Modeling spinal muscular atrophy in Drosophila

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a recessive hereditary neurodegenerative disease in humans, has been linked to mutations in the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene. SMA patients display early onset lethality coupled with motor neuron loss and skeletal muscle atrophy. We used Drosophila, which encodes a single SMN ortholog, survival motor neuron (Smn), to model SMA, since reduction of Smn function leads to defects that mimic the SMA pathology in humans. Here we show that a normal neuromuscular junction (NMJ) structure depends on SMN expression and that SMN concentrates in the post-synaptic NMJ regions. We conducted a screen for genetic modifiers of an Smn phenotype using the Exelixis collection of transposon-induced mutations, which affects approximately 50% of the Drosophila genome. This screen resulted in the recovery of 27 modifiers, thereby expanding the genetic circuitry of Smn to include several genes not previously known to be associated with this locus. Among the identified modifiers was wishful thinking (wit), a type II BMP receptor, which was shown to alter the Smn NMJ phenotype. Further characterization of two additional members of the BMP signaling pathway, Mothers against dpp (Mad) and Daughters against dpp (Dad), also modify the Smn NMJ phenotype. The NMJ defects caused by loss of Smn function can be ameliorated by increasing BMP signals, suggesting that increased BMP activity in SMA patients may help to alleviate symptoms of the disease. These results confirm that our genetic approach is likely to identify bona fide modulators of SMN activity, especially regarding its role at the neuromuscular junction, and as a consequence, may identify putative SMA therapeutic targets.     

冷激条件下预形成副溶血性弧菌生物被膜的发展变化

【目的】生物被膜可附着在食品或医药生物材料表面引起持续性的感染,而现今极少有关于温度变化对预形成生物被膜影响的研究。本文分析了冷激条件下副溶血性弧菌预形成生物被膜的发展变化。【方法】以改进的结晶紫染色法检测生物被膜总量,以改进的超声法和Lowry法量化胞外多糖和蛋白质,以RNA试剂盒提取并纯化生物被膜形成的相关基因。同时,激光共聚焦扫描显微镜直观显示了冷激条件下预形成生物被膜形态结构的变化,并深入分析了生物被膜结构的变化,以及生物被膜结构参数和基因转录的相关性。【结果】在冷激条件下,副溶血性弧菌生物被膜总量增加,同时,副溶血性弧菌预形成的生物被膜胞外多聚物的主要成分胞外多糖和蛋白质也逐渐增加,被膜形成相关鞭毛基因和毒力基因的转录活跃。生物被膜的平均厚度(MT)、平均扩散距离(ADD)、孔隙率(P)、生物被膜粗糙度(BR)和均匀性(H)在冷激过程中也发生了变化,同时这些参数之间存在显著相关性(P<0.01),而生物被膜结构参数与生物被膜相关基因转录的相关性较弱(P<0.05)。【结论】因此,4°C和10°C冷激不能完全抑制副溶血性弧菌预形成生物被膜的生长,风险评估人员在制定控制食源性感染风险的战略时应考虑到这一因素。     

Purification, sequence characterization and effect of goat oviduct-specific glycoprotein on in vitro embryo development

Oviduct-specific glycoprotein (oviductin) plays an important role during fertilization and early embryonic development. The oviductin cDNA was successfully cloned and sequenced in goat, which possessed an open reading frame of 1620 nucleotides representing 539 amino acids. Predicted amino acid sequence showed very high identity with sheep (97%) followed by cow (94%), porcine (77%), hamster (69%), human (66%), rabbit (65%), mouse (64%) and baboon (62%). The bioinformatics analysis of the sequences revealed the presence of a signal sequence of 21 amino acids, one potential N-linked glycosylation site at position 402, 21 potential O-linked glycosylation sites and 36 potential phosphorylation sites. The native oviductin was purified from the oviductal tissue, which showed three distinct bands on SDS-PAGE and western blot (MW ∼60-95 kDa). The predicted molecular weight of goat oviductin was 57.5 kDa, calculated from the amino acid sequences. The observed higher molecular weight has been attributed to the presence of large number of potential O-linked glycosylation sites. The lower concentration (10 μg/mL) of oviductin increased the cleavage rate, morula and blastocyst yield significantly (P < 0.05) as compared to higher concentration (100 μg/mL). Goat oviductin retarded the activity of pronase (0.1%) on zona solubility of oocytes significantly (P < 0.01).     

Deltex cooperates with TRAF6 to promote apoptosis and cell migration through Eiger-independent JNK activation in Drosophila

JNK signaling is a highly conserved signaling pathway that regulates a broad spectrum of cellular processes including cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. In Drosophila, JNK signaling is activated by binding of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) Eiger to its receptor Wengen, and a conserved signaling cascade operates that culminates into activation of dual phosphatase Puckered thereby triggering apoptosis. The tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is an adaptor protein, which transduces the signal from TNFRs and Toll-like receptor/interleukin-1 receptor superfamily to induce a wide spectrum of cellular responses. TRAF6 also acts as the adaptor protein that mediates Eiger/JNK signaling in Drosophila. In a genetic interaction study, deltex (Dx) was identified as a novel interactor of TRAF6. Dx is well known to regulate Notch signaling in a context-dependent manner. Our data suggest that combinatorial action of Dx and TRAF6 enhances the Dx-induced wing nicking phenotype by inducing caspase-mediated cell death. Co-expression of Dx and TRAF6 also results in enhanced invasive behavior and perturbs the normal morphology of cells. The cooperative action of Dx and TRAF6 is attributed to JNK activation, which also leads to ectopic wingless (Wg) and decapentaplegic (Dpp) expression. Our results also reveal that the endocytic pathway component Rab7 may play a pivotal role in the regulation of Dx–TRAF6-mediated activation of JNK signaling. Here, we present the fact that Dx and TRAF6 together activate JNK signaling in an Eiger-independent mechanism.     

Clear,Aqueous Topical Drop of Triamcinolone Acetonide

The objective of this study was to develop a clear aqueous mixed nanomicellar formulation (NMF) of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) with a combination of nonionic surfactant hydrogenated castor oil 60 (HCO-60) and octoxynol-40 (Oc-40). In order to delineate the effects of drug-polymer interactions on entrapment efficiency (EE), loading efficiency (LE), and critical micellar concentration (CMC), a design of experiment (DOE) was performed to optimize the formulation. In this study, full-factorial design has been used with HCO-60 and OC-40 as independent variables. All formulations were prepared following solvent evaporation and film rehydration method, characterized with size, polydispersity, shape, morphology, EE, LE, and CMC. A specific blend of HCO-60 and Oc-40 at a particular wt% ratio (5:1.5) produced highest drug EE, LE, and smallest CMC (0.0216 wt%). Solubility of TA in NMF improved 20 times relative to normal aqueous solubility. Qualitative ¹H NMR studies confirmed the absence of free drug in the outer aqueous NMF medium. Moreover, TA-loaded NMF appeared to be highly stable and well tolerated on human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) and human retinal pigment epithelial cells (D407 cells). Overall, these studies suggest that TA in NMF is safe and suitable for human topical ocular drop application.     

Mustard seed–associated endophytes suppress Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causing Sclerotinia rot in mustard crop

International Microbiology - Mustard-rapeseed cultivation is affected by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum resulting in loss of oil yield and degradation of crop quality. This study adopted an environment...     

Interactions of a few azole derivatives with a transport protein: role of heteroatoms

The interaction of a few azole derivatives, 2‐(4′‐N,N‐dimethylaminophenyl)benzimidazole, 2‐(4′‐N,N‐dimethylaminophenyl)benzoxazole, 2‐(4′‐N,N‐dimethylaminophenyl)oxazolo[4,5‐b]pyridine with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were examined by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results were compared with the previously studied imidazopyridine derivative 2‐(4′‐N,N‐dimethylaminophenyl)imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridine. Displacement studies were carried out with site selective probes to locate the binding site of these ligands. The spectral shifts and the binding constant vary depending on the nature of the ligand. The fluorescence intensity of both oxazole derivatives 2‐(4′‐N,N‐dimethylaminophenyl)benzoxazole and 2‐(4′‐N,N‐dimethylaminophenyl) oxazolo[4,5‐b]pyridine increases substantially in the presence of BSA, whereas the intensity of 2‐(4′‐N,N‐dimethylaminophenyl)benzimidazole decreases. However, hypsochromic shift is observed in presence of BSA. The results obtained from the docking studies are also in good agreement with the experimental results. The location and orientation of binding depend upon the nature of the ligand. The studies revealed that apart from hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonding also plays a vital role in the molecular binding. Oxazoles have higher binding affinity than imidazoles and substitution of extra nitrogen further increases the binding affinity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular Adaptations Allow Dynein to Generate Large Collective Forces inside Cells

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Highlights? Ensemble function of motors inside cells measured at single-motor resolution ? Teams of dynein motors can generate large persistent forces, but kinesins cannot ? Dyneins take differentially sized steps to bunch together and share load better ? Against high load, dynein teams catch bond to microtubules and resist detachment