Human skeletal muscle HSP70 response to training in highly trained rowers

Previous studieshave demonstrated exercise-induced heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) inanimals. The purpose of this study was to investigate human skeletalmuscle HSP70 response to rowing training. Ten male rowers trained for 4 wk with different forms, durations, and intensities of exercise. Biopsywas performed in the right musculus vastus lateralis before trainingand at the end of each week. HSP70 in 5 µg of total protein from themuscle sample was determined by using Western blot and immunodetection with chemiluminescence technique, by means of laser densitometer referring to a series of known standard HSP70. Compared withpretraining (100%), HSP70 increased during training (181, 405, 456, and 363% from the first to fourth training week, respectively) withthe maximum HSP70 production at the end of second training week. Thus HSP70 is induced in highly trained human muscle by long-term training.

     

Mismatch Repair in Schizosaccharomyces Pombe Requires the Mutl Homologous Gene Pms1: Molecular Cloning and Functional Analysis

Homologues of the bacterial mutS and mutL genes involved in DNA mismatch repair have been found in organisms from bacteria to humans. Here, we describe the structure and function of a newly identified Schizosaccharomyces pombe gene that encodes a predicted amino acid sequence of 794 residues with a high degree of homology to MutL related proteins. On the basis of its closer relationship to the eukaryotic ``PMS' genes than to the ``MLH' genes, we have designated the S. pombe homologue pms1. Disruption of the pms1 gene causes a significant increase of spontaneous mutagenesis as documented by reversion rate measurements. Tetrad analyses of crosses homozygous for the pms1 mutation reveal a reduction of spore viability from >92% to 80% associated with a low proportion (~50%) of meioses producing four viable spores and a significant, allele-dependent increase of the level of post-meiotic segregation of genetic marker allele pairs. The mutant phenotypes are consistent with a general function of pms1 in correction of mismatched base pairs arising as a consequence of DNA polymerase errors during DNA synthesis, or of hybrid DNA formation between homologous but not perfectly complementary DNA strands during meiotic recombination.     

Replacement of histidine in position 105 in the α₅ subunit by cysteine stimulates zolpidem sensitivity of α₅β₂γ₂ GABA(A) receptors

Zolpidem is a positive allosteric modulator of GABA_A receptors with sensitivity to subunit composition. While it acts with high affinity and efficacy at GABA_A receptors containing the α₁ subunit, it has a lower affinity to GABA_A receptors containing α₂, α₃, or α₅ subunits and has a very weak efficacy at receptors containing the α₅ subunit. Here, we show that replacing histidine in position 105 in the α₅ subunit by cysteine strongly stimulates the effect of zolpidem in receptors containing the α₅ subunit. The side chain volume of the amino acid residue in this position does not correlate with the modulation by zolpidem. Interestingly, serine is not able to promote the potentiation by zolpidem. The homologous residues to α₅H105 in α₁, α₂, and α₃ are well-known determinants of the action of classical benzodiazepines. Other studies have shown that replacement of these histidines α₁H101, α₂H101, and α₃H126 by arginine, as naturally present in α₄ and α₆, leads to benzodiazepine insensitivity of these receptors. Thus, the nature of the amino acid residue in this position is not only crucial for the action of classical benzodiazepines but in α₅ containing receptors also for the action of zolpidem.     

Design and synthesis of compounds that extend yeast replicative lifespan

This past decade has seen the identification of numerous conserved genes that extend lifespan in diverse species, yet the number of compounds that extend lifespan is relatively small. A class of compounds called STACs, which were identified as activators of Sir2/SIRT1 NAD+-dependent deacetylases, extend the lifespans of multiple species in a Sir2-dependent manner and can delay the onset of age-related diseases such as cancer, diabetes and neurodegeneration in model organisms. Plant-derived STACs such as fisetin and resveratrol have several liabilities, including poor stability and relatively low potency as SIRT1 activators. To develop improved STACs, stilbene derivatives with modifications at the 4' position of the B ring were synthesized using a Horner-Emmons-based synthetic route or by hydrolyzing deoxyrhapontin. Here, we describe synthetic STACs with lower toxicity toward human cells, and higher potency with respect to SIRT1 activation and lifespan extension in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These studies show that it is possible to improve upon naturally occurring STACs based on a number of criteria including lifespan extension.     

Effect of glyphosate on auxin transport in corn and cotton tissues

Basipetal auxin transport in 6-day-old dark-grown corn coleoptiles was severely inhibited by increasing levels of glyphosate applied during the transport period.     

Parasitic mites influence fitness components of their host, the land snail Arianta arbustorum

Abstract. Parasites can influence the population dynamics of their hosts by affecting life-history strategies and behavior. The hematophageous mite Riccardoella limacum lives in the lung cavity of terrestrial gastropods. We used correlational and experimental approaches to investigate the influence of parasite infection on the behavior and life-history traits of the simultaneously hermaphroditic land snail Arianta arbustorum , a common host of R. limacum. Naturally infected individuals of A. arbustorum , collected in the wild, showed a decreased activity compared with uninfected snails. The reproductive output, expressed as the number of eggs deposited in a reproductive season, was reduced in mite-infected hosts. However, the hatching success of the eggs laid by parasitized snails was slightly higher than that of uninfected individuals. We also examined winter survival in 361 adults of A. arbustorum collected from four natural populations. The prevalence of mite infection ranged from 44.8% to 70.1% in three populations (snails in the fourth population were not infected). Winter survival was reduced in infected snails in two out of three populations. Furthermore, experimentally infected snails from an uninfected population showed a reduced winter survival compared with control snails. Our results indicate that parasite pressure imposed by members of R. limacum may influence life history in A. arbustorum.     

Genetic diversity of noroviruses in Brazil

Norovirus (NoV) infections are a major cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks around the world. In Brazil, the surveillance system for acute diarrhoea does not include the diagnosis of NoV, precluding the ability to assess its impact on public health. The present study assessed the circulation of NoV genotypes in different Brazilian states by partial nucleotide sequencing analysis of the genomic region coding for the major capsid viral protein. NoV genogroup II genotype 4 (GII.4) was the prevalent (78%) followed by GII.6, GII.7, GII.12, GII.16 and GII.17, demonstrating the great diversity of NoV genotypes circulating in Brazil. Thus, this paper highlights the importance of a virological surveillance system to detect and characterize emerging strains of NoV and their spreading potential.     

Consumption rates and food preferences of slugs in a calcareous grassland under current and future CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> conditions

This study explored consumption of a generalist herbivore feeding on leaf tissue of various plant species of a calcareous grassland, and tested whether consumption levels and preferences changed when plants were exposed to 5 years of in situ CO₂ enrichment. The first part of this experiment tested whether the consumption patterns of slugs (Deroceras reticulatum) observed in single-species feeding tests were altered when slugs were given a choice of food sources. Overall consumption increased 270% when slugs were given a choice, and they preferred having a choice of food sources more than they preferred having any one food source. Surprisingly, slugs consumed fewer legumes and grasses and more non-leguminous forbs when given a choice. In the second part of this experiment, feeding behaviors of slugs in response to elevated CO₂ were investigated by feeding them leaves of two legumes, one grass, and a non-leguminous forb (Trifolium medium, Lotus corniculatus, Bromus erectus, and Sanguisorba minor, respectively) in two or four species combinations. In the leguminous species mix, the non-leguminous species mix, and the combined mix (legumes and non-legumes), neither overall consumption by herbivores nor species preference was significantly altered by long-term CO₂ enrichment. In the combined species mix, slugs preferred legumes to non-legumes (P=0.012) and exhibited a weak functional group preference shift from non-legumes to legumes (P=0.089) in response to CO₂ enrichment. This is the first time such a shift has been observed, and provides evidence that there may be multiple herbivore responses to rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. Numerous single-species feeding tests using insects have shown that consumption by herbivores may increase when herbivores are fed plants grown in enriched CO₂ atmospheres. This study clearly demonstrates the limited applicability of non-choice feeding trials to generalist herbivores in species-rich communities. Received: 19 August 1999 / Accepted: 20 April 2000