Platinum toxicity and gene expression in Xenopus embryos: analysis by FETAX and differential display

Since the level of platinum in the environment is destined to increase, because of its use in vehicle catalytic converters, the toxicity of platinum needs further investigation. In this study, the frog embryo teratogenesis assay-Xenopus (FETAX) was used to compare the embryotoxicity and teratogenicity of two common platinum species, (NH4)2PtCl4 and (NH4)2PtCl6. The uptake rates of the two platinum species were studied, and also their effects on the expression of genes encoding metallothionein and heat-shock protein 70, which are known to be induced by several stress factors. In addition, the differential display technique was used to search for genes that were specifically induced by platinum. A gene for the type I collagen alpha-chain and a novel gene were identified.     

Useful Species Richness,Proportion of Exotic Species,and Market Orientation on Amazonian Dark Earths and Oxisols<Superscript>1</Superscript>

Useful Species Richness, Proportion of Exotic Species, and Market Orientation on Amazonian Dark Earths and Oxisols Anthropogenic soils of Amazonia, known as Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE), are environments with elevated soil fertility that can produce crops that otherwise yield poorly on the leached and highly acidic Oxisols that dominate much of the basin. While ADE sites near urban centers often attract commercial horticultural production of nutrient–demanding exotics, these soils are also considered possibly unique reservoirs of endemic agrobiodiversity because of their relationship to pre–Columbian indigenous occupation. Through botanical surveys and interviews with smallholder farmers, this study compared useful species richness, proportion of exotic species, and market orientation of farms situated on ADE and non–anthropogenic Oxisols in the municipality of Borba in Central Brazilian Amazonia. Species richness was similar on Amazonian Dark Earth and Oxisol farms (19.6 spp vs. 18.3 spp); however, ADE farms showed significantly higher proportions of exotic species (39% vs. 26%; p = 0.025). Furthermore, ADE farms in Borba demonstrated significantly higher market orientation (61.0% vs. 47.3%; p = 0.028), likely a result of the advantage of Amazonian Dark Earths for production of crops that are nutrient–demanding or pH–sensitive crops that have higher values in the nearby regional market of Manaus.     

Trypanosoma cruzi: Insights into naphthoquinone effects on growth and proteinase activity

In this study we compared the effects of naphthoquinones (α-lapachone, β-lapachone, nor-β-lapachone and Epoxy-α-lap) on growth of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes forms, and on viability of VERO cells. In addition we also experimentally analyzed the most active compounds inhibitory profile against T. cruzi serine- and cysteine-proteinases activity and theoretically evaluated them against cruzain, the major T. cruzi cysteine proteinase by using a molecular docking approach. Our results confirmed β-lapachone and Epoxy-α-lap with a high trypanocidal activity in contrast to α-lapachone and nor-β-lapachone whereas Epoxy-α-lap presented the safest toxicity profile against VERO cells. Interestingly the evaluation of the active compounds effects against T. cruzi cysteine- and serine-proteinases activities revealed different targets for these molecules. β-Lapachone is able to inhibit the cysteine-proteinase activity of T. cruzi proteic whole extract and of cruzain, similar to E-64, a classical cysteine-proteinase inhibitor. Differently, Epoxy-α-lap inhibited the T. cruzi serine-proteinase activity, similar to PMSF, a classical serine-proteinase inhibitor. In agreement to these biological profiles in the enzymatic assays, our theoretical analysis showed that E-64 and β-lapachone interact with the cruzain specific S2 pocket and active site whereas Epoxy-α-lap showed no important interactions. Overall, our results infer that β-lapachone and Epoxy-α-lap compounds may inhibit T. cruzi epimastigotes growth by affecting T. cruzi different proteinases. Thus the present data shows the potential of these compounds as prototype of protease inhibitors on drug design studies for developing new antichagasic compounds.     

Synthesis and structures of mono and binuclear nickel(II) thiolate complexes of a dicompartmental pseudo-macrocycle with N(imine)2S2 and N(oxime)2S2 metal-binding sites

The reaction of [Ni(pftp)] [pftp = N,N-propane-1,3-diyl-(6-formyl-4-methyliminatothiophenolato)] with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in the presence potassium acetate in MeOH resulted in the formation of the complex [Ni(LH₂)] [L = N,N-propane-1,3-diyl-(4-methyl-2-methyliminato-6-methyloxime-thiophenolato)] in good yield. A single crystal X-ray diffraction structural determination showed a mononuclear nickel(II) complex with the new acyclic ligand LH₂ that had been functionalised with two oxime groups containing an empty N(oxime)₂S₂ pocket to which another metal ion could be added. A further reaction of [Ni(LH₂)] with NiCl₂·6H₂O, triethylamine and ammonium hexafluorophosphate in MeOH gave a dark red product that yielded red crystals of [Ni₂(LH)]PF₆·DMF via slow recrystallisation from a DMF/PrⁱOH solvent mixture. A single crystal X-ray diffraction study of these crystals confirmed the presence of a dinuclear nickel(II) complex linked by a dithiolato-bridge. Both nickel(II) ions exhibited square-planar geometry where the metal centres are coordinated in two distinct cis-S₂N(imine)₂ and cis-S₂N(oxime)₂ binding sites provided by the new dicompartmental oxime/thiolate-containing ligand LH.     

Mouse Chromosome 7

Chair of Committee for Mouse Chromosome 7     

CX3CR1 Is Expressed by Human B Lymphocytes and Meditates CX3CL1 Driven Chemotaxis of Tonsil Centrocytes

Background

Fractalkine/CX₃CL1, a surface chemokine, binds to CX₃CR1 expressed by different lymphocyte subsets. Since CX₃CL1 has been detected in the germinal centres of secondary lymphoid tissue, in this study we have investigated CX₃CR1 expression and function in human naïve, germinal centre and memory B cells isolated from tonsil or peripheral blood.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We demonstrate unambiguously that highly purified human B cells from tonsil and peripheral blood expressed CX₃CR1 at mRNA and protein levels as assessed by quantitative PCR, flow cytometry and competition binding assays. In particular, naïve, germinal centre and memory B cells expressed CX₃CR1 but only germinal centre B cells were attracted by soluble CX₃CL1 in a transwell assay. CX₃CL1 signalling in germinal centre B cells involved PI3K, Erk1/2, p38, and Src phosphorylation, as assessed by Western blot experiments. CX₃CR1⁺ germinal centre B cells were devoid of centroblasts and enriched for centrocytes that migrated to soluble CX₃CL1. ELISA assay showed that soluble CX₃CL1 was secreted constitutively by follicular dendritic cells and T follicular helper cells, two cell populations homing in the germinal centre light zone as centrocytes. At variance with that observed in humans, soluble CX₃CL1 did not attract spleen B cells from wild type mice. OVA immunized CX₃CR1⁻/⁻ or CX₃CL1⁻/⁻ mice showed significantly decreased specific IgG production compared to wild type mice.

Conclusion/Significance

We propose a model whereby human follicular dendritic cells and T follicular helper cells release in the light zone of germinal centre soluble CX₃CL1 that attracts centrocytes. The functional implications of these results warrant further investigation.     

Elastic fiber assembly in the adult mouse pubic symphysis during pregnancy and postpartum

Impairment of pelvic organ support has been described in mice with genetic modifications of the proteins involved in elastogenesis, such as lysyl oxidase-like 1 (LOXL1) and fibulin 5. During pregnancy, elastic fiber-enriched pelvic tissues are modified to allow safe delivery. In addition, the mouse pubic symphysis is remodeled in a hormone-controlled process that entails the modification of the fibrocartilage into an interpubic ligament (IpL) and the relaxation of this ligament. After first parturition, recovery occurs to ensure pelvic tissue homeostasis. Because ligaments are the main supports of the pelvic organs, this study aimed to evaluate elastogenesis in the IpL during mouse pregnancy and postpartum. Accordingly, virgin, pregnant, and postpartum C57BL/6 mice were studied using light, confocal, and transmission electron microscopy as well as Western blots and real-time PCR. Female mice exhibited the separation of the pubic bones and the formation, relaxation, and postpartum recovery of the IpL. By the time the IpL was formed, the elastic fibers had increased in profile length and diameter, and they consisted of small conglomerates of amorphous material distributed among the bundles of microfibrils. Our analyses also indicated that elastin/tropoelastin, fibrillin 1, LOXL1/Loxl1, and fibulin 5 were spatially and temporally regulated, suggesting that these molecules may contribute to the synthesis of new elastic fibers during IpL development. Overall, this work revealed that adult elastogenesis may be important to assure the elasticity of the pelvic girdle during preparation for parturition and postpartum recovery. This finding may contribute to our understanding of pathological processes involving elastogenesis in the reproductive tract.