Molecular and immunohistochemical analyses of cardiac troponin T during cardiac development in the Mexican axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum

The Mexican axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, is an excellent animal model for studying heart development because it carries a naturally occurring recessive genetic mutation, designated gene c, for cardiac nonfunction. The double recessive mutants (c/c) fail to form organized myofibrils in the cardiac myoblasts resulting in hearts that fail to beat. Tropomyosin expression patterns have been studied in detail and show dramatically decreased expression in the hearts of homozygous mutant embryos. Because of the direct interaction between tropomyosin and troponin T (TnT), and the crucial functions of TnT in the regulation of striated muscle contraction, we have expanded our studies on this animal model to characterize the expression of the TnT gene in cardiac muscle throughout normal axolotl development as well as in mutant axolotls. In addition, we have succeeded in cloning the full-length cardiac troponin T (cTnT) cDNA from axolotl hearts. Confocal microscopy has shown a substantial, but reduced, expression of TnT protein in the mutant hearts when compared to normal during embryonic development.     

Phylogenetic analysis supports horizontal transfer of P transposable elements

Nucleotide sequence comparisons were used to investigate the evolution of P transposable elements and the possibility that horizontal transfer has played a role in their occurrence in natural populations of Drosophila and other Diptera. The phylogeny of P elements was examined using published sequences from eight dipteran taxa and a new, partial sequence from Scaptomyza elmoi. The results from a number of different analyses are highly consistent and reveal a P-element phylogeny that contradicts the phylogeny of the species. At least three instances of horizontal transfer are necessary to explain this incongruence, but other explanations cannot be ruled out at this time.      

Single crystals and oriented crystallization of ivory nut mannan

The preparation of lamellar single crystals of mannan[poly((1 → 4)-β-D-mannose)] is described. Electron diffractograms clearly identify the perpendicular orientation of the chain axis with respect to the lamellar surface. Since the degree of polymerization is 40 or less, no conclusion is made as to chain folding. The unit cell corresponds to the mannan I structure derived from x-ray fiber data on oriented algal mannan. The baseplane dimensions found were a = 7.22 Å and b = 8.92 Å, and the systematic absences observed confirm the proposed P2₁2₁2₁ group. It was found that cellulose microfibrils from Valonia ventricosa and bacterial cellulose could serve as extended chain nuclei for inducing oriented crystallization of mannan on cellulose. This produces a shish-kebab type of morphology.     

Effects of melatonin on acetylsalicylic acid induced gastroduodenal and jejunal mucosal injury

We evaluated the effects of melatonin on acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) induced gastroduodenal and jejunal mucosal injury. We used 40 postpubertal rats divided randomly into five groups of eight animals. The control group consisted of untreated animals. The Mel group was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 5 mg/kg melatonin. The ASA group was injected i.p. with 200 mg/kg ASA. The ASA + Mel group was injected i.p. with 5 mg/kg melatonin 45 min after administering 200 mg/kg ASA i.p. The Mel + ASA group was injected i.p. with 5 mg/kg melatonin 45 min before administering 200 mg/kg ASA i.p. We found no statistically significant differences in mean histopathological scores in the ASA + Mel group compared to the ASA group. ASA caused shortened villi and loss of the apical villus in the duodenum. The histopathological score was increased and villus height was decreased in the ASA group compared to untreated controls. Treatment with melatonin attenuated the histological damage. In the ASA group, occasional areas showed erosion of villi in the jejunum; however, differences in mean histopathological score in ASA group compared to the other groups were not statistically significant. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were measured in stomach, duodenal and jejunum tissue. We found increased MDA activity in both stomach and duodenal tissues in the ASA group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). We found no statistically significant changes in MDA levels in jejunal tissue in the ASA group compared to the control group. We found no change in SOD activity in either stomach or duodenal tissues in the ASA group compared to the control group. We observed decreased SOD activity in jejunal tissue in the ASA group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). We detected no change in GSH activity in stomach, duodenal or jejunal tissues in the ASA group compared to the control group. The stomach damage was less in melatonin treated groups, but the lesions were not completely eliminated. The jejunum in the ASA group retained a nearly normal appearance. We found that melatonin exhibited some healing effects on ASA induced duodenal mucosal injury.     

A 31P-NMR study of some metabolic and functional effects of the inotropic agents epinephrine and ouabain,and the ionophore R02-2985 (X537A) in the isolated,perfused rat heart

1. Some metabolic effects of increased mechanical activity by the Langendorff-perfused rat heart have been characterized using ³¹P-NMR. Mechanical activity was increased by infusion of ouabain (0.9?7.0·10^?5 M), the ionophore R02-2985 (1·10^?5 M) or epinephrine (5·10^?8 M). 2. Similar metabolic changes accompanied infusion of each of the positive inotropic agents into hearts perfused with buffer containing 11 mM glucose as the substrate. In each case phosphocreatine concentrations decreased. During the period of epinephrine infusion the phosphocreatine began to recover its original concentration, although there were no significant changes in mechanical activity. 3. Comparisons of the metabolic changes accompanying the positive inotropic and chronotropic effects of epinephrine were made between hearts perfused with either glucose (11 mM), acetate (5 mM) or lactate (5 mM). A time-dependent decrease in phosphocreatine concentrations also accompanied infusion of epinephrine into hearts perfused with lactate as the sole exogenous substrate, but no statistically significant metabolite changes were observed after identical epinephrine infusions with acetate as the substrate. 4. Calculation of the concentration of free ADP assuming equilibrium in the creatine phosphokinase reaction allows estimation of the cytosolic phosphate potential ($\text{[}\text{ATP}\text{]}\text{[ADP][P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}\text{]}$), which appears to be dependent on a number of factors, including the nature of the exogenous substrate and the level of mechanical activity. 5. Thus, we conclude that there is no general correlation between the phosphate potential and the mitochondrial respiratory rate in the perfused rat heart.     

Decomposition and nutrient release patterns of mistletoe litters in a semi‐arid savanna,southwest Zimbabwe

Nutrient loss from litter plays an essential role in carbon and nutrient cycling in nutrient‐constrained environments. However, the decomposition and nutrient dynamics of nutrient‐rich mistletoe litter remains unknown in semi‐arid savanna where productivity is nutrient limited. We studied the decomposition and nutrient dynamics (nitrogen: N, phosphorous; P, carbon: C) of litter of three mistletoe species, Erianthemum ngamicum, Plicosepalus kalachariensis, and Viscum verrucosum and N‐fixing Acacia karroo using the litter‐bag method in a semi‐arid savanna, southwest Zimbabwe. The temporal dynamics of the soil moisture content, microbial populations, and termite activity during decomposition were also assessed. Decay rates were slower for A. karroo litter (k = 0.63), but faster for the high quality mistletoe litters (mean k‐value = 0.79), which supports the premise that mistletoes can substantially influence nutrient availability to other plants. Nitrogen loss was between 1.3 and 3 times greater in E. ngamicum litter than in the other species. The litter of the mistletoes also lost C and P faster than A. karroo litter. However, soil moisture content and bacterial and fungal colony numbers changed in an opposite direction to changes in the decomposition rate. Additionally, there was little evidence of termite activity during the decay of all the species litters. This suggests that other factors such as photodegradation could be important in litter decomposition in semi‐arid savanna. In conclusion, the higher rate of decay and nutrient release of mistletoe than A. karroo litter indicate that mistletoes play an important role in carbon and nutrient fluxes in semi‐arid savanna.     

Chemical properties and NMR spectroscopic identification of certain fungal siderophores

Siderophores of six fungi viz. Aspergillus sp. ABp4, Aureobacidium pullulans, Penicillium oxalicum, P. chrysosporium, Mycotypha africana and Syncephalastrum racemosum were examined for their (1) electrophoretic mobilities to determine the acidic, basic or neutral charge; (2) Fe (III) binding nature viz., mono-, di-, or trihydroxamate; (3) amino acid composition; and (4) NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy to determine their structure. Electrophoretic mobilities of siderophores of 3 fungi (P. oxalicum, P. chrysosporium, and M, africana) exhibited net basic charge, siderophores of 2 fungi (Aspergillus sp. ABp4 and S. racemosum) were acidic and 1 fungus (A. pullullans) was neutral. Electrophoresis of ferrated siderophore at pH 2 and colour of the spots indicated that siderophores of Aspergillus sp. ABp4 and P. oxalicum and A. pullulans were trihydroxamates, whereas siderophore of P. chrysosporium was dihydroxamate. Amino acid composition of siderophores purified by XAD-2 column chromatography, revealed the presence of asparagine, histidine, and proline in Aspergillus sp. ABp4, serine and alanine in P. chrysosporium, and valine in M. africana. The structure of purified siderophores as revealed by NMR spectroscopy identified siderophore of AB - 2670 (A. pullulans) as asperchrome F1, and AB-513 (M. africana) as rhizoferrin. The peak obtained for siderophore AB-5 (Aspergillus sp. ABp4) did not show resemblance to any known siderophore, therefore may be an exception.     

Study of 2,3-butanediol formation by serratiamarcescens

Summary Serratia marcescens can be used for the fermentation of sugar for the formation of 2,3-butanediol. Presence of 1% calcium carbonate increases the formation of the diol and 0.292% of phosphate gives the maximum percentage yield of the diol. The optimumph for the formation of the diol has been found to be 7.     

Pore-Forming Toxins Induce Macrophage Necroptosis during Acute Bacterial Pneumonia

Necroptosis is a highly pro-inflammatory mode of cell death regulated by RIP (or RIPK)1 and RIP3 kinases and mediated by the effector MLKL. We report that diverse bacterial pathogens that produce a pore-forming toxin (PFT) induce necroptosis of macrophages and this can be blocked for protection against Serratia marcescens hemorrhagic pneumonia. Following challenge with S. marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), and purified recombinant pneumolysin, macrophages pretreated with inhibitors of RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL were protected against death. Alveolar macrophages in MLKL KO mice were also protected during S. marcescens pneumonia. Inhibition of caspases had no impact on macrophage death and caspase-1 and -3/7 were determined to be inactive following challenge despite the detection of IL-1β in supernatants. Bone marrow-derived macrophages from RIP3 KO, but not caspase-1/11 KO or caspase-3 KO mice, were resistant to PFT-induced death. We explored the mechanisms for PFT-induced necroptosis and determined that loss of ion homeostasis at the plasma membrane, mitochondrial damage, ATP depletion, and the generation of reactive oxygen species were together responsible. Treatment of mice with necrostatin-5, an inhibitor of RIP1; GW806742X, an inhibitor of MLKL; and necrostatin-5 along with co-enzyme Q₁₀ (N5/C₁₀)_, which enhances ATP production; reduced the severity of S. marcescens pneumonia in a mouse intratracheal challenge model. N5/C₁₀ protected alveolar macrophages, reduced bacterial burden, and lessened hemorrhage in the lungs. We conclude that necroptosis is the major cell death pathway evoked by PFTs in macrophages and the necroptosis pathway can be targeted for disease intervention.