Temperature‐dependent conformational change affecting Tyr11 and sweetness loops of brazzein

The sweet protein brazzein, a member of the Csβα fold family, contains four disulfide bonds that lend a high degree of thermal and pH stability to its structure. Nevertheless, a variable temperature study has revealed that the protein undergoes a local, reversible conformational change between 37 and 3°C with a midpoint about 27°C that changes the orientations and side‐chain hydrogen bond partners of Tyr8 and Tyr11. To test the functional significance of this effect, we used NMR saturation transfer to investigate the interaction between brazzein and the amino terminal domain of the sweet receptor subunit T1R2; the results showed a stronger interaction at 7°C than at 37°C. Thus the low temperature conformation, which alters the orientations of two loops known to be critical for the sweetness of brazzein, may represent the bound state of brazzein in the complex with the human sweet receptor. Proteins 2013; © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Pyramidal Neurons Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Integrate Efficiently into Mouse Brain Circuits In Vivo

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Application of Abscisic Acid (S-ABA) to ‘Crimson Seedless’ Grape Berries in a Mediterranean Climate: Effects on Color, Chemical Characteristics, Metabolic Profile, and S-ABA Concentration

‘Crimson Seedless’ is a table grape cultivar that often fails to develop adequate red color in Mediterranean climates. Application of abscisic acid (S-ABA) may be an aid for improving color, but its potential effects on overall quality and S-ABA concentration of the berry should be also considered. We tested two concentrations (200 and 400 mg/L) and different times of application (from 1 week after veraison up to 9 days before harvest) of a commercial formulation of S-ABA (ProTone^®) to verify the effect on harvestable bunches, color, chemical characteristics, metabolic profile, and S-ABA concentration in the berry. It was found that either the application of S-ABA at 400 mg/L one week after veraison or the application of S-ABA at 400 mg/L one week and four weeks after veraison positively affected the berry skin color, shifting the hue (h°) from 20 to a more red-violet hue (h° = 11–12). In general, the application of S-ABA, with the exception of the late treatments, enhanced coloration of the berries and increased the amount of harvestable bunches at the first pick because it promoted the skin-coloring process. S-ABA did not affect berry firmness but reduced the berry detachment force. Nevertheless, the values remained sufficiently high and the general quality of the bunch was not compromised. Ripening parameters (°Brix, pH, titratable acidity) were not affected by S-ABA applications, and even the primary metabolite profile was not influenced by the treatments as ascertained by multivariate statistical analyses [principal component analyses (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA)] applied to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data. The S-ABA concentration in the berry, when treatments were performed around veraison, was within the natural range for grape (10–400 ng/g f.w.), whereas when late treatments were applied (few days before harvest), the concentration was higher (more than 1,000 ng/g f.w.). The best results for yield, quality, and S-ABA concentration in the berry were observed for the treatments performed a few days after veraison at the dose of 400 mg/L. This study gives new information about the positive effects of S-ABA on color without any particular change in the metabolic profile of the berry.     

Étude comparée de Saga rhodiensis Salfi 1929 et Saga natoliae Serville 1839 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

Saga rhodiensis se révèle très proche de S. natoliae et ces deux taxons s’acceptent mutuellement pour la copulation. En outre, ils constituent, avec S. hellenica, un groupe assez homogène au niveau chromosomique. Sur le plan morphologique S. hellenica se distingue aisément des deux autres espèces, et aucun accouplement croisé n’a pu aboutir dans nos élevages. La découverte d’individus femelles de S. natoliae présentant les critères morphologiques de S. rhodiensis bien audelà de l’aire de distribution actuellement connue, nous interroge sur la pertinence de ces critères. Des investigations complémentaires sont nécessaires pour préciser le statut exact de S. rhodiensis.     

Protease-activated Receptor 1 (PAR1) and PAR4 Heterodimers Are Required for PAR1-enhanced Cleavage of PAR4 by α-Thrombin

Thrombin is a potent platelet agonist that activates platelets and other cells of the cardiovascular system by cleaving its G-protein-coupled receptors, protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1), PAR4, or both. We now show that cleaving PAR1 and PAR4 with α-thrombin induces heterodimer formation. PAR1-PAR4 heterodimers were not detected when unstimulated; however, when the cells were stimulated with 10 nm α-thrombin, we were able to detect a strong interaction between PAR1 and PAR4 by bioluminescence resonance energy transfer. In contrast, activating the receptors without cleavage using PAR1 and PAR4 agonist peptides (TFLLRN and AYPGKF, respectively) did not enhance heterodimer formation. Preventing PAR1 or PAR4 cleavage with point mutations or hirugen also prevented the induction of heterodimers. To further characterize the PAR1-PAR4 interactions, we mapped the heterodimer interface by introducing point mutations in transmembrane helix 4 of PAR1 or PAR4 that prevented heterodimer formation. Finally, we show that mutations in PAR1 or PAR4 at the heterodimer interface prevented PAR1-assisted cleavage of PAR4. These data demonstrate that PAR1 and PAR4 require allosteric changes induced via receptor cleavage by α-thrombin to mediate heterodimer formation, and we have determined the PAR1-PAR4 heterodimer interface. Our findings show that PAR1 and PAR4 have dynamic interactions on the cell surface that should be taken into account when developing and characterizing PAR antagonists.     

Nicotinic acid and DP1 blockade: studies in mouse models of atherosclerosis

The use of nicotinic acid to treat dyslipidemia is limited by induction of a “flushing” response, mediated in part by the interaction of prostaglandin D₂ (PGD₂) with its G-protein coupled receptor, DP1 (Ptgdr). The impact of DP1 blockade (genetic or pharmacologic) was assessed in experimental murine models of atherosclerosis. In Ptgdr^−/−ApoE^−/− mice versus ApoE^−/− mice, both fed a high-fat diet, aortic cholesterol content was modestly higher (1.3- to 1.5-fold, P < 0.05) in Ptgdr^−/−ApoE^−/− mice at 16 and 24 weeks of age, but not at 32 weeks. In multiple ApoE^−/− mouse studies, a DP1-specific antagonist, L-655, generally had a neutral to beneficial effect on aortic lipids in the presence or absence of nicotinic acid treatment. In a separate study, a modest increase in some atherosclerotic measures was observed with L-655 treatment in Ldlr^−/− mice fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks; however, this effect was not sustained for 16 or 24 weeks. In the same study, treatment with nicotinic acid alone generally decreased plasma and/or aortic lipids, and addition of L-655 did not negate those beneficial effects. These studies demonstrate that inhibition of DP1, with or without nicotinic acid treatment, does not lead to consistent or sustained effects on plaque burden in mouse atherosclerotic models.     

Fecal Shedding of Zoonotic Food-Borne Pathogens by Wild Rodents in a Major Agricultural Region of the Central California Coast

Recent outbreaks of food-borne illness associated with the consumption of produce have increased concern over wildlife reservoirs of food-borne pathogens. Wild rodents are ubiquitous, and those living close to agricultural farms may pose a food safety risk should they shed zoonotic microorganisms in their feces near or on agricultural commodities. Fecal samples from wild rodents trapped on 13 agricultural farms (9 produce, 3 cow-calf operations, and 1 beef cattle feedlot) in Monterey and San Benito Counties, CA, were screened to determine the prevalence and risk factors for shedding of several food-borne pathogens. Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were the most abundant rodent species trapped (72.5%). Cryptosporidium species (26.0%) and Giardia species (24.2%) were the predominant isolates from rodent feces, followed by Salmonella enterica serovars (2.9%) and Escherichia coli O157:H7 (0.2%). Rodent trap success was significantly associated with detection of Salmonella in rodent feces, while farm type was associated with fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Seasonal shedding patterns were evident, with rodents trapped during the spring and summer months being significantly less likely to be shedding Cryptosporidium oocysts than those trapped during autumn. Higher rodent species diversity tended to correlate with lower fecal microbial prevalence, and most spatiotemporal pathogen clusters involved deer mice. Rodents in the study area posed a minimal risk as environmental reservoirs of E. coli O157:H7, but they may play a role in environmental dissemination of Salmonella and protozoa. Rodent control efforts that potentially reduce biodiversity may increase pathogen shedding, possibly through promotion of intraspecific microbial transmission.     

Long-lasting inhibition of EGFR autophosphorylation in A549 tumor cells by intracellular accumulation of non-covalent inhibitors

In the present study, a small set of reversible or irreversible 4-anilinoquinazoline EGFR inhibitors was tested in A549 cells at early (1 h) and late (8 h) time points after inhibitor removal from culture medium. A combination of assays was employed to explain the observed long-lasting inhibition of EGFR autophosphorylation. We found that EGFR inhibition at 8 h can be due, besides to the covalent interaction of the inhibitor with Cys797, as for PD168393 (2) and its prodrug 4, to the intracellular accumulation of non-covalent inhibitors by means of an active cell uptake, as for 5 and 6. Compounds 5–6 showed similar potency and duration of inhibition of EGFR autophosphorylation as the covalent inhibitor 2, while being devoid of reactive groups forming covalent bonds with protein thiols.