High-resolution habitat and bathymetry maps for 65,000 sq. km of Earth’s remotest coral reefs

Coral Reefs - With compelling evidence that half the world’s coral reefs have been lost over the last four decades, there is urgent motivation to understand where reefs are located and their...     

Evidence for the mechanism of the irreversible inhibition of oestrone sulphatase (ES) by aminosulphonate based compounds

In our search for the mechanism of the enzyme oestrone sulphatase (ES) we have synthesised and evaluated a number of compounds that were predicted to possess some inhibitory activity. Some of these compounds were indeed found to be inhibitors of ES, whilst other compounds were not. From a consideration of the structure–activity relationship (SAR) of the inhibitors and non-inhibitors of this enzyme, we discovered a factor which we now believe is the main inhibitory moiety within the aminosulphonated inhibitors. We therefore report the results of our study into a series of phenyl and alkyl sulphamated compounds as inhibitors of ES. The results of the study show that the substituted phenyl sulphamates are potent inhibitors, whereas the alkyl compounds are, in general, non-inhibitors. Using the results of our SAR study, we postulate the probable mechanism for the irreversible and reversible inhibition of ES, and rationalise the role of the different physicochemical factors in the inhibition of this crucial enzyme.     

Purification and characterization of L-amino acid oxidase from the solid-state grown cultures of Aspergillus oryzae ASH

L-Amino acid oxidase (L-AAO) was purified from the solid state-grown cultures of A. oryzae ASH (JX006239.1) by fractional salting out, followed by ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography, to its molecular homogeneity, displaying 3.38-fold purification in comparison with the crude enzyme. SDS-PAGE revealed the enzyme to be a homo-dimer with ～55-kDa subunits, with approximate molecular weight on native PAGE of 105–110 kDa. Two absorption maxima, at 280 nm and 341 nm, for the apoproteinic and FMN prosthetic group of the enzyme, respectively, were observed, with no detected surface glycosyl residues. The enzyme had maximum activity at pH 7.8–8.0, with ionic structural stability within pH range 7.2–7.6 and pH precipitation point (pI) 4.1–5.0. L-AAO exhibited the highest activity at 55°C, with plausible thermal stability below 40°C. The enzyme had T _1/2 values of 21.2, 8.3, 3.6, 3.1, 2.6 h at 30, 35, 40, 50, 60°C with Tm 61.3°C. Kinetically, A. oryzae L-AAO displayed a broad oxidative activity for tested amino acids as substrates. However, the enzyme had a higher affinity towards basic amino acid L-lysine (K _m 3.3 mM, K _cat 0.04 s^?1) followed by aromatic amino acids L-tyrosine (K _m 5.3 mM, K _cat 0.036 s^?1) and L-phenylalanine (K _m 6.6 mM), with 1ow affinity for the S-amino acid L-methionine (K _m 15.6 mM). The higher specificity of A. oryzae L-AAO to L-lysine as substrate seems to be a unique property comparing to this enzyme from other microbes. The enzyme was significantly inhibited by hydroxylamine and SDS, with slight inhibition by EDTA. The enzyme had a little effect on AST and ALT, with no effect on platelet aggregation and blood hemolysis in vivo with an obvious cytotoxic effect towards HepG2 (IC₅₀ 832.2 μg/mL) and MCF-7 (IC₅₀, 370.6 μg/mL) tumor cells in vitro.     

Neuroadaptations in the Striatal Proteome of the Rat Following Prolonged Excessive Sucrose Intake

Obesity is a contemporary health problem of rapidly increasing prevalence. One possible cause of obesity is loss of control over consumption of highly palatable foodstuffs, perhaps mirroring the processes involved in drug addiction. Accordingly, the striatum may be a key neural substrate involved in both food and drug craving. We hypothesised here that prolonged exposure to 10 % sucrose solution might cause neuroadaptations in the striatum that are analogous to those previously reported following prolonged exposure to alcohol or recreational drugs. Male Wistar rats were given constant access to 10 % sucrose solution (in addition to normal lab chow and tap water) for 8 months and were compared with control rats receiving no sucrose access. Rats in the sucrose group typically drank more than 100 ml of sucrose solution per day and showed 13 % greater body weight than controls at the end of the 8 months. Striatal dopamine (DA) concentrations were decreased in the sucrose group rats relative to controls. Differential expression of 18 proteins was identified in the striatum of the sucrose group rats relative to controls. Down regulated proteins included pyridoxal phosphate phosphatase, involved in DA synthesis, and glutathione transferase, involved in free radical scavenging. Up regulated proteins included prolactin (which is under negative regulation by DA) and adipose differentiation-related protein, involved in fat synthesis. We hypothesise that DA-related neuroadaptations in the striatum caused by prolonged sucrose intake may partly drive compulsive intake and seeking of high palatability foodstuffs, in a similar way to that observed with drug and alcohol addictions.     

Reconfigurable Multi-beam On-Chip Patch Antenna Using Plasmonics Parasitic Graphene Strip Array

Plasmonics - This paper introduces on-chip patch antenna with electronic beam switching using graphene strip array for wireless communications at 415 GHz. The on-chip patch antenna is...     

Identification of two forms of an endogenous murine retroviral env gene linked to the Rmcf locus.

The Rmcf gene restricts the replication of recombinant murine mink cell focus-inducing (MCF) viruses in cell cultures derived from mice carrying the resistance allele (Rmcfr) and may play a role in resistance to retrovirus-induced leukemias in vivo. We have characterized the endogenous gp70 expressed by Rmcfr and Rmcfs mice with a panel of type-specific monoclonal antibodies which discriminate xenotropic and MCF gp70. Embryo and tail skin cultures derived from Rmcfr mice (DBA/2 and CBA/N) expressed gp70 bearing a determinant unique to MCF viruses, whereas cultures from Rmcfs mice expressed either no detectable gp70 (NFS/N and IRW) or a gp70 serologically related to a subgroup of xenotropic viruses (C57BL/6, CBA/J, and A/WySn). Studies of progeny embryos derived from a (C57BL/6 X DBA/2) X C57BL/6 backcross established that the Rmcf resistance allele was linked to the expression of the MCF gp70 and that the gene encoding the xenotropic gp70 expressed by C57BL/6 Rmcfs mice was allelic with the MCF gp70 from Rmcfr mice. These data indicate that the Rmcf locus contains an endogenous gp70 gene having two allelic forms, one of which inhibits exogenous MCF infection in vitro by a mechanism of viral interference.     

Effect of adding plyometric training to physical education sessions on specific biomechanical parameters in primary school girls

Objectives:The study aimed to determine the effect of adding a school-based plyometric training program (PMT) to physical education (PE) sessions on the strength, balance, and flexibility in primary school girls.Methods:Students from grades 3-6 were randomized equally to a plyometric or control group. In the control group, students took their regular PE classes twice a week. In the plyometric group, students performed PMT twice a week during the initial 20 minutes of every PE session. The Lido Linea closed kinetic chain isokinetic dynamometer, Star excursion balance test (SEBT), and sit-and-reach test were used to assess muscle strength, balance, and flexibility, respectively, before and after nine weeks of training.Results:The improvement in extension peak force (p=0.04) and extension total work (p<0.001) was more prevalent in the PMT group than in the control group. SEBT scores had improved significantly (p<0.05) for all directions in the PMT group, except in the anterior direction, which was highly significant (p<0.001). Hamstring and lower back flexibility had improved more in the PMT group than in the control group (p<0.001).Conclusion:Adding PMT to regular PE classes has a positive and notable effect on muscle strength, balance, and flexibility in primary school students.     

Associations of rs1883832 and rs4810485 polymorphisms of CD40 gene with myocardial infarction in the Tunisian population

Context: Cluster of differentiation 40 (CD40), and its ligand CD40L, are major co-stimulatory molecules whose interactions are important in both cellular and humoral immunity, and has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association of CD40 polymorphisms (-1?C>T (rs1883832) and 945G>T (rs4810485)) and myocardial infarction (MI), and to test the association of CD40 gene haplotypes with MI in Tunisians.

Materials and methods: Three hundred and fifty MI patients and 301 apparently healthy controls were included in the study. The polymorphisms of CD40 were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

Results: There were significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of CD40 gene -1?C>T (rs1883832) polymorphism between cases and controls. Stratifying according to gender, the association between the TT genotype and MI was statistically significant in males, only. Haplotype analysis revealed that the C-T and T-G haplotypes were associated with an increased risk of MI (p?=?0.012 and p?<?0.001, respectively).

Conclusions: Our work showed a significant association between the -1?C>T (rs1883832) polymorphism of the CD40 gene and MI in the Tunisians.     

Synthesis and fungicidal activity of novel pyrazole derivatives containing 5-Phenyl-2-Furan

Pyrazole constitutes an important heterocyclic family covering a broad range of synthetic as well as natural products that exhibit numerous chemical, biological, agrochemical and pharmacological properties. In order to explore compounds with good fungicidal activity, a series of new pyrazole derivatives containing 5-phenyl-2-furan were designed and synthesized. In vitro and in vivo fungicidal activities were evaluated and the compound ethyl-1-(5-phenylfuran-2-carbonyl)-5-propyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate (I8) displayed significant fungicidal activity against various fungi, especially against P. infestans. The structures of the novel pyrazole derivatives were confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS, elemental analysis and X-ray single crystal diffraction. Further study showed that compound I8 might act on the synthesis of cell walls from morphological and ultrastructural studies by SEM and TEM. The results also revealed that compound I8 could block the nutritional transportation leading to cells senescence and death. These results suggested that the novel pyrazole derivatives proved to be promising lead compounds.