Comparison of the responses of corn root tissue to fusicoccin and washing

A comparison has been made of the effects of fusicoccin with those of washing on segments of corn (Zea mays L.) root tissue. Both fusicoccin and washing caused increases in K⁺(⁸⁶Rb) influx, net H⁺ efflux, and electrogenic cell membrane potential, but with no effect on respiration rate. The similarity was most evident with fresh tissue during the initial phases of washing, prior to the developmental changes which augment the anion and general solute transport rates of the tissue. After the development of enhanced transport capacity the proportional response to fusicoccin was much diminished. It is suggested that the fusicoccin-like response to washing may be a manifestation of recovery from injury.     

Preliminary characterisation of esterase and platelet-activating factor (PAF)-acetylhydrolase activities from cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) salivary glands

Naphthyl esterase and platelet-activating factor (PAF)-acetylhydrolase activities were detected in the salivary glands of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. Salivary naphthyl esterase activity is disgorged during exploratory probing. Whole extracts of salivary glands contain esterase activity against the short-chain naphthyl esters alpha-naphthyl acetate (approximately 210pmol/min/gland pair; 10.0micromol/min/mg specific activity; K(m) approximately 59microM) and beta-naphthyl acetate (approximately 110pmol/min/gland pair; 5.2micromol/min/mg specific activity; K(m) approximately 132microM). Salivary gland extracts have PAF-acetylhydrolase activity (approximately 5pmol/min/gland pair; 0.24micromol/min/mg specific activity) but do not have detectable acetylcholinesterase activity. Native-PAGE and IEF resolve three and six salivary gland naphthyl esterase bands, respectively, and both patterns are different from carcass esterases. Salivary gland naphthyl esterase activity binds reversibly to Concanavalin A, and enzymatic deglycosylation with glycopeptidase F produced a new, fast-migrating salivary gland naphthyl esterase band on Native-PAGE. Renaturation of esterase activity after SDS-PAGE gave approximately 56kDa, approximately 57kDa and approximately 58kDa naphthyl-esterase-positive bands. On gel filtration naphthyl esterase and PAF-acetylhydrolase activities co-elute as a single peak with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 59kDa. This partially purified pool of enzyme had esterase activity against a series of short-chain alpha- and beta-naphthyl esters. The heterogeneity of salivary gland esterases, their relationship to PAF-acetylhydrolase, and the possible physiological functions of salivary gland PAF-acetylhydrolase activity are discussed.     

Ab initio prediction of optical rotation: comparison of density functional theory and Hartree-Fock methods for three 2,7,8-trioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes

We report ab initio calculations of the frequency-dependent electric dipole-magnetic dipole polarizabilities, beta(nu), at the sodium D line frequency and, thence, of the specific rotations, [alpha](D), of 2,7,8-trioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane, 1, and its 1-methyl derivative, 2, using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Hartree-Fock/Self-Consistent Field (HF/SCF) methodologies. Gauge-invariant (including) atomic orbitals (GIAOs) are used to ensure origin-independent [alpha](D) values. Using large basis sets which include diffuse functions DFT [alpha](D) values are in good agreement with experimental values (175.8 degrees and 139.2 degrees for (1S,5R)-1 and -2, respectively); errors are in the range 25-35 degrees. HF/SCF [alpha](D) values, in contrast, are much less accurate; errors are in the range 75-95 degrees. The use of small basis sets which do not include diffuse functions substantially lowers the accuracy of predicted [alpha](D) values, as does the use of the static limit approximation: beta(nu) approximately beta(o). The use of magnetic-field-independent atomic orbitals, FIAOs, instead of GIAOs, leads to origin-dependent, and therefore nonphysical, [alpha](D) values. We also report DFT calculations of [alpha](D) for the 1-phenyl derivative of 1, 3. DFT calculations find two stable conformations, differing in the orientation of the phenyl group, of very similar energy, and separated by low barriers. Values of [alpha](D) predicted using two different algorithms for averaging over phenyl group orientations are in good agreement with experiment. In principle, the absolute configuration (AC) of a chiral molecule can be assigned by comparison of the optical rotation predicted ab initio to the experimental value. Our results demonstrate the critical importance of the choice of ab initio methodology in obtaining reliable optical rotations and, hence, ACs, and show that, at the present time, DFT constitutes the method of choice.     

Differential expression and function of breast regression protein 39 (BRP-39) in murine models of subacute cigarette smoke exposure and allergic airway inflammation

Background

While the presence of the chitinase-like molecule YKL40 has been reported in COPD and asthma, its relevance to inflammatory processes elicited by cigarette smoke and common environmental allergens, such as house dust mite (HDM), is not well understood. The objective of the current study was to assess expression and function of BRP-39, the murine equivalent of YKL40 in a murine model of cigarette smoke-induced inflammation and contrast expression and function to a model of HDM-induced allergic airway inflammation.

Methods

CD1, C57BL/6, and BALB/c mice were room air- or cigarette smoke-exposed for 4 days in a whole-body exposure system. In separate experiments, BALB/c mice were challenged with HDM extract once a day for 10 days. BRP-39 was assessed by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. IL-13, IL-1R1, IL-18, and BRP-39 knock out (KO) mice were utilized to assess the mechanism and relevance of BRP-39 in cigarette smoke- and HDM-induced airway inflammation.

Results

Cigarette smoke exposure elicited a robust induction of BRP-39 but not the catalytically active chitinase, AMCase, in lung epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages of all mouse strains tested. Both BRP-39 and AMCase were increased in lung tissue after HDM exposure. Examining smoke-exposed IL-1R1, IL-18, and IL-13 deficient mice, BRP-39 induction was found to be IL-1 and not IL-18 or IL-13 dependent, while induction of BRP-39 by HDM was independent of IL-1 and IL-13. Despite the importance of BRP-39 in cellular inflammation in HDM-induced airway inflammation, BRP-39 was found to be redundant for cigarette smoke-induced airway inflammation and the adjuvant properties of cigarette smoke.

Conclusions

These data highlight the contrast between the importance of BRP-39 in HDM- and cigarette smoke-induced inflammation. While functionally important in HDM-induced inflammation, BRP-39 is a biomarker of cigarette smoke induced inflammation which is the byproduct of an IL-1 inflammatory pathway.