Tissue specification and intracellular distribution of actin isoforms inVicia faba L.

Summary Two dimensional gel electrophoresis of total cell protein extracts from not expanded, and primary leaves, petioles, and roots ofVicia faba resulted in four actin isoforms at 43 kDa with pI values from 5.9 to 6.05. In contrast to root extracts, in all leaf extracts an additional immunoreactive polypeptide with a molecular mass of 51 kDa and pI 5.75 was detected. This polypeptide was present in high amounts in protein extracts of purified chloroplasts, whereas no actin isoform at 43 kDa could be demonstrated. Compared to the tissue extracts, two actin isoforms at 43 kDa with pI values of 5.9 and 6.0 were enriched, when purified plasma membranes and the membranous fraction of vacuoles were analysed. In contrast, the soluble protein fraction of the plasma membrane preparation contained only two isoactins with pI values of 5.95 and 6.05 and a molecular mass of 43 kDa. These results indicate, that the four actin isoforms at 43 kDa detected in all examined tissues ofV. faba fulfill different functions at specific intracellular compartments, for example, the anchorage of actin microfilaments to membranes.Abbreviations BSA bovine serum albumin - BCIP 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate - DDM n-decyl -D-maltopyranoside - EDTA ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid - HG n-hexyl -D-glucopyranoside - IEF isoelectrical focusing - MES morpholinoethanesulfonic acid - 2-ME 2 mercaptoethanol - NBT nitro blue tetrazolium - pCMB p-chloromercuribenzoic acid - PVP polyvinylpyrrolidone - Tris tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane     

High Velocity Projectiles for Killing Whales. Hunting Trials using 20 mm High Velocity Projectiles for Minke Whales in 1982

Norway was requested by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to explore the use of high-velocity projectiles to replace cold harpoon as killing device for minke whales (Anon 1980). Tests of suitable high-velocity projectiles for minke whales were therefore initiated in 1982 as part of a wider project with the purpose of studying alternative killing methods to the traditional cold harpoon used in the Norwegian minke whale hunt until 1984 (Øen 1995). The results of the trials have previously been presented in unpublished reports to the IWC (Øen 1982, 1983, 1992).     

Correlation between physico-chemical properties of quaternary ammonium salts of heptacaine and their inhibitory activity against photosynthesizing organisms

Photosynthesis inhibition in algae (Chlorella) and plant (spinach) chloroplasts by quaternary ammonium salts of heptacaine {N-[2-(2-heptyloxyphenylcarbamoyloxy)-ethyl]-N-alkylpiperidinium bromides} depended on the alkyl chain length of the alkyl substituent and showed good correlations with theoretical hydrophobic fragment constants as well as with experimentally determined physico-chemical parameters, namely extraction constants and surface activities. Communicated by. Z. ŠESTáK     

Human hypertensive placenta contains an increased amount of Na,K-ATPase with higher affinity for cardiac glycosides

Placentas of women suffering from pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) were found to contain a greater amount of Na,K-ATPase molecules, estimated from anthroyl ouabain binding, than normotensive individuals. Both the microsomal fraction of placental cells and purified Na,K-ATPase showed an increased affinity for the specific inhibitor ouabain which, in the case of the microsomes, bound with a dissociation constant of 0.9 nM as compared with 3.4 nM in the controls. Likewise, the dissociation constant of the ouabain complex with purified Na,K-ATPase was about 3.5 times lower in the hypertensive patients. The differences are apparently caused by a different microenvironment of the ouabain-binding site, as reflected in the quantum yield of bound anthroyl ouabain. If an endogenous digitalis-like factor is present in the body fluids to regulate Na,K-ATPase activity, the present results render its role quite plausible.     

Enhancing the structural diversity between forest patches—A concept and real-world experiment to study biodiversity,multifunctionality and forest resilience across spatial scales

Intensification of land use by humans has led to a homogenization of landscapes and decreasing resilience of ecosystems globally due to a loss of biodiversity, including the majority of forests. Biodiversity–ecosystem functioning (BEF) research has provided compelling evidence for a positive effect of biodiversity on ecosystem functions and services at the local (α-diversity) scale, but we largely lack empirical evidence on how the loss of between-patch β-diversity affects biodiversity and multifunctionality at the landscape scale (γ-diversity). Here, we present a novel concept and experimental framework for elucidating BEF patterns at α-, β-, and γ-scales in real landscapes at a forest management-relevant scale. We examine this framework using 22 temperate broadleaf production forests, dominated by Fagus sylvatica. In 11 of these forests, we manipulated the structure between forest patches by increasing variation in canopy cover and deadwood. We hypothesized that an increase in landscape heterogeneity would enhance the β-diversity of different trophic levels, as well as the β-functionality of various ecosystem functions. We will develop a new statistical framework for BEF studies extending across scales and incorporating biodiversity measures from taxonomic to functional to phylogenetic diversity using Hill numbers. We will further expand the Hill number concept to multifunctionality allowing the decomposition of γ-multifunctionality into α- and β-components. Combining this analytic framework with our experimental data will allow us to test how an increase in between patch heterogeneity affects biodiversity and multifunctionality across spatial scales and trophic levels to help inform and improve forest resilience under climate change. Such an integrative concept for biodiversity and functionality, including spatial scales and multiple aspects of diversity and multifunctionality as well as physical and environmental structure in forests, will go far beyond the current widely applied approach in forestry to increase resilience of future forests through the manipulation of tree species composition.     

The protective effect of arbutin against potassium bromate-induced oxidative damage in the rat brain

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of arbutin (ARB) against brain injury induced in rats with potassium bromate (KBrO₃). The rats were divided into four groups as Group 1: Control (0.9% NaCl ml/kg/day p.), Group 2: KBrO₃ (100 mg/kg (gavage), Group 3: ARB (50 mg/kg/day p.), and Group 4: KBrO₃ + ARB (100 mg/kg (gavage) + 50 mg/kg/day p.). At the end of the fifth day of the study, the rats in all groups were killed, and their brain tissues were collected. In the collected brain tissues, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) levels were measured, and routine histopathological examinations were made. The MDA levels in the group that was exposed to KBrO₃ were significantly higher than those in the control group (p ˂ 0.001). In comparison to the KBrO₃ group, the MDA levels in the KBrO₃ + ARB group were significantly lower (p ˂ 0.001). It was observed that SOD and CAT enzyme activity levels were significantly lower in the KBrO₃ group compared to the control group (p ˂ 0.001), while these levels were significantly higher in the KBrO₃ + ARB group than in the KBrO₃ group (p ˂ 0.001). Additionally, the group that was subjected to KBrO₃ toxicity, as well as ARB administration, had much lower levels of histopathologic signs than the group that was subjected to KBrO₃ toxicity only. Consequently, it was found that KBrO₃ exposure led to injury in the brain tissues of the rats, and using ARB was effective in preventing this injury.     

Tetanus toxin selectively impairs anti-tumoral but not anti-microbial macrophage-mediated effector functions

Abstract The present study was designed to establish the susceptibility of macrophage-mediated effector functions to tetanus toxin (TT). Using the murine macrophage cell line, GG2EE, generated in vitro by v- raf /v- myc oncogenes, we have previously provided evidence that TT selectively inhibits interferon gamma (IFN-γ), but not basal, lysozyme activity. Here we show that while neither phagocytic nor candidacidal activities are affected by TT treatment, antitumoral activity is significantly impaired after exposure to TT. This phenomenon, which is dose-dependent, is fully ascribed to the holotoxin, as heat inactivated TT, C or A-B fragments result ineffective. Furthermore, C but not A-B fragment competes with TT in abrogating its inhibitory effects. Overall, these data indicate that TT is not a broad-spectrum, down-regulating signal on macrophage-mediated functions, thus implying that its toxic action is exerted on specific molecular targets.     

Evaluation of Acetic Acid-Induced Chronic Gastric Ulcer Healing by Propionyl-L-Carnitine Administration

The aim of our study was to investigate the healing effect of propionyl-L-carnitine (PLC) on chronic gastric ulcers and its underlying mechanisms. This study included rats with gastric ulcers induced by applying serosal glacial acetic acid. These rats were then given either saline (vehicle) or PLC at doses of 60 and 120 mg/kg, administered orally 3 days after ulcer induction for 14 consecutive days. Our study found that treatment with PLC resulted in a reduction of the gastric ulcer area, a faster rate of ulcer healing, and stimulated mucosal restoration. Additionally, the treatment with PLC reduced the number of Iba-1+ M1 macrophages while increasing the number of galectin-3+ M2 macrophages, as well as desmin+ microvessels, and α-SMA+ myofibroblasts in the gastric ulcer bed. The mRNA expression of COX-2, eNOS, TGF-β1, VEGFA, and EGF in the ulcerated gastric mucosa was greater in the PLC-treated groups compared with the vehicle-treated rats. In conclusion, these findings suggest that PLC treatment may accelerate gastric ulcer healing by stimulating mucosal reconstruction, macrophage polarization, angiogenesis, and fibroblast proliferation, as well as fibroblast-myofibroblast transition. This process is associated with the upregulation of TGF-β1, VEGFA, and EGF, as well as modulation of the cyclooxygenase/nitric oxide synthase systems.     

The role of cadmium in the peroxidative response of kidney to stress

Since the kidney is a main target for cadmium, its accumulation in the kidney tissue by increasing peroxidative damage make the kidney functions vulnerable to stress. For this reason, the effect of cadmium-induced peroxidative damage to kidney responses to stress was investigated in this study. Two-month-old albino rats receiving 15 Μg/mL containing Cd drinking water for 30 d were exposed to restraint and cold stress for 6 h, and their responses were compared with those of unstressed counterparts. Lipid peroxidation was found to be significantly higher in the cortical portion of kidney in cadmium-exposed rats than that of unexposed animals. The mean thiobarbutyric acid reactive substance (TBARS) level rose from 211.6 ± 64.2 to 303.4 ± 46.4 nmol/g protein (p < 0.01). Six hours of cold and restraint stress caused an elevation in the cortical TBARS level in control animals without affecting its level in cadmium-exposed rats. Despite unaltered cortical TBARS, its medullar levels increased significantly in cadmiumexposed rats because of stress. These results suggested that cadmium accumulation in the kidney increases the susceptibility of medulla against peroxidative damage. However, further functional studies are necessary to explain the role of cadmium in the stress-induced deterioration of medullar functions.