TRPM4 links calcium signaling to membrane potential in pancreatic acinar cells

Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 4 (TRPM4) is a Ca²⁺-activated nonselective cation channel that mediates membrane depolarization. Although, a current with the hallmarks of a TRPM4-mediated current has been previously reported in pancreatic acinar cells (PACs), the role of TRPM4 in the regulation of acinar cell function has not yet been explored. In the present study, we identify this TRPM4 current and describe its role in context of Ca²⁺ signaling of PACs using pharmacological tools and TRPM4-deficient mice. We found a significant Ca²⁺-activated cation current in PACs that was sensitive to the TRPM4 inhibitors 9-phenanthrol and 4-chloro-2-[[2-(2-chlorophenoxy)acetyl]amino]benzoic acid (CBA). We demonstrated that the CBA-sensitive current was responsible for a Ca²⁺-dependent depolarization of PACs from a resting membrane potential of −44.4 ± 2.9 to −27.7 ± 3 mV. Furthermore, we showed that Ca²⁺ influx was higher in the TRPM4 KO- and CBA-treated PACs than in control cells. As hormone-induced repetitive Ca²⁺ transients partially rely on Ca²⁺ influx in PACs, the role of TRPM4 was also assessed on Ca²⁺ oscillations elicited by physiologically relevant concentrations of the cholecystokinin analog cerulein. These data show that the amplitude of Ca²⁺ signals was significantly higher in TRPM4 KO than in control PACs. Our results suggest that PACs are depolarized by TRPM4 currents to an extent that results in a significant reduction of the inward driving force for Ca²⁺. In conclusion, TRPM4 links intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling to membrane potential as a negative feedback regulator of Ca²⁺ entry in PACs.     

适合水稻悬浮培养细胞蛋白质组分析的双向电泳技术

水稻是研究植物蛋白质组学的一个重要试材,从蛋白质的提取,裂解缓冲液的成份和浓度,第一向聚焦的条件,蛋白上样量和二向胶的选择方面,对水稻悬浮培养细胞的双向电泳条件进行了比较和优化。结果表明,采用甲醇/氯仿沉淀蛋白,裂解缓冲液中加入0.5%的两性电解质、并加入盐桥,17cm的胶条、850μg的上样量可达到较好的等电聚焦效果;8%-16%梯度胶分离蛋白较为适宜。     

Isolation of viable cell mass from frozen <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microcystis viridis</Emphasis> bloom containing microcystin-RR

Cyanobacterial species commonly occur in the phytoplankton of freshwater lakes and sometimes develop as toxin-producing blooms. Microcystis is one of the most common genera of freshwater cyanobacteria and is often the dominating phytoplankton of eutrophic lakes all over the world. In eutrophic lakes, large amounts of Microcystis may overwinter in the sediment and re-inoculate the water column in spring. In most cases, the overwintering pelagic population—if it exists—is small, and its role in re-inoculation has not been clear yet. In December 2005, we found large amounts of Microcystis on the surface, frozen in the ice cover in a eutrophic pond (Pond Hármashegy, Hungary). We identified the Microcystis species and investigated the viability and the toxicity of the frozen cells. The dominant species in the bloom samples was Microcystis viridis. Viability tests showed that the colonies isolated from the ice cover were composed of living cells. The isolated strain was found toxic, we analyzed the microcystin composition in the frozen planktonic Microcystis mass; in the investigated samples microcystin-RR was the main cyanotoxin.     

Antioxidants in the egg yolk of a wild passerine: differences between breeding seasons

Carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins play crucial roles in several physiological processes. Yolk carotenoid composition may be influenced by the bird's dietary intake and by the possible discrimination during carotenoid metabolism. Information regarding the pigment composition of passerine eggs is very limited. In the present 2-year study, we determined the carotenoid and vitamin concentrations and the percentage profile of carotenoid components in collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) eggs. The major carotenoid was lutein in both years, followed by cis-lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene as other significant components. Carotenoid concentration was higher in 2000 than in 2001. As caterpillar abundance and ambient temperature was lower in 2001 than in 2000, we suggest that the decreased availability of carotenoid-rich resources and the elevated antioxidant demand of the female restricted the carotenoid allocation to the eggs. Our study is the first to indicate that the concentration and profile of yolk carotenoids may considerably vary in the same wild bird population between breeding seasons with different environmental conditions. Compared to other birds, the yolk of this species was relatively rich in vitamins A and E. Vitamin E concentration was positively correlated with total carotenoid concentration, which may be beneficial for the nestlings as these antioxidants synergistically provide better protection.     

Inhibitory effects of tannin on human salivary alpha-amylase

Here, we first report on the effectiveness and specificity of tannin inhibition of 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl-4-O-β-d-galactopyranosylmaltoside hydrolysis that is catalyzed by human salivary α-amylase (HSA). Tannin was gallotannin in which quinic acid was esterified with 2-7 units of gallic acid. A number of studies establish that polyphenols—like tannins—may prevent oral diseases, e.g., dental caries. Kinetic analyses confirmed that the inhibition of hydrolysis is a mixed non-competitive type and only one molecule of tannin binds to the active site or the secondary site of the enzyme. Since Dixon plots were linear, product formation could be excluded from the enzyme-substrate-inhibitor complex (ESI). Kinetic constants calculated from secondary plots and non-linear regression are almost identical, thereby confirming the suggested model. Kinetic constants (K_EI=9.03 μg mL⁻¹, K_ESI=47.84 μg mL⁻¹) show that tannin is as an effective inhibitor of HSA as acarbose and indicate a higher stability for the enzyme-inhibitor complex than ESI.     

Synthesis of a novel N[bond]O-interglycosidic disaccharide

The carbohydrate subunits carrying an N-O-interglycosidic bond play a very important role in the biological activity of the enediyne antibiotics. Condensation of O-(alpha- and beta-D-glucopyranosyl)hydroxylamine (5a and 5b) with the hex-3-ulopyranoside (6) furnished methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-2,3-dideoxy-3-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyloxy)imino-alpha- and beta-D-erythro-hexopyranoside (7a and 7b). Stereoselective reduction of the Cz.dbnd6;N bond of 7a and 7b with sodium cyanoborohydride resulted in the formation of the required protected N-O-interglycosidic disaccharides (8a and 8b). Finally, catalytic hydrogenation of 8a afforded methyl 2,3-dideoxy-3-(alpha-D-glucopyranosyloxy)amino-alpha-D-ribo-hexopyranoside (9a). Under similar conditions the beta anomer 8b underwent decomposition.     

Pyoverdine-mediated regulation of FpvA synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: involvement of a probable extracytoplasmic-function sigma factor,FpvI

A search of the pvd pyoverdine biosynthesis locus of Pseudomonas aeruginosa identified an open reading frame, PA2387, whose product exhibited a sequence similar to those of a number of so-called extracytoplasmic- function sigma factors responsible for siderophore-dependent expression of iron-siderophore receptors in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida. Deletion of this gene, dubbed fpvI, compromised pyoverdine-dependent FpvA ferric pyoverdine receptor production and fpvA gene expression, while the cloned gene stimulated fpvA expression. A Fur-binding site was identified immediately upstream of fpvI, consistent with the observed iron-regulated expression of fpvI and fpvA.     

Characterization of auto-regulation of the human cardiac α1 subunit of the L-type calcium channel: Importance of the C-terminus

The carboxyl terminal of the L-type calcium channel _1C subunit comprises approximately one third of the primary structure of the ₁ subunit (> 700 amino acids residues). This region is sensitive to limited posttranslational processing. In heart and brain the _1C subunits are found to be truncated but the C-terminal domain remains functionally present. Based on our previous data we hypothesized that the distal C-terminus (approximately residues 1650–1950) harbors an important, predominantly inhibitory domain. We generated C-terminal-truncated _1C mutants, and after expressing them in combination with a ₃ subunit in HEK-293 cells, electrophysiological experiments were carried out. In order to dissect the important inhibitory part of the C-terminus, trypsin was dialyzed into the cells. The data provide evidence that there are multiple residues within the inhibitory domain that are crucial to the inhibitory process as well as to the enhancement of expressed current by intracellular application of proteases. In addition, the expression of the chimeric mutant _1C1673-DRK₁ demonstrated that the C-terminal is specific for the heart channel.     

Effectiveness of Gemzar-Cisplatin therapy in stage IIIA-N2, IIIB and IV non-small cell lung cancer

120 chemotherapy naive patients were treated with gemcitabine 1250 mg/m2 iv. days 1 and 8 and cisplatin 70 mg/m2 iv. on day 1 between May 1999 and June 2001. The treatments were administered in 21 cycles. The median age of the patients was 53.1 years, the male/female ratio 65%-35%. Performance status was: WHO 0: 26%, WHO 1: 74%. The staging of patients were: IIIA-N2 23%, IIIB 37%, IV 40%. By histology the tumors were: 53.3% adenocarcinoma, 40% squamous cell carcinoma, 2.5% adenosquamous carcinoma, 0.8% macrocellular carcinoma and 3% non-small cell carcinoma (not categorised). We evaluated 413 cycles of chemotherapy. The median number of cycles was 3.44. The primary endpoint of the study was the median survival and time to progression, and the response rate. The results are the following: RR 40% (PR 37.5%, CR 2.5%), MR 13.3%, SD 25%, PD 22%. The time to progression (TTP) in the SD+MR group: 29.8 weeks, in the RR group: 34.1 weeks, mean of all patients: 28.1 weeks. The survival time was estimated by Kaplan-Meier curves. The median survival (MS) of all treated patients was: 54.9 weeks, in the PD group: 34.4 weeks, in the SD+MR group: 59.1 weeks, in the PR+CR group: 62.1 weeks. Conclusion: gemcitabine and cisplatin combination is a very well tolerated therapeutic regimen in the 1st line treatment of NSCLC. Furthermore, this treatment improves the RR and the survival of the patients as well.