Factors affecting L-malate activation of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase from chicken liver

Mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase is activated by high concentrations of L-malate. In this paper, several factors affecting this activation on chicken liver enzyme have been investigated. The results obtained show clearly that this phenomenon is an intrinsic property of this enzyme since it does not depend on pH or ionic strength of the reaction medium. However, L-malate activation decreases when NAD+ concentration diminishes (5mM----0.2 mM) in such a way that when NAD+ concentration is 0.2 mM, L-malate does not activate mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase. On the other hand, several activators of this enzymatic system, such as citrate or phosphate, also produce the elimination of this activation by L-malate; in this case, the phenomenon seems be due to a competitive binding to a regulatory site of the different metabolites implied.     

Does "ichthyosis uteri" have malignant potential? : A case report of squamous cell carcinoma of endometrium associated with extensive ichthyosis uteri

This short report discusses a case of solitary colonic polypoid ganglioneuroma associated with melanosis coli in a woman with no systemic manifestations. To our knowledge this is the first ganglioneuroma reported in the literature in association with melanosis coli. The nature and significance of this event remains unclear, although this may be coincidental due to the laxative intake. Further investigation is necessary to clarify this point. The interest of this case lies moreover in the rarity of this entity and its endoscopic and histologic resemblance to sessile polyps frequent in the clinical practice.     

TCRBV20S1 polymorphism does not influence the susceptibility to type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis in the Sardinian population

Among the different T-cell receptor (TCR) BV20S1 polymorphisms, nucleotide substitution at position 524 results in the introduction of a stop codon, whose potential functional relevance is still unknown. We have recently showed in Sardinian subjects the most elevated allele frequency ever reported worldwide for this “null allele” (0.44). As this variant generates a gap in the TCR repertoire, this preliminary finding prompted us to further analyze the role of this polymorphism in the susceptibility to type 1 diabetes (T1D) and multiple sclerosis (MS), which are extremely common in this population. With this aim, we evaluated the influence of the TCRBV20S1 polymorphism by assessing it with the transmission disequilibirum test (TDT) in 652 T1D and 616 MS families, without detecting any significant difference. We conclude that the high frequency of this null allele in Sardinia is not directly related to the high incidence of these autoimmune diseases observed in this founder population.     

A step toward barcoding life: a model-based, decision-theoretic method to assign genes to preexisting species groups

A major part of the barcoding of life problem is assigning newly sequenced or sampled individuals to existing groups that are preidentified externally (by a taxonomist, for example). This problem involves evaluating the statistical evidence towards associating a sequence from a new individual with one group or another. The main concern of our current research is to perform this task in a fast and accurate manner. To accomplish this we have developed a model-based, decision-theoretic framework based on the coalescent theory. Under this framework, we utilized both distance and the posterior probability of a group, given the sequences from members of this group and the sequence from a newly sampled individual to assign this new individual. We believe that this approach makes efficient use of the available information in the data. Our preliminary results indicated that this approach is more accurate than using a simple measure of distance for assignment.     

An Atg13 protein-mediated self-association of the Atg1 protein kinase is important for the induction of autophagy

Autophagy pathways in eukaryotic cells mediate the turnover of a diverse set of cytoplasmic components, including damaged organelles and abnormal protein aggregates. Autophagy-mediated degradation is highly regulated, and defects in these pathways have been linked to a number of human disorders. The Atg1 protein kinase appears to be a key site of this control and is targeted by multiple signaling pathways to ensure the appropriate autophagic response to changing environmental conditions. Despite the importance of this kinase, relatively little is known about the molecular details of Atg1 activation. In this study we show that Atg13, an evolutionarily conserved regulator of Atg1, promotes the formation of a specific Atg1 self-interaction in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The appearance of this Atg1-Atg1 complex is correlated with the induction of autophagy, and conditions that disrupt this complex result in diminished levels of both autophagy and Atg1 kinase activity. Moreover, the addition of a heterologous dimerization domain to Atg1 resulted in elevated kinase activity both in vivo and in vitro. The formation of this complex appears to be an important prerequisite for the subsequent autophosphorylation of Thr-226 in the Atg1 activation loop. Previous work indicates that this modification is necessary and perhaps sufficient for Atg1 kinase activity. Interestingly, this Atg1 self-association does not require Atg17, suggesting that this second conserved regulator might activate Atg1 in a manner mechanistically distinct from that of Atg13. In all, this work suggests a model whereby this self-association stimulates the autophosphorylation of Atg1 within its activation loop.     

Exotic tropical plant Psidium cattleianum: a review on prospects and threats

Psidium cattleianum Sabine or strawberry guava is an exotic tropical plant belonging to Myrtaceae family. Generally, this ornamental shrub is prized for its aesthetic value. However, this low-profile plant is an untapped source of therapeutically relevant phytochemicals, evident from the structural investigations. The delicious tart ripe fruits can be eaten fresh, made into a plethora of food products and pectin can be extracted from the pulp. Ameliorative attributes of this shrub viz. antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiproliferative have been reported in recent times. On the other hand, this shrub has emerged as a habitat-altering pest in Hawaii, threatening the rare endemic flora. Releasing biocontrol agents into the wilderness to hinder the unchecked proliferation of this hardy shrub is being speculated and conducted, without any obvious success till now. In this mini review the industrial and pharmaceutical prospect of this little known plant will be discussed. It is believed that, this review will serve as a useful reference and encourage future research on hitherto unknown potential of this exotic plant.     

1-Methyladenine in urine of an adenosine deaminase-deficient adult without immunodeficiency

Procedures are described for the isolation and identification of 1-methyladenine from the urine of an adult female with adenosine deaminase deficiency but no immunodeficiency. Evidence is provided indicating that much of the usual urinary excretion product, 1-methyladenosine, is converted to 1-methyladenine in this subject prior to excretion. Since the nucleoside phosphorylases present in normal individuals do not act on 1-methyladenosine, this suggests that a phosphorylase with unusual properties is present in this adenosine deaminase-deficient subject. A possible role for this phosphorylase in removal of deoxyadenosine in this subject is discussed.     

A novel mutation in the invariant AG of the acceptor splice site of intron 4 of the beta-hexosaminidase alpha-subunit gene in two unrelated American black GM2-gangliosidosis (Tay-Sachs disease) patients.

Samples of genomic DNA from three unrelated American black infants having both biochemical and clinical features of classical infantile Tay-Sachs disease were sequenced following PCR amplification. A G----T transversion was observed in the AG acceptor splice site preceding exon 5 of the beta-hexosaminidase alpha-subunit gene in the first black family. This transversion changed the acceptor splice site from the consensus sequence, AG, to AT, thereby interfering with splicing at this intron 4/exon 5 junction. The proband was homozygous for this mutation; his mother and a brother are heterozygous. The same mutation was found in a second, apparently unrelated, black GM2-gangliosidosis patient. The second patient was a compound heterozygote, as only one allele carried this mutation. The mother and a brother in this second family are carriers for this mutation, while the father and a noncarrier sister are normal for this region of the gene. The third proband did not have this mutation; nor did the mother of a fourth black proband. Eight other independently ascertained non-black, non-Jewish, GM2-gangliosidosis families did not have this mutation. The observation of the same novel mutation in two unrelated black GM2-gangliosidosis patients indicates that the American black population has segregating within it at least one GM2-gangliosidosis mutation which may be specific to this population and not a result of migration.     

Key points and problems concerning chemosensitivity tests, with special reference to MTT assay]

Recently, the semiautomated tetrazolium-based MTT colorimetric assay have been used to measure chemosensitivity. We also have been used this assay for 4 ovarian clear cell carcinoma cell lines to investigate the chemosensitivity of this tumor. In this study, several problems have been faced to be solved. In this paper, we pointed out these problems and indicated solutions.     

An investigation of the absolute configuration of the potent histamine H3 receptor antagonist GT-2331 using vibrational circular dichroism

GT-2331 [(+)-1] is one of the most potent members of a class of chiral drug substances used to regulate the synthesis and release of histamine by the histamine H3 receptor, and as such, is an important biomarker for pharmaceutical companies conducting research in this field. In addition to overall structural features, the bioactivity of this molecule has also been found to be highly dependent on absolute stereochemistry, making the reliable assignment of this property a necessity. X-ray diffraction studies have provided conflicting data, leaving its three-dimensional structure uncertain. In view of this, its absolute configuration was investigated by vibrational circular dichroism. Results from this study provided independent assignment of this important molecule as the (1S,2S)-enantiomer.     

Mammary pathogenic Escherichia coli

Pathogenic Escherichia coli can be classified into several pathotypes, and it is believed that each pathotype carries one or more specific gene repertoire (or virulence factors combination) that distinguishes them from non-pathogenic E. coli strains and from other pathotypes. In contrast to this notion, it was proposed that this is not the case for E. coli mastitis, a common disease in farm animals and that any given E. coli isolate can cause this disease, even strains that are considered non-pathogenic. In this review we will re-examine this latter concept and recent advances in the study E. coli mastitis.     

不同地理飞蝗种群的遗传多样性

用GenBank中飞蝗Locusta migratoriaL.的序列来设计微卫星引物,并对这些引物的有效性进行验证。结果表明,在所设计的3对引物中,只有1对为有效引物,可扩增出微卫星位点。序列分析表明本位点是一个不连续的重复微卫星位点。该多态微卫星位点含有14个等位基因,不同飞蝗地理种群的等位基因数目、大小和频率都存在较大的差异。对该位点各等位基因型进行χ2检验,基因型频率的观察和期望杂合度分别为0.4578和0.8836,该位点不属于Hardy-Weinberg平衡位点(χ2=733.12,P=0.0000)。该微卫星位点表现出高度的多态性说明是分析飞蝗种群遗传多样性的优良分子遗传标记。     

Viscoelastic models for enzymes with multiple conformational states

In this article we represent an enzyme capable of exhibiting more than one conformational state as a viscoelastic unit embedded in a fluid medium. We show how this viscoelastic unit is thermally activated to make transitions between equilibrium states, and propose this model as a mesoscopic representation for transitions between conformational states of an enzyme. In this representation, kinetic constants for transitions between conformations are given explicitly in terms of interactions between the enzyme and the medium. Two applications of this model are discussed: mnemonic enzymes, and co-operative enzymes exhibiting half-of-the-sites reactivity.     

Axonal transport of [3H]serotonin in an identified neuron of Aplysia californica

The distribution of (Na+ + K+) ATPase over the plasma membranes of the proximal convoluted tubule from canine renal cortex has been determined. Ultrathin frozen sections of this tissue were stained with rabbit antibodies to this enzyme and ferritin-conjugated goat antirabbit gamma-globulin. It is demonstrated that high concentrations of this enzyme uniformly line the intercellular spaces of this epithelium. The consequences of this observation are discussed in terms of the low resistant tight junctions of these tubules and the isotonic fluid transport which they support. Furthermore, antibodies to (Na+ + K+) ATPase recognize an antigen on the luminal surfaces of the tubules within the brush border. It is proposed that the enzyme is present in this region of the plasma membrane as well, although at much lower concentration. To further substantiate this conclusion, a brush border fraction has been purified from rabbit kidney and been shown to contain significant (Na+ + K+) ATPase. These results contradict earlier conclusions about the location of (Na+ + K+) ATPase in this tissue.     

Genetic aspects of the organization of legumin genes in pea

We have compared physical and genetic maps of the region around the legJ gene in pea. In this vicinity there are four B-type legumin genes, arranged as two close pairs. The detection of a recombination event within this gene cluster allows the orientation of this group of genes within the surrounding linkage group to be determined. The relationship between physical and genetic distances in this region is discussed, as are the implications of this for relating physical and genetic maps elsewhere in the pea genome.     

静态荧光光谱法研究杜氏盐藻的生长规律

测量了杜氏盐藻不同生长期的静态荧光光谱,得出了杜氏盐藻生长规律曲线。通过与传统的分光光度计法和血球计数板法研究盐藻生长规律的比较发现,该方法反映的是活盐藻细胞浓度的变化情况,更能反映盐藻实际生长规律;不仅操作简便,灵敏度高,而且可以实现远距离非接触测量。     

Parasite prevalence and host sample size

Parasite prevalence is a summary statistic familiar to biologists. However, that there is an interspecific relationship between prevalence and sample size (the number of host individuals examined for parasites) is not widely appreciated. In this article, Richard Gregory and Tim Blackburn present some examples of this negative relationship, explain the mechanisms that underlie this pattern and discuss the potential problems this association might create for biological studies.     

Rhythmicity of Flowering in Pharbitis nil

When young seedlings of Pharbitis nil are grown under continuous light, except for a single inductive dark period, they flower to a varying degree, depending on when this dark period is given. Plants become sensitive to this induction approximately three days after the seedlings emerge from the soil. The expression of flowering varies in a rhythmic fashion for three or more cycles, when an inductive dark period is given at progressively later times. The time between maximum expression of flowering is 24 hours or somewhat longer. It appears necessary that the inductive dark period be of sufficient duration, to only partially induce the plants to flower for this rhythm to be expressed. Under the conditions employed in this study, this duration is 12 hours. If this rhythm is endogenous, it exists at least from when the plants emerged from the soil since no environmental cues are given after that time, and it raises questions of the interpretations of data from previous studies with this organism.     

Substrate specificity and kinetic properties of neutral maltase of human granulocytes

A neutral maltase immunologically similar to this of kidney exist in human granulocytes. We have studied some kinetic properties of this enzyme on a microsomal fraction of granulocytes. Its optimal pH is very closed of 6.8 and this enzyme, highly specific for maltose, hydrolysis very weakly the nigeriosis. Maltotriose, maltotetraose and maltopentanose are inhibitors of this enzyme, which is not inhibited by all disaccharides studied.