Proteomic analysis of the Arabidopsis nucleolus suggests novel nucleolar functions

The eukaryotic nucleolus is involved in ribosome biogenesis and a wide range of other RNA metabolism and cellular functions. An important step in the functional analysis of the nucleolus is to determine the complement of proteins of this nuclear compartment. Here, we describe the first proteomic analysis of plant (Arabidopsis thaliana) nucleoli, in which we have identified 217 proteins. This allows a direct comparison of the proteomes of an important nuclear structure between two widely divergent species: human and Arabidopsis. The comparison identified many common proteins, plant-specific proteins, proteins of unknown function found in both proteomes, and proteins that were nucleolar in plants but nonnucleolar in human. Seventy-two proteins were expressed as GFP fusions and 87% showed nucleolar or nucleolar-associated localization. In a striking and unexpected finding, we have identified six components of the postsplicing exon-junction complex (EJC) involved in mRNA export and nonsense-mediated decay (NMD)/mRNA surveillance. This association was confirmed by GFP-fusion protein localization. These results raise the possibility that in plants, nucleoli may have additional functions in mRNA export or surveillance.     

Endomorphin-2, deltorphin II and their analogs suppress formalin-induced nociception and c-Fos expression in the rat spinal cord

In this study, we evaluated the effects of intrathecally administered agonists of mu- and delta-opioid receptor and their analogs on the pain-induced behavior and expression of c-Fos immunoreactivity in the spinal cord, elicited by intraplantar injection of 12% formalin to the hindpaw of the rat. Previous report from our laboratory and other author's study indicated that intrathecal administration of mu agonists morphine and endomorphin-2 and delta-opioid agonist deltorphin II produced a dose-dependent antinociceptive effects in acute and inflammatory pain. In this study, intrathecal injection of morphine (10 microg), endomorphin-2 (5 microg) and its analog Dmt-endomorphin-2 (10 microg) significantly decreased the formalin-induced pain behavior, and lowered a number of c-Fos positive neurons in the laminae I, II and III of the spinal cord by about 40%, 30% and 40%, respectively. Significant reduction of formalin-induced behavioral responses was also observed after i.th. administration of deltorphin II (15 microg) and its analog ile-deltorphin II (15 microg). Agonists of delta-opioid receptor significantly reduced a number of c-Fos positive neurons by about 28% and 40%, respectively. Analog of endomorphin-2 and analog of deltorphin II suppressed more potently expression of c-Fos in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord than the parent peptides. Our study indicates that new analogs of mu- and delta-opioid receptor exhibit strong antinociceptive potency similar or even higher than the parent peptides, and that their effect is positively correlated with the inhibition of c-Fos expression.     

Remodeling of chloroplast proteome under salinity affects salt tolerance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Festuca arundinacea</Emphasis>

Acclimation of photosynthetic apparatus to variable environmental conditions is an important component of tolerance to dehydration stresses, including salinity. The present study deals with the research on alterations in chloroplast proteome of the forage grasses. Based on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, two genotypes of a model grass species—Festuca arundinacea with distinct levels of salinity tolerance: low salt tolerant (LST) and high salt tolerant (HST), were selected. Next, two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were applied under both control and salt stress conditions to identify proteins accumulated differentially between these two genotypes. The physiological analysis revealed that under NaCl treatment the studied plants differed in photosystem II activity, water content, and ion accumulation. The differentially accumulated proteins included ATPase B, ATP synthase, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase large and small subunits, cytochrome b6-f complex iron-sulfur subunit, oxygen-evolving enhancer proteins (OEE), OEE1 and OEE2, plastidic fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (pFBA), and lipocalin. A higher level of lipocalin, potentially involved in prevention of lipid peroxidation under stress, was also observed in the HST genotype. Our physiological and proteomic results performed for the first time on the species of forage grasses clearly showed that chloroplast metabolism adjustment could be a crucial factor in developing salinity tolerance.     

The influence of BoLA-DRB3 alleles on incidence of clinical mastitis,cystic ovary disease and milk traits in Holstein Friesian cattle

Molecular Biology Reports - The major histocompatibility complex in cattle (BoLA) is regulated by genes that are closely related to the development of the immunological response to pathogens. The...     

Isoquinoline Alkaloids from Fumaria officinalis L. and Their Biological Activities Related to Alzheimer's Disease

Two new isoquinoline alkaloids, named fumaranine ( 2 ) and fumarostrejdine ( 10 ), along with 18 known alkaloids were isolated from aerial parts of Fumaria officinalis. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and by comparison with literature data. The absolute configuration of the new compound 2 was determined by comparing its circular dichroism spectra with those of known analogs. Compounds isolated in sufficient amounts were evaluated for their acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, prolyl oligopeptidase (POP), and glycogen synthase kinase‐3β inhibitory activities. Parfumidine ( 8 ) and sinactine ( 15 ) exhibited potent POP inhibition activities (IC₅₀ 99±5 and 53±2 μM , resp.).     

A novel function of VCP (valosin-containing protein; p97) in the control of N-glycosylation of proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum

alpha-Chain of T-cell receptor (TCR) is a typical ERAD (ER-associated degradation) substrate degraded in the absence of other TCR subunits. Depletion of derlin 1 fails to induce accumulation of alphaTCR despite inducing accumulation of alpha1-antitrypsin, another ERAD substrate. Furthermore, while depletion of VCP does not affect levels of alpha1-antitrypsin, it induces an increase in levels of alphaTCR. RNAi of VCP induces preferential accumulation of alphaTCR with less mannose residues, suggesting its retention within the ER. Mass spectrometric analysis of cellular N-linked glycans revealed that depletion of VCP decreases the level of high-mannose glycoproteins, increases the levels of truncated low-mannose glycoproteins and induces changes in the abundance of complex glycans assembled in post-ER compartments. Since proteasome inhibition was unable to mimic those changes, they cannot be regarded as a simple consequence of inhibited ERAD but represent a complex effect of VCP on the function of the ER.     

Associations of Serum Cytokine Receptor Levels with Melancholia,Staging of Illness,Depressive and Manic Phases,and Severity of Depression in Bipolar Disorder

To examine cytokine receptor biomarkers in bipolar disorder (BD), we recruited 133 well-phenotyped BD patients and 50 normal controls and measured serum levels of soluble interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (sIL-1RA), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), sIL-6R, and tumor necrosis factor receptor 60 and 80 kDa (sTNFR60/80). sIL-1RA and sTNFR80 are significantly higher in BD than in controls and sTNFR80 and higher in melancholic than in non-melancholic patients and controls. Kapczinski’s stages 3 + 4 are characterized by lowered sIL-2R and increased sTNFR80 levels. Acute phase depression is characterized by increased sTNFR80 levels as compared with controls, manic, and euthymic patients. Both sTNFR60 and sTNFR80 levels are significantly and positively related with severity of depression but not mania. Logistic regression analysis showed that the significant predictors for BD are increased sIL-1RA levels, nicotine dependence and a family history of depression and alcoholism. The risk factors for stages 3 + 4 are lowered sIL-2R levels and nicotine dependence. Melancholia is predicted by higher sTNFR80 levels and female sex. Severity of depression is predicted by female sex, nicotine dependence, and increased sTNFR60 and sTNFR80 levels. Cell-mediated immunity is activated during a current episode of depression but not (hypo)mania or the euthymic state. There are no associations between the biomarkers and age at onset, duration of illness, severity of mania, bipolar (BP)2 or BP1 subtypes, rapid cycling, atypical depression, psychotic or suicidal symptoms, and a family history of psychiatric disease. The results show that increased sIL-1RA may be a trait marker of BD, increased sTNFR80 a state marker of the depressive phase, especially melancholia, while lower sIL-2R but higher sTNFR80 may be staging biomarkers.