Lipostoma is a synonym of Coccocypselum (Rubiaceae)

The morphology and anatomy of fruits ofCoccocypselum condalia, C. geophiloides andLipostoma capitatum are discussed and illustrated. Except for the presence of a thin layer of sclerenchymatic endocarp inLipostoma, there are no significant differences in the anatomical structure of these fruits. Therefore,Lipostoma is placed under the synonymy ofCoccocypselum and the new combinationCoccocypselum capitatum is provided. The remaining species,Lipostoma sericeum, is of uncertain status.     

In-depth analysis of the human tear proteome

The tears, a critical body fluid of the surface of the eye, contain an unknown number of molecules including proteins/peptides, lipids, small molecule metabolites, and electrolytes. There have been continued efforts for exploring the human tear proteome to develop biomarkers of disease. In this study, we used the high speed TripleTOF 5600 system as the platform to analyze the human tear proteome from healthy subjects (3 females and 1 male, average age: 36±14). We have identified 1543 proteins in the tears with less than 1% false discovery rate, which represents the largest number of human tear proteins reported to date. The data set was analyzed for gene ontology (GO) and compared with the human plasma proteome, NEIBank lacrimal gland gene dataset and NEIBank cornea gene dataset. This comprehensive tear protein list may serve as a reference list of human tear proteome for biomarker research of ocular diseases or establishment of MRM (Multiple Reaction Monitoring) assays for targeted analysis. Tear fluid is a useful and an accessible source not only for evaluating ocular surface tissues (cornea and conjunctiva), inflammation, lacrimal gland function and a number of disease conditions, such as dry eye as well as response to treatment.     

Structure–Activity Relationship of novel phenylacetic CXCR1 inhibitors

We reported recently the Structure–Activity Relationship (SAR) of a class of CXCL8 allosteric modulators. They invariably share a 2-arylpropionic moiety so far considered a key structural determinant of the biological activity. We show the results of recent SAR studies on a novel series of phenylacetic derivatives supported by a combined approach of mutagenesis experiments and conformational analysis. The results suggest novel insights on the fine role of the propionic/acetic chain in the modulation of CXCL8 receptors.     

Seed-coat dormancy in Grevillea linearifolia: little change in permeability to an apoplastic tracer after treatment with smoke and heat

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Seeds of Grevillea linearifolia germinate following fire, and have seed-coat dormancy broken by smoke and heat shock. Smoke breaks seed coat dormancy in Emmenanthe penduliflora by altering the permeability of the seed coat to an internal germination inhibitor, which subsequently escapes. This model was tested for in G. linearifolia by investigating the permeability of the seed coat to diffusion of high-molecular-weight compounds, and whether this changed after exposure to fire cues. METHODS: Germination response of the seeds to heat shock, smoke or heat + smoke was tested. Penetration of Lucifer Yellow dye into intact seeds was examined after 24 and 48 h of exposure, and penetration of the dye from the inside of the seed coat outwards was examined after 24 h. Histochemical staining with Nile Red and Acridine Orange was used to locate cuticles, suberin and lignin. KEY RESULTS: Twenty-three per cent of untreated seeds germinated; heat shock and smoke increased germination additively up to approx. 80 % for both cues combined. Lucifer Yellow did not penetrate fully through the seed coat of untreated seeds, whether diffusing inwards or outwards. Three barriers to diffusion were identified. Treatment with heat or smoke slightly increased penetration of the dye, but did not completely remove the barriers. Suberin was identified in secondary walls of exotestal and mesotestal cells, and was absent from primary cell walls. Movement of Lucifer Yellow occurred through the middle lamella and primary cell wall of suberized cells; movement of the dye was impeded where suberin was absent. CONCLUSIONS: Fire cues did not significantly decrease barriers to diffusion of high-molecular-weight compounds in the seed coat of Grevillea, and must be breaking dormancy by another mechanism.     

Regulation of the pharynx of Caenorhabditis elegans by 5‐HT,octopamine, and FMRFamide‐like neuropeptides

More than fifty FMRFamide‐like neuropeptides have been identified in nematodes. We addressed the role of a subset of these in the control of nematode feeding by electrophysiological recording of the activity of C. elegans pharynx. AF1 (KNEFIRFamide), AF2 (KHEYLRFamide), AF8 (KSAYMRFamide), and GAKFIRFamide (encoded by the C. elegans genes flp‐8, flp‐14, flp‐6, and flp‐5, respectively) increased pharyngeal action potential frequency, in a manner similar to 5‐HT. In contrast, SDPNFLRFamide, SADPNFLRFamide, SAEPFGTMRFamide, KPSVRFamide, APEASPFIRFamide, and AQTVRFamide (encoded by the C. elegans genes flp‐1; flp‐1; flp‐3; flp‐9; flp‐13, and flp‐16, respectively) inhibited the pharynx in a manner similar to octopamine. Only three of the neuropeptides had potent effects at low nanomolar concentrations, consistent with a physiological role in pharyngeal regulation. Therefore, we assessed whether these three peptides mediated their actions either directly on the pharynx or indirectly via the neural circuit controlling its activity by comparing actions between wild‐type and mutants with deficits in synaptic signaling. Our data support the conclusion that AF1 and SAEPFGTMRFamide regulate the activity of the pharynx indirectly, whereas APEASPFIRFamide exerts its action directly. These results are in agreement with the expression pattern for the genes encoding the neuropeptides (Kim and Li, 1999) as both flp‐8 and flp‐3 are expressed in extrapharyngeal neurons, whereas flp‐13 is expressed in I5, a neuron with synaptic output to the pharyngeal muscle. These results provide the first, direct, functional information on the action of neuropeptides in C. elegans. Furthermore, we provide evidence for a putative inhibitory peptidergic synapse, which is likely to have a role in the control of feeding. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 49: 235–244, 2001     

Optically detected magnetic resonance of intact membranes from Chloroflexus aurantiacus. Evidence for exciton interaction between the RC and the B808–866 complex

Optically detected magnetic resonance of chlorosome-containing membranes from the green filamentous bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus has been performed both by fluorescence and absorption detection. Triplet states localized in the chlorosomes and in the B808–866 complex have been characterized. After chemical reduction with ascorbate followed by illumination at 200 K, recombination triplet state localized in the primary donor becomes largely populated under illumination at low temperature while all the antenna triplet states, which are localized in carotenoids and BChl a molecules, are strongly quenched. We were able to obtain the T-S spectrum of the primary donor P870 surrounded by all the antenna complexes connected to the RC via energy transfer and then in its intact environment. We found clear spectroscopic evidence for exciton interaction between the RC and the B808–866 antenna complex. This evidence was provided by the comparison of the T–S spectrum of P870 in the membranes with that of isolated RC. The analogy of some features of the difference spectra with those previously found in the same kind of experiments for Rb. sphaeroides, allows to predict a similar coupling among the primary donor and the nearby antenna BChl a molecules, assembled as circular aggregate.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An inhibin B and estrogen-secreting adrenocortical carcinoma leading to selective FSH suppression

OBJECTIVE: Hormone-secreting adrenocortical tumors are frequently associated with endocrine syndromes. We describe a 30-year-old man who had abdominal pain, a nodule in the right breast and loss of libido. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging revealed a very large tumor in the right adrenal gland. METHODS: Hormonal profile disclosed increased levels of estradiol and slightly low testosterone levels. The basal and stimulated LH levels were normal, whereas basal and stimulated FSH levels were totally suppressed. Cortisol and adrenal androgen levels were normal. The unusual finding of selective FSH suppression suggested secretion of inhibin B by the adrenocortical tumor. A very high level of serum inhibin B (405 pg/ml) was demonstrated by ELISA assay. Right adrenalectomy and nephrectomy were performed and the tumor was classified as a malignant tumor (Weiss score: 7.0) and unilateral mastectomy disclosed a lipoma. RESULTS: One week after surgery, a GnRH-stimulation test disclosed normal basal and stimulated FSH levels and low levels of inhibin B and estradiol. Immunohistochemical analysis with anti-B-inhibin antibody revealed intense staining in the adrenocortical tumor cells. One month after surgery, an abdominal magnetic resonance imaging revealed a local recurrence of the tumor and a second surgery was performed with partial resection of the tumor and the patient died 1 year after the first surgery. CONCLUSION: We herein report the first inhibin B and estradiol-secreting adrenocortical carcinoma. The unusual selective inhibition of FSH secretion should be considered a valuable hormonal finding for the diagnosis of inhibin B-secreting adrenocortical tumors.