for the fields of immunology and neuroscience to capture the potential impact of the mechanistic understanding of how an active immune signalling brain might function. These developments have grown an appreciation for the immunocompetent cells of the central nervous system and their key role in the health and disease of the brain and spinal cord. Moreover, the understanding of the bidirectional communication between the brain and the peripheral immune system has evolved to capture an understanding of how mood can alter immune function and vice versa. These concepts are rapidly evolving the field of psychiatry and medicine as a whole. However, the advances in human medicine have not been capitalised upon yet in animal husbandry practice. Of specific attention are the implications that these biological systems have for creating and maintaining heightened pain states. This review will outline the key concepts of brain–immune communication and the immediate opportunities targeting this biology can have for husbandry practices, with a specific focus on pain.     

The NADPH-dependent electron flow in chloroplasts of the higher plants

The NADPH-dependent reduction of some photosynthetic electron carriers in the dark, and the reduction of NADP+ associated with the glycolytic sequence and the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway in chloroplasts are reviewed. The postulated pathways of electron transports sensitive and insensitive to antimycin A are also evaluated. It is proposed that the electron flow, predominantly through cytochrome bf complex, may be also involved in the pathway of NADPH-dependent and antimycin A-insensitive back electron transport. An information on the chlororespiration in higher plants is also included. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.