Manganese accumulation in yeast cells

Summary Manganese accumulation was studied by room-temperature electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy inSaccharomyces cerevisiae grown in the presence of increasing amounts of MnSO₄. Mn²⁺ retention was nearly linear in intact cells for fractions related to both low-molecular-mass and macromolecular complexes (free and bound Mn²⁺, respectively). A deviation from linearity was observed in cell extracts between the control value and 0.1 mM Mn²⁺, indicating more efficient accumulation at low Mn²⁺ concentrations. The difference in slopes between the two straight lines describing Mn²⁺ retention at concentrations lower and higher than 0.1 mM, respectively, was quite large for the free Mn²⁺ fraction. Furthermore it was unaffected by subsequent dialyses of the extracts, showing stable retention in the form of low-molecular-mass complexes. In contrast, the slope of the line describing retention of bound Mn²⁺ at concentrations higher than 0.1 mM became less steep after subsequent dialyses of the cell extracts. This result indicates that the macromolecule-bound Mn²⁺ was essentially associated with particulate structures. In contrast to Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺ had no effect on the major enzyme activities involved in oxygen metabolism except for a slight increase of cyanide-resistant Mn-superoxide dismutase activity, due to dialyzable Mn²⁺ complexes.     

Cardiomyocytes structure, function and associated pathologies

The heart is the first formed organ in the developing fetus. During fetal and postnatal development cardiomyocytes become terminally differentiated muscular cells that are connected end to end by gap junctions, allowing concerted contractile activity. The contraction-relaxation cycle of cardiomyocytes is orchestrated by cyclic increases and decreases in intracellular Ca(2+) initiated by depolarization of the sarcolemma and sustained by Ca(2+) release and re-uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum. When stressed, cardiomyocytes undergo hypertrophic growth and apoptotic responses in vivo as well as in cell culture models. Such changes predispose to heart failure in the longer term.     

WWOX at the crossroads of cancer,metabolic syndrome related traits and CNS pathologies

WWOX was cloned as a putative tumor suppressor gene mapping to chromosomal fragile site FRA16D. Deletions affecting WWOX accompanied by loss of expression are frequent in various epithelial cancers. Translocations and deletions affecting WWOX are also common in multiple myeloma and are associated with worse prognosis. Metanalysis of gene expression datasets demonstrates that low WWOX expression is significantly associated with shorter relapse-free survival in ovarian and breast cancer patients. Although somatic mutations affecting WWOX are not frequent, analysis of TCGA tumor datasets led to identifying 44 novel mutations in various tumor types. The highest frequencies of mutations were found in head and neck cancers and uterine and gastric adenocarcinomas.     

Phospholipase A(2), reactive oxygen species, and lipid peroxidation in CNS pathologies

The importance of lipids in cell signaling and tissue physiology is demonstrated by the many CNS pathologies involving deregulated lipid metabolism. One such critical metabolic event is the activation of phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)), which results in the hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids and the release of free fatty acids, including arachidonic acid, a precursor for essential cell-signaling eicosanoids. Reactive oxygen species (ROS, a product of arachidonic acid metabolism) react with cellular lipids to generate lipid peroxides, which are degraded to reactive aldehydes (oxidized phospholipid, 4-hydroxynonenal, and acrolein) that bind covalently to proteins, thereby altering their function and inducing cellular damage. Dissecting the contribution of PLA(2) to lipid peroxidation in CNS injury and disorders is a challenging proposition due to the multiple forms of PLA(2), the diverse sources of ROS, and the lack of specific PLA(2) inhibitors. In this review, we summarize the role of PLA(2) in CNS pathologies, including stroke, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Multiple sclerosis-Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and Wallerian degeneration.     

Manganese tolerance and accumulation in six Mn hyperaccumulators or accumulators

This study used hydroponics cultivation to investigate the manganese (Mn) accumulation and tolerance abilities of six species—Phytolacca americana L., Poa annua L., Comnyza canadensis L., Cynodon dactylon L., Polygonum hydropiper L., and Polygonum perfoliatum L. We found that P. perfoliatum, P. hydropiper, and P. americana were Mn-hyperaccumulators and that P. perforliatum have superior Mn accumulation and toleration abilities over the other five species. The Mn concentration within the shoots of P. perfoliatum reached as high as 18,342.3 mg kg^?1. The root growth of P. perfoliatum was promoted under low-Mn treatments, but the growths of the five other species were inhibited by the Mn treatments and the damage intensified as Mn concentration increased. The biomass of P. perfoliatum was minimally affected by the Mn treatments. The chlorophyll (CHL), soluble protein (SP), and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents of P. perfoliatum were not adversely affected, but these parameters of the other five species showed significant (P?<?0.05) deterioration from the control. By comparison among the six species, the hyperaccumulator P. perfoliatum was the most suitable species for bioremediation of Mn-polluted environments. However, the findings need further study in soil cultivation.     

Human pathologies associated with defective RNA transport and localization in the nervous system

RNA localization is emerging as an important process to restrict certain proteins to specific subcellular domains and thus spatially control the expression of genes within cells. It is used, for instance, to compartmentalize the developing embryo during early embryogenesis. The localization of RNA also plays important roles later during development, such as in asymmetric cell divisions, cell migration and the outgrowth and pathfinding of axons and dendrites. In differentiated cells, it serves to subdivide the cell into functionally distinct compartments. For example, in mature neurons it is believed to contribute to the plastic changes of individual synapses underlying learning and memory. In this review, we highlight the importance of subcellular RNA localization for the function of the nervous system and neurological diseases associated with defective RNA localization and translation. These diseases include fragile X mental retardation syndrome, spinocerebellar ataxia and spinal muscular atrophy.     

Manganese accumulation in rice: implications for photosynthetic functioning

In order to gain fundamental insights into the nature of the adaptation to Mn excess, the characterisation of the photosynthetic apparatus in Mn-treated rice was carried out in 21-day-old plants. We found 17- and 11-fold increases in Mn in the leaf tissues and in thylakoid, respectively, when the plants were grown hydroponically in nutrient solutions with Mn concentrations between 0.125 and 32 mg l(-1) (2.3 and 582.5 microM). Net photosynthesis and the photosynthetic capacity decreased after the 0.5 and 2 mg l(-1) (9.1 and 36.4 microM) Mn treatment, respectively. The stomatal conductance displayed a similar trend to that of photosynthetic capacity. The levels of basal chlorophyll fluorescence and the ratio between variable and maximum chlorophyll fluorescence did not vary significantly among treatments, but the photochemical quenching and the quantum yield of non-cyclic electron transport increased until the 2 mg l(-1) (36.4 microM) Mn treatment. The lipid matrix of thylakoids revealed a global increase in the proportions of phospholipids, relative to galactolipids. This pattern was coupled with diminishing levels of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol. The relative ratio between total carotenoids and total chlorophylls decreased until the last Mn treatment, yet the levels of carotenes, zeaxanthin, and violaxanthin plus antheraxanthin displayed different patterns. It was further found that the de-epoxidation state involving the components of the xanthophylls cycle increased until the 8 mg l(-1) (145.6 microM) Mn treatment. The levels of the photosynthetic electron carriers displayed different patterns, with plastocyanin and the high and low forms of cytochrome b559 remaining steady, whereas cytochromes b563 and f increased until the 8 mg l(-1) (145.6 microM) Mn treatment and the quinone pool increased until the highest Mn treatment. It was concluded that Mn-mediated inhibition of rice photosynthesis barely implicates stomatal conductance, as well as the distribution of energy within the photosystems. In this context, alterations to the relative proportions of the different acyl lipids and isoprenoids, as well as to the accumulations of the photosynthetic electron carriers, seem to play a major role.     

九州虫草菌丝体对Mn的耐性及富集

重金属耐性真菌的研究是生物修复的重要研究内容。本文研究了九州虫草（Cordyceps kyusyuensis）对于Mn的耐性及富集。在液体培养基中添加不同浓度（0—60 g/L）的Mn离子,测定其菌丝生物量、菌丝Mn含量、菌丝抗氧化酶活性和过氧化水平以及菌体细胞离子交换量、Mn在细胞中的分布的变化情况。实验结果表明九州虫草菌丝生物量与Mn浓度呈显著负相关,Mn浓度60 g/L为九州虫草菌丝生长极限浓度。菌丝中Mn含量随培养基中Mn浓度的增大而显著升高,10 g/L Mn时,菌丝细胞中Mn积累量达到细胞干重的1.0013%。九州虫草菌丝中过氧化产物丙二醛（MDA）、可溶性蛋白（SP）含量、可溶性糖浓度与培养基中Mn浓度呈负相关,实验组与对照组差异显著。抗氧化酶（过氧化氢酶（CAT）、过氧化物酶（POD）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD））活性随着培养基中Mn浓度增大而显著升高,但变化趋势不同。九州虫草菌丝细胞不可溶性组分中Mn的量（91.51%—98.6%）显著高于可溶部分（1.40%—8.49%）。九州虫草菌丝细胞壁离子交换量（CEC）随着培养基中Mn浓度的升高变化不明显。说明在九州虫草菌丝对Mn的富集过程中,其细胞壁、细胞膜和细胞器对于Mn结合发挥了主要作用,细胞质中可溶性成分对Mn的结合发挥次要作用。在Mn的胁迫下,增强抗氧化酶系统的协同作用以清除大量自由基是细胞对锰耐性的重要机制。     

Manganese accumulation in pancreatic beta-cells and its stimulation by glucose.

Electrothermal atomic-absorption spectroscopy was employed for measuring manganese in beta-cell-rich pancreatic islets microdissected from ob/ob mice. The islet content of endogenous manganese was 80 mumol/kg dry wt., which is about half as much as found in the exocrine pancreas. The initial uptake was characterized by two components, with approximate Km values of 35 microM and 3.7 microM respectively. After 60 min of incubation with 0.25 mM-Mn2+, the intracellular concentration of manganese corresponded to an almost 25-fold accumulation compared with that of the extracellular medium. When exposed to 20 mM-D-glucose, the islets retained more manganese, owing to suppression of its mobilization. The glucose inhibition of efflux was prompt and reversible, as indicated from direct recordings of manganese in a perifusion medium. D-Glucose was an equally potent inhibitor of efflux in the presence of 15 microM- and 1.28 mM-Ca2+. The inhibitory action disappeared when metabolism was suppressed by adding 0.1 mM-N-ethylmaleimide or by lowering the temperature from 37 degrees C to 2 degrees C. At a concentration of 0.25 mM, Mn2+ abolished the insulin-releasing action of D-glucose, exerting only moderate suppression of its metabolism. The addition of Mn2+ resulted in inhibition of basal insulin release in the presence of 1.28 mM-Ca2+, but not in a Ca2+-deficient medium. The studies indicate that the previously observed phenomenon of glucose inhibition of 45Ca efflux has a counterpart in the suppression of manganese mobilization from the pancreatic islets. With the demonstration of a pronounced glucose inhibition of manganese efflux, it is evident that Mn2+ may represent a useful tool for exploring the mechanism of glucose-induced retention of calcium in the pancreatic beta-cells.     

Human pathologies associated with defective RNA transport and localization in the nervous system.

RNA localization is emerging as an important process to restrict certain proteins to specific subcellular domains and thus spatially control the expression of genes within cells. It is used, for instance, to compartmentalize the developing embryo during early embryogenesis. The localization of RNA also plays important roles later during development, such as in asymmetric cell divisions, cell migration and the outgrowth and pathfinding of axons and dendrites. In differentiated cells, it serves to subdivide the cell into functionally distinct compartments. For example, in mature neurons it is believed to contribute to the plastic changes of individual synapses underlying learning and memory. In this review, we highlight the importance of subcellular RNA localization for the function of the nervous system and neurological diseases associated with defective RNA localization and translation. These diseases include fragile X mental retardation syndrome, spinocerebellar ataxia and spinal muscular atrophy.     

Modeling xeroderma pigmentosum associated neurological pathologies with patients-derived iPSCs

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a group of genetic disorders caused by mutations of XP-associated genes, resulting in impairment of DNA repair. XP patients frequently exhibit neurological degeneration, but the underlying mechanism is unknown, in part due to lack of proper disease models. Here, we generated patientspecific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) harboring mutations in five different XP genes including XPA, XPB, XPC, XPG, and XPV. These iPSCs were further differentiated to neural cells, and their susceptibility to DNA damage stress was investigated. Mutation of XPA in either neural stem cells (NSCs) or neurons resulted in severe DNA damage repair defects, and these neural cells with mutant XPA were hyper-sensitive to DNA damage-induced apoptosis. Thus, XP-mutant neural cells represent valuable tools to clarify the molecular mechanisms of neurological abnormalities in the XP patients.     

Stress protein synthesis and accumulation after traumatic injury of crayfish CNS

By several days after a crush injury of crayfish CNS, the wound site heals. Changes in protein synthesis and accumulation occur at the lesion site and nearby. During the first few hours, synthesis of 35, 70, 90, and 150 kDa proteins is induced in the injured tissue. By one day, the relative amounts of 70–90 kDa proteins increase dramatically, particularly at the crush site and adjacent to it. The 70 kDa proteins, which are related to mammalian stress proteins (SPs), remain elevated for at least one month in the traumatized region or nearby. The crushed tissue contains an SP70 isoform not present in its uncrushed counterpart. These biochemical changes may reflect the cellular changes that accompany wound healing and/or a cellular stress response to compensate for the lesion. Since similar adaptations occur in the mammalian CNS, they may represent a phylogenetically conserved attempt to retard or repair CNS tissue deterioration.     

Mechanism of accumulation of prion amyloid in the CNS in experimental amyotrophic leukospongiosis]

The mechanism of accumulation of prion amyloid in guinea pig CNS in experimental slow virus disease--amyotrophic leuco-spongiosis (AL) was studied. The complex histochemical, immuno-cytochemical and ultrastructural studies revealed specific amyloid deposits in a few brain capillaries and in most of pia matter vessels. Taking into account the high AL agent titer in spleen throughout the disease period, conclusion was drawn of entering AL agent in CNS through blood-liquor barrier and blood-brain barrier. It was supposed that primary immune system damaging took place in AL pathogenesis.     

Microtubules associated with nuclear pore complexes and coated pits in the CNS

Summary Using a new albumin prefixation technique, microtubules have been observed in close association with the nuclear pores of neurons and glia. Thus, microtubules may be involved in such phenomena as anchoring, migration or rotation of the nucleus or in chemical messenger transport between nucleus and cytoplasm. Microtubules are also seen running close to the coated pits of dendrites. The implications are discussed.The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of grants from the British Medical Research Council (E.G.G.) and USPHS grants NS 09678 and NS 04053; National Institutes of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke (L.E.W.). We thank Hilary Samson for excellent technical collaboration, Julie Barron and Trevor King for technical assistance and Ann Harris for secretarial help     

The role of lymphotoxin signaling in the development of autoimmune pancreatitis and associated secondary extra-pancreatic pathologies

The pathogenic mechanisms of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), an increasingly recognized, immune-mediated form of chronic pancreatitis, have so far remained elusive. Treatment options for AIP are currently limited and disease relapse is frequent. Still, AIP can be characterized by specific clinical and histologic features. It has turned out that as described in other autoimmune diseases the generation of tertiary lymphoid organs is also a hallmark of patients with AIP. We have recently demonstrated that pancreata derived from human AIP patients display overexpression of lymphotoxin (LT) α and β and LTβR-target genes expressed by immune cells but also by irradiation resistant cells of the pancreas (e.g. acinar cells). Expression of LT α and β on acinar cells in murine pancreata Tg(Ela1-Lta,b) mice led to chronic pancreatitis and sufficed to reproduce key features of human AIP including the development of autoimmunity and AIP associated secondary extra pancreatic pathologies. Here, we review how aberrant and ectopic expression of LT α and β can induce inflammation and autoimmune diseases in general and how this knowledge might specifically lead to an alternative treatment for patients suffering from autoimmune pancreatitis.