A Revision of the Genus Leptomischus Drake

In this revision, three species are recognised. A discussion is made on merging the genus Polysolenia into Leptomischus. Indopolysolenia burmanica Deb et Rout is reduced to a synonum of Leptomischus primuloides Drake. A key to species is given below: l. Flowers larger, with corollas more than 2cm long. 2.Stipules 3-fid or torn; Leaves narrowly lanceolate; stigmas with 2 short obtuse lobes ...................................................... 1.L. wallichii 2.Stipules entire; leaves obovate to elliptic; stigmas with 2 slender elongate lobes ......................................................... 2. L. primuloides 1.Flowers smaller, with corollas 6-6.5mm long; stigmas with 2 lanceolate lobes .......................................................... 3. L. parviflorus     

Lon upregulation contributes to cisplatin resistance by triggering NCLX-mediated mitochondrial Ca2+ release in cancer cells

Mitochondria are the major organelles in sensing cellular stress and inducing the response for cell survival. Mitochondrial Lon has been identified as an important stress protein involved in regulating proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis in cancer cells. However, the mechanism of retrograde signaling by Lon on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage remains to be elucidated. Here we report the role of Lon in the response to cisplatin-induced mtDNA damage and oxidative stress, which confers cancer cells on cisplatin resistance via modulating calcium levels in mitochondria and cytosol. First, we found that cisplatin treatment on oral cancer cells caused oxidative damage of mtDNA and induced Lon expression. Lon overexpression in cancer cells decreased while Lon knockdown sensitized the cytotoxicity towards cisplatin treatment. We further identified that cisplatin-induced Lon activates the PYK2-SRC-STAT3 pathway to stimulate Bcl-2 and IL-6 expression, leading to the cytotoxicity resistance to cisplatin. Intriguingly, we found that activation of this pathway is through an increase of intracellular calcium (Ca²⁺) via NCLX, a mitochondrial Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger. We then verified that NCLX expression is dependent on Lon levels; Lon interacts with and activates NCLX activity. NCLX inhibition increased the level of mitochondrial calcium and sensitized the cytotoxicity to cisplatin in vitro and in vivo. In summary, mitochondrial Lon-induced cisplatin resistance is mediated by calcium release into cytosol through NCLX, which activates calcium-dependent PYK2-SRC-STAT3-IL-6 pathway. Thus, our work uncovers the novel retrograde signaling by mitochondrial Lon on resistance to cisplatin-induced mtDNA stress, indicating the potential use of Lon and NCLX inhibitors for better clinical outcomes in chemoresistant cancer patients.Subject terms: Cancer therapeutic resistance, Mitochondria, Calcium and vitamin D     

A novel alpha-Proteobacterium resides in the mitochondria of ovarian cells of the tick Ixodes ricinus

An intracellular bacterium from Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in Italy was characterized by electron microscopy (EM), PCR sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, molecular phylogenetic analysis, and in situ hybridization (ISH). This bacterium was shown by EM to be present in the cytoplasm, as well as in the mitochondria of ovarian cells. When universal 16S rRNA bacterial primers were used, PCR amplification of ovarian DNA followed by cloning and sequencing resulted in the same sequence being found in each sample. Phylogenetic analysis of this sequence showed that the bacterium from which it was derived, tentatively designated IricES1, is part of a novel clade in the alpha subdivision of the Proteobacterium: ISH and PCR assays of various tissues performed with oligonucleotides specific for the IricES1 16S rRNA showed that IricES1 is restricted to ovarian cells. Based on the results obtained, we inferred that the bacteria seen by EM in ovarian cells are a single type of bacteria, corresponding to IricES1. PCR screening of 166 ticks from various parts of Italy and one site in England showed that IricES1 was present in 96% of adult females and 44% of nymphs (unsexed). No adult males were found to be infected. Despite the apparent parasitism of host mitochondria by IricES1, the available information suggests that the bacterium has an obligate relationship with its host, although this must be confirmed.     

Changes in leaf hydraulics and stomatal conductance following drought stress and irrigation in Ceratonia siliqua (Carob tree)

Changes in leaf hydraulic conductance (K) were measured using the vacuum chamber technique during dehydration and rehydration of potted plants of Ceratonia siliqua . K of whole, compound leaves as well as that of rachides and leaflets decreased by 20–30% at leaf water potentials (Ψ_L) of −1.5 and −2.0 MPa, i.e. at Ψ_L values commonly recorded in field-growing plants of the species. Higher K losses (up to 50%) were measured for leaves at Ψ_L of −2.5 and −3.0 MPa, i.e. near or beyond the leaf turgor loss point. Leaves of plants rehydrated while in the dark for 30 min, 90 min and 12 h recovered from K loss with characteristic times and to extents inversely proportional to the initial water stress applied. Leaf conductance to water vapour of plants dehydrated to decreasing Ψ_L and rehydrated at low transpiration was inversely related to loss of K, thus suggesting that leaf vein embolism and refilling (and related changes in leaf hydraulics) may play a significant role in the stomatal response.     

Protein Interaction Analysis of Senataxin and the ALS4 L389S Mutant Yields Insights into Senataxin Post-Translational Modification and Uncovers Mutant-Specific Binding with a Brain Cytoplasmic RNA-Encoded Peptide

Senataxin is a large 303 kDa protein linked to neuron survival, as recessive mutations cause Ataxia with Oculomotor Apraxia type 2 (AOA2), and dominant mutations cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis type 4 (ALS4). Senataxin contains an amino-terminal protein-interaction domain and a carboxy-terminal DNA/RNA helicase domain. In this study, we focused upon the common ALS4 mutation, L389S, by performing yeast two-hybrid screens of a human brain expression library with control senataxin or L389S senataxin as bait. Interacting clones identified from the two screens were collated, and redundant hits and false positives subtracted to yield a set of 13 protein interactors. Among these hits, we discovered a highly specific and reproducible interaction of L389S senataxin with a peptide encoded by the antisense sequence of a brain-specific non-coding RNA, known as BCYRN1. We further found that L389S senataxin interacts with other proteins containing regions of conserved homology with the BCYRN1 reverse complement-encoded peptide, suggesting that such aberrant protein interactions may contribute to L389S ALS4 disease pathogenesis. As the yeast two-hybrid screen also demonstrated senataxin self-association, we confirmed senataxin dimerization via its amino-terminal binding domain and determined that the L389S mutation does not abrogate senataxin self-association. Finally, based upon detection of interactions between senataxin and ubiquitin–SUMO pathway modification enzymes, we examined senataxin for the presence of ubiquitin and SUMO monomers, and observed this post-translational modification. Our senataxin protein interaction study reveals a number of features of senataxin biology that shed light on senataxin normal function and likely on senataxin molecular pathology in ALS4.     

Supporting Fisheries Management by Means of Complex Models: Can We Point out Isles of Robustness in a Sea of Uncertainty?

Ecosystems are usually complex, nonlinear and strongly influenced by poorly known environmental variables. Among these systems, marine ecosystems have high uncertainties: marine populations in general are known to exhibit large levels of natural variability and the intensity of fishing efforts can change rapidly. These uncertainties are a source of risks that threaten the sustainability of both fish populations and fishing fleets targeting them. Appropriate management measures have to be found in order to reduce these risks and decrease sensitivity to uncertainties. Methods have been developed within decision theory that aim at allowing decision making under severe uncertainty. One of these methods is the information-gap decision theory. The info-gap method has started to permeate ecological modelling, with recent applications to conservation. However, these practical applications have so far been restricted to simple models with analytical solutions. Here we implement a deterministic approach based on decision theory in a complex model of the Eastern English Channel. Using the ISIS-Fish modelling platform, we model populations of sole and plaice in this area. We test a wide range of values for ecosystem, fleet and management parameters. From these simulations, we identify management rules controlling fish harvesting that allow reaching management goals recommended by ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) working groups while providing the highest robustness to uncertainties on ecosystem parameters.     

Validation of a Commercially Available Indirect Elisa Using a Nucleocapside Recombinant Protein for Detection of Schmallenberg Virus Antibodies

A newly developed Enzym Like Immuno Sorbant Assay (ELISA) based on the recombinant nucleocapsid protein (N) of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) was evaluated and validated for the detection of SBV-specific IgG antibodies in ruminant sera by three European Reference Laboratories. Validation data sets derived from sheep, goat and bovine sera collected in France and Germany (n = 1515) in 2011 and 2012 were categorized according to the results of a virus neutralization test (VNT) or an indirect immuno-flurorescence assay (IFA). The specificity was evaluated with 1364 sera from sheep, goat and bovine collected in France and Belgium before 2009. Overall agreement between VNT and ELISA was 98.9% and 98.3% between VNT and IFA, indicating a very good concordance between the different techniques. Although cross-reactions with other Orthobunyavirus from the Simbu serogroup viruses might occur, it is a highly sensitive, specific and robust ELISA-test validated to detect anti-SBV antibodies. This test can be applied for SBV sero-diagnostics and disease-surveillance studies in ruminant species in Europe.