Phosphorylation of Wat1, human Lst8 homolog is critical for the regulation of TORC2 –Gad8 dependent pathway in fission yeast Schizosacchromyces pombe

Mammalian Lst8 interacts with the kinase domain of mTOR and stabilizes its interaction with Raptor regulating cell growth through the mTOR-S6K1 signalling pathway. Fission yeast Wat1, an ortholog of mammalian Lst8 is also an essential component of TOR complex 1 (TORC1) and TOR Complex 2 (TORC2) that control protein kinases essential for metabolic pathways. Here, we show that in response to osmotic stress, the Wat1 protein undergoes hyper-phosphorylation at S116 position. Wat1 interacts with the C-terminal region of Tor1 that also contain kinase domain. Co-immunoprecipitation and molecular modelling studies suggest that Wat1-Tor1 interaction is stabilized by FATC domain of Tor1 protein present at the C-terminal region. We have also demonstrated a physical interaction of Wat1 with Gad8, an AGC family protein kinase that is dependent on phosphorylation of Wat1 at S116 residue. Wat1 phosphorylation is required for the maintenance of vacuolar integrity and sexual differentiation. Collectively, our study reveals Wat1 phosphorylation regulates Gad8 function in a manner dependent on Tor1 interaction.     

Characterisation of cattle anal odour constituents associated with the repellency of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhipicephalus appendiculatus</Emphasis>

Adults of the Brown Ear Tick (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus) have a predilection for feeding inside and around the ears of cattle and other hosts. A previous study has shown that the tick locates the host ears by ‘push–pull’ deployment of a repellent blend emitted at the anal region and an attractant blend emitted at the ears. Interestingly, the two odours play reverse roles with Rhipicephalus evertsi, which prefer to feed around the anal region. The present study was undertaken to characterize the major constituents of the cattle anal odour and to evaluate their repellence to R. appendiculatus. The anal odour was trapped with reverse-phase C₁₈-bonded silica, Porapak Q and Super Q placed in an oven bag attached at the anal region of the cattle for 6 h. The adsorbents were then removed and extracted with dichloromethane, and the extracted compounds analyzed by linked gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The major constituents of the odour were o-xylene, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone, 4-methyl-2-methoxyphenol, ethylbenzene, 2,6,6-trimethyl-[1S(1α,β,5α)]bicycloheptanes, 5-ethoxydihydro-2(3H)-furanone, 3-methylene-2-pentanone, 5-methyl-2-phenyl-1H-indole, and 3-pentanone. The repellency of the available compounds (o-xylene, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone, 4-methyl-2-methoxyphenol, ethyl benzene, 3-methylene-2-pentanone, and 3-pentanone) and blends was evaluated using a dual choice tick climbing assay at different doses. The anal odour showed repellence with RD₇₅ of 0.39. Of the compounds tested, 4-methyl-2-methoxyphenol was found to be most repellent (RD₇₅?=?0.56) and 3-pentanone least repellent (RD₇₅?=?622.7). The blend of the six constituents showed RD₇₅ of 0.34, comparable to that of the crude anal odour blend. A series of subtractive bioassays with one constituent of the 6-component blend missing was also carried out. Subtraction of 3-methylpentanone gave the most repellent blend (RD₇₅?=?0.097), whereas subtraction of 4-methylguaiacol gave the least repellent blend (RD₇₅?=?160.7) consistent with the high individual activity of this phenol. The study lays down useful groundwork for on-host deployment of controlled-release of a selected repellent or blend to disrupt the tick’s ability to locate its preferred feeding site.     

Length‐weight and length‐length relationships of three small indigenous fishes from the Payra River,southern Bangladesh

Length‐weight relationships (LWRs) and length‐length relationships (LLRs) for three small indigenous fishes (Esomus danrica, Pachypterus atherinoides and Salmostoma bacaila) were reported from the Payra River, southern Bangladesh. Samples were collected using traditional fishing gear including cast net (mesh size ranges from 1.0 to 2.0 cm), seine net (mesh size ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 cm) and square lift net (mesh size ~ 1.0 cm) in August to September 2017. Allometric coefficient (b) values were 2.66 for E. danrica, 3.08 for P. atherinoides and 3.06 for S. bacaila. The LLRs were also highly significant with r² ≥ .956.     

Length–weight and length–length relationships of three ecologically important fishes caught from a wetland,northeastern Bangladesh

Length–weight relationships (LWRs) and length–length relationships (LLRs) of three ecologically important fishes (Aplocheilus panchax, Danio rerio and Esomus danrica) were reported from a wetland, northeastern Bangladesh (23 58 N, 89 38 E). Samples were collected monthly using traditional fishing gear including fine meshed (2.0 mm) push net and fine meshed (3.0–4.0 mm) surrounding net during January to December 2014. For each individual, total length (TL), fork length (FL) and standard length (SL) was measured to 0.1 cm, while body weight (BW) was measured to 0.01 g accuracy. Allometric coefficient (b) values were 3.10 for A. panchax, 3.38 for D. rerio and 3.52 for E. danrica. In addition, the LLRs were also highly significant with r² ≥ 0.954.     

Reproductive biology of Apocryptes bato (Gobiidae) in the Payra River,southern Bangladesh

The gobioid fish Apocryptes bato (Hamilton, 1822) is a species of mudskipper found in Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar. The reproductive biology of A. bato including sex ratio, size at sexual maturity, breeding season, fecundity, and condition factor was studied in the Payra River, southern Bangladesh during May 2016 to April 2017. A total of 1,028 specimens (303 males and 725 females) were collected. The overall sex ratio was significantly different from the expected value of 1:1 (male: female = 1:2.39, χ² = 173.23, p < 0.05). Size at sexual maturity was estimated as 4.9 cm standard length. Monthly variations in gonadosomatic index indicate that the main breeding season is from May to December. There was a significant positive correlation of body length and body weight with fecundity. Fulton's condition factor varied in both sexes and was attributed to variations in GSI with maturity. Breeding season was significantly associated with rainfall, but not air temperature. Our findings should improve management and conservation of this fish in the Payra River and surrounding ecosystems.     

Anti-hypercholesterolemic impacts of barley and date palm fruits on the ovary of Wistar albino rats and their offspring

A high cholesterol diet is related to ovarian dysfunction and infertility which has been increased among young ages consuming processed food products. The present study was conducted to evaluate the role of a high cholesterol diet on the ovaries of young female rats via assessments of histopathology, immunohistochemistry, oxidative stress and apoptic markers. Also, mating of hypercholesterolemic female rats was carried out to measure the fertility and numbers of their offspring. At the same time, phytotherapy was carried out through supplementing the diet with barley and/ or date palm fruits (10%) during the experiment to assess the phyto-therapeutic impacts in attenuation of drastic hypercholesterolemic effects.Hypercholesterolemic diet-fed rats exhibited damage of the ovarian follicles and increased follicular atresia. Furthermore, expression of cleaved caspase-3 was upregulated, while PCNA was downregulated in granulosa, theca and stroma cells. Hypercholesterolemic female rats showed marked depletion of antioxidative enzymes, increased lipid peroxidation and apoptotic markers. Alterations to the female serum hormones were detected. Offspring maternally fed on hypercholesterolemic diet showed a significant decrease of body weight and altered sex ratio. However, concomitant supplementation of barley and or date fruits to hypercholesterolemic groups revealed marked improvement of ovarian structure and function.On the basis of these evidences, it is believed that the enhanced synergistic effects of barley and/or date palm fruits in the amelioration of ovarian structure and functions were elicited by the potential antioxidant activity of their phytomicronutrients, polyphenols, β-glucan and trace elements. These materials scavenge free radicals from inflamed cells that can be used to establish an effective and novel therapeutic strategy for activating ovarian cell regeneration.     

UHPLC‐HRMS/MS Based Profiling of Algerian Lichens and Their Antimicrobial Activities

Lichens are complex symbiotic organisms able to produce a vast array of compounds. The Algerian lichen diversity has only prompted little interest even given the 1085 species listed. Herein, the chemodiversity of four Algerian lichens including Cladonia rangiformis, Ramalina farinaceae, R. fastigiata, and Roccella phycopsis was investigated. A dereplication strategy, using ultra high performance liquid chromatography‐high resolution‐electrospray ionization‐mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐HRMS/MS), was carried out for a comprehensive characterization of their substances including phenolics, depsides, depsidones, depsones, dibenzofurans, and aliphatic acids. Some known compounds were identified for the first time in some species. Additionally, the lichenic extracts were evaluated for their antifungal and antimicrobial activities on human pathogenic strains (Candida albicans, C. glabrata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli). Cyclohexane extracts were found particularly active against human pathogenic fungi with MIC₈₀ values ranging from 8 to 62.5 μg/mL, without cytotoxicity. This study highlights the therapeutic and prophylactic potential of lichenic extracts as antibacterial and antifungal agents.     

Ion Transport Nanotube Assembled with Vertically Aligned Metallic MoS2 for High Rate Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Metallic phase molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) is well known for orders of magnitude higher conductivity than 2H semiconducting phase MoS₂. Herein, for the first time, the authors design and fabricate a novel porous nanotube assembled with vertically aligned metallic MoS₂ nanosheets by using the scalable solvothermal method. This metallic nanotube has the following advantages: (i) intrinsic high electrical conductivity that promotes the rate performance of battery and eliminates the using of conductive additive; (ii) hierarchical, hollow, porous, and aligned structure that assists the electrolyte transportation and diffusion; (iii) tubular structure that avoids restacking of 2D nanosheets, and therefore maintains the electrochemistry cycling stability; and (iv) a shortened ion diffusion path, that improves the rate performance. This 1D metallic MoS₂ nanotube is demonstrated to be a promising anode material for lithium‐ion batteries. The unique structure delivers an excellent reversible capacity of 1100 mA h g^?1 under a current density of 5 A g^?1 after 350 cycles, and an outstanding rate performance of 589 mA h g^?1 at a current density of 20 A g^?1. Furthermore, attributed to the material's metallic properties, the electrode comprising 100% pure material without any additive provides an ideal system for the fundamental electrochemical study of metallic MoS₂. This study first reveals the characteristic anodic peak at 1.5 V in cyclic voltammetry of metallic MoS_2. This research sheds light on the fabrication of metallic 1D, 2D, or even 3D structures with 2D nanosheets as building blocks for various applications.     

High‐Performance Multilayer Encapsulation for Perovskite Photovoltaics

An encapsulation system comprising of a UV‐curable epoxy, a solution processed polymer interlayer, and a glass cover‐slip, is used to increase the stability of methylammonium lead triiodide (CH₃NH₃PbI₃) perovskite planar inverted architecture photovoltaic (PV) devices. It is found this encapsulation system acts as an efficient barrier to extrinsic degradation processes (ingress of moisture and oxygen), and that the polymer acts as a barrier that protects the PV device from the epoxy before it is fully cured. This results in devices that maintain 80% of their initial power conversion efficiency after 1000 h of AM1.5 irradiation. Such devices are used as a benchmark and are compared with devices having initially enhanced efficiency as a result of a solvent annealing process. It is found that such solvent‐annealed devices undergo enhanced burn‐in and have a reduced long‐term efficiency, a result demonstrating that initially enhanced device efficiency does not necessarily result in long‐term stability.