Conformational plasticity of the Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease peptide as indicated by its multiple aggregation pathways

The existence of several prion strains and their capacity of overcoming species barriers seem to point to a high conformational adaptability of the prion protein. To investigate this structural plasticity, we studied here the aggregation pathways of the human prion peptide PrP82-146, a major component of the Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker amyloid disease.By Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM), we monitored the time course of PrP82-146 fibril formation. After incubation at 37 °C, the unfolded peptide was found to aggregate into oligomers characterized by intermolecular β-sheet infrared bands. At a critical oligomer concentration, the emergence of a new FT-IR band allowed to detect fibril formation. A different intermolecular β-sheet interaction of the peptides in oligomers and in fibrils is, therefore, detected by FT-IR spectroscopy, which, in addition, suggests a parallel orientation of the cross β-sheet structures of PrP82-146 fibrils. By AFM, a wide distribution of PrP82-146 oligomer volumes—the smallest ones containing from 5 to 30 peptides—was observed. Interestingly, the statistical analysis of AFM data enabled us to detect a quantization in the oligomer height values differing by steps of ∼ 0.5 nm that could reflect an orientation of oligomer β-strands parallel with the sample surface. Different morphologies were also detected for fibrils that displayed high heterogeneity in their twisting periodicity and a complex hierarchical assembly.Thermal aggregation of PrP82-146 was also investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy, which indicated for these aggregates an intermolecular β-sheet interaction different from that observed for oligomers and fibrils. Unexpectedly, random aggregates, induced by solvent evaporation, were found to display a significant α-helical structure as well as several β-sheet components.All these results clearly point to a high plasticity of the PrP82-146 peptide, which was found to be capable of undergoing several aggregation pathways, with end products displaying different secondary structures and intermolecular interactions.     

Anaerobic and aerobic relative contribution to total energy release during supramaximal effort in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Energetic metabolism during effort is impaired in patients with left ventricular dysfunction (Dysf), but data have been lacking up to now on the relative anaerobic vs. aerobic contribution to total energy release during supramaximal effort. Recently, the maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD) has been shown to be measurable in Dysf patients, making it possible to evaluate the anaerobic/aerobic interaction under conditions of maximal stress of both anaerobic and aerobic metabolic pathways in this population. Nineteen Dysf patients and 17 normal patients (N) underwent one ramp cardiopulmonary, three moderate-intensity constant-power, and three supramaximal constant-power (1- to 2-min, 2- to 3-min, and 3- to 4-min duration) exercise tests. MAOD was the difference between accumulated O(2) demand (accO(2)dem; estimated from the moderate-intensity O(2) uptake/watt relationship) and uptake during supramaximal tests. Percent anaerobic (%Anaer) and aerobic (%Aer) energetic release were [(MAOD/accO(2)dem).100] and 100 - %Anaer, respectively. MAOD did not vary between 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4 min supramaximal tests, whereas accO(2)dem increased significantly with and was linearly related to test duration in both Dysf and N. Consequently, %Anaer and %Aer decreased and increased, respectively, with increasing test duration but did not differ between Dysf and N in 1-2 min, 2-3 min, and 3-4 min tests. Our study demonstrates a similar relative anaerobic vs. aerobic contribution to total energy release during supramaximal effort in Dysf and N. This finding indicates that energetic metabolism during supramaximal exercise is exercise tolerance independent and that relative anaerobic vs. aerobic contribution in this effort domain remains the same within the physiology- or pathology-induced limits to individual peak exercise performance.     

Investigating the mechanism of peptide aggregation: insights from mixed monte carlo-molecular dynamics simulations

The early stages of peptide aggregation are currently not accessible by experimental techniques at atomic resolution. In this article, we address this problem through the application of a mixed simulation scheme in which a preliminary coarse-grained Monte Carlo analysis of the free-energy landscape is used to identify representative conformations of the aggregates and subsequent all-atom molecular dynamics simulations are used to analyze in detail possible pathways for the stabilization of oligomers. This protocol was applied to systems consisting of multiple copies of the model peptide GNNQQNY, whose detailed structures in the aggregated state have been recently solved in another study. The analysis of the various trajectories provides dynamical and structural insight into the details of aggregation. In particular, the simulations suggest a hierarchical mechanism characterized by the initial formation of stable parallel β-sheet dimers and identify the formation of the polar zipper motif as a fundamental feature for the stabilization of initial oligomers. Simulation results are consistent with experimentally derived observations and provide an atomically detailed view of the putative initial stages of fibril formation.     

Assessing the value of secondary forest for amphibians: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eleutherodactylus</Emphasis> frogs in a gradient of forest alteration

Secondary forests constitute a growing portion of forested areas worldwide. They might have a substantial role for the conservation of biodiversity in tropical areas, but there is little information on their potential to support forest species and the recovery of faunal communities. We studied two forest frogs (Eleutherodactylus diastema and E. fitzingeri) in an area of Costa Rica composed of a mosaic of primary forest, young secondary forest and pasture, and we compared the density of calling males in areas with different forest alteration. Autoregressive models were used to compensate for potentially undesired effects of spatial autocorrelation and pseudoreplication. Both species were most abundant in riparian, primary forest. However, E. fitzingeri was also abundant in riparian secondary forests, and its density far from the river was similar in primary and secondary forest, suggesting that river proximity can influence the recovery of secondary forest for amphibians. Conversely, the density of E. diastema was similar in secondary forest and pasture, stressing interspecific differences for recovery rate. These frogs have a keystone role in nutrient cycling and food webs, and their prompt recovery might represent an important step for the functional recovery of forests. Nevertheless, the strong interspecific differences stress the complexity of these processes.     

Biopsy coupled to quantitative immunofluorescence: a new method to study the human vascular endothelium.

Limited availability of endothelial tissue is a major constraint when investigating the cellular mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction in patients with metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. We propose a novel approach that combines collection of 200-1,000 endothelial cells from a superficial forearm vein or the radial artery, with reliable measurements of protein expression by quantitative immunofluorescence analysis. This method was validated against immunoblot analysis in cultured endothelial cells. Levels of vascular endothelial cell activation, oxidative stress, and nitric oxide synthase expression were measured and compared in five patients with severe chronic heart failure and in four healthy age-matched subjects. In summary, vascular endothelial biopsy coupled with measurement of protein expression by quantitative immunofluorescence analysis provides a novel approach to the study of the vascular endothelium in humans.     

Comparative analysis of rice MADS-box genes expressed during flower development

MADS-box genes involved in flower development have been isolated and studied in a wide variety of plant species. However, most of these studies are related to dicot species like Antirrhinum majus, Arabidopsis thaliana and Petunia hybrida. Although the floral structures of typical monocot and dicot flowers differ substantially, previous studies indicate that MADS-box genes controlling floral organ identity in dicots can also be identified in monocot plants like rice and maize. To extend this study further to obtain a more global picture of monocot and dicot MADS-box gene evolution, we performed a phylogenetic study using MADS-box genes from A. thaliana and Oryza sativa. Furthermore, we investigated whether the identified orthologues of Arabidopsis and rice have a conserved expression profile that could indicate conservation of function.     

Non-H-2 histocompatibility antigens encoded by Moloney-murine leukemia virus in Mov mouse strains are detectable by skin grafting and cytolytic T lymphocytes

The integration and expression of Moloney-murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) into the germ line of Mov mouse strains on the C57BL/6 background results in the expression of a cell-surface Ag with characteristics expected from non-H-2 histocompatibility Ag: the ability to stimulate graft rejection and generation of CTL. However, both the previously studied Mov-3 and Mov-14 strains differ from the coisogenic C57BL/6 strain by different length segments of chromosome derived from the ICR strain in addition to the integrated M-MuLV genome. To conclusively demonstrate that an Ag encoded by M-MuLV is solely responsible for rejection of Mov skin grafts by coisogenic recipients, we have studied additional Mov strains that differ from coisogenic 129 or BALB/c backgrounds only by integration of an M-MuLV genome. A total of 129 strain recipients reject skin grafts from two viremic Mov strains, Mov-17 and Mov-18. A total of 129 strain hosts primed with either 1) multiple sets of Mov-17 and Mov-18 skin grafts or 2) single injections of Mov-17 and Mov-18 spleen cells produce M-MuLV-specific CTL that could be boosted in primary mixed lymphocyte culture. Generated CTL were reactive with Con A-stimulated lymphoblasts from all tested viremic Mov strains on the B6 and 129 backgrounds as well as B6 lymphomas. Further, we have observed that 129 strain mice reject Mov-9 skin grafts if these skin grafts are transplanted to virgin 129 recipients which have not received prior skin grafts from non-viremic Mov donors. In addition, skin grafts were transplanted from two viremic Mov strains, Mov-15 and Mov-16, to coisogenic BALB/c recipients; rejection of both sets of grafts was observed. However, BALB/c responders did not generate specific CTL after priming in vivo, with either multiple sets of allogeneic grafts or spleen cell injections, and boosting in vitro. These observations confirm the ability of integrated and expressed M-MuLV genomes to encode what is operationally defined as a non-H-2 histocompatibility Ag.