Antioxidant activity of twenty five plants from Colombian biodiversity

The antioxidant activity of the crude n-hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol extracts from 25 species belonging to the Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae, and Solanaceae families collected at natural reserves from the Eje Cafetero Ecorregión Colombia, were evaluated by using the spectrophotometric 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-scavenging method. The strongest antioxidant activities were showed by the methanol and dichloromethane extracts from the Euphorbiaceae, Alchornea coelophylla (IC50 41.14 mg/l) and Acalypha platyphilla (IC50 111.99 mg/l), respectively. These two species had stronger DPPH radical scavenging activities than hydroquinone (IC50 151.19 mg/l), the positive control. The potential use of Colombian flora for their antioxidant activities is discussed.     

Two news species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erythroxylum</Emphasis> (Erythroxylaceae) from Ecuador and Peru

Two new species of Erythroxylum from the Amotape-Huancabamba region are described and illustrated. Erythroxylum dillonii occurs in the arid zones of northern Peru, and Erythroxylum gentryi is known only from the Ecuadorian side of Cordillera del Condor. Their habitats and taxonomic relationships are discussed.     

Snake population venomics and antivenomics of Bothrops atrox: Paedomorphism along its transamazonian dispersal and implications of geographic venom variability on snakebite management

We describe two geographically differentiated venom phenotypes across the wide distribution range of Bothrops atrox, from the Colombian Magdalena Medio Valley through Puerto Ayacucho and El Paují, in the Venezuelan States of Amazonas and Orinoquia, respectively, and S?o Bento in the Brazilian State of Maranh?o. Colombian and Venezuelan venoms show an ontogenetic toxin profile phenotype whereas Brazilian venoms exhibit paedomorphic phenotypes. Venoms from each of the 16 localities sampled contain both population-specific toxins and proteins shared by neighboring B. atrox populations. Mapping the molecular similarity between conspecific populations onto a physical map of B. atrox range provides clues for tracing dispersal routes that account for the current biogeographic distribution of the species. The proteomic pattern is consistent with a model of southeast and southwest dispersal and allopatric fragmentation northern of the Amazon Basin, and trans-Amazonian expansion through the Andean Corridor and across the Amazon river between Monte Alegre and Santarém. An antivenomic approach applied to assess the efficacy towards B. atrox venoms of two antivenoms raised in Costa Rica and Brazil using Bothrops venoms different than B. atrox in the immunization mixtures showed that both antivenoms immunodepleted very efficiently the major toxins (PIII-SVMPs, serine proteinases, CRISP, LAO) of paedomorphic venoms from Puerto Ayacucho (Venezuelan Amazonia) through S?o Bento, but had impaired reactivity towards PLA(2) and P-I SVMP molecules abundantly present in ontogenetic venoms. The degree of immunodepletion achieved suggests that each of these antivenoms may be effective against envenomations by paedomorphic, and some ontogenetic, B. atrox venoms.     

Comparative Study of Alkaline, Saline, and Mixed Saline–Alkaline Stresses with Regard to Their Effects on Growth, Nutrient Accumulation, and Root Morphology of Lotus tenuis

Both saline and alkaline conditions frequently coexist in nature; however, little is known about the effects of alkaline and salt?Calkaline stresses on plants. We performed pot experiments with four treatments, control without salt addition and three stress conditions??neutral, alkaline, and mixed salt?Calkaline??to determine their effects on growth, nutrient accumulation and root architecture in the glycophytic species Lotus tenuis. Neutral and alkaline salts produced a similar detrimental effect on L. tenuis growth, whereas the effect of their combination was synergistic. Neutral salt addition, alone or mixed with NaHCO₃, led to significant leaf Na⁺ build up and reduced K⁺ concentration. In contrast, in plants treated with NaHCO₃ only, Na⁺ levels and the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio remained relatively unchanged. Proline accumulation was not affected by the high pH in the absence of NaCl, but it was raised by the neutral salt and mixed treatments. The total root length was reduced by the addition of NaCl alone, whereas it was not affected by alkalinity, regardless of the presence of NaCl. The topological trend showed that alkalinity alone or mixed with NaCl turned the root more herringbone compared with control roots, whereas no significant change in this index was observed in the treatment with the neutral salt only. The pattern of morphological changes in L. tenuis root architecture after the alkaline treatment (in the absence of NaCl) was similar to that found in the mixed salt?Calkaline treatment and different from that observed in neutral salt. A unique root morphological response to the mixed salt?Calkaline stress was the reduction in the ratio between xylem vessels and root cross-sectional areas.     

Geographic variation and the evolution of song in Mesoamerican rufous‐naped wrens Campylorhynchus rufinucha

Speciation may be influenced by geographic variation in animal signals, particularly when those signals are important in reproductive decisions. Here, we describe patterns of geographic variation in the song of rufous‐naped wrens Campylorhynchus rufinucha. This species complex is a morphologically variable taxon confined to tropical dry forest areas from Mexico to northwestern Costa Rica. Morphological and genetic analyses suggest that there are at least three partially isolated groups within the complex, including a secondary‐contact zone in coastal western Chiapas between the subspecies C. r. humilus and C. r. nigricaudatus. Based on recordings throughout their geographic range, we investigate the effects of historical isolation on song structure and analyze whether genetic differences or climatic conditions explain observed patterns of variation. Our findings, based on a culturally‐transmitted and sexually‐selected trait, support the hypothesis that three evolutionary units exist within this taxon. Our results suggest that song differences between genetic groups were influenced by historical isolation. We report a strong relationship between vocal dissimilarity and genetic distance, suggesting that differences in vocal characteristics are probably affected by the same factors that drive genetic divergence. We argue that the evolution of song in this taxon is influenced by vicariant events, followed by accumulation of changes in song structure due to several possible factors: cultural drift in song structure; genetic drift in features related to song production; or natural selection acting on features that influence songs, such as body and beak size.     

Genetic and functional characterization of a Bacillus sp. strain excreting surfactin and antifungal metabolites partially identified as iturin-like compounds

AIMS: A bacterial strain producing antifungal compounds active against the plant pathogenic fungi Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Sclerotinia has been characterized and shown to control Rhizoctonia root rot of soya bean. METHODS AND RESULTS: The metabolites excreted by Bacillus BNM 122 remained active after autoclaving, were resistant over a wide pH range and to hydrolytic enzymes. By (1)H-NMR and thin-layer chromatography analyses surfactin and iturin-like compounds were partially identified. Moreover, soya bean seeds bacterization with BNM 122 in a compost-based formulation was as effective controlling Rhizoctonia solani as pentachloronitrobenzene. According to its 16S rDNA sequence BNM 122 was closely related to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus subtilis. PCR analysis of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region and repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) genomic fingerprinting revealed a close genetic relationship to B. amyloliquefaciens. However, by physiological characterization using API tests, this strain resembled more B. subtilis. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report describing the co-production of surfactin and iturin-like compounds by a putative strain of B. amyloliquefaciens. The synergistic effect of both lipopetides is a remarkable trait for a candidate biocontrol agent. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This kind of research has relevance in order to minimize the use of synthetic fungicides and surfactants, contributing to the preservation of the environment.     

Zymosan-induced luminol-amplified chemiluminescence of whole blood phagocytes in experimental and human hyperthyroidism

Luminol-amplified CL of whole blood phagocytes was studied in rats given 3 consecutive doses of 0.1 mg L-triiodothyronine T₃/kg or in hyperthyroid patients, after stimulation by zymosan. In both cases, CL was significantly increased, in effect which was produced independently of the opsonization of the zymosan particles and markedly inhibited by azide. The in vitro addition of T₃ or L-thyroxine (T₄) to whole blood phagocytes from normal rats did not modify the opsonized zymosan-dependent CL, when assayed at the concentrations found in eutrhyroid subjects or in hyperthyroid patients. Administrations of propylthiouracil (400 mg/day for 2–3 months) to hyperthyroid patients reduced the CL response observed prior to treatment, to values comparable to those found in the euthyroid group. These data indicate that hyperthyroidism elicits an enhanced respiratory burst activity of whole blood phagocytes, probably related to adaptive changes induced by thyroid hormone on the mieloperoxidase-H₂O₂ system, rather than to direct actions of the hormone molecule or changes in the opsonic capacity of plasma.     

Identification and functional analysis of novel phosphorylation sites in the RNA surveillance protein Upf1

One third of inherited genetic diseases are caused by mRNAs harboring premature termination codons as a result of nonsense mutations. These aberrant mRNAs are degraded by the Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay (NMD) pathway. A central component of the NMD pathway is Upf1, an RNA-dependent ATPase and helicase. Upf1 is a known phosphorylated protein, but only portions of this large protein have been examined for phosphorylation sites and the functional relevance of its phosphorylation has not been elucidated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using tandem mass spectrometry analyses, we report the identification of 11 putative phosphorylated sites in S. cerevisiae Upf1. Five of these phosphorylated residues are located within the ATPase and helicase domains and are conserved in higher eukaryotes, suggesting a biological significance for their phosphorylation. Indeed, functional analysis demonstrated that a small carboxy-terminal motif harboring at least three phosphorylated amino acids is important for three Upf1 functions: ATPase activity, NMD activity and the ability to promote translation termination efficiency. We provide evidence that two tyrosines within this phospho-motif (Y-738 and Y-742) act redundantly to promote ATP hydrolysis, NMD efficiency and translation termination fidelity.     

Whitening,thallus decay and fragmentation in Gracilaria chilensis associated with an endophytic amoeba

Whitening of Gracilaria chilensis, accompanied by tissue softening and thallus fragmentation, was found to be associated with the presence of an endophytic amoeba. Although the symptoms developed originally in green mutant thalli, subsequent infections in the laboratory also affected normal, wild-type G. chilensis. Ultrastructural evidence indicates that the amoebae perforate the host cell walls of both cortical and medullary cells and digest their protoplasm. Feeding by the amoeba appears to involve both phagocytosis and enzymatic digestion of the host tissue. Destruction of the host tissue resulted in large cavities first, followed by thallus fragmentation. No other organism was found during the early stages of thallus invasion by the amoeba, although bacteria may appear once the amoeba reaches the inner tissues of the host.