Kann die ?spezifisch dynamische Wirkung“ einen Beitrag zur Thermoregulation k?rnerfressender Singv?gel leisten?

Zusammenfassung 1. Respirometrische Messungen der spezifisch-dynamischen Wirkung (SDW) bei körnerfressenden Singvögeln zeigen, daß die SDW mit sinkenden Umgebungstemperaturen relativ kleiner wird. 2. Der Existenzstoffwechsel körnerfressender Singvögel weist nahrungsspezifische Unterschiede auf. Diese Unterschiede sind durch den unterschiedlichen SDW-Effekt verschiedener Nährstoffzusammensetzungen verursacht und sind von der Umgebungstemperatur abhängig: Sinken die Umgebungstemperaturen, werden die Unterschiede relativ kleiner. Diese Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, daß körnerfressende Singvögel in der Lage sind, mit der SDW die Thermoregulation zu unterstützen.

---

Can the specific dynamic action (SDA) contribute to the thermoregulation of granivorous song birds?

Summary 1. Respirometric measurements of the specific dynamic action (SDA) of granivorous song birds show that the SDA decreases relatively with dropping temperatures. 2. The existence metabolic rates of granivorous song birds show diet-related differences. These differences are caused by the SDA of different food types and are depend on the ambient temperature: With dropping ambient temperature differences become relatively smaller. These results indicate that granivorous song birds are able to use the SDA in thermoregulation.

     

Low hydration phase properties of phospholipid mixtures

An experimental investigation of the low hydration phase properties of phospholipid mixtures is described. ²H (D₂O) NMR, X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry have been used to elucidate the phase properties of mixtures of the mixed chain phospholipids palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC) and palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (POPE). At 10% hydration pure POPE exhibited a H_II phase above 330 K, a fluid lamellar phase below 315 K, and a minimally hydrated crystalline phase below 300 K. For the 1:1 mixture, the samples exhibited only gel or fluid phases between 270 K and 360 K for hydrations in the range 15% to 30%. Below 15% hydration the mixture exhibited two fluid phases with different repeat spacings, as predicted previously.     

Nitrate Dissimilation Under Microaerophilic Conditions by a Magnetic Spirillum

During microaerophilic growth of magnetic spirillum MS-1 on tartrate and nitrate, a maximal cell density was obtained at an initial oxygen partial pressure of 17 Pa. A transient accumulation of nitrous oxide and a 1:2 (mol/mol) stoichiometry between tartrate oxidation and nitrate reduction were observed, indicating that the organism carried out a respiratory type of metabolism.     

Gene-environment interactions in human disease: nuisance or opportunity?

Many environmental risk factors for common, complex human diseases have been revealed by epidemiologic studies, but how genotypes at specific loci modulate individual responses to environmental risk factors is largely unknown. Gene-environment interactions will be missed in genome-wide association studies and could account for some of the 'missing heritability' for these diseases. In this review, we focus on asthma as a model disease for studying gene-environment interactions because of relatively large numbers of candidate gene-environment interactions with asthma risk in the literature. Identifying these interactions using genome-wide approaches poses formidable methodological problems, and elucidating molecular mechanisms for these interactions has been challenging. We suggest that studying gene-environment interactions in animal models, although more tractable, might not be sufficient to shed light on the genetic architecture of human diseases. Lastly, we propose avenues for future studies to find gene-environment interactions.     

Large-scale production of a therapeutic protein in transgenic tobacco plants: effect of subcellular targeting on quality of a recombinant dog gastric lipase

A recombinant dog gastric lipase with therapeutic potential for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency was expressed in transgenic tobacco plants. We targeted the protein using two different signal sequences for either vacuolar retention or secretion. In both cases, an active glycosylated recombinant protein was obtained. The recombinant enzymes and the native enzyme displayed similar properties including acid resistance and acidic optimum pH. The proteolytic maturation and the specific activity of the recombinant proteins, however, were found to be dependent on subcellular compartmentalization. Expression levels of recombinant dog gastric lipase were about 5% and 7% of acid extractable plant proteins for vacuolar retention and secretion respectively. This expression system already has allowed the production of tens of grams of purified lipase through open-field culture of transgenic tobacco plants.     

Central Nervous System Pathology Progresses Independently of KC and CXCR2 in Globoid-Cell Leukodystrophy

Globoid-cell Leukodystrophy (GLD; Krabbe’s disease) is a rapidly progressing inherited demyelinating disease caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme Galactosylceramidase (GALC). Deficiency of GALC leads to altered catabolism of galactosylceramide and the cytotoxic lipid, galactosylsphingosine (psychosine). This leads to a rapidly progressive fatal disease with spasticity, cognitive disability and seizures. The murine model of GLD (Twitcher; GALC−/−) lacks the same enzyme and has similar clinical features. The deficiency of GALC leads to oligodendrocyte death, profound neuroinflammation, and the influx of activated macrophages into the CNS. We showed previously that keratinocyte chemoattractant factor (KC) is highly elevated in the CNS of untreated Twitcher mice and significantly decreases after receiving a relatively effective therapy (bone marrow transplantation combined with gene therapy). The action of KC is mediated through the CXCR2 receptor and is a potent chemoattractant for macrophages and microglia. KC is also involved in oligodendrocyte migration and proliferation. Based on the commonalities between the disease presentation and the functions of KC, we hypothesized that KC and/or CXCR2 contribute to the pathogenesis of GLD. Interestingly, the course of the disease is not significantly altered in KC- or CXCR2-deficient Twitcher mice. There is also no alteration in inflammation or demyelination patterns in these mice. Furthermore, transplantation of CXCR2-deficient bone marrow does not alter the progression of the disease as it does in other models of demyelination. This study highlights the role of multiple redundant cytokines and growth factors in the pathogenesis of GLD.