Physiological changes induced by chromium stress in plants: an overview

This article presents an overview of the mechanism of chromium (Cr) stress in plants. Toxic effects of Cr on plant growth and development depend primarily on its valence state. Cr(VI) is highly toxic and mobile whereas Cr(III) is less toxic. Cr-induced oxidative stress involves induction of lipid peroxidation in plants that cause severe damage to cell membranes which includes degradation of photosynthetic pigments causing deterioration in growth. The potential of plants with the adequacy to accumulate or to stabilize Cr compounds for bioremediation of Cr contamination has gained engrossment in recent years.     

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.     

p42/p44-MAPK and PI3K are sufficient for IL-6 family cytokines/gp130 to signal to hypertrophy and survival in cardiomyocytes in the absence of JAK/STAT activation

The effect of differential signalling by IL-6 and leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) which signal by gp130 homodimerisation or LIFRβ/gp130 heterodimerisation on survival and hypertrophy was studied in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Both LIF and IL-6 [in the absence of soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6Rα)] activated Erk1/2, JNK1/2, p38-MAPK and PI3K signalling peaking at 20 min and induced cytoprotection against simulated ischemia-reperfusion injury which was blocked by the MEK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 but not the p38-MAPK inhibitor SB203580. In the absence of sIL-6R, IL-6 did not induce STAT1/3 phosphorylation, whereas IL-6/sIL-6R and LIF induced STAT1 and STAT3 phosphorylation. Furthermore, IL-6/sIL-6R induced phosphorylation of STAT1 Tyr⁷⁰¹ and STAT3 Tyr⁷⁰⁵ were enhanced by SB203580. IL-6 and pheneylephrine (PE), but not LIF, induced cardiomyocyte iNOS expression and nitric oxide (NO) production. IL-6, LIF and PE induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, but with phenotypic differences in ANF and SERCA2 expression and myofilament organisation with IL-6 more resembling PE than LIF. Transfection of cardiomyocytes with full length or truncated chimaeric gp130 cytoplasmic domain/Erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) extracellular domain fusion constructs showed that the membrane proximal Box 1 and Box 2 containing region of gp130 was necessary and sufficient for MAPK and PI3K activation; hypertrophy; SERCA2 expression and iNOS/NO induction in the absence of JAK/STAT activation. In conclusion, IL-6 can signal in cardiomyocytes independent of sIL-6R and STAT1/3 and furthermore, that Erk1/2 and PI3K activation by IL-6 are both necessary and sufficient for induced cardioprotection. In addition, p38-MAPK may act as a negative feedback regulator of JAK/STAT activation in cardiomyocytes.     

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.     

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.     

Countrywide Survey for MERS-Coronavirus Antibodies in Dromedaries and Humans in Pakistan

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a zoonotic pathogen capable of causing severe respiratory disease in humans. Although dromedary camels are considered as a major reservoir host, the MERS-CoV infection dynamics in camels are not fully understood. Through surveillance in Pakistan, nasal (n = 776) and serum (n = 1050)samples were collected from camels between November 2015 and February 2018. Samples were collected from animal markets, free-roaming herds and abattoirs. An in-house ELISA was developed to detect IgG against MERS-CoV. A total of 794 camels were found seropositive for MERS-CoV. Prevalence increased with the age and the highest seroprevalence was recorded in camels aged [ 10 years (81.37%) followed by those aged 3.1–10 years (78.65%) and B 3 years (58.19%).Higher prevalence was observed in female (78.13%) as compared to male (70.70%). Of the camel nasal swabs, 22 were found to be positive by RT-qPCR though with high Ct values. Moreover, 2,409 human serum samples were also collected from four provinces of Pakistan during 2016–2017. Among the sampled population, 840 humans were camel herders.Although we found a high rate of MERS-CoV antibody positive dromedaries (75.62%) in Pakistan, no neutralizing antibodies were detected in humans with and without contact to camels.