<Emphasis Type="Italic">Nonomuraea insulae</Emphasis> sp. nov., isolated from forest soil

Strain H2R21^T, a novel actinobacterium, isolated from a forest soil sample collected from Heybeliada, Istanbul, Turkey, and a polyphasic approach was used for characterisation of the strain. Chemotaxonomic and morphological characterisation of strain H2R21^T indicated that it belongs to the genus Nonomuraea. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity showed that the strain is closely related to Nonomuraea purpurea 1SM4-01^T (99.1%) and Nonomuraea solani CGMCC 4.7037^T (98.4%). DNA–DNA relatedness values were found to be lower than 70% between the isolate and its phylogenetic neighbours N. purpurea 1SM4-01^T, N. solani CGMCC 4.7037^T and Nonomuraea rhizophila YIM 67092^T. The whole cell hydrolysates of strain H2R21^T were found to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and glucose, madurose, mannose and ribose as the cell sugars. The polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxy-phosphatidylethanolamine, dihydroxy-phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, glycophosphatidylinositol, two glycophospholipids and two unidentified lipids. The predominant menaquinones were identified as MK-9(H₄) and MK-9(H₆). The major fatty acids were found to be iso-C_16:0, iso-C_16:0 2OH and C_17:0 10-methyl. On the basis of DNA–DNA relatedness data and some phenotypic characteristics, it is evident that strain H2R21^T can be distinguished from the closely related species in the genus Nonomuraea. Thus, it is concluded that strain H2R21^T represents a novel species of the genus Nonomuraea, for which the name Nonomuraea insulae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H2R21^T (= DSM 102915^T = CGMCC 4.7338^T = KCTC 39769^T).     

Neuroligin‐1 performs neurexin‐dependent and neurexin‐independent functions in synapse validation

Postsynaptic neuroligins are thought to perform essential functions in synapse validation and synaptic transmission by binding to, and dimerizing, presynaptic α‐ and β‐neurexins. To test this hypothesis, we examined the functional effects of neuroligin‐1 mutations that impair only α‐neurexin binding, block both α‐ and β‐neurexin binding, or abolish neuroligin‐1 dimerization. Abolishing α‐neurexin binding abrogated neuroligin‐induced generation of neuronal synapses onto transfected non‐neuronal cells in the so‐called artificial synapse‐formation assay, even though β‐neurexin binding was retained. Thus, in this assay, neuroligin‐1 induces apparent synapse formation by binding to presynaptic α‐neurexins. In transfected neurons, however, neither α‐ nor β‐neurexin binding was essential for the ability of postsynaptic neuroligin‐1 to dramatically increase synapse density, suggesting a neurexin‐independent mechanism of synapse formation. Moreover, neuroligin‐1 dimerization was not required for either the non‐neuronal or the neuronal synapse‐formation assay. Nevertheless, both α‐neurexin binding and neuroligin‐1 dimerization were essential for the increase in apparent synapse size that is induced by neuroligin‐1 in transfected neurons. Thus, neuroligin‐1 performs diverse synaptic functions by mechanisms that include as essential components of α‐neurexin binding and neuroligin dimerization, but extend beyond these activities.     

Supramolecular cobalt(II)-pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylate complexes with isonicotinamide, 2-amino-3-methylpyridine and 2-amino-6-methylpyridine: Syntheses, crystal structures, spectroscopic, thermal and antimicrobial activity studies

The mer-[Co(pydca)(H₂O)₃(ina)]·H₂O (1), (2a3mpyH)₂[Co(pydca)₂(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O (2) and (2a6mpyH)₂[Co(pydca)₂(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O (3) complexes (H₂pydca: pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid, ina: isonicotinamide, 2a3mpy = 2-amino-3-methylpyridine and 2a6mpy = 2-amino-6-methylpyridine) were synthesised and characterised by elemental analysis, magnetic and spectroscopic measurements (UV-Vis and IR spectra) and single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The thermal behaviour of the complexes was also studied by simultaneous thermal analysis techniques (TG, DTG and DTA). In complex 1, Co(II) ion was coordinated by one bidentate pydca, one isonicotinamide and three aqua ligands to generate a CoN₂O₄ distorted octahedral geometry. Complexes 2 and 3 crystallise in the triclinic system and space group and the structures consist of one complex anion [Co(pydca)₂(H₂O)₂]²⁻, two protonated aminomethylpyridinium cations, ampyH⁺ and two crystal water molecules. In the anions, the Co(II) ions have a distorted octahedral configuration and are coordinated by two bidentate pydca and two trans-aqua ligands. The pydca ligand is coordinated to the Co(II) by both the heterocyclic N atom and the adjacent carboxylate group O atom, creating a chelate ring, while protonated ampy ions behave as counter ion.     

Vulpinic acid as a natural compound inhibits the proliferation of metastatic prostate cancer cells by inducing apoptosis

Molecular Biology Reports - Lichen secondary metabolites have drawn considerable attention in recent years due to the limitations of current treatment options. Vulpinic acid (VA) obtained from...     

Influence of knee osteoarthritis on exercise capacity and quality of life in obese adults

Objective: The objective was to determine whether knee osteoarthritis (OA) reduces exercise ambulatory capacity and impairs quality of life (QOL) in obese individuals. Research Methods and Procedures: There were 56 subjects, with and without knee OA, who were obese. The subjects were evaluated with anthropometric measurements, a body composition assessment, maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test, 6‐minute walk test (6‐MWT), perceived exertion (RPE), self‐reported disability [Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)], and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF‐36). Results: VO_2peak was significantly higher in the controls when compared with the patients (mean ± standard deviation, 1.584 ± 0.23 L/kg per min vs. 0.986 ± 0.20 L/kg per min; p < 0.001). Obese subjects without knee OA walked a significantly longer distance in the 6‐MWT than obese patients with knee OA (p < 0.001). We also observed significant negative correlation between Vo ₂max and RPE, WOMAC pain and physical limitation, and bodily pain and general health domains of short‐form 36. Discussion: Knee OA reduces exercise and ambulatory capacity and impairs QOL in obese individuals. RPE, WOMAC pain, and SF‐36 items might provide information about exercise capacity in the obese subjects with knee OA. Our study confirms that exercise capacity and QOL might be improved by energetic and intensive treatment of pain resulting from knee OA.