Receptor Protein-tyrosine Phosphatase α Regulates Focal Adhesion Kinase Phosphorylation and ErbB2 Oncoprotein-mediated Mammary Epithelial Cell Motility

We investigated the role of protein-tyrosine phosphatase α (PTPα) in regulating signaling by the ErbB2 oncoprotein in mammary epithelial cells. Using this model, we demonstrated that activation of ErbB2 led to the transient inactivation of PTPα, suggesting that attenuation of PTPα activity may contribute to enhanced ErbB2 signaling. Furthermore, RNAi-induced suppression of PTPα led to increased cell migration in an ErbB2-dependent manner. The ability of ErbB2 to increase cell motility in the absence of PTPα was characterized by prolonged interaction of GRB7 with ErbB2 and increased association of ErbB2 with a β1-integrin-rich complex, which depended on GRB7-SH2 domain interactions. Finally, suppression of PTPα resulted in increased phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase on Tyr-407, which induced the recruitment of vinculin and the formation of a novel focal adhesion kinase complex in response to ErbB2 activation in mammary epithelial cells. Collectively, these results reveal a new role for PTPα in the regulation of motility of mammary epithelial cells in response to ErbB2 activation.     

Effect of ultrasound on cyprids and juvenile barnacles

Settlement inhibition of barnacle (Amphibalanus amphitrite) cypris larvae resulting from exposure to ultrasound was measured at three frequencies (23, 63, and 102 kHz), applied at three acoustic pressure levels (9, 15, and 22 kPa) for exposure times of 30, 150, and 300 s. The lowest settlement was observed for 23 kHz, which also induced the highest cyprid mortality. Cyprid settlement following exposure to 23 kHz at 22 kPa for 30 s was reduced by a factor of two. Observing surface exploration by the cyprids revealed an altered behaviour following exposure to ultrasound: step length was increased, while step duration, walking pace, and the fraction of cyprids exploring the surface were significantly reduced with respect to control cyprids. The basal area of juvenile barnacles, metamorphosed from ultrasound-treated cyprids was initially smaller than unexposed individuals, but normalised over two weeks' growth. Thus, ultrasound exposure effectively reduced cyprid settlement, yet metamorphosed barnacles grew normally.     

Nanoscale structures and mechanics of barnacle cement

Polymerized barnacle glue was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and chemical staining. Nanoscale structures exhibiting rod-shaped, globular and irregularly-shaped morphologies were observed in the bulk cement of the barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite (=Balanus amphitrite) by AFM. SEM coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) provided chemical composition information, making evident the organic nature of the rod-shaped nanoscale structures. FTIR spectroscopy gave signatures of β-sheet and random coil conformations. The mechanical properties of these nanoscale structures were also probed using force spectroscopy and indentation with AFM. Indentation data yielded higher elastic moduli for the rod-shaped structures when compared with the other structures in the bulk cement. Single molecule AFM force-extension curves on the matrix of the bulk cement often exhibited a periodic sawtooth-like profile, observed in both the extend and retract portions of the force curve. Rod-shaped structures stained with amyloid protein-selective dyes (Congo red and thioflavin-T) revealed that about 5% of the bulk cement were amyloids. A dominant 100 kDa cement protein was found to be mechanically agile, using repeating hydrophobic structures that apparently associate within the same protein or with neighbors, creating toughness on the 1–100 nm length scale.     

Towards an understanding of the behavior of silanes on glass: an atomistic simulation study of glass surfaces

The present work attempts to develop a better understanding of the glass substrates upon which silane molecules are deposited. Experimentally, when a sodium silicate substrate is used, the silane layer does not bind as well compared to an alkaline earth borosilicate glass (AEBS). Molecular dynamics simulated annealing procedures were used to create atomistic models of these glasses and their surfaces. In sodium silicate glass, we see segregation of sodium ions to the surface and formation of sodium-rich regions. For the AEBS glass, we see a more homogenous distribution of ions. Boron, aluminium, silicon and oxygen form a connected framework structure. The barium and calcium ions are distributed throughout the structure and show no evidence of segregation. We speculate the poor performance of sodium silicate, compared to the AEBS, as a silane substrate could be attributed to its compositionally inhomogeneous surface.     

Indigo: an annotated bibliography

This bibliography lists and comments on publications describing the history, preparation, chemistry and some applications of indigo and related dyes. Note that the commentary by the author is in italics after the bibliographic information.     

PCR gut analysis reveals that Tenuiphantes tenuis (Araneae: Linyphiidae) is a potentially significant predator of Argentine stem weevil,Listronotus bonariensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in New Zealand pastures

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) gut analysis was conducted on specimens of the introduced spider Tenuiphantes tenuis collected from dairy pasture in Canterbury, New Zealand. PCR primers were specifically designed to amplify a fragment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) from Listronotus bonariensis and revealed that this major pasture pest species is consumed in the field by T. tenuis. The field predation rate of L. bonariensis by T. tenuis was estimated from our PCR results together with published data on the degradation of DNA and the density of T. tenuis in Canterbury pastures. We found that T. tenuis is a potentially significant predator of L. bonariensis in New Zealand pastures.     

The control of wing kinematics by two steering muscles of the blowfly (Calliphora vicina)

We used a combination of high speed video and electrophysiological recordings to investigate the relationship between wing kinematics and the firing patterns of the first (b1) and second (b2) basalar muscles of tethered flying blowflies (Calliphora vicina). The b1 typically fires once during every wing stroke near the time of the dorsal stroke reversal. The b2 fires either intermittently or in bursts that may be elicited by a visual turning stimulus. Sustained activation of the b1 at rates near wing beat frequency appears necessary for the tonic maintenance of stroke amplitude. In addition, advances in the phase of b1 activation were correlated with both increased wing protraction during the down-stroke and increased stroke amplitude. Similar kinematic alterations were correlated with b2 spikes, and consequently, both muscles may function in the control of turns toward the contralateral side. The effects of the two muscles were evident within a single stroke period and decayed quickly. Kinematic changes correlated with b1 phase shifts were graded, suggesting a role in compensatory course stabilization. In contrast, b2 spikes were correlated with all-or-none changes in the wing stroke, a characteristic consistent with a role in mediating rapid turns towards or away from objects.Abbreviations b1 first basalar muscle - b2 second basalar muscle - PWP pleural wing process - RS radial stop - S wing span · - angle between the stroke plane and the longitudinal body axis - stroke amplitude - stroke elevation - L wing length - b1 phase of b1 activation - b2 phase of b2 activation - stroke deviation     

Ennoblement of Stainless Steel by the Manganese-Depositing Bacterium Leptothrix discophora

The noble shift in open-circuit potential exhibited by microbially colonized stainless steel (ennoblement) was investigated by examining the relationship among surface colonization, manganese deposition, and open-circuit potential for stainless steel coupons exposed to batch cultures of the manganese-depositing bacterium Leptothrix discophora. Open-circuit potential shifted from -100 to +330 mV(infSCE) as a biofilm containing 75 nmol of MnO(infx) cm(sup-2) formed on the coupon surface but changed little further with continued MnO(infx) deposition up to 270 nmol cm(sup-2). Increased open-circuit potential corresponded to decreasing Mn(II) concentration in solution and to increased MnO(infx) accumulation and attached cell density on the coupon surfaces. MnO(infx) deposition was attributable to biological activity, and Mn(II) was observed to enhance cell attachment. The experimental results support a mechanism of ennoblement in which open-circuit potential is fixed near +350 mV(infSCE) by the cathodic activity of biomineralized MnO(infx).     

Non-amidated and amidated members of the C-type allatostatin (AST-C) family are differentially distributed in the stomatogastric nervous system of the American lobster, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Homarus americanus</Emphasis>

The crustacean stomatogastric nervous system (STNS) is a well-known model for investigating neuropeptidergic control of rhythmic behavior. Among the peptides known to modulate the STNS are the C-type allatostatins (AST-Cs). In the lobster, Homarus americanus, three AST-Cs are known. Two of these, pQIRYHQCYFNPISCF (AST-C I) and GNGDGRLYWRCYFNAVSCF (AST-C III), have non-amidated C-termini, while the third, SYWKQCAFNAVSCFamide (AST-C II), is C-terminally amidated. Here, antibodies were generated against one of the non-amidated peptides (AST-C I) and against the amidated isoform (AST-C II). Specificity tests show that the AST-C I antibody cross-reacts with both AST-C I and AST-C III, but not AST-C II; the AST-C II antibody does not cross-react with either non-amidated peptide. Wholemount immunohistochemistry shows that both subclasses (non-amidated and amidated) of AST-C are distributed throughout the lobster STNS. Specifically, the antibody that cross-reacts with the two non-amidated peptides labels neuropil in the CoGs and the stomatogastric ganglion (STG), axons in the superior esophageal (son) and stomatogastric (stn) nerves, and ~ 14 somata in each commissural ganglion (CoG). The AST-C II-specific antibody labels neuropil in the CoGs, STG and at the junction of the sons and stn, axons in the sons and stn, ~ 42 somata in each CoG, and two somata in the STG. Double immunolabeling shows that, except for one soma in each CoG, the non-amidated and amidated peptides are present in distinct sets of neuronal profiles. The differential distributions of the two AST-C subclasses suggest that the two peptide groups are likely to serve different modulatory roles in the lobster STNS.