Terrigenous sediment-dominated reef platform infilling: an unexpected precursor to reef island formation and a test of the reef platform size–island age model in the Pacific

Low-lying coral reef islands are considered highly vulnerable to climate change, necessitating an improved understanding of when and why they form, and how the timing of formation varies within and among regions. Several testable models have been proposed that explain inter-regional variability as a function of sea-level history and, more recently, a reef platform size model has been proposed from the Maldives (central Indian Ocean) to explain intra-regional (intra-atoll) variability. Here we present chronostratigraphic data from Pipon Island, northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR), enabling us to test the applicability of existing regional island evolution models, and the platform size control hypothesis in a Pacific context. We show that reef platform infilling occurred rapidly (~4–5 mm yr⁻¹) under a “bucket-fill” type scenario. Unusually, this infilling was dominated by terrigenous sedimentation, with platform filling and subsequent reef flat formation complete by ~5000 calibrated years BP (cal BP). Reef flat exposure as sea levels slowly fell post highstand facilitated a shift towards intertidal and subaerial-dominated sedimentation. Our data suggest, however, a lag of ~1500 yr before island initiation (at ~3200 cal BP), i.e. later than that reported from smaller and more evolutionarily mature reef platforms in the region. Our data thus support: (1) the hypothesis that platform size acts to influence the timing of platform filling and subsequent island development at intra-regional scales; and (2) the hypothesis that the low wooded islands of the northern GBR conform to a model of island formation above an elevated reef flat under falling sea levels.

     

Engineered magnetic core shell nanoprobes:Synthesis and applications to cancer imaging and therapeutics

Magnetic core shell nanoparticles are composed of a highly magnetic core material surrounded by a thin shell of desired drug, polymer or metal oxide. These magnetic core shell nanoparticles have a wide range of applications in biomedical research, more specifically in tissue imaging, drug delivery and therapeutics. The present review discusses the up-to-date knowledge on the various procedures for synthesis of magnetic core shell nanoparticles along with their applications in cancer imaging, drug delivery and hyperthermia or cancer therapeutics. Literature in this area shows that magnetic core shell nanoparticle-based imaging, drug targeting and therapy through hyperthermia can potentially be a powerful tool for the advanced diagnosis and treatment of various cancers.     

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new tryptamine and tetrahydro-beta-carboline-based selective inhibitors of CDK4

We present the design, synthesis and biological activity of a library of substituted (biphenylcarbonyl)-tryptamine and (biphenylcarbonyl)-tetrahydro-beta-carboline compounds related to the natural product fascaplysin, as novel inhibitors of CDK4/cyclin D1. We show all these molecules, prepared using the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction, being selective inhibitors of CDK4 over CDK2. The most active compounds have a CDK4 IC(50) in the range 9-11 microM, three of them containing the para-biphenyl plus para-substituents supporting the existence of a pi-stacking pocket within the active site of CDK4.     

Thioredoxin 2 haploinsufficiency in mice results in impaired mitochondrial function and increased oxidative stress

The mitochondrial form of thioredoxin, thioredoxin 2 (Txn2), plays an important role in redox control and protection against ROS-induced mitochondrial damage. To evaluate the effect of reduced levels of Txn2 in vivo, we measured oxidative damage and mitochondrial function using mice heterozygous for the Txn2 gene (Txn2(+/-)). The Txn2(+/-) mice showed approximately 50% decrease in Trx-2 protein expression in all tissues without upregulating the other major components of the antioxidant defense system. Reduced levels of Txn2 resulted in decreased mitochondrial function as shown by reduced ATP production by isolated mitochondria and reduced activity of electron transport chain complexes (ETCs). Mitochondria isolated from Txn2(+/-) mice also showed increased ROS production compared to wild type mice. The Txn2(+/-) mice showed increased oxidative damage to nuclear DNA, lipids, and proteins in liver. In addition, we observed an increase in apoptosis in liver from Txn2(+/-) mice compared with wild type mice after diquat treatment. Our results suggest that Txn2 plays an important role in protecting the mitochondria against oxidative stress and in sensitizing the cells to ROS-induced apoptosis.     

New examples of μ-η:η-disulfido dicopper(II,II) complexes with bis(tetramethylguanidine) ligands

The new ligand N,N′-(2-methyl-2-(2-pyridyl)propan-1,3-diyl)bis(tetramethylguanidine) (L) and its four-coordinate, distorted square-planar copper(II) complex [CuLCl₂] (1) were synthesized and structurally characterized. Similarly, bis(μ-OH)dicopper(II,II) complex [Cu₂L₂(OH)₂](OTf)₂ (2) was synthesized and structurally characterized. The pyridyl group in L does not coordinate in either 1 or 2. New examples of μ-η²:η²-disulfido dicopper(II,II) complexes were synthesized by treating a copper(I) complex of either L or L′ [L′ = 2′,2′-(propane-1,3-diyl)bis(1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine)] with elemental sulfur. [Cu₂L₂(S₂)](PF₆)₂ (3) and [Cu₂(S₂)](PF₆)₂ (4) were both structurally characterized, and both structures have two copper(II) ions bridged by a disulfido ligand in a μ-η²:η²-manner. The ligands L and L′ coordinate in a bidentate fashion (like 1 and 2, the pyridyl ring does not coordinate in 3), and the geometry around the copper ions in 3 and 4 is distorted square planar. The metrical parameters of 3 and 4 were found to be similar to other μ-η²:η²-disulfido dicopper(II,II) complexes, and the Cu-S and Cu···Cu distances are among the shortest reported for this class of copper disulfide dimers.     

GroEL assisted folding of large polypeptide substrates in Escherichia coli: Present scenario and assignments for the future

Escherichia coli chaperonins GroEL and GroES are indispensable for survival and growth of the cell since they provide essential assistance to the folding of many newly translated proteins in the cell. Recent studies indicate that a substantial portion of the proteins involved in the host pathways are completely dependent on GroEL–GroES for their folding and hence providing some explanation for why GroEL is essential for cell growth. Many proteins either small-single domain or large multidomains require assistance from GroEL–ES during their lifetime. Proteins of size up to 70 kDa can fold via the cis mechanism during GroEL–ES assisted pathway, but other proteins (>70 kDa) that cannot be pushed inside the cavity of GroEL–ATP complex upon binding of GroES fold by an evolved mechanism called trans. In recent years, much work has been done on revealing facts about the cis mechanism involving the GroEL assisted folding of small proteins whereas the trans mechanism with larger polypeptide substrates still remains under cover. In order to disentangle the role of chaperonin GroEL–GroES in the folding of large E. coli proteins, this review discusses a number of issues like the range of large polypeptide substrates acted on by GroEL. Do all these substrates need the complete chaperonin system along with ATP for their folding? Does GroEL act as foldase or holdase during the process? We conclude with a discussion of the various queries that need to be resolved in the future for an extensive understanding of the mechanism of GroEL mediated folding of large substrate proteins in E. coli cytosol.     

Transgenic mimicry of pathogen attack stimulates growth and secondary metabolite accumulation

Plant secondary metabolites, including pharmaceuticals, flavorings and aromas, are often produced in response to stress. We used chemical inducers of the pathogen defense response (jasmonic acid, salicylate, killed fungi, oligosaccharides and the fungal elicitor protein, cryptogein) to increase metabolite and biomass production in transformed root cultures of the medicinal plant, Withania somnifera, and the weed, Convolvulus sepium. In an effort to genetically mimic the observed effects of cryptogein, we employed Agrobacterium rhizogenes to insert a synthetic gene encoding cryptogein into the roots of C. sepium, W. somnifera and Tylophora tanakae. This genetic transformation was associated with stimulation in both secondary metabolite production and growth in the first two species, and in growth in the third. In whole plants of Convolvulus arvensis and Arabidopsis thaliana, transformation with the cryptogein gene led, respectively, to increases in the calystegines and certain flavonoids. A similar transgenic mimicry of pathogen attack was previously employed to stimulate resistance to the pathogen and abiotic stress. In the present study of biochemical phenotype, we show that transgenic mimicry is correlated with increased secondary metabolite production in transformed root cultures and whole plants. We propose that natural transformation with genes encoding the production of microbial elicitors could influence interactions between plants and other organisms.     

Bioeconomic harvesting of a prey-predator fishery

This paper deals with the problem of non-selective harvesting of a prey-predator system by using a reasonable catch-rate function instead of usual catch-per-unit-efforthypothesis. Here both the prey and the predator species obey the law of logistic growth. We have taken the predator functional response to prey density in such a form that each predator's functional response to the prey density approaches a constant as the prey population increases. Boundedness of the exploited system is examined. The existence of its steady states and their stability (local and global) are studied using Eigenvalue analysis. The existence of bionomic equilibria has been illustrated using a numerical example. The problem of determining the optimal harvesting policy is then solved by using Pontryagin's maximum principle.     

Association of cholera toxin with Vibrio cholerae outer membrane vesicles which are internalized by human intestinal epithelial cells

Cholera toxin (CT) is the major virulence factor of pathogenic Vibrio cholerae. The present study demonstrates that a fraction of CT is associated with the outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) released by V. cholerae. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and also transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of purified OMVs from toxigenic V. cholerae O395 revealed spherical shaped vesicles of size range 20-200 nm. Immunoblotting of purified OMVs with polyclonal anti-CT antibody and GM1-ganglioside dependent ELISA suggest that CT is associated with OMVs. CHO cell assay indicated that OMV associated CT is physiologically active. OMVs labeled with fluorescent dye interacted with intestinal epithelial cells via the CT-receptor and were internalized increasing the cAMP level. Thus OMVs may represent an important vehicle in delivering CT to epithelial cells.