The spindle checkpoint: structural insights into dynamic signalling

Chromosome segregation is a complex and astonishingly accurate process whose inner working is beginning to be understood at the molecular level. The spindle checkpoint plays a key role in ensuring the fidelity of this process. It monitors the interactions between chromosomes and microtubules, and delays mitotic progression to allow extra time to correct defects. Here, we review and integrate findings on the dynamics of checkpoint proteins at kinetochores with structural information about signalling complexes.     

Unsymmetrical 1,1'-disubstituted ferrocenes: synthesis of Co(ii), Cu(ii), Ni(ii) and Zn(ii) chelates of ferrocenyl -1-thiadiazolo-1'-tetrazole, -1-thiadiazolo-1'-triazole and -1-tetrazolo-1'-triazole with antimicrobial properties

Condensation reactions of 1,1'-diacetylferrocene with different heteroaromatic amines such as, 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole, 5-aminotetrazole and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole to form unsymmetrically 1,1'-disubstituted ferrocenes have been studied. The obtained compounds have been further investigated for their liganding and biological properties upon chelation with Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) metal ions. The synthesized compounds have been characterized by physical, spectral and analytical data and have been screened against pathogenic bacterial strains e.g., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, showing moderate activity as antibacterials in vitro.     

Transition metal acetylsalicylates and their anti-inflammatory activity

Mononuclear and binuclear transition metal [Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II)] acetylsalicylates of the type [M(L)2], [M(L)2Cl2] and [(M)2(L)4] have been prepared and characterized on the basis of their physical, spectral and analytical data. The complexes have been investigated in an in vivo animal model for anti-inflammatory activity and show a better effect and a more potent action than acetylsalicylic acid.     

New gelatin-based hydrogels via enzymatic networking

New types of hydrogels have been obtained starting from high bloom purified gelatin A, alone or in mixtures with hyaluronan and with a hyaluronan derivative bearing primary amino groups, by transglutaminase-catalyzed cross-linking. The reticulation process, carried out adopting two different temperature protocols, and the ensuing materials have been characterized in terms of rheologically estimated gel times, equilibrium swelling in water and in phosphate buffer solution (PBS), and rigidity modulus. Main structural and conformational factors governing the physicochemical properties and the possible application of the new hydrogels are discussed.     

Cell movement patterns during gastrulation in the chick are controlled by positive and negative chemotaxis mediated by FGF4 and FGF8

During gastrulation in amniotes, epiblast cells ingress through the primitive streak and migrate away to form endodermal, mesodermal, and extraembryonic structures. Here we analyze the detailed movement trajectories of cells emerging at different anterior-posterior positions from the primitive streak, using in vivo imaging of the movement of GFP-tagged streak cells. Cells emerging at different anterior-posterior positions from the streak show characteristic cell migration patterns, in response to guidance signals from neighboring tissues. Streak cells are attracted by sources of FGF4 and repelled by sources of FGF8. The observed movement patterns of anterior streak cells can be explained by an FGF8-mediated chemorepulsion of cells away from the streak followed by chemoattraction toward an FGF4 signal produced by the forming notochord.     

Proteome analysis of conditioned medium from mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layers which support the growth of human embryonic stem cells

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cells with the potential to differentiate into a variety of cell types, which could be used for cell transplantation therapies as well as drug discovery studies. However, the large-scale culture of undifferentiated human ES cells is currently limited by their dependency on mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layers. The proteomics approach was employed to characterize the environment that supports the growth of undifferentiated human ES cells and to identify factors critical for their independent growth. Conditioned medium from mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layers, STO cell line, was concentrated and subjected to analyses by two-dimensional electrophoresis mass spectrometry. In total, 136 unique protein species were identified which included some that are known to participate in cell growth and differentiation, extracellular matrix formation and remodeling, in addition to the unexpected but interesting finding of many nominally intracellular proteins. This approach has thus revealed the complexity of the environment provided by the feeder cells and provides a useful starting point for future studies. Moreover, candidates from the initial list of identified proteins can be further investigated for their effects on the growth and differentiation of human ES cells in a defined culture environment.     

Epoxy sepabeads: a novel epoxy support for stabilization of industrial enzymes via very intense multipoint covalent attachment

Sepabeads-EP (a new epoxy support) has been utilized to immobilize-stabilize the enzyme penicillin G acylase (PGA) via multipoint covalent attachment. These supports are very robust and suitable for industrial purposes. Also, the internal geometry of the support is composed by cylindrical pores surrounded by the convex surfaces (this offers a good geometrical congruence for reaction with the enzyme), and it has a very high superficial density of epoxy groups (around 100 micromol/mL). These features should permit a very intense enzyme-support interaction. However, the final stability of the immobilized enzyme is strictly dependent on the immobilization protocol. By using conventional immobilization protocols (neutral pH values, nonblockage of the support) the stability of the immobilized enzyme was quite similar to that achieved using Eupergit C to immobilize the PGA. However, when using a more sophisticated three-step immobilization/stabilization/blockage procedure, the Sepabeads derivative was hundreds-fold more stable than Eupergit C derivatives. The protocol used was as follows: (i) the enzyme was first covalently immobilized under very mild experimental conditions (e.g., pH 7.0 and 20 degrees C); (ii) the already immobilized enzyme was further incubated under more drastic conditions (higher pH values, long incubation periods, etc.) in order to "facilitate" the formation of new covalent linkages between the immobilized enzyme molecule and the support; (iii) the remaining epoxy groups of the support were blocked with very hydrophilic compounds to stop any additional interaction between the enzyme and the support. This third point was found to be critical for obtaining very stable enzymes: derivatives blocked with mercaptoethanol were much less stable than derivatives blocked with glycine or other amino acids. This was attributed to the better masking of the hydrophobicity of the support by the amino acids (having two charges).     

Replication and compartmentalization of HIV-1 in kidney epithelium of patients with HIV-associated nephropathy

HIV-associated nephropathy is a clinicopathologic entity that includes proteinuria, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis often of the collapsing variant, and microcystic tubulointerstitial disease. Increasing evidence supports a role for HIV-1 infection of renal epithelium in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated nephropathy. Using in situ hybridization, we previously demonstrated HIV-1 gag and nef mRNA in renal epithelial cells of patients with HIV-associated nephropathy. Here, to investigate whether renal epithelial cells were productively infected by HIV-1, we examined renal tissue for the presence of HIV-1 DNA and mRNA by in situ hybridization and PCR, and we molecularly characterized the HIV-1 quasispecies in the renal compartment. Infected renal epithelial cells were removed by laser-capture microdissection from biopsies of two patients, DNA was extracted, and HIV-1 V3-loop or gp120-envelope sequences were amplified from individually dissected cells by nested PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of kidney-derived sequences as well as corresponding sequences from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the same patients revealed evidence of tissue-specific viral evolution. In phylogenetic trees constructed from V3 and gp120 sequences, kidney-derived sequences formed tissue-specific subclusters within the radiation of blood mononuclear cell-derived viral sequences from both patients. These data, along with the detection of HIV-1-specific proviral DNA and mRNA in tubular epithelium cells, argue strongly for localized replication of HIV-1 in the kidney and the existence of a renal viral reservoir.     

Characterization of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis atypical isolates by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis

Two atypical Paracoccidioides brasiliensis strains (yeast form at room temperature) have been isolated from chronically infected patients living in Brazil. Different random primers were used to characterize these isolates and compare them to typical strains. The RAPD patterns allowed the differentiation of all the selected isolates. Their genetic distance ranged from 5% to 80% of non-shared bands depending on the strains and the primer used. The RAPD data were used to build a Wagner phenogram, which showed two major branched with more than 56% of genetic distance separating them. No significant difference was observed between the atypical isolates and the others suggesting that specific genes are involved in the dimorphism phenomenon.     

Cytokine pattern in cystic fibrosis patients during antibiotic therapy and gene therapy using adenoviral vector

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Despite improvements in treatment, pulmonary disease still remains the primary cause of death among these patients. In order to introduce a normal CFTR gene copy into airway epithelial cells, adenoviral vectors (AV) have been developed. AV are known to induce an inflammatory reaction that limits transgene expression, and can be potentially harmful. No human study has clearly monitored simultaneously, systemic and local inflammatory reaction, during AV administration. We report here the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from six cystic fibrosis patients receiving AV encoding CFTR (AdCFTR). AdCFTR was administered to three cohorts of two patients into the nose on day 0, at doses ranging from 105 to 4 x 108 plaque-forming units (pfu), followed, on day 1, by aerosolization of 107 to 5.4 x 108 pfu. In order to ensure that patients were in the best clinical condition, and to further attenuate the broncho-pulmonary inflammation secondary to bacterial infection, they received antibiotic therapy, two weeks prior to AdCFTR administration, until 9 to 11 days after. We found that antibiotics markedly decreased CRP, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1Ra levels in blood. In BALF, antibiotics slightly decreased TNF-alpha levels but had no effect on IL-8 and IL-1Ra, while IL-6 levels increased. AdCFTR administration did not induce any systemic or local cytokine release. In both blood and BALF, CRP, IL-8, IL-1Ra, TNF-alpha decreased, while IL-6 levels increased between day -7 and day 3. One patient presented an asymptomatic increase of all parameters in the BALF on day 7. Twenty one days later, he displayed a clinical deterioration suggestive of an exacerbation. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that antibiotic administration tends to attenuate systemic but not local broncho-pulmonary inflammation in CF patients. In the setting of our study, AdCFTR administration did not induce cytokine release. Further studies are necessary to investigate other inflammatory markers and the mechanisms involved during AV-mediated gene transfer for a better understanding of the immune reaction, which continues to hamper the development of gene therapy for CF patients.