Monitoring of biofilms grown on differentially structured metallic surfaces using confocal laser scanning microscopy

Imaging of biofilms on opaque surfaces is a challenge presented to researchers especially considering pathogenic bacteria, as those typically grow on living tissue, such as mucosa and bone. However, they can also grow on surfaces used in industrial applications such as food production, acting as a hindrance to the process. Thus, it is important to understand bacteria better in the environment they actually have relevance in. Stainless steel and titanium substrata were line structured and dotted surface topographies for titanium substrata were prepared to analyze their effects on biofilm formation of a constitutively green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐expressing Escherichia coli strain. The strain was batch cultivated in a custom built flow cell initially for 18 h, followed by continuous cultivation for 6 h. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to determine the biofilm topography. Biofilm growth of E. coli GFPmut2 was not affected by the type of metal substrate used; rather, attachment and growth were influenced by variable shapes of the microstructured titanium surfaces. In this work, biofilm cultivation in flow cells was coupled with the most widely used biofilm analytical technique (CLSM) to study the time course of growth of a GFP‐expressing biofilm on metallic surfaces without intermittent sampling or disturbing the natural development of the biofilm.     

Identification and evaluation of novel synovial tissue biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis by laser scanning cytometry

Introduction

Suitable biomarkers are essential for therapeutic strategies in personalized medicine in terms of diagnosis as well as of prognosis. With highly specific biomarkers, it is possible, for example, to identify patients with poor prognosis, which enables early intervention and intensive treatment. The aim of this study was to identify and validate biomarkers and possible combinations for a prospective use in immunoscintigraphy, which may improve diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with consideration of inflammatory activity in the affected joints. Therefore, we tested several monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against cellular-surface molecules on cells likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of RA.

Methods

Synovial tissue from patients with long-standing RA (accompanied by synovitis with varying states of current activity) and patients with acute non-RA arthritis were stained for surface molecules on different cell types by using fluorochrome-labeled antibodies. Tissue analysis was done by laser scanning cytometry (LSC), and statistical evaluation, by discriminant analysis and ROC analysis.

Results

CD11b, HLA-DR, CD90, and CD64 revealed significant differences between tissues from patients with RA and acute non-RA arthritis. Especially with the expression of CD64, both patient cohorts could be discriminated with high sensitivity and specificity. RA classification was improved by simultaneously investigating the expression of two or three different surface proteins, such as HLA-DR, CD90, and CD29 in the tissue. The simultaneous analysis of CD64 together with CD304 or the combination of CD11b and CD38 was suitable for the identification of RA patients with high current activity in synovitis.

Conclusions

In this study, we showed that LSC is a novel reliable method in biomarker prevalidation in RA. Hence, identified mAbs in situ may allow their potential use in in vivo approaches. Moreover, we proved that biomarker-combination analysis resulted in better discrimination than did single-marker analysis. Combinations of these markers make a novel and reliable panel for the discrimination between RA and acute non-RA arthritis. In addition, further expedient combinations may be novel promising biomarker panels to identify current activity in synovitis in RA.     

Whole‐cell biotransformation of oleanolic acid by free and immobilized cells of Nocardia iowensis: Characterization of new metabolites

In this study, Nocardia iowensis was used to transform oleanolic acid (OA) into oleanane derivatives. The first derivative, which was found after 24 h of cultivation, was the known and already described OA methyl ester. After 1 week, two other derivatives (oleanonic acid methyl ester and an unknown metabolite) were identified as new products of a biotransformation by N. iowensis. These oleanane metabolites were characterized by HPLC, HPLC‐ESI‐MS, and HPLC‐¹H NMR spectroscopy. The biotransformation was performed by suspended and immobilized cells (ICs) of N. iowensis. Cells immobilized in alginate beads were used in order to prepare a continuous process. The substrate uptake of free and ICs was similar, whereas the peak area of OA methyl ester of the ICs was only about 10% of the native cells. However, the final product (oleanonic acid methyl ester) concentrations were similar in both approaches, whereas the unknown metabolite 3 was only detected transiently in the medium of ICs. Based on these results, a new biosynthetic pathway for the biotechnological production of oleanonic acid methyl ester is proposed.     

The nucleoporin Nup358/RanBP2 promotes nuclear import in a cargo- and transport receptor-specific manner

In vertebrates, the nuclear pore complex (NPC), the gate for transport of macromolecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, consists of approximately 30 different nucleoporins (Nups). The Nup and SUMO E3-ligase Nup358/RanBP2 are the major components of the cytoplasmic filaments of the NPC. In this study, we perform a structure-function analysis of Nup358 and describe its role in nuclear import of specific proteins. In a screen for nuclear proteins that accumulate in the cytoplasm upon Nup358 depletion, we identified proteins that were able to interact with Nup358 in a receptor-independent manner. These included the importin α/β-cargo DBC-1 (deleted in breast cancer 1) and DMAP-1 (DNA methyltransferase 1 associated protein 1). Strikingly, a short N-terminal fragment of Nup358 was sufficient to promote import of DBC-1, whereas DMAP-1 required a larger portion of Nup358 for stimulated import. Neither the interaction of RanGAP with Nup358 nor its SUMO-E3 ligase activity was required for nuclear import of all tested cargos. Together, Nup358 functions as a cargo- and receptor-specific assembly platform, increasing the efficiency of nuclear import of proteins through various mechanisms.     

Phytochemical and flow cytometric analyses of Devil’s claw cell cultures

A cell suspension culture of Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens), a South African plant with high medicinal value, cultivated under submerged conditions showed stable growth and accumulated high amounts of biomass (18.2 g l⁻¹). Flow cytometry analyses of the suspension’s cell cycle kinetics showed that proportions of cells in G₀/G₁ and S phases varied insignificantly (between 69–76% and 9–13%, respectively) during the cultivation, while the proportion of G₂/M-phase cells increased until day 8 of cultivation, when the exponential phase of cell growth ended. Metabolite production in the culture was studied through simultaneous determination of three bioactive phenylethanoid glycosides (verbascoside, β-OH-verbascoside and leucosceptoside A) by high performance liquid chromatography. It was found that suspended Devil’s claw cells accumulated mainly verbascoside (517.3 mg l⁻¹), followed by leucosceptoside A (107.1 mg l⁻¹) and β-OH-verbascoside (80.3 mg l⁻¹). In addition, several fatty acids and β-sitosterol were identified in the cell suspension by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry analysis. Comparison of the results with previously acquired data for Harpagophytum procumbens transformed roots indicate that cell suspensions cultures are more promising as potential commercial sources of metabolites such as phenylethanoid glycosides.     

OPA1 processing controls mitochondrial fusion and is regulated by mRNA splicing, membrane potential, and Yme1L

OPA1, a dynamin-related guanosine triphosphatase mutated in dominant optic atrophy, is required for the fusion of mitochondria. Proteolytic cleavage by the mitochondrial processing peptidase generates long isoforms from eight messenger RNA (mRNA) splice forms, whereas further cleavages at protease sites S1 and S2 generate short forms. Using OPA1-null cells, we developed a cellular system to study how individual OPA1 splice forms function in mitochondrial fusion. Only mRNA splice forms that generate a long isoform in addition to one or more short isoforms support substantial mitochondrial fusion activity. On their own, long and short OPA1 isoforms have little activity, but, when coexpressed, they functionally complement each other. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential destabilizes the long isoforms and enhances the cleavage of OPA1 at S1 but not S2. Cleavage at S2 is regulated by the i-AAA protease Yme1L. Our results suggest that mammalian cells have multiple pathways to control mitochondrial fusion through regulation of the spectrum of OPA1 isoforms.     

Nutritional and chlorophyll fluorescence responses of lucerne (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Medicago sativa</Emphasis>) to waterlogging and subsequent recovery

Periodic flooding of perennial crops such as lucerne (Medicago sativa,L) is a major cause of lowered productivity and leads in extreme cases to plant death. In this study, effects of waterlogging and subsequent recovery on plant nutrient composition and PSII photochemistry were studied to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of recovery as they relate to leaf photochemistry (chlorophyll fluorescence) and nutrient dynamics. Three lucerne cultivars and one breeding line were flooded for 20 d, drained and left to recover for another 16 d under glasshouse conditions. Leaf and root nutrient composition (P, K, Ca, Mg, B, Cu and Zn) of waterlogged lucerne was significantly lower than in freely drained controls, leaf N concentrations were also significantly lower in waterlogged lucerne. At the same time, there were significantly (5-fold) higher concentrations of Fe in waterlogged roots and Na in leaves (2-fold) of stressed plants. PS II photochemistry, which was impaired due to waterlogging, recovered almost fully after 16 d of free drainage in all genotypes. Alongside fluorescence recovery, concentrations of several nutrients also increased in recovered plants. Growth parameters, however, remained suppressed after draining. The latter was due to both the smaller capacity of CO₂ assimilation in previously waterlogged plants (caused in part by nutrient deficiency and associated inhibition of PSII) and the plants need to re-direct available nutrient and assimilate pools to repair the damage to the photosynthetic apparatus and roots. It is concluded, that for any lucerne-breeding program it is important to determine not only the degree of tolerance to waterlogging but also the potential for recovery of different genotypes, as well as look for outstanding individuals within each population.     

Essential role of Isd11 in mitochondrial iron-sulfur cluster synthesis on Isu scaffold proteins

Mitochondria are indispensable for cell viability; however, major mitochondrial functions including citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation are dispensable. Most known essential mitochondrial proteins are involved in preprotein import and assembly, while the only known essential biosynthetic process performed by mitochondria is the biogenesis of iron-sulfur clusters (ISC). The components of the mitochondrial ISC-assembly machinery are derived from the prokaryotic ISC-assembly machinery. We have identified an essential mitochondrial matrix protein, Isd11 (YER048w-a), that is found in eukaryotes only. Isd11 is required for biogenesis of cellular Fe/S proteins and thus is a novel subunit of the mitochondrial ISC-assembly machinery. It forms a complex with the cysteine desulfurase Nfs1 and is required for formation of an Fe/S cluster on the Isu scaffold proteins. We conclude that Isd11 is an indispensable eukaryotic component of the mitochondrial machinery for biogenesis of Fe/S proteins.