Phylogenetic relationships of the stromateoid fishes (Perciformes)

The phylogenetic relationships of all 16 genera (plus Psenes pellucidus) of the suborder Stromateoidei were estimated cladistically based on 43 osteological, myological, and external characters. Thirty equally parsimonious trees were obtained. Based on the strict consensus tree, Centrolophidae was nonmonophyletic, Psenopsis being placed as a sister group of a clade comprising Amarsipus, Ariomma, nomeids, Tetragonurus, and stromateids. Schedophilus formed a sister group relationship with Seriolella. The relationships among the Centrolophus, Hyperoglyphe, Icichthys, Tubbia, Schedophilus+Seriolella clade, and Psenopsis+Amarsipus+Ariomma+nomeids+Tetragonurus+stromateids clade were unresolved. Amarsipus, which is unique within the suborder in lacking a pharyngeal sac, was nested within the stromateoid clade, being a sister group of the clade including Ariomma, nomeids, Tetragonurus, and stromateids. The absence of a pharyngeal sac in Amarsipus was interpreted as a reversal, its presence in the Stromateoidei therefore being considered as a synapomorphy. Ariomma was placed as the sister group of a clade comprising nomeids, Tetragonurus, and stromateids. Monophyly of the Nomeidae and Stromateidae were supported by 2 and 11 synapomorphies, respectively.     

Molecular cloning of a cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase cDNA from cell cultures of sweetpotato and its expression in response to stress

A cDNA encoding a cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase (APX), swAPX1 , was isolated from cell cultures of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) by cDNA library screening, and its expression in the context of various environmental stresses was investigated. swAPX1 contains an ORF of 250 amino acids (27.5 kDa) encoding a protein with a pI value of 5.32. The swAPX1 ORF does not code for a transit peptide, suggesting that the product is a cytosolic isoform. RNA blot analysis showed that swAPX1 gene is expressed in cultured cells and mature leaves, but not in stems, non-storage or storage roots of sweetpotato. The level of swAPX1 RNA progressively increased during cell growth in suspension cultures. In leaf tissues, the gene responded differentially to various abiotic stresses, as revealed by RT-PCR analysis. swAPX1 was highly induced in leaves by wounding, and treatment with methyl viologen (50 M), hydrogen peroxide (440 mM), abscisic acid (ABA; 100 M) or exposure to high temperature (37°C). In addition, the gene was strongly induced in the leaves following inoculation with a bacterial pathogen (Pectobacterium chrysanthemi). These results indicate that swAPX1 may be involved in hydrogen peroxide-detoxification and thus help to overcome the oxidative stress induced by abiotic and biotic stresses.Communicated by G. Jürgens     

Enzymatic synthesis of tea theaflavin derivatives and their anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities

Derivatives based on a benzotropolone skeleton (9-26) have been prepared by the enzymatic coupling (horseradish peroxidase/H2O2) of selected pairs of compounds (1-8), one with a vic-trihydroxyphenyl moiety, and the other with an ortho-dihydroxyphenyl structure. Some of these compounds have been found to inhibit TPA-induced mice ear edema, nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, and arachidonic acid release by LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Their cytotoxic activities against KYSE 150 and 510 human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and HT 29 human colon cancer cells were also evaluated.     

Molecular mechanism for activation of superoxide-producing NADPH oxidases

The membrane-integrated protein gp91phox, existing as a heterodimer with p22phox, functions as the catalytic core of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase, which plays a crucial role in host defence. The oxidase, dormant in resting cells, becomes activated to produce superoxide, a precursor of microbicidal oxidants, by interacting with the adaptor proteins p47phox and p67phox as well as the small GTPase Rac. In the past few years, several proteins homologous to gp91phox were discovered as superoxide-producing NAD(P)H oxidases (Nox's) in non-phagocytic cells; however, regulatory mechanisms for the novel oxidases have been largely unknown. Current identification of proteins highly related to p47phox and p67phox, designated Noxol (Nox organizer 1) and Noxal (Nox activator 1), respectively, has shed lights on common and distinct mechanisms underlying activations of Nox family oxidases.     

Low pH potentiates both capsaicin binding and channel gating of VR1 receptors

Capsaicin ion channels are highly expressed in peripheral nervous terminals and involved in pain and thermal sensations. One characteristic of the cloned VR1 receptor is its multimodal responses to various types of noxious stimuli. The channel is independently activated by capsaicin and related vanilloids at submicromolar range, by heat above 40 degrees C, and by protons at pH below 6.5. Furthermore, simultaneous applications of two or more stimuli lead to cross sensitization of the receptor, with an apparent increase in the sensitivity to any individual stimulus when applied alone. We studied here the mechanism underlying such cross-sensitization; in particular, between capsaicin and pH, two prototypical stimuli for the channel. By analyzing single-channel currents recorded from excised-patches expressing single recombinant VR1 receptors, we examined the effect of pH on burst properties of capsaicin activation at low concentrations and the effect on gating kinetics at high concentrations. Our results indicate that pH has dual effects on both capsaicin binding and channel gating. Lowering pH enhances the apparent binding affinity of capsaicin, promotes the occurrences of long openings and short closures, and stabilizes at least one of the open conformations of the channel. Our data also demonstrate that capsaicin binding and protonation of the receptor interact allosterically, where the effect of one can be offset by the effect of the other. These results provide important basis to further understand the nature of the activation pathways of the channel evoked by different stimuli as well as the general mechanism underling the cross-sensitization of pain.     

Molecular chaperone GRP78/BiP interacts with the large surface protein of hepatitis B virus in vitro and in vivo

The proper folding and assembly of viral envelope proteins are mediated by host chaperones. In this study, we demonstrated that an endoplasmic reticulum luminal chaperone GRP78/BiP bound specifically to the pre-S1 domain of the L protein in vitro and in vivo where complete viral particles were secreted, suggesting that GRP78/BiP plays an essential role in the proper folding of the L protein and/or assembly of viral envelope proteins.     

Senescent phenotype can be reversed by reduction of caveolin status

Hyporesponsiveness to growth factors is one of the fundamental characteristics of senescent cells. We previously reported that the up-regulation of caveolin attenuates the growth factor response and the subsequent downstream signal cascades in senescent human diploid fibroblasts. Therefore, in the present experiment, we investigated the modulation of caveolin status in senescent cells to determine the effect of caveolin on mitogenic signaling efficiency and cell cycling. We reduced the level of caveolin-1 in senescent human diploid fibroblasts using its antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering RNA, and this resulted in the restoration of normal growth factor responses such as the increased phosphorylation of Erk, the nuclear translocation of p-Erk, and the subsequent activation of p-Elk upon epidermal growth factor stimulation. Moreover, DNA synthesis and the re-entry of senescent cells into cell cycle were resumed upon epidermal growth factor stimulation concomitantly with decreases in p53 and p21. Taken together, we conclude that the loss of mitogenic signaling in senescent cells is strongly related to their elevated levels of caveolin-1 and that the functional recovery of senescent cells at least in the terms of growth factor responsiveness and cell cycle entry might be achieved simply by lowering the caveolin level.     

Amomum xanthoides extract prevents cytokine-induced cell death of RINm5F cells through the inhibition of nitric oxide formation

We previously showed that Amomum xanthoides extract prevented alloxan-induced diabetes through the suppression of NF-kappaB activation. In this study, the preventive effects of A. xanthoides extract on cytokine-induced beta-cell destruction were examined. Cytokines produced by immune cells infiltrating pancreatic islets are important mediators of beta-cell destruction in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. A. xanthoides extract completely protected interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-mediated cytotoxicity in rat insulinoma cell line (RINm5F). Incubation with A. xanthoides extract resulted in a significant reduction in IL-1beta and IFN-gamma-induced nitric oxide (NO) production, a finding that correlated well with reduced levels of the inducible form of NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein. The molecular mechanism by which A. xanthoides extract inhibited iNOS gene expression appeared to involve the inhibition of NF-kappaB activation. Our results revealed the possible therapeutic value of A. xanthoides extract for the prevention of diabetes mellitus progression.