A variant of KCC2 from patients with febrile seizures impairs neuronal Cl− extrusion and dendritic spine formation

Genetic variation in SLC12A5 which encodes KCC2, the neuron-specific cation-chloride cotransporter that is essential for hyperpolarizing GABAergic signaling and formation of cortical dendritic spines, has not been reported in human disease. Screening of SLC12A5 revealed a co-segregating variant (KCC2-R952H) in an Australian family with febrile seizures. We show that KCC2-R952H reduces neuronal Cl⁻ extrusion and has a compromised ability to induce dendritic spines in vivo and in vitro. Biochemical analyses indicate a reduced surface expression of KCC2-R952H which likely contributes to the functional deficits. Our data suggest that KCC2-R952H is a bona fide susceptibility variant for febrile seizures.     

Docosahexaenoic and Eicosapentaenoic Acids Segregate Differently between Raft and Nonraft Domains

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), enriched in fish oils, are increasingly recognized to have potential benefits for treating many human afflictions. Despite the importance of PUFA, their molecular mechanism of action remains unclear. One emerging hypothesis is that phospholipids containing n-3 PUFA acyl chains modify the structure and composition of membrane rafts, thus affecting cell signaling. In this study the two major n-3 PUFA found in fish oils, eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids, are compared. Using solid-state (2)H NMR spectroscopy we explored the molecular organization of 1-[(2)H(31)]palmitoyl-2-eicosapentaenoylphosphatidylcholine (PEPC-d(31)) and 1-[(2)H(31)]palmitoyl-2-docosahexaenoylphosphatidylcholine (PDPC-d(31)) in mixtures with sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol (chol). Our results indicate that whereas both PEPC-d(31) and PDPC-d(31) can accumulate into SM-rich/chol-rich raftlike domains, the tendency for DHA to incorporate into rafts is more than twice as great as for EPA. We propose that DHA may be the more bioactive component of fish oil that serves to disrupt lipid raft domain organization. This mechanism represents an evolution in the view of how PUFA remodel membrane architecture.     

Clubbed [1,2,3] triazoles by fluorine benzimidazole: a novel approach to H37Rv inhibitors as a potential treatment for tuberculosis

A Novel Clubbed [1,2,3] triazoles with fluorine benzimidazole series of H37Rv strain inhibitors, potentially useful for the treatment of tuberculosis is disclosed on the basis of promising results of preliminary antimicrobial study. Evaluation of the SAR of substitution within these series has followed the identification of a range of compounds. Some of the derivatives are under further evaluation showing better considerable activity compared to rifampin.     

Genomic regions associated with microdeletion/microduplication syndromes exhibit extreme diversity of structural variation

Segmental duplications (SDs) are a class of long, repetitive DNA elements whose paralogs share a high level of sequence similarity with each other. SDs mediate chromosomal rearrangements that lead to structural variation in the general population as well as genomic disorders associated with multiple congenital anomalies, including the 7q11.23 (Williams–Beuren Syndrome, WBS), 15q13.3, and 16p12.2 microdeletion syndromes. Population-level characterization of SDs has generally been lacking because most techniques used for analyzing these complex regions are both labor and cost intensive. In this study, we have used a high-throughput technique to genotype complex structural variation with a single molecule, long-range optical mapping approach. We characterized SDs and identified novel structural variants (SVs) at 7q11.23, 15q13.3, and 16p12.2 using optical mapping data from 154 phenotypically normal individuals from 26 populations comprising five super-populations. We detected several novel SVs for each locus, some of which had significantly different prevalence between populations. Additionally, we localized the microdeletion breakpoints to specific paralogous duplicons located within complex SDs in two patients with WBS, one patient with 15q13.3, and one patient with 16p12.2 microdeletion syndromes. The population-level data presented here highlights the extreme diversity of large and complex SVs within SD-containing regions. The approach we outline will greatly facilitate the investigation of the role of inter-SD structural variation as a driver of chromosomal rearrangements and genomic disorders.     

Trans complementation of variant Cre proteins for defects in cleavage and synapsis

The Cre recombinase is a member of the integrase family of conservative site-specific recombinases. These proteins share five conserved catalytic residues, one of which is a tyrosine that acts as the nucleophile to attack the scissile phosphodiester bond in the DNA target. Recombination by the Cre recombinase takes place in a supramolecular structure called a synapse that consists of four molecules of Cre bound to two DNA target sequences called lox sites. The synapse is held together by an intricate network of protein-protein interactions. They bend the two sites into square planar structure that resembles a Holliday intermediate. We have studied three mutant Cre proteins that appear to have defects in synapsis (Cre A36V, Cre T41F, and Cre G314R). We found that they were unable to carry out strand cleavage but that cleavage occurred if they were mixed with a cleavage-defective Cre protein that lacks the catalytic nucleophilic tyrosine residue. The three variant proteins could also be complemented for the formation of a novel structure ("complexV"), which may be a cleaved synaptic intermediate. We suggest that these three mutant proteins have a defect in DNA bending and discuss the relationship between bending, synapsis, and cleavage.     

Consistent simulation of X- and Q-band EPR spectra of an unsymmetric dinuclear Mn2(II,III) complex

Simulation of X- and Q-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of an unsymmetric dinuclear [Mn(2)(II,III)L(mu-OAc)(2)]ClO(4) complex (1), (L is the dianion of 2-{[N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino]methyl}-6-{[N-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)amino]methyl}-4-methylphenol) was performed using one consistent set of simulation parameters. Rhombic g-tensors and hyperfine tensors were necessary to obtain satisfactory simulation of the EPR spectra. The anisotropy of the effective hyperfine tensors of each individual (55)Mn ion was further analyzed in terms of intrinsic hyperfine tensors. Detailed analysis shows that the hyperfine anisotropy of the Mn(III) ion is a result of the Jahn-Teller effect and thus an inherent character. In contrast, the anomalous hyperfine anisotropy of the Mn(II) ion is attributed as being transferred from the Mn(III) ion through the spin exchange interaction. The anisotropy parameter for the Mn(II) is deduced as D(II)=-1.26+/-0.2cm(-1). This is the first reported D(II) value for a Mn(II) ion in a weakly exchange coupled mixed-valence Mn(2)(II,III) complex with a bis-mu-acetato-bridge. The [see text] electronic configuration of the Mn(III) ion in 1 is revealed by the negative sign of its intrinsic hyperfine tensor anisotropy, Deltaa(III)=a(z)-a(x,y)=-46cm(-1). Lower spectral resolution of the Q-band EPR spectrum as compared to the X-band EPR spectrum is associated to large line width broadening of the x- and y-components in contrast to the z-component. The origins of the unequal distribution of line width between the z- and x-, y-components are discussed.     

7-deaza-2'-deoxyxanthosine: nucleobase protection and base pairing of oligonucleotides

Oligonucleotides containing 7-deaza-2'-deoxyxanthosine (1) and 2'-deoxyxanthosine (2) were prepared. The 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl group is applicable for 7-deazaxanthine protection that is removed with DBU by beta-elimination, while the deprotection of the allyl residue with Pd (0) catalyst failed. Contrarily, the allyl group was found to be an excellent protecting group for 2'-deoxyxanthosine (2). The base pairing of nucleosides 1 and 2 with the four canonical DNA constituents as well as with 3 within the 12-mer duplexes is studied.     

Effect of Pre‐ and Post–Combined Multidoses of Epigallocatechin Gallate and Coenzyme Q10 on Cisplatin‐Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Kidney

The nephroprotective effect of coenzyme Q10 and epigallocatechin gallate was investigated in rats with acute renal injury induced by a single nephrotoxic dose of cisplatin. Two days prior to cisplatin administration, epigallocatechin gallate and coenzyme Q10 alone and in four different combinations were given for 6 days. The treatment with antioxidants significantly protected the cisplatin‐induced increase in the levels of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine. Both the antioxidants alone or in different combinations significantly compensated the increased malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione levels. Moreover, the decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase and the concentration of selenium, zinc, and copper ions were significantly attenuated in renal tissue. In conclusion, epigallocatechin gallate and coenzyme Q10 are equally effective against cisplatin‐induced nephrotoxicity, whereas the intervention by combining these two antioxidants was found to be highly effective at low doses in attenuating oxidative stress in rat kidney.