The effect of substituted amides of pyrazine-2-carboxylic acids on flavonolignan production in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Silybum marianum</Emphasis> culture <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

In vitro plant tissue and cell cultures were used to study herbicide effects on growth, selected metabolic activities and other phenomena. The effect of abiotic elicitors, two newly synthesized substituted amides of pyrazine-2-carboxylic acids (synthesized at the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Drug Control, School of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove), on the flavonolignan accumulation in callus and suspension culture of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. was investigated. The compounds markedly influenced production of flavonolignans in an in vitro culture. Particularly after the elicitation with a solution of compound 3-methylamide 5-tert-butylpyrazine-2-carboxylic acid at a concentration of 3.71×10⁻⁷ mol 1⁻¹ and within 72 h of elicitation, an increase in flavonolignan production by 893 % in suspension culture versus control took place. The flavonolignan accumulation in callus culture after the elicitation with a solution of 5-brom-2-hydroxyphenylamide of 5-tert-butyl-6-chloropyrazine-2-carboxylic acid was also increased by about 1039% (24 hour elicitation and concentration of 2.59×10⁻⁴ mol 1⁻¹).     

Diversity of Daphnia galeata life history traits in a vertically structured environment

We used laboratory experiments to investigate the life historytraits of clonal lineages of Daphnia galeata isolated from twovertically segregated subpopulations in a deep dimictic reservoir:one from the epilimnion and the other from the deep hypolimnion.We collected clones twice for the experiments, first at thebeginning of thermal stratification in May and then towardsthe end of the season in September. The results for May showedlonger postembryonic development (PED), bigger eggs in the firstclutch and slightly higher somatic increments in the hypolimneticclones. In addition, a remarkable tendency to produce ephippiawas recorded in the hypolimnetic clones, but not in the epilimneticclones. In September, the results were reversed—hypolimneticclones had shorter PED, lower somatic increments and a slightlyhigher number of eggs in the first clutch. Our results suggesta differentiation of life history traits in the two D. galeatapopulations inhabiting contrasting microhabitats of a reservoiras a result of (i) different depth preferences of certain clonesin the beginning of thermal stratification in spring and (ii)divergent selection processes due to segregation in differentenvironmental conditions. The ability of Daphnia to live indiverse environments, causing divergent selection processes,enhances the overall phenotypic and genotypic diversity of thewhole reservoir population.     

eIF4GI links nutrient sensing by mTOR to cell proliferation and inhibition of autophagy

Translation initiation factors have complex functions in cells that are not yet understood. We show that depletion of initiation factor eIF4GI only modestly reduces overall protein synthesis in cells, but phenocopies nutrient starvation or inhibition of protein kinase mTOR, a key nutrient sensor. eIF4GI depletion impairs cell proliferation, bioenergetics, and mitochondrial activity, thereby promoting autophagy. Translation of mRNAs involved in cell growth, proliferation, and bioenergetics were selectively inhibited by reduction of eIF4GI, as was the mRNA encoding Skp2 that inhibits p27, whereas catabolic pathway factors were increased. Depletion or overexpression of other eIF4G family members did not recapitulate these results. The majority of mRNAs that were translationally impaired with eIF4GI depletion were excluded from polyribosomes due to the presence of multiple upstream open reading frames and low mRNA abundance. These results suggest that the high levels of eIF4GI observed in many breast cancers might act to specifically increase proliferation, prevent autophagy, and release tumor cells from control by nutrient sensing.     

Over-expression of a zeatin O-glucosylation gene in maize leads to growth retardation and tasselseed formation

To study the effects of cytokinin O-glucosylation in monocots, maize (Zea mays L.) transformants harbouring the ZOG1 gene (encoding a zeatin O-glucosyltransferase from Phaseolus lunatus L.) under the control of the constitutive ubiquitin (Ubi) promoter were generated. The roots and leaves of the transformants had greatly increased levels of zeatin-O-glucoside. The vegetative characteristics of hemizygous and homozygous Ubi:ZOG1 plants resembled those of cytokinin-deficient plants, including shorter stature, thinner stems, narrower leaves, smaller meristems, and increased root mass and branching. Transformant leaves had a higher chlorophyll content and increased levels of active cytokinins compared with those of non-transformed sibs. The Ubi:ZOG1 plants exhibited delayed senescence when grown in the spring/summer. While hemizygous transformants had reduced tassels with fewer spikelets and normal viable pollen, homozygotes had very small tassels and feminized tassel florets, resembling tasselseed phenotypes. Such modifications of the reproductive phase were unexpected and demonstrate a link between cytokinins and sex-specific floral development in monocots.     

Evidence for intermediate S-states as initial phase in the process of oxygen-evolving complex oxidation

We have analyzed flash-induced period-four damped oscillation of oxygen evolution and chlorophyll fluorescence with the aid of a kinetic model of photosystem II. We have shown that, for simulation of the period-four oscillatory behavior of oxygen evolution, it is essential to consider the so-called intermediate S-state as an initial phase of each of the S_n-S_n+1, (n = 0, 1, 2, 3) transitions. The intermediate S-states are defined as []-states (n = 0, 1, 2, 3) and are formed with rate constant k_iSn ∼1.5 × 10⁶ s⁻¹, which was determined from comparison of theoretical predictions with experimental data. The assumed intermediate S-states shift the equilibrium in reaction more to the right and we suggest that kinetics of the intermediate S-states reflects a relaxation process associated with changes of the redox equilibrium in the above reaction. The oxygen oscillation is simulated without the miss and double-hit parameters, if the intermediate S-states, which are not the source of the misses or the double-hits, are included in the simulation. Furthermore, we have shown that the intermediate S-states, together with charge recombination, are prerequisites for the simulation of the period-four oscillatory behavior of the chlorophyll fluorescence.     

CD133-positive cells are resistant to TRAIL due to up-regulation of FLIP

Recent research shows that Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are relatively resistant to apoptosis induction. We studied the effect of the immunological apoptogen TRAIL on Jurkat cells enriched in the CD133-positive population. CD133^high Jurkat cells were more resistant to apoptosis than their CD133^low counterparts, and showed higher level of expression of FLIP, an inhibitor of death receptor-mediated apoptosis. Breast cancer MCF7 cells showed high level of expression CD133 in the unseparated culture, with accompanying high level of FLIP. Down-regulation of FLIP by siRNA resulted in sensitisation of the cells to TRAIL, as documented by more robust apoptosis. We conclude that high expression of FLIP is at least one of the reasons for resistance of CSCs to apoptosis induced by the death ligand TRAIL.     

Intracellular expression profiles measured by real-time PCR tomography in the Xenopus laevis oocyte

Real-time PCR tomography is a novel, quantitative method for measuring localized RNA expression profiles within single cells. We demonstrate its usefulness by dissecting an oocyte from Xenopus laevis into slices along its animal-vegetal axis, extracting its RNA and measuring the levels of 18 selected mRNAs by real-time RT-PCR. This identified two classes of mRNA, one preferentially located towards the animal, the other towards the vegetal pole. mRNAs within each group show comparable intracellular gradients, suggesting they are produced by similar mechanisms. The polarization is substantial, though not extreme, with around 5% of vegetal gene mRNA molecules detected at the animal pole, and around 50% of the molecules in the far most vegetal section. Most animal pole mRNAs were found in the second section from the animal pole and in the central section, which is where the nucleus is located. mRNA expression profiles did not change following in vitro fertilization and we conclude that the cortical rotation that follows fertilization has no detectable effect on intracellular mRNA gradients.     

The experimental contamination of foodstuffs with the spores of toxigenic micromycetes and the production of mycotoxins

A study of experimental contamination of foods with spores of toxigenic micromycetes (Aspergillus flavus andPenicillium verrucosum) was realized. Samples of bread, apricot jam, Edam cheese, processed cheese and half-fat dried milk purchased on the market were used for experimental contamination. Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A were determinated in experimental contaminated foodstuffs.     

The mycotoxin research in foodstuffs in the Czech Republic in the 90th Years

Mycotoxins are naturally occurring secondary metabolites produced by several toxigenic microscopic fungi on a variety of crops, especially cereal grains and further foodstuffs. Series of experimental research projects on the determination of mycotoxins (aflatoxins, cyclopiazonic acid, ochratoxin A, patulin, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B₁, T-2 toxin, zearalenone, sterigmatocystin, alternaria toxins) in several foods were realized in the National Reference Centre for Microscopic Fungi and Mycotoxins in the 90^th years. The aim of our work was an estimation of dietary exposure to mycotoxins and risk assessment. The method of a solid phase extraction (SPE), liquid — liquid extraction and immunoaffinity chromatography (f. e. R-Biopharm, VICAM) were used to elaborate for sample analyses of mycotoxins in our projects. The mycotoxins were detected most frequently by chromatographic methods (HPTLC, HPLC, GC) and immunochemical methods (ELISA). Average dietary exposure has been calculated by multiplying of concentration data for specific foods with their consumption rates per 1 kg of b. w. per day. The estimation of the dietary exposure dose of mycotoxins for the Czech population is presented.