Shadoo/PrP (Sprn0/0/Prnp0/0) double knockout mice

Shadoo (Sho) is a brain glycoprotein with similarities to the unstructured region of PrP^C. Frameshift alleles of the Sho gene, Sprn, are reported in variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) patients while Sprn mRNA knockdown in PrP-null (Prnp^0/0) embryos produces lethality, advancing Sho as the hypothetical PrP-like “pi” protein. Also, Sho levels are reduced as misfolded PrP accumulates during prion infections. To penetrate these issues we created Sprn null alleles (Daude et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 2012; 109(23): 9035–40). Results from the challenge of Sprn null and TgSprn transgenic mice with rodent-adapted prions coalesce to define downregulation of Sho as a “tracer” for the formation of misfolded PrP. However, classical BSE and rodent-adapted BSE isolates may behave differently, as they do for other facets of the pathogenic process, and this intriguing variation warrants closer scrutiny. With regards to physiological function, double knockout mice (Sprn^0/0/Prnp^0/0) mice survived to over 600 d of age. This suggests that Sho is not pi, or, given the accumulating data for many activities for PrP^C, that the pi hypothesis invoking a discrete signaling pathway to maintain neuronal viability is no longer tenable.     

Preparation, spectroscopic properties, crystal and molecular structure of pentacarbonyl(3-methyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole-N)tungsten(0)

The synthesis and molecular structure of pentacarbonyl(3-methyl-l-(pyridin-2-yl)-l,2,4-triazole-N⁴)tungsten(0) are described. Surprisingly the ligand is bound to the W(CO)₅ moiety via the triazole N⁴ (N24) atom, and the pyridine to triazole link is between the pyridine C² (Cl) atom and the N¹ (N21) atom of the triazole ring. The compound crystallises in the space group C2/c with a=24.559(18), b=9.693(16), c=13.817(12) Å, β=108.48(12)° and Z=8. A full matrix least-squares refinement resulted in a final R=0.052 (R_w=0.065) for 3688 unique reflections.     

Spin crossover in a mononuclear compound [Fe(EPPA)(bpym)](ClO4)2 (EPPA = N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(3-aminopropyl)-2-(aminomethyl)pyridine, bpym = 2,2′-bipyrimidine): Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties

The synthesis, magnetic properties and single crystal study of a new spin crossover compound [Fe(EPPA)(bpym)](ClO₄)₂ with EPPA = N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(3-aminopropyl)-2-(aminomethyl)pyridine, bpym = 2,2′-bipyrimidine are reported. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data collected in the temperature range 10-294 K reveal the occurrence of a relatively cooperative spin transition with T_1/2 = 108 K. The crystal structure of [Fe(EPPA)(bpym)](ClO₄)₂ was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. The structure of the complex consists of mononuclear [Fe(EPPA)(bpym)](ClO₄)₂ units. The potentially bis-bidentate bpym ligand acting as a bidentate one, is coordinated to iron(II) in cis-position by two nitrogen atoms. The four remaining positions in the pseudooctahedral [FeN₆] core are occupied by one pyridinic and three aliphatic nitrogens of the EPPA ligand. The network of cooperative links in the crystal lattice is represented by H-bonding and π stacking interactions.     

The role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in skeletal muscle regeneration. Studies in TNF-alpha(-/-) and TNF-alpha(-/-)/LT-alpha(-/-) mice.

The role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), an important mediator of the inflammatory response after injury, was investigated in regenerating skeletal muscle. The pattern of expression of TNF-alpha during muscle regeneration was examined by immunohistochemistry in tissue sections of crush-injured or transplanted muscle autografts and in primary cultures of adult skeletal muscle. TNF-alpha was highly expressed in injured myofibers, inflammatory cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and mast cells. Myoblasts and myotubes also expressed TNF-alpha in primary muscle cultures and tissue sections. The essential role of TNF-alpha and its homologue lymphotoxin-alpha (LT-alpha) during muscle regeneration was assessed by basic histology in TNF-alpha(-/-) and TNF-alpha(-/-)/LT-alpha(-/-) mice. No difference was apparent in the onset or pattern of muscle regeneration (i.e., inflammatory response, activation and fusion of myoblasts) between the two strains of null mice or between nulls and normal control mice. However, both strains of null mice appeared more prone to bystander damage of host muscle and regeneration distant from the site of injury/transplantation. Although expression of TNF-alpha may play an important role in muscle regeneration, the studies in the null mice show that redundancy within the cytokine system (or some other response) can effectively compensate for the absence of TNF-alpha in vivo.