Interactions of the DNA intercalator acridine orange, with itself, with caffeine, and with double stranded DNA

Caffeine (CAF) inhibits the intercalation of acridine orange (AO) into cellular DNA. Optical absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy were employed to determine the molecular interactions of AO with itself, with CAF, and with double stranded herring sperm DNA (dsDNA). AO dimerization was observed at concentrations >2 micromol. The sharp increase in fluorescence (lambda(em)=530 nm) at 5 micromol of AO was attributed to AO multimer formation. From 0.5 to 5.0 micromol, the AO self-association binding constant (K(assoc)) was determined to be 38620 mol(-1), however, the presence of 150 mmol NaCl increased K(assoc) to 118000 mol(-1) attributed to the charge neutralization. The K(assoc) for AO with CAF was confirmed to be 256 mol(-1). K(assoc) for the binding of AO with 20 micromol DNA ranged from, 32000 mol(-1) at 2 micromol AO, to approximately 3700 mol(-1) at 10 micromol AO, in the absence of NaCl. This AO concentration dependency of K(assoc) value with DNA was attributed to AO intercalation into dsDNA at high dsDNA/AO ratios, and electrostatic binding of AO to dsDNA at low AO ratios. The findings provide information used to explain fluorescence intensity values at lambda(em) at 530 nm from studies that combine AO, caffeine, and dsDNA.     

A pheromonotropic peptide of Helicoverpa zea,with melanizing activity,interaction with PBAN,and distribution of immunoreactivity

The sequence of an 18-amino acid residue peptide was deduced from the gene encoding PBAN and other peptides with common C-termini in Helicoverpa zea. The peptide caused melanization in larvae and pheromone production in females of H. zea, and was designated pheromonotropic melanizing peptide (Hez-PMP). The peptide has a 83% sequence homology with a pheromonotropic peptide isolated from Pseudaletia separata. PMP caused melanization and mortality when injected into larvae just before molting. Whereas intense melanization was caused with a dose of 1,000 pmol, peak mortality occurred at 100 pmol, with 50% of larvae dying within 48 h after injection. Pheromonotropic activity of PMP was dose dependent. Co-injection of Hez-PMP and Hez-PBAN into a female resulted in suppression of the pheromonotropic effect of PBAN. Whole-mount immunocytochemical studies revealed PMP-like immunoreactivity in frontal ganglion, subesophageal, thoracic, and abdominal ganglia as well as the esophageal nerve.     

Studies with a plant fungicide,imazalil, with vapor-phase activity,in the therapy of human alternariosis

The use of a plant fungicide, the imidazole imazalil, in the therapy of human alternariosis is described. The patient's disease involved the palate, nose and sinuses, and had been unresponsive to conventional therapy. Imazalil has been used to treat Alternaria infections of plant materials. The patient's isolate was susceptible in vitro. We also showed that the drug was inhibitory to fungi in vitro as a vapor, not requiring contact by diffusion through agar or broth. The drug was used topically, by installation and irrigation, in this case and administered orally in doses of up to 1 200 mg daily, for 6 months. Peak serum concentrations exceeded 4 meg/ml. The infection was arrested but not cured. The drug was tolerated without evident toxicity, though an unpleasant taste and nausea at high doses were limiting.     

Mono-association of mice with non-cultivable,intestinal, segmented,filamentous bacteria

A technique is described so that mice mono-associated with non-cultivable, segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB's) can be produced for the first time. As SFB donors, mice were used which had an intestinal microflora consisting of both SFB's and bacteria of the genus Clostridium. Recipients were germ-free mice. It was demonstrated that the intraileal inoculation method was more effective than the orogastric route. Therefore, intestinal homogenates of donor mice were treated with filtered ethanol, diluted and administered intraileally to recipient mice. Evidence is presented that cage mates of the recipient mice were mono-associated with SFB's. The availability of these animals, i.e. in vivo monocultures of SFB's, allows taxonomic and functional characterization of SFB's, which was as yet not possible.Abbreviation SFB Segmented filamentous bacterium     

Desmoglein 3, via an interaction with E-cadherin, is associated with activation of Src

Background

Desmoglein 3 (Dsg3), a desmosomal adhesion protein, is expressed in basal and immediate suprabasal layers of skin and across the entire stratified squamous epithelium of oral mucosa. However, increasing evidence suggests that the role of Dsg3 may involve more than just cell-cell adhesion.

Methodology/Principal Findings

To determine possible additional roles of Dsg3 during epithelial cell adhesion we used overexpression of full-length human Dsg3 cDNA, and RNAi-mediated knockdown of this molecule in various epithelial cell types. Overexpression of Dsg3 resulted in a reduced level of E-cadherin but a colocalisation with the E-cadherin-catenin complex of the adherens junctions. Concomitantly these transfected cells exhibited marked migratory capacity and the formation of filopodial protrusions. These latter events are consistent with Src activation and, indeed, Src-specific inhibition reversed these phenotypes. Moreover Dsg3 knockdown, which also reversed the decreased level of E-cadherin, partially blocked Src phosphorylation.

Conclusions/Significance

Our data are consistent with the possibility that Dsg3, as an up-stream regulator of Src activity, helps regulate adherens junction formation.     

Titin-cap associates with,and regulates secretion of,Myostatin

Myostatin, a secreted growth factor, is a key negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. To identify modifiers of Myostatin function, we screened for Myostatin interacting proteins. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified Titin-cap (T-cap) protein as interacting with Myostatin. T-cap is a sarcomeric protein that binds to the N-terminal domain of Titin and is a substrate of the titin kinase. Mammalian two-hybrid studies, in vitro binding assays and protein truncations in the yeast two-hybrid system verified the specific interaction between processed mature Myostatin and full-length T-cap. Analysis of protein-protein interaction using surface plasmon resonance (Biacore, Uppsala, Sweden) kinetics revealed a high affinity between Myostatin and T-cap with a KD of 40 nM. When T-cap was stably overexpressed in C(2)C(12) myoblasts, the rate of cell proliferation was significantly increased. Western analyses showed that production and processing of Myostatin were not altered in cells overexpressing T-cap, but an increase in the retention of mature Myostatin indicated that T-cap may block Myostatin secretion. Bioassay for Myostatin confirmed that conditioned media from myoblasts overexpressing T-cap contained lower levels of Myostatin. Given that Myostatin negatively regulates myoblast proliferation, the increase in proliferation observed in myoblasts overexpressing T-cap could thus be due to reduced Myostatin secretion. These results suggest that T-cap, by interacting with Myostatin, controls Myostatin secretion in myogenic precursor cells without affecting the processing step of precursor Myostatin.     

Interaction of tRNA with Safranal, Crocetin, and Dimethylcrocetin

Saffron is the red dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L. flowers and used both as a spice and as a drug in traditional therapeutic. The biological activity of saffron in modern medicine is in development. Its numerous applications as an anti-oxidant and anti-cancer agent are due to its secondary metabolites and their derivatives (safranal, crocins, crocetin, dimethylcrocetin). The aim of this study was to examine the interaction of transfer RNA with safranal, crocetin, and dimethylcrocetin in aqueous solution at physiological conditions. Constant tRNA concentration (6.25 mM) and various drug/tRNA (phosphate) molar ratios of 1/48 to 1/8 were used. FT-IR and UV-Visible difference spectroscopic methods have been applied to determine the drug binding mode, the binding constants and the effects of drug complexation on the stability and conformation of tRNA duplex. External binding mode was observed for safranal crocetin and dimethylcrocetin, with overall binding constants K(safranal) = 6.8 (+/- 0.34) x 10(3) M(-1), K(CRT) = 1.4 (+/- 0.31) x 10(4) M(-1), and K(DMCRT) = 3.4 (+/- 0.30) x 10(4) M(-1). Transfer RNA remains in the A-family structure, upon safranal, crocetin and dimethylcrocetin complexation.     

Interaction of tRNA with Safranal,Crocetin, and Dimethylcrocetin

Abstract

Saffron is the red dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L. flowers and used both as a spice and as a drug in traditional therapeutic. The biological activity of saffron in modern medicine is in development. Its numerous applications as an anti-oxidant and anti-cancer agent are due to its secondary metabolites and their derivatives (safranal, crocins, crocetin, dimethylcrocetin). The aim of this study was to examine the interaction of transfer RNA with safranal, crocetin, and dimethylcrocetin in aqueous solution at physiological conditions. Constant tRNA concentration (6.25 mM) and various drug/tRNA (phosphate) molar ratios of 1/48 to 1/8 were used. FT-IR and UV-Visible difference spectroscopic methods have been applied to determine the drug binding mode, the binding constants and the effects of drug complexation on the stability and conformation of tRNA duplex. External binding mode was observed for safranal crocetin and dimethylcrocetin, with overall binding constants K_safranal = 6.8 (± 0.34) × 10³ M^?1, K_CRT = 1.4 (± 0.31) × 10⁴ M^?1, and K_DMCRT = 3.4 (± 0.30) × 10⁴ M^?1. Transfer RNA remains in the A-family structure, upon safranal, crocetin and dimethylcrocetin complexation.     

In vitro propagation of taro,with spermine,arginine, and ornithine

In vitro growth and multiplication of taro [Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum cv. Keladi Birah] was improved considerably, when primary shoot apices were cultured on two modifications of Linsmaier and Skoog [1965] medium, containing 5.5 mg 1^–1 naphthaleneacetic acid and 0.2 mg 1^–1 kinetin or 1.85 mg 1^–1 naphthaleneacetic acid and 2 mg 1^–1 kinetin and supplemented with 10^–4 or 10^–3 mol·1^–1 of polyamine spermine or either of the precursors of polyamine putrescine—arginine and ornithine. Plantlets were regenerated directly from primary shoot apices, axillary buds and protocorm-like bodies [PLB]. Frequency of plantlet regeneration, rate of development and growth in height of main plantlets were enhanced by the addition of arginine and ornithine to the media. Secondary plantlet formation from axillary buds and PLB were promoted by spermine and arginine respectively.     

Conductometric evaluation of interactions of electrolytes with D-glucitol, D-glucose, glycerol, D-mannitol, and sucrose

By measurement of the conductance of various electrolytes in solutions of D-glucitol, D-glucose, glycerol, D-mannitol, and sucrose, the hydration of the polyhydroxy compounds and their association with electrolytes have been examined. The results have been analyzed in the light of conductance equations; it was found that D-glucose and sucrose associate with electrolytes, glycerol and D-mannitol are practically inert, and D-glucitol is only rarely bound. The association constants are of the order of 10^?1 to 10^?2. The results indicate that anions guide the process, with a free-energy change of 1.5–3.0 kcal.mole^-1, the order of the energy of hydrogen bonding. In the analysis of conductance data, neglect of association may introduce hydration numbers many times greater than are usual.