Phenethyl alcohol disorders phospholipid acyl chains and promotes translocation of the mitochondrial precursor protein apocytochrome c across a lipid bilayer.

The interaction of phenethyl alcohol with model membranes and its effect on translocation of the chemically prepared mitochondrial precursor protein apocytochrome c across a lipid bilayer was studied. Phenethyl alcohol efficiently penetrates into monolayers and causes acyl chain disordering judged from deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance measurements with specific acyl chain-deuterated phospholipids. Translocation of apocytochrome c across a phospholipid bilayer was stimulated on addition of phenethyl alcohol indicating that the efficiency of translocation of this precursor protein is enhanced due to a disorder of the acyl chain region of the bilayer.     

The strength of phenotypic selection in natural populations

How strong is phenotypic selection on quantitative traits in the wild? We reviewed the literature from 1984 through 1997 for studies that estimated the strength of linear and quadratic selection in terms of standardized selection gradients or differentials on natural variation in quantitative traits for field populations. We tabulated 63 published studies of 62 species that reported over 2,500 estimates of linear or quadratic selection. More than 80% of the estimates were for morphological traits; there is very little data for behavioral or physiological traits. Most published selection studies were unreplicated and had sample sizes below 135 individuals, resulting in low statistical power to detect selection of the magnitude typically reported for natural populations. The absolute values of linear selection gradients |beta| were exponentially distributed with an overall median of 0.16, suggesting that strong directional selection was uncommon. The values of |beta| for selection on morphological and on life-history/phenological traits were significantly different: on average, selection on morphology was stronger than selection on phenology/life history. Similarly, the values of |beta| for selection via aspects of survival, fecundity, and mating success were significantly different: on average, selection on mating success was stronger than on survival. Comparisons of estimated linear selection gradients and differentials suggest that indirect components of phenotypic selection were usually modest relative to direct components. The absolute values of quadratic selection gradients |gamma| were exponentially distributed with an overall median of only 0.10, suggesting that quadratic selection is typically quite weak. The distribution of gamma values was symmetric about 0, providing no evidence that stabilizing selection is stronger or more common than disruptive selection in nature.     

Preliminary studies of the 2D crystallization of Omp1 of Serratia marcescens: observation by atomic force microscopy in native membranes environment and reconstituted in proteolipid sheets

In this work the porin Omp1 of Serratia marcescens was expressed in a porin deficient mutant (Escherichia coli UH302) and its functionality studied following the accumulation of ciprofloxacin in bacteria. The protein was extracted, purified and reconstituted in proteoliposomes of different composition (lipopolysaccharide (LPS), 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and, 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC)). Maximum extraction of the detergent was achieved applying different steps of dialysis and centrifugation. Proteolipid sheets with different composition were spread onto mica and observed by atomic force microscopy. Two-dimensional crystal of Omp1 was not observed in any case due to low resolution achieved. Judging from the images features POPC is the most suitable phospholipid to enhance 2D lattice formation for Omp1.     

Salicylate decreases production of AmpC type beta-lactamases and increases susceptibility to beta-lactams in a Morganella morganii clinical isolate

The effect of salicylate, a marRAB inducer, on the resistance to beta-lactams was characterized in an AmpC beta-lactamase hyperproducer Morganella morganii clinical isolate (the M1 strain). Results were compared with those of the effect of salicylate in a wild-type M. morganii strain. Salicylate induced a decreased susceptibility to nalidixic acid, norfloxacin and tetracycline and simultaneously increased the susceptibility to beta-lactams apparently due to the repression of AmpC beta-lactamase synthesis in the M1 strain. Likewise, salicylate only repressed 46 kDa outer membrane protein expression in the wild-type strain, since the clinical isolate M1 did not express it.     

Neuronal and muscular alterations caused by two wheat endosperm proteins,puroindoline-a and alpha1-purothionin,are due to ion pore formation

Using the patch-clamp technique it was found that the toxicity of the two wheat endosperm proteins puroindoline-a and alpha1-purothionin probably results from the dissipation of ion concentration gradients essential for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis.Abbreviations PIN-a puroindoline-a - PTH alpha1-purothionin Presented at the Biophysical Society Meeting on Ion Channels—from structure to disease held in May 2003, Rennes, France     

Effect of ischemia on soluble and particulate guanylyl cyclase-mediated cGMP synthesis in cardiomyocytes

The effect of simulated ischemia [hypoxia, no glucose, extracellular pH (pH(o)) 6.4] on cGMP synthesis induced by stimulation of soluble (sGC) or particulate guanylyl cyclase (pGC) was investigated in adult rat cardiomyocytes. Intracellular cGMP content was measured after stimulation of sGC by S-nitroso-N-penicillamine (SNAP) or stimulation of pGC by natriuretic peptides [urodilatin (Uro), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), or C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP)] for 1 min in the presence of phosphodiesterase inhibitors. After 2 h of simulated ischemia, a decrease of >50% was observed in pGC-dependent cGMP synthesis, but no significant change was observed in sGC-dependent cGMP synthesis. The reduction in cGMP synthesis caused by simulated ischemia was mimicked by extracellular acidosis (pH(o) 6.4), which decreased pGC-mediated cGMP synthesis without altering sGC-mediated cGMP synthesis. An extreme sensitivity of pGC activity to low pH was also observed in membrane cell fractions. Hypoxia without acidosis (pH(o) 7.4) profoundly depressed cellular ATP content but did not change the response to SNAP, Uro, or ANP (selective agonists of pGC type A receptor). Only cGMP synthesis in response to CNP (a selective agonist of pGC type B receptor) was significantly reduced by ATP depletion. These data support the relevance of intracellular pH as a modulator of cGMP and suggest that, in ischemic cardiomyocytes, synthesis of cGMP would be mainly nitric oxide dependent.     

Decorin reverses the repressive effect of autocrine-produced TGF-beta on mouse macrophage activation

Several cytokines or growth factors induce macrophages to proliferate, become activated, differentiate, or die through apoptosis. Like the major macrophage activator IFN-gamma, the extracellular matrix protein decorin inhibits proliferation and protects macrophages from the induction of apoptosis. Decorin enhances the IFN-gamma-induced expression of the IAalpha and IAbeta MHC class II genes. Moreover, it increases the IFN-gamma- or LPS-induced expression of inducible NO synthase, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 genes and the secretion of these cytokines. Using a number of extracellular matrix proteins, we found a negative correlation between adhesion and proliferation. However, the effects of decorin on macrophage activation do not seem to be mediated through its effect on adhesion or proliferation. Instead, this proteoglycan abolishes the binding of TGF-beta to macrophages, as shown by Scatchard analysis of (125)I-labeled TGF-beta, which, in the absence of decorin, showed a K(d) of 0.11 +/- 0.03 nM and approximately 5000 receptors/cell. This was confirmed when we treated macrophages with Abs to block the endogenously produced TGF-beta, which enhanced macrophage activation in a way similar to decorin. The increase in activation mediated by decorin demonstrates that macrophages are under negative regulation that can be reversed by proteins of the extracellular matrix.     

STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF BENTHIC ALGAL COMMUNITIES IN AN EXTREMELY ACID RIVER1

The composition of algal species and pigments and the structural and functional characteristics of the algal community were investigated in an acid stream of southwestern Spain, the Río Tinto. The algal community had low diversity and showed few seasonal differences. It was mainly made up of Klebsormidium flaccidum Kütz. (Silva, Mattox & Blackwell) that produced long greenish or purplish filaments, Pinnularia acoricola Hust. (producing brown patches) and Euglena mutabilis Schmitz. The algal filaments made up a consistent biofilm that also included fungal hyphae, iron bacterial sheaths, diatoms, and mineral particles. HPLC analyses on Río Tinto samples showed that undegraded chl accounted for 67% of the total chl in the filamentous patches but were a minority in the brown patch (2.6%). The brown patch had a concentration of carotenoids eight times lower than that observed in the green patch. When chl concentrations were weighted for the proportion of the different patches on the streambed, undegraded chl a accounted for 89.2 mg chl a·m ^{? 2} of stream surface area (5.4 g C·m ^{? 2}). This high algal biomass was supported by relatively high nutrient concentrations and by a high phosphatase activity (V_max = 137.7 nmol methylumbelliferyl substrate·cm ^{? 2}·h ^{? 1} 1 Received 15 July 2002. Accepted 17 February 2003. , K_m = 0.0045 μM). The remarkable algal biomass in Río Tinto potentially contributed to the bacterial–fungal community and to the macroinvertebrate community and emphasizes the role that the algae may have in the organic matter cycling and energy flow in extreme systems dominated by heterotrophic microorganisms.