Oxygen induction of epithelial Na(+) transport requires heme proteins

Fetal distal lung epithelial (FDLE) cells exposed to a postnatal O(2) concentration of 21% have higher epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC) mRNA levels and Na(+) transport relative to FDLE cells grown in a fetal O(2) concentration of 3%. To investigate the mechanism of this process, FDLE monolayers were initially cultured in 3% O(2), and then some were switched to a 21% O(2) environment. Incubation of FDLE cells with the iron chelator deferoxamine, CoCl(2), NiCl(2), or an inhibitor of heme synthesis prevented or diminished the O(2) induction of amiloride-sensitive short-circuit current in FDLE cells. Similarly, defer- oxamine and cobalt prevented O(2)-induced ENaC mRNA expression. Exposure of FDLE cells grown under hypoxic conditions to carbon monoxide increased both ENaC mRNA expression and amiloride-sensitive short-circuit current. We therefore concluded that induction of ENaC mRNA expression and amiloride-sensitive Na(+) transport in FDLE cells by a physiological increase in O(2) concentration seen at birth requires iron and heme proteins.     

A B-cell mitogen from a pathogenic trypanosome is a eukaryotic proline racemase

Lymphocyte polyclonal activation is a generalized mechanism of immune evasion among pathogens. In a mouse model of Trypanosoma cruzi infection (American trypanosomiasis), reduced levels of polyclonal lymphocyte responses correlate with resistance to infection and cardiopathy. We report here the characterization of a parasite protein with B-cell mitogenic properties in culture supernatants of infective forms, the cloning of the corresponding gene and the analysis of the biological properties of its product. We characterized the protein as a co-factor-independent proline racemase, and show that its expression as a cytoplasmic and/or membrane-associated protein is life-stage specific. Inhibition studies indicate that availability of the racemase active site is necessary for mitogenic activity. This is the first report to our knowledge of a eukaryotic amino acid racemase gene. Our findings have potential consequences for the development of new immune therapies and drug design against pathogens.     

Increased cell division but not thymic dysfunction rapidly affects the T-cell receptor excision circle content of the naive T cell population in HIV-1 infection

Recent thymic emigrants can be identified by T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) formed during T-cell receptor rearrangement. Decreasing numbers of TRECs have been observed with aging and in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infected individuals, suggesting thymic impairment. Here, we show that in healthy individuals, declining thymic output will affect the TREC content only when accompanied by naive T-cell division. The rapid decline in TRECs observed during HIV-1 infection and the increase following HAART are better explained not by thymic impairment, but by changes in peripheral T-cell division rates. Our data indicate that TREC content in healthy individuals is only indirectly related to thymic output, and in HIV-1 infection is mainly affected by immune activation.     

Protective effect of L-arginine against lipid peroxidation in goat epididymal spermatozoa

L-arginine plays an important role in physiology of spermatozoa and is shown to enhance the metabolism of these cells. We report here the effect of L-arginine on membrane lipid peroxidation of goat epididymal spermatozoa. Both natural peroxidation as well as that induced by UV radiation, freezing and oxidizing agents have been studied. Irrespective of the nature of induction of peroxidation, L-arginine reduces the extent of lipid peroxidation in a concentration dependent manner. Both L-arginine and alpha-tocopherol act synergistically in protecting against lipid peroxidation induced by the above methods. Thus, in order to provide protection against lipid peroxidation, L-arginine may be added in media used to preserve spermatozoa.     

Seasonal grazing rates and food processing by tropical herbivorous fishes

Seasonal variability in grazing rates and food-processing characters were assessed for three abundant fishes in a tropical rocky shore: the damselfish Stegastes fuscus , the parrotfish Sparisoma atomarium , and the surgeonfish Acanthurus bahianus . Significant differences were found in grazing rates among hour of day and seasons, and in food-processing characters among seasons for the three fishes. Grazing rates for S. atomarium and A. bahianus peaked at 1300 and 1400 hours for S. fuscus . Three main periods of different intensity in bite rates, low, intermediate and intense, were identified for all fishes. As expected, total bite rates, ingestion rates and gut fullness were highest in A. bahianus , the largest species studied, followed by S. atomarium and S. fuscus. S. atomarium with fused jaw teeth, holds the highest bite size and S. fuscus the lowest one. Gut turnover was high for S. fuscus and similar for S. atomarium and A. bahianus . Grazing rates and food-processing characters seem to vary between seasons not only due to changes in temperature, but also affected by other factors. Fishes employ different food-processing mechanisms and bear some differences in food-processing characters to achieve optimal energetic supplies from a poor nutrient food resource.     

Candidate gene analysis of GH1 for effects on growth and carcass composition of cattle

We present an approach to evaluate the support for candidate genes as quantitative trait loci (QTLs) within the context of genome-wide map-based cloning strategies. To establish candidacy, a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone containing a putative candidate gene is physically assigned to an anchored linkage map to localise the gone relative to an identified QTL effect. Microsatellite loci derived from BAC clones containing an established candidate gone are integrated into the linkage map facilitating the evaluation by interval analysis of the statistical support for QTL identity. Permutation analysis is employed to determine experiment-wise statistical support. The approach is illustrated for the growth hormone 1 ( GH1 ) gene and growth and carcass phenotypes in cattle. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers which amplify a 441 bp fragment of GH1 were used to systematically screen a bovine BAC library comprising 60 000 clones and with a 95% probability of containing a single copy sequence. The presence of GH1 in BAC-110R2C3 was confirmed by sequence analysis of the PCR product from this clone and by the physical assignment of BAC110R2C3 to bovine chromosome 19 (BTA19) band 22 by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). Microsatellite KHGH1 was isolated from BAC110R2C3 and scored in 529 reciprocal backcross and F₂ fullsib progeny from 41 resource families derived from Angus ( Bos taurus ) and Brahman ( Bos indicus ). The microsatellite KHGH1 was incorporated into a framework genetic map of BTA19 comprising 12 microsatellite loci, the erythrocyte antigen T and a GH1-TaqI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Interval analysis localised effects of taurus vs. indicus alleles on subcutaneous fat and the percentage of ether extractable fat from the longissimus dorsi muscle to the region of BTA19 harbouring GH1 .     

Characterization of pharmacogenetically relevant CYP2D6 and ABCB1 gene polymorphisms in a Portuguese population sample

Differences in metabolism of drugs can lead to severe toxicity or therapeutic failure. In addition to cytochrome P450 2D6, which plays a critical role in drug metabolism, ABCB1 encoded P‐glycoprotein (PGP) is also an important determinant in drug bioavailability. The genes encoding these molecules are highly variable among populations and, given their clinical importance in drug therapy, determining CYP2D6 and ABCB1 allele frequencies in specific populations is very important for useful application in clinical settings. In this study the frequency of the pharmacologically relevant CYP2D6*3, *4, *5, *6 allelic variants and gene duplication, and ABCB1 C1236T and C3435T gene polymorphisms and their haplotypes was determined in a population sample of 100 Portuguese healthy subjects. CYP2D6 allele frequencies were 1.4% (*3), 13.3% (*4), 2.8% (*5), 1.8% (*6) and 6.1% (gene duplication), with 5% of the individuals classified as PM and 8.4% as UM. The frequencies obtained for the non‐functional alleles and for the CYP2D6 gene duplication are in agreement with other South European populations, and reinforce the previously suggested south/north gradient of CYP2D6 duplications. Allelic frequencies for the ABCB1 polymorphisms were 52% (3435C) and 54% (1236C) and the most common haplotype (1236C‐3435C) occurred with a frequency of 45.5%. Although allele and haplotype frequency data for ABCB1 in Southern Europe is limited, some discrepancies were found with other European populations, with possible therapeutic implications for PGP substrate drugs. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enhanced extraction of proteins using cholinium‐based ionic liquids as phase‐forming components of aqueous biphasic systems

Aqueous biphasic systems (ABS) composed of ionic liquids (ILs) are promising platforms for the extraction and purification of proteins. In this work, a series of alternative and biocompatible ABS composed of cholinium‐based ILs and polypropylene glycol were investigated. The respective ternary phase diagrams, tie‐lines, tie‐line lengths and critical points were determined at 25°C. The extraction performance of these systems for commercial bovine serum albumin (BSA) was then evaluated. The stability of BSA at the IL‐rich phase was ascertained by size exclusion high‐performance liquid chromatography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Appropriate ILs lead to the complete extraction of BSA for the IL‐rich phase, in a single step, while maintaining the protein's native conformation. Furthermore, to evaluate the performance of these systems when applied to real matrices, the extraction of BSA from bovine serum was additionally carried out, revealing that the complete extraction of BSA was maintained and achieved in a single step. The remarkable extraction efficiencies obtained are far superior to those observed with typical polymer‐based ABS. Therefore, the proposed ABS may be envisaged as a more effective and biocompatible approach for the separation and purification of other value‐added proteins.     

Spatial and Temporal Variation in Reproduction of a Generalist Crocodilian,Caiman crocodilus yacare,in a Seasonally Flooded Wetland

We monitored the number of caiman (Caiman crocodilus yacare) nests in two ranches in the Brazilian Pantanal that cover an area of about 50.000 ha for 28 years (1987–2014). The number of nests was related to combinations of rainfall, water level, and number of days with temperature below 20°C, depending on the area. Most of the variation in number of nests could not be predicted by the environmental variables, but could be represented mathematically by a sine wave. We were not able to identify any external driver and suspect that the regular fluctuations may have resulted from an intrinsic population process. Presently, ranches are used as management units under the legislation for ranching Pantanal caimans. However, although some breeding females were recaptured in the area after periods of up to 21 years, most were not recaptured near nests or in general surveys of the area, suggesting that females are not strongly philopatric and that ranches do not represent isolated demographic units.