Molecular cloning and mapping of phenol degradation genes from Bacillus stearothermophilus FDTP-3 and their expression in Escherichia coli.

Two genes of the meta pathway of phenol degradation were cloned from a phenol-utilizing strain of Bacillus stearothermophilus and were mapped by subcloning and by use of a Tn5 insertion mutation. They code for phenol hydroxylase and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase, respectively. The gene encoding catechol 2,3-dioxygenase, which is more thermostable than catechol 2,3-dioxygenase encoded by the other gene, shares rather limited homology with that from Pseudomonas putida.     

Cardiac gene expression profile and lipid accumulation in response to starvation

Starvation induces many biochemical and histological changes in the heart; however, the molecular events underlying these changes have not been fully elucidated. To explore the molecular response of the heart to starvation, microarray analysis was performed together with biochemical and histological investigations. Serum free fatty acids increased twofold in both 16- and 48-h-fasted mice, and cardiac triglyceride content increased threefold and sixfold in 16- and 48-h-fasted mice, respectively. Electron microscopy showed numerous lipid droplets in hearts of 48-h-fasted mice, whereas fewer numbers of droplets were seen in hearts from 16-h-fasted mice. Expression of 11,000 cardiac genes was screened by microarrays. More than 50 and 150 known genes were detected by differential expression analysis after 16- and 48-h-fasts, respectively. Genes for fatty acid oxidation and gluconeogenesis were increased, and genes for glycolysis were decreased. Many other genes for metabolism, signaling/cell cycle, cytoskeleton, and tissue antigens were affected by fasting. These data provide a broad perspective of the molecular events occurring physiologically in the heart in response to starvation.     

Characterization of rhodamine conjugated Agiotensin II peptide: synthesis,analysis and receptor binding and internalization

The results in this study show that the rhodamine fluorophore can be specifically conjugated to Angiotensin II at Lys3 residue (substituted for a Val) without altering the biological activity of the parent compound. The conjugated peptide was characterized using HPLC, mass spectrometry, and N-terminal sequencing. The rhodamine-Angiotensin II binds effectively to AT1 receptor and gets internalized in clathrin coated vesicles by endocytosis. These results clearly suggest the usefulness of fluorophore-conjugated peptides in studies such as, ligand-receptor binding, and ligand-receptor complex internalization, for drug delivery using cell receptors and as an alternative to peptide hormone radioimmunoassays.     

Association between Physical Activity and Teacher-Reported Academic Performance among Fifth-Graders in Shanghai: A Quantile Regression

Introduction

A growing body of literature reveals the causal pathways between physical activity and brain function, indicating that increasing physical activity among children could improve rather than undermine their scholastic performance. However, past studies of physical activity and scholastic performance among students often relied on parent-reported grade information, and did not explore whether the association varied among different levels of scholastic performance. Our study among fifth-grade students in Shanghai sought to determine the association between regular physical activity and teacher-reported academic performance scores (APS), with special attention to the differential associational patterns across different strata of scholastic performance.

Method

A total of 2,225 students were chosen through a stratified random sampling, and a complete sample of 1470 observations were used for analysis. We used a quantile regression analysis to explore whether the association between physical activity and teacher-reported APS differs by distribution of APS.

Results

Minimal-intensity physical activity such as walking was positively associated with academic performance scores (β = 0.13, SE = 0.04). The magnitude of the association tends to be larger at the lower end of the APS distribution (β = 0.24, SE = 0.08) than in the higher end of the distribution (β = 0.00, SE = 0.07).

Conclusion

Based upon teacher-reported student academic performance, there is no evidence that spending time on frequent physical activity would undermine student’s APS. Those students who are below the average in their academic performance could be worse off in academic performance if they give up minimal-intensity physical activity. Therefore, cutting physical activity time in schools could hurt the scholastic performance among those students who were already at higher risk for dropping out due to inadequate APS.     

Aluminum targets elongating cells by reducing cell wall extensibility in wheat roots

Phytotoxicity of aluminum is characterized by a rapid inhibition of root elongation at micromolar concentrations, however, the mechanisms primarily responsible for this response are not well understood. We investigated the effect of Al on the viscosity and elasticity parameters of root cell wall by a creep-extension analysis in two cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) differing in Al resistance. The root elongation and both viscous and elastic extensibility of cell wall of the root apices were hardly affected by the exposure to 10 microM Al in an Al-resistant cultivar, Atlas 66. However, similar exposure rapidly inhibited root elongation in an Al-sensitive cultivar, Scout 66 and this was associated with a time-dependent accumulation of Al in the root tissues with more than 77% residing in the cell wall. Al caused a significant decrease in both the viscous and elastic extensibility of cell wall of the root apices of Scout 66. The "break load" of the root apex of Scout 66 was also decreased by Al. However, neither the viscosity nor elasticity of the cell wall was affected by in vitro Al treatment. Furthermore, pre-treatment of seedlings with Al in conditions where root elongation was slow (i.e. low temperature) did not affect the subsequent elongation of roots in a 0 Al treatment at room temperature. These results suggest that the Al-dependent changes in the cell wall viscosity and elasticity are involved in the inhibition of root growth. Furthermore, for Al to reduce cell wall extensibility it must interact with the cell walls of actively elongating cells.     

Nine Complete Genome Sequences of Cutaneous Human Papillomavirus Genotypes Isolated from Healthy Skin of Individuals Living in Rural He Nan Province,China

Nine novel human papillomavirus (HPV) types were isolated from healthy skin of individuals in rural Anyang, China. All of these isolates belong to the genus Gammapapillomavirus. These data will provide us with useful information for a better understanding of PV evolution and the relationship of PV with the host.     

A proteomic investigation into the human cervical cancer cell line HeLa treated with dicitratoytterbium (III) complex

Lanthanides have been reported to induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines. Human cervical cancer cell line HeLa was found to be more sensitive to dicitratolanthanum (III) complex ([LaCit₂]³⁻) than other cancer cell lines. However, the effect and mechanism of dicitratoytterbium (III) complex ([YbCit₂]³⁻) on HeLa cells is unknown. Using biochemical and comparative proteomic analyses, [YbCit₂]³⁻ was found to inhibit HeLa cell growth and induce apoptosis. Similar to the effects of [LaCit₂]³⁻, proteomics results from [YbCit₂]³⁻-treated cells revealed profound changes in proteins relating to mitochondria and oxidative stress, suggesting that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a key role in [YbCit₂]³⁻-induced apoptosis. This was confirmed by the decreased mitochondrial transmembrane potential and the increased generation of reactive oxygen species in [YbCit₂]³⁻-treated cells. Western blot analysis showed that [YbCit₂]³⁻-induced apoptosis was accompanied by the activation of caspase-9 and specific proteolytic cleavage of PARP, leading to an increase in the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and a decrease in the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. These results suggest a mitochondrial pathway of cell apoptosis in [YbCit₂]³⁻-treated cells, which will help us understand the molecular mechanisms of lanthanide-induced apoptosis in tumor cells.     

Extraction of crude polysaccharides from Duchesnea indica (Andrews) Focke: optimization by response surface methodology

A full set of optimization procedure was applied to the extraction of anti-viral polysaccharides from Duchesnea indica (Andrews) Focke. By Plackett–Burman factorial design, three parameters (extraction time, extraction temperature, and ratio of water to raw material) were identified as significant to the extraction yield. However, no significant parameters had been identified for antiviral activity. A three-level-three-factor Box–Behnken factorial design was then employed to further optimize the extraction condition. The experimental data were fitted to a second-order polynomial equation using multiple regression analysis and also examined using appropriate statistical methods. This led to the construction of a response surface indicating the optimal values for each parameter and response studied. Concerning the extraction yield, an extraction at 98.51?ºC for 6.16 h with a ratio of water to raw material of 30.94 mL/g was found to be optimal. Under the optimized conditions, the experimental yield was 6.430 ± 0.078%, which was well matched with the predicted yield of 6.509%.