15-prostaglandin dehydrogenase expression alone or in combination with ACSM1 defines a subgroup of the apocrine molecular subtype of breast carcinoma

Established histopathological criteria divide invasive breast carcinomas into defined groups. Ductal of no specific type and lobular are the two major subtypes accounting for around 75 and 15% of all cases, respectively. The remaining 10% include rarer types such as tubular, cribriform, mucinous, papillary, medullary, metaplastic, and apocrine breast carcinomas. Molecular profiling technologies, on the other hand, subdivide breast tumors into five subtypes, basal-like, luminal A, luminal B, normal breast tissue-like, and ERBB2-positive, that have different prognostic characteristics. An additional subclass termed "molecular apocrine" has recently been described, but these lesions did not exhibit all the histopathological features of classical invasive apocrine carcinomas (IACs). IACs make up 0.5-3% of the invasive ductal carcinomas, and despite the fact that they are morphologically distinct from other breast lesions, there are presently no standard molecular criteria available for their diagnosis and as a result no precise information as to their prognosis. Toward this goal our laboratories have embarked in a systematic proteomics endeavor aimed at identifying biomarkers that may characterize and subtype these lesions as well as targets that may lead to the development of novel targeted therapies and chemoprevention strategies. By comparing the protein expression profiles of apocrine macrocysts and non-malignant breast epithelial tissue we have previously reported the identification of a few proteins that are specifically expressed by benign apocrine lesions as well as by the few IACs that were available to us at the time. Here we reiterate our strategy to reveal apocrine cell markers and present novel data, based on the analysis of a considerably larger number of samples, establishing that IACs correspond to a distinct molecular subtype of breast carcinomas characterized by the expression of 15-prostaglandin dehydrogenase alone or in combination with a novel form of acyl-CoA synthetase medium-chain family member 1 (ACSM1). Moreover we show that 15-prostaglandin dehydrogenase is not expressed by other breast cancer types as determined by gel-based proteomics and immunohistochemistry analysis and that antibodies against this protein can identify IACs in an unbiased manner in a large breast cancer tissue microarray making them potentially useful as a diagnostic aid.     

Interactions in family pairs and parental care in captive steppe lemming (Lagurus lagurus)

Partner interactions and parental activities in pair-bonded male and female steppe lemmings (L. lagurus) were estimated under laboratory conditions. Interactions between adults in family pairs were found to be neutral or peaceful with rare agonistic contacts. Compared to other rodent species living in family groups, the frequency and duration of partner grooming in adults were found to be low, indicating relatively weak pair bonding in steppe lemmings. At the same time, males spend much more time with pups in the nest than females, but they are inferior to the latter in grooming (licking) and nest material delivery. Parental behavior of L. lagurus is discussed in comparison with that of other species of the subfamily Microtinae.     

Production of the antibiotic-algicide cyanobacterin LU-2 by a filamentous cyanobacterium Nostoc sp.]

A strain of cyanobacterium of Nostoc has been isolated, and found to produce a new antibiotic cyanobacterin LU-2. The antibiotic is synthesized by the cyanobnacterium under intensive cultivation conditions in a liquid mineral medium. Cyanobacterin LU-2 is an exometabolite; its maximum accumulation in the medium is achieved at 34 degrees. Cyanobacterin LU-2 is active against many cyanobacteria tested, including those of Microcystis and Aphanizomenon which are principals to give rise to blooms in fresh water supplies. It is poorly active against green algae and inactive against fungi and bacteria. The antibiotic hinders cell division in Synechococcus sp. R-2 (PCC 7942). It causes compression of the cytoplasm and exfoliation of the cell contents from cell wall; the distance between tylacoids is increased and their destruction is observed. The antibiotic hinders markedly light-dependent oxygen evolution. Cyanobacterin LU-2 is substance of a phenolic nature containing amino-sugar.     

The functional role of neurospecific protein S-100 in memory processes]

Elaboration of alimentary conditioned reflex in rats is accompanied by an increase of the level of protein S-100 in the left and right cerebral hemispheres. Amnestic factor M-cholinolytic atropine disturbs the elaborated habit and simultaneously decreases the quantity of protein S-100 up to the level of unlearned animals. The elaboration of conditioned reflex of passive avoidance does not change the content of protein S-100 in the rats brain. Intracisternal injection of antiserum to protein S-100 has an expressed amnestic action. Intracisternal injection of protein S-100 against the background of amnestic action of cholinolytic does not lead to restoration of memory. The cholinolytic and antiserum to protein S-100 mutually potentiate the amnestic effect.     

Care of young and the effect of the presence of a male on parental behavior in the common vole (Microtus arvalis) in captivity

Care of the young by male and female common voles reared by both parents (complete families) or by females only (incomplete families) has been studied. It has emerged that the absence of an adult male in the common vole family groups, reducing the care of young (first and foremost, tactile stimulation), negatively influences their pair bonds and the subsequent parental behavior of the male offspring.     

Identification of two molecular chaperons (HSX70, HSC70) in mature human erythrocytes

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of cytosolic proteins from mature human erythrocytes combined with immunoblotting revealed the presence of a group of heat shock proteins (HSPs) that included two molecular chaperons of the HSP70 family (HSX70, inducible; HSC70, constitutively expressed) and HSP90. As expected for cells devoid of organelles, erythrocytes do not contain stress proteins that are localized either in the mitochondria (HSP60, glucose-regulated protein (GRP 75) or in the endoplasmic reticulum (GRP78 or Ig heavy chain-binding protein, endoplasmin). Since red cells are unable to replace proteins whose structure has been damaged by environmental changes the results are taken to imply a role for chaperons in monitoring, protecting, and maintaining the structure and stability of erythrocyte proteins.     

The nature of interactions responsible for the differences in the affinities of histones for DNA

Electrophoretic studies on the sequential binding of histones to DNA and to polyphosphate in low ionic strength solution have shown that the affinities of histones for both the polyanions decreases in the same order: H4 ～ H3 > H2A > H2B>H1. This permits to suggest that hydrophobic DNA-histone interactions do not determine the relative affinity of histones for DNA. Non-ionic interactions within and between histone molecules participate in determining the histone affinity for DNA affecting electrostatic DNA-histone interactions.     

Ultrastructure of spermatozoa of Solifuges (Arachnida, Solifugae): possible characters for their phylogeny?

The ultrastructure of spermatozoa is a widely accepted source of characters for phylogenetic studies. In this study the fine structure of sperm cells of representatives of six different New and Old World families (Ammotrechidae, Daesiidae, Eremobatidae, Galeodidae, Karschiidae, Solpugidae) of solifuges (Arachnida, Solifugae) were investigated in order to reveal putative characters suitable for subsequent systematic and phylogenetic analyses. The spermatozoa of solifuges represent a relatively simple type of sperm cells. In general, their spermatozoa are roundish, oval shaped (Ammotrechidae, Daesiidae, Eremobatidae, Solpugidae) or plate-shaped (Karschiidae) with or without membrane protuberances and devoid of a flagellum. Only in Galeodidae, very conspicuous thin and elongated sperm cells occur. The spermatozoa either occur as single cells (Eremobatidae, Solpugidae) or in groups of loose knit cells (Ammotrechidae) or in highly ordered groups (Karschiidae). In contrast to the other families studied here, within the Galeodidae and in the genus Blossia (Daesiidae) sperm cells surrounded by a secretion sheath, clearly representing coenospermia, could be observed.