On the occurrence of the African hind, Cephalopholis taeniops, in the Canary Islands (eastern subtropical Atlantic): introduction of large-sized demersal littoral fishes in ballast water of oil platforms?

The occurrence of the fish Cephalopholis taeniops (Serranidae: Epinephelinae) has been recorded for the first time in the Canary Islands (eastern subtropical Atlantic). Repeated observations of adult stages of the species (??30?cm total length) inside oil platforms coming from the Gulf of Guinea greatly suggest an introduction related to the transport of ballast water in these structures, and show their importance in the dispersal of adult stages of large-sized species of littoral fish. Oil platforms constitute one special case in the introduction of marine species in the context of ballast water transport. This poorly known phenomenon may greatly favour marine species invasion, and might have significant repercussions in many regions -especially in the current climate change context- as well as explaining some surprising cases of occurrence of expatriated adult individuals of certain species.     

Molecular subtype is determinant on inflammatory status and immunological profile from invasive breast cancer patients

Breast cancer consists in a chronic inflammatory disease with multiple biological and clinical behaviors. Based on high throughput technologies data, this disease is currently classified according to the molecular expression of estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and human epidermal growth factor (HER-2) receptors. In this study, we defined the inflammatory profile of the main molecular subtypes of breast cancer patients: luminal (ER and PR positive, HER-2 negative), HER-2 enriched (HER-2 positive) and triple negative (ER, PR and HER-2 negative). Cytokines panel was assessed by measurement of TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-1, IL-10 and IL-12 plasmatic levels. Oxidative profile was assessed by determination of lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity of plasma, malondialdehyde levels, carbonyl content and nitric oxide (NO). Clinical data were correlated with inflammatory findings. Our findings demonstrated that patients bearing the luminal subtype displayed high TNF-α, TGF-β and enhanced oxidative stress levels associated with reduced IL-12. HER-2-enriched group exhibited higher levels of TNF-α, IL-12 and TGF-β associated with enhanced oxidative stress. Triple-negative subtype exhibited the most aggressive profile of disease behavior, with reduction in both TNF-α and TGF-β, with high levels of lipid peroxidation and NO. The clinical importance of our findings lies in the fact that the inflammatory status varies in distinct ways due to molecular subtype of breast cancer, opening potential therapeutic targets to future therapies.     

Spatial and temporal patterns of genetic variation in the widespread antitropical deep‐sea coral Paragorgia arborea

Numerous deep‐sea species have apparent widespread and discontinuous distributions. Many of these are important foundation species, structuring hard‐bottom benthic ecosystems. Theoretically, differences in the genetic composition of their populations vary geographically and with depth. Previous studies have examined the genetic diversity of some of these taxa in a regional context, suggesting that genetic differentiation does not occur at scales of discrete features such as seamounts or canyons, but at larger scales (e.g. ocean basins). However, to date, few studies have evaluated such diversity throughout the known distribution of a putative deep‐sea species. We utilized sequences from seven mitochondrial gene regions and nuclear genetic variants of the deep‐sea coral Paragorgia arborea in a phylogeographic context to examine the global patterns of genetic variation and their possible correlation with the spatial variables of geographic position and depth. We also examined the compatibility of this morphospecies with the genealogical‐phylospecies concept by examining specimens collected worldwide. We show that the morphospecies P. arborea can be defined as a genealogical‐phylospecies, in contrast to the hypothesis that P. arborea represents a cryptic species complex. Genetic variation is correlated with geographic location at the basin‐scale level, but not with depth. Additionally, we present a phylogeographic hypothesis in which P. arborea originates from the North Pacific, followed by colonization of the Southern Hemisphere prior to migration to the North Atlantic. This hypothesis is consistent with the latest ocean circulation model for the Miocene.     

Fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase: Dissociation of AMP cooperativity and AMP inhibition by carbamylation

Selective treatment of pig kidney fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase with potassium cyanate leads to the formation of an active carbamylated enzyme that has lost the cooperative interactions among AMP sites, but retains sensitivity to inhibition of catalytic activity by the regulator AMP. Incorporation data on [¹⁴C]KNCO indicate that the loss of enzyme cooperativity at the AMP sites is related to selective carbamylation of four lysine residues per mole of tetrameric enzyme. Exhaustive carbamylation suggests that a second lysine residue per subunit is essential for AMP inhibition.     

High liver lipoprotein lipase activity in hyperlipemic developing rats from undernourished pregnant mothers

To study the potential relationship between circulating triacylglycerol (TAG) levels and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in the newborn rat liver, pups from undernourished or normal control mothers were nursed by normal dams, and studied at 0, 1, 15 or 30 days of age. Plasma TAG levels and liver TAG concentration increased more in pups from undernourished mothers than they did in controls. At birth, liver LPL activity was similarly high in both groups but, whereas in controls it decreased progressively after birth, in pups from undernourished mothers it remained stable until 15 days of age. Results suggest that the hypertriglyceridemia present in pups from undernourished mothers may be responsible for the sustained high LPL activity in their liver which may enhance the hepatic uptake of circulating TAG.     

Leishmania amazonensis: metabolic adaptations induced by resistance to an ABC transporter blocker

We compared growth rate, cell glucose turnover and expression of ATP-binding-cassette (ABC) transporters in Leishmania amazonensis (LTB0016; LTB) versus LTB(160) selected for resistance against the ABC transporter blocker glibenclamide. Additionally, we evaluated the influence of drug-resistance on Leishmania sensitivity against 2-mercaptoacetate and 2-deoxyglucose. Our data demonstrate that (1) LTB(160) and LTB constitutively express ABC transporters for neutral substrates, (2) glibenclamide resistance induces the expression of organic anion ABC transporters, members of the drug resistance associated transporters subfamily, (3) LTB(160) parasites use less glucose as energy substrate and exhibit a slower glucose uptake than LTB cells, and (4) LTB(160) parasites are less sensitive to 2-mercaptoacetate and 2-deoxyglucose than the glibenclamide-sensitive Leishmania LTB. Together these and previous results indicate that the metabolic adaptations expressed in drug-resistant LTB(160) differ from those described for mammalian drug resistant cells and constitute general mechanisms that underlie drug resistance in Leishmania and may be helpful for identifying alternative strategies to circumvent drug resistance in leishmaniasis.     

Model-assisted ideotyping reveals trait syndromes to adapt viticulture to a drier climate

Climate change is challenging the resilience of grapevine (Vitis), one of the most important crops worldwide. Adapting viticulture to a hotter and drier future will require a multifaceted approach including the breeding of more drought-tolerant genotypes. In this study, we focused on plant hydraulics as a multi-trait system that allows the plant to maintain hydraulic integrity and gas exchange rates longer under drought. We quantified a broad range of drought-related traits within and across Vitis species, created in silico libraries of trait combinations, and then identified drought tolerant trait syndromes. By modeling the maintenance of hydraulic integrity of current cultivars and the drought tolerant trait syndromes, we identified elite ideotypes that increased the amount of time they could experience drought without leaf hydraulic failure. Generally, elites exhibited a trait syndrome with lower stomatal conductance, earlier stomatal closure, and a larger hydraulic safety margin. We demonstrated that, when compared with current cultivars, elite ideotypes have the potential to decrease the risk of hydraulic failure across wine regions under future climate scenarios. This study reveals the syndrome of traits that can be leveraged to protect grapevine from experiencing hydraulic failure under drought and increase drought tolerance.

This article quantifies the diversity of hydraulic traits across grapevine genotypes and reveals the trait combinations that can help increase grapevine drought tolerance.     

Prevention of aneuploidy by S-adenosyl-methionine in human cells treated with sodium arsenite

Alterations in methyl group's metabolism affect availability of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM); these modifications can be originated by enzyme polymorphisms, nutritional deficiencies, and exposure to chemical agents. There are several types of chemicals that interfere with methyl groups, among them is arsenic. It deserves special attention because it modifies a number of cell functions that influence the development of diseases such as cancer. Since part of arsenic's toxicity is influenced by changes on SAM availability, in a previous study we investigated whether exogenous addition of SAM to cells treated with sodium arsenite (NaAsO(2)) has an effect on its genotoxicity. Results demonstrated that SAM reduces the frequency of cells presenting micronuclei (MN) and tubulin-cytoskeleton defects after treatment with NaAsO(2). MN are fragments of the cell nucleus that may contain whole chromosomes or chromosome fragments depending on whether they derive either from the aneugenic or from the clastogenic action of chemicals. Therefore one question generated by these results was whether SAM reduced only the frequency MN resulting from aneugenic damage. To answer this question, in the present work we used an all-centromere DNA probe to distinguish the type of MN reduced by SAM after treatment with NaAsO(2) and vinblastine. In addition, the capacity of SAM to reduce clastogenicity was also evaluated. Results show that SAM decreases the frequency of cells with MN containing whole chromosomes in cultures treated either with NaAsO(2) or with vinblastine; however, induction of double-strand breaks by NaAsO(2) was not prevented by SAM.