Bromoperoxidase activity and vanadium level of the brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum

Vanadium-dependent peroxidase activity in extracts of Ascophyllum nodosum growing in the intertidal region close to Roscoff/France, and algal vanadium levels, followed approximately similar seasonal variation, as deduced from a study lasting from April 2005 to March 2006. High peroxidase (PO) activity was found in extracts obtained from algae collected in between midwinter to spring [∼100-190 U per g dry mass (dm), triiodide assay] with a maximum in April. Periods of reduced PO activity lasted from summer to early winter (∼50-90 U per g dm). High vanadium levels (1.5-2.2 mg kg⁻¹ dm) were found in algae collected from midwinter to spring, whereas reduced levels (0.6-1.4 mg kg⁻¹ dm) were found in summer to early winter.     

WAFL, a new protein involved in regulation of early endocytic transport at the intersection of actin and microtubule dynamics

We have previously identified a new gene with sequence homology to the WASP-family of actin regulators denoted WAFL (WASP and FKBP-like). Here we report a possible biological function for WAFL, by demonstrating an association to early endosomes via its central coiled-coil domain. Further we show by functional and structural studies that WAFL is associated with both microtubules and the actin filament system, the two means of transport of early endosomes. In addition, WAFL interacts with WASP-interacting protein (WIP) and actin, thus linking WAFL to actin dynamics. The use of RNAi depletion of WAFL shows that WAFL-deficient cells display delayed transport of endosomal cargo. Our findings are compatible with a model whereby WAFL is involved in the transport of early endosomes at the level of transition between microfilament-based and microtubule-based movement.     

Seven new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ceratomyxa</Emphasis> Thélohan, 1892 (Myxozoa) from the gall-bladders of serranid fishes from the Great Barrier Reef,Australia

Ceratomyxa spp. from the gall-bladder of five members of the family Serranidae were examined for their taxonomic identity. This paper describes seven new ceratomyxid species, i.e. C. brayi n. sp. and C. whippsi n. sp from Cephalopholis boenak (Bloch); C. cutmorei n. sp. from Epinephelus fasciatus (Forsskål); C. gleesoni n. sp. from Plectropomus leopardus (Lacépède); C. hooperi n. sp. and C. nolani n. sp. from E. quoyanus (Valenciennes); and C. yokoyamai n. sp. from E. maculatus (Bloch). Each species is characterised morphologically and small subunit (SSU) rDNA sequences. All seven new species have so far been found in only a single host species.     

Aurora1 phosphorylation activity on histone H3 and its cross-talk with other post-translational histone modifications in Arabidopsis

The enzymological properties of AtAurora1, a kinase responsible for the cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation of histone H3 at S10, and its cross-talk with other post-translational histone modifications, were determined. In vitro phosphorylation of H3S10 by AtAurora1 is strongly increased by K9 acetylation, and decreased by K14 acetylation and T11 phosphorylation. However, S10 phosphorylation activity is unaltered by mono-, di- or trimethylation of K9. An interference of H3K9 dimethylation by SUVR4 occurs by a pre-existing phosphorylation at S10. Hence, cross-talk in plants exists between phosphorylation of H3S10 and methylation, acetylation or phosphorylation of neighbouring amino acid residues. AtAurora1 undergoes autophosphorylation in vivo regardless of the presence of substrate, and forms dimers in planta . Of the three ATP-competitive Aurora inhibitors tested, Hesperadin was most effective in reducing the in vivo kinase activity of AtAurora1. Hesperadin consistently inhibited histone H3S10 phosphorylation during mitosis in Arabidopsis cells, but did not affect other H3 post-translational modifications, suggesting a specific inhibition of AtAurora in vivo . Inactivation of AtAurora also caused lagging chromosomes in a number of anaphase cells, but, unlike the situation in mammalian cells, Hesperadin did not influence the microtubule dynamics in dividing cells.     

Ceratomyxa (Myxozoa: Bivalvulida): Robust taxon or genus of convenience?

The genus Ceratomyxa (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Bivalvulida) contains parasites that typically infect the gall bladders of marine teleosts. Species of this genus have also been recorded from elasmobranchs, while the best known species (Ceratomyxa shasta) is a systemic pathogen of fresh water salmonid fishes. Here we characterise 10 new species of Ceratomyxa from marine teleosts using morphometric and rDNA sequence data. A phylogeny of all Ceratomyxa species for which ssrDNA sequence is available was estimated by parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses. Mapping host fish taxonomy, geographic locality and morphology onto the phylogenetic tree provided some concordance of these characters to groups of Ceratomyxa species, but in no case was it consistent throughout the inferred phylogeny. The position of C. shasta as a sister species to the Ceratomyxa clade contradicts previous estimates of marine myxozoan phylogeny which suggested C. shasta was an unrelated lineage. Comparative DNA sequence data is available for more than 17% of some 200 described Ceratomyxa species and the genus now represents one of the most cohesive lineages within the Myxozoa. The independent branching of all atypical Ceratomyxa species and Palliatus indecorus, indicates a review of the diagnostic characters and possible division into more genera is warranted when further data are available.     

Integration of the barley genetic and seed proteome maps for chromosome 1H, 2H, 3H, 5H and 7H

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was used to screen spring barley cultivars for differences in seed protein profiles. In parallel, 72 microsatellite (simple sequence repeat (SSR)) markers and 11 malting quality parameters were analysed for each cultivar. Over 60 protein spots displayed cultivar variation, including peroxidases, serpins and proteins with unknown functions. Cultivars were clustered based on the spot variation matrix. Cultivars with superior malting quality grouped together, indicating malting quality to be more closely correlated with seed proteomes than with SSR profiles. Mass spectrometry showed that some spot variations were caused by amino acid differences encoded by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Coding SNPs were validated by mass spectrometry, expressed sequence tag and 2D gel data. Coding SNPs can alter function of affected proteins and may thus represent a link between cultivar traits, proteome and genome. Proteome analysis of doubled haploid lines derived from a cross between a malting (Scarlett) and a feed cultivar (Meltan) enabled genetic localisation of protein phenotypes represented by 48 spot variations, involving e.g. peroxidases, serpins, α-amylase/trypsin inhibitors, peroxiredoxin and a small heat shock protein, in relation to markers on the chromosome map. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

The interaction of beta-amyloid protein with cellular membranes stimulates its own production

Gradual changes in steady-state levels of beta amyloid peptides (Aβ) in brain are considered an initial step in the amyloid cascade hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease. Aβ is a product of the secretase cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP). There is evidence that the membrane lipid environment may modulate secretase activity and alters its function. Cleavage of APP strongly depends on membrane properties. Since Aβ perturbs cell membrane fluidity, the cell membrane may be the location where the neurotoxic cascade of Aβ is initiated. Therefore, we tested effects of oligomeric Aβ on membrane fluidity of whole living cells, the impact of exogenous and cellular Aβ on the processing of APP and the role of GM-1 ganglioside. We present evidence that oligoAβ_(1-40) stimulates the amyloidogenic processing of APP by reducing membrane fluidity and complexing with GM-1 ganglioside. This dynamic action of Aβ may start a vicious circle, where endogenous Aβ stimulates its own production. Based on our novel findings, we propose that oligoAβ_(1-40) accelerates the proteolytic cleavage of APP by decreasing membrane fluidity.     

The C-terminal of CysM from Mycobacterium tuberculosis protects the aminoacrylate intermediate and is involved in sulfur donor selectivity

A new crystal structure of the dimeric cysteine synthase CysM from Mycobacterium tuberculosis reveals an open and a closed conformation of the enzyme. In the closed conformation the five carboxy-terminal amino acid residues are inserted into the active site cleft. Removal of this segment results in a decreased lifetime of the α-aminoacrylate reaction intermediate, an increased sensitivity to oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide, and loss of substrate selectivity with respect to the sulfur carrier thiocarboxylated CysO. These results highlight features of CysM that might be of particular importance for cysteine biosynthesis under oxidative stress in M. tuberculosis.