The C-terminal sequence from common bugle leaf galactan:galactan galactosyltransferase is a non-sequence-specific vacuolar sorting determinant

The Ajuga reptans L. galactan:galactan galactosyltransferase (ArGGT) is a vacuolar enzyme that synthesizes long-chain raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs), the major storage carbohydrates of this plant. ArGGT is structurally and functionally related to acid plant alpha-galactosidases (alpha-Gals) of the glycosylhydrolase family 27, present in the apoplast or the vacuole. Sequence comparison of acid alpha-Gals with ArGGT revealed that they all contain an N-terminal signal sequence and a highly similar core sequence. Additionally, ArGGT and some acid alpha-Gals contain C-terminal extensions with low sequence similarities to each other. Here, we show that the C-terminal pentapeptide, SLQMS, is a non-sequence-specific vacuolar sorting determinant. Analogously, we demonstrate that the C-terminal extensions of selected acid alpha-Gals from Arabidopsis, barley, and rice, are also non-sequence-specific vacuolar sorting determinants, suggesting the presence of at least one vacuolar form of acid alpha-Gal in every plant species.     

Successful bone marrow transplantation in a patient with DNA ligase IV deficiency and bone marrow failure

Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is the term used to describe a constellation of features indicative of abnormal heart structure and function in patients with cirrhosis. These include systolic and diastolic dysfunction, electrophysiological changes, and macroscopic and microscopic structural changes. The prevalence of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy remains unknown at present, mostly because the disease is generally latent and shows itself when the patient is subjected to stress such as exercise, drugs, hemorrhage and surgery. The main clinical features of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy include baseline increased cardiac output, attenuated systolic contraction or diastolic relaxation in response to physiologic, pharmacologic and surgical stress, and electrical conductance abnormalities (prolonged QT interval). In the majority of cases, diastolic dysfunction precedes systolic dysfunction, which tends to manifest only under conditions of stress. Generally, cirrhotic cardiomyopathy with overt severe heart failure is rare. Major stresses on the cardiovascular system such as liver transplantation, infections and insertion of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunts (TIPS) can unmask the presence of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy and thereby convert latent to overt heart failure. Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy may also contribute to the pathogenesis of hepatorenal syndrome. Pathogenic mechanisms of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy are multiple and include abnormal membrane biophysical characteristics, impaired β-adrenergic receptor signal transduction and increased activity of negative-inotropic pathways mediated by cGMP. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis require a careful assessment of patient history probing for excessive alcohol, physical examination for signs of hypertension such as retinal vascular changes, and appropriate diagnostic tests such as exercise stress electrocardiography, nuclear heart scans and coronary angiography. Current management recommendations include empirical, nonspecific and mainly supportive measures. The exact prognosis remains unclear. The extent of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy generally correlates to the degree of liver insufficiency. Reversibility is possible (either pharmacological or after liver transplantation), but further studies are needed.     

No intra-locus sexual conflict over reproductive fitness or ageing in field crickets

Differences in the ways in which males and females maximize evolutionary fitness can lead to intra-locus sexual conflict in which genes delivering fitness benefits to one sex are costly when expressed in the other. Trade-offs between current reproductive effort and future reproduction and survival are fundamental to the evolutionary biology of ageing. This leads to the prediction that sex differences in the optimization of age-dependent reproductive effort may generate intra-locus sexual conflict over ageing rates. Here we test for intra-locus sexual conflict over age-dependent reproductive effort and longevity in the black field cricket, Teleogryllus commodus. Using a half-sib breeding design, we show that the most important components of male and female reproductive effort (male calling effort and the number of eggs laid by females) were positively genetically correlated, especially in early adulthood. However, the genetic relationships between longevity and reproductive effort were different for males and females, leading to low genetic covariation between male and female longevity. The apparent absence of intra-locus sexual conflict over ageing suggests that male and female longevity can evolve largely independently of one another.     

Characterization of reemerging chikungunya virus

An unprecedented epidemic of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection recently started in countries of the Indian Ocean area, causing an acute and painful syndrome with strong fever, asthenia, skin rash, polyarthritis, and lethal cases of encephalitis. The basis for chikungunya disease and the tropism of CHIKV remain unknown. Here, we describe the replication characteristics of recent clinical CHIKV strains. Human epithelial and endothelial cells, primary fibroblasts and, to a lesser extent, monocyte-derived macrophages, were susceptible to infection and allowed viral production. In contrast, CHIKV did not replicate in lymphoid and monocytoid cell lines, primary lymphocytes and monocytes, or monocyte-derived dendritic cells. CHIKV replication was cytopathic and associated with an induction of apoptosis in infected cells. Chloroquine, bafilomycin-A1, and short hairpin RNAs against dynamin-2 inhibited viral production, indicating that viral entry occurs through pH-dependent endocytosis. CHIKV was highly sensitive to the antiviral activity of type I and II interferons. These results provide a general insight into the interaction between CHIKV and its mammalian host.     

Functional modulation of cardiac form through regionally confined cell shape changes

Developing organs acquire a specific three-dimensional form that ensures their normal function. Cardiac function, for example, depends upon properly shaped chambers that emerge from a primitive heart tube. The cellular mechanisms that control chamber shape are not yet understood. Here, we demonstrate that chamber morphology develops via changes in cell morphology, and we determine key regulatory influences on this process. Focusing on the development of the ventricular chamber in zebrafish, we show that cardiomyocyte cell shape changes underlie the formation of characteristic chamber curvatures. In particular, cardiomyocyte elongation occurs within a confined area that forms the ventricular outer curvature. Because cardiac contractility and blood flow begin before chambers emerge, cardiac function has the potential to influence chamber curvature formation. Employing zebrafish mutants with functional deficiencies, we find that blood flow and contractility independently regulate cell shape changes in the emerging ventricle. Reduction of circulation limits the extent of cardiomyocyte elongation; in contrast, disruption of sarcomere formation releases limitations on cardiomyocyte dimensions. Thus, the acquisition of normal cardiomyocyte morphology requires a balance between extrinsic and intrinsic physical forces. Together, these data establish regionally confined cell shape change as a cellular mechanism for chamber emergence and as a link in the relationship between form and function during organ morphogenesis.     

Global secretome analysis of resident cardiac progenitor cells from wild-type and transgenic heart failure mice: Why ambience matters

Resident cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) have gained attention in cardiac regenerative medicine primarily due to their paracrine activity. In our current study we determined the role of pathological conditions such as heart failure on the autocrine-paracrine action of stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1) expressing CPC. This comparative secretome profiling of Sca-1⁺ cells derived from transgenic heart failure (αMHC–cyclin-T1/Gαq overexpression [Cyc] cells) versus healthy (wild-type [Wt] cells) mice, achieved via mass-spectrometric quantification, enabled the identification of over 700 proteins. Our results demonstrate that the heart failure milieu caused a 2-fold enrichment of extracellular matrix proteins (ECM) like biglycan, versican, collagen XII, and angiogenic factors like heparan sulfate proteoglycan 2, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 in the secretome. We further elucidated the direct influence of the secretome on the functional behavior of Sca-1 ⁺ cells via in vitro tube forming assay. Secreted factors present in the diseased milieu induced tube formation in Cyc cells (1.7-fold; p < 0.01) when compared with Wt cells after 24 hr of exposure. The presence of conditioned media moderately increased the proliferation of Cyc cells but had a more pronounced effect on Wt cells. Overall, these findings revealed global modifications in the secretory activity of adult Sca-1 ⁺ cells in the heart failure milieu. The secretion of ECM proteins and angiogenic factors, which are crucial for cardiac remodeling and recovery, was notably enriched in the supernatant of Cyc cells. Thus, during heart failure the microenvironment of Sca-1 ⁺ cells might favor angiogenesis and proliferation suggesting their potential to recover the damaged heart.     

Hydrogen-induced tolerance against osmotic stress in alfalfa seedlings involves ABA signaling

Plant and Soil - Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal in soils and its accumulation in plants poses severe problems to agricultural production and human health. Most of research has focused on the Cd...     

Common and specific responses to iron and phosphorus deficiencies in roots of apple tree (Malus × domestica)

Plant Molecular Biology - Iron and phosphorus are abundant elements in soils but poorly available for plant nutrition. The availability of these two nutrients represents a major constraint for...     

Strategies for the in vitro production of antiaddictive ibogan type alkaloids from Apocynaceae species

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) of the ibogan type, such as ibogaine, have shown promising antiaddictive effects against several drugs of abuse...     

Design and synthesis of a stereodynamic catalyst with reversal of selectivity by enantioselective self‐inhibition

Chirality plays a pivotal role in an uncountable number of biological processes, and nature has developed intriguing mechanisms to maintain this state of enantiopurity. The strive for a deeper understanding of the different elements that constitute such self‐sustaining systems on a molecular level has sparked great interest in the studies of autoinductive and amplifying enantioselective reactions. The design of these reactions remains highly challenging; however, the development of generally applicable principles promises to have a considerable impact on research of catalyst design and other adjacent fields in the future. Here, we report the realization of an autoinductive, enantioselective self‐inhibiting hydrogenation reaction. Development of a stereodynamic catalyst with chiral sensing abilities allowed for a chiral reaction product to interact with the catalyst and change its selectivity in order to suppress its formation, which caused a reversal of selectivity over time.