Iron deficiency differently affects metabolic responses in soybean roots

Iron deficiency responses were investigated in roots of soybean, a Strategy I plant species. Soybean responds to iron deficiency by decreasing growth, both at the root and shoot level. Chlorotic symptoms in younger leaves were evident after a few days of iron deficiency, with chlorophyll content being dramatically decreased. Moreover, several important differences were found as compared with other species belonging to the same Strategy I. The main differences are (i) a lower capacity to acidify the hydroponic culture medium, that was also reflected by a lower H(+)-ATPase activity as determined in a plasma membrane-enriched fraction isolated from the roots; (ii) a drastically reduced activity of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase enzyme; (iii) a decrease in both cytosolic and vacuolar pHs; (iv) an increase in the vacuolar phosphate concentration, and (v) an increased exudation of organic carbon, particularly citrate, phenolics, and amino acids. Apparently, in soybean roots, some of the responses to iron deficiency, such as the acidification of the rhizosphere and other related processes, do not occur or occur only at a lower degree. These results suggest that the biochemical mechanisms induced by this nutritional disorder are differently regulated in this plant. A possible role of inorganic phosphate in the balance of intracellular pHs is also discussed.     

A moderate threonine deficiency differently affects protein metabolism in tissues of early-weaned piglets

A moderate threonine deficiency may affect differently tissue protein metabolism. In this study, we compared protein metabolism in the small and large intestines, the liver, and the carcass of piglets (Sus scrofa) pair-fed either a control well-balanced diet (C: 9.3 g threonine/kg diet) or a low threonine diet (LT: 6.5 g threonine/kg diet) for 2 weeks. In the small intestine, the LT diet did not modify protein deposition, fractional protein synthesis rate (K_S) and AA protein composition. Ubiquitin mRNA level, a component of the ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic pathway, was significantly decreased in the jejunum of the LT piglets. Protein deposition measured in the carcass and the colon, and K_S measured in the semitendinosus muscle and the colon, did not differ between LT and C piglets. Nevertheless, in these compartments, threonine content was reduced indicating deposition of proteins less rich in threonine. In the liver, protein retention was reduced, K_S was increased and AA protein composition was modified in the LT compared to the C piglets. In conclusion compared to the other compartments, small intestinal protein metabolism seems to be less sensitive to a moderate dietary threonine deficiency. This indicates that dietary threonine extraction by the small intestine may reduce threonine availability for the other tissues when young piglets were fed a diet marginally deficient in threonine.     

Iron deficiency stress induced morphological and physiological changes in root tips of sunflower

Typical morphological and physiological changes were observed in iron deficient sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L. cv. Sobrid) roots. These changes, or so-called iron stress reactions, are exclusively confined to the root tips. Typical morphological changes included additional cell division in the rhizodermis layer and enhanced formation of root hairs, leading to an increase in root diameter ("swollen root tips"). These morphological changes were correlated with physiological changes such as increased release of protons, accumulation of phenols in the rhizodermis, and an increased ability of the roots to reduce iron-III compounds ("reducing capacity"). A marked increase in ability of the root tips to take up and translocate iron occurred simultaneously with these changes. There is good evidence that these morphological and physiological changes are reflections of an effective regulatory mechanism for enhanced mobilization of sparingly soluble iron-III compounds in the rhizosphere and for iron uptake by sunflower plants.     

Glutamine-synthetase isoforms appearing in sunflower cotyledons during germination

Ion-exchange chromatography has been used to separate the isoforms of glutamine synthetase (GS; EC 6.3.1.2) appearing in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Peredovic) cotyledons during seedling growth under different light and nitrogen conditions. Both in dry and imbibed seeds, only a single form of GS (GS_s) was detected. Upon seed germination, the GS_s isoform was gradually replaced by cytosolic (GS₁) and plastidic (GS₂) isoforms. Light and nitrate decreased the levels of GS₁. In contrast, the appearance of GS₂ was greatly stimulated by light. Nitrate also had a positive effect, particularly in the light. Light and nitrate acted synergistically on the appearance of GS₂. The GS₂:GS₁ ratio in cotyledons of 9-d-old seedlings ranged from about 2, in darkness and nitrate-deprivation conditions, to 16 under light and nitrate application. The possible physiological roles of the distinct GS isoforms appearing in the epigeal cotyledons of sunflower during germination, and their differential regulation by light and nitrate, are discussed.Abbreviations GS glutamine synthetase - GS₁ cytosolic GS - GS₂ plastidic GS - GS_s GS from seeds This work was supported by a grant from Dirección General de Investigatión Científica y Técnica (PB90-0777) and Plan Andaluz de Investigación (3261), Spain. P.C. gratefully acknowledges receipt of a scholarship from Junta de Andalucía. The valuable technical assistance of Mrs. G. Alcalá is greatly appreciated. We are also grateful to Eurosemillas (Córdoba) for supplying us with sunflower seeds.     

Dextromethorphan affects ventilation differently in male and female rats

Schlenker, Evelyn H. Dextromethorphan affectsventilation differently in male and female rats. J. Appl.Physiol. 81(5): 1911-1916, 1996.Subcutaneous administrationof aspartic acid results in a long-lasting but reversible depression ofventilation in male but not in female rats. Aspartic acid acts onN-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. The present studytested the hypothesis that a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor antagonist,dextromethorphan (Dex), would depress ventilation in female rats andstimulate it in male rats. Moreover, Dex administered prior to asparticacid should prevent the aspartic acid-induced depression of ventilationin male rats. In female rats, Dex caused a 30% depression ofventilation relative to saline at 5 and 10 mg/kg (P < 0.01)but not at the highest dose (20 mg/kg). In male rats, Dex had no effecton ventilation. At a dose of 20 mg/kg, Dex depressed oxygen consumptionto 50% of the saline value at all time points in female rats(P < 0.001) and in male rats 45 and 60 minafter administration. The time points when Dex depressed ventilationand oxygen consumption were different in female rats, suggesting thatthe depression of ventilation was not the result of a depression inoxygen consumption. During a hypercapnic challenge (7%CO₂), female rats treated with 5 and 10 mg/kg of Dexexhibited a smaller increase in ventilatory response relative to salinetreatment. At a dose of 20 mg/kg, the hypercapnic responsiveness ofmale rats was markedly stimulated (85.8 ± 8.95 ml/min) relative tosaline (50.6 ± 9.14 ml/min; P < 0.001). Finally, Dexadministered before aspartic acid prevented the aspartic acid-induced depression of ventilation in male rats. Thus, in rats, Dex has gender-specific effects on ventilation and these effects are not associated with changes in oxygen consumption.

     

Iron deficiency

Iron deficiency and anemia affect a substantial portion of the world’s population, provoking severe health problems to the people suffering these conditions, as well as important economic losses to the regions in which this nutritional deficiency is significant. In this work, the principal causes and consequences produced by this deficiency are discussed, as well as the different strategies that can be applied in order to prevent and solve this nutritional problem.     

Iron deficiency in pea plants effect on catalase,peroxidase, chlorophyll and proteins of leaves

Summary Pea plants (Pisum sativum L., var. Lincoln) were grown in nutrient cultures at 4 levels of iron, 0.60 ppm (low), 0.96 ppm (low), 3.0 ppm (normal) and 30 ppm (excess) for 45 days.Leaf extracts were assayed for chlorophyll, proteins, catalase and peroxidase activities. Catalase and chlorophyll were closely related to iron supply. An inverse relationship was observed between peroxidase and catalase activities. Peroxidase was increased both at dificiency and excess iron levels, but was depressed at normal iron supply. The peroxidase/catalase ratio varied with iron supply and showed a minimum value of about 39 at 15 and 30 days growth, at adequate iron supplies.Measurement of catalase activity and the use of peroxidase/catalase ratios appear to be helpful in identifying iron deficiencies in peas.     

Insulin receptor isoforms are differently expressed during human osteoblastogenesis

The reciprocal influence and bidirectional cross-talk between bone and energy metabolism is a recent finding, since the discovery that the product of osteoblasts osteocalcin increases pancreatic β-cell proliferation, insulin secretion and sensitivity. Conversely, the anabolic effect of insulin is crucial for osteoblast function, as suggested by severe osteopenia and increased incidence of fracture in insulin-deficient diabetic patients. The Insulin Receptor (IR) tyrosine kinase, which is commonly expressed in the insulin-sensitive liver, muscle, and adipose tissues, is also found in animal and human bone. Here we show that in human bone two insulin receptor isoforms (IR-A and IR-B) are differently expressed. Mature human osteoblasts predominantly express IR-B, whereas IR-A is mainly expressed in osteoblast precursors, and IR-B/IR-A mRNA ratio significantly increases along the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stromal precursors. Moreover, transfected osteoprogenitors overexpressing IR-A show an increased proliferation rate. In contrast, when transfected with and overexpressing IR-B, their proliferation rate is reduced, corresponding to a more differentiated phenotype. In conclusion, the fine regulation of the expression of different isoforms of IR during osteogenic differentiation confirms the important role played by IR in bone homeostasis, providing the basis for new perspectives on the various involvements of IR isoforms in bone pathophysiology.     

Essential fatty acid deficiency affects the fatty acid composition of the rat small intestinal and colonic mucosa differently

The intestinal mucosal fatty acid (FA) composition was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats after 7 and 23 weeks on an isocaloric diet with qualitatively different essential fatty acid (EFA) composition. For comparison, serum and red blood cell (RBC) membranes were investigated in parallel. The molar percentage of most FAs differed significantly between serum and RBC membranes both in controls and rats fed an EFA deficient (EFAD) diet. The influence of the EFA diet was similar on serum and RBC membrane phospholipids except for arachidonic acid (AA) which was more markedly decreased in serum than in RBC membranes. The FA composition was similar in ileal and colonic mucosa, markedly differing from the jejunal mucosa, in which the AA concentration was lower (13.0+/-0.8 versus 16.8+/-0.5 and 15. 7+/-2.8 mol%) and the linoleic acid (LA) concentration higher (34. 0+/-1.6 versus 17.8+/-1.3 and 15.5+/-2.8 mol%, respectively). The EFAD diet induced a more than five-fold decrease in the jejunal and ileal concentration of LA from 33.9+/-1.6 to 6.0+/-1.5 mol% and 17. 8+/-1.3 to 2.1+/-0.7 mol%, respectively. AA decreased more in the ileal and colonic mucosa than in the jejunum. The changes in the FA composition of the intestinal compartments after EFAD diet were different from that in serum and RBC membranes, and did not further change after 23 weeks compared to 7 weeks after introduction of the diet. The study shows that dietary influences are tissue specific and serum or RBC membranes do not mirror local changes in any of the different intestinal segments.     

BDSF对白假丝酵母体外作用的研究

白假丝酵母(又称白念珠菌)是人体重要的条件致病真菌.在正常人体中,白假丝酵母是一种无害共生真菌;在免疫力低下人群中,白假丝酵母可引起假丝酵母病,轻者可导致黏膜感染,重者可发展为系统性疾病,甚至危及生命.白假丝酵母从酵母相至菌丝相的形态转变是极其重要的致病因素之一.BDSF是小分子短链脂肪酸,由Burkholderia cenocepacia分泌产生.对酵母相白假丝酵母,在BDSF≥30 μmol/L时因菌丝生长受强烈抑制,无法从酵母相向菌丝相转变.而对菌丝相白假丝酵母,当BDSF在30 μmol/L和60 μmol/L时,菌丝进一步生长并产生分支,但随菌丝分支生长,新生的分支菌丝不断转变为酵母相;当BDSF增加至120 μmol/L时,菌丝生长和分支状况几乎完全受抑制.由此可见,BDSF不仅强烈抑制菌丝生长,还可促使新生的菌丝相向酵母相转化.     

Partial deficiency of eosinophil peroxidase

A new case of partial eosinophil peroxidase deficiency is reported. It was identified and elaborated using an automated flow-cytochemical analyzer. The findings were confirmed by conventional cytochemistry on blood smears: decreased staining intensity in peroxidase and Sudan Black staining. These results are in agreement with other reports on this extremely rare peroxidase deficiency, which probably is of no clinical relevance.     

Aspergillus fumigatus tryptophan metabolic route differently affects host immunity

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Willow-shrub encroachment affects physicochemical properties differently in two subtropical freshwater marshes

Wetlands Ecology and Management - Shrub encroachment has been increasing at unprecedented rates worldwide and a knowledge gap exists regarding how nutrient dynamics differ in shrub-encroached...