Netrin-1 protects the SH-SY5Y cells against amyloid beta neurotoxicity through NF-κB/Nrf2 dependent mechanism

Molecular Biology Reports - Many evidence confirms that amyloid beta 1–42 fragment (Aβ1–42) causes neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death, which are related to...     

Candida galli Strain PGO6: A Novel Isolated Yeast Strain Capable of Transformation of Isoeugenol into Vanillin and Vanillic Acid

Candida galli strain PGO6 isolated from oil-contaminated water is the first isolated yeast strain which is capable to form vanillin and vanillic acid during isoeugenol biotransformation. The products were confirmed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), changes in the UV absorption pattern and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The phenotypic and physiochemical characteristics as well as molecular phylogenetic analysis based on amplification the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA regions indicated the isolated strain PGO6 was identified as C. galli (GenBank accession number HM641231). Resting cells of C. galli PGO6 from the late-exponential of growth phase were used as biocatalysts for the biotransformation of isoeugenol. The optimal molar conversion of vanillin (48%) and vanillic acid (19%) was obtained after a 30 h incubation using 0.1% (v/v) of isoeugenol and 6 mg of dry weight of cells per ml without further optimization. Under these conditions, the total amount of vanillin and vanillic acid was 583 mg l(-1). Further biotransformation was carried out using 0.5% (v/v) of isoeugenol under the resting cells conditions, yielding a vanillin concentration of 1.12 g l(-1) (molar yield 25.7%) after 60 h incubation. This study brings the first evidence for biotransformation of isoeugenol to vanillin and vanillic acid by a yeast strain.     

Association between N142D genetic polymorphism of <Emphasis Type="Italic">GSTO2</Emphasis> and susceptibility to colorectal cancer

Expression pattern analysis has been revealed that glutathione S-transferase omega 2 (GSTO2, a member of class omega) is ubiquitously expressed. Over expression of GSTO2 induced apoptosis. The gene encoding GSTO2 was localized to human chromosome 10q24.3, a region that may harbor gene(s) involved in the developing of colorectal cancer. To investigate the association between GSTO2 N142D genetic polymorphism and susceptibility to colorectal cancer the present study was done. We studied 63 (26 females, 37 males) colorectal cancer patients and 126 (52 females, 74 males) healthy individuals. The control subjects were frequency matched for age and gender with the colorectal cancer group. The genotypes were performed using RFLP-PCR method. The ND and DD genotypes were not associated with risk of colorectal cancer, in comparison with the NN genotype. Family history for cancer in the first degree of relatives significantly differed between cases and controls (P = 0.012). The profiles of GSTO2 genotypes and family history in control and cancerous groups were compared to each other. Subjects with NN genotype and positive family history significantly were at high risk to develop colorectal cancer in comparison with subjects with DD or ND genotypes and negative family history (P = 0.003). Present findings indicating that GSTO2 NN genotype increase the risk of colorectal cancer in persons with positive family history for cancer in the first degree relatives.     

Juvenile animal studies and pediatric drug development retrospective review: use in regulatory decisions and labeling

Juvenile animal toxicity studies are conducted to support applications for drugs intended for use in children. They are designed to address specific questions of potential toxicity in the growing animal or provide data about long-term safety effects of drugs that cannot be obtained from clinical trials. Decisions to conduct a juvenile animal study are based on existing data, such as a safety signal already identified in adult studies, or previous knowledge of the drug or chemical class for its potential to impair growth or developmental milestones. In 2006, the FDA issued an industry guidance in which considerations for determining when a juvenile animal study is warranted were outlined. A retrospective study was conducted covering years both before and after the issued guideline to examine the contribution of juvenile animal toxicity studies to the risk/benefit assessment of pediatric drugs at the FDA. The initial findings were presented as part of the May 2010 HESI workshop on the value of juvenile animal studies. The objective of the review was to better understand the value that the juvenile animal study contributes to regulatory decision making for pediatric drug development by looking at when the studies have been included in the product assessment; what, if any, impact the studies had on the regulatory decisions made; and whether the data were incorporated into the label. The data described below represent a first look at impact of the juvenile animal study since the pediatric legislation and the juvenile animal guidance were issued in the US.     

Bioprocess engineering of microalgae to optimize lipid production through nutrient management

Microalgae have been used commercially as a feedstock for the production of high-value compounds, pigments, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements. In addition, because of their rapid growth rates, high photosynthetic efficiency, and high lipid and protein content, commodity products including biodiesel, feed supplements, and polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from algal biomass are of current interest. Since microalgae lack non-photosynthetic structures and float in water, they do not need massive amounts of structural cellulose found in land plants. Thus, under optimal culture conditions, some oleaginous species can allocate up to 70 % of their biomass to lipids. Lipid production and its regulation in microalgae are species-specific and influenced by environmental conditions. Various strategies have been developed to improve lipid productivity and fatty acid composition to meet specific production goals. Manipulation of physiochemical parameters, trophic modes, and nutrient levels, known as process engineering, is a simple approach that leads to desired alterations in the biochemical composition of algal biomass, including lipid quantity and quality. In this paper, we review the effects of manipulating biochemical parameters such as necessary nutrients (C, N, P, S, Fe, and Si), NaCl concentration, and pH of culture medium to optimize lipid content and profile in some algae strains with commercial potential.     

Seasonal changes in the testicular activity of the Iranian Mountain Viper,Montivipera albicornuta (Nilson & Andrén, 1985) (Reptilia: Viperidae)

The Iranian Mountain Viper, Montivipera albicornuta, is a venomous snake endemic to Iran. We compared the seasonal cycle of testicular activity of 74 male specimens during a one-year period in two cold mountain climate habitats: Tarom (in Zanjan Province) and Bostanabad (in Eastern Azerbaijan Province) in northwestern Iran. The maximum testicular volume was observed in both habitats during autumn. The diameter of seminiferous tubules reached a maximum length in winter and a minimum in summer. The number of spermatids increased in autumn. Spermiogenesis occurred in spring and the maximum number of spermatozoa was reached then. In M. albicornuta in Iran, the testes were more active in autumn and spring, and spermatogenesis started in autumn and continued until mating in spring.     

Biochemical and structural features of a novel cyclodextrinase from cow rumen metagenome

A novel enzyme, RA.04, belonging to the alpha-amylase family was obtained after expression of metagenomic DNA from rumen fluid (Ferrer et al.: Environ. Microbiol. 2005, 7, 1996-2010). The purified RA.04 has a tetrameric structure (280 kDa) and exhibited maximum activity (5000 U/mg protein) at 70 degrees C and was active within an unusually broad pH range from 5.5 to 9.0. It maintained 80% activity at pH 5.0 and 9.5 and 75 degrees C. The enzyme hydrolyzed alpha-D-(1,4) bonds 13-fold faster than alpha-D-(1,6) bonds to yield maltose and glucose as the main products, and it exhibited transglycosylation activity. Its preferred substrates, in the descending order, were maltooligosaccharides (C3-C7), cyclomaltoheptaose (beta-CD), cyclomaltohexaose (alpha-CD), cyclomaltooctaose (gamma-CD), soluble starch, amylose, pullulan and amylopectin. The biochemical properties and amino acid sequence alignments suggested that this enzyme is a cyclomaltodextrinase. However, despite the similarity in the catalytic module (with Glu359 and Asp331 being the catalytic nucleophile and substrate-binding residues, respectively), the enzyme bears a shorter N-terminal domain that may keep the active site more accessible for both starch and pullulan, compared to the other known CDases. Moreover, RA.04 lacks the well-conserved N-terminal Trp responsible for the substrate preference typical of CDases/MAases/PNases, suggesting a new residue is implicated in the preference for cyclic maltooligosaccharides. This study has demonstrated the usefulness of a metagenomic approach to gain novel debranching enzymes, important for the bread/food industries, from microbial environments with a high rate of plant polymer turnover, exemplified by the cow rumen.     

Catalytic role of conserved HQGE motif in the CE6 carbohydrate esterase family

An acetylxylan esterase (R.44), belonging to the carbohydrate esterase family 6 (CE6), retrieved from bovine rumen metagenome was analyzed. Molecular modelling and site-directed mutagenesis indicated that the enzyme possesses a catalytic triad formed by Ser(14), His(231) and Glu(152). The catalytic Ser and His have been identified in highly conserved sequences GQSX and DXXH in the CE6 family, respectively, and the active-site glutamate was part of a highly conserved sequence HQGE. This motif is situated near to the so-called Block III in the CE6 family and its role in catalysis has not been identified so far.     

Elicitor-induced phenolic acids accumulation in Salvia virgata Jacq. hairy root cultures

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Phenolic acids, as the predominant secondary metabolites of Salvia plants, are largely used in pharmaceutical industries. The main aim of the study...