Vimentin expression in human squamous carcinoma cells: relationship with phenotypic changes and cadherin-based cell adhesion

Phenotypic changes resembling an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition often occur as epithelial cells become tumorigenic. Two proteins that have been implicated in this process are vimentin and N-cadherin. In this study, we sought to establish a link between expression of vimentin and N-cadherin as oral squamous epithelial cells undergo a morphologic change resembling an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. We found that N-cadherin and vimentin did not influence the expression of one another.     

Environmental stochasticity and extinction risk in a population of a small songbird, the great tit

Using a long-term demographic data set, we estimated the separate effects of demographic and environmental stochasticity in the growth rate of the great tit population in Wytham Wood, United Kingdom. Assuming logistic density regulation, both the demographic (sigma2d = 0.569) and environmental (sigma2e = 0.0793) variance, with interactions included, were significantly greater than zero. The estimates of the demographic variance seemed to be relatively insensitive to the length of the study period, whereas reliable estimates of the environmental variance required long time series (at least 15 yr of data). The demographic variance decreased significantly with increasing population density. These estimates are used in a quantitative analysis of the demographic factors affecting the risk of extinction of this population. The very long expected time to extinction of this population (approximately 10(19) yr) was related to a relatively large population size (>/=120 pairs during the study period). However, for a given population size, the expected time to extinction was sensitive to both variation in population growth rate and environmental stochasticity. Furthermore, the form of the density regulation strongly affected the expected time to extinction. Time to extinction decreased when the maximum density regulation approached K. This suggests that estimates of viability of small populations should be given both with and without inclusion of density dependence.     

Platelet-neutrophil interactions. (12S)-hydroxyeicosatetraen-1,20-dioic acid: a new eicosanoid synthesized by unstimulated neutrophils from (12S)-20-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid

In the course of a cell-cell interaction, 12-HETE (12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid), the arachidonic acid lipoxygenase product released from stimulated platelets, is metabolized by a cytochrome P-450 enzyme system in unstimulated neutrophils to 12,20-DiHETE (12,20-dihydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid). This report describes time-dependent formation of a new eicosanoid by unstimulated neutrophils exposed to 12-HETE, which is more polar than 12,20-DiHETE (reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography). Time course studies indicated that the precursor compound of this new eicosanoid was 12,20-DiHETE. This was determined by incubation of purified 12,20-DiHETE with neutrophils, which resulted in a progressive decrease in 12,20-DiHETE as formation of the polar metabolite increased. In the absence of neutrophils, 12,20-DiHETE was quantitatively unchanged. The new metabolite of 12,20-DiHETE was identified as 12-hydroxyeicosatetraen-1,20-dioic acid, based upon its UV spectrum, co-chromatography with a chemically synthesized standard in both high performance liquid chromatography and thin layer chromatography systems, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Formation of 12-HETE-1,20-dioic acid was partially inhibited by 20-hydroxy-LTB4. This indicated that the neutrophil dehydrogenase responsible for further metabolism of 12,20-DiHETE may also be involved in conversion of 20-hydroxy-LTB4 to 20-carboxy-LTB4. The 12,20-DiHETE dehydrogenase enzyme system specifically requires NAD as cofactor and has subcellular components in both cytosolic and microsomal fractions which are synergistic in their activity. These results provide additional evidence for the occurrence of multicellular metabolic events during hemostasis, thrombosis, and the inflammatory response.     

Analyses of genetic population structure of two ecologically important mangrove tree species, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Kandelia obovata from different river basins of Iriomote Island of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan

We analyzed nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite makers to assess genetic diversity and examine genetic structure of two mangrove tree species, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Kandelia obovata recovered from nine major river basins of Iriomote Island of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. The average number of alleles per nuclear locus per population was 2.6 in B. gymnorrhiza and 1.7 in K. obovata. Bayesian clustering analysis using InStruct identified two genetic clusters in B. gymnorrhiza and three clusters in K. obovata. Chloroplast microsatellites revealed two dominant haplotypes from B. gymnorrhiza and three haplotypes from K. obovata. The overall result suggests low genetic diversity for both species. AMOVA for nuclear microsatellites showed 9.3?% of population variation in B. gymnorrhiza. Although genetic differentiation between several populations was significant in this species, F _ST suggested low to moderate level of differentiations between most of the populations. Distribution of genetic clusters and chloroplast haplotypes also suggested weak differentiations among B. gymnorrhiza populations. In K. obovata, population variation was, however, relatively high (27.8?%). The high differentiation between K. obovata populations was also suggested from the F _ST and genetic clusters from nuclear microsatellites, and chloroplast haplotypes. A significant correlation between chloroplast genetic distances and coastline distances as well as haplotype distributions for both species suggest that propagules from each species mostly disperse to the neighboring river basins. While significant F _IS and higher percentage of admixed clusters from nuclear microsatellites suggested inbreeding, continual gene exchange by propagule dispersal among populations especially among neighboring populations was suggested for both species from maternally inherited chloroplast microsatellites analyses.     

Enhancing mating performance after juvenile hormone treatment in Anastrepha fraterculus: a differential response in males and females acts as a physiological sexing system

Methoprene (a mimic of juvenile hormone) treatment can reduce the time required for sexual maturation in Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) males under laboratory conditions, supporting its use as a treatment for sterile males within the context of the sterile insect technique (SIT). We evaluated sexual behaviour, mating competitiveness of methoprene-treated males, and female readiness to mate after methoprene-treatment in field cages. The study involved two strains of A. fraterculus from Argentina and Peru, which show several polymorphisms in relation to their sexual behaviour. We also analyzed whether methoprene treatment affected male and/or female behaviour in the same way in these two strains. Methoprene-treated males were equally competitive with untreated mature males, and became sexually competitive 6 days after emergence (3–4 days earlier than untreated males). In contrast, methoprene did not induce sexual maturation in females or, at least, it did not induce a higher rate of mating in 7-day-old females. These results were observed both for the Argentina and the Peru strains. Altogether, our results indicate that methoprene treatment produces sexually competitive males in field cages. In the absence of a genetic sexing system, and when sterile males and females of A. fraterculus are released simultaneously, the fact that females do not respond as do males to the methoprene treatment acts as a physiological sexing effect. Therefore, in the presence of mainly sexually immature sterile females, released sexually mature sterile males would have to disperse in search of wild fertile females, thereby greatly reducing matings among the released sterile insects and thus enhancing sterile insect technique efficiency.     

Anther culture responsiveness of Hordeum spontaneum derived spring barley lines and a genetic analysis of plant regeneration

Anther culture responsiveness of three H. spontaneum derived spring barley lines, RS170-47(A), RS20-1(B) and 1B-152B(C) was investigated using only one type of culture medium and treatment. The line 1B-152B was identified as highly responsive producing 22.4 total and 12.4 green regenerants per 100 anthers plated. 74% of these green regenerants were spontaneous double haploids. A genetic analysis involving F1 and F2 plants derived from crosses A × B and B × C revealed that the factor(s) determining high anther culture responsiveness in line 1B-152B was heritable and behaved as dominant in the F1. There was an indication that genotypic responsiveness in anther culture for green plant regeneration was different from total or albino plant regeneration.     

Stunted at 10 Years. Linear Growth Trajectories and Stunting from Birth to Pre-Adolescence in a Rural Bangladeshi Cohort

Background

Few studies in low-income settings analyse linear growth trajectories from foetal life to pre-adolescence. The aim of this study is to describe linear growth and stunting from birth to 10 years in rural Bangladesh and to analyse whether maternal and environmental determinants at conception are associated with linear growth throughout childhood and stunting at 10 years.

Methods and Findings

Pregnant women participating in the MINIMat trial were identified in early pregnancy and a birth cohort (n = 1054) was followed with 19 growth measurements from birth to 10 years. Analyses of baseline predictors and mean height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ) over time were modelled using GLMM. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the associations between baseline predictors and stunting (HAZ<-2) at 10 years. HAZ decreased to 2 years, followed by an increase up to 10 years, while the average height-for-age difference in cm (HAD) to the WHO reference median continued to increase up to 10 years. Prevalence of stunting was highest at 2 years (50%) decreasing to 29% at 10 years. Maternal height, maternal educational level and season of conception were all independent predictors of HAZ from birth to pre-adolescence (p<0.001) and stunting at 10 years. The highest probability to be stunted at 10 years was for children born by short mothers (<147.5 cm) (OR_adj 2.93, 95% CI: 2.06–4.20), mothers with no education (OR_adj 1.74, 95% CI 1.17–2.81) or those conceived in the pre-monsoon season (OR_adj 1.94, 95% CI 1.37–2.77).

Conclusions

Height growth trajectories and prevalence of stunting in pre-adolescence showed strong intergenerational associations, social differentials, and environmental influence from foetal life. Targeting women before and during pregnancy is needed for the prevention of impaired child growth.     

Proteome approaches to characterize seed storage proteins related to ditelocentric chromosomes in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Changes in protein composition of wheat endosperm proteome were investigated in 39 ditelocentric chromosome lines of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Chinese Spring. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining has resolved a total of 105 protein spots in a gel. Quantitative image analysis of protein spots was performed by PDQuest. Variations in protein spots between the euploid and the 39 ditelocentric lines were evaluated by spot number, appearance, disappearance and intensity. A specific spot present in all gels was taken as an internal standard, and the intensity of all other spots was calculated as the ratio of the internal standard. Out of the 1755 major spots detected in 39 ditelocentric lines, 1372 (78%) spots were found variable in different spot parameters: 147 (11%) disappeared, 978 (71%) up-regulated and 247 (18%) down-regulated. Correlation studies in changes in protein intensities among 24 protein spots across the ditelocentric lines were performed. High correlations in changes of protein intensities were observed among the proteins encoded by genes located in the homoeologous arms. Locations of structural genes controlling 26 spots were identified in 10 chromosomal arms. Multiple regulators of the same protein located at various chromosomal arms were also noticed. Identification of structural genes for most of the proteins was found difficult due to multiple regulators encoding the same protein. Two novel subunits (1B(Z,) 1BDz), the structure of which are very similar to the high molecular weight glutenin subunit 12, were identified, and the chromosome arm locations of these subunits were assigned.     

Primary structure of the hemoglobin α-chain of rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

The structure of the hernoglobin α-chain of Rose-ringed Parakeet was determined by sequence degradations of the intact subunit, the CNBr fragments, and peptides obtained by digestion with staphylococcal Glu-specific protease and trypsin. Using this analysis, the complete α-chain structure of 21 avian species is known, permitting comparisons of the protein structure and of avian relationships. The structure exhibits differences from previously established avian α-chains at a total of 61 positions, five of which have residues unique to those of the parakeet (Ser-12, Gly-65, Ser-67, Ala-121, and Leu-134). The analysis defines hemoglobin variation within an additional avian order (Psittaciformes), demonstrates distant patterns for evaluation of relationships within other avian orders, and lends support to taxonomic conclusions from molecular data.