NMDA Receptor antagonists prevent acute ammonia toxicity in mice

We proposed that acute ammonia toxicity is mediated by activation of NMDA receptors. To confirm this hypothesis we have tested whether different NMDA receptor antagonists, acting on different sites of NMDA receptors, prevent death of mice induced by injection of 14 mmol/Kg of ammonium acetate, a dose that induces death of 95% of mice. MK-801, phencyclidine and ketamine, which block the ion channel of NMDA receptors, prevent death of at least 75% of mice. CPP, AP-5, CGS 19755, and CGP 40116, competitive antagonists acting on the binding site for NMDA, also prevent death of at least 75% of mice. Butanol, ethanol and methanol which block NMDA receptors, also prevent death of mice. There is an excellent correlation between the EC₅₀ for preventing ammonia-induced death and the IC₅₀ for inhibiting NMDA-induced currents. Acute ammonia toxicity is not prevented by antagonists of kainate/AMPA receptors, of muscarinic or nicotinic acetylcholine receptors or of GABA receptors. Inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase afford partial protection against ammonia toxicity while inhibitors of calcineurin, of glutamine synthetase or antioxidants did not prevent ammonia-induced death of mice. These results strongly support the idea that acute ammonia toxicity is mediated by activation of NMDA receptors.     

Colonization and deterioration processes in Roman mortars by cyanobacteria,algae and lichens

The mortars covering some walls of the Roman city of Baelo Claudia (Cadiz, Spain) support an abundant colonization of cyanobacteria, algae and lichens. The distribution of these organisms is closely related to microclimatic parameters. Furthermore, the development, specific composition and biomass of algal cryptoendolithic communities are related to the wall orientation. The effect of these communities on mortar deterioration is discussed.     

Construction of an Aspergillus nidulans multicopy transformant for the xlnB gene and its use in purifying the minor X24 xylanase

 Using recombinant DNA techniques, an Aspergillus nidulans multicopy transformant for the gene xlnB coding for the minor X₂₄ xylanase has been constructed. When grown on glucose as sole carbon source this transformant secretes 114 U of xylanase (mg protein)^-1. In this culture condition, X₂₄ is the only xylanase secreted and the predominant protein in the culture filtrate. This strategy has been used to purify the X₂₄ enzyme to homogeneity. The purified xylanase showed a single band on sodium dodecyl sulphate/ polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a molecular mass of 24 kDa and had an isoelectric point of approximately 3.5. The enzyme was a non-debranching endo-1,4-β-xylan xylanohydrolase highly specific for xylans and showed optimal activity at pH 5.5 and 52°C. The X₂₄ xylanase had a Michaelis constant, K _m, of 12.43 mg oat spelt xylan ml^-1 and a V _max of 1639 μmol min^-1 (mg protein)^-1. Received: 17 May 1995/Received last revision: 25 September 1995/Accepted: 29 September 1995     

Sex masks: The double life of female commercial sex workers in Mexico City

The central topic of the article is the divided world of female commercial sex workers (FCSW) in Mexico City. Fourteen focus group sessions were conducted with 133 FCSW from varying socio-economic levels and types of work site, as well as seven individual interviews.FCSW live in a constant double bind, as mother and prostitute, and come into daily contact with society's double standard for women. Reactions include justifying sex work as a better paying employment opportunity for women, as a necessary evil, and as a type of social service, while at the same time hiding their profession from their families. FCSW also live out an archetypal female ambivalence, their selves divided between the mother/saint and the traitor/prostitute.This article defines elements which should be taken into account in culturally appropriate programs for prevention of HIV/AIDS transmission, especially the importance which FCSW give to their role as mothers and promotion of the condom as a physical and symbolic barrier between professional and private life.     

RIP mediates tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 activation of NF-kappaB but not Fas/APO-1-initiated apoptosis.

The CD95 (Fas/APO-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor pathways share many similarities, including a common reliance on proteins containing 'death domains' for elements of the membrane-proximal signal relay. We have created mutant cell lines that are unable to activate NF-kappaB in response to TNF. One of the mutant lines lacks RIP, a 74 kDa Ser/Thr kinase originally identified by its ability to associate with Fas/APO-1 and induce cell death. Reconstitution of the line with RIP restores responsiveness to TNF. The RIP-deficient cell line is susceptible to apoptosis initiated by anti-CD95 antibodies. An analysis of cells reconstituted with mutant forms of RIP reveals similarities between the action of RIP and FADD/MORT-1, a Fas-associated death domain protein.     

Cornucoryphe schirmi n. gen. n. sp., an unusual conocoryphid trilobite from the Middle Cambrian of Spain

Cornucoryphe n. gen. from the Middle Cambrian of the Cantabrian Mountains and Aragón is a unicornianConocoryphe with pronounced alae.     

Galanthamine production in “shoot-clump” cultures of Narcissus confusus in liquid-shake medium

Galanthamine (GAL) is increasingly used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. We have attempted to develop a method of producing this alkaloid using in vitro cultures of Narcissus confusus plants. The “shoot-clump” culture in liquid medium was shown to be an appropriate method for the micropropagation of this bulbous plant. The complete process included three steps:

1. culture of “twin-scales” starting from the bulbs;
2. culture of the newly formed shoots in a medium for bud proliferation (Murashige Skoog+1 mg l^-1 of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid+5 mg l^-1 of benzyladenine), and
3. culture of “shoot-clumps” in a liquid-shake medium. Here we describe the effect of the addition of trans-cinnamic acid, a precursor in the biosynthesis of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, on the production of galanthamine and related alkaloids, and also on the growth of the “shoot-clump” culture. The production of galanthamine was found to be inhibited by the addition of the precursor, which promoted the production of the other alkaloid in the same biosynthetic pathway, N-formyl-norgalanthamine. The total production of galanthamine in the control cultures in day-long photoperiod was 2.50 mg per culture, of which 1.97 mg per culture were released into the medium.

     

Seasonal study of the fungal biota of the fur of dogs

During a one year period, 944 dogs from the Municipal kennel of Barcelona were examined to detect animals with suspected dermatophytosis. Only a few animals (1.8%) presented skin lesions but none of them had dermatophytosis. A representative number of dogs without visible skin lesions (n=172), selected at random, were used to carry out a seasonal study of the mycobiota of their fur. Fifteen isolates belonging to the genera Microsporum and Trichophyton were isolated from 14 of the 172 (8.1%) dogs without lesions. The identity of these fungi was Microsporum gypseum (6/15), Trichophyton terrestre (4/15), M. canis (2/15), M. cookei (2/15) and Trichophyton ajelloi (1/15) (one strain each of M. gypseum and T. ajelloi were isolated from one dog). Species of Penicillium (% prevalence=89.5%), Alternaria (86.6%), Cladosporium (84.9%), Aspergillus (77.3%), Scopulariopsis (65.7%) and Chrysosporium (64.5%) were the most prevalent. No significant differences in the fungal biota were observed with respect to age, gender, hair length or between mixed and pure breed dogs. A large number of isolates, including species belonging to the genera Beauveria, Chrysosporium, Malbranchea and Scopulariopsis, that macroscopically and/or microscopically resemble dermatophytes and may be mistaken for them, produced a red color change in Dermatophyte Test Medium. No significant seasonal difference was detected among the isolates belonging to the the most frequently encountered genera, with the exception of Scopulariopsis (higher in summer and autumn) and Chrysosporium (higher in summer). Species from other genera, with lower occurrence also presented significant differences in their seasonal distribution. Arthrinium, Aureobasidium, Chaetomium and Phoma spp. presented maximum prevalence peaks in spring, Fusarium, Paecilomyces, Phoma and Rhizopus spp. in summer and Geotrichum and Mucor spp. in autumn. The Microsporum and Trichophyton species were more frequently isolated in summer.     

苏云金芽孢杆菌δ-内毒素基因穿梭质粒的构建

在农业生产中长期使用化学农药已对环境和生态平衡造成一定破坏作用,同时有不少害虫也逐渐产生抗药性从而引起某些害虫的大流行,给农业生产带来巨大损失。应用苏云金杆菌杀虫蛋白基因(Bt基因)可构建具有抗虫作用的抗虫工程菌,这样通过拌种或植物叶面喷雾可达到快速、经济、有效的防治虫害的目的。国际上抗虫工程菌研究应用很快,如美国将BI基因转入到一种正常情况下定居在植物组织中的棒杆菌,将这种工程菌拌玉米种子,这样随植物生长该菌在植物体内大量繁殖,当玉米螟在茎和叶取食时,即因食用表达苏云金杆菌毒蛋白的工程菌而死亡。 田颖川等已克隆了苏云金芽孢杆菌内毒素基因CryIA(b)和CryIA(c)。本文将Bt基因CryIA(c)插入到大肠-枯草穿梭载体pBE-2中构建成Bt毒蛋白基因穿梭质粒pAMY,利用电穿孔法转人大肠杆菌DH5a,枯草芽孢杆菌B.subtilis BR151,IA511,野生型蜡状芽孢杆菌B.cereusa-47,短芽孢杆菌B.brevis A-5和枯草芽孢杆菌90-8,获得了具有较高杀虫活性的工程菌克隆。