Extended High Circular Polarization in the Orion Massive Star Forming Region: Implications for the Origin of Homochirality in the Solar System

We present a wide-field (∼6′ × 6′) and deep near-infrared (K _s band: 2.14 μm) circular polarization image in the Orion nebula, where massive stars and many low-mass stars are forming. Our results reveal that a high circular polarization region is spatially extended (∼0.4 pc) around the massive star-forming region, the BN/KL nebula. However, other regions, including the linearly polarized Orion bar, show no significant circular polarization. Most of the low-mass young stars do not show detectable extended structure in either linear or circular polarization, in contrast to the BN/KL nebula. If our solar system formed in a massive star-forming region and was irradiated by net circularly polarized radiation, then enantiomeric excesses could have been induced, through asymmetric photochemistry, in the parent bodies of the meteorites and subsequently delivered to Earth. These could then have played a role in the development of biological homochirality on Earth.     

Lake macroinvertebrates and the altitudinal environmental gradient in the Pyrenees

The distribution of different macroinvertebrate groups inhabiting the littoral zone of 82 mountain lakes in the Pyrenees was investigated in relation to the altitudinal environmental gradient. For each lake, altitude, longitude and latitude, together with 28 environmental variables, relating to chemical and physical characteristics and to lake general productivity, were considered. Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) we showed that the altitudinal environmental gradient (i.e. altitude and altitude-related variables) represented the largest gradient of environmental variability. We found that incidence was related to altitude in about 50% of macroinvertebrate groups, most relationships being inverse, and also that the number of macroinvertebrate groups found per lake was better described by a second-order polynomial function than by simple linear regression. However, this relationship was linear for a subset of high-altitude lakes above 2,500 m a.s.l., suggesting an ecological threshold around this altitude. Redundancy Analyses (RDAs) showed the importance of environmental factors varying with altitude for the distribution of macroinvertebrate groups. Organic matter, salmonid presence, fine substrate dominance, macrophyte coverage, temperature and altitude by itself were, in this order, the most relevant factors. Partial RDAs showed that different combinations of these variables contributed to the explanation of the distribution of each group. However, the variable that uniquely explained most variability differed from group to group. We conclude that the altitudinal gradient is a multi-faceted ecological factor, which impinges on each group by means of some specific environmental variable(s) that are particularly relevant for the life history of that group.     

Functional Annotation,Genome Organization and Phylogeny of the Grapevine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitis vinifera</Emphasis>) Terpene Synthase Gene Family Based on Genome Assembly,FLcDNA Cloning,and Enzyme Assays

Background  

Terpenoids are among the most important constituents of grape flavour and wine bouquet, and serve as useful metabolite markers in viticulture and enology. Based on the initial 8-fold sequencing of a nearly homozygous Pinot noir inbred line, 89 putative terpenoid synthase genes (VvTPS) were predicted by in silico analysis of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera) genome assembly [1]. The finding of this very large VvTPS family, combined with the importance of terpenoid metabolism for the organoleptic properties of grapevine berries and finished wines, prompted a detailed examination of this gene family at the genomic level as well as an investigation into VvTPS biochemical functions.     

Phase Separation Behavior of Caseins in Milk Containing Flaxseed Gum and κ-Carrageenan: A Light-Scattering and Ultrasonic Spectroscopy Study

The physico-chemical properties of skim milk containing κ-carrageenan (in the concentration range 0–0.06% w/v), flaxseed gum (in the concentration range 0–0.40% w/v), or a mixture of both polysaccharides were studied using dynamic light scattering, under diluted conditions, as well as in situ, undiluted, using diffusing wave spectroscopy (DWS) and ultrasonic spectroscopy. Flaxseed gum causes phase separation in milk mixtures, because of thermodynamic incompatibility between the casein micelles and the polysaccharide chains. Confocal microscopy and ultrasonic spectroscopy showed that while the addition of 0.01% κ-carrageenan was not sufficient to hinder phase separation, when 0.03% was added, the helix–helix interactions between κ-carrageenan molecules were sufficient to form a network and stabilize the system. DWS clearly demonstrated that clusters of casein micelles still form even at very low concentrations of polysaccharides (below the visible phase separation threshold) and that κ-carrageenan hinders visible phase separation by decreasing the mobility of the casein micelles.     

Replication and pathogenesis of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus in mammalian models

This study aimed to characterize the replication and pathogenic properties of a Korean pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus isolate in ferrets and mice. Ferrets infected with A/Korea/01/2009 (H1N1) virus showed mild clinical signs. The virus replicated well in lungs and slightly in brains with no replication in any other organs. Severe bronchopneumonia and thickening of alveolar walls were detected in the lungs. Viral antigens were detected in the bronchiolar epithelial cells, in peribronchial glands with severe peribronchitis and in cells present in the alveoli. A/Korea/01/2009 (H1N1) virus-infected mice showed weight loss and pathological lung lesions including perivascular cuffing, interstitial pneumonia and alveolitis. The virus replicated highly in the lungs and slightly in the nasal tissues. Viral antigens were detected in bronchiolar epithelial cells, pneumocytes and interstitial macrophages. However, seasonal H1N1 influenza virus did not replicate in the lungs of ferrets, and viral antigens were not detected. Thus, this Korean pandemic (H1N1) 2009 isolate infected the lungs of ferrets and mice successfully and caused more pathological lesions than did the seasonal influenza virus.     

Bcl-2 inhibits apoptosis by increasing the time-to-death and intrinsic cell-to-cell variations in the mitochondrial pathway of cell death

BH3 mimetics have been proposed as new anticancer therapeutics. They target anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, up-regulation of which has been implicated in the resistance of many cancer cells, particularly leukemia and lymphoma cells, to apoptosis. Using probabilistic computational modeling of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, verified by single-cell experimental observations, we develop a model of Bcl-2 inhibition of apoptosis. Our results clarify how Bcl-2 imparts its anti-apoptotic role by increasing the time-to-death and cell-to-cell variability. We also show that although the commitment to death is highly impacted by differences in protein levels at the time of stimulation, inherent stochastic fluctuations in apoptotic signaling are sufficient to induce cell-to-cell variability and to allow single cells to escape death. This study suggests that intrinsic cell-to-cell stochastic variability in apoptotic signaling is sufficient to cause fractional killing of cancer cells after exposure to BH3 mimetics. This is an unanticipated facet of cancer chemoresistance.     

Optimization of the Water-Insoluble Procedures for <Emphasis Type="Italic">USP</Emphasis> General Chapter <Emphasis Type="Italic">Residual Solvents</Emphasis> <467>

The water-insoluble procedures in US Pharmacopeia (USP) General Chapter Residual Solvents <467>, which are based on European Pharmacopoeia procedures, were optimized and modified before their inclusion in the chapter to improve their scope, performance, and ruggedness. The optimized procedures use a static headspace introduction system with a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector. This article describes some of the key changes made to the USP published procedures, including use of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or dimethylformamide (DMF) as the solvent, addition of 5 mL of water and 1 mL of sample (dissolved in DMSO or DMF) to the headspace vial, use of a 3:1 GC split ratio, and use of new matrix-matched system suitability solutions. These procedures were verified with two different active pharmaceutical ingredients—hydroxyzine pamoate and prednisone. In the investigation, the more polar material (hydroxyzine pamoate) showed greater recoveries for the optimized procedures when prepared in DMSO. The less polar material (prednisone) typically had greater recoveries in DMF for the optimized procedures. During experimentation, insights into sample preparation, additional types of headspace instrumentation, solvent purity, and other parameters were also gained.     

Induction mechanism of adventitious root from leaf explants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Morinda citrifolia</Emphasis> as affected by auxin and light quality

An efficient protocol for adventitious root induction from leaf explants of Morinda citrifolia treated with different concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) was established in relation to physiological process changes during adventitious root induction under different light sources (fluorescent, red, blue, red + blue, and far-red). Among the different concentrations of IBA and NAA, 1.0 mg l⁻¹ IBA was proven as the best auxin source for adventitious root induction under fluorescent light. Higher concentrations of IBA and NAA trigger callus formation in both light and dark conditions. Maximum numbers of adventitious roots were induced under red light (26) followed by blue light (22) and the lowest under far-red light (6). In contrast, numerous callus formations were induced by red + blue followed by red and blue, while the highest root length (1.66 cm) with negligible callusing was observed under fluorescent light. Catalase and guaicacol peroxidase activities were highest under red light followed by fluorescent light and the lowest under red + blue light, but superoxide dismutase activity was not significantly influenced by different light sources. Ascorbate peroxidase played an important role in detoxification of the harmful effects of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Under fluorescent light, significantly lower accumulation of H₂O₂ was observed. Accumulation of H₂O₂ in the induced root under different light showed a positive correlation with peroxidation of lipids and was observed higher under far-red followed by red + blue and blue light.     

Deducing corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor type 1 signaling networks from gene expression data by usage of genetic algorithms and graphical Gaussian models

Background  

Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a hallmark of complex and multifactorial psychiatric diseases such as anxiety and mood disorders. About 50-60% of patients with major depression show HPA axis dysfunction, i.e. hyperactivity and impaired negative feedback regulation. The neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and its receptor type 1 (CRHR1) are key regulators of this neuroendocrine stress axis. Therefore, we analyzed CRH/CRHR1-dependent gene expression data obtained from the pituitary corticotrope cell line AtT-20, a well-established in vitro model for CRHR1-mediated signal transduction. To extract significantly regulated genes from a genome-wide microarray data set and to deduce underlying CRHR1-dependent signaling networks, we combined supervised and unsupervised algorithms.