Accumulation of mansonones E and F in seedlings of Ulmus americana in response to inoculation with Ophiostoma ulmi

Summary The accumulation of mansonones E and F was investigated in Ulmus americana L. seedlings 5 weeks after inoculation with three aggressive and three non-aggressive isolates of Ophiostoma ulmi (Buism.) Nannf. The three non-aggressive isolates stimulated significantly more mansonone E and F accumulation than the three aggressive isolates of O. ulmi. Mansonone induction also varied within both the aggressive and the non-aggressive groups. Aggressive and non-aggressive isolates were recovered in equal frequencies from the inoculation wounds, whereas the aggressive isolates were recovered more frequently than the non-aggressive isolates 15 cm and 25 cm up the seedlings' stem. Vascular browning in the outer xylem of the seedlings correlated with mansonone E and F accumulation. Mansonone accumulation in U. americana seedlings is therefore associated with vascular browning and a reduction in fungal spread.     

Irreversible inactivation of diacylglycerol kinase-II requires a mediator.

Cytosolic diacylglycerol kinase was irreversibly inactivated by 5'-AMP since the enzyme remained less active after the removal of 5'-AMP by P-10 gel chromatography. The inactivation was time-dependent, suggesting the involvement of a covalent bond modification. A reconstitution experiment detected a rat brain cytosolic mediator for the effect of 5'-AMP. A protein kinase rich fraction prepared from rat liver was also capable of restoring the sensitivity of diacylglycerol kinase-II to 5'-AMP. We propose that 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase is the mediator which inactivates diacylglycerol kinase-II, possibly by phosphorylation.     

Sclerite calcification and reef-building in the fleshy octocoral genus Sinularia (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea)

Alcyonacean octocorals in tropical reefs are usually not considered as reef builders. Some Sinularia species, however, are capable of consolidating sclerites at the colony base to form spiculite. Nanwan Bay, southern Taiwan, features both fossilized and recently formed boulders composed of spiculite, thus demonstrating the role of Sinularia in contributing to the reef structure. Section radiography of an 18.5 kg spiculite boulder demonstrated a regular density banding of 3–6-mm intervals. Core survey indicated spiculite coverage of 25–30% on the live reef and of 30–40% on the uplifted boulders. Cores taken from living Sinularia revealed a distinct transition from discrete sclerites to compact spiculite and amorphous calcium carbonate cementing the sclerites. In the widespread S. gibberosa, sclerite formation appeared to start intracellularly, followed by a prolonged extracellular calcification process. At the calcification site, multiple sclerocytes formed expanded pseudopod-like membranes that interconnected, forming multicellular vesicles (MCVs) around the sclerites. The MCVs and the pseudopods disappeared at sclerite maturation, followed by degradation of the sclerocytes around the mature sclerites. At the colony base, granular vesicles were distributed among the sclerites, indicating a cementing process in progress. These findings suggest that colonies of Sinularia are able to cement sclerites and consolidate them at their base into spiculite, thus making them reef builders.     

The Glycine-Alanine Dipeptide Repeat from C9orf72 Hexanucleotide Expansions Forms Toxic Amyloids Possessing Cell-to-Cell Transmission Properties

Hexanucleotide expansions, GGGGCC, in the non-coding regions of the C9orf72 gene were found in major frontotemporal lobar dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients (C9FTD/ALS). In addition to possible RNA toxicity, several dipeptide repeats (DPRs) are translated through repeat-associated non-ATG-initiated translation. The DPRs, including poly(GA), poly(GR), poly(GP), poly(PR), and poly(PA), were found in the brains and spinal cords of C9FTD/ALS patients. Among the DPRs, poly(GA) is highly susceptible to form cytoplasmic inclusions, which is a characteristic of C9FTD/ALS. To elucidate DPR aggregation, we used synthetic (GA)₁₅ DPR as a model system to examine the aggregation and structural properties in vitro. We found that (GA)₁₅ with 15 repeats fibrillates rapidly and ultimately forms flat, ribbon-type fibrils evidenced by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The fibrils are capable of amyloid dye binding and contain a characteristic cross-β sheet structure, as revealed by x-ray scattering. Furthermore, using neuroblastoma cells, we demonstrated the neurotoxicity and cell-to-cell transmission property of (GA)₁₅ DPR. Overall, our results show the structural and toxicity properties of GA DPR to facilitate future DPR-related therapeutic development.     

Trio Haploinsufficiency Causes Neurodevelopmental Disease-Associated Deficits

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Characterization of a Xenopus laevis skin peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylating monooxygenase expressed in insect-cell culture.

The C-terminal amide structure of peptide hormones and neurotransmitters is synthesized via a two-step reaction catalyzed by peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM) and peptidylhydroxyglycine N-C lyase. A Xenopus laevis PHM expressed in insect-cell culture by the baculovirus-expression-vector system was purified to homogeneity and characterized. Using a newly established assay system for PHM, the kinetic features of this enzyme were investigated. As expected, the enzyme required copper ions, L-ascorbate and molecular oxygen for turnover. Salts like KI and KCl, and catalase stabilized the enzyme in the presence of L-ascorbate. The optimum pH value for the enzyme reaction was around six when Mes buffer was used and around seven when phosphate buffer was used under the same assay condition. Below pH 6, acetate, iodide and chloride ions activated the reaction. The kinetic analysis is consistent with a ping-pong mechanism with respect to peptide and L-ascorbate, and the peptide showed substrate inhibition. The substrate specificity of the enzyme at the penultimate position was examined by competitive assay using tripeptides with glycine at the C-termini and the inhibitory potency of these peptides in descending order was methionine > aromatic > non-polar amino acids.     

Effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors on systemic hypotension, cytokines and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and lung injury following endotoxin administration in rats

Endotoxin shock is characterized by systemic hypotension, hyporeactiveness to vasoconstrictors and acute lung edema. A nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, N^G-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) has been shown to be effective in reversing acute lung injury. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of NOS blockade by different mechanisms on the endotoxin-induced changes. In anesthetized rats, lipopolysaccharide (LPS,Klebsiella pneumoniae) was administered intravenously in a dose of 10 mg/kg. LPS caused sustained systemic hypotension accompanied by an eightfold increase of exhaled NO during an observation period of 4 h. After the experiment, the lung weight was obtained and lung tissues were taken for the determination of mRNA expressions of inducible NOS (iNOS), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor--(TNF-). Histological examination of the lungs was also performed. In the control group injected with saline solution, mRNA expressions of iNOS, IL-1 and TNF- were absent. Four hours after LPS, the mRNA expressions of iNOS and IL-1 were still significantly enhanced, but TNF- was not discernibly expressed. LPS also caused a twofold increase in lung weight. Pathological examination revealed endothelial damage and interstitial edema. Various NOS inhibitors were given 1 h after LPS administration. These agents included N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10 mg/kg), a constitutive NOS and iNOS inhibitor; S,S-1,4-phenylene-bis-(1,2-ethanedinyl) bis-isothiourea dihydrobromide (1,4-PBIT, 10 mg/kg), a relatively specific iNOS inhibitor, and dexamethasone (3 mg/kg), an inhibitor of iNOS expression. These NOS inhibitors all effectively reversed the systemic hypotension, reduced the exhaled NO concentration and prevented acute lung injury. The LPS-induced mRNA expressions of iNOS and IL-1 were also significantly depressed by these NOS inhibitors. Our results suggest that NO production through the iNOS pathway is responsible for endotoxin-induced lung injury. Certain cytokines such as IL-1 are possibly involved. These changes are minimized by NOS inhibitors through different mechanisms.     

17beta-estradiol inhibits endothelin-1 production and attenuates cerebral vasospasm after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage

Though cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has been recognized for over half a century, it remains a major complication in patients with SAH. Clinical studies have shown that elevated levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) are present in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with SAH, suggesting that ET-1-mediated vasoconstriction contributes to vascular constriction after SAH. Administration of estrogen promotes vasodilation in humans and in experimental animals, in part by decreasing the production of ET-1. This study evaluated the influence of 17beta-estradiol (E2) on the production of ET-1 and cerebrovasospasm in an experimental SAH 2-hemorrhage model in rat. A 30-mm Silastic tube filled with E2 in corn oil (0.3 mg/ml) was subcutaneously implanted in male rats just before SAH induction. The degree of vasospasm was determined by averaging the cross-sectional areas of basilar artery 7 days after first SAH. Plasma samples collected before death were assayed for ET-1. The protective effect of E2 in attenuating vasospasm achieved statistical significance when compared with the SAH only or SAH plus vehicle groups (P < 0.01). Concentrations of ET-1 were higher in the SAH only and SAH plus vehicle groups than in controls (P < 0.001). Serum levels of ET-1 in the SAH plus E2 and E2 only groups were significantly lower than those in the SAH only and SAH plus vehicle groups (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between ET-1 levels in the healthy control and SAH plus E2 groups. A significant correlation was found between the cross-sectional areas of basilar artery and ET-1 levels (P < 0.001). The beneficial effect of E2 in attenuating SAH-induced vasospasm may be due in part to decreasing ET-1 production after SAH. The role of E2 in the treatment of cerebral vasospasm after SAH is promising and is worthy of further investigation.