Why does the establishment of the starch preferring<Emphasis Type="Italic">Entodinium caudatum</Emphasis> in the rumen decrease the numbers of the fibrolytic ciliate<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eudiplodinium maggii</Emphasis>?

The effect of the establishment of Entodinium caudatum on the population of Eudiplodinium maggii was examined in the rumen of three sheep fed a hay/ground barley diet. The cell concentration of E. maggii were 15.9-38.5 and 11.7-12.4 x 10(3) cells per g of the rumen contents in the absence and presence of E. caudatum, respectively. Microscopic analysis showed that starch was the only material engulfed by eudiplodinia irrespective of the time after feeding and the presence or absence of E. caudatum. Up to 82-93% of individuals contained starch grains when E. maggii was the only ciliate species in the rumen; the proportion was 70-77% after entodinia had been established. The largest quantity of starch engulfed by E. maggii ciliates was 12.4-19.0 and 6.7-7.6 mg per 100 mg protozoal dry mass in the absence and presence of entodinia, respectively. No visible engulfment of hay was observed in vivo in spite of the fact that hay particles up to 42 microns in length were dominating in rumen fluid. Ingestion of fresh particles of hay separated from the rumen digesta was found when they were added in the proportion of 1 g per 40 mL suspension of ciliates. No preferential intake of starch was observed when E. maggii ciliates were incubated in vitro with a mixture of hay and barley starch. It is suggested that competition for starch between the two ciliate species was responsible for the drop in the numbers of E. maggii. This could result from a too low concentration of small particles of hay in the rumen fluid.     

Aluminium-induced drought and oxidative stress in barley roots

The aim of the present study was to examine the relation between Al accumulation in root tissues, root growth inhibition, root water content, cell viability and expression of oxidative and drought stress-related genes in barley roots growing on the filter paper. Al-induced root growth inhibition correlated with Al uptake and cell death. Water content of Al-treated root represented only half of the control one. The expression of the dehydrin gene dhn4, which is a marker for drought stress in plant tissues, was strongly induced during Al stress. Al treatment also induced expression of oxidative stress-related genes such as glutathione peroxidase (gpx), pathogen-related peroxidase (prx8), glutathione reductase (gr) and dehydroascorbate reductase (dhar). The present results suggest correlation between Al uptake, Al-induced drought stress, oxidative stress, cell death and root growth inhibition.     

Cell cycle-dependent recruitment of telomerase RNA and Cajal bodies to human telomeres

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that counteracts replicative telomere erosion by adding telomeric sequence repeats onto chromosome ends. Despite its well-established role in telomere synthesis, telomerase has not yet been detected at telomeres. The RNA component of human telomerase (hTR) resides in the nucleoplasmic Cajal bodies (CBs) of interphase cancer cells. Here, in situ hybridization demonstrates that in human HeLa and Hep2 S phase cells, besides accumulating in CBs, hTR specifically concentrates at a few telomeres that also accumulate the TRF1 and TRF2 telomere marker proteins. Surprisingly, telomeres accumulating hTR exhibit a great accessibility for in situ oligonucleotide hybridization without chromatin denaturation, suggesting that they represent a structurally distinct, minor subset of HeLa telomeres. Moreover, we demonstrate that more than 25% of telomeres accumulating hTR colocalize with CBs. Time-lapse fluorescence microscopy demonstrates that CBs moving in the nucleoplasm of S phase cells transiently associate for 10-40 min with telomeres. Our data raise the intriguing possibility that CBs may deliver hTR to telomeres and/or may function in other aspects of telomere maintenance.     

Kinetic mechanism of human dUTPase, an essential nucleotide pyrophosphatase enzyme

Human dUTPase is essential in controlling relative cellular levels of dTTP/dUTP, both of which can be incorporated into DNA. The nuclear isoform of the enzyme has been proposed as a promising novel target for anticancer chemotherapeutic strategies. The recently determined three-dimensional structure of this protein in complex with an isosteric substrate analogue allowed in-depth structural characterization of the active site. However, fundamental steps of the dUTPase enzymatic cycle have not yet been revealed. This knowledge is indispensable for a functional understanding of the molecular mechanism and can also contribute to the design of potential antagonists. Here we present detailed pre-steady-state and steady-state kinetic investigations using a single tryptophan fluorophore engineered into the active site of human dUTPase. This sensor allowed distinction of the apoenzyme, enzyme-substrate, and enzyme-product complexes. We show that the dUTP hydrolysis cycle consists of at least four distinct enzymatic steps: (i) fast substrate binding, (ii) isomerization of the enzyme-substrate complex into the catalytically competent conformation, (iii) a hydrolysis (chemical) step, and (iv) rapid, nonordered release of the products. Independent quenched-flow experiments indicate that the chemical step is the rate-limiting step of the enzymatic cycle. To follow the reaction in the quenched-flow, we devised a novel method to synthesize gamma-(32)P-labeled dUTP. We also determined by indicator-based rapid kinetic assays that proton release is concomitant with the rate-limiting hydrolysis step. Our results led to a quantitative kinetic model of the human dUTPase catalytic cycle and to direct assessment of relative flexibilities of the C-terminal arm, critical for enzyme activity, in the enzyme-ligand complexes along the reaction pathway.     

Bidirectional regulation of renal cortical Na+,K+-ATPase by protein kinase C

We examined the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the regulation of Na+,K+- ATPase activity in the renal cortex. Male Wistar rats were anaesthetized and the investigated reagents were infused into the abdominal aorta proximally to the renal arteries. A PKC-activating phorbol ester, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), had a dose-dependent effect on cortical Na+,K+-ATPase activity. Low dose of PDBu (10(-11) mol/kg per min) increased cortical Na+,K+-ATPase activity by 34.2%, whereas high doses (10(-9) and 10(-8) mol/kg per min) reduced this activity by 22.7% and 35.0%, respectively. PDBu administration caused changes in Na+,K+-ATPase Vmax without affecting K(0.5) for Na+, K+ and ATP as well as Ki for ouabain. The effects of PDBu were abolished by PKC inhibitors, staurosporine, GF109203X, and G? 6976. The inhibitory effect of PDBu was reversed by pretreatment with inhibitors of cytochrome P450-dependent arachidonate metabolism, ethoxyresorufin and 17-octadecynoic acid, inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), wortmannin and LY294002, and by actin depolymerizing agents, cytochalasin D and latrunculin B. These results suggest that PKC may either stimulate or inhibit renal cortical Na+,K+-ATPase. The inhibitory effect is mediated by cytochrome P450-dependent arachidonate metabolites and PI3K, and is caused by redistribution of the sodium pump from the plasma membrane to the inactive intracellular pool.     

Emergency situations in the North Caucasus and role of specific immunoprophylaxis in eradication and prevention of epidemiological consequences

Information on emergency situations (ES) on the territory of the North Caucasus from the 90s of the last century till the present moment is presented. The importance of the specific immunoprophylaxis of infections for the liquidation of epidemiological aggravations in ES and for their prevention is shown. Information on the scope of specific immunoprophylaxis in the zones of ES and on different approaches to its carrying out. The conclusion was made on the expediency of making corrections in the normative documents of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, regulating planned vaccinations and vaccinations made on epidemic indications in connection with different kinds of ES.     

Dissociation of Calmodulin-Target Peptide Complexes by the Lipid Mediator Sphingosylphosphorylcholine: IMPLICATIONS IN CALCIUM SIGNALING*

Previously we have identified the lipid mediator sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) as the first potentially endogenous inhibitor of the ubiquitous Ca²⁺ sensor calmodulin (CaM) (Kovacs, E., and Liliom, K. (2008) Biochem. J. 410, 427–437). Here we give mechanistic insight into CaM inhibition by SPC, based on fluorescence stopped-flow studies with the model CaM-binding domain melittin. We demonstrate that both the peptide and SPC micelles bind to CaM in a rapid and reversible manner with comparable affinities. Furthermore, we present kinetic evidence that both species compete for the same target site on CaM, and thus SPC can be considered as a competitive inhibitor of CaM-target peptide interactions. We also show that SPC disrupts the complex of CaM and the CaM-binding domain of ryanodine receptor type 1, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 1, and the plasma membrane Ca²⁺ pump. By interfering with these interactions, thus inhibiting the negative feedback that CaM has on Ca²⁺ signaling, we hypothesize that SPC could lead to Ca²⁺ mobilization in vivo. Hence, we suggest that the action of the sphingolipid on CaM might explain the previously recognized phenomenon that SPC liberates Ca²⁺ from intracellular stores. Moreover, we demonstrate that unlike traditional synthetic CaM inhibitors, SPC disrupts the complex between not only the Ca²⁺-saturated but also the apo form of the protein and the target peptide, suggesting a completely novel regulation for target proteins that constitutively bind CaM, such as ryanodine receptors.     

A validated enantiospecific method for determination and purity assay of clopridogrel

A new and accurate HPLC method using β‐cyclodextrin chemically bonded to spherical silica particles as chiral stationary phase (CSP) was developed and validated for determination of S‐clopidogrel and its impurities R‐enantiomer and S‐acid as a hydrolytic product. The effects of acetonitrile and methanol content in the mobile phase and temperature on the resolution and retention of enantiomers were investigated. A satisfactory resolution of S‐clopidogrel active form and its impurities was achieved on ChiraDex® column (5 μm, 4 × 250 mm) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min and 17°C using acetonitrile, methanol and 0.01 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution (15:5:80 v/v/v) as mobile phase. The detection wavelength was set at 220 nm. The method was validated in terms of accuracy, precision, linearity, and robustness. The limit of detection for R‐enantiomer and S‐acid were 0.75 and 0.09 μg/ml, respectively, injection volume being 20 μl. Finally, the molecular modeling of the inclusion complexes between the analytes and β‐cyclodextrin was performed to investigate the mechanism of the enantiorecognition and to study the quantitative structure–retention relationships. Chirality, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

利用制霉菌素浓缩处理高频率地检出黑曲霉营养缺陷型突变株

以亚硝酸诱变处理黑曲霉Ｎ３４３和黑曲霉ＵＶ－１１的分生孢子,然后将它们培养在完全培养基平板上至第二代分生孢子长出,收集这些孢子以制霉菌素浓缩处理,结果以３．８～０．３％的高频率得到１９株稳定的营养缺陷型突变株：从黑曲霉Ｎ３４３获得３株维生素类的缺陷型,它们分别为双缺或叁缺;从黑曲霉ＵＶ－１１获得１６株特殊的脯氨酸营养缺陷型,进一步分析表明这是由于从谷氨酸合成脯氨酸或精氨酸的代谢阻断所致。所有以上突变株形态与各自原养型相似,但在产酶活力方面均为负突变     

Chemotype of tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.) determines aphid genotype and its associated predator system

Field assessments and genetic analyses on tansy aphid, Metopeurum fuscoviride Stroyan were made aiming to investigate whether a specialist aphid species and its associated predator density differ between chemotypes of the plant host, tansy, and whether the essential oil composition of the plant host determines the genetic differences observed between colonies of M. fuscoviride inhabiting these different chemotypes. Tansy plants were defined after volatile extractions as Camphor Pure and Borneol Pure, respectively, with hybrid chemotypes defined as Camphor Hybrid, Borneol Hybrid, and Thujone Hybrid, respectively. Ladybird beetles, Coccinella septempunctata (L.), clearly dominated Pure Camphor plants, whereas significantly higher numbers of the nursery web spider, Pisaura mirabilis (Clerck), were detected on Borneol Pure and Borneol Hybrid plants. Genetic analyses using five polymorphic microsatellite markers revealed that higher genetic similarity existed between M. fuscoviride aphids from Borneol Pure and Borneol Hybrid plants and between Camphor Pure and Camphor Hybrid plants, respectively, whereas a lower level of genetic similarity was seen between these aphids from Thujone Hybrid plants. Accordingly, it is possible that host plant‐adapted species can create much context‐dependency in the nature and strength of predation effects, which may in turn alter costs and benefits of host plant chemical differentiations, or even the prey genotype variations. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 114 , 709–719.