Increased Zinc and Manganese in Parallel with Neurodegeneration,Synaptic Protein Changes and Activation of Akt/GSK3 Signaling in Ovine CLN6 Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis

Mutations in the CLN6 gene cause a variant late infantile form of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL; Batten disease). CLN6 loss leads to disease clinically characterized by vision impairment, motor and cognitive dysfunction, and seizures. Accumulating evidence suggests that alterations in metal homeostasis and cellular signaling pathways are implicated in several neurodegenerative and developmental disorders, yet little is known about their role in the NCLs. To explore the disease mechanisms of CLN6 NCL, metal concentrations and expression of proteins implicated in cellular signaling pathways were assessed in brain tissue from South Hampshire and Merino CLN6 sheep. Analyses revealed increased zinc and manganese concentrations in affected sheep brain in those regions where neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration first occur. Synaptic proteins, the metal-binding protein metallothionein, and the Akt/GSK3 and ERK/MAPK cellular signaling pathways were also altered. These results demonstrate that altered metal concentrations, synaptic protein changes, and aberrant modulation of cellular signaling pathways are characteristic features in the CLN6 ovine form of NCL.     

Immunocytochemical localisation of actin and profilin in the generative cell of angiosperm pollen: TEM studies on high-pressure frozen and freeze-substitutedLedebouria socialis Roth (Hyacinthaceae)

Actin was demonstrated for the first time at the EM level in the generative cell of mature angiosperm pollen by using immuno-gold labelling of high-pressure frozen and freeze-substitutedLedebouria socialis Roth anthers. In addition, profilin, an actin-monomer binding protein, is shown to coexist in the generative cell. We attribute the detection of actin and profilin to the applied cryomethods which yield a much better preservation of ultrastructure and antigenicity of delicate cytoskeletal constituents than conventional fixation techniques. Actin labelling was observed within the cytoplasm of the generative cell and became especially clear in close vicinity to microtubular bundles. Filamentous structures congruent with the actin labelling patterns do occur, but are not a frequent feature. Profilin was localised throughout the cytoplasm.Abbreviations Ac Acetone BSA bovine serum albumin - CFS calf fetal serum - CGA chicken gizzard actin - EA Epon-Araldite - E-PTA ethanolic phosphotungstic acid - FG fish gelatine - GC generative cell - LR LR white - mAb monoclonal antibody - Os osmium tetroxide - Pb lead-staining - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - UA uranyl acetate     

Population genomics reveals evolution and variation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the human and insects gut

The quest to discover the variety of ecological niches inhabited by Saccharomyces cerevisiae has led to research in areas as diverse as wineries, oak trees and insect guts. The discovery of fungal communities in the human gastrointestinal tract suggested the host's gut as a potential reservoir for yeast adaptation. Here, we report the existence of yeast populations associated with the human gut (HG) that differ from those isolated from other human body sites. Phylogenetic analysis on 12 microsatellite loci and 1715 combined CDSs from whole-genome sequencing revealed three subclusters of HG strains with further evidence of clonal colonization within the host's gut. The presence of such subclusters was supported by other genomic features, such as copy number variation, absence/introgressions of CDSs and relative polymorphism frequency. Functional analysis of CDSs specific of the different subclusters suggested possible alterations in cell wall composition and sporulation features. The phenotypic analysis combined with immunological profiling of these strains further showed that sporulation was related with strain-specific genomic characteristics in the immune recognition pattern. We conclude that both genetic and environmental factors involved in cell wall remodelling and sporulation are the main drivers of adaptation in S. cerevisiae populations in the human gut.     

Gene transfer, expression and inheritance of pRSV-rainbow trout-GH cDNA in the common carp, Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus)

A recombinant plasmid containing the Rous sarcoma virus-long terminal repeat (RSV-LTR) promoter linked to rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) growth hormone (GH) cDNA was microinjected into fertilized carp eggs. Genomic DNA extracted from pectoral fin of individual presumptive transgenic fish was analyzed by dot blot and Southern blot hybridization, using the RSV-LTR and/or the GH cDNA sequences as probes. Out of 365 presumptive transgenic fish analyzed, 20 individuals were found to contain pRSV-rtGH-cDNA sequence in the genomic DNA. Expression of the trout GH polypeptide was detected by immunobinding assay in the red blood cells of nine transgenic fish tested. The level of expression, however, varied among the transgenics and could not be correlated with exogenous DNA copy number. Although there was considerable variation in the sizes of the transgenic fish, those microinjected during the one-cell stage were (P less than 0.05) 22% larger, on the average, than their sibling controls. A randomly selected fraction of the progeny derived from crosses between transgenic males and non-transgenic females inherited the foreign DNA. These transgenic progeny grew faster (P less than 0.05) than their non-transgenic siblings.     

High level expression of human apolipoprotein A-I in transgenic rats raises total serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol and lowers rat apolipoprotein A-I

To examine the consequences of increased apolipoprotein A-I production on cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism, we have produced two lines of transgenic rats; one expressing moderate and one very high levels of human apolipoprotein A-I. The rats were produced by microinjection of a 13 kbp DNA fragment containing the human apolipoprotein A-I gene plus 10 kbp of its 5′ flanking sequence and 1 kbp of its 3′ flanking sequence. Both lines of transgenic rats express human apolipoprotein A-I mRNA in liver and human apolipoprotein A-I in plasma. Sera from these rats contain significantly higher levels of total apolipoprotein A-I, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and phospholipid than sera from non-transgenic littermates. Transgenic rats expressing high levels of human apolipoprotein A-I have reduced levels of serum rat apolipoprotein A-I suggesting a mechanism exists to down-regulate apolipoprotein A-I production. These transgenic rats provide a unique animal model to examine the effects of increased apolipoprotein A-I production on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.     

Little clams with big potential: nutrient release by invasive Corbicula fluminea can exceed co-occurring freshwater mussel (Unionidae) assemblages

Biological Invasions - Animal-mediated nutrient cycling research tends to emphasize either native or invasive fauna, yet communities comprising both groups are common, and biogeochemical control...