High frequency somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in root explant cultures of carnation

Root explants excised from carnation plants maintained in vitro formed off-white, friable calluses after three weeks of culture on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1 mg l⁻¹ thidiazuron (TDZ) and 1 mg l⁻¹ α-naphthalaneacetic acid (NAA). These calluses were subsequently transferred to MS basal medium where, after an additional four weeks of culture, approximately 50% of the calluses formed somatic embryos. However, calluses formed on root explants that had been cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid did not produce somatic embryos upon transfer to MS basal medium. Somatic embryos developed into plantlets and subsequently were grown to maturity. These results indicate that root explants have a high competence for somatic embryogenesis in carnation. J. Seo and S.W. Kim contributed equally to this work.     

Discrimination of higher plant calluses based on embryogenic capacity and taxonomic classification by pyrolysis mass spectrometry

Pyrolysis mass spectrometry (PyMS) is a rapid, simple, high-resolution analytical method based on thermal degradation of complex material in a vacuum, and has been widely applied to the discrimination of closely related microbial strains. Minimally prepared samples of embryogenic and non-embryogenic calluses derived from various higher plants (sweet potato, morning glory, Korean ginseng, Siberian ginseng, and balloon flower) were subjected to PyMS for spectral fingerprinting. A dendrogram based on the unweighted pair group method, with arithmetic mean of pyrolysis mass spectra, divided the calluses into Siberian ginseng embryogenic callus and the others, which were subsequently divided into embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus groups, regardless of plant species from which the calluses were derived. In the non-embryogenic callus group, the dendrogram was in agreement with the known taxonomy of the plants. These results indicate that PyMS analysis could be applied for discriminating plant calluses based on embryogenic capacity and taxonomic classification.     

Membrane proteomic analysis of human mesenchymal stromal cells during adipogenesis

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have proven useful for cell and immune therapy, but the molecular constituents responsible for their functionalities, in particular, those on the plasma membrane, remain largely unknown. Here we employed both gel and nongel based MS to analyze human MSCs' membrane proteome before and after adipogenesis. 2-DE of cells that were pretreated with membrane impermeable fluorescent dyes revealed that both the whole cell proteome and the cell surface subproteome were independent of donors. LC coupled with tandem MS analysis of the plasma membrane-containing fraction allowed us to identify 707 proteins, approximately half of which could be annotated as membrane-related proteins. Of particular interest was a subset of ectodomain-containing membrane-bound proteins that encompass most known surface markers for MSCs, but also contain a multitude of solute carriers and ATPases. Upon adipogenic differentiation, this proteomic profile was amended to include several proteins involved in lipid metabolism and trafficking, at the expense of, most noticeably, ectoenzymes. Our results here provide not only a basis for future studies of MSC-specific molecular mechanisms, but also a molecular inventory for the development of antibody-based cell isolation and identification procedures.     

Differential analysis of Bacillus anthracis after pX01 plasmid curing and comprehensive data on Bacillus anthracis infection in macrophages and glial cells

Bacillus anthracis is a gram-positive bacterial organism responsible for anthrax. This organism has two pathogenic plasmids: pX01 and pX02. The genetic function of pX01, which comprises about 198 kb, is not known, except for a region called the pathogenic island, which contains three genes-pag, lef, and cya-that code for three toxic proteins. A 2-D difference gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) system was used to verify the existence of proteins controlled by the pX01 plasmid, and protein regulation data were obtained using DeCyder software. A total of 1728 proteins were identified in the wild-type strain of this organism and 1684 in the pX01 plasmid. Twenty-seven of these proteins disappeared and eight appeared when the pX01 plasmid was removed. An additional 52 proteins were downregulated and 15 were upregulated when this plasmid was removed. A total of 102 proteins have been identified using the MALDI-TOF method of analysis, including 49 whose functions are unknown. Among these, 31 participate in metabolic processes, two in cellular processes, 15 in the processing of genetic information, and five in the processing of extracellular information. Another seven proteins participate in bacterial virulence and pathogenesis. We investigated the functions of these proteins in other bacteria, particularly the B. anthracis derivative H9041. Bacterial growth differed between pX01+/pX02+ B. anthracis and its pX01-/pX02+ derivative as did the cytotoxicity of macrophages infected by pX01+/pX02+ B. anthracis and the pX01-pX02+ derivative. We also found that S100B protein levels increased in the host infected with pX01+/pX02+ B. anthracis or its pX01-/pX02+ derivative. These data suggest that the pX01 plasmid plays a key role in the regulation of protein functions in B. anthracis.     

Proteomic identification of macrophage migration-inhibitory factor upon exposure to TiO2 particles

Inhalation of particulate matter aggravates respiratory symptoms in patients with chronic airway diseases, but the mechanisms underlying this response remain poorly understood. We used a proteomics approach to examine this phenomenon. Treatment of epithelial cells with BSA-coated titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) particles altered 20 protein spots on the two-dimensional gel, and these were then analyzed by nano-LC-MS/MS. These proteins included defense-related, cell-activating, and cytoskeletal proteins implicated in the response to oxidative stress. The proteins were classified into four groups according to the time course of their expression patterns. For validation, RT-PCR was performed on extracts of in vitro TiO(2)-treated cells, and lung issues from TiO(2)-treated rats were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining and enzyme immunoassay. TiO(2) treatment was found to increase the amount of mRNA for macrophage migration-inhibitory factor (MIF). MIF was expressed primarily in epithelium and was elevated in lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of TiO(2)-treated rats as compared with sham-treated rats. Carbon black and diesel exhaust particles also induced expression of MIF protein in the epithelial cells.     

Relationships Between Catecholamine Levels and Stress or Intelligence

Catecholamines, including epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA), are associated with the response to stressful conditions. However, the relationships of catecholamines with intelligence and their interactions with stress remain unclear. This study assessed stress, intelligence quotient (IQ), and catecholamine levels in 70 healthy subjects to elucidate associations between catecholamines and stress, and between catecholamines and IQ. Additionally, the associations of catecholamines with stress and IQ were analyzed according to hemispheric dominance using the Brain Preference Indicator (BPI). There were positive correlations between the NE/E ratio and the somatization of stress but negative correlations between the E/NE ratio and the somatization of stress among the total number of subjects. In the right-brain-dominant group, a high E/DA ratio was correlated with low levels of stress, somatization and depression, and high NE/E and DA/E ratios were associated with high levels of somatization. In the left-brain-dominant group, high E levels were correlated with low levels of depression. In the total subjects, there were positive correlations between the NE/E and DA/E ratios and the sum of the vocabulary, arithmetic, picture arrangement, and block design IQ subtests. Thus, these catecholamines were associated with stress and IQ, which suggests that the autonomic functional regulation of catecholamine levels in relation to stress may also affect cognitive functions related to intelligence in the brain. Furthermore, the relationships between catecholamines and stress or IQ differed depending on hemispheric dominance, which suggests that the present results could be used to inform the development of personalized therapies based on hemispheric asymmetry.

     

Effects of various LED light spectra on circadian rhythm during starvation in the olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

In aquaculture, feeding is essential for the maintenance of metabolic processes and homoeostasis of fish. However, fasting acts as a stressor. In this study, we investigated the effect of circadian rhythm under various LED wavelengths [blue (460 nm), green (520 nm) and red (630 nm)] and two light intensities (0.3 and 0.6 W m^?2) over a 9-days period in the olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). We analysed clock genes like period 2 (Per 2) and cryptochrome 1 (Cry 1), and serotonin and arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase 2 (AANAT 2), which control circadian rhythms. Per 2, Cry 1, serotonin and AANAT 2 were significantly decreased during the starvation period compared to the normal feeding group. Nevertheless, their levels increased in the groups exposed to green- and blue LED light during the experimental period. These results confirmed that green and blue wavelengths are effective in maintaining the circadian rhythm in olive flounder.     

Effect of an Artificial Caudal Fin on the Performance of a Biomimetic Fish Robot Propelled by Piezoelectric Actuators

This paper addresses the design of a biomimetic fish robot actuated by piezoeeramic actuators and the effect of artificial caudal fins on the fish robot＇s performance. The limited bending displacement produced by a lightweight piezocomposite actuator was amplified and transformed into a large tail beat motion by means of a linkage system. Caudal fins that mimic the shape of a mackerel fin were fabricated for the purpose of examining the effect of caudal fm characteristics on thrust production at an operating frequency range. The thickness distribution of a real mackerel＇s fin was measured and used to design artificial caudal fins. The thrust performance of the biomimetic fish robot propelled by fins of various thicknesses was examined in terms of the Strouhal number, the Froude number, the Reynolds number, and the power consumption. For the same fm area and aspect ratio, an artificial caudal fin with a distributed thickness shows the best forward speed and the least power consumption.