Participation of cholinergic pathways in α-hederin-induced contraction of rat isolated stomach strips

The dry extract of Hedra helix leaves and its main active compounds, predominantly α-hederin and hederacoside C, has been traditionally believed to act spasmolytic. However, it has been recently proved that both, the extract of ivy and triterpenoid saponins, exhibit strong contractile effect on rat isolated stomach smooth muscle strips. It turned out that the most potent contractile agent isolated from the extract of ivy leaves is α-hederin. Thus, it seems reasonable to estimate the mechanism of the contractile effect of this saponin. The presented study was aimed at verifying the participation of cholinergic pathways (muscarinic and nicotine receptors) in α-hederin-induced contraction. The experiments were carried out on rat isolated stomach corpus and fundus strips under isotonic conditions. The preparations were preincubated with either atropine or hexamethonium and then exposed to α-hederin. All results are expressed as the percentage of the response to acetylcholine - a reference contractile agent. The obtained results revealed that the pretreatment of isolated stomach strips (corpus and fundus) with atropine neither prevented nor remarkably reduced the reaction of the preparations to α-hederin. Similarly, if the application of saponin was preceded by the administration of hexamethonium, the strength of the contraction of stomach fundus strips induced by α-hederin was not modified. Concluding, it can be assumed that the cholinergic pathways do not participate in α-hederin-evoked contraction of rat isolated stomach preparations.     

Effect of subinihibitory and inhibitory concentrations of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng essential oil on Klebsiella pneumoniae

We evaluated the antimicrobial activity and some mechanisms used by subinhibitory and inhibitory concentrations of the essential oil, obtained from leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus, against a standard strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae and 5 multiresistant clinical isolates of the bacteria. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), the rate of kill and the pH sensitivity of the essential oil were determined by microdilution tests performed in 96-well plates. Subinhibitory and inhibitory concentrations of the essential oil were tested in order to check its action on K. pneumoniae membrane permeability, capsule expression, urease activity and cell morphology. The MIC and MBC of the essential oil were 0.09±0.01%. A complete inhibition of the bacterial growth was observed after 2h of incubation with twice the MIC of the essential oil. A better MIC was found when neutral or alkaline pH broth was used. Alteration in membrane permeability was found by the increase of crystal violet uptake when the bacteria were incubated with twice the MIC levels of the essential oil. The urease activity could be prevented when all the subinhibitory concentrations were tested in comparison to the untreated group (p<0.001). Alteration of the bacterial morphology besides inhibition of the capsule expression was verified by atomic force microscopy, and Anthony's stain method, respectively. Our data allow us to conclude that the essential oil of P. amboinicus can be a good candidate for future research.     

Nickel species: analysis and toxic effects

This review gives an overview on the analysis of inorganic nickel species and their toxic effects. Based on the analytical procedure applied inorganic nickel species are usually classified in soluble, sulfidic, metallic and oxidic nickel fractions. Only few works were attempting a chemical characterization of the different nickel compounds in each fraction. This general classification in four nickel species groups is widely used in toxicological studies dealing with nickel particulate matter in workplace air. Compared to the general population, occupationally exposed people have a higher risk of respiratory tract cancer due to inhalation of nickel at their workplace in the nickel-producing or using industries. High cancer risk is related to less soluble oxidic and especially sulfidic nickel species in refinery dust. In contrast, within the general population the most harmful health effect related to nickel exposure is allergic contact dermatitis due to prolonged skin contact with nickel. Absorption processes of nickel species and molecular mechanisms of nickel toxicity are briefly outlined.     

Influence of dichloroacetate (DCA) on lactate production and oxygen consumption in neuroblastoma cells: is DCA a suitable drug for neuroblastoma therapy?

Many cancer cells metabolize glucose preferentially via pyruvate to lactate instead to CO(2) and H(2)O (oxidative phosphorylation) even in the presence of oxygen (Warburg effect). Dichloroacetate (DCA) is a drug which is able to shift pyruvate metabolism from lactate to acetyl-CoA (tricarboxylic acid cycle) by indirect activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). This can subsequently lead to an increased flow of oxygen in the respiratory chain, associated with enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which may cause apoptosis. In order to investigate if DCA may be suitable for neuroblastoma therapy, it was investigated on three human neuroblastoma cell lines whether DCA can reduce lactate production and enhance oxygen consumption. The data show, that DCA (in the low millimolar range) is able to reduce lactate production, but there was only a slight shift to increased oxygen consumption and almost no effect on cell vitality, proliferation and apoptosis of the three cell lines investigated. Therefore, DCA at low millimolar concentrations seems to be only of minor efficacy for neuroblastoma treatment.     

WNK3-SPAK interaction is required for the modulation of NCC and other members of the SLC12 family

The serine/threonine with no lysine kinase 3 (WNK3) modulates the activity of the electroneutral cation-coupled chloride cotransporters (CCC) to promote Cl(-) influx and prevent Cl(-) efflux, thus fitting the profile for a putative "Cl(-)-sensing kinase". The Ste20-type kinases, SPAK/OSR1, become phosphorylated in response to reduction in intracellular chloride concentration and regulate the activity of NKCC1. Several studies have now shown that WNKs function upstream of SPAK/OSR1. This study was designed to analyze the role of WNK3-SPAK interaction in the regulation of CCCs with particular emphasis on NCC. In this study we used the functional expression system of Xenopus laevis oocytes to show that different SPAK binding sites in WNK3 ((241, 872, 1336)RFxV) are required for the kinase to have effects on CCCs. WNK3-F1337A no longer activated NKCC2, but the effects on NCC, NKCC1, and KCC4 were preserved. In contrast, the effects of WNK3 on these cotransporters were prevented in WNK3-F242A. The elimination of F873 had no consequence on WNK3 effects. WNK3 promoted NCC phosphorylation at threonine 58, even in the absence of the unique SPAK binding site of NCC, but this effect was abolished in the mutant WNK3-F242A. Thus, our data support the hypothesis that the effects of WNK3 upon NCC and other CCCs require the interaction and activation of the SPAK kinase. The effect is dependent on one of the three binding sites for SPAK that are present in WNK3, but not on the SPAK binding sites on the CCCs, which suggests that WNK3 is capable of binding both SPAK and CCCs to promote their phosphorylation.     

球孢白僵菌T-DNA突变体库的构建及高温和高渗敏感型突变体的筛选

摘要：【目的】筛选对高温和高渗等逆境胁迫敏感的球孢白僵菌T-DNA随机插入突变体,并克隆相关基因,为研究杀虫真菌适应逆境的分子机理奠定基础。【方法】利用逆境胁迫的方法从球孢白僵菌的T-DNA随机插入突变库中筛选对高温和高渗敏感的突变体,进而利用YADE (Y-shaped adaptor dependent extension)技术克隆相关基因。【结果】筛选得到5个对高温和高渗敏感的突变体。其中2个（212和2550）对高温敏感,在32oC下生长完全受抑;其它3个突变体对高渗胁迫敏感。突变体212的分生孢     

禽多杀性巴氏杆菌粘附蛋白Cp39的交叉免疫保护作用

【目的】比较体内外增殖禽多杀性巴氏杆菌荚膜蛋白、天然粘附蛋白Cp39和重组粘附蛋白rCp39对小鼠的交叉保护作用。【方法】用NaCl提取法制备鸡胚尿囊液和DSA培养基增殖的C48-3株荚膜蛋白,并用电洗脱方法纯化Cp39蛋白,将rCp39蛋白以可溶形式表达在大肠杆菌BL21后,用Amylose Resin亲和层析柱纯化。分别以100μg剂量的鸡胚尿囊液增殖菌体荚膜蛋白、DSA培养基培养菌体荚膜蛋白、纯化的Cp39蛋白和rCp39蛋白通过皮下注射各试验组小鼠,生理盐水为对照组,第二次免疫后2周分别以A:1型菌C48-3株(6.7×102cfu)和A:3型菌C51-3株(1.1×103cfu)进行攻毒试验。采集免疫后小鼠血清,用ELISA法检测抗体水平,并计算免疫保护率,来评价4种抗原对小鼠的交叉保护效果。【结果】SDS-PAGE结果显示,体内外增殖禽多杀性巴氏杆菌荚膜蛋白的条带和分子量相似,且体内外表达的Cp39蛋白的分子量相同;ELISA结果表明Cp39免疫组小鼠和rCp39免疫组小鼠血清rCp39蛋白特异性抗体的水平显著高于其他两组(P0.05);保护试验表明,体外增殖菌体荚膜蛋白免疫组小鼠对同源C48-3株和异源C51-3株攻毒的保护率分别为100%和60%,鸡胚尿囊液增殖菌体荚膜蛋白免疫组小鼠、Cp39免疫组小鼠和rCp39免疫组小鼠对同源C48-3株和异源C51-3株攻毒的保护率分别为100%和80%。【结论】粘附蛋白Cp39是禽多杀性巴氏杆菌荚膜蛋白中的主要交叉保护抗原,可以作为禽霍乱亚单位疫苗。     

根癌农杆菌介导真菌遗传转化的研究进展

根癌农杆菌介导的真菌遗传转化是近年来发展的一种新方法 ,与其它方法相比 ,该方法具有操作简便、转化效率高和易得到稳定转化子等特点。目前 ,在根癌农杆菌介导下已实现了多个属种真菌的遗传转化 ,显示出良好的应用前景。综述了根癌农杆菌介导真菌遗传转化的转化机理和T DNA在真菌细胞中的存在方式等方面的研究结果 ,并展望这一方法的应用前景。