Induction of increase in the heterocyst frequency of Anabaena sp. strain ATCC33047. Effect on ammonium photoproduction

Abstract Several approaches have been followed to increase the nitrogenase level in filaments of Anabaena ATCC33047. In a nitrogen-free medium lacking added molybdate and supplemented with 10 mM tungstate, growth was impaired as a result of decreased nitrogenase activity level. Under these conditions, the filaments exhibited nitrogen starvation symptoms and a high heterocyst frequency, with heterocysts being up to 28% of the total number of cells in the filaments, while a regular pattern of heterocyst distribution was maintained. Normal nitrogenase level and nitrogen status were recovered upon molybdate addition, with resumption of growth and decrease of the heterocyst frequency with time until reaching a value of about 10%. The yield of ammonium photoproduction from N₂ by filaments displaying different heterocyst frequencies and treated with l -methionine- d,l -sulfoximine (MSX) was determined. Maximal rates were obtained with filaments containing 16% of the cells differentiated as heterocysts. Results indicate that appropriate manipulation of the heterocyst frequency leads to an improvement in the efficiency of conversion of light energy into chemical energy through photoreduction of N₂ to ammonium.     

Physiology of pepper fruit and the metabolism of antioxidants: chloroplasts,mitochondria and peroxisomes

Background and Aims Pepper (Capsicum annuum) contains high levels of antioxidants, such as vitamins A and C and flavonoids. However, information on the role of these beneficial compounds in the physiology of pepper fruit remains scarce. Recent studies have shown that antioxidants in ripe pepper fruit play a key role in responses to temperature changes, and the redox state at the time of harvest affects the nutritional value for human consumption. In this paper, the role of antioxidant metabolism of pepper fruit during ripening and in the response to low temperature is addressed, paying particular attention to ascorbate, NADPH and the superoxide dismutase enzymatic system. The participation of chloroplasts, mitochondria and peroxisomes in the ripening process is also investigated.Scope and Results Important changes occur at a subcellular level during ripening of pepper fruit. Chloroplasts turn into chromoplasts, with drastic conversion of their metabolism, and the role of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle is essential. In mitochondria from red fruits, higher ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and Mn-SOD activities are involved in avoiding the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in these organelles during ripening. Peroxisomes, whose antioxidant capacity at fruit ripening is substantially affected, display an atypical metabolic pattern during this physiological stage. In spite of these differences observed in the antioxidative metabolism of mitochondria and peroxisomes, proteomic analysis of these organelles, carried out by 2-D electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF/TOF and provided here for the first time, reveals no changes between the antioxidant metabolism from immature (green) and ripe (red) fruits.Conclusions Taken together, the results show that investigation of molecular and enzymatic antioxidants from cell compartments, especially chloroplasts, mitochondria and peroxisomes, is a useful tool to study the physiology of pepper fruit, particularly in the context of expanding their shelf-life after harvest and in maintaining their nutritional value.     

Cultivating <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> coconut palms (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cocos nucifera</Emphasis>) under glasshouse conditions with natural light,improves <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> photosynthesis nursery survival and growth

Plantlets of coconut were cultured in vitro under three different ambient conditions including a standard culture room, a culture room inside a glasshouse with natural light but controlled temperature, and a standard glasshouse with natural light and natural fluctuations of temperature. Plantlets from the 3 treatments were compared in terms of growth, plant survival as well as net photosynthesis and efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm ratio) both at the end of the in vitro stage and at 3 stages of ex vitro acclimatization. At the end of the in vitro stage, plantlets cultured in vitro under glasshouse conditions showed the best performance showing the highest photosynthesis rate, dry weight and number of leaves. Plantlets from the standard culture room showed the lowest photosynthesis and growth rate. After 6 months of ex vitro acclimatization, plantlets originally grown in vitro under glasshouse conditions maintained better field survival and growth rates in terms of fresh weight, dry weight and leaf number than plantlets originally grown in vitro in the standard culture room. Although more studies are required to define the reason for this effect, it is clear that the conditions of standard culture rooms are not the best for in vitro cultivation of coconut and perhaps other tropical species.     

Photoaffinity labeling of the receptor site forα-Scorpion toxins on purified and reconstituted sodium channels by a new toxin derivative

1. A methyl-4-azidobenzimidyl (MAB) derivative of the alpha-scorpion toxin from Leiurus quinquestriatus (LqTx) specifically labels only the alpha subunit of the rat brain sodium channel in synaptosomes or in purified and reconstituted sodium-channel preparations. 2. Unlike previous photoreactive toxin derivaties, binding and photolabeling by MAB-LqTx are allosterically modulated by tetrodotoxin and batrachotoxin, as observed for native LqTx binding to sodium channels in synaptosomes. 3. Proteolytic cleavage of the alpha subunit photolabeled with MAB-LqTx shows that the label is located within a 60 to 70-kDa protease-resistant core structure in domain I of the sodium-channel alpha subunit. 4. MAB-LqTx will be valuable in further defining the structure-activity relationships at the alpha-scorpion toxin receptor site.     

Assessment of two flexible and compatible SNP genotyping platforms: TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assays and the SNPlex Genotyping System

In this review we describe the principles, protocols, and applications of two commercially available SNP genotyping platforms, the TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assays and the SNPlex Genotyping System. Combined, these two technologies meet the requirements of multiple SNP applications in genetics research and pharmacogenetics. We also describe a set of SNP selection tools and validated assay resources which we developed to accelerate the cycle of experimentation on these platforms. Criteria for selecting the more appropriate of these two genotyping technologies are presented: the genetic architecture of the trait of interest, the throughput required, and the number of SNPs and samples needed for a successful study. Overall, the TaqMan assay format is suitable for low- to mid-throughput applications in which a high assay conversion rate, simple assay workflow, and low cost of automation are desirable. The SNPlex Genotyping System, on the other hand, is well suited for SNP applications in which throughput and cost-efficiency are essential, e.g., applications requiring either the testing of large numbers of SNPs and samples, or the flexibility to select various SNP subsets.     

DNA vaccination can break immunological tolerance to PrP in wild-type mice and attenuates prion disease after intracerebral challenge

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) can be ameliorated by prion protein (PrP)-specific antibodies, but active immunization is complicated by immune tolerance to the normal cellular host protein (PrP(C)). Here, we show that DNA immunization of wild-type mice can break immune tolerance against the prion protein, resulting in the induction of PrP-specific antibody and T-cell responses. PrP immunogenicity was increased by fusion to the lysosomal targeting signal from LIMPII (lysosomal integral membrane protein type II). Although mice immunized with a PrP-LIMPII DNA vaccine showed a dramatic delay in the onset of early disease signs after intracerebral challenge, immunization against PrP also had some deleterious effects. These results clearly confirm the feasibility of using active immunization to protect against TSEs and, in the absence of effective treatments, indicate a suitable alternative for combating the spread of these diseases.     

El carcinoma diferenciado incidental de tiroides es menos prevalente en la enfermedad de Graves que en el bocio multinodular

ObjectiveRisk factors for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) are poorly understood, but serum TSH levels, thyroid nodularity, and presence of autoimmunity are well-recognized factors that modulate DTC prevalence. TSH stimulates proliferation of both normal and neoplastic follicular cells. Consequently, thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI), because of its TSH-like action, should induce DTC progression in patients with Graves’ disease (GD). The study objective was to compare the prevalence of incidental DTC in patients undergoing thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease.MethodsThe pathology reports of 372 patients with preoperative diagnosis of euthyroid multinodular goiter (EMG) or hyperthyroidism were reviewed. Scintigraphy results and serum TSI levels were used to diagnosed either GD or hyperactive MG (HMG) to hyperthyroid subjects. Prevalence of DTC in each category was calculated using a Chi-square test.ResultsEMG, GD, and HMG were diagnosed in 221, 125, and 26 patients. There were 58 DTCs, distributed as follows [n (%)]: EMG, 49 (22.2%); GD, 8 (6.4%), and HMG, 1 (3.8%). Difference in prevalence of incidental DTC between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). After adjustment for age, patients with EMG had a greater DTC prevalence than GD patients, with an OR of 4.17 (p < 0.001). Tumor size (mm, mean ± SD) was 6.92 ± 11.26, 1.97 ± 1.85, and 9.0 for EMG, GD and HMG respectively (p = 0.017).ConclusionsIncidental DTC was less prevalent in GD as compared to EMG irrespective of age. This finding may suggest a predisposition to develop DTC in patients with thyroid nodular disease and/or a potential effect of autoimmunity to protect against development of neoplastic disease.     

Blood sampling by puncture in the cavernous sinus from hunted wild boar

A new method of sampling based on the extraction of blood from the cavernous sinus of the dura mater has been assessed in hunted wild boar. Blood from 139 animals was obtained by two different extraction methods: the harvesting from thoracic cavity (TC) and intracavernous venipuncture (IV). Sera obtained by the IV method had higher volume (mean 2.85 vs 1.85 ml), were less hemolytic (mean absorbance at 450 nm: 1.01 vs 2.41 nm). A higher number of samples and a higher proportion of sera collected by IV (90.6 %) compared to those obtained using the TC method (78.4 %), could be analyzed against Aujeszky’s disease using blocking ELISA. No statistically significant differences in seroprevalences between samples obtained using both extraction methods were observed. The results obtained indicate that the IV is an easy, fast, reliable, clean, and safe method to collect blood samples from hunted wild boar, proving a real alternative to the traditional collection method.