Complete Genomic Sequence of the Human Retinoblastoma Susceptibility Gene

A 180,388-bp contig encompassing the human retinoblastoma gene was sequenced in its entirety. Partial analysis of the sequence revealed (1) a high (A + T)/(G + C) ratio and a high density of Line-1 (L1) repeat sequences, suggesting that the locus maps to G-bands 13q14.12 or 13q14.2; (2) Alu repeats that are asymmetrically oriented over a region extending 87 kb; (3) an overabundance of non-Alu-associated poly(A) tracts 10 bp or larger oriented in the antisense rather than the sense direction (36 vs 6); (4) an Alu sequence nested within an L1 repeat, indicating that the expansion of L1 repeats predates at least some of the Alu expansions; (5) at least three newly discovered microsatellite polymorphisms, one of which was subsequently found to be identical to a polymorphism in a microsatellite-based linkage map of the human genome published by another group; and (6) the basis of previously discovered intragenic RFLPs. This sequence should enhance studies of this locus and of the organization of the human genome.     

Casearia Essential Oil: An Updated Review on the Chemistry and Pharmacological Activities

Casearia species are found in the America, Africa, Asia, and Australia and present pharmacological activities, besides their traditional uses. Here, we reviewed the chemical composition, content, pharmacological activities, and toxicity of the essential oils (EOs) from Casearia species. The EO physical parameters and leaf botanical characteristics were also described. The bioactivities of the EOs from the leaves and their components include cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antifungal, and antiviral activities. The main components associated with these activities are the α-zingiberene, (E)-caryophyllene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, spathulenol, α-humulene, β-acoradiene, and δ-cadinene. Data on the toxicity of these EOs are scarce in the literature. Casearia sylvestris Sw. is the most studied species, presenting more significant pharmacological potential. The chemical variability of EOs components was also investigated for this species. Caseria EOs have relevant pharmacological potential and must be further investigated and exploited.     

Oxide-Based Solid-State Batteries: A Perspective on Composite Cathode Architecture

The garnet-type phase Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZO) attracts significant attention as an oxide solid electrolyte to enable safe and robust solid-state batteries (SSBs) with potentially high energy density. However, while significant progress has been made in demonstrating compatibility with Li metal, integrating LLZO into composite cathodes remains a challenge. The current perspective focuses on the critical issues that need to be addressed to achieve the ultimate goal of an all-solid-state LLZO-based battery that delivers safety, durability, and pack-level performance characteristics that are unobtainable with state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries. This perspective complements existing reviews of solid/solid interfaces with more emphasis on understanding numerous homo- and heteroionic interfaces in a pure oxide-based SSB and the various phenomena that accompany the evolution of the chemical, electrochemical, structural, morphological, and mechanical properties of those interfaces during processing and operation. Finally, the insights gained from a comprehensive literature survey of LLZO–cathode interfaces are used to guide efforts for the development of LLZO-based SSBs.     

Climatic niche divergence explains angiosperm diversification across clades in China

Diversification rates are critically important for understanding patterns of species richness among clades. However, the effects of climatic niche width on plant diversification rates remain to be elucidated. Based on the phylogenetic, climatic, and distributional information of angiosperms in China, a total of 26 906 species from 182 families were included in this study. We aimed to test relationships between diversification rate and climatic niche width and climatic niche width related variables (including climatic niche divergence, climatic niche position, geographic extent, and climatic niche evolutionary rate) using phylogenetic methods. We found that climatic niche divergence had the largest unique contribution to the diversification rate, while the unique effects of climatic niche width, climatic niche position, geographic extent, and climatic niche evolutionary rate on the diversification rate were negligible. We also observed that the relationship between diversification rate and climatic niche divergence was significantly stronger than the null assumption (artefactual relationship between diversification and clade-level climatic niche width by sampling more species). Our study supports the hypothesis that wider family climatic niche widths explain faster diversification rates through a higher climatic niche divergence rather than through higher geographic extent, higher climatic niche evolutionary rate, or separated climatic niche position. Hence, the results provide a potential explanation for large-scale diversity patterns within families of plants.     

The pollen-specific LIM protein PLIM-1 from sunflower binds nucleic acids in vitro

The protein PLIM-1 (formerly SF3) from sunflower is expressed exclusively in mature, free pollen. It contains two LIM domains associated with an acidic C-terminus comprising six copies of the pentapeptide motif (A,T,S) (E,D) TQN. We have expressed the pollen protein as well as some of its mutant forms inEscherichia coli and have used the bacterially produced proteins to study interactions with nucleic acids. Our studies show that the protein binds DNA and RNA in vitro to form large complexes, while mutant polypeptides containing either a single LIM domain or a destabilized first or second LIM domain do not. Although these data suggest that the biological function of PLIM-1 involves interactions with nucleic acids, its role in pollen development remains unclear.     

In vitro influence of zinc and magnesium on the deformability of red blood cells artificially hardened by heating

Trace elements have been shown to improve red blood cell (RBC) deformability: zinc in sickle cell disease and magnesium in an in vitro model of chemically rigidified erythrocytes. In this study, we investigated the effect and the influence of incubation time of zinc or magnesium on an in vitro model of rigidified RBCs by heating. Erythrocyte rigidity was determined by viscosimetry at high shear rate by a falling ball viscosimeter MT 90. In the first part of the study, six normal volunteers participated. Viscosimetry was performed on native blood before and after heating the sample for 10 min at 50°C. Therefore, increasing concentrations of zinc gluconate (final concentration: 0.5–4 g/L) or isotonic NaCl as control medium were added to the sample. Heating induced a twofold increase in all indices of RBC rigidity (p<0.05). At all these concentrations of zinc, a highly significant, dose-related fluidifying effect was observed (40–70%): this effect was immediately obtained and did not change over 60 min. Even at the highest concentration, recovery was not complete. In the second part of the study, we studied magnesium’s effects on blood. In a first protocol, whole blood was rigidified by heating at 56°C for 10 min, and the correcting effect of 5 min of incubation at 37°C of RBCs in 150 mmol/L NaCl, MgSO₄, magnesium acetate, and magnesium gluconate was investigated. In a second protocol, the same incubation with NaCl and magnesium salts was made on blood that had not been previously heated. In a third protocol, the correcting effect of magnesium gluconate on heated red blood cells was tested at four concentrations (75, 150, 225, and 300 mmol/L) over 1 h, for evaluating the effects of both concentration and time. Erythrocyte rigidity by heating is corrected by the three salts employed in protocol 1 (compared to sodium). In protocol 2, the deformability of normal (nonheated) red cells is not modified by magnesium. In protocol 3, no marked modification over 1 h is observed. The correcting effect is not complete for 75 mmol/L Mg, but remains the same at the three other concentrations. This study shows that zinc and magnesium at supraphysiological concentration are able to reverse RBC’s rigidification induced by heating, but that magnesium does not modify the flexibility of normal RBCs. This article suggests that zinc and magnesium may be studied in vivo as potential pharmacologic tools for improving hemorheologic disturbances.     

Effects of oral zinc gluconate on glucose effectiveness and insulin sensitivity in humans

Zinc improves both insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity, and exerts insulin-like effects. We investigated its acute effects on the parameters of glucose assimilation determined with the minimal model technique from frequent sampling intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT) in seven healthy volunteers. FSIVGTTs (0.5 g/kg of glucose, followed by 2 U insulin iv injection at 19 min) were performed after the subjects had taken 20 mg zinc gluconate twice (the evening before and 30 min before the beginning of the test) or placebo pills (simple blind randomized protocol). Glucose assimilation was analyzed by calculating Kg (slope of the exponential decrease in glycemia), glucose effectiveness Sg (i.e., ability of glucose itself to increase its own disposal independent of insulin response), and SI (insulin sensitivity, i.e. the effect of increases in insulinemia on glucose disposal). The two latter parameters were calculated by fitting the experimental data with the two equations of Bergman’s “minimal model”. Zinc increased Kg (p<0.05) and Sg (p<0.05), whereas SI and insulin first-phase secretion did not significantly increase. This study suggests that zinc improves glucose assimilation, as evidenced by the increase in Kg, and that this improvement results mainly from an increase in glucose effectiveness (insulin-like effect), rather than an action on insulin response or insulin sensitivity.     

Male larval nutrition in Choristoneura rosaceana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): an important factor in reproductive success

This study examines how Choristoneura rosaceana male quality, as determined by larval diet, age and mating history, affects the reproductive success of both sexes. While the size of the spermatophore produced at first mating increased linearly with male age, the frequency of mating was significantly higher for middle-aged males (2–4 days old) than younger (0–2 days old) or older (6–8 days old) individuals, when both sexes were fed on artificial diet. However, the duration of copulation was longer in couples with older than younger males. The observed age-related changes in spermatophore size had no significant effect on female longevity, fecundity or fertility, suggesting no direct relationship between male investment and spermatophore size under these experimental conditions. Different larval food sources (artificial diet, maple and hazelnut) did not affect the proportion of 2-day-old virgin males that mated; however, the proportion that remated was significantly higher for males reared on high-quality food (maple and artificial diet) than those on hazelnut, a poorer food source. There was a 5-fold decline in spermatophore size between the first and second matings on all diets, but female reproductive output was reduced by only 25%. In contrast, while the first spermatophore produced by males on hazelnut was 1.5 times smaller than those produced on maple and artificial diet, the fecundity of their mates was 40% less than those mated with high-quality virgin males. These results provide additional support to the idea that spermatophore size is not a valuable indicator of male quality. Most tethered females placed in the field during the first flight period mated with virgin males (based on the size of the spermatophore), suggesting that female choice exists in this species. These results are discussed in relation to the incidence of polyandry in naturally occurring populations of Choristoneura and the potential use of size and/or chemical cues by females to assess male quality.