Regulation of glutathione S-transferases of Zea mays in plants and cell cultures

An antiserum to glutathione S-transferase (EC 2.5.1.18) from maize (Zea mays L.) responsible for herbicide detoxification has been raised in rabbit. The antiserum was specific to the M_r 26000 subunit of the enzyme from maize seedlings and suspension-cultured cells, and recognized the isoenzymes active toward both atrazine and metolachlor. When plants were treated for 24 h with the herbicide antidote N,N-diallyl-2-2-dich-loroacetamide (DDCA), enzyme activities toward metolachlor were doubled in the roots and this was associated with a 70% increase in immunodetectable protein. Translation of polysomal RNA in vitro showed that the increase in the transferase in root tissue was brought about by a ninefold increase in mRNA activity encoding the enzyme. Treatment of suspension-cultured cells with cinnamic acid, metolachlor and DDCA raised enzyme activities but did not increase synthesis of glutathione S-transferase. In cultured maize cells, enzyme synthesis was maximal in mid-logarithmic phase, coinciding with the highest levels of enzyme activity. When callus cultures were established from the shoots of a maize line known to conjugate chloro-s-triazines, enzyme activity towards atrazine was lost during primary dedifferentiation. However, levels of total immunodetectable enzyme and activity toward metolachlor were increased in cultured cells compared with the parent shoot tissue.     

Inhibition of Acetylcholinesterases from Aphelenchus avenae by Carbofuran and Fenamiphos

Exposure to carbofuran and fenamiphos for 72 hours reduced the numbers of active Aphelenchus avenae in aqueous suspension by > 75%. When nematicides were removed, many A. avenae exposed to carbofuran resumed normal movement but A. avenae treated with fenamiphos did not recover. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was suppressed by > 95% in nematodes treated with carbofuran or fenamiphos. However, 48 hours after treated nematodes had been placed in water, AChE activity in carbofuran treated populations was 98% of the levels in control nematodes. Nematodes that had been treated with fenamiphos showed only slight AChE recovery. The antidotes, atropine sulfate and 2-PAM, were largely ineffective in counteracting the toxic effects of the nematicides.     

Selection of aptamers for aflatoxin M1 and their characterization

In the present work, aptamers against aflatoxin M1 and aflatoxin B1 were generated and tested for creating proof of principle of recognition of aflatoxin M1 by generated aptamers. The aptamers were selected through the process referred as systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment. A total of 41 different aptamer (36 aptamers for aflatoxin M1 and 5 for aflatoxin B1) sequences were obtained. The determination of dissociation constant (K_d) values revealed that aptamers generated against aflatoxin M1 exhibited K_d values in the range of 35–1515 nM. Selected aptamers were grouped on the basis of the presence of common motifs or G‐quadruplex. We find it interesting that one aptamer with no conserved motif or G‐quadruplex had lowest K_d value (K_d = 35 nM). This structural motif is very distinct from motifs present in other aptamers. The K_d values of selected aptamers for aflatoxin B1 were in the range of 96–221 nM. One aptamer from each group was further tested for its ability to be used in aptasensor. The aptamer recognized aflatoxin M1 as indicated by color change (red to purple or blue) of aptamer‐coated gold nanoparticles in the presence of 250–500 nM aflatoxin M1. The aptamers can be used in developing methods for detection/estimation/separation of aflatoxin or antidote for aflatoxin toxicity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A single post-exposure oxime RS194B treatment rapidly reactivates acetylcholinesterase and reverses acute symptoms in macaques exposed to diethylphosphorothioate parathion and chlorpyrifos insecticides

Millions of individuals globally suffer from inadvertent, occupational or self-harm exposures from organophosphate (OP) insecticides, significantly impacting human health. Similar to nerve agents, insecticides are neurotoxins that target and inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in central and peripheral synapses in the cholinergic nervous system. Post-exposure therapeutic countermeasures generally include administration of atropine with an oxime to reactivate the OP-inhibited AChE. However, animal model studies and recent clinical trials using insecticide-poisoned individuals have shown minimal clinical benefits of the currently approved oximes and their efficacy as antidotes has been debated. Currently used oximes either reactivate poorly, do not readily cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB), or are rapidly cleared from the circulation and must be repeatedly administered. Zwitterionic oximes of unbranched and simplified structure, for example RS194B, have been developed that efficiently cross the BBB resulting in reactivation of OP-inhibited AChE and dramatic reversal of severe clinical symptoms in mice and macaques exposed to OP insecticides or nerve agents. Thus, a single IM injection of RS194B has been shown to rapidly restore blood AChE and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity, reverse cholinergic symptoms, and prevent death in macaques following lethal inhaled sarin and paraoxon exposure. The present macaque studies extend these findings and assess the ability of post-exposure RS194B treatment to counteract oral poisoning by highly toxic diethylphosphorothioate insecticides such as parathion and chlorpyrifos. These OPs require conversion by P450 in the liver of the inactive thions to the active toxic oxon forms, and once again demonstrated RS194B efficacy to reactivate and alleviate clinical symptoms within 60 mins of a single IM administration. Furthermore, when delivered orally, the Tmax of RS194B at 1–2 h was in the same range as those administered IM but were maintained in the circulation for longer periods greatly facilitating the use of RS194B as a non-invasive treatment, especially in isolated rural settings.

     

Two new species of Curcuma (Zingiberaceae) used as cobra-bite antidotes

Two new species of Curcuma, C. sattayasaii A. Chaveerach ＆ R. Sudmoon and C. zedoaroides A. Chaveerach ＆ T. Tanee with rhizomes traditionally used for many decades as cobra-bite antidotes are described and illustrated. Curcuma sattayasaii is similar to C. longa L., but differs in rhizome horizontally branching on ground; coma bracts pinkish-white or pinkish-pale green; corolla pale yellow with orange tip; labellum pale orange with an orange central band; anther crest very short, broadly ovate, wider than long. Curcuma zedoaroides is similar to C. zedoaria （Christm.） Roscoe, but differs in rhizome branching pattern; the protruding secondary rhizomes curved down; blades oblong to oblong-lanceolate; peduncle glabrous; fertile and coma bracts glabrous; corolla lobes pale yellow to white, lateral lobe ovate, dorsal lobe broadly ovate. The new taxa have been found in a village of Khon Kaen Province, Northeastern Thailand.     

Obidoxime antagonizes the neuromuscular failure induced by neostigmine and diisopropyl fluorophosphate via different mechanisms

The efficacies and mechanisms of obidoxime in antagonizing the neuromuscular failure induced by neostigmine and diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) were studied in mouse phrenic nerve/diaphragm preparations. Obidoxime antagonized neostigmine-induced tetanic fade (EC₅₀: 300 µM) by inhibiting the regenerative and sustained depolarization during repetitive stimulation. The antagonism was associated with a depression and shortening of single endplate potentials (EPPs) and miniature EPPs (MEPPs). In contrast, the neuromuscular failure induced irreversibly after treatment with DFP and followed by washout was restored by obidoxime at concentrations (EC₅₀: 0.6 µM) 500-fold lower than that against neostigmine. The regenerative depolarization was abolished with no depression of single EPPs and MEPPs, and the antagonistic action persisted after washout of obidoxime. The EC₅₀ of obidoxime was proportionately increased in the presence of increasing concentrations of DFP. Nevertheless, the EC₅₀ against DFP, at a concentration (30 µM) 15-fold in excess of that which caused tetanic fade, was still 10-fold lower than that which antagonized neostigmine. In both cases, the amplitudes of train EPPs were increased. It is concluded that obidoxime antagonizes neostigmine-induced neuromuscular failure by a curare-like action but antagonizes DFP by an enzyme reactivation.     

Oxime K027: novel low-toxic candidate for the universal reactivator of nerve agent- and pesticide-inhibited acetylcholinesterase

Oxime K027 is a low-toxic bisquaternary compound originally developed as a reactivator of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibited by nerve agents. The reactivation potency of K027 has been tested as a potential reactivator of AChE inhibited by tabun, sarin, cyclosarin, soman, VX, Russian VX, paraoxon, methylchlorpyrifos, and DDVP. The results show that oxime K027 reactivated AChE inhibited by almost all tested inhibitors to more than 10%, which is believed to be enough for saving the lives of intoxicated organisms. In the case of cyclosarin- and soman-inhibited AChE, oxime K027 did not reach sufficient reactivation potency.     

Cyanide sensitive and insensitive bioenergetics in a clonal neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cell line

The primary mechanism of cyanide (CN) intoxication is the inhibition of metabolism in the central nervous system. We determined the effects of CN on several biochemical processes in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells, which possess numerous neuronal properties. These cells were not sensitive to a high concentration (1 mM) of NaCN, but became sensitive in the presence of the anaerobic glycolysis inhibitors sodium iodoacetate (IA) and 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG): cellular metabolic processes (e.g., DNA, RNA and protein synthesis) decreased, to about 40% of control due to treatment with 0.5 mM NaCN+0.05 mM IA and 0.1 mM NaCN+20 mM 2-DG. ATP in cells exposed to 0.01 or 0.1 mM NaCN+20 mM 2-DG was reduced 75% and 100%, respectively within one min. Pretreatment of cells with the CN antidote cobalt (II) chloride (CoCl₂) (0.06–0.18 mM) for 5 min prevented the depression of both [³H]leucine incorporation and ATP synthesis due to 1 mM NaCN+20 mM 2-DG in a concentration-dependent manner. A proposed CN antidote alpha-ketoglutaric acid (disodium salt) also prevented the depression of cellular metabolism due to NaCN plus 2-DG. These results indicate that blocking anaerobic glycolysis makes NG108-15 cells sensitive to a low concentration of CN. Thus NG108-15 cells should be useful to study the mechanisms of neurotoxicity of CN and to test antidotes.